Author's Note : It's finally August! That means school is going to start pretty soon and while I am trying to stay consistent with updates, don't be surprised if I suddenly stop updating. Thank you guys for your support! I hope you enjoy this chapter as well.
As a future reference, Harumi is the upperclassman on the basketball team mentioned in the first chapter.
This is more of a filler chapter than anything, but everything starts during summer vacation! I also wanted to formally introduce Harumi since he's going to play a major role in the next few chapters.
Disclaimer : I do not own Kuroko no Basuke. All original characters and plot lines are my ideas and any resemblance to a live person is purely coincidental.
"The strong don't win. The winners are the strong ones. They were stronger. That's all." – Iwamura Tsutomu
[03]
Shoko cracked her neck, dropping her pencil pouch into her school bag and sighed in relief. Around her, her classmates cheered as the last final was completed. It was finally the start of summer vacation.
It was the start of three long weeks with no school, plenty of sunshine, and many possibilities. Her classmates buzzed with excitement as they discussed their plans for summer.
Shoko thought that Momoi would be the first to celebrate the start of vacation. However, Momoi was slumped in her seat, her face pale as if all her energy had been sucked out of her. Shoko sweat dropped.
"Why the long face, Momoichi?" Kise asked with a teasing smile on his face. He already knew the answer to the question, but he wanted to antagonize the poor girl. "Aren't you excited for summer vacation~?"
His smile was wiped off his face as Momoi shoved her hand in his face. "Shut up, Ki-chan." Momoi turned towards Shoko. The grey haired girl blinked as Momoi's eyes started to water.
"It's summer vacation, but I have to deal with basketball tournaments!" Momoi cried, grabbing Shoko's shoulders. "I want to have fun and play at the beach too!" She whined.
Shoko smiled. Although Momoi always seemed to complain about basketball, she knew that the pink haired girl was passionate about the game – probably more than the gifted players. "I have to spend my whole vacation babysitting the players." Momoi gave a pointed stare at Kise, who merely smiled cheekily in return.
"What are you doing for your vacation, Shoko-chan?" Kise wagged his eyebrows suggestively. "If you don't have anything to do, you can always come to watch our practices!"
"I think Akacchi really likes you after the game arcade!" Shoko frowned at the memory of the team outing she went to last week. After their confrontation, Midorima treated her as if she was extra baggage.
Akashi didn't even talk to her while she was there, but she could feel the captain giving her amused stares. "I already have plans for vacation." Shoko replied easily, deflating Kise's bubble. "I have a tournament and then I'm going back to Nagoya to visit my grandparents."
Kise and Momoi's lips from an 'o'. They had forgotten that she was involved in archery. Shoko sighed, 'Well, it's understandable because all they can think about is Kuroko and basketball.'
"Ah, then that means we won't see each other as often. ." Momoi trailed off, looking disappointed. Nagoya was six hours away from Tokyo on train or bus.
Shoko suddenly felt guilty as Momoi sank lower in her seat. She knew that Momoi was looking forward to a relaxing summer in between the practices and tournaments. "I'll only be gone for two weeks. The junior high tournaments aren't very long (1) and its jut formalities with my grandparents."
Shoko glanced at the planner Momoi had placed on her desk. "I'll be back on the 14th of July," She wrote her name neatly in Momoi's pink planner. "Basketball tournaments end on the 20th, so. ." Shoko paused, quickly glancing at the date that was circled.
"We can go to the Sumida River Fireworks Festival on the 28th (2)." Kise and Momoi both stared at her in awe. Momoi was the first to speak; her eyes glistened with happiness.
"You are my hero, Shoko!" Momoi cried out in happiness, throwing her arms around the girl. Shoko gave a weak smile as the data analyst began to rapidly babble about the things they would do that day.
Kise looked equally excited as well. "It's been a while since I went to a festival!"
Momoi shot him a heated glare. "You're not invited. I have to deal with you enough during the summer!"
The teen model looked dejected and pouted. "But I was going to invited Kurokochi as well. ." He murmured, pushing his two index fingers together as he looked at Momoi underneath his long eyelashes.
Momoi froze at the mention of her crush. Shoko could tell that she was having an internal conflict within herself. Shaking her head, Shoko chose to reply for her friend. "It's okay if you come. I don't mind."
Besides, she knew that even if he wasn't invited, he would still go with the team or a random girl. Kise beamed and hugged her and Momoi quickly. "I'm excited for summer now! Wait till the tell the others!"
A girl called out Kise's name. The blond model grinned and waved at the girl. "I'll see you guys later~" He sang as he walked towards the girl standing near the classroom door.
Momoi sighed, "Ki-chan always gets his way, doesn't he?" The pink haired girl puffed her cheeks. She wasn't particularly happy that the team was going to be with them, but if Kuroko was there, she could tolerate their presence for another day.
The girl giggled to herself as she placed a smiley face sticker on the date of the festival. Suddenly, summer was looking so much more promising.
Three days later, Shoko was standing in Teiko's dojo with her bow drawn and held near her ear. She took a deep breath, her eyes focusing on the small target drawn a couple meters away.
The dojo was quiet. The club was fairly small, so they didn't drawn a large crowd, but Shoko actually preferred it that way. Releasing the bow, she watched as the arrow soared towards the target.
Satisfied by the familiar thud the arrow made as it hit the target, Shoko lowered her bow and wiped her sweat from her brow. Archery was a very physical and mental activity.
A round of polite applause went around. "Ah, as expected of Shoko-chan!" Shoko moved as the next archer took her place and saw Harumi standing near the door.
She stared at the black haired teen before giving him a polite bow. "Eh, aren't you being too cold?" The older boy whined, handing her a water bottle.
Shoko accepted the drink and opened it as he stared at her intently. "Your voice is too loud, senpai." The girl simply said, taking a drink. Harumi glanced around the dojo and saw that the few spectators were staring at him with a disapproving frown.
He sheepishly scratched the back of his head. Lowering his voice, he spoke again. "Sorry, I guess I'm too used to cheering at basketball games." He gave an embarrassed smile.
'He's quite similar to Kise.' Shoko thought, scratching the tip of her nose. 'I can tell why they are friends.' Shoko pulled a face as Kise's taunting smile popped in her head.
Harumi tilted his head to the side. "Shoko-chan? You're making a strange expression."
The grey haired girl regained her composure. There was no way that the upperclassman had a crush on her. She barely talked to him. "Don't you have to a basketball tournament today?" Shoko asked, placing her bow in its respective casing.
She remembered Momoi texted her that morning saying that Teiko would be playing on campus. Since the dojo was so close to the gym, she was planning to stop by before she left to Nagoya tomorrow morning.
Harumi's eyes dimmed and his smile faltered. Shoko noticed it was the same look Momoi had earlier and wondered if there was some internal conflict on the basketball team.
The older boy glanced at Shoko, blushing when he saw the concerned look on her face. "It's no big deal!" He said quickly, waving his hand furiously. "The first strings are playing today, so there's no point of me playing benchwarmer when they don't need me."
Shoko looked annoyed and he realized that he had raised his voice again. "Sorry, I'll try to keep my voice down."
The girl didn't look too convinced and picked up her belongings. Slinging her bag over her shoulder, she motioned for Harumi to follow her. "Let's talk outside."
Harumi looked confused as Shoko walked out of the dojo without a second glance back. The tournament was still going on, but her teammates barely gave her a second glance as she walked out. "I-Is it okay for you to walk out like that?"
"It's fine. I don't care."
Harumi looked uncertain, but followed the girl anyways. Silence consumed to two as they walked away from the dojo. Harumi stared at the surroundings and his heart raced as they neared the gym.
He could hear the distinctive squeak of the shoes on the polished floors and the school chant. Harumi froze, expecting Shoko to enter the gym, but looked confused as she turned the corner – passing the gym without a second glance.
Snapping out of his daze, he quickly caught up with her and sighed in relief as she chose a bench far from the gym. He took a seat beside her and stared at his shoes.
Shoko was the first to break the silence. "Why were you at the archery tournament today?"
Harumi laughed at her directness. It was so like her to get straight to the point. He was also relieved that she didn't mention anything about basketball. "Kise told me that you were going to be there, so I decided to watch."
The grey haired girl frowned lightly, tracing her finger against the water bottle's cap. Of course Kise would tell him. Harumi stretched on the bench, basking in the July sunshine. "You like me, don't you senpai?"
Harumi froze, before moving at the opposite end of the bench. His face was flushed as he looked nervous. Shoko stared at him with a raised brow. "I-I-It's not like. .I. ." The upperclassman sputtered, his thoughts in a mess.
'What a delayed reaction.' Shoko thought, slightly amused. "It's okay if you don't." Shoko replied. "Kise has been spreading rumors, so I was curious."
The black haired boy made a mental note to teach his kohai a lesson the next time he saw him. "It's not that. ." Harumi glanced at Shoko, quickly adverting his eyes when he saw she was staring at him. "It's nothing!"
The boy immediately regretted his quick response when Shoko frowned. After a few beats, she let out a long sigh. "I don't know what troubles are going on the basketball team right now, but I hope everything works out for you."
Harumi stared at her. She was concerned for him?
Her phone made a loud beep. A deep frown appeared on her lips as she read the message. "I should get going now. Have a nice summer, senpai." Shoko made the motion to pick up her belongings, but stopped when Harumi grabbed her wrist.
The grey haired girl gave him a blank stare while Harumi turned red. "I-I-If it's okay with you. .CanIseeyoutomorrow?" Harumi blurted out, freezing when his words came out jumbled.
Shoko blinked. "I can't." She said bluntly. Harumi tried to fight off the depressing cloud over him and forced a tight smile. "I'm leaving tomorrow for Nagoya." Shoko continued, scratching the tip of her nose.
She thought about the fireworks outing she had planned with Momoi. Surely one more person wouldn't matter? "I'll be at the fireworks festival on the 28th. You're free to come if you want."
Harumi's spirits lifted and the black haired boy looked excited. "Can I really come?!"
Shoko shrugged, wondering why he was so excited over a simple festival. It was open to the public, so it wasn't as if he needed her permission.
Harumi – feeling bold after Shoko had invited him to watch fireworks with her – grinned. "Then can I have your phone number? You know, just so I can contact you when the day gets closer."
Surprisingly, the girl agreed and held out her phone. "Okay, I'll send you my information via infrared." Harumi frantically fumbled for his phone and flipped his phone.
His phone made a sound when the exchange was complete and he stared at her contact information, committing the numbers to memory incase something happened to his phone. "I'll be going now, senpai." Shoko said, completely oblivious to his strange behavior.
Harumi leapt to his feet, "Ah, yes! Sorry to keep you back." He gave her a quick bow. "Have a safe trip!" He yelled as Shoko walked away, scratching her ear. 'He should really learn how to keep his voice down. .' She thought, adjusting the strap of her bag.
Meanwhile, the upperclassman held his phone in the air as if it was made out of gold. 'I finally did it!' He thought proudly. 'I talked to Shoko-chan and got her number!'
"Oh~ho. I just witnessed something juicy here." A lazy voice drawled from behind the bench. Harumi froze upon hearing the familiar voice. Slowly turning around, he blanched upon seeing the team's ace relaxed on the ground.
"A-Aomine. ." The Teiko ace grinned.
"Haisaki, huh? Never thought that you would go for those types." Harumi frowned. He – as well as the other players – never gotten along with the first stringers. He didn't like how Aomine began skipping tournaments and practices when he would kill to be in his place.
"What of it?!" Harumi replied, a little too defensively. He shoved his phone into his pocket.
Aomine shrugged. "Nothing~" He sang. "I don't particularly care for Haisaki, so I don't really care about your business."
"But, I should just warn you in advance," Harumi narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "You shouldn't get involved with Haisaki unless you want something happening to you."
"Something?" Harumi echoed, his eyebrows rising.
Aomine smirked, spinning a basketball in his hand. "I heard that big brother had a particular hatred towards basketball players." Harumi gulped. "I don't think he would like hearing about your infatuation with his sister."
"But, it's not any of my business. Just try not to get hurt." Aomine grinned, tossing the ball towards Harumi. The older boy caught the ball due to instinct and stood there dumbfounded while Aomine lazily shuffled away towards the gym.
"Oh, and one more thing, senpai." Harumi frowned. He really didn't like Aomine anymore. "Try not to skip out on games anymore, okay?"
(1) Archery – or kyudo – is often taken in high school as an extracurricular activity because its when children as more physically and mentally mature. While there are some junior high schools with kyudo as an extracurricular activity, there are not many because of the dangers.
(2) Sumida River Fireworks Festival is one of Japan's oldest and largest fireworks displays. It takes place in July.
Do you guys like these kinds of footnotes? I try to stay away from adding too many references that people won't understand, but I think it makes it more authentic to read about the Japanese culture. Let me know what you think in the reviews!