When Hitomi woke up the next day, she quickly put on her practice clothes and left the house. She left a note for her mom on the table telling her where she would be. She pulled her short hair into a ponytail and grabbed her basketball, heading to the courts at the school. She started practicing, pushing herself harder than she normally would.

'I'll definitely prove I can do this!' She thought, determined. She went for another layup, panting heavily. She put her hands on her knees and walked to the bleachers to get her drink. She let out a soft sigh of satisfaction before continuing practice. It wasn't until about ten minutes later did she land wrong coming down from a layup and landed hard on her knee. She hissed in pain and sat there for a few minutes, nursing her knee, which had a large scrape on it now.

Hitomi got up and went over to her bag, grabbing a roll of medical bandages and wrapping them around her knee and taping it up. 'Ow, ow, owie.' She thought, biting her lip hard. She took a deep breath and went into the locker room, changing into her school uniform. She walked to the main part of the school and sat down, waiting for her first class to start.

Hitomi walked into the gym after school, smiling at the guys who had their uniform on.

"Just give me a second and I'll get changed!" She nodded and walked quickly into the locker room, changing into her uniform. She pulled her bag over her shoulder and walked out, once again ignoring the sharp twinge in her knee when she walked. Kuroko was looking at her with sharp eyes, he knew something was up with her, but he wasn't going to say anything about it. He frowned, watching her act like nothing was wrong. He walked over to her and tugged on her arm.

"May I talk to you, Usagi-chan?" She turned to him and nodded, noticing his troubled look.

"Are you alright, Kuroko-kun?"

"Hai. But are you?" He asked in response.

"Of course I am, why wouldn't I be?" She played it off like it was nothing.

"You're in pain." She looked down, sighing heavily.

"I took a small spill this morning when I was practicing, but it's nothing to worry about! I'll be fine." She smiled and nodded at him.

"It's bad not to take care of a sports injury, Hitomi." She paused when he used her first name, but otherwise thought nothing of it.

"I know, but it's just a bruise. Please don't tell anyone?" She looked up at him. "I want to prove that I can do this, that I'm tough enough to handle being tossed around a bit. Please, Kuroko-kun." He didn't say anything, just let out a small sigh and nodded.

"Be careful, Hitomi-chan."

"I will be!" She smiled and walked to the bus behind him. As she looked at his back she couldn't help but think of how nice he was being to her. And why did he call her by her first name, did he want to be friends with her? She was utterly confused; did that mean she could call him by his first name now? She carefully walked up the stairs of the bus, sitting near the back windows. Kawahara sat next to her, putting hand on her head.

"Hey, you excited?"

"Definitely!" She nodded happily. "I also can't wait to see Kise-kun again, he's such a good friend." Kawahara nodded, sitting back against the chair. Hitomi put her head against the window and watched the scenery go by as they drove. Hitomi was always one to get amazed at small things, like how a tall a building was or pretty a cloud was. She got distracted in her own world and soon enough they were at Kaijō. Kawahara offered his hand to help her up and she smiled.

"Thanks." He smiled widely at her and they walked off the bus. Kise met them outside.

"Kuroichii! Hitomicchi!" Kise ran up to them and smiled at Kuroko and Hitomi.

"Hello Pastahead." Hitomi smiled at him as he started crying.

"Hitomicchi is so mean!" He cried. "I've been crying ever since Kuroicchi rejected me yesterday, and now this!" Hitomi giggled at the look on Kuroko's face.

"Uh, why are you here Kise-san?"

"I came to show you guys inside." He nodded. "Right this way."

They followed Kise inside the gym, where they realized they only had half court to play on.

"What is this? Are they not taking us seriously?!" Hitomi frowned deeply, crossing her arms over her chest. "This is ridiculous!"

Kuroko nodded in agreement and moved to stand next to Kagami.

"Which one of you is the coach?"

"Oh, that would be me." Riko said, stepping forward.

"Huh? You're not the manager?!" Riko frowned and stepped forward.

"I am Coach Aida Riko. We look forward to playing you today!"

After Kaijo's regulars got warmed up, the game started. Kagami was angry at the fact that they only had half the court, so when he dunked with extra force the hoop came apart in his hands.

"Whoa! Kagami-kun that was amazing!" Hitomi shouted from half court. She walked over to him and looked at the hoop. It was bigger than her whole head! She stuck her arm through it and laughed. Kagami shook his head with a slight smile on his face.

"These things are bigger than I thought they were!" He exclaimed, holding the hoop up to his face.

'He's a monster!'

Hitomi grinned as they moved to play full court bumping Kuroko and Kagami with her shoulders.

"Good job guys."

"Thanks...I think." She smiled and the game started up again. Hitomi quickly grabbed her mark. She chased after him and her face twisted in pain, but she didn't stop. 'I'm going to prove I can do this.' She thought and screened her mark. She watched Kise pull the same dunk that Kagami did, but a lot stronger.

'We're in a lot of trouble, I gotta keep these guys busy.' She nodded to herself and continued to play, the pain in her knee a steady ache. Riko saw her struggling to keep up with the high paced play. She frowned.

"Maybe she really can't handle being in official games." She said quietly to herself, watching Hitomi run across the court. Riko put her hand under her chin, thinking. It was that point in time when Hitomi and another player tripped over each other. Pain shot up Hitomi's leg and she grit her teeth.

'Come on, get back up!' She stayed on her hands and knees, trying to get herself up.

The referee blew the whistle and hurried over to her. Her teammates looked over their shoulders then rushed to her side. Kagami and Hyuga helped her up and she limped back over to the bench with their help. They set her down and Riko sat in front of her.

"Are you alright? A small tumble like that shouldn't have done much damage." She asked as she wrapped Hitomi's knee. Koganei grabbed a cold pack and set it on her knee. "Where you already hurt?" Hitomi nodded, hiding her face behind her hair. "Then why did you play? Do you know how stupid that is?!"

"I'm sorry." She said quietly. "I wanted to prove that I could do it. That I could take being pushed around and falling. I didn't know..." She clenched her fists and Riko's eyes softened. The game had already started up again.

"Rest up." She pat her head and nodded.

'Why?' She rubbed her eyes. 'Why couldn't I just tell them I was hurt? Why did my stupid pride get in the way?!' She closed her eyes tightly. 'Why am I so weak?' A large hand placed itself on her head. She looked up into Kagami and Kuroko's eyes.

"Don't punish yourself too hard Hitomi-san." Kuroko said.

"Yeah, it's okay. We all have our days." Kagami smiled at her. She smiled back at him and wiped her eyes.

"Thanks guys. Thank you so much." Kuroko sat next to her as Riko explained the strategy. She listened closely. Even though she wasn't playing, she wouldn't give up. Not now.

"So you're not gonna tell me things unless I ask!?" Riko yelled, strangling Kuroko. Hitomi covered her mouth and laughed.

"Go kick butt guys!"

The game was now over and the team was on the way to the doctors to get Kuroko's head and Hitomi's leg checked. She bit her lip nervously, she really hated doctors, and going back by herself. The last time she went by herself she had a severe panic attack. She poked Kagami's shoulder-She was currently riding on his back, due to the fact she couldn't walk.

"Yeah?"

"Will...Will you go back with me? I don't want to go by myself." She mumbled, blushing brightly. He sighed heavily.

"How old are you?"

"It's rude to ask a woman her age Kagami-kun." Kuroko said to him. She giggled.

"Thanks Tet-kun." He looked up at her with a slight blush on his face, but otherwise said nothing. Riko eyed the two curiously. Kagami agreed to go back with her as they walked into the office. He set her down on the examination table and sat in a chair. She went through some X-rays and flexibility tests.

"It looks like you have a major sprain, no broken bones, luckily. Just stay off of it for a week or two and you should be fine. No practice." She frowned and sighed, nodding. The doctor rewrapped her knee and handed her two crutches.

They walked out and gave the team the verdict.

"You should have been more careful Usagi-chan."

"I know, I know. I'm sorry about this Coach." Riko sighed and smiled.

"Well it can't be helped now." Hitomi nodded and looked at Kuroko.

"What did they say about your head?"

"It's nothing major."

"Good." She smiled at him, adjusting her gym bag awkwardly over her crutches. Kuroko took it from her when they started walking. She sent him a grateful look. "Thanks."

"It's no problem."

"Let's eat guys!"

_End_