~ Soulmates ~
A/N Hiii my mud puppies! Hope you're all doing well! Here I am with another chapter, longer than usual.
Again I would really like to thank everyone who has followed, and/or reviewed or favourited my story! I would like to give a big thanks to rutherfordxuchiha143! Your review put a smile on my face!
I hope you enjoy :D
Chapter 3
In which Mei finds herself in an unwanted position
It is another scorcher today the small brunette thought, trudging her way to Kaijo high school. The sun was out, and the skies were the bluest of blues today. It was the kind of day that would have been perfect for a picnic, or a beach trip, something 'happy'. However what the girl had in mind was the exact opposite.
As usual the girl was engulfed in her own thoughts. Pushing a stray, sticky strand of brown hair behind her ears she began to doubt her decision. Am I being too impulsive about this? Will I regret this? Am I being too insensible?
Whether or not what she planned to do was 'sensible', or more so 'correct' didn't matter. The girl had too much pride for her own good, and thus when she started doing something she would see it to the very end. However everything she ever did revolved around her studies, brother, and household chores.
Thus whatever she did start always had a positive ending.
Upon reaching her high school she stopped momentarily to take some deep breaths. She may be prideful, but that did not stop the butterflies that came to life in her stomach. She was starting to get nervous. Well it is now, or never…she thought to herself. Tightening her pony tail she walked through the school gates.
As I expected, it is empty due to summer break she thought. The vast emptiness of the school made it seem even bigger, as if it was possible. Kaijo high school was an athletic school, and thus it was filled with many different buildings that catered the needs of individual sports.
The girl began to feel even more nervous. Now that I am here, what exactly should I do? She felt her nervousness take control of her as she abruptly stopped walking. She was unsure anymore of what to do. Mei calm down, it is alright, breathe Mei breathe! The brunette attempted to calm herself, but to no avail.
I can not do this, I can not! She turned around hastily, and was about to start walking, or better yet run out of the school when an image of a boy with black hair, and blue eyes came into her mind.
Her shoulders slowly came down as she found herself being filled with anger. Because of that boy she had gotten fired, and also because of that same boy she would have a hard time getting another job as she would have 'fired' for reason of leave at the basketball center.
The brunette fueled herself with anger, and turned right back around, determination in her eyes.
She had not taken more than two steps when she realized that she had no clue where the indoor basketball court was. She was not athletic thus she never took the time to look around the various athletic facilities in the school. The only reason as to why she even came to this school was because of its location. It took her only 10 minutes to commute here, the next school took well over 50 minutes. Since she had to cook dinner for her brother, and study, this school was the best option. Even though the fee's were expensive her middle school academics had earned her a hefty scholarship here.
She felt very lost. There were many building of various sizes, and no sign indicating where to go. She wasn't completely certain if the boy was here in the first place. What if the basketball team went to a summer camp...but I need to try! The girl started to walk around aimlessly, hoping to find the basketball court by trial and error.
As she was walking she was pondering on ways that she could beat up the boy, but still make it look like self-defense. He did not look like the perverted type so I can not possibly accuse him of anything like that…perhaps robbery?…
She was so engulfed in her scheming that she didn't see the 6 foot 1 beast walking in the opposite direction of her. The boy's elbow jammed into her face.
"Owww" The girl said rubbing her nose
"Oii watch where yah going!" the boy boomed at her
Mei bowed her head slightly, and murmured a
"I am Sorry"
As Mei brought her head up she made eye contact with the boy. His eyebrows…his eyebrows are so bushy! She exclaimed to herself.
"Itz ok-k! Be caLfuR!" he boomed
As the brunette took in what the boy was wearing, she came to the realization that the boy in front of her was a…basketball player! His get up – a baggy shirt, basketball short, and Nike basketball shoes – screamed 'basketball player'.
"You are a basketball player, am I right? " She questioned him
" 'You are' 'am I (L)ight?', why do you talk like you're from 20th centu(l)y?"
It was hard to understand the boy, but she could make out the gist of it. Her cheeks went red. Did all basketball players have speech impairments?
She repeated herself.
"Are you, or are you not a basketball player? I am looking for a basketball player."
"Y-yes! Ohh a(l)e you l-looking for Kise?" The boy spurred
He talks pretty fast…but more importantly who is this Kise everyone talks about? She thought to herself
"Um not him, I am looking for a boy who is this tall – Mei got up on her tippy toes and with her hands sliced that air horizontally- he has black hair, and blue eyes and –" Mei tried explaining to him
"Don't tell me, you're talking about c-c-captainn?!" the boy exclaimed while bring his head slightly down, and his fists together
Not giving Mei time to explain herself the boy grabbed her hand.
"Are you c-captains gi(l)(r)frnd?" he asked. His brown eyes were wide, and filled with the utmost shock.
"You are aren't you?" he said to himself. He said this more slowly.
Before the petite girl could answer, the boy spoke again.
"Come with me" he said, pulling Mei along.
"Wait what are you doing?" Mei exclaimed
The boy was oblivious to the brunettes question as he was too shocked. His captain had the utmost fear of girls, but somehow he had a girlfriend?!
"Let go of me!" Mei protested to no avail. She was too weak.
I seriously need to start working out she thought bitterly.
The boy with the bushy eyebrows dragged her around a few buildings, and then stopped at an open gym door.
Uh-oh I do not get a good feeling for this Mei thought.
Her feeling was justified as the boy dragged her in the door and started yelling.
"C-c-captain, c-c-c-captain!" He exclaimed
"C-c-c-captan your girlfrnd is here!"
With that a dozen pair of eyes were on Mei.
Mei shielded her eyes. Please do not tell me the captain is…
"Hayakawa, you idiot, what are you on about?" A boy with…black hair said approaching the two.
Upon absorbing in his features, Mei smiled slightly to herself. Found him, though I wish there were not this many people…
The raven haired boy originally had his eyes closed with frustration, but after he opened them he gasped. He stopped walking abruptly, and sputtered
"Y-You ?! Wh-hat are you-u doing h-here?"
The other boys who were practicing were now gathering around, bemused at this scene. The boys started to murmur.
"Kasamatsu has…a girlfriend!?" one boy said
"But he's so scared of girls!" another said
"Hey isn't that the really smart second year who talks to no one?"
The brunette was oblivious theses comment as seeing the boy ignited rage in her body. Taking a step towards him, she jabbed a finger in his direction. She had played this scenario in her head many times, she would curse at the boy, give him a few kicks here and there, and then walk away with her head held high.
However at this moment all she could was point her finger at him, and open and close her mouth like a fish. She felt speechless.
"S-s-stalker!" the boy said shakily, looking at the ground.
The boys around them looked at each other confusingly, and started to murmur again.
"Are they having a lovers quarrel?"
"Did he cheat on her?"
"Maybe he dumped her, and now she's following him?"
Mei no longer oblivious to the comments, angrily protested with rosy cheeks
"I am not a stalker!"
"T-then why a-are you h-here?" The boy asked shakily
Before the girl could reply, a flashy blonde came running in.
"Sempaiii, Sempaiii~!" He yelled
He grabbed on to the shaky boy, and started to wail.
"Sempaiiiii, if you messaged someone 'good luck', and they replied 'go die' what would you think of it?"
The nervousness was gone from the azure eyed boy, as he confusingly said
"Well I don't know much of the situation, but I would say it is what it seems"
"But sempaaii!~" the boy continued to wail
Mei clearly not interested in this quite strange exchange, glanced around the room. Her eyes settled on a lanky, tall boy who had an uncanny resemblance to a string bean. Everyone except for the lanky boy were crowded around the shaky boy, and the blonde. From the looks of it the boy was about to shoot. Mei having nothing else to do decided to analyze his shot.
His shooting stance is good, both his feet are pointing towards the basket, and are also aligned with his shoulder.
As the boy bended slightly down, and began to take his shot, the brunette noticed a big mistake in his shot. Although the boy had one hand under the ball with his elbow almost 90 degrees, and presumably his off hand on the side of the ball, he did not follow through properly.
This is supposed to be an athletic school, and on top of that our basketball team is supposed to be nationally strong, then why does this boy not know that he should follow through the ball upwards and not outwards? Mei questioned herself.
As Mei was thinking this, the ball the boy threw hit the rim of the net, hesitated for a bit, and then went inside.
Though the brunette knew close to nothing about basketball, she knew plenty of physics. Her passion, and love for physics made her walk towards the lanky teen.
"You are throwing the ball wrong." She told the boy simply
As she began to speak the rest of the boys who had been surrounding the flashy blonde, and the shaky boy averted their attention towards her. It didn't bother Mei as she elaborated on what she was saying.
"You need to follow through properly. Upwards, not outwards"
The boy was clearly confused as all he could produce was a
"Huh?"
"You have a good stance as both your feet point towards the net, and are aligned with your shoulder. You also have one hand under the ball with your elbow almost 90 degrees under it, and your off hand to the side. However when you throw the ball your follow through is outwards, where it should have be upwards"
"I don't understand" he said. There was a lot of confusion in his voice.
She needed to demonstrate what she meant.
"Okay pretend I am holding a basketball."
"Uhhh, ok…" the boy said still confused
Squaring her feet towards the net she pretended to take a shot. Bending slightly she instructed
"Watch what I do with my arms"
The girl pretended to take a shot, and then proceeded to make her hand follow the ball upwards.
"Do you see how my hands followed the ball upwards rather than outwards?" she questioned him
The boy nodded, clearly interested.
"But what difference does it make. I got my shot in didn't I?" He asked her.
"It was just by chance"
The boy looked offended at this remark, and was about to say something but the girl quickly interceded.
"All shots are possibilities. Look, I am not saying that you are a bad basketball player or anything. This is simple physics. If you follow through the ball upwards you make the ball have a proper arc. A proper arc means a higher chance of your ball going in"
"…Proper arc…eh?" The boy mused to himself.
He retrieved the basketball he had previously thrown, and followed Mei's instructions.
This time the ball went in smoothly, no hesitation.
"Whoa!" the boy breathed out, clearly understanding what the girl meant.
The basketball players who had been silently watching, broke out into murmurs…again.
"Whoa Kasamatsu's girlfriend knows her basketball!"
"Well, duh! He probably taught it to her!"
Mei put a palm to her face.
Idiots, I am surrounded by idiots.
Little did Mei know that Takeuchi-sensei had been watching the whole exchange that she had with the lank boy from the side lines. Seeing what Mei did, he got an idea.
"Nonaka-san what are you doing here?" he questioned her, walking towards her.
"Well I-" Mei began to say, but was cut off by the boy who had been called 'Hayakawa'.
"C-c-c-c-oach, she c-c-c-captans girrrlfnd!"
"Kasamatsu's…girlfriend?" The coach asked in astonishment.
"Well that would explain why Kasamatsu returned the clipboard to me the other day" the coached added, scratching his chin, clearly recovered from his astonishment.
"S-she's not m-my g-g-girlfriend" the boy, who Mei guessed was named Kasamatsu protested
"It's okay Kasamatsu's you don't have to lie to me. You are allowed to have a social life" the coach said this while looking at the agitated boy.
Mei face palmed harder.
Takeuchi-sense diverted his attention from Kasamatasu, to Mei.
"Nonaka-san you must be a special girl to be his girlfriend, as he doesn't handle girls well"
All Mei could manage was a
"Ehhh?"
"Coaaaaach! I'm n-not dating h-her!" the boy protested
The nervousness was disappearing from his voice as desperation was taking place.
"You two really aren't dating?" the coach asked looking first at Kasamatsu, and then Mei.
"N-noooo!"
"I would much rather die"
They both said in union. Though the boy's part consisted with a lot of stuttering.
"Well actually that works out nicely!" the middle aged man said
"Huhh?"
They both said in union again.
He put a paw on the brunette's shoulder and said
"That was fascinating Nonaka-san, I never would think that you would know so much about basketball"
"I know only the bare minimum in basketball. What I did know was just simple physics" she said truthfully.
"Physics…eh?" he asked dumbfounded
The small girl began to explain
"Well to explain what I just did I need to cover a few physic terms. There is a term in physics called momentum. Momentum is the product of the mass, and velocity of an object, which can be illustrated with the formula p=mv, in which is p represents momentum, m represents mass, and v represents velocity. Now the change in momentum is called an impulse, which can be illustrated with formula I=Ft, in which I stands for Impulse, F stands for force, and t stands for the duration of time the event takes place. It can also be found by multiplying the mass of the product with the change in the products velocity. Now…"
She stopped speaking as she realized that no one in this vicinity had the slightest clue as to what she was talking about. Everyone was staring at her as if she had just grown a third arm.
Breaking the silence, the coach said
"Well I have no clue what you are trying to say, but I have a proposal for you. You see in sports league, such as the NBA, sports team have physicist that help them. Seeing that you know quite a bit of physics, and the added fact that we don't have a manger, I would like to offer you the manager position"
"EHHHHHHHH?!" the basket players, and Mei said in union.
Recovering from the absurdity of the proposal Mei asked the coach
"I would think, that a nationally strong team like Kaijo would already have a manager for the team, if not a few."
"Well you see this year we got a member of the generation of miracles on our team, who also happens to be a model – he pointed at the flashy blonde, who gave such a flashy smile that it was quite disturbing – so it goes without saying that a lot of girls would only apply for this position to get close to him. We did get a couple of girls who would be good for this job but they were in a relationship with a couple of basketball players at that time. I have a strict policy on the manger of this team dating a player on this team. Since you aren't dating Kasamatsu, you're perfect for this position!"
Mei eyed the blonde boy, and shrugged.
He is good looking, but from what he did earlier he resembles a lunatic rather than a model.
Clearing her throat, she said as politely as possible
"I see. Well thank you for your offer, but I have no interest, nor time for basketball"
I also want to kill the captain on this team she added silently
"That's too bad…Let me know if you change your mind. In the meantime I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you to leave. We're starting some intense practices for aforementioned winter cup, and thus only people on the team, and myself will be allowed in here during practices"
"No worries. I was just about to leave" she said coolly
Giving the blue eyed boy a farewell glare she walked towards the gym doors.
As she approached the gates to the school, she had the feeling she was being followed. She stopped walking.
"I know that you are following me"
No response.
Turning around she caught a pair of…azure eyes that immediately averted their gaze to the floor.
"You" she said angrily
The boy did not respond, and instead walked a bit backwards.
Why is here? Should he not be practicing? Whatever. This is my chance.
Before she could walk towards the boy, he started to speak.
"W-h-hy did you h-h-hug me?"
Mei felt herself flush. Her anger washed away. She had thought this over many times during the past two days. She still couldn't explain why she reached out to him. Trying to change the topic, she pointed at the boy and said
"How dare you ask me questions, when you should be apologizing? You-ruined-my-life!"
The boy flinched from her words, and with much confusion asked her
"I r-ruined you're l-life? H-how?"
"Well you –" Mei began to say
For a brief moment her violet eyes, interlocked with his blue ones. She felt herself lost in them, and felt her anger wash away again. The boy quickly averting his gaze to the floor.
What is wrong with me!? I should be angry at him...but I feel almost at peace with him…
Seeing that Mei was not replying the boy tried to break the silence
"At t-the basketball- "
Hearing the word 'basketball' made Mei's almost-peaceful resolve break.
"Basketball, basketball, basketball, stupid basketball. These past two days I have heard and seen enough of this stupid sport!"
She was so busy exclaiming her frustrations that she did notice that the boy started to shake differently. Nervousness was gone from, and instead anger was being replaced within him.
"It may be stupid to you, but to me…it's everything" He said evenly, with clenched fist.
His eyes were radiating anger to the floor.
For the umpteenth time today Mei felt speechless. The boy continued.
"You have no r-right to insult something t-that means s-so much to me. It's actually a g-good thing y-you did not accept the manager position. You would be too…d-dumb!"
You could call the brunette 'short', 'ugly', 'lifeless', heck you could even call her a 'hooker' but the one thing you could not call her was dumb. Not after all the copious amounts of studying she did. Not after the endless nights filled with Kepler's law, Japanese feudal lords, inorganic reactions, and derivatives.
Her mind felt like it would explode with the absurdity of his comment. Not hearing a response from the girl, the boy slowly peeped up at her.
The brunette slowly turned her head towards the boy
"What-did-you-just-say?!"
She walked towards the boy, head titled, eyes filled with rage. The boy started to shake nervously again and started to walk backwards.
Before she could inflict any damage on the boy, a tall, blonde injected himself between them.
"Sempaaaii, you said you wanted to go to the bathroom…but you're here?"
Mei titled her head back normally, and angrily stared at the boy.
The blonde hair boy had been gawking at Kasamatsu, but now he turned his attention towards the girl, smiling slightly.
"This is the first time a girl has shown interest in Sempaii, I'm kinda interested in you"
Mei felt very annoyed.
"You are all the same. You basketball players are all annoying…and…having speaking problems…and are…stupid!"
"Huhh?" The blond hair boy said, looking very confused.
Mei turned her head around. Feeling very dignified at her remark, she stormed away from the two boys.
A/N So how did you like it? Truth be told, I usually write all my chapters within a day after each other but it takes me forever to edit them.
To clear a few things:
I know Kise glomped Kasamatsu, and asked him about his text to Midorimi after summer break. I included it in before because I didn't know any other way to introduce Kise xD
I know that Kaijo's an athletic school, and whether or not they know the 'physics' behind a lot of their sports, they would know about proper sport techniques (i.e shooting a ball). So the boy Mei helped is actually a member of the 2nd string, and in this fic the coach doesn't pay too much attention to the 2nd string.
Mei is against conjugations, so you won't be reading her say 'can't', 'it's' and so on :P
I hope my physics is correct, its been forever since I opened a physic book!
That's it! Thanks again, have an awesomesacue day :D
EDIT: Okay I know my physics was really basic in this chapter, but I'm tad bit too lethargic to make it more complicated hehee. Also I know I totally messed up Hayakawa's parts, I'm really sorry . I'll try to fix it later.