Chapter 5:"Family"Dinner
"Ma, I'm going out!" I call from the door way, as I slip on my black and pink Jordans. I wasn't exactly fond of the flashy colour combination, but they were great shoes to practice and play basketball in.
"Is Atsu-kun coming over for dinner?" asks my loving mother, as she pops her head in from out of the kitchen. The only resemblance we shared between each other was our ivory skin and raven hair. Other than that, we were polar opposites personality wise. I liked to keep to myself, and I was quiet most of the time. While my mother thoroughly enjoyed other peoples' company and she loved to talk about just about anything, really. I asked her why she fell for my dad, who I had received the quiet nature from. She went on to tell me that there was something "…incredibly sexy" about a quiet man. Something mysterious and alluring. "Plus, he's got a really handsome face!" I had watched as my mother went on to run her hand affectionately down my father's face, who looked away with a red face.
Something about their relationship made my hopes of finding my own partner raise. I had my own issues when it came to boys. Everyone was too busy regarding me as cute and "fun sized", worrying me that no man would ever want someone as tiny as myself. So far, it proved to be true.
I give her a side long glance. "Well, he has been for a month now, so I'm going to go with choice 'a' and say yes."
"Then do you mind stopping by the grocery store after practice?"
"Not at all. What do you need?"
"Sliced beef, shiitake, enoki mushrooms and 1 leek."
xxxx
Are we having beef sukiyaki tonight? I ask myself, as I walk to the basketball courts by Sakura park, studying my mother's list. It was a small children's park that was a block away from our house. I hadn't even known about its whereabouts until Atsushi had come over for the first time. He asked if I wanted to go to Sakura and practice.
"Huh?" I replied back, with an incredibly dumb expression on my face.
After that, I had to be given a tour of my neighbourhood by Atsushi, who didn't even live on my street.
Sighing as to how hopeless I really could be, I neatly fold up the list and slide it into the pocket of my black shorts.
Entering the cage, I was a little dejected to realize that I was all by myself today. Usually I was met with the regulars, but it seems the grey clouds had driven them away.
Standing in the center of the court, I'm about to release the ball from my grasp when I'm suddenly shaken to my core by a loud, bubbly voice.
"Tora-chan!"
I watch as the basketball lands on the rim of the hoop, lying still for a few moments before falling off to the side.
Frowning, I slowly walk towards Momoi and the larger man beside her who stood on the opposite end of the cage.
"What're you guys doing?" I ask, as I hold onto the cold, grey wire as I speak to them both. They were both dressed in casual clothing, although not appropriately dressed for the grey skies that were lurking in. I hope they had an umbrella. Which by the look of their empty hands, they didn't.
"We were just walking around until we saw you. Do you come here often?" she asks, as she too holds onto the fence, her breasts pushing up against the barricade.
"I suppose. It's usually packed so I'm not really noticed. Seems everyone left because of the weather," I muse out, as I stare upwards towards the sky. I feel my face soften upon seeing the depressing bunch. I loved cold weather. The rain. The tranquility and stillness of it all. It was fascinating. Beautiful.
"I'll play ya'."
I look around Momoi to find Aomine beginning to stretch his arms behind his back. "What?" she and I both ask in unison.
"What? I said I'll play against you. Come on, one on one. Let's-"
"Oh no you don't. Not after you just played in yesterday's game," orders Momoi, as she grabs the back of Aomine's shirt.
"Shut up, Satsuki. What are you, my-"
"Ahomine," I mumble, as I begin to walk away from the barricade.
"What was that you brat?!" he yells out, as I feel the fence rattle due to his ferocious kicks. Men who didn't show respect to women weren't men at all. Momoi was just trying to look out for his well being. He didn't need to-
"CATS ARE UGLY!"
The orange ball in my fingertips slowly slips out of my clutches, rolling away from my feet and further away from my body that stood motionless. I feel my eyes and throat begin to grow coarse and dry. What did he-
"CATS ARE DAMN CRAZY AND THEY SHOULD ALL GO-"
Quickly grabbing the ball from rolling away any farther, I whip it with all my force behind me. Aomine doesn't hesitate to catch the pass. He and Momoi had entered the cage, with her taking a seat on the nearby bench with an exasperated expression on her face.
"One on one. I lose, I'll admit that cats are whatever you say them to be. You win, I'll-"
"Leave me alone forever?"
A vein pops out from his forehead. "You little-"
"Let's think about my prize after, alright?"
xxxxx
I stare at Aomine from the middle of the court, watching him dunk the ball with ease, winning the one on one match between us. Sighing in fatigue rather than sadness that I lost; I walk towards Momoi and take a seat beside her on the old, worn out green bench. Didn't matter what we bet on. A one on one against the Generation of Miracles' ace was no easy win for anyone. Bottom line was that he was still superior to me in almost every aspect of basketball.
"You're amazing, Tora-chan," claims Momoi, as she shifts to turn facing me.
"Am I? I'd thank you but we all know I'd be being conceited," I grumble out, as I take a few gulps from my water bottle. I recall the moment when Atsushi had called me the name twice.
"Don't worry about Muk-kun. Right, Ao-"
"Hm? He's nothing more than a big kid," states Aomine, as he begins to play with my basketball while staying close to the two of us.
"How long have you known him for?" she asks.
"A few months."
"EH? And you're both already so close?!"
I give her a side long glance, nodding my head in response.
"That's amazing. Aomine-kun and I have been friends since we were kids and yet he's always so mean!"
"Shut up, Satsuki," says Aomine, his voice edged with a little annoyance.
"Ahomine," I grumble again, as I dodge the ball that comes flying towards my face.
Standing up, I stretch my arms a few times before I let out a loud, tired yawn. "Excuse me," I apologize, as I run off to grab my ball. Picking it up, I walk back towards my bag, placing it neatly inside.
"Wow, it's already 6!" exclaims Momoi, as she pulls out her pink cell phone.
I pull out mine as well to confirm the time. She was right. I suppose I should get to the convenience store now.
"Where are you two off to now?"
"Us? I don't know. I'm sort of hungry. Probably to the fast-"
"Don't. I-I mean my mom's making beef sukiyaki tonight. I can pick up some extra food and I'm sure she wouldn't mind you two coming along."
Momoi gives a hesitant look towards Aomine. "Are you sure? We really don't want to be a problem," she laughs, as she twirls her pink locks delicately around her index finger.
"The only problem will be you. I'm go-"
Momoi elbows Aomine roughly into his side.
"No, really. I think my mom's getting tired of hearing Atsushi complain about how bland the food is. I'm sure she'd be much more interested with you two complementing her."
Momoi gives me a hesitant look before a persistent Aomine breaks her into agreeing.
xxxx
"Ma!" I yell out, as Momoi, Aomine and myself take off our shoes by the entrance. My mother walks in, wiping her hands on her yellow, frilly apron.
"Tor- Oh, more friends?"
"Yes. Is it okay?"
"Of course, of course. I just love meeting your friends. Please, come in."
Momoi thanks my mom, while Aomine casually begins to walk around my house like it was his own. I lead them down the hall and up to my room, but not before I hand my mother the groceries. Opening the door, I'm not surprised to find a passed out Atsushi sprawled across my beige floor, wrappers of all types around his peaceful face.
Momoi grabs my arm, pulling me back as she whispers into my ear. She wonders if we should really disturb him. I roll my eyes at her, whispering for her and Aomine to watch and take note of how to wake up a sleeping "bear".
Running across my room, I slam my body on top of Atsushi's, watching his eyes almost bulge out of his head. Laughing, I begin to roll from side to side on his torso.
"Tora-chin. I really hate you," he grumbles groggily, as he begins to close his eyes once again. I gently slap his face, forcing him to wake up. "Momoi and Aomine are here. Stop being such a lazy bum."
Atsushi pushes me off, sitting upright with a dazed look on his face. He stares at Momoi and Aomine, almost not recognizing the two. "Hello, Sa-chin," he waves happily, as he pays no attention to Aomine.
"Don't ignore me," warns Aomine, as he begins to walk around my room. Momoi flops onto my neatly made bed, lying on her stomach as she watches Atsushi and I. "Muk-kun's allowed in your room when you're not around?" she asks, as she begins to kick her legs back and forth.
Cautiously eyeing Aomine from the corner of my eyes, I answer her question. "Yes. He knows better than to do anything stupid. Plus, at most he sits waiting for 30 minutes, depending if he feels like coming early. If I'm not home my mom makes him do some chores and then sends him up to my room. He'll usually watch TV and make a mess before passing out," I explain, as I begin to pick up the candy wrappers from the ground.
"What a kid," mutters Aomine, as he continues to walk around my room.
Aomine suddenly stops by my wooden oak dresser. There wasn't anything on it except some old pictures. He couldn't find those interesting, could he?
Momoi climbs off of my bed, leaving the white sheets slightly wrinkled. Walking towards Aomine, she carefully picks up a golden framed picture off of my dresser and begins to smile fondly at it.
"Aomine-kun's not allowed in my room without my supervision. Mainly because I leave my bras all over-"
"Mine-chin, I'm not sure you want to open that," warns a happy Atsushi, cutting Momoi off. I give him a thankful look, not sure if I was comfortable about hearing her talk about bras. I wasn't really much about talking about personal items like that in front of anyone. Including my own mother. Mainly because I barely had any breasts to talk about in the first place.
Looking at Aomine, I watch in horror as he begins to slide my underwear drawer open. Stepping on Atsushi's abdomen, he chokes out in response as I bolt towards Aomine, taking him to the soft, yet hard carpet.
"C-Cats…I saw-"
"Y-You didn't see anything!" I stammer out, as I begin to pound on his chest beneath me. N-No, he couldn't have seen them. I took him down before he could! G'ah, this is so embarrassing! Why didn't Atsushi stop him, or better yet, warned me about it sooner?!
"32B, I knew it!"
Turning around, I find Momoi going through the contents of my bra drawer. The colour drains from my face as I watch her hold up my black bra, which was adorned all over with white, plush kittens.
"Neh, this is cute," she giggles, as she holds it up for me, Atsushi and Aomine to see. I wasn't really concerned about Atsushi since this was how his first experience in my room had gone. Through much punishment, he had learned never to go near my dresser. Ever. That's why I was apprehensive about Aomine walking around my room.
Turning back around to the boy beneath me, I find Aomine straining to see what Momoi had in her hands. I place my hands roughly on his chest, pinning him underneath me as I hold him to the floor.
"You-"
I suddenly watch his gaze lower from my face, landing fixated upon my white t-shirt. His eyes narrow, his gaze becomes more focused. What was he-
"You pervert!" I yell angrily, as I begin to slap his face from side to side. Atsushi reaches over, yanking my body off of Aomine. "Play nice," he warns, as he keeps a restrained hold on my forearm.
"I'll gouge your eyes and cut off your tongue if you mention this to-"
"Tora-"
Suddenly my mom walks in, poking her head in with a loving smile. We all watch in horror as her smile slowly fades and is replaced with a look of confusion. On one side of the room you had Momoi holding up my bras, and then there was Aomine lying on the floor with a dazed, drugged up look on his face. Beside him was Atsushi, who was outstretched on the ground with my flailing body over top of his lap. But the cherry on the top was me, who was trying to violently stab Aomine with a pair of scissors that Atsushi had kept on the table to open some candies.
To her, well to anyone really, this looked like a horrible picture.