Author's Note: Here is the 2nd chapter of the story. If the 1st chapter is centered on Cap, the 2nd one is centered on Black Rock Shooter as she lives a normal life the real world.
Honestly, I love BRS fanfiction that features Otherworld characters who lived normal lives, or walk and fight in the real world or even all three of those points as opposed to the OVA and the TV anime. So credit to guys like TrailblazingArtist, Fate Nightmare, & Josuwa for such amazing ideas. Not only I'm going to put elements of the mainstream and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but also to add characters from the BRS anime and other OC characters in the upcoming chapters, too. Now ladies and gentlemen, I present you chapter 2 of Rock and Stripes!
Black Rock Shooter and co. belongs to Huke.
Captain America belongs to Joe Simon and Jack Kirby and Marvel Entertainment.
I don't own the National Basketball Association (NBA) and its properties.
Tokyo, Japan
It was one sweet morning in Tokyo. Still, many people are preparing themselves on what they're going to do. Most adults are waking up in the morning for their own jobs in order to make a living. But for those who were studying at school, the weekends are a good time for them. They can spend their time for fun with family and friends. Most are doing the chores and even there are guys and girls who want to spend time with their studies.
But in one who resides in a simple apartment, there lives a teenage girl. To many, she's ordinary. But for some, especially her friends, she was very special. She was under the human name of Hoshioka Kuroi. She was called names like 'Rock' & 'Stella' by none other than a girl named Mato Kuroi but deep down; she was also known to her friends as the lone warrior from a dimension called the 'Otherworld', Black Rock Shooter.
Everything in her changed her life when she went in the real world. She met Mato Kuroi, who even looks like her. Through Mato, Black Rock Shooter learned how to live a normal life: going to school, having a home, and even socializing with others. She and Dead Master, who also lived a normal life with Mato's best friend Yomi Takanashi, have a love-hate relationship, even though they fought in the Otherworld. And sometimes, when someone is in danger, she never hesitated to help other people. Mato was happy because not only she has Yomi but also 2 girls from the Otherworld. Even Black Rock Shooter herself is also happy on the inside because after days and days of fighting in her own world, she finally experienced what peace is all about.
She was in the bedroom, sleeping. The rays of the sun shone on her and it opened her eyes. When she stepped into the real world for the first time, she was in awe when the first time she saw the sun: it was warm, golden, pretty, and beautiful. She sat up, rubbed her eyes, stretched her arms and got off on her bed. She walked a couple of steps to the window and she opened it. She saw the morning sun again and she smiled, having the warm feeling from it. She closed the window to do her thing: took a bath, changing her clothes, brushing her teeth, went downstairs to play rock music on the stereo, and eat her breakfast. Anyhow, she is wearing a blue t-shirt, a white hoodie jacket, blue jeans and a pair of Nike shoes with a white and blue color scheme. Good thing that she had an amount of food in her fridge and thanks to Mato and Yomi, she learned how to cook her own meals.
"Nah, I'm gonna save this for dinner." BRS thought to herself, after looking on the fridge.
She packed her things and she carried her backpack. She turned and she saw her acoustic guitar, which is a gift from a friend, who is also a rock music lover like her. She took a deep breath and she went her way to the door. She went out of her apartment, locked the doors, and she's on her way to her workplace; she works part time as assistant trainer in a high school basketball team. Also thanks to Mato, she also learned basketball by watching NBA games and she also played baketball during pastime, mostly with Mato, and grew love to it. Before going, she turned and good thing that she had her scooter; she thought that she can run fast and jump off from building to building like she always did in the Otherworld, but she decided to ride on her scooter instead because it's also fun. She never hesitated to ride on, wears her safety helmet, starts the engines and she went on her way.
Fifteen minutes have passed and despite of the traffic, she made it to the school. She went off and packed her safety helmet inside the scooter. She went into the locker room and she changed her clothes until she met a woman in a PE uniform.
"Morning, Ms. Shizuka." BRS greeted her.
"Hi there, Shooter. Seems you're ready for today's routine?" she also greeted back.
Shizuka is the coach of the school's high school female basketball team. She had long brown hair tied in a ponytail and indigo eyes. She's also physically fit for a woman in her twenties since she is also one of the best female basketball players back in her college days. She graduated with full honors and she took her job as a coach of a high school basketball team. She met BRS when she was saved by a monster. Mato introduced BRS to Shizuka and the coach saw the two play one-on-one. She saw BRS's skill and she was both surprised and amazed that she can learn a short period of time and play better. After she played a few games, BRS received a part time job under Shizuka's coaching staff. She also one of the few, aside from Mato and Yomi, that she also came from the Otherworld.
"Yep. I'm a-ok! Hey, wait a minute, you should call me-"
"Yeah, yeah, you alias is Hoshioka, I know that." Shizuka chuckled. "But you know what, that name really suits you. You came from the Otherworld but you're like the brightest star than shines in the dark."
"Oh come on, don't be such a wanker, Coach. I may be but living a normal life in the real world is different." BRS told her.
Shizuka smiled and said, "You know, despite of who you are, I believe Mato have seen something on you: you're a kind person and you have a good heart. I know that you can change the hearts of many because of what's inside you. Again, thanks for saving me back then."
BRS remembered the time when she and Mato encountered a mysterious creature and Shizuka was in danger back then and how they put Shizuka to safety. BRS can't help but to cheerfully smile on her, "Don't mention it. Honestly speaking, it really feels good when you're doing the right thing."
"All right, Hoshioka. Let's get going. The kids are waiting for us."
"Yes, coach!" BRS exclaimed. She turned to Shizuka and said, "And by the way, you should call on my real name if we're alone, ok?"
Then Shizuka nodded. And the two were headed into the gymnasium to begin their training session with the players.
The basketball practice is a good atmosphere but despite of it, it can be a place of preparation. Not just for the coaches, but also for the players. The screeching of the shoes, the drenching of sweat, the shouts from the instructors and the pants of fatigue are the one of the noises can be heard in the gymnasium. As the head coach, Shizuka is the one who sees the players do their own job: on how to hones their skills play better as preparation for the next game. And then she saw BRS teaching as well observing one player who is on a shooting practice. When the ponytailed girl from the Otherworld saw her error, she stepped up and told the player, "You can't even make a good jump shot if you're shooting routine is like that."
The player, while panting, said "I've just tried but I can't even make it, Coach. I dunno why."
"It's because of your hands." BRS said
"Wha?"
BRS chuckled. Then she began to explain. "You can use that hand routine if you want to make a short range shot or near the basket. But it won't work if you want to shoot far away from the basket." She handed the ball from the player.
"Just look at my hands." The player nodded as she watches BRS's demonstration. "You should not put your right hand on the right side of the ball. You should put it under the while your right hand is on the right side. Then you bend and bring your elbow up until it is aligned with the hoop, and finally, you jump and send towards the hoop in a high arc. Alright, let me show you."
BRS did what and the player keeps her eyes on her assistant coach. And seconds later, she made a perfect jumpshot. The player can't help but to clap in applause since she was surprised that someone in her age can even teach her.
BRS noticed this and said to the player. "Hey, are you still gonna clap your hands or you're going to shoot the ball?"
The player snapped back and replied, "Y-yes, Coach!"
She mingled her thoughts on the jumpshot demonstrated by BRS. Thanks to her observation moments ago, she studied it very well. She also said to herself, "I can do this." Then she proceeds and makes a jumpshot. And good thing is she made it. BRS formed a smile on her lips, satisfied on the player's performance. The player sees this and she jumped with her both fists rising upward and exclaimed.
"I did it!"
BRS chuckled and she made a positive remark. "Yep. You just did well. Just keep on practicing and you can be a good shooter. But even, you missed a shot with that routine, that's ok because the important thing is: make every shot count. Understood?"
"Loud and clear, Coach!" the player exclaimed.
Shizuka noticed the noise and she saw the two. She looked not only on her but also BRS as well. She is impressed not only because of the player's progress of improving but also BRS's way of teaching the players. Her character, determination, and personality are the very reasons why the head coach wanted her to be part of her staff. She gave a small smile because she was happy on what she saw.
All of sudden, the team captain called the players with two claps. "Alright, gather up, girls!"
The players immediately assembled in rows. The team captain began to speak.
"Listen up. We got 5 more days ahead of our exhibition game against Nagano. Honestly, you girls did a good work today. Just remember your routines and don't over fatigue yourselves. You need to get rest. That's it for today."
After this, the team members were relieved. Most of them were relieved because they had allowed them to go on their homes and need to rest. Some of them had their other errands to do and so on. Afterwards, Shizuka and BRS went to their locker rooms, took a shower and changing their clothes.
"Well, good thing on that young 'un." Shizuka commented. "She can be a good shooter if she keeps it up."
BRS chuckled. "She's going to have a long way."
"Oh yes, she has." Shizuka said. "By the way, just wanna ask. Why are you called Black Rock Shooter?"
BRS gave Shizuka a puzzled look.
"I mean, do you have any other names beside of that? I'm just getting puzzled. After all, the name 'Hoshioka Kuroi' is just an alias but what is weird is you REALLY looked like Mato. And you know what? I like it because it seems that you two are sisters, not to mention Yomi and Dead Master."
BRS blushed in embarrassment. "W-well, I, a-ah, uhh…." She finally answered Shizuka's question with a sigh. "Honestly, I don't even know."
Shizuka quirked an eyebrow on her answer. But instead, she sighed and smiled. "You're actually mysterious, Shooter. But let me guess about on… why you're named like that. Maybe because of that big cannon of yours, using it to shoot bad guys and monsters? Or that azure flame that burns in your eye while you're fighting? Maybe both… or something more…?"
There is a moment of silence. BRS managed to break it. "While living in the Otherworld, all I do is to keep on fighting. And I'm also connected with Mato as an 'Other Self'. But that is all I do and nothing else. Good thing that me and others have a chance to live in the real world. Mato, Yomi, and Yu. I have never seen such people like them."
BRS said those words from the bottom of her heart. Because of those three humans, BRS and her close friends, DM and STR, learned the value of human life and what it means to have normal lives also. After they bound together to stop a looming threat, everything around them has changed when they get that opportunity. Fortunately, for BRS, it happened.
Then Shizuka replied. "Shooter, I know you're a loner at first but the reason why you have friends, including Mato, is because of who you are inside. By the way, have you ever seen a 'shooting star'?"
BRS, without second thoughts, answered. "Yeah. I've finally seen stars when I was with Mato. And you know, they're beautiful. But a shooting star? Not yet."
"Stars are beautiful, yes. A shooting star, on the other hand, is a name for the visible path of a meteoroid, which is a rock from outer space, as it enters the Earth's atmosphere to become a meteor."
"Wait a minute." BRS objected. "You said that shooting stars are meteors then why it has something to do with stars?" She was even confused.
Shizuka smiled and said. "For us humans, the term can be also special. When I saw one, I clasped my hands and make a wish." Shizuka chuckled.
BRS nodded, remembering her conversation with Mato about the topic. And she fully realized what that is all about.
So she asked Shizuka again. "If I can make a wish, will it come true?"
Shizuka chuckled again. "I'm not in the position to say that. To be honest, the answer is maybe yes or no. But the only thing to make it true is… to believe. You know, for me and Mato, you're like a shooting star because to us, you're so special. And maybe through you, the dreams of those who love you and close to you can be a reality. That's all I can say."
BRS can't help herself but chuckled even though she didn't understand some of it. "Sometimes, I don't get it." Shizuka quirked her eyebrow again.
"But you know, about what you've said, it really soothes me inside. Honestly, we can make our dreams come true not just to make a wish but even, well, work hard for it. That is all I know either."
Shizuka smiled and patted BRS in the back. "Hehe, if you want to make your dreams come true, you have to believe. If you're going to fight, not only you need strength and power, but you also need to believe." Something clicked on her mind. "Hey, you're going to meet with Mato and company, right? Good thing that we have a half-day schedule."
Surprised that Shizuka informed her, BRS remembered something. "Oh yeah, I'm going to meet up with Mato. Yomi will also be there and-"
"You 2 Otherworldly friends?"
BRS sighed and smiled, "Yeah right. And our meeting place is at the park. I'm off to go now"
She began to take her nag and left but suddenly, "Hey, Rock-chan!" And BRS turned.
"Here, take this." Shizuka tossed an envelope to BRS and when the ponytailed girl caught and opened it, it was lots of a thousand yen bills.
"You're gonna need that in order to sustain yourself."
"Thanks. See ya." BRS said.
"Be careful." Shizuka waved.
As BRS went to the hallway, she made it out of the gymnasium building and went to the parking lot, where she parked her scooter. She revved it and went out of the school vicinity.
She thought. "I wonder what Mato and the others are doing. I just hope that I can make it."
Shibuya District, Tokyo
He had finally come to Japan after his flight. He visited Japan many times, but for Steve Rogers, Japan has changed from time to time. He knew that they were part of the Axis powers during World War II and the Allies used the atomic bomb, the world's most destructive weapon ever. But the painful decision has a purpose: to end the war and to save the Japanese from themselves since they were under a militarist dictatorship under General Hideki Tojo. And thanks to the help of General Douglas McArthur, Japan rose from the ashes of war and became an economic, industrial, and technological superpower in Asia. Steve also knew that his old friend James 'Logan' Helwitt, also known as the mutant and X-Men member Wolverine also visited Japan to find a path for himself since he also suffered from amnesia during that time. He and Sharon stayed in a safehouse prepared by a S.H.I.E.L.D. sleeper agent. As they prepare the tools for their mission, Steve said to Sharon that he'll take a walk for a moment. He left and went on his way.
He is also thinking of the mission: What will HYDRA do in country like this? No matter what country or nationality, it's his job to stop them and protect the lives of innocent people. As he keeps on walking, he was suddenly bumped by a schoolgirl, who was short and was like 15 years of age. She has blue eyes, black hair, and a short ponytail. And as Steve sees it, she is in a hurry and her bag was on the ground.
"Oh! Sorry, mister. I'm such in a hurry!" The girl hesitantly told the American in Nihonggo.
"H-hey, that ok. Are you alright?" Steve also spoke to her in Nihonggo, picking up her bag.
The girl was surprised that the foreigner can speak the Japanese language fluently. She snapped her stupor and replied. "Y-yes! But sorry, I have to go!" The girl said again in a hesitant way.
But Steve rushed in. "Wait!" The girl turned to Steve as the foreigner gave the bag to her. She was grateful that a foreigner helped her. Without further ado, she bowed down, "Thank you very much, sir!" And then she continued to run. Steve can't help but a small smile formed in his lips. "I've never seen a girl that is so lively. Honestly, it seems she is special anyway." He thought.
And he keeps on walking.
End of Chapter 2.
So we see not only BRS's new life but also Dead Master as well. Steve Rogers finally arrived in Japan and who's the girl who bumped on him? Chapter 3 is up next so I'll keep on writing. Read and review.
So later, peeps!