Chapter 5 –
After a layout of what the team needed to do in order to close the point gap, they set up on the court to begin the second quarter. Kaijo had possession of the ball. Kise came down the middle of the court with a look of concentration on his face. With a quick fake and a turnabout he was able to dunk the ball before anyone could block him.
Back and forth the teams went.
"Hyuga, Kaijo is still playing Man to Man. Why didn't they change when we changed?"
Hyuga shook his head as he ran down the court. "I'll let you know when I figure that out."
Kise blocked Kagami as he drove down the court. When Kagami got to the three point paint, he passed it backwards to Kuroko who did a 40 degree pass back towards Kagami. Once Kagami held the ball again he made a slam dunk.
With everyone from the Siren team in on the plan, Kuroko was able to pass to different players at very odd angles.
Hyuga had to ball. He dribbled in place for a bit then passed to Kuroko who in return passed to Jo. She was right at the three point mark wide open. The Kaijo team was so busy double teaming Kagami they left her open. With a jump, she made a three point shot which barely touched the net. The Siren team cheered and high fived Jo. Even Kagami punched her in the shoulder and said, "So you can make a three point shot but not dunk. Well, everyone's got to start somewhere."
Jo furrowed her brow. Was that complement? I don't even know anymore. First please then a complement. Seriously, did someone put something in his water bottle?!
Kise drove the ball once more down the court.
Jo set up for a sideways screen. Kuroko swiped the ball away him and tossed it in the direction of Kagami. As Kise turned to go after the ball his elbow hit Jo in the left eye. Jo cried out in pain and knelt down to the ground. Kise whipped around and a look of shock came across his face.
Kagami cried out her name and jogged towards her. Hyuga gritted his teeth and motion for a time out to the ref. The ref called a time out. Both teams huddled around Jo. She waved at them to leave with her free hand.
"Guys I am fine. It was just a bump. Really, I am." Coach Adia pushed her way to the front of the crowd. Jo tired to stand but coach pushed her back to the ground.
"Let me see first." She said in a worried and low tone.
Jo slowly removed her left hand. Blood covered her palm and fingers. Both teams gasped.
"What? So I got a bit of a cut. No biggy."
Kuroko knelt down beside her. "Jo, you need to see a doctor."
Hyuga and Kagami both jerked their heads towards Kise who looked paler than usual and his calm demander had vanished. He didn't look at them; he just stood there with a shock stare at Jo.
"Jo! I… I… it was an accident. I would never try to hurt you on purpose. Are you ok?"
"Does she ok dip wad?" Kagami growled.
"Kagami! I know it was an accident Kise. Basketball can be rough. It's not the first time I've been injured."
She felt the blood roll down her cheek. Izuki handed her a towel. "Here, try to keep pressure on it.
She tried again to stand up and spoke up "Really guys I am fine. I'll sit out for a bit but then I can play."
When she stood upright the room spun into darkness. The sound of her team mates sounded as if they were miles away yelled her name. As she fell she hit something solid but it was softer than the ground, but she couldn't quite figure out what it was.
"Jo. Jo! Earth to Jo! Come on dude wake up." Someone far away tried to talk to her in English.
Jo blinked her sore eyes awake. She opened them and saw a small metal roof with some medical lights above her. She moved her sore head to the side and saw the person who waved a hand in front of her face to get her attention. Kagami sat on a small bench in what Jo could only guess was an ambulance.
"Hey genius, are you awake yet?" Kagami looked at her with an annoyed look on his face.
"Kagami?" Jo asked in a confused state and a raspy voice.
"Good you're awake."
He sat back to rest against the back of the ambulance. Jo could hear the sirens from outside the vehicle.
"What's going on? Where are we? Why are you here?" Jo asked still confused on what took place after she got hit in the head. She tried to move but she was strapped in pretty tight.
"Geez you are dense." Kagami still talked in English to her.
"Look, after Kise elbowed you in the eyebrow, you fell down and began to bleed a lot. You tired to get up, but then passed out. Luckily for the poor court Kuroko and I caught you before you hit the ground. We couldn't wake you up so Kise called for an ambulance. They wrapped up your head and asked for someone to tag along. Coach suggested Fuirhata at first because he was not currently playing. Then Hyuga had the whole 'what if she doesn't remember Japanese' thought. The paramedics agreed that could happen so I was shoved in here as well."
Kagami turned to look out the window and Jo saw a large spot of blood on his shoulder. She guessed that was from where he caught her.
"Thank you." Jo said in Japanese.
"Well, that's a relief. You remember that at least. The medics think you'll need stitches and might have a concussion. I told them not with your thick head, then coach wacked me with her clipboard." He rubbed his head and winced.
"I am sorry. When we get to the hospital you can catch a ride back to the school and finish up the game. Obviously I'm fine. " She rubbed the area near her cut to try to relieve the pain.
He grumbled, but Jo couldn't hear over the sirens.
"What?" She asked.
"I said I'm not going to leave a teammate with an injury alone, girl or not."
They were both silent for a bit. Only the sound of the siren was heard.
"Nice screen by the way." He talked out of the blue.
Jo jumped a little at the sound of voice.
"What?"
"I said you set up a nice screen before all this happened. Kise wasn't able to move you and Kuroko was able to steal the ball then I made a dunk even though no one saw it due to…." He waved his hand at Jo, "...your issue." Kagami spoke and looked back at Jo.
"I guess that is a benefit for being built the way I am."
Kagami nodded and looked back out the window. "Yeah not many people will be able to get past you even if they wanted to."
"I'll take that as a complement." Jo laughed.
They arrived at the hospital and Jo insisted she could walk into the hospital. She tried to get off the stretcher but Kagami pushed her down with one hand.
"No idiot, you'll pass out again and I really don't want to catch you again. Just sit still."
She heavy sighed and laid back down.
The doctor ran his tests and found out she did have a concussion.
"Wait, what does that mean in terms of basketball?" She asked in a panicked tone.
The doctor looked at her scans and spoke plainly, "24 hour monitoring at home. Then 4 days of no basketball. When you do return you must be careful and if you feel sick you return here immediately. Do you want to call you parents so they can watch you at home?"
Jo suddenly sank a little. Kagami had a look of realization on his face as he turned to Jo. Jo looked down at her hands as they shook a little.
Kagami spoke up for her. "She is a transfer student from America."
The doctor bit his lip in thought.
"She really needs to be watched the rest of today and tomorrow. Maybe you could young man. I mean that's what boyfriends do for their girlfriend's right?" He smiled at Kagami.
Jo's stomach lurched. Boyfriend? Him?! Does he realize how crude and obnoxious he can be?! Hell no!
Kagami blushed a hue of red Jo had not ever seen before. He stammered a bit and looked from Jo to the floor. Then in an irritated tone he spoke in a firm tone to the doctor, "She is NOT my girl friend. She is a teammate and I was shoved in the ambulance to make sure she didn't need a translator."
Jo bit back a chuckle of laugher. He glared at her from the corner of his eye.
"Oh my mistake young man. Regardless, someone needs to stay with her to make sure she is ok over night. Talk to the school or your team. Maybe you guys can work it out. Here are her papers she will need and I'll send a nurse to get you stitched up Miss Meyers. I hope you have a better day from now on."
Kagami sighed and told Jo he was going to call coach and see how the game was going.
Once Kagami stepped out of the room, Jo brought her knees to her chin and sighed.
Mom, I wish you were here. You would be hugging me; reassuring me I was going to be ok. Then when we got home you'd make some homemade cookies. I am thousands of miles away and right now I just want to hug you and dad.
No Jo! Snap out of it! You can do this! You knew an accident of any kind could happen and mom and dad could not rush over to coddle you. You need to grow up. I will be fine. It's just a concussion and some stitches. It'll be ok.
About the time Jo gathered herself Kagami walked back into the room.
"I told coach. She said they are leaving the school now and heading over here to give us a hand."
"Did we win?!" Jo asked in an excited tone.
Kagami chuckled and grinned, "Yeah we did. By one point thanks mostly to Kuroko and Hyuga."
Jo smiled and sat back.
She was given her 8 stitches and her forehead was wrapped up pretty well. The nurse gave her the discharge papers.
Kagami and Jo walked out of the hospital about the time the team walked up the sidewalk.
Coach Adia jogged up to Jo and looked at her head closely. "How are you Jo? You ok?"
Jo nodded then winced at the bad decision of nodding her head.
"Coach we have an issue." Kagami motioned for everyone to come over to a picnic table and everyone sat down.
Kagami explained the predicament that Jo needed to be monitored over night and at school.
Several ideas were thrown about but kept leading to dead ends.
"Ive got to baby sit my little sister" said Fuirhata.
"I've got to go visit my grandma. If I don't I will get a whack in the head from multiple family members." Kawahara squinted as he rubbed his head from what Jo guessed was past absences.
"Guys, I am fine. I feel fine. I don't need a person to watch me tonight. I can always call the doctor if I feel bad." Jo put her hands up in protest.
Coach shook her head. "No Jo, we can't do that. I wish I could but I've got a huge test coming up and all my books are at home."
"Same here." Hyuga said with a helpless sigh.
"Where do you stay anyways Jo?" Koganei asked.
She explained where she lived and Izuki spoke up. "Kagami, don't you live near there?"
Kagami who had been quiet this whole time shrugged. "Yeah I do. So?"
The whole team looked at him with an expecting look.
"What?" he asked as if he had just walked into the conversation.
"Kagami! Ugh, Kagami will you watch Jo tonight? You live close by and you actually heard the doctor's orders." Coach Adia crossed her arms in a huff.
Oh dear Lord no! No, no, no, no, no! Did I say NO! Not Kagami at my sanctuary! I much rather stay on coach's floor across town than this idea!
"Oh no it's really fine. It's really fine. I can take of myself. Really."
Kagami's mouth opened and closed a couple times then high heavy sighed.
"Fine if I really have to. If she keels over in the middle of the night when I live a couple doors down and we are short a player on the team I don't think it would make me look good."
As soon as Kagami finished his sentence a fist hit his head and a punch to his stomach made contact. One punch from Hyuga and one from Coach.
Jo winced and Kagami gagged from the sudden attack.
"What… gasp… was that for?"
"It was because you live only a couple doors down and didn't offer to help." Kuroko said as plainly as usual.
Jo, along with the rest jumped at the sound of his voice. "Hey Kuroko! When did you get here?" asked Koganei with a smile.
"I was with you guys when we left the Kaijo gym."
"So when I offer my help I get punched. This is why I don't help people." Kagami stood up right.
"It should have been obvious Kagami!" Coach said point blank.
"Fine, whatever, I'll watch her tonight." Kagami sighed and crossed his arms.
"You ok with that Jo?" Hyuga placed a hand on her shoulder.
NO! No I am not ok with the egotistic butt head in my place. Say no! Just go to coach's place.
"Sure it's fine." Jo rubbed the back of her head and looked at Hyuga.
Why do I bother? Seriously why do I even bother talking to myself when I don't even listen to me?!
"The doctor said I was going to sleep most of the day after the 6 hour mark of needing to stay awake. I only need to stay awake for another hour to be safe" Jo smiled at everyone.
Tsuchida spoke up loudly, "Let's then celebrate! Let go eat!"
Everyone cheered in agreement. Kagami looked a little happier at the mention of food. As they walked to the burger joint Jo shoved Kagami a little to the side then spoke softly as she looked forward to where they walked. Everyone else was chatting about the game in an excited tone.
"What pest?" He hissed in annoyance.
She sighed and spoke in a soft tone. "I just wanted to say thank you."
"For?" He shoved his hands in his pockets of his sweat pants and looked at her through the corner of his eye.
"Ugh don't make me say it!" she sighed and hung her head.
"I have no idea what you are talking about. Please do explain." Kagami said thick with sarcasm.
"No, just take the thank you." She huffed and crossed her arms and furrowed her forehead.
"But I have no idea why you said thank you. Come on tell me."
Jo rolled her eyes and ignored him. Kuroko spoke from behind her.
"How's your head?"
"Fine really. A little sore, but I will survive."
Kuroko nodded and kept walking.
They arrived at the restaurant and ordered some food. She didn't order a lot because her stomach was a little uneasy.
The team caught me and Kagami up on the rest of the game.
Once an hour passed, Jo had a hard time to stay awake.
"Hey Kagami, it's been an hour. Can we go home please? Also the Novocain is warring off from my stitches." Jo sighed and leaned back in the chair in a sleepy matter.
"Kagami you better take her home." Coach nodded at Jo and then looked back at Kagami.
Kagami sighed heavily and shoved the last bite of his burger in his mouth before he gathered his and her things.
"I can get my bag Kagami."
"Just walk Jo." He nodded to the door.
They didn't talk a whole lot while on the way to the apartment, which was ok for Jo, because she was getting tired and pretty sore.
They got to the apartment complex and Kagami nodded to his door. "Hang on let me get some things from my apartment first ok?"
Jo agreed and followed him. Once he unlocked the door he entered and Jo followed. She honestly excepted a mess of an apartment, but it wasn't so bad. She had surely seen worse. Not the typical guys room like the ones she knew in America. He had a couple things out of place, but it was really comfortable. She stood in the entrance hall with her hands in her pockets as she looked around. He hung his traveling suit on the coat rack in the living room.
She could hear him gather things from his bed room and then he called out, "The couch doesn't bite. You can sit."
She sighed, but agreed the couch looked comfy. When she sat she saw him go from one room to the other with a duffle bag. Within minutes he was back in the living room.
"Do you get the sports channel in your apartment?" He asked as he lifted his backpack on his shoulder and grabbed the duffle bag. He wore a pair of shorts and a long red tshirt with a pair of sneakers.
"Yes, I do. I in fact ordered the extra package to get the American ESPN in my living room. Not including the one from here."
Kagami made a huge grin.
"That package is so expensive. I haven't watched American ESPN in a while. Maybe this won't be as bad as I thought." Kagami laughed and walked to the door. He picked up her bag and walked to Jo's apartment.