"So, honey, what club did you decide to join?"
"Umm, well, I'm planning on joining the Literature Club with Koo-chan."
"Koo-chan? Who has a name like that? Has she been over to the house? Is she nice? Have I met her?"
"It's a nickname mom. I give lots of people nicknames so that it's easier for me to remember. And no, she hasn't been over. However, contrary to your belief, just because she hasn't been over does not mean that she isn't my friend. And I guess she's nice, she is really ambitious and sets high goals for herself."
"Mom, I have to finish my homework, I'll talk to you later." I could tell Kyo had followed me out the kitchen due to the quiet padding of his feet. I went to my room and gracefully flopped on my bed while Kyo took a seat at the spinning chair by my desk.
I could tell Kyo was having issues forming his angry and confused thoughts into words so I thought I would save him the trouble.
"Kyo, what I am about to tell you must not ever be talked about again. I am not in the Literature Club. Dear god, I would pull my hair out of my hair if I had to deal with Koo-chan for longer than thirty minutes. I am the manager of the basketball team. I know you want me to play, but it will take more time until I feel comfortable again. So I figured I should start with manager and maybe make my way up to player."
After I had finished my small speech, Kyo jumped off the chair and flopped on the bed next to me and wrapped his arms around me giving me a tight hug.
"I knew you wouldn't break your promise."
"You doubted me though. You thought that I had really joined the Literature Club. I feel offended. I guess you don't know me as well as I thought you did, I feel so hurt." I said dramatically.
Kyo just sighed at his sister's antics and put his head on my shoulder soon enough we both fell asleep.
"Listen up! I want all of to give a big warm welcome to your new manager, Yu-chan."
It was hilarious; more than half of the players did a spit take when they saw me standing next to Riko. Well, I thought it was hilarious, Riko just looked disgusted.
"Just for that disgusting behavior, all of your training regiments will be doubled."
Hyuuga, who was one of the players that spit out his water, looked at me.
"What are you doing here? Is the brat here? And why the hell do you have a baseball hat on?"
"Well, Grandpa Hyuuga, like your coach said, I am your manager. Did you even listen? And no, Kyo isn't here, but I'll tell him you send your regards. And why do you care about my fashion sense?"
I was in fact wearing a baseball hat. I had my hair up in a ponytail with a baseball hat low over my eyes. Before, Hyuuga could retort, Riko blew her whistle.
"Twenty laps, get started! NOW!"
I giggled a little at the scared looks on the players faces. I turned to Riko.
"I already know everyone on the team. I met them a few days ago, so instead of doing introductions, can I just get started on taking notes and analyzing your players?"
"Uh, sure. Koganei! Are you slacking? Run faster!"
I smirked again at the players as the girl standing next to me turned into a monster that would rival Medusa. I climbed up the bleachers to the very top to the darkest part of the gym.
Might as well get comfy.
I took out my notebook and stared at the fresh blank page and titled it. Notes on the traits and flaws of the Seirin team .
"This is really thorough, Yu-chan."
I just shrugged my shoulders and gave a non-committal "Eh."
I stuck my hands in the pockets of my jacket and watched the scrimmage that Riko had set up. It was a scrimmage between the 2nd years and the 1st years. The 1st years were killing their senpais due to Kagami. It was impressive to watch him. A twinge in my chest formed while I watched him play. I furrowed my eyebrows and rubbed my heart.
"Do you miss it?" Riko asked me without turning away from reading the notes that I had given her.
I weighed in my head whether or not to be truthful with her. I figured that if I wanted to eventually play, then I should just come clean.
"Yeah."
Riko looked up at me surprised.
"Then why did you act like you would rather go through torture then play basketball again?"
I answered a question with a question of my own.
"Have you ever hated or been screwed over by the thing or things you love?"
Riko shook her head no and gave me a sad smile before she pats me on the arm and went back to watching the game.
It was at a good time that we decided to watch the game because Kagami looked like he was about to lose it on one of his teammates. Before Riko and I could interfere, Kuroko walked up behind Kagami and pushed his knees in.
"Calm down."
Kagami turned and started yelling at Kuroko for being weak.
"Oh god, how long was Kuroko in the game?" Riko asked me.
"The entire time." I responded.
"Also, could you guys please pass me the ball?" Kuroko asked his teammates.
Despite my feelings towards Kuroko, I ended up smiling while whispering under my breath.
"Let the true games begin…"
"I guess you guys are best friends now." Yuki said as she walked up to Kagami and Kuroko she saw them sitting together in Maji burger.
"Damn it. We are not friends. He just likes to follow me around!" Kagami shouted.
"I was here first." Kuroko responded solemnly.
"But, you're good enough friends to share food." Yuki said as she nodded to the burger clutched in Kuroko's hand.
"Um…he stole it." Kagami said lamely.
"I saw you give it to him." Yuki said in a monotone.
"Pssh, whatever." Kagami huffed, turned away from Yuki and finished eating his burgers.
With a winning smile, Yuki turned on her heel and took a sip of the chocolate milk in her hand and waved good bye.
"See you tomorrow." Yuki said over her shoulder.
"Wait, you shouldn't walk home by yourself in the dark." Kagami hollered after the girl.
"And you shouldn't eat that many burgers cause then you'll get fat and have bad cholesterol, but that doesn't stop you." Yuki replied.
The door closed behind the silver haired girl and Kagami looked after her.
"Damn."
So Yuki is her old self when she talks to Kagami. I wonder… Kuroko thought.
"If I were to play the Generation of Miracles, how would I do?"
"You would be crushed…like a grape. You couldn't even reach their feet."
"Hehe, that's what I want to hear. What about the Fab Five? How would I do against those girls?"
"The record between my team and the Fab Five is 2-2. They've lost two and we've lost two."
"Hmmm, well I'm all fired up! I can't wait to play!"
"You won't be able to win by yourself, so I decided that I'll be your shadow. The stronger the light, the darker the shadow. I'll help you be the best. Plus, I have a feeling Yu-chan will help us, even if she isn't particularly fond of me and has decided not to play for right now. Inter-High will be interesting."
Somewhere a certain silver haired girl sneezed.
Ta-da! All done. Heehee. Please comment or review. If you want to see the story go in a specific direction please let me know.