The next morning, Hitomi lay in her bed, staring at her alarm clock. She still had about 10 minutes before she still had to get up and start getting ready for school. Last night was a rough night, her thoughts wouldn't let her sleep. Her mind was going a thousand different directions all at different speeds. She was upset. Upset that she had done something so ridiculously stupid. Her mother yelling at her the night before made it difficult for her to sleep. She felt like she was going to cry all night. The decision she had made didn't make it any easier for her to sleep. She sat up and turned her alarm of before it went off and grabbed the crutches from beside her bed. She carefully changed her clothes-very glad that her school uniform was a skirt instead of pants. She buttoned up her skirt and rubbed her eyes, sighing.
"This sucks." She mumbled to herself as she crutch-walked to the bathroom. She put on a little bit of makeup and brushed out her hair. She grabbed her bags and walked into the living room. "Mom?" She looked around, surprised her mother wasn't awake yet. She shrugged and made herself a simple breakfast. While she was putting butter on her toast, there was a knock at the door. She hobbled over to the door and opened it. "Wah, pastahead?!"
"I walk all the way here to walk you to school and this what I get?" He pouted and she smiled, giggling softly.
"Ne, Sorry Kise-san. It's just habit now. Come on in, I'm making my breakfast." She walked back in and went back into the kitchen, sitting on the counter space. Kise walked in behind her and sat across from her, near the stove.
"So what's wrong?"
"What makes you think something's wrong?" She asked around her toast, averting her eyes.
"I can tell. You're not happy, what's wrong? Are you in pain?"
"No, it's not that. Its..." Three knocks sounded from the door. "Can you answer that? I want to finish eating."
"Sure." Kise hopped down and walked to the door. He opened the door. "Kurokocchi?" Kuroko looked up at Kise. "Why are you here?"
"I came to help Hitomi-chan get to school." Kise raised his brows. Kuroko still called him by his last name, but he calls Hitomi by her first? 'Hmm...'
"Alright, since you're here that means I can go! Take care of her Kurokocchi~" He grinned and waved, walking out.
"You don't need to tell me that." Kuroko said quietly and shut the door, walking into the kitchen.
"Hm, Tetsu-kun? When did you get here? Where did Kise-kun go?"
"He left."
"Oh." Hitomi carefully hopped of the counter, using her crutches as support.
"I assume you came to walk me to school?" Kuroko nodded and held his hand out for her bag. She blinked a few times before she realized what he was asking for.
"I can carry it Tetsu-kun." She said, pulling her bag over her shoulder.
"You might trip. You're clumsy."
"I am not!" She protested, walking forward on her crutches-and almost tripping when her bag got caught. Kuroko rolled his eyes and grabbed the strap of her bag. She sighed and willingly let him take it, blushing brightly. "Don't say a word."
"I won't." He smiled at her and she looked down.
"Let's get going?"
"Right." They walked out the door and Hitomi locked it behind her, thus beginning her long day at school.
_Yuuki_
The last few days had been rough on Yuuki. She had finally gotten over the small sickness she had gotten, thanks to Aomine. She missed two days of school, and it was hell trying to catch up in all of her classes. She didn't think she would ever get done when a large body sat down beside her. She looked up.
"Hm? Daiki?" She blinked several times. He munched on a snack bar and handed her copies of the papers she was doing. "If you expect me to do your homework on top of mine-"
"Look at them." He said. She looked down at the papers and realized they weren't blank papers.
"Wha..?"
"Stop stressing out. It's stupid to watch." He leaned back on the ground. They were currently on their lunch break, and sitting on the roof of Touou Academy.
"...Thanks, Daiki." He grunted and rolled on his side, closing his eyes. She looked at him for a second and smiled, pushing her hair behind her ear. "Lazy ass."
"Heard that."
"You were supposed too."
"Tch." He yawned. She finished the assignment in about five minutes and lay next to him, staring up at the sky.
"My friend got hurt." She told him casually.
"Oh?" He mumbled, not really caring.
"Kind of makes me feel bad. When I'm not there she does stupid things." She sighed softly. "Boy do I miss her."
"Let's go see her then."
"What? You have basketball practice. So does she."
"She plays basketball? So she's like you then. Probably just as annoying too." He yawned and stretched.
"Hey!" She hit him over the head.
"Oi!" He glared at her. She stuck her tongue out at him. "It's not like I need the practice." She sighed and rolled her eyes.
"Of course you don't. Maybe I'll see her this weekend. I don't want to disturb her practices."
"Whatever." He got comfortable again. She moved and laid her head on his ribs. "What the-"
"Shut up, I'm exhausted and you're comfortable." She mumbled and closed her eyes. She got all of her work done, now the only other thing to do is check on Hitomi later. She mumbled and drifted into sleep. Aomine looked down at her and sighed heavily.
"Brat." He put a hand on her head and closed his own eyes, fully aware he wasn't going back to class or practice.
_Hitomi_
The day couldn't have gone any slower for Hitomi. She was dreading telling Riko that she was going to quit. Kagami and Kuroko could tell something was bothering her, and it worried both of them. But, whenever they asked, she would brush them off. Telling them that everything was fine, and they didn't believe her for a second. She knew that, but she wouldn't tell them. She walked down the hall after school. Kuroko had already taken her bags to the basketball court. She smiled when she thought of Kuroko. They had become friends in such a short amount of time, the same with her and Kagami. She was so happy to finally have friends, people that accepted her. She hoped she wouldn't lose them today.
She walked into the basketball court and looked for Riko. Riko was surrounded by the boys as they talked about a match they had coming up. Someone named Dad? was on the team, apparently he was really big and skilled. Hitomi took a deep breath and walked over to them.
"Guys, I want to tell you something."
"What is it Usagi-chan?" Riko asked, tilting her head at her.
"I..I've decided to quit the team." She said quietly.
"What?!" The team exclaimed, excluding Kuroko. He just watched Hitomi look down to her feet and squeeze her hands on her crutches.
"So you're just going to quit huh? Just because you took a spill and couldn't get back up!" Kagami yelled angrily, Kuroko put a hand on his arm as he took a step forward as a warning. "I hate people that are weak!"
Hitomi swallowed her tears. "That is not why I'm quitting Kagami!" She yelled back, looking up at him. Kagami looked at her surprised, not expecting her to yell back. "I'm quitting because I'm not strong enough for this team! I've played woman's basketball almost all of my life. I can handle you guys in men's basketball, but not people who aren't careful with me. I learned that yesterday." Kagami's eyes widened.
"But-"
"I want what is best for Seirin. And that isn't me." She said quietly, looking down. "But, I'm going to get better." She looked up and looked at Riko. "Can I still be manager? I want to be apart of the team. I want to learn and practice with you guys."
Riko smiled and nodded. "Of course. We still need one. We want you to be here too, Usagi-chan." Hitomi smiled and wiped her eyes.
"Group hug!" Koganei yelled, carefully tackling Hitomi. She squeaked as the rest of the team surrounded her.
"Usgai sandwich!" Kawahara shouted. Kuroko simply stood back. Hitomi wiggled and shouted.
"Hey if I'm getting squished then everyone has to join!" It was directed to Kuroko, but also Hyuuga wasn't hugging her either. Hyuuga rolled his eyes and joined the hug, and Kagami grabbed Kuroko's arm and pulled him into the hug, against his will.
Hitomi laughed and smiled.
'Seems like everything will be okay after all.'