Chapter 4 –
The game of Kagami and Kise one on one was pretty intense. At the first shot, Kise copied a move that Kagami had just done when he was against Hyuga just only minutes ago. Step for step like it was a mirrored image. Kise went up for a dunk and Kagami went up to block him, but Kise was stronger and faster than Kagami. Kagami landed on his butt and they stared at each other.
Finally Kise broke the silence.
"Anyways, I came here to meet the competition. Jo you never gave me an answer besides a blank stare. Why don't you come play for my school? It would be a lot more fun I am sure."
"Thank you but I am good. I am fine where I am. I do however look forward to playing against you in the upcoming games."
Jo crossed her arms and gave an evil smile.
Kise laughed and nodded, "Fine, be that way. I am sure my best friend Kurokocchi would love to join our team though."
Kuroko's expression never changed. "I am honored Kise, but I must respectfully decline."
Kuroko bowed to Kise.
"This isn't like you Kurokocchi! Winning was everything! Why didn't you go somewhere better?"
"My thinking had changed. Also, I have told Kagami-kun that I will help him defeat you and the rest of the generation of miracles."
About that time, Kagami had stood up.
He crossed his arms and gave a chuckle.
"Stop begging for our teammates." Hyuga firmly told Kise.
"Fine." Kise sighed and picked up his jacket. He began to walk out the door. "See you guys tomorrow." He waved towards the Seirin team.
Jo walked home and thought about the game tomorrow.
The Generation of Miracles seems pretty good from the two players I've seen. Kuroko seems really good at passing and stealing especially when people are not looking at him. Kise on the other hand from what I can see seems to be able to copy any moves he sees only one time. This will prove to be a fun season. I wonder what the other GoM do. Ah I need some practice on the court before I study for the upcoming test this Friday.
She dropped her bag at the entrance of her apartment and went to grab her ball. She quickly ran to the basketball court so she would have plenty of time to shoot around and then still study.
She put her ear buds in and began to practice her shots.
Damn! How is going to ever get past the marker for her dunk if she can't get higher?!
She growled as she landed from anger.
"What am I doing wrong? He makes it look so freaking easy!" She shouted out loud.
"Well, for starters I'm taller."
Kagami's voice was muffled but still recognizable. Jo jumped from being startled. The music must have muffled him as he got closer.
"Uhh… how long have you been standing there?"
Jo stammered as she yanked out her ear buds.
Kagami grinned, "Long enough to know you have a bad habit. A habit that if you change will make you closer to being able to dunk."
He drove towards the basket and dunked his ball as if he was playing will the toddler hoops that parents get their kids.
"What?" She asked as she arched an eyebrow.
"Ha! Like I'd tell you!"
She gritted her teeth.
"What the hell?! Kagami, we are on the same freaking team. If I learn how to dunk that means we win more games. Come on man."
Kagami showed that evil grin on his face that always made Jo's brain say 'run away'.
"Well then let's make you work for it. Play a game of one on one with me. If you win you I will teach you how to dunk. If I win…" He thought for a moment then looked like a child with happiness. "… I want you to ask your mom to ship some Jordan's in my size for me! Of course you pay. Deal?"
Jo thought for a moment. She wasn't sure she could win against Kagami, but she really wanted to learn how to dunk.
"Deal. First to 20." She said with a firm nod.
"Ladies first!" He passed her the ball and she began to dribble it. She took in his stance and his body language. She faked left, went right and spun around to drive to the basket. She made a jump shot. If Kagami would have not blocked it mid air, it would have gone in.
"Well, not bad Jo. But you've got to be quicker than that." He burst from his spot and drove the ball to the other end of the court. Jo caught up with him and made him have to stop the break away.
She stuck on him like gum on the bottom of a shoe in the summer time.
He was able to finally break free and make a basket.
They went back and forth for about 20 min. They both had sweat pour down their faces. Jo dribbled the ball and tried to catch her breath.
"Well Kagami, we are tied up. Let me see if I can make this shot. Then I'll be the winner."
Jo wiped her forehead with the back of her hand. She faked a dribble to the right then set up for jump shot three pointer. Kagami was able to tip the basketball a little as it made its way to the rim. He grabbed the rebound. Jo got in his face to attempt to steal the ball back. Unfortunately Kagami was able to get out of the situation and drove for the basket. She tried to keep up but he proved to be too fast that time. He made a slam dunk and called out in triumph.
When he landed he wiped the sweat from his face with his shirt and laughed.
"Well, I be damned Jo. You gave me a run for my money, but unfortunately I won. You owe me some Jordan's!"
She heavy sighed and crossed her arms.
"Damn it!"
Kagami grinned and spun the ball on her finger.
"Ugh…" She hung her head. "… fine! I'll call my mom when I get back. Good game, but I've got some studying to do."
Kagami followed Jo up the sidewalk to the apartment complex.
"What color?" She grumbled.
"What?" He cocked an eyebrow.
"What… color?!" She said firmly.
"Oh, the new ones in red and black."
"Whatever." She shrugged and she punched in the code to the gate.
He punched her shoulder as they parted ways, "Believe it or not, that was a good game Jo. We should play again. I might want a back up pair for away games!"
He laughed as he went to his apartment.
"Yeah mom, it's for a friend of mine."
"Oh I see. You first join a basketball team full of guys now you want me to ship some shoes in large men's sizes. What's his name?" her mother asked in an incentive tone.
"No mom, no. He's just a friend. Seriously, just… a … friend. Honestly I question even that last statement." Jo pinched the bridge of her nose in annoyance.
"Ok, ok, ok. I get it. I'll send you the shoes."
They chatted a little about school and the rest of the family.
She hung up her cell phone. She decided to start to study. It was hard for her to focus because her mind kept drifting to the scrimmage game tomorrow.
In 1867-1868, the Tokugawa erafound an end in the Meiji Restoration. The emperorMeiji was moved from Kyototo Tokyowhich became the new capital…
BUZZ! BUZZ! BUZZ!
Jo was startled awake. She sat straight up and hit the lamp that hung on her desk. Luckily it didn't hurt that much. She looked around and realized she had fallen asleep while she studied last night. It was only 5:00 a.m. so she had plenty of time to get ready for school. She stretched and loosened up the cricks in her back and neck.
She closed the door behind her of her last class for the day and let out a large yawn. History was not her favorite subject in America or Japan. At least it was time to get ready for the basketball scrimmage. She could feel her mood lift up just thinking about the game.
"Hey guys." She said as she walked into the locker room. They returned the greeting and they all began to get ready for the game. They started to get used to having Jo in the group. They seemed happy enough. As she tucked in her jersey that ready number 14 she smiled. She loved the smell of a new uniform. She slipped the traveling sweats over her uniform. As she laced up her shoes, Kagami appeared in his uniform. His hair still a little wet from the shower.
"Hey Kagami." She said in simple tone. He nodded back but still looked in his locker.
"Kagami what's wrong with your eyes? They look really red. Have you been crying because you are so excited to play?"
Jo asked but got an evil glare in return.
"I was just a little excited to play today I had a hard time sleeping is all."
She stifled back a giggle.
"Shut it…" as he slammed his locker.
"Kagami, what's wrong with your eyes?" Kuroko stood right beside Jo and Kagami. She had no idea he was there.
When did he come over? Has he been there the whole time? When will I ever get used to him just 'surprising' me?
Kagami nearly jumped out of his skin.
"Gah! Kuroko! When on earth are you going to stop that!" Kagami stammered.
"Stop what?" Kuroko asked
"Stop… you know… sneaking up on people!"
Kagami grind his teeth as he spoke to a confused Kuroko.
"So?" Kuroko asked as Kagami scooted around the benches near the lockers.
"So what?" He asked with an annoyed tone.
"What's wrong with your eyes?" He pointed at his eyes.
"I didn't sleep ok!" Kagami yelled at him as he yanked on his sweats they will wear when they travel.
Jo shrugged to Kuroko who returned the shrug.
"This place it HUGE!" Koganei whispered after he whistled in amazement.
"Is this place truly devoted sports? I mean that's the third gym we've past and we got here." Jo questioned then turned in circle as she asked out loud.
"Yup, this place seems to be athleticism first right after academics." Hyuga sighed.
As they continued to be in awe of the large campus, Kise waved towards the team.
"Hey guys!" He jogged towards them.
"This place is so big, I thought I'd come get you." Kise smiled.
Coach thanked Kise but it looked as if he paid little to no attention to her.
"Hey… Kise." Kagami said but again he walked right past Kagami.
"Hey Jo, did you miss me? I cried myself to sleep last night thinking about you turning me down to come to my school with me yesterday. Did you happen to change your mind now that you've seen the campus? Pretty sweet am I right?"
"Umm… no. I haven't changed my mind." Jo looked down at the ground and put her hand behind her head.
Granted she knew it was beyond beautiful and this place would have been awesome to get a leg up on her basketball skills before collage, but the Seirin team is an awesome team.
"Kise!" Kagami snapped.
"What? Can't you see I'm working my magic here?" He heavy sighed and turn towards Kagami.
"Just show us where the gym is already!" Kagami slapped his hand to his forehead in annoyance.
"Why are in such a hurry? I don't care much about being called the Generation of Miracles, but I can't ignore such an obvious challenge. I am not mature enough to let it slide. Sorry, but I am going to crush you with everything you have." Kise sighed and put his hands in his pockets and then began to lead the team towards the gym.
The gym they were lead to had a giant net that divided the court in half. Kise motioned for them to follow to him to one side of the net. There was looked like practice with half the team on one side of the net and on the other side was several team members in blue jersey's shooting around.
"I'm confused. Are we going to do half court for all of our games?" Jo question Hyuga as they followed Kise.
Hyuga scratched his head and had a puzzled look on his face.
"We usually play full court like in practice. Maybe they misunderstood coach's idea."
Kise waved at the Seirin team and jogged over towards his team. Once he got to a fellow member with the number 4 on his jersey that man yelled at him but Jo couldn't understand what he said. When he finished, the man punched Kise in the stomach. Kise doubled over and winced.
Jo gasped. She had never seen something so awful from a fellow teammate. She looked at her teammates and they seemed just as shocked as she did.
A moment later a very heavyset man walked up to the Seirin team with a clip board. Coach bowed and introduced herself.
She asked why it was half court currently.
"We use time wisely here. Since this is only a scrimmage I see no point in using a full court. We will use some of our starters but not all of them. We'll try not to triple your score."
He walked away and Coach Adia's vain nearly popped out of her forehead with rage. Jo looked around at the other teammates looked just as angry.
That was not a great first impression. This could get ugly.
The game was about to begin. Coach held her clipboard and read off the starters.
"Hyuga, Kagami, Kuroko, Izuki & Jo you guys are the starters. Kagami, you do the jump ball."
Jo's stomach lurched when she pointed to her and said she was a starter.
Ok Jo, you can do this. You've been a starter before. Show them what you can do.
Jo noticed that Kise argued with his coach about something, but then coach handed him a towel and pointed to the bench.
Hmmm, wonder why he doesn't want Kise playing? Does he really underestimate us that much? Well, let's show him what we've got boys.
The starters lined up from each team.
Jo looked to Hyuga and whispered, "What are we suppose to do?"
"Oh, we bow and wish everyone good luck for the game. Then once the game is over we thank them for the game and bow once again. What do they do where you live?"
"We shake hands and also wish good luck on the game." Jo smiled.
They bow and set up for the game. Kagami lined up and had that evil-happy look on his face.
She stood on the other side of Kagami. She squatted and stood on the balls of her feet ready to get the ball. The referee blew the whistle and threw the ball up into the air.
They both jump high for the ball but the Kaijo's jumper was able to tap the ball to number four.
He began to dribble to ball towards their goal when Kuroko snuck up and smacked the ball out of his hand.
He and the rest of his team looked shocked.
"Where did he come from?!" He cried out and chased him down the court. He easily caught up with Kuroko.
Kuroko passed the ball backwards and Kagami grabbed it. Kagami laughed and dribbled up to the basket. He then made a slam dunk. He cried out in triumph. He landed on the court only to realize he had broken the basketball hoop. He still held it in his hand.
Everyone talked at once about the hoop. The Kaijo's coach looked livid. Coach Adia bowed over and over again as she apologized.
Jo walked over to Kagami who looked a bit proud of himself.
"Ok seriously, now you are just showing off." Jo sighed as she lightly punched him in the shoulder.
"Ha, I am just getting warmed up. Maybe one day you'll drop that bad habit and actually dunk… maybe."
He walked with Kuroko towards the bench to talk to coach.
The Kaijo's team decided to set up for a full court game now. Needless to say their coach still looked fuming. Apparently so upset he sent in Kise to play now.
Kise grinned like a bird that caught a canary. She felt it was a little uneasy, but it should be good.
Jo's ears picked up a sudden shrill of girls overwhelm the gym all screaming for Kise. She gritted her teeth in annoyance.
"What's with the huge crowd?" Jo asked the captain of the Kaijo's team.
"Ugh, it happens every time he plays." He sneered at Kise who now waved to the crowd.
"Kise focus!" He yelled as he kicked him down to the ground.
Jo gasped.
What the hell is wrong with that dude? Sure Kise can be obnoxious, but there is no need for that bull shit.
"You already hit me Kasamatsu-senpai."
Kasamatsu glared at Kise and whispered something to Kise. They talked back and forth for a bit then Kise got that glint in his eye that showed he had a plan.
The game resumed and Kasamatsu was able to quickly pass the ball to Kise who in return dunked the ball hard.
Really? Am I truly the only one who can't dunk here? Ugh…
The squeal of girls chimed louder when Kise made the basket. As Kise landed Kasamatsu kicked him just as he stood up right.
"Kise!" Jo cried out for some reason. She wasn't sure why she yelled, she just felt this anger towards Kasamatsu even though Kise is a block head.
"You were supposed to break it your idiot!" He yelled to Kise when he landed on the ground. Kasamatsu clinched his fists and stormed off down the court.
Jo went over to Kise and reached out a hand to help Kise up. Kise looked up at Jo. He smiled and took her hand.
"Well, well are we finally becoming friendly Jo?" He winked at her.
"Don't get used to it. I just don't like player's abusing other players." Jo frowned.
"No need to worry Jo. He means well." He cupped her shoulder as he passed her.
"Come on let's see what you've got rookie." Kise nodded.
Jo ran do the court. She got into center position and kept moving to get open for a pass. Izuki dribbled down the court. He passed the ball to Kuroko who passed it to Kagami that lead to yet another slam dunk. Kagami landed right beside Jo who crossed her arms.
"Really? You do have other ways of making a shot right?" She sighed.
"Jealous?" He snickered.
She rolled her eyes and followed the team to the other end of the court.
The game got extremely high paced suddenly. Only three minutes of the game had gone by but sweat rolled off Jo's face. Kise and Kagami constantly were against each other.
Kuroko passed the ball to Jo and she made a fade away jump shot. There was little time for victory though because the ball was back in play within seconds. Kise got a hold of the ball. He copied Jo's shot like a mirror.
Damn it. I forgot he could do that. He made it look so easy.
The score was neck and neck. Soon though coach Adia called a time out. Everyone seemed to have a hard time getting their wind back. Jo used the towel that was in her spot. She downed a couple gulps of water.
"How are we going to keep up this pace Hyuga?" Jo sighed and rubbed her forehead.
Hyuga took a several gulps of water and let out a long breath.
"Maybe we should put someone else on Kise."
Kagami choked on his water and shouted, "What? No.. please."
"Please?" Jo stifled a giggle.
Kagami looked awkward. "Look just please let me stay on him ok?"
"Switch from Man to Man defense to zone defense got it?"
"Got it." Everyone cried out.
"Why are you suddenly all polite Kagami?" Jo asked this time not hiding the chuckle.
He glared at Jo, "I have an idea."
When the game resumed, the gap of the score only grew as the Kaijo team made basket after basket then as able to carry out turn over's to continue to make more shots.
"Kagami, what's wrong? Are you done playing our game?" Kise taunted Kagami as they met at half court.
"I'm just testing my theory. It looks like I am correct." Kise looked at him with a confused expression on his face. "You are powerless to Kuroko aren't you? You can't copy his moves!"
Kagami grinned that evil grin. Kise shrugged, "So I can't copy Kurokocchi's passes, what does that change?"
"It changes everything Kise. We will bring you to tears in the second quarter."