Chapter 7: Why Did I Fall For That Trap?
"Nooooooooooooooo! I don't wanna run!"
The cry rings long and loud across the school's campus, alerting many to the sound and causing curiosity to run rampant through out the clubs. Who was screaming and why? It was certainly a girl, and she seriously doesn't want to run for some reason. Is she making up a gym class? Is her friend forcing her to work out? Maybe it's something else. Never the less, the origin will remain unknown to many.
The origin, known by a select few, however is none other than the Stride team's ace, a girl by the name Tensai Tatsumaki. The girl had been on her way to the roof top when Yuji hunted her down early and got a hold of her. She had managed to escape with a tussle that contained squirming and much floundering, but was later caught by none other than Yatsuhiro himself via a simple trap that had been set up. Having been caputred in a rather large bag, she was then transported to the rest of the team by the two and thus here they are now.
Tatsumaki glares back at Yatsuhiro, the second year having demanded that she not only study more often but train more often as well. To ask her to do so is a horrid though on either end. She has plenty of people who are willing to share their note with her, and when she doesn't understand something she can often go to Yuji. His command had been what brought forth the cry of rejection, leaving silence to follow after words. "I'm leaving; you can't make me run," she growls. However, the down side to this is that a certain relationer has her flung over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. Now, normally she would resort to violence by this point, going so far as to knee the person in the gut or sternum, or even jab her elbow at their head. However, seeing as it's Yuji who has her, she just can't bring herself to harm him. He's a dear friend to her. The rest of these guys are strangers, people she'd gladly pound into dust if they had her like Yuji does now.
"You have to train," a voice behind her states lowly, though she recognizes it to be the Captain's. "To keep your senses sharp and your skills from dulling. You can't be our ace if you grow weak". He can't use a dull tool to show his brother that he is the stronger one- the better one. No. he needs sharp tools that will come when called and attack when he says jump...Or something like that. Never the less, he motions for Nobuyuki to put the girl down lest she flail and show them all he'd rather not see. The relationer nods and does as told, however he makes certain to keep a hand on Tensai's shoulder to keep her from running away. Because if she does start running, there's no one other than Aomine whom can catch up to her. And it is highly doubtful that he would go out of his way to help them- or rather, more like impossible. He realizes that he's contradicting himself and what he has said in the past by making her train. After all before, he hadn't worried about it. However, he feels that this is needed. For all of them other than just for her. If anything, he's using her to boost moral at the moment, giving his men a goal to reach though they may never actually get even close. The efforts of the second and third string members have been lowering, the Coach told him, an issue he needs to fix. Like a general leading an army, he cannot have his men be weak when he needs them most. They need to be alert and strong at all times.
But Tensai shakes her head, crossing her arms over her chest with a scoff, "I don't need to train. There's no one out there who can beat me, so you guys have literally nothing to worry about. I'll know when the team is strong enough for me to have to step in. and then I'll win like I always do".
"That's not the freaking point!" Yatsuhiro snaps, violet eyes narrowed into smoldering slits, "We're a team. We need to work together to win a race. Not rely on you! If we do that, we'll get weaker too! Besides, there's always someone out there who is better than you. So you have to train already damn it!". The annoyed frown on her lips pisses him off. In fact, everything about her pisses him right off. Why doesn't she get it?! It's not fair that talent like hers is wasted on people like her in the first place. Lazy, over confident, rude, and over all a bitch. He steps forward, getting into the white haired girl's face with a sneer, "So train already damn it! I refuse to loose the End of Summer race because you got weaker because you didn't train with us like you were supposed to!"
Silence, cold and deadly, sits in the spring air chilling it to the point that it feels like winter to the bystanders. Misoka releases a slow, careful breath as he steps forward, placing a firm hand on his friend's shoulder. He can understand Katsu's displeasure, the frustration he feels. He too disagrees with how the talented girl is wasting her time by just lazing about and doing nothing. Growing stronger is not a bad thing even for the best out there. If anything it assures them that they stay the strongest. "He is correct," his voice is deep and rumbling, the sound that could perhaps belong to someone bigger than he. His calm golden gaze rests on the forest colored globes and insists, "Training will keep you strong, Tensai-san".
This is the first time she had ever heard the second year speak. His words are slow and simple but obviously filled with devotion and certainty. She had not expected him to side with her so abruptly. Last time Yatsuhiro was getting fed up with her, Misoka held him back and merely gave him a simple glance. It brought the other male's temper down, so she figured she had whom wouldn't bother her. Unfortunately that's not the case. More than just a little miffed, Tensai shrugs Yuji's hand off her shoulder gruffly in order to stand chest to chest with the shorter blonde male. She hates people who yell at her about talent and training and shit. Just like this guy. "You want me to train? Fine," she allows, "I'll train but only because I'll show you what happens when I do. Which one of you is the fastest? It doesn't matter at what. Whose time is the shortest out of all of you?"
"That would be Satoshi," Nobuyuki allows, his red eyes trailing to the blue eyed first year whom has been silently standing there.
"Good," she struts forward and literally grabs Satoshi's wrist, shocking the blue eyed boy a fairly good amount. "Come on Satoshi, we're going to train".
Hearing this, the freshman's heart leaps into his throat as he's pulled along by the surprisingly strong female runner. "Train?" His voice is a light tenor, "Are you certain? You don't have to if you don't want to; I will assist in your escape if you like". His offer is met with a smile, the anger momentarily gone from her face and replaced with a fire in her eyes. He gulps, suddenly uncertain. He knows for a fact that he has always wanted to test his skill against her when she was at her best- even more so after that last race with her about a month ago- but now he worries. Is he strong enough? Is he worthy of running against her at her best? His life would be complete if he was, but it's an uncertainty that he cannot find the answer to without running against her again. He has been training hard for five weeks ever since that race. He feels that he may have gotten faster, better, but surely she wasn't trying in that last match. Which means he doesn't have anything proper to compare his own skill to. "I will attempt to make them listen; you can run away right now".
The grounds that the Stride team uses is a combination of a park setting on campus and indoor equipment. The only way a Stride runner can get stronger is if they are constantly running, practicing their timing and their gimmicks, their stretching, ability to run against the wind and their speed control. In order to assure Touou's team, the regulars mainly, the ability to grow and improve, the school has managed to gather up state of the art training equipment and the space needed for races. Situated almost like a park, the area that the Stride team often uses is surrounded by trees and given multiple branches of paths to run along in order to include transition zones. There are no obstacles in this area, that being retained for a different portion of their facilities, however there are slopes and springs and curves that can be tricky if the runner is not focused or skilled enough to handle them.
"You're awesome, you know that Satoshi?" Tensai grins now to the young man she drags forth onto one of the many paths of the training area. "But you know, I've gotta train in order to stay sharp according to Yatsuhiro. I'll get weak if I don't". Now she snickers, as though the thought of her becoming weak is something she has never even pondered about. Or as though she knows that even if she were to become weak, she still would be able to win with ease. "Anyways, you can help me a little okay?"
Satoshi is silent even as the rest of the regulars approach the two, confused and uncertain as to what the girl is about to do. However, Yuji frowns as he has something of an idea. It worries him to an extent, not wanting to see the cold darkness of superiority in her eyes once she's done- as he knows well that it will be there whether he wants it to be or not. But even so, Satoshi's eyes are only for the Stride runner he has looked up to ever since he first heard of her. Before hand there were dozens of others that he wanted to be just like. However, she is his idol, the goal he wishes to reach by the time he must retire- which he prays is a long time from now. "What would you like me to do?" His near monotone voice inquires, his blue orbs curious as
"Simple. Race me. I'll give you a head start okay?" it'll allow her to come off as the losing team, the one behind the other, the underdog. "Stop when you get to whatever was the last transition point you used".
Satoshi was going to decline the handicap, however he cannot bring himself to say anything. The only thing he can do is nod and set himself up for take off. His heart already hammers in his chest, excitement trilling in his rib cage. The last race had been thrilling as well, running at her side if only for a moment, watching behind her beautiful running form and her long powerful strides. And now he gets to see it again in all its glory. He almost wants to run slowly on purpose, however his desire to show her what he can do is far greater than that whim. "Very well. Shall I begin now?".
"Yes," Tensai nods, shifting her right shoulder back and earning herself a satisfactory pop before relaxing.
She watches as the black haired youth takes on his usual starting position, building up pressure in his legs until suddenly he takes off at full blast, kicking up dirt and dust that lay on the path. Silently, the girl counts to twenty, finding him to be a rather impressive distance away from her. However, and she smirks a cruel and dark smirk at this, it's not enough distance for her to loose against. Crouching low, her arms hanging uselessly at her sides, she finishes counting to thirty before taking off, putting her a full half minute behind him. That would mean that he is just about half way to the course. She had seen him take a sudden right, which she assumes will be her first turn. Like a rocket, she takes off, blasting forward at a pace thought not possible. Her muscles work to push her forward, rapidly covering the ground and giving her her first corner within ten seconds instead of fifteen. She makes the corner, gliding around it with ease before pushing off and strutting down the runway upon spotting the slower boy. In a total of fifteen seconds, she has caught up to him, surpassing him without even pausing or even so much as a thought. She continues to run and run and run until a full forty five seconds after her start she realizes she may have passed the transition zone she had mentioned. She brings herself to a complete stop, panting but not even near being winded as she turns and searching for the other runner.
Satoshi pants hard, his blue eyes wide as he stands there in the aforementioned transition zone. She had passed him even when he was almost all the way there?! How?! The distance was a good four hundred meters, three hundred of which he had run at full speed! Collecting his breath, he stands and looks to the side as he spots the others walking to his position, frowns on their lips. "Does anyone know her time?" He requests. Because if so, his only desire is to train in order to beat it.
"I do not know," the gentle voice of none other than their Vice Captain, Asei, intones. His black eyes lock onto a figure in the distance, though shock resides on his features. He had never seen such a monumental take off before. It was as though her legs were coiled springs, ready to release their load at any time. And when they did, she practically flew. "However, the fact that she had cover come you is-"
"Terrifying right?" the calm voice of a certain female breaks off Asei's conversation, "Pretty scary, isn't it Asei-senpai?"
The black haired senior smiles gently to the white haired youth, nothing short of amazed. However, he blinks upon taking a look at her bare feet, "Tensai-chan, what happened to your shoes?"
"Hm?" she looks down, taking note of her wiggling toes on the concrete below her. "Oh," a bitter smile spreads across her lips, "I kind of ripped my indoor shoes. They're not meant for running you know," taking a look at the two objects dangling off her fingers, she notes the rips in the soles of them. They are a gentle soled shoe, meant for casual wear inside where there is no drastic wear or tear on them. "It's okay, they were too small anyways". She sighs and continues to smile darkly, more than just a little confident in herself obviously. "Anyways, there is no way you guys are just going to up and beat me, got it? I'm the only one who can beat me. And until you guys get stronger, it's going to stay that way". She pauses as though in thought, "I was going to say 'good luck' but I don't think that'll be enough for you guys. Good job running Satoshi- it was a good take off- but you're still too weak. See you guys later. Have fun". Confidently she brushes through the gathering. Checking Yatsuhiro's shoulder roughly and ignoring Yuji's disappointed frown. What right does he have to be disappointed? She's the one who is hurt, not him.
Looking down at the indoor shoes one more time she sighs.
Ah~. She did it again.
She drops them, leaving them behind with little care.
Later finds her on the roof of the school, laying in the sun and letting her pores drink in the gentle warmth. Good news. She got new indoor shoes. These ones are bigger, better fitting. Hopefully she won't accidentally break these ones as well. They hadn't given her a chance to change her shoes, the Stride team, so it's basically their fault. But then again, her current mood is their fault too. She's too strong, this she knows. It's why she doesn't waste her time training. Those jogs she takes in the morning are not considered training- she is not working to fix what little flaws she has but instead just keeping in shape. When will there be someone who can actually challenge her? Who can stand up to her at her full might, and win? Heh. Probably never. Not even in death most likely.
Cursed.
Tensai Tatsumaki is cursed with skill and talent beyond all reasoning. And there is only one person out there who understands how she feels.
A green eye drifts to the side as she looks at the half dozing teen about fifteen feet away from her, giving them plenty of room to roll or shift as they please whilst sleeping. But the issue is, Tensai cannot sleep. Not for the life of her. A slow, nearly silent, sigh escapes her once more.
"Would you cut that out?" his voice is sudden to the point of causing her to jump in her surprise. When she looks again to him, this time an eye is open and staring death at her. "You keep on sighing and it's annoying as all hell. What's up with you?" Although her sighs are soft, he can still hear them. She's also been giving off an unpleasant vibe this whole time she's been up here. Normally he wouldn't ask, but the vibe is so thick that it's brushing against his senses. Annoying girl.
Tensai shakes her head, "It's nothing," she refuses to share. Sure, he'd understand, but that doesn't mean he needs to know. He need not trouble himself with her issues, not that he likely would. She's only up here because it's the only place other than home where she can up and attempt to relax. Plus she's more than certain that if she ended up going home and he wanted something from her, but she wasn't around for him to command, he'd whine about it. He is her Master after all, and as such she should be dutiful and go through with this slavery thing willingly in order to make it easy to endure. "I'll be more quiet so that you can return to your nap," she allows.
Her? Be quiet? Now that's a good one. He hasn't known her for long but he realizes that her being quiet isn't really a good thing. Not with the attitude she's had recently. "No," he demands, "Tell me". Or else it may get worse, and he can't have that. He watches as she pauses, looking away from him as though in thought and then seemingly collecting her thoughts.
After a while, she grunts to clear her throat and prepare herself for a full explanation. If he wants to know, then there's no denying him the truth. "The Stride club caught me and forced me to train. They kept on spewing crap about getting stronger or remaining strong or whatever. So I raced against their fastest runner. I left him the dust put simply and ended up breaking my last pair of indoor shoes. It was really annoying, so I'm a little miffed that I had to go through that in the first place. What's worse, it was Yuji who caught me and carried me like a sack of potatoes to the other".
Huh. That sounds like something he went through the other day, actually. The asshole Wakamatsu thought he could boss him around just because he's Aomine's senior. Earned the guy a knee to the gut and a broken basketball hoop. Breaking the wooden based contraption was not a surprise, and at the time he couldn't help but laugh. However when it was all said and done he was left with a bitter aftertaste in his mouth- even though he had eaten Sakura's good cooking. That guy could be a housewife if he had to be. None the less he sits up and stares at the scowling white haired girl. For a moment, he thinks he sees a displeased snow leopard, their thick tail tapping harshly against the surface and their ears laid back with hard eyes to show their anger. "Come on," he utters to the girl who has promised her servitude to him for a year.
"Huh?"
"I said 'let's go'," he repeats blandly, "I'm leaving to get ice cream. You're coming with". He stands to his full height, brushing dust off his butt and back with little care before turning and making for the door to the roof. The basketball team's training is almost over by now, this much he's certain about, so it shouldn't be an issue for him to leave at last. Especially since Satsuki should have given up on finding him by now. Opening the door, he only glances over his shoulder to see if she's following like a good slave. However, what she is doing instead is standing there looking clueless.
Tensai tilts her head, curious, "Okay, I get that you're going to go get ice cream but why am I coming with you? I mean, you don't need me to feed it to you or anything do you?"
His eye twitches, showing his not so subtle irritation, "Just get moving!" he demands, shoving the door further open with a scowl. Maybe he should just abandon her like a stupid puppy. Stick her in a box and write 'free to a good home' while he's at it. Surely someone will pick her up. He heads down the stairs with little care, more intent on getting his snack than trying to get her to follow him. Idiot.
Luckily, the girl listens this time with a smile. It would appear that his irritation was just what she needed to start smiling again. Simple brat. Tensai, having left the roof after him, walks through the door only to find that he's already down the stairs completely. Surprised- what, did he skip steps?- she finds herself hopping to put her feet on the smooth metallic railing and standing. She does little to start her momentum of sliding down, surfing easily down the slope before landing steadily on her feet and just behind the blue haired ace. Throwing her hands behind her back casually, she grins and takes to the male's side but says nothing. The frown on his face makes her think that perhaps he would like to just keep his thoughts to himself for the time being- or rather, he doesn't like telling them to her. Honestly she does not mind that she won't be getting ice cream- he didn't offer to get her any and she had spent her lunch money on his food again this afternoon- but instead focuses on the oddly comfortable air around the two of them. It's only been a month- almost two probably- since they met and the only thing the two of them do together is nap on the roof. They don't have deep conversations or share funny jokes. And they most certainly don't hang out after school- in the sense that normal kids their age do at least, the napping thing doesn't count. Really, they don't talk much. Just the occasional order from him and a question here or there from her. But even so, she relishes in the feeling of the comfortable air. Ever since she quit Stride, she and Yuji have been...Well they've been drifting a part it would seem. Sure they hang out every now and then, but he's always busy with the team as the relationer and as such he has a lot of people to manage with the Coach's and Captain's help. And as such, she's been spending more and more of her time alone. Sure, she gets along with the kids in her class and they willingly share their notes with her when she asks for them, but it's not like they invite her to hang out or do normal people stuff.
So walking with Aomine like this, even if their relationship is just that of Master and Slave, is nice. At least he puts up with her even if only a little bit. He lets her walk next to him and talk to him. And he whines at her every now and then. It's nice. And what's best is that when one of them complains about something, the other tends to understand- especially since most of their complaints are about the teams they are a part of and how annoying they are. Tensai lets her eyes wander as they walk off the school's campus and further into the city, seemingly a specific place in mind. Today it's rather nice out, the sun, although working into setting, is bright and welcoming enough to light up their path. The trees around them dance in the wind that flutters passed them, ruffling their hair while clouds above are not minimal yet not plentiful at the same time. The shadows across the street due to the sun's trajectory are not menacing as they would perhaps seem at night, instead inviting and offering protection from the warm rays should they be too much for someone to handle. Various people walk along the sidewalk as well, singular people silent in their actions save for their footsteps where as small groups or couples chatter and laugh at various things one of the other parties have said. It is calm and peaceful around the grounds of Touou Academy, though as they walk further into the city, these footsteps grow louder, the chattering more abundant and the cars more often to pass them all on the street. Men and women make their way to and from work, briefcases in hand, other students search for a library or a place to study- some girls whom Tensai realizes go to their school as well seem to be looking for a cafe to eat cake at.
It is indeed a calm day, gentle as time passes and Aomine takes a left to cross a street once the pedestrian light is green. This takes them off of the road they had been walking along, still silent and still without a word. However eventually the two of them come to a simple convenience store, it being positioned strategically between two others in an attempt to pull costumers from those stores to itself. Its sign is not lit up yet, even as the sun sinks lower behind the horizon creating more shadows and darkening the sky with night time to come. Aomine leads the way into the store confidently, striding as though he owns the place with little care. And, after nodding to the cashier, he heads to the small freezer box that contains what he's looking for. Obediently Tensai waits for him to choose his morsel and pay and yet is still prepared to ask just why he demanded that she come with him.
Aomine looks to the girl whom seems to have spaced out, her eyes focusing on nothing in particular. "Oi," he gains her attention, bringing her from la-la land. When her curious emeralds look to him, his sapphires glance to the freezer box, prompting, "Get something".
"Hah?" She intones, confused.
"Just get something," he demands, "And hurry up before I change my mind". Tensai pauses one more time before deciding. The tall basketball player watches as she dips her hand into the cool environment before pulling forth a simple strawberry flavored treat as her choice. Pleased that she picked something, he swiftly snatches it from her hand and makes his way to the cashier where he pays and walks out without another word, ignoring the employee's grateful 'come again' that follows after him. "Here," he offers to her, handing her one of the two popsicles before tearing the paper surrounding his own off.
Careful, Tensai takes the treat with a small sound of thanks, honestly surprised that he would go so far as to get her something when obviously he didn't have to. Why he did, she does not know and that makes her curious. However, she lets it be, and instead follows him further along the side walks, passing by person after person as they go. Eventually they come to a simple park, something with a pond in the middle and a path for jogging, benches for relaxing on. On one side there is a play ground for children, situated next to which is of course a basketball court where a group of middle schoolers seem to be amusing themselves. Aomine and she settle down not far from the court, though he seems to pay no mind to the happy shouts of 'pass' or 'nice shot!' that ring through the calm spring air.
The two just sit there, silent and in a world of their own as they eat their frozen treats. Neither of them seem to need, or rather want, to say a word to the other. But Aomine likes it that way. Calm, quiet, relaxing. No Satsuki to hunt him down or yell at him, no losers challenging him to a game, no teachers claiming that he can't sleep in their classes. He thanks whatever god out there that the young woman at his side- though he doesn't really understand why he brought her along in the first place- is quiet for once. Sure, she does that at school too, but he's certain that she wants to know why he got her ice cream. It's not like they're friends or anything, just two too strong athletes sticking around one another because they can understand the other's standing point. He doesn't know anything about her other than her skill and her name. Not her birthday, her favorite color, her past. Nor does he honestly want her to tell him these things. He doesn't want to be her friend, even if he had drug her to this place and even if she is sitting next to him in her own world. He just wanted someone to hang around with.
But, even though he doesn't want to be her friend, he can't help but appreciate the current air around them. Calm and relaxing- comfortable- as though they have known one another for years. It's a huge change compared to when Satsuki is around. If she were with him, she would be dragging him to place after place whether in search for something or not- it didn't matter to her- annoying and tiring him out. Having grown up around her, he is used to girls being pushy and demanding, not taking 'no' for an answer. He honestly thought that this one was the same. But it seems that this one knows when to stop, kind of, and half the time she knows when to take 'no' for an answer. It's different, but he appreciates that change.
Not that he'd ever tell her that.