Author's Note : I know that the general timeline of this story is a bit off since the GoM didn't really gain 'fame' until their second year, but I decided to tweak things up a bit.
In general, this is how the timeline is in this story :
1st year – (Summer) Akashi kicks old regulars off the team and forms the GoM with Shougo. They gain attention after the summer and winter tournaments.
1st year – (Early spring) Kise transfers in and begins to learn basketball.
2nd year – (Spring) Shougo gets kicked off the team and Kise takes his place.
*The new school year in Japan starts after their spring break, so Shougo is removed from the team a week after they become second years.
Argh, sorry for the short chapter. I have finally hit the dreaded writer's block. Hopefully after this chapter is published, things will start to move more quickly. Thanks for all of your lovely support! Please take the time to tell me how you like the story in the review section. Enjoy reading! -helpwhatiswrong
Reign of the Champions
"There's no point if you win by yourself." – Kuroko Tetsuya
[05]
"Eh? He actually said that?" Momoi asked in disbelief, sweeping a brush through her pink hair. Lowering the brush, she glanced at Shoko through the mirror. Once she nodded in confirmation, Momoi sighed. "I can't believe Atobe." She said, shaking her head. "He's only thirteen, but he has the confidence of an adult!"
Shoko smiled weakly as she gathered her hair into a neat bun. After an excruciating dull week in Nagoya, she returned to Tokyo and watched Teiko take the summer tournament championships. Today was the 28th, and as planned, Shoko was getting ready for the fireworks festival with Momoi.
As soon as she arrived to Momoi's house, the data analyst had noticed her strange behavior and asked her what happened in Nagoya. Rather than telling her that her brother was dead set on taking revenge on the players, Shoko told her about Atobe gaining control over the tennis team at Hyotei.
"Then again, Atobe is quite similar to Akashi." Momoi pointed out, referring to how the red haired had taken over the basketball team his freshmen year. "It would be interesting to see how they would react if they met each other!"
Shoko wrinkled her nose. While Atobe and Akashi might have similar mindsets, their personalities were completely different. Atobe was flashy and arrogant while Akashi was calm and confident. If they met, things wouldn't be pretty.
Momoi noticed Shoko's expression and laughed. "Yeah, you're right. I don't think I would want them to meet either." After she finished braiding her hair, Momoi gave a satisfied nod at her reflection.
"Done!" Momoi turned around and faced Shoko, who was sitting on her bed. She tilted her head to the side, curious. "Who are you talking to?"
Shoko dropped her cell phone in her lap. "Nobody important." She replied, scratching the tip of her nose. Momoi had a sly expression on her face. Once the grey haired girl let her guard down, Momoi grabbed her cell phone.
The pink haired girl's eyes widened. "You're talking to Harumi-kun?!" She exclaimed, reading the latest message their upperclassman had sent Shoko. Her eyebrows were raised. "Since when were you two so close?"
Shoko frowned at the suggestive look on Momoi's face. Tucking a stray piece of hair behind her ear, Shoko retrieved her phone back from the smirking girl. "It's nothing serious. He just came to watch my tournament and we starting talking."
Momoi's smirk widened. "Suure, it's nothing serious." She sang, winking at Shoko. "For now, at least." Momoi giggled while Shoko sighed. She knew it was a risk to text Harumi within Momoi's presence.
"So, is he going to be at the fireworks festival today?" Momoi asked, swinging her legs excitedly. Shoko picked at her thumbnail – another bad habit she developed when she was nervous.
". .Yes." Shoko finally said. Before Momoi could continue teasing her, Shoko interrupted her. "Like I said before, Satsuki, it's nothing serious, so don't get any ideas."
Momoi looked shocked. "What makes you think I would do something?" She gasped as she feigned being offended. Shoko shot her an annoyed look. "Don't worry, Shoko-chan! I won't do anything bad."
Shoko didn't look too convinced. Momoi had a devious look on her face – which meant that she was planning something. "Seriously. I won't." Momoi promised, grabbing the girl's arm as she dragged her towards the door. "Now let's go break some hearts tonight!"
After spending the last two weeks with the members, the last thing Midorima wanted to do was spend another day with the basketball players at a festival. Aomine had arrived on his doorstep that afternoon with a grin and literally dragged him out of the house.
He had better things to do than entertain Aomine at the festival. "Who is that?" Midorima suddenly asked, glancing at the black haired boy who looked nervous as he paced back and forth.
He looked familiar, but Midorima couldn't remember his name. Aomine glanced at the boy as he ate a piece of takoyaki. "Oh, that's Harumi." He said in between his bites. Midorima looked disgusted and distanced himself from Teiko's ace.
"He's from the basketball team." Midorima flinched and noticed that he had moved next to the misdirection expert. "I think he's on the second string." Kuroko said.
Midorima pushed his glasses up his nose as he stared at Harumi. "He's a Scorpio." Midorima murmured. Kuroko looked at him with an unreadable expression. "I remember him now."
Aomine laughed, tossing his takoyaki container into the trashcan behind him. As expected of Teiko's ace, the container sailed effortlessly into the can.
"I can't believe you remember everyone's zodiac signs." Aomine grinned and rested his arm on Midorima's shoulder. "I don't know where to call it impressive or obsessive."
Midorima frowned, pushing the ace's arm off his shoulder. "It helps me choose the right people to associate myself with." The shooter replied. "If I am not compatible with the other person's zodiac sign, then I try to stay away from that person."
It saved him a lot of time by avoiding unnecessary fights and confrontations. Aomine looked bored as he picked his teeth with the skewer. "Whatever man." Like the rest of the Generation of Miracles, Aomine thought it was weird how obsessive Midorima was with horoscopes, but got used to his odd tendencies over time.
"Oh, look! They're finally here." Aomine exclaimed, moving away from Midorima to greet the girls. Momoi was the first person he saw. Her long pink hair was braided to the side and she wore a sky blue yukata, which contrasted her hair.
He saw Hagasaki next. Her hair was tied into a neat bun and she wore a striking yellow yukata, which he found too flamboyant for someone like her. Ever since their confrontation at the game arcade, he couldn't help but to feel a strong dislike towards her.
His expression was unreadable as Hagasaki ignored everyone on the basketball team and greeted Harumi with a small smile. Midorima watched as the black haired boy looked flustered and stammered a response.
He pushed up his glasses and tore his gaze away.
Aquarius and Scorpio were almost always a perfect match.
As expected, although Momoi had promised she would not play any tricks, Shoko found herself in quite a predicament when she was separated from the group. "Look, Shoko-chan! Isn't this mask cute?" Harumi asked, holding up a fox mask to his face.
Shoko forced a smile while Harumi busied himself with the different masks on display. It wasn't Harumi's presence that necessarily bothered her – in fact, she was becoming rather comfortable around the third year.
It was the presence of an unpredictable guest that made her feel uncomfortable. Shoko glanced at Midorima – who was standing a few feet away from them. A small frown was on his face – indicating that he wasn't the least impressed by the situation either.
As soon as she and Momoi had arrived to the festival, Momoi immediately went towards Kuroko and started a lively conversation with the misdirection expert. So far, things were going well, but as soon as Shoko turned her attention towards Harumi, Momoi had taken off with the rest of the basketball players.
For some reason, Midorima didn't get the memo and when she turned back, Momoi was gone along with the rest and Midorima looked as confused as she did.
Shoko wasn't particularly fond of Midorima, but she felt somewhat guilty leaving him alone on such a festive day. "Shoko-chan! Let's go play a game!" Harumi exclaimed, pulling Shoko out of her trace.
She allowed the overly energetic third year to pull her towards a random game booth. Surprisingly, when she turned around, Midorima was following them with a sullen expression.
"Here, Shoko-chan!" Harumi handed her a paddle made out of rice paper. Shoko glanced down and noticed a small child sized pool filled with goldfishes. "Let's play this one!" He beamed as he squatted down in front of the pool with a concentrated look.
'He's trying too hard.' Shoko thought as she squatted beside him. She didn't know why, but his smiles seemed forced and didn't quite reach his eyes.
"Aw man, I didn't get it." Harumi frowned as the water tore the rice paper and asked the owner for another paddle. Shoko's attempts met the same fate. On her fourth try, her eyes widened as she successfully captured the fish without ripping the paper.
The festival was crowded that day, so just as she captured the fish, a man bumped into her back, causing the rice paper to rip before she could secure the fish.
Shoko blinked as she saw a blurred movement from her left and furrowed her eyebrows when she noticed the goldfish was successfully captured in a small bowl. Turning to her left, she stared.
"It would have been a wasted attempt." Midorima simply said, holding the bowl with one of his hands. Shoko looked at him suspiciously, but said nothing as the owner congratulated them and bagged the goldfish.
"Thank you." The grey haired girl murmured politely as the man handed her prize. Midorima grunted in reply and turned his attention elsewhere as he crossed his arms across his chest.
Shoko stared at his back for a few seconds before turning her attention back to Harumi, who was still struggling with the game.
Meanwhile, Midorima had a grimace on his face as he pulled out his phone to check his luck for that night.
Today will be the start of something new! Try to open your mind to new experiences. Today's lucky item : koi (1)
(1) A koi is a Japanese carp, but can also mean 'love' in Japanese.