Thank you all for waiting, reviews, favorites and follows make me happy!

Now here is the fifth chapter!

Stifling a yawn, Haruko locks the door to her house. Her mother and sister left to school earlier than usual. She didn't know why nor did she really care but it still felt strange not hearing the usual chatter and whines in the morning. With a dazed look on her face, she begins her walk to school. Though for a short while, her hands were fiddling with the ponytail she had made again.

"Hey Kobayama-chan!" A voice rings loud and clear, making her stop.

That voice, him again? Why is it always the same thing?

Feeling that the mentioned girl hadn't heard him, he jogs a few steps closer with a bounce in his steps. Stopping right beside her, he pats her shoulder. "What are you thinking about so early in the morning?"

"It's nothing Aomine-kun." She assures him, bringing a hand up to her mouth to cover another yawn.

He eyes her in curiosity. "You tired? Didn't get enough sleep last night or something?" He blinks at her when she suddenly smacks her cheeks.

"Something like that…But it's nothing to worry about." Wanting to change the topic of her night's rest to something else, she decides to ask about his day yesterday. "How was basketball practice?"

Almost as soon as the word 'basketball' had left her mouth, a smile appears on his face as he lets go of her shoulder and begins chattering about yesterday's events. "Amazing as usual. Made some new teammates like this really tall guy and someone who's crazy about zodiac signs or somethin' like that. Though there's still one person who isn't as tall as the rest of us but somehow made it onto the team…"

Listening quietly and nodding her head when he asks her about how his teammates were weird but strong, she thinks back to her practice. Yesterday was…Amazing. No words can even explain how I felt. Is that how Aomine feels during his practices too?

"Oh and our captain Nijimura Shuzo came back to the gym late and he was talking about someone named Yamamoto Yumi and for some reason that sounded very familiar…" He continues with his arms behind his head.

She raises a brow at the name that he'd just said. "My captain?"

"And how she really-What?" He stares down at her in confusion. "Your captain…Yumi?"

"Yeah Yumi-senpai is the person in charge of the Track and Field Club. Also, you shouldn't say her name so carelessly like that, she's a whole grade above us after all." She chastises him with a pointed finger.

Merely shrugging at her comment, Aomine shifts his eyes from her to face directly forward. "It's not like she's here anyway and when did you start acting so friendly?" His tone is that of suspicion.

Just as soon as she opened her mouth, a yawn escaped instead of words.

Knowing that she was just going to be yawning for the remainder of their walk, he continues instead. "Never mind. He had said something about there being an exciting event outside but it had already finished by the time he got to the gym."

She wanted to tell him what happened yesterday but she felt as if it wouldn't be worth mentioning. She hadn't done anything extraordinary yesterday…She didn't even win. Letting out a sigh, she pulls out an orange packet from her sweater packet, placing one piece into her mouth. Orange, haven't tasted that flavor for a while now.

Having noticed that he was the only one talking about the matter, he stops to stare at what she was doing if not talking to him. She looks tired and sad or something, is she really annoyed about the Yumi thing? Jeez, she's almost as stubborn as Satsuki.

"H'n, fine." He lets out after thinking up of a way to make it up to her.

She lifts her head to look at him. What did he want now?

"Yamamoto-senpai." He suddenly says, annoyed.

"What are you talking about?"

He stares down at her with an incredulous look. "Weren't you mad because I didn't call her name properly?"

With the tilt of her head, she begins to shake her head at his words. "I'm not mad about that, really its no-"

"Wow she's here today? With none other than that Aomine guy."

"Yesterday was pretty embarrassing wasn't it?" A few girls whispered under their breaths while walking pass the two rather tall students.

Still the same as yesterday. Why do they think it's bad that I didn't win, Akihito has more experience than me. She keeps her eyes focused on the school building ahead of her.

Aomine having heard the two girls looks down and notices how tight her hand is clenching her bag strap. "Were they talking to you?" He asks, confused about the situation.

There's no point in hiding it now I guess. "Yeah, I raced Akihito-senpai yesterday." She answers him, yawning once more. Though she wanted to use his last name, he told her that since he won, she would have to start calling him by his first name. Like Yumi-senpai.

"And you lost?"

"Pretty much."

"Are you mad about that?"

"Not at all, it just irks me how students seem to think otherwise but what could you do?"

Before he's able to ask her anymore questions, a piece of gum makes contact with his face. He catches it before it falls to the floor. Staring at the sweet in his hand, he doesn't notice that Haruko had walked off ahead of him until bringing his head back up. "She must be really excited for class." He mumbles, ripping off the wrapper and placing it in his mouth.

Walking through the corridors instead of running this time, she hears the whispers and comments of the students again but this time it was an awfully slow walk to her class. Deciding to ignore the students and instead trying to spot the shorter boy, she constantly switches her eyes from left to right before making her way into the class. As usual, most of the kids were outside messing around or talking about yesterday. The few students who were in class were either reading or doing last night's homework. Mentally sighing at the fact that they wouldn't have time to talk about her, she walks over to her desk, tiredly placing her bag onto it before crossing her arms above it and placing her head to rest on them.

Kuroko, who had gotten there before her, watches from the corner of his eye. She must be tired from yesterday's events he guesses. "It's barely first period Kobayama-san."

Before she's able to drift off to sleep for a few minutes, his voice stops her. Opening one eye, she stares at him. "Its fine isn't it? Just tell me when the teacher's here." She mumbles out, voice muffled by her pale white sweater.

He goes back to reading but keeps his ears strained for when the teacher walks in. Being tired first thing in the morning must mean she pushed herself real hard. I should try pushing myself as well. Surely I'll make it to the 2nd string at least. He hears the sound of his teacher's voice chiding the late students as usual. "Kobayama-san." He whispers out, watching her eyebrows furrow before she opens her eyes to stare at his. He merely points his finger towards the door but covers it with his other hand so no other students would see.

Nodding at his unsaid words, she lifts up her head and places her bag on the side of her desk.

"Alright, class is starting."

"Are you going to sleep again?"

Haruko stretches her arms as her answer. "Its lunch and to be honest, I'm pretty hungry." She tells him, fiddling in her bag until she pulls out a small orange wallet. "I'm going to the vending machines, want to come?"

Staring at her with the same blank expression he always seemed to wear, he nods before following her out the door. It was strange of her to ask him to accompany her to the machines. She hadn't ask the days before.

"There she is again."

"She's alone this time, wonder if that other kid, what was his name?"

"Aomine?"

"Yeah he probably ditched her."

Kuroko stares up at the said girl, the reason for the rumors around the school. Though he found that she wasn't the least bit upset about it, maybe her tiredness has her zoned out. Just as he was about to turn his head, he spots the small ball in her sweater pocket. She's clenching her fist, so she is bothered by it. Deciding not to question her about it, he directs his head and watches the many students gathered in the hallway. Most of which who were watching her.

Finally turning at the corner of the long hallway, she lets out a sigh. "I'm buying some bread, want something? Juice maybe?" Not waiting for his answer, she puts in the correct amount of change and pulls out both the bread and the drink. Holding it out to him, she waits for him to take it.

"Thank you." He stares up at her, juice in hand watching as she takes a bite out of her bread.

As if sensing his eyes on her, she looks down at him. "You know it's pretty strange to watch someone who's eating."

"Human observation is one of my hobbies." He comments while opening his can.

She stares down at him with a raised brow before sighing. "Let's sit on that staircase," She inclines her head to the right, "Everyone's gathered in the hallways anyways." Again not waiting for his reply, she walks off to take a seat on the bottom step while Kuroko had his back against the wall.

Only the sound of the wrapper could be heard as she gripped it tightly, nearly smashing the bread in the process. She doesn't mind and keeps on eating until there's nothing left.

"You're annoyed." Kuroko comments, taking a sip of his drink.

Getting up, she tosses the trash into the nearest dumpster. "Yes I am. Seriously, can't they talk about something else?"

"I believe the only way to get them to stop is to beat him."

"That's not as easy as it sounds. Besides I already raced him, people would assume I lost anyways." Haruko mutters, walking alongside Kuroko back to class.

"You could try winning then."

"Winning at what?" She asks him, confused about his suggestion. What could I win at that people would stop talking about me in that way?

"It's the Track club, there must be races or meets that they participate in?"

She froze at his words. That's right. There must be competitions, how else would they get their funds? "Thanks Kuroko-kun, I'll be sure to ask Yumi-senpai about it after school." With a small smile set on her face, she walks into class; Kuroko following right behind.

"Huh? Track meets?" Yumi stares up at Haruko with a raised brow. "Well, we do participate in them but we don't sign up for any until the fall season." She answers the young girl while writing something down on her clip board.

"Which means we still have roughly five months till then." Akihito comments from his spot on the floor. He was stretching from left leg to right and finally to the center.

Haruko deflates at the realization of how long she's going to actually have to deal with being labeled as a 'Loser'.

Akihito watches as her shoulders are slowly brought down by her change of attitude. "Which is fine because we'll be able to crush them with more force." He says, smiling at the two girls. He flinches at the pain that met his head.

"Geez, you know I hate it when you talk all 'Teiko' like that." [1] Yumi comments seemingly disgusted at his words while lifting the clip board away from his head.

"Teiko way?" Haruko mutters, questioningly.

Yumi waves her off. "You'll learn about it later, it's an annoying motto really." Looking around the field, she noticed how no one was gathered or blocking the paths this time. "It's a good thing they aren't here again. Anyways, why don't we start practice-"

"Hey are you the captain?"

"Ah no, that one you're referring to is over there," Akihito holds up his hands at the teen that had shown up out of nowhere, "She's the captain of this club." He says, pointing where the two girls were talking.

Haruko watches the teen as he's walking towards them. Nothing out of the ordinary with him, he had black hair that parted to his left side and had some spikes, almost like Akihito. His uniform however proved that he belonged to the baseball team. She stares straight at him when he stops in front of her.

"We need the field, my captain said to race you and-"

"But I'm not the captain." Haruko answers with her hands up, similar to what Akihito had done moments prior.

"Huh?"

"I am." Yumi suddenly decides to correct him.

"This shortie? You've got to be kidding me." He comments, rubbing his head in annoyance.

A sudden heat pulls Haruko's attention away from the teen in front of her. Looking down to her left, she could just see the orange flame that had engulfed the captain. Feeling a cold sweat form in the back of her neck, she walks over to where Akihito was standing.

"He's done it." He whispers, trying to hold in his laughter.

"I was expecting more of a challenge but this is going to be simple. You should just let me race that kid over there; at least he seems like more of a challenge."

"Really now?" Yumi asks him, voice laced with an unnatural sweet tone. "Well, let's bet the whole week on it then."

The teen smirks down at her, "Alright then. Thank you for letting my club have it."

"With pleasure," Walking over to the starting line, she begins taking off her track jacket, "Akihito!"

No honorifics! Is she that friendly with him? Or perhaps they really are lovers! Haruko's thoughts were running wild with how anyone could call someone's name like that. Well there was that one…Time…But it was a long time ago. Watching as he jogs over to where Yumi was standing, he catches the sweater she flings at him. Her eyes widen as she watches Yumi pull off her shorts, only to reveal track shorts underneath them?

Akihito catches the shorts with ease. "She's serious." He tells the teen, laughing at his blushing face. "Alright, we'll be starting now. Ready," With his right arm up, he starts the countdown, "Se-go!" He finishes in a rush voice.

Yumi speeds off, having already been used to his weird way of counting while the other teen stumbles after her. Her legs move in fluid motion, such a stunning way that Haruko can't help but stare. Unlike yesterday where she couldn't watch how her opponent ran, today she was able to see well, everything. From the way her arms moved and to the way she steps on the ground. It's almost as if she's gliding, you can't even see the moment her feet meet the floor.

Akihito smiles at the expression on Haruko's face. Her eyes were wide and she looked completely awestruck. "Yeah she's really something." He comments quietly, trying not to distract her attention away from Yumi. They were just a few seconds in and she already had at least a forty foot lead. Then again, she's their captain after all.

"Wow, she's doing it this time?"

Akihito turns his head, a smile on his face. "Yeah, someone pissed her off again." Seeing that it was none other than Nijimura, he turns back to watch the racers.

"She needs to learn how to control her anger."

Haruko having been bored watching the two converse, wonders if she should introduce herself. Suddenly as if hearing her thoughts, his coal black eyes locked onto her own. For some reason she felt intimidated by him, maybe it was his height or the way he had almost no expression on his face.

"Ah, Shuzo-kun I see you've met our youngest team member. " He playfully calls him, though unlike how Yumi acted when he called her by her first name, Nijimura had nothing to say about it. He didn't seem bothered in the slightest.

"Kobayama Haruko, 1st year. Pleasure to meet you." She manages to stumble out, bowing at her senior.

"No need to bow," He lets out, watching as she lifts up her head to stare at him once again, "Nijimura Shuzo, 2nd year."

So he's in the same year as Yumi and Akihito? Are they all friends or something? She wonders, shifting her eyes between the both of them.

"He's actually my other half you see-"

"Don't believe that, we just share the same birthday."

"And zodiac signs."

They share the same birthday? Wonder if I'll find anyone who shares mine. "Have you been friends with Akihito and Yumi-senpai for a long time?" She asks him as he's busy talking with Akihito.

Pulling his attention away from the other boy, he turns to stare down at her. "This will be our fourth year, having known each other since the last years of grade school." He answers, only thinking for a second.

"Shouldn't you be training your basketball members?"

The three nearly jump at the fourth voice that drifted in from behind them. Turning their bodies around, the three stare down at Yumi who was standing with crossed arms.

"That again? Like I said before, we take breaks." He tells her, fixing his black armband.

"But you're a captain," She sighs tiredly, "We need to form our teams into the best they can be."

Akihito stares down at Yumi with a childish grin. "What happened to thinking the 'Teiko' way?" At the sudden glare Yumi sent him, he laughs it off.

"I should be going now. Great to see the Track and Field club has been formed anew." He stares at the trio for a moment, watching as the two bicker while Haruko merely watches them. This year's going to be interesting. He walks off, passing the baseball team as they yell at their younger teammate who raced Yumi. "You shouldn't have agitated her." He mutters, walking pass them.

"You're not walking with us today?"

"No sorry. I'm actually waiting for someone. See you tomorrow, Yumi-senpai, Akihito-senpai."

"If you say so, just don't get home too late." Yumi tells her, unsurely.

Haruko nods at her two seniors, watching as they make their way out of the gym. Making a swift turn, she walks to the fourth gym, the empty one, wanting to check if Kuroko was there. Though, the sound of the ball doesn't greet her this time and instead it was silence that met her ears. Since she hadn't sweat too much today, she was dressed in her club clothes. Stepping into the gym, she strains her ears, trying to hear at least one sound.

"Kobayama-san, what are you doing here?"

She jumps at the sound of the one she was looking for. Deciding not to reprimand him for suddenly appearing behind her, she turns around to stare down at him. "You're done with practice right? Aren't we walking home?" Unlike her workout clothes, he had changed back into his school uniform.

"Yes. Thank you for waiting." He thanks her in that monotone voice of his.

"It's fine."

The two make their way out of the gym and finally out of the school gates. For the first few minutes they're walking in silence, Kuroko once again reading his book and Haruko who's chewing gum.

"Oh that's right," Her eyes light up in joy, "Yumi-senpai said there are going to be meets and all sorts of tournaments, in the fall though." She fiddles with her hair curls. "I'm really excited, I can't wait."

"I'll be sure to go and watch." Kuroko tells her, still looking at the book in his hands.

She visibly froze in her steps for half a second before taking one long step to be at the same pace with him once more. "Alright, I'll go to your tournaments too." She answers, smiling softly.

Kuroko having hid the bottom of his face in his book lets a small smile slip. "Sure." One that she couldn't see.

A/N

Ahhh, I almost kept my promise ahaha I uploaded this on the third day. I'll get it right next time. Alright, since I managed to get my hands on the Teiko timeline, there will be a few time skips but only a few months, we don't want this story to be confusing. Anyways, sorry for any mistakes you may have found, I'll be sure to edit this later.

[1] "...You talk all 'Teiko' like that." What Yumi means is Teiko's motto "Ever Victorious" and she enjoys the thrill of running and not so much about winning (But they have to win).

Renji -Ahh yes, I would've probably said things to Akihito, I'm sort of competitive too ahaha. For some reason it makes me really happy to know you admire her (I possibly admire her too).

Narwhal-Riding-Alien – I love the username. Ah the running part was hard for me, took me a while to get it right.

Ninja99 – Thank you. I want her to experience friendship, trials, and yes hardships. Romance is something that may be occurring much much much later.

Savage Kill – I'm sorry if these weren't funny rumors ahaha but don't worry, I'll be sure to add in some humor in the next chapter maybe. Rumors are sort of a pain to deal with and of course everyone deals with them differently. I would probably try to find out things about the person who spread them, pretty awful person I am.

Random Browser – Thank you so much. I'm glad you like it. I'll try not to let any of you new readers down.

x10TIMEx – Glad you think so! Makes me happy.

Thank you all for taking the time to read this new chapter.

Akihito and Shuzo share the same birthday. This was completely by accident but now it seems like a funny plot device, possible bonus chapter? Seriously, their personalities are just too different.

Watamura Akihito – June 12th

Yamamoto Yumi – April 7th

Kobayama Haruko – March 13th

Inspirational Song – Light Your Heart Up (Kill La Kill Soundtrack)

Performed by – Aimee Blackschleger

Just a little something, but if you would like me to draw a scene from this, I wouldn't mind. Just write in your review what you would want to see (I've been itching to draw an actual scene from this story) ahaha. Or character, I'll upload it on my Deviantart. Next chapter, I'll try to post it later on today or something!

Thank you all for reading really means a lot. Have a good night and/or day!

ヽ( ' ∀ ' )ﾉ