I really wish I knew how it turned out this way. Kise's dragged me into a bland, yet somehow slightly adorable coffee shop to grab a drink. The brick interior holds pictures of people long gone and stories retold. "Haicchi, here you go."
The bubbly blond sits himself down with grace at the other side of the table, mirrored aviators shielding his eyes and probably part of his identity as he sips his equally hot drink. "Why did you call me out here, anyway?" I ask, tasting a blend of coffee and chocolate glide over my tongue. At least this'll keep me awake. Kise doesn't take off his shades, which makes it difficult to make eye contact or see what direction he's looking in.
"Is it bad to hang out with your old teammates once in a while-ssu?" Kise asks with an open, innocent expression. "I haven't seen you since I played Kurokocchi..." I glance away, embarrassed.
"I guess not...but we weren't exactly buddy-buddy at Teiko, Kise." I reply with a placid expression. Kise merely raises a shoulder in response, as if to say it couldn't be helped.
"That's true." Kise says with his hands resting beneath his chin. "But we aren't teammates anymore, so there's no reason for us to let something like that bother you. We don't even go to the same school anymore, Haicchi." My eyes narrow slightly as I begin to grow suspicious of the blonde's motives.
"It doesn't bother me." I reply cautiously. "Being on any team with you, or against you, hasn't bothered me at all." The blond runs a hand through his hair, looking more than a little distressed. "So what is it that you want from me? You wouldn't just pop up out of the blue just to have a drink with me." Kise sighs, a long, tired, exasperated sigh that almost leaves my ears ringing.
"Momoicchi said that Aominecchi has been acting strange-ssu." Kise says with a sigh. "And that you're acting weird, too." I raise an eyebrow in response.
"Because Satsuki is so well aware of my every movement?" I reply mistrustfully. "Things like that aren't any of her business." Kise's body stiffens as if from shock as he removes his sunglasses and wipes them clean with a strange little clothe. His gold eyes look molten from this angle as he looks back up at me.
"Haicchi, Aominecchi's worried, too. Is everything okay at home?" I stiffen this time, pausing mid-sip to stare at the blond boy wide-eyed.
"Kise-kun, that isn't your business." I say frostily. "And there's no need for you to feel like it is." Kise's eyes narrow significantly.
"Aominecchi's dense enough to believe you when you have an expression like that-ssu." Kise says calmly. "But I know enough about acting to realize all you do is try to fool us-ssu." I look at Kise with narrowed eyes, a scowl attempting to draw my eyebrows closer.
I glance at my phone, willing it to ring, but find the screen black and blank as usual. "Kise, I don't recall asking for your opinion." I say more calmly. "If I have problems, those problems are my own." Kise frowns, an expression that doesn't really suit him.
"Kurokocchi said you'd say something like that." He replies with a sigh. "Look, Haicchi... I don't know what's going on, and I don't know if I can help you. But, I guess part of what I want to say is that you shouldn't handle things that bother you so deeply by yourself." I almost sigh again, but hold myself back. I don't want to rude, although that probably isn't why it's so easy to check the sigh back. Kise doesn't have a way with words, and he's a terrible flirt, but Kise shows sincerity and heart toward those he calls his friends, and I don't want to tread on that. I'm more than grateful for it.
"Is that all you need to say?" I ask calmly, drinking more of this bittersweet drink. "Honestly, Kise, things like this-"
"Just... hear me out-ssu." Kise says desperately. "Look, we all know you definitely didn't play basketball because you liked it. You played it because you wanted a challenge, like me, but also because it made someone angry. You played it because someone said you couldn't.
We also know, very well now, that the only person you ever take orders from is Akashicchi and sometimes Momoicchi, but you never listen to the rest of us all. Look, Haicchi... we're just trying to get you to understand that you shouldn't play if you don't want to, and that it... it's okay to trust us, you know? We've known you for what, three years-ssu? Almost four? It's okay to lean on us, you know... we aren't like... them, okay?"
My body is stiff and cold and unmoving as a breeze gusts in through the open doors. I want to speak, but I'm afraid my voice will tremble. I'm unlucky, yes, but I'm not weak. "I understand what you're trying to tell me, Kise." I say after a few minutes. "Let me tell you this: I don't do anything I don't want to do. I haven't regretted my decision to play basketball. Yes, maybe I started playing for all the wrong reasons, but... it was a good experience. I learned from it." After a few more breaths, I continue.
"I do know who you are and aren't like. I've always known. I've always been able to distinguish who is my friend, and who is not. It's not like I don't trust you guys... at least, I don't think that's it. I just don't want to be a burden, I guess. But if there's something bothering me, something serious, I will tell someone, okay? I'm not so stupid as to take on something that'll completely overwhelm me." Kise shakes his head slightly.
"You always say stuff like that, but you never act on it, Haicchi! Whatever's bothering you now... you should share it! Aominecchi is worried, and you know how he is! Momoicchi is worried, too!" Kise's voice is a little louder than usual, stronger, and more forceful. I lean back from the table as he leans forward.
"I understand that, Kise. I'm worrying them, and I honestly don't mean to. There's nothing wro-"
"There is." Kise's gold eyes are bright and alive and intelligent and all knowing. "Even Akashicchi has realized it. He wants to order you to tell us everything since Momoicchi and Aominecchi have told him what they can without treading on your privacy, but we barely managed to negotiate for this." The golden-haired model leans closer as I shrink slightly into my chair. "It won't be like that. You know we'd never do that. Haicchi..."
I stare at the dark, steaming liquid, watching caution and mistrust flash across my reflection. I glance away before I attempt looking at my eyes. Looking to Kise once more, I steel my nerves and sigh. "I know, Kise..." I reply tiredly. "I know you guys would never do that to me." What am I referring to? It can wait. There's no need to rush this. "I just... don't really understand what I'm supposed to do."
"Do? Just tell us-ssu." Kise chirps in his usual way. I roll my eyes.
"That's not what I meant, Kise." I say more hesitantly. "I know what the problem is. I've accepted it. I don't know how to solve it, or what someone is supposed to do when something like this happens to them." Kise's eyes widen dramatically.
"It's a boy, right?" Kise's eyes warm and he looks mischievous. I shake my head after reading his face, disappointed when the expression fades to concern. "Then... them?" He guesses. I fidget in silence, hoping he'll take a hint and drop the subject altogether. When I look up again, Kise's eyes look flat and cold. His face is stiff, although I can't tell if he's angry or uncomfortable.
"U-Um, Kise, it's really no big deal... Sorry it bothered you-" Kise grabs my face with his hands before I can finish my sentence. "W-What are you doing?" My eyes widen as Kise comes a bit too close. "Kise?"
"You should've told us sooner, you idiot!" He says urgently. "You're seriously coming with me!" That's also how I became the first random person to be dragged kicking and screaming after a to-die-for model. Yes, you heard me. Kise's good looks aren't enough to make me follow him wherever he wants to go. I mentally make a list of all the possible ways I can cause the golden-haired teen to suffer.
It's really no use to fight against Kise's strong grip. After all the times he's dragged me around during middle school, I should really know better. Of course, I'm doomed to make the same mistakes over and over until I die. I stop struggling after a couple blocks and allow him to lead me. "Where are we going?" I ask wearily, narrowing my eyes. The blond glances back at me for a couple seconds.
"Hm? To meet up with the others, of course." He replies in a chipper tone of voice. "Originally I was just going to wheedle information out of you, but it won't work on something like this, you know-ssu?" I try my best not to glare at the model.
"So it's like that." I respond flatly. "I should've known." Kise laughs nervously.
"Anyway, I was really surprised when you called me by my first name. You haven't done that since... hm... For a while now-ssu." He says. I shake my head.
"I learned that it's kind of rude and way personal here. At home it's usually rude to call someone by just his or her last name. The culture difference threw me off." I say with a shrug. Kise laughs.
"I kinda missed it. You kinda made the team seem a little closer when you called us by our first names." I raise an eyebrow.
"Then do you want me to call you Ryouta?" I ask cheekily, my lips curving into a nearly strained smile. Kise laughs loudly, grinning back at me as we turn a corner and walk into a diner of some sort. Kise finally lets go of my arm and allows it to drop back to my side. All appears normal here, save the intense, dark tension in one of the corners. My stomach drops into my shoes as I notice the rainbow already seated there. "I shoulda known." I mutter grumpily.
My hair stands out among the Miracles. While their hair all seems somehow unnatural in their various rainbow colors, mine is the most normal at a chestnut brown. Their eyes all match their hair, save Akashi's heterochromatic eyes, while mine don't. My eyes are actually blue. They're lighter than Daiki's, and darker than Kuroko's, but not by much.
Under Akashi's heavy gaze, I pull a seat alongside Kise and sit down stiffly. "Alex." He greets, nodding slightly. It took me a long time to actually get Akashi's respect. Back then, in middle school, it meant the world to me. All I'd ever wanted was to be acknowledged and respected. Now, although I'm happy to still have his respect, it doesn't mean as much as it used to.
"Akashi." I reply politely, doing my best to sound natural. "It's been a while, hasn't it?" Red and gold stare deep into my eyes, the weight of their gaze as heavy as ever. I remain straight, tall, and confident under it. Akashi's eyes soften every so slightly, a sign of his approval.
"It has." He says. "Do you know why all of us are here?" My eyes narrow.
"I'd assume it's because everyone was summoned. If you mean the reason behind that, I cannot say." I answer.
"I heard something's been bothering you." He says in near-perfect English.
"Well, you aren't wrong. Your English is as good as ever, Akashi." I respond.
"So Haichin has been acting strange lately, I heard." Murasakibara says in that lazy way of his. "And Minechin wouldn't share." I send a silent thank you to Daiki.
"Is that so?" I reply, laughing awkwardly.
"Yes." Kuroko responds. I glance over to him. "The same strange as back then." I stiffen in my seat, my muscles going rigid and my brain telling me to bolt before it's too late.
"I see." I say. "I'll have to correct that."
"Haicchi, we just want to know what's wrong-ssu." Kise says. I glance at him.
"My problems are my own. I'll handle them my own way." I reply firmly. "There's no need to worry."
"It's been three years. Why don't you just go home?" Akashi asks bluntly. I flinch.
"I...can't." I answer him carefully. "It isn't possible."
"You don't have any money-ssu?" Kise guesses.
"N-Not quite." I say, squirming slightly. "Money for a plane ticket isn't the issue at this point."
"You think they won't let you come home, nanodayo?" Midorima guesses.
"Ah, that's not quite it. It's fine, really!" I respond hastily, waving my hands around a little too much. "Just forget about it."
"Is it a problem with your passport?" I stiffen at Kuroko's words.
"Perhaps. I'm not sure I can use it anymore." I reply.
"Did it expire?"
"No."
"Then what's the problem with it?" Akashi asks. I fidget for another minute.
"There's an issue with my, um... my citizenship." I say quietly.
"What kind of issue-ssu?" Kise asks. I squirm. I should've gotten the hell out of here earlier, before all these questions appeared.
"It's been renounced, hasn't it?" Akashi asks. Somehow, his voice almost seems gentle. My head shoots up at his words. "And I'm sure you had some other wonderful news along with it?" I nod hesitantly.
"How did you know?" I ask quietly.
"You were disowned. " Midorima suddenly states. I stiffen once more.
"Haichin's parents are mean." Murasakibara says with boredom. I resist the urge to grind my teeth.
"You'll be deported if you're found out, Alex." Akashi says carefully.
"I know." I say with a grimace. "I don't know what to do." Silence falls over the table. I want to fill the void with laughter, but how am I supposed to do that when I can't even bring myself to smile?
Kise taps away at his phone for a while before showing me an article. There's a hopeful look on his face, one I admire. I read it hesitantly. It isn't anything new, and somehow reinforces my sense of helplessness. "Okay. But how am I supposed to do that, Kise? I'm still a minor."
Kise is silent for a long time. Long enough for Akashi to take the phone from me, read it, and pass it around. I wriggle in my seat uncomfortably. "Leave that to me." Akashi says after a few minutes. "You need that in name only." I stare at the redhead in shock.
"Akashi..." I don't know what to say. A simple thank you won't be enough to express my gratitude.
"Don't worry about it," he says with a bored expression. Kise's phone is returned to him without issue.
"Hai-chan? What're you doing here?" a familiar voice asks. I turn in time for Mizuki, my favorite teammate, to grin and flounce toward me. She's wearing an apron and holding a notepad.
"You work here?" My voice holds an equal amount of surprise. "What a coincidence. I'm just talking with a few old teammates." Mizuki's eyes scan them nervously.
"They have a scary atmosphere." She whispers. I laugh.
"I'm sure." I reply. "You're playing for your school, right?" Mizuki nods.
"Yep! I have a question, Hai-chan..." Mizuki anxious twists a lock of dark hair. I tilt my head slightly.
"Go for it." I say, my eyes slanting in anticipation.
"Haruna is friends with this Touou outfielder and she mentioned that the team just got a new catcher, but nobody's met her yet." I recline in the chair and watch Mizuki carefully.
"Is that so?" I ask, a smirk playing at the corners of my mouth. "How interesting."
"Is it you? Hai-chan, are you really going to play again?" The desperate notes in her voice make me wonder if she's happy or sad.
"And if I am?" I ask, my eyes narrowing slightly.
"Well, I'm happy, but I don't want to play against you..." She says. I laugh.
"Ah, neither do I. You're my favorite pitcher, after all. Playing against you would be rather cruel." For you, anyway. Mizuki shift awkwardly from foot to foot.
"Ah, yeah." She says, eyes downcast. Regret and pity pool in my stomach.
"I saw your game last week." I say, watching carefully as her eyes widen and brighten. "You're improved quite a bit. I'm impressed." She looks happy now. "You have a lot of tells. Make sure you work with your catcher on that." An embarrassed blush rises to her cheeks. "Other than that, your pitches looked beautiful. When you play me, I hope you throw me plenty of them. Especially that drop."
"B-But you can't hit a drop!" Mizuki exclaims. I grin widely and begin to smirk.
"I thought you knew me better, Mizuki. I can hit a drop." Wide, surprised eyes. "I can hit anything I want to hit." Dark eyes watching as another girl, this one taller and slightly wider, appears beside her. I note the bruises around her ankles and sigh. "Is this your new catcher?" Mizuki nods.
"Is she bothering you, Mizuki?" The girl asks. Mizuki shakes her head.
"Tomoe-chan, this is Hai-chan, my previous catcher." Mizuki says.
"That one everyone called a demon?"
"Hey, hey, you might hurt my feelings if you say that to my face." I say teasingly. "Alex Heights." I hold my hand out for a handshake.
"Makoto Tomoe." She says, staring at my hand like its a piece of god knows what. I hide my irritation and retract my hand.
"Hai-chan isn't a demon, Tomoe-chan." Mizuki says. "She's the best catcher I've ever seen." My chest feels warm at Mizuki's praise, but I don't let it show.
"Anyway, I should get going." I say, rising. "I'll see you guys later, since it seems like I'm unwanted here." I actually frequent this place on weekends. It's one of my favorite places to be. "Tell Manager-san I said hello~!"
"Alex, I expect you to keep up." Akashi's statement isn't anything unexpected. I laugh and glance at him.
"Of course, Emperor."