Aaaaaand here's another one for you all~
imafangirlforever: *evil grin* Good... Good... Mwahahaha~ I don't know, we'll see lol no spoilers, but this chapter kind of reveals it... I was reading other KnB fan fictions and most of them seem to have a sick OC... ;-; There goes my unique spiel on the anime/manga... *sigh* Oh, well. Do you really? I'm glad~ and a bit guilty, I tend to favor him... Eheheh...
invisible-gurl: Yes, yes, yes! I can't wait to write it either, it's going to be interesting for sure~
BlazeMary: Arigatō!
Monkey D. Writer: I know! I think I shed a few tears during those chapters/episodes... He is, though... *discreetly wipes up drool* Have you seen Aomine cosplayers? There are some that are damn fine, if I must say so lol Well, that's good, I like reverse harems, too~ Really? I do my fan fictions based off the manga coz reading is faster than watching for me. And I've been procrastinating like a boss on my summer homework, so meh... teehee
Spoiler: mushy, gushy scene up ahead!
Happy readings~
"Ohyaō, minna! I missed you all so much!" Shirogane squeals loudly, waving at the first... no, second year players.
"Riyeko-hime, you just saw us the day before yesterday on the courts." Kuroko points out. Under the insistence of his captain, the pale boy had gotten used to calling the girl by her first name. However, much to the Shirogane's disappointment, he, like the others, had also gained the habit of tacking "-hime" at the end.
"Ahaha, unnecessary details...!" she waves it off with a laugh. "Can you believe it?! We're in our second year of junior high already!"
"How are you so cheery on the first day of school?" Aomine yawns, stretching while doing so. He blinks blearily, struggling to keep his eyes open. Momoi had woken him up at an ungodly hour, proclaiming something about making this a better year. Damn her...
"How are you not?" the white-haired girl counters, crossing her arms. "Are you all ready for the try outs?"
"How can we not be? After all those times you dragged us out to play basketball..." Midorima scowls. Just before school ended, the six of them had traded phone numbers to keep in contact during the break, something Midorima instantly regretted doing so. Their captain constantly nagged them to play street ball to keep in shape for the season, seeing as they would all return to the team.
"Ne, ne! I have something to show to you guys!" she searches through her bag before producing a wad of paper. Smoothing it out with her hands, Shirogane sums up the article she had cut out of the newspaper. "After last year's championships at Nationals, Basketball Monthly has given us a title, if you can believe it."
"Eh? What is it Ri-chin?" Murasakibara thrusts his head forward, trying to read the small print from over the girl's shoulder. "The Generation of Miracles?"
"Sōka?" Aomine asks with a raised brow. "That's awesome! We sound so badass!"
"I think it sounds lame." Midorima cuts in sharply. "What a frivolous title."
"Ne, it says that Teikō has acquired a group of five basketball geniuses with Shirogane Riyeko, the Basketball Princess, as captain. And-" the giant narrates. Shirogane quickly crumples up the paper and thrusts it into her bag with a bright red face.
"Y-You weren't supposed to read that part..." she mumbles, ducking her head.
Aomine chuckles. "You're still off about that? Everyone calls you hime, ya think you would be immune to it by now."
"That was all because of you!" she wails pitifully, punching the tanned boy in the arm. Aomine continues to laugh, undeterred by the girl's weak retaliation. Shirogane suddenly freezes, a sudden revelation occurring in her mind. "Then, I hope you don't mind your new nickname... Ahomine!"
"HAH!? What did you call me?!"
"Ahomine!"
"Gah! ... Hime!"
The others snicker at his new nickname, finding it ironically fitting with the boy's personality. It was simply brilliant.
"Let's get to class, the bell is about to ring." Akashi instructs flatly, breaking up their mini reunion. They split off in search of their classrooms after trading a few farewells.
"Heh, I'm in your class this year, Shintarō!" the white-haired girl giggles, bouncing beside the green-haired boy.
"Joy."
"Ne! So cold! What a tsundere...!"
"... Urusai."
"Have you noticed the attention we've been getting all day?" Shirogane mumbles uneasily. She gracefully slips into the seat next to the green-haired shooting guard and places her bag underneath her chair.
"Hai, it is a bit strange." he replies, peering at the other students through his frames. On his desk lies a hammer, no doubt his lucky item of the day. Shirogane is surprised that the teachers even let him bring one into school but decides not to comment on it.
"What do you suppose we did that would attract so much attention?" she whispers. Midorima shrugs noncommittally. The girl pouts at his indescript answer.
The two basketball players had to suffer through the stares and gossip that flew around them the entire morning. Even outside of the classroom, it didn't stop. The pair of them walking down to the cafeteria drew unnecessary attention. Eyes followed their every move as if they were famous celebrities visiting.
"Is it just me or are we super popular?" Aomine wonders, dropping his bag down onto the cafeteria table without a care. "I mean, people've been staring at me the whole damn day."
"That's what I said!" Shirogane exclaims, repeatedly poking her classmate in the arm. Midorima frowns and brushes off the offending appendage.
"It is quite unusual." Akashi notes blandly.
"Maybe they saw the article we were mentioned in." Kuroko suggests, popping out of nowhere to join in.
Aomine flinches. "Gah! When did you get here?!" The shorter boy wordlessly stares at him with emotionless pale blue eyes.
Shirogane nods. "Tetsuya's right. It'll probably die down soon enough anyways. It's probably just be a brief obsession."
The Generation of Miracles, however, did not know how wrong they were.
Swish. Thud.
"Nice one!"
"Five minute break! Hydrate yourselves!" Shirogane scrubs her face and neck with a towel before tossing it onto the bench. She guzzles the water thirstily from her water bottle. Looking around the court, she notices an abnormal amount of visitors watching their practice.
"Eh? When did all these people get here, hime?" Aomine blurts, staring at their audience with wide eyes.
"Strange..." Midorima comments, pushing up his glasses as he, too, peers at their fans.
"Weird how we haven't noticed them before, huh? I mean, they aren't the quietest bunch..." she trails off. It was true, the student who gathered to watch the first-string and reserve players practice conversed with each other rather loudly, filling up the gymnasium with a pandemonium of voices.
Aomine winces. "The coach sure doesn't look too happy about that." The trio swivel their heads, only to find Sanada scowling darkly at their unwanted audience.
"Momoi." he calls.
"Hai!" the pink-haired girl steps forward.
"Please show the students out, they're distracting our players from practice." he commands. Momoi nods compliantly, disappearing out of the double doors. The other members watch with amusement as their manager ushers, with much difficulty, all of the attendees out of the gym.
A sort of eerie silence fills in its place.
"Well, that fixed it for now." Shirogane sighs.
"Hn."
"Aw, c'mon! I actually liked the attention!" Aomine complains, throwing up his hands. "At least we're getting some sort of recognition."
"Mm." the captain hums in agreement.
"Ne, where's Ri-chin?" Murosakibara questions the others while sitting on the bench in the boy's locker room.
"I dunno." Aomine shrugs his shoulders before pulling on a t-shirt. "Strange, though. She's been missing more practices lately." The red-haired vice-captain frowns to himself thoughtfully while bending over to lace his shoes.
The players slowly drift out of the changing room and onto the court. Sanada beckons them over.
"We'll be scrimmaging for today." he explains tightly. The players notice his strained expression, more stern than usual.
"Is something the matter, Sanada-sensei?" Midorima asks, pulling at his bandaged fingers. The man scans the confused faces before him before sighing.
"So you don't know..." he mutters, more to himself than the others.
"Huh? Don't know what?" Aomine repeats with his eyebrows raised.
"Nothing. You'll find out soon enough." he waves them off.
"Does it have to do with Riyeko-hime?" Akashi inputs bluntly.
Sanada frowns with a slightly startled expression, confirming Akashi's thoughts. He combs a weary hand through his hair before looking away. "Don't worry about it for now. Just focus on practicing." The players reluctantly scatter to their respective spots.
"Do you know something, Akashi?" Midorima whispers discreetly, jogging next to the redhead.
"Hm... I have a suspicion, but I haven't confirmed it yet." the vice-captain replies vaguely. Midorima frowns and pushes up his glasses before letting the topic drop.
"You're going to have to tell them, you know."
"... I know. Just... not now."
sigh
Shirogane doesn't show up for the next three days. The other first year regulars worry constantly for their captain, missing her bubble presence in school and on the courts. Even Sanada seemed more tense than usual.
"Kuso! I forgot a lunch!" Aomine swears under his breath while taking an empty seat at their usual table. "Ah... I'm so used to hime bringing us lunch that I forgot today..." He groans theatrically and slumps back in his chair.
"Why don't you go buy one?" a calm voice speaks up from his left. Aomine peers over before jolting straight up, almost falling out of his seat.
"Tetsu! ... When did you get here?!" the tanned player demands, heart racing from the surprise.
"I've been sitting at this table before you have." Kuroko replies monotonously. Aomine blinks at him a few times, unable to comprehend the newest player.
"Ne, I hope Ri-chin comes back soon..." a deep voice enters their conversation. Murasakibara pulls out another candy bar from nowhere and tears it open. "She always brings me good snacks..."
Midorima sighs and pushes up his glasses. His bandaged fingers come into view. The green-haired players frowns and picks at the loosely ravelled strips of cloth. They were messily wrapped around each of his fingers and had begun to fall apart despite it only being the afternoon. Without Shirogane, no one could bandage his hand appropriately. He drops his hand into his lap and turns away.
"I've just realized how attached you all are to Riyeko-hime." Kuroko notes. The others face him with a wide range of emotions splattered across their expressions. "I'm not saying it's a bad thing, it's just something I've noticed."
"Well, yeah. I mean, hime is so awesome!" Aomine grins. "Oh, that's right... you've never seen her play all out in a game. You'll understand when you see it, you'll probably get attached like we are!"
"It's not only that..." Akashi says, abruptly standing up with an empty bento box in hand. He turns to swiftly exit the cafeteria with his unfinished message lingering behind him. The others follow him with inquisitive eyes.
She's also our princess.
"Kuroko Tetsuya. Starting from the next match, you will formally be a regular. Your uniform number will be fifteen." Sanada announces one afternoon. He glances up from the clipboard to peer at the shocked blue-haired player through rimmed glasses. "I'm looking forward to your plays as the sixth man. Afterwards, tell Momoi your uniform size."
There's a brief silence. The other players stare at the pale boy with mixed expressions. Kuroko is stunned silent, eyes wide with disbelief.
"You did it, Tetsu!" Aomine shouts cheerfully for his friend. He slings a tanned arm over the smaller boy's shoulder and ruffles his hair with a wide grin.
"..."
"... Huh? Aren't you happy?" the tanned boy pokes Kuroko's cheek with a finger.
"No, I am happy, but... to be honest, it doesn't feel real..." the pale boy breathes.
"It's not a borrowed uniform this time; you're a real, official regular." Akashi smiles faintly. "Congratulations."
"Well, I guess it's okay..." Murasakibara mumbles, glancing at him out of the corner of his eyes.
"Yeah. Good for you." Midorima adds blandly.
"Well aren't you all cheerful today." a gently teasing voice comes from behind the gathered players.
"Eh?" They pivot around simultaneously, coming face to face with a familiar figure in the doorway.
"Hime!" a collective call rises up from the boys. The atmosphere in the gym lightens considerably now that she is here.
Akashi frowns. "Riyeko-hime... why are you in a wheel chair?"
The others stop and take a second look, finally noticing the contraption supporting the white-haired girl.
"... Nani?"
"Wh-What happened?"
"Daijōbu, hime?"
Shirogane smiles angelically. "Don't worry about me. It was only a small accident." The others shoot her dubious looks. "On the other hand, good job, Tetsuya! Welcome to the team, officially!"
"Ah... arigatō, Riyeko-hime." Kuroko feels the tension leave his muscles as he returns her smile with smaller one.
"I'm glad you finally made it, too you long enough, eh?" the white-haired girl teases good-naturedly. While she and Kuroko share a blissful bonding moment, the other players can't help but feel concerned for their captain.
"Riyeko-hime. Stop with the act, why are you on a wheel chair?" Akashi cut in the moment rather harshly, glaring daggers at the revolting metallic contraption confining their princess.
"Ne, it isn't as bad as it looks, minna, honestly!" she nods reassuringly. With practiced ease, she pushes the wheels forward with her delicate hands. It seemed that she had done this before. And it did not sit well with the others.
"... It's ugly." Murasakibara announces quite randomly.
"Eh?" Shirogane looks startled.
"Ri-chin doesn't look cute anymore." the giant utters bluntly with a frown.
Midorima coughs, noticing Shirogane's hurt expression. "What he means is that your wheelchair is rather unflattering." he elaborates clearly, pushing up his glasses. He enunciates 'wheelchair' with a tone of distaste.
"Ano, the doctor says I'm going to have to be in it for a while so..." she trails off, not knowing what to say.
Aomine suddens brightens with an idea. "Chotto matte... You don't need the wheelchair at all!"
"... Nani?" Shirogane tilts her head in bewilderment. She couldn't follow the tanned player's train of thought and judging by the other's expressions, neither could they.
"Baka, of course she needs it. Otherwise, she won't get better." Midorima frowns.
"Iie, iie. That's not what I meant..." Aomine scratches the back of his head, trying to find a way to explain further without confusing the others. Not that they weren't confused already. "What I mean is that hime won't need to use the wheelchair anymore because... because we'll carry her!" He grins proudly at himself.
His proposition his met with a silence. Shirogane could practically see the ellipses hanging over everyone's head.
"That's actually not a bad idea..." Akashi states slowly as if he can't believe he's agreeing with an idea Aomine came up with.
"This way, hime won't need her wheelchair and we can help her whenever she needs it." Aomine encourages.
Midorima closes his eyes in thought before sighing. "I suppose it isn't a half-bad idea." Murasakibara just nods agreeingly, as long as the wheelchair was gone, he didn't care what he had to do. Kuroko doesn't say a word but smiles in confirmation.
"Riyeko-hime?" Akashi asks softly.
Shirogane stares at the five males standing before her with wide eyes. She fidgets in her seat, slightly uncomfortable. "Ah, well... I don't want to be trouble and carrying me everywhere will probably be a pain so I don't thi-"
"Don't worry about it!" Aomine laughs loudly. "You can't be that heavy."
"Besides, the rest of us have agreed." Akashi's lips pull up slightly. "It will be hard to change our minds now."
Midorima snorts quietly but doesn't object while Murasakibara pulls on one of her pale coils.
Shirogane bites her lip, weighing her choices before letting out a sigh. "Alright. I'll agree to it. But don't complain to me after a few days or anything!" she warns the others with a cute pout.
Aomine immediately jumps forwards and squats down to her level with his back towards the front of the wheelchair. "C'mon then!" Shirogane lets out a giggle before snaking her arms around the tanned player's neck and letting him hoist her legs up and around his waist. He stands up with a grunt and takes a few steps experimentally.
"Wah, hime, you're so small and light, it feels like I'm not carrying anything!" he says with a snicker. Shirogane scowls and smacks the top of his head with a fist.
"Hey!"
"Itai!"
The others watch with amusement at the two. "Aomine-kun, I think this is the first smart idea I've ever heard from you." Kuroko speaks up. Said player freezes in mid banter with his captain and slowly turns to face the smaller boy.
"What did you say...?" Aomine growls and chases Kuroko around the courts with Shirogane squealing on his back. The navy-haired player hardly seems weighed down by the girl, easily keeping up with the paler boy.
"Ahomine-chin." Murasakibara mutters, stressing 'aho' as he watches them with Midorima and Akashi.
Midorima shakes his head but can't help completely conceal the small small on his lips. Akashi doesn't bother to hide his as he watches the white-haired girl with fond eyes. Everything was suddenly brighter with Shirogane around.
They simply cannot deny it, she makes them all happy.