Chapter 12: Optional Team Work
"Okay," Nobuyuki Yuji announces. "Let's get started".
Today, they are on a public court- the very one they had been using at the hotel after their training at the shrine. He is pleased, to say the least, that both teams have approved. The second day consisted of a continuation of the day before- running up and down the stairs and learning basic basketball foot work and passing. The third day was different however. Instead of running, they climbed the cliff face with gear- of course- to keep them from falling. That is unless your name was either Tensai Tatsumaki or Aomine Daiki. Both were stupid enough to climb without gear, not permitting themselves any sort of break that the others needed. Seeing them, however, the other members of both the Stride and basketball teams dubbed them monsters. To be able to do such an activity without fear of falling to the ragged ocean covered rocks below- or rather using that fear to keep them going- was crazy. Especially seeing as they were handcuffed together the whole time. It wasn't fair, but seeing it was enough to drive them forward as well. The third day consisted of just simple but different ball dribbling techniques. Day four consisted of swimming in the ocean, from one buoy to another multiple times and then resting only to repeat the process. It also had reaction time drills after dinner. Day five, their last day before returning to the school that was so kind as to let them do this in the first place, is completely different. Earlier in the day, they decided to work on team work. Neither sports teams, the lot of them agreed, really cared for such a concept- winning was the number one priority. But it was also agreed that being able to work like well oiled machines all the same was better than only relying on one's self- something that only really worked for the aces. So they held short Stride races where much like Aomine and Tatsumaki each pair would be chained together and forced to run a certain distance.
Easier said than done. The teams were meshed together. The Captains went with one another, as did the Vice Captains. Sakura went with Satoshi, and Yatsuhiro went with Wakamatsu where as Ryuji went with Misoka due to the odd number and him being the only one who could relatively keep up with the red haired second year. It was an easy win for the aces, being that their strides were so similar and having run literally side by side before in a previous race against one another. Getting around the areas that required some gimmicks slowed them down, but it still worked in their favor.
Satsuki nods and holds forth a clipboard as she stares the two teams down. "In order to finish this up, we're going to hold a basketball game. However, it's going to be you nine versus two".
This causes the entire group to pause, not at all really following along. "Wait," Yatsuhiro demands, "Nine versus two? I know five on one is what Aomine can do, but this is a little much".
"We know," Yuji agrees, "But that's why you guys are still hand cuffed to one another. For this game, Misoka is going to be benched- sorry buddy- and the goal is to act like a team to take them down. Shouldn't be too hard".
"With that said," Imayoshi states, standing and forcing his partner in crime to follow him thanks to the short line of chain links that keep him and Hanabusa together, "Let's get started. Misoka, you can be the referee. Okay?"
"Very well," his deep voice allows.
In the mean time, Tatsumaki is pale, "You've got to be shitting me," she utters low under her breath. Glancing to her blue haired friend, she bites her lower lip. While she has been getting better at the game with time- especially these past five days what with the formal footwork and ball handling training they've been doing for dexterity, that doesn't make her on the same level as the rest of them. The boys of Stride, while not professionals like those of the basketball team, had taken to the training far better than she putting her at a disadvantage. And with her having to tag along with Aomine, slowing him down or something, they're bound to lose".
"No," Hanabusa returns as he and the nine others make their way to one side of the court, "Now get ready to lose".
Threatening words for two people whom haven't lost in all too long a time.
It's horrible. Utterly horrible.
Aomine glowers down at the white haired girl as she stands there, sweating and panting as they're forced to stare down the nine opposing enemies. This game thing is turning out the same way handling the gimmicks during the Stride race earlier did. Despite their similarities, when it comes to basketball and Stride it would appear that their minds are on different wave lengths, as is their reaction times. Like when jumping, Tatsumi would jump later compared to his sooner, almost tripping them both up. Or getting through that thin tunnel or balancing over the thin crosswalk. During this game, Tatsumaki's shots are inhibited by not being able to use both hands, and while Aomine wants to zig one way, she wants to zag the other way. Trying crossovers is near impossible between the two, as they do not bother to actually plan as they go, instead simply doing what their body tells them to in Aomine's case or experimenting where she shouldn't in Tatsumaki's. The girl glares right back at him, not pleased with the situation either.
They've fallen all over one another at least three times by now.
Along the side lines, Satsuki sighs as Aomine snaps for Tatsumaki to move in a certain direction, only for her to disagree and go the opposite way. "Why is that they're almost reading one another's minds during an average day but when we tie them together they're worse than a toddler?"
Yuji sighs as he watches Aomine tug the girl out of the way as he uses his free hand to catch the ball that she certainly would have missed with how her hands were positioned. Everyone else had managed to adapt save for them. And with it being a regulation game time wise, they were already almost out of time. Only about ten minutes until it was game over and the two will have lost this mock battle. Something neither of the two could obviously stand for. "It has to do with their instincts and logic," he answers his cousin. "In Stride, Tatsumaki reacts to what goes on around her by instinct and experience. While as Aomine had tried to attack things like gimmicks with logic and how his body could move. It's the same way here but the roles are opposite. Aomine is working with instinct and Tatsumaki with logic mixed with inexperience. It puts them on different wave lengths".
"...So," Satsuki realizes with curious eyes, "How would one fix that?"
The male of the two with red eyes pauses, gaze narrowing, "Hmmm...I think I would say that in Stride, Aomine would have to let Tatsumaki lead. In this case, Aomine has to lead. But since they're both leaders- independent- it's hard to say whether they'll figure it out before the game is over".
In the mean time, they've already lost five more points to the nine others, further annoying the two. "You didn't have to jerk me like that," she growls up to her counter part, looking down to the cuffs that- for their exercises- are covered in a soft fabric to keep from chaffing away skin. Unfortunately with the cloth soaking up her sweat, her wrist is a little raw all the same.
"I did," Aomine returns with a sneer, "You weren't going to catch it with your hands like that, it was going to smack you right in the face".
"So what? I need to learn!" She returns, not caring for the people who take this moment to watch the two fight.
He scoffs, "Yea, but not right now. Just follow me, okay?"
"No!" She denies, shaking her head. She has to win! She has to be the best damn it! She has to show them all that-
"We're not going to fucking win otherwise," Aomine snaps. "You don't know how to play well enough and I can't drag you around the whole time". He sighs, his shoulders slumping as he attempts to rid his face of some of his sweat with his shirt. "Listen. We wanna win right?" she nods, "Then trust me to get us there. You trust me, right?"
Tatsumaki pauses, surprised. Does she trust him? She hasn't done anything really team related like this in a long time. And she hasn't trusted someone with the duty of leading them to victory for just as long- if not longer. Looking at Aomine now though, the desire to crush the nine bastards in front of them, keep to the fact that they cannot be beat them, in his eyes, the white haired girl sighs. Why is she taking her issue out on him? She's been like this all week. And up until now it's been okay because he was willing enough to accept what could have been seen as a silent challenge. From the running up and down stairs thing to the cliff climbing and everything in between. But now...Now is different. She shouldn't be taking out her anger on him. It's not right. Wasn't right. And so she has no choice but to let him guide her through the darkness that is the woods surrounding this current situation. Let him show her the light that is victory and pride.
"Yea," Tatsumaki allows at last, a smile gracing her lips, "I trust you".
Pleased with the answer, Aomine smirks a broad and confident expression, "Good. Now just follow me and react when I tell you to".
She returns the look, "You got it".
And this is when the tables are turned as the two monsters turn to face the other men in front of them. The clock, having generously paused for their argument for some reason when normally it would have continued, starts up again leaving them with only ten minutes to spare. With the make shift time out over, the team of nine is rushed by the duo. Eyes widen at the sight of their movements, far more concentrated and in sync than they had been before. As Hanabusa dribbles the ball, his eyes wide and body now tense from the shock of seeing this sudden change, he passes it to his other half whom takes the lead, pulling them to their left. However, before Ishiyama can pass again to Sakura, it is Aomine's long arm that keeps him from succeeding, blocking him off and allowing Tensai to whip around Ishiyama's side and steal the ball. The two like lighting flash away from the duo, orange globe in hand with the basket as their goal. The blue haired ace free shoots this object, and with a change in the scores, the two are given their tenth actual basket out of the entire game.
The ball is retrieved by Yoshinori and Asei, with the black haired of the two handling the ball and readying to pass it over to Satoshi and Sakurai. However, before he can even think about flicking his wrists in that direction, it is Aomine who takes the ball and promptly shoots for a basket a second time. The third years didn't even get passed the three point line. This time however, Yatsuhiro and Wakamatsu are ready, taking the ball and dribbling it away, step for step. Seeing an opening, Wakamatsu passes to Yatsuhiro, whom shoots for a three pointer, only for it to be blocked by a taller male. The female of the two whips her free hand out and offers the ball to the blue haired man who shoots for a three pointer himself.
Jaws are dropped.
Tired frames lay there, panting as their arms are flopped wildly to their sides, their faces red with exertion and sweat pouring down their flesh despite their stationary positions. How had it been possible? It shouldn't have been, but it happened anyways. It had happened so fast, that honestly not one of them could fully recall what they had witnessed. As either red eyed manager passed around a damp towel to cool their frames off, a number of them having taken off their shirts in an attempt to cool own, for some of them their eyes look to the ones that had done this to them.
Like the others, these two have yet to be uncuffed from one another, however despite the sweat littering their persons they seem rather capable of sitting up straight. Aomine lazily spins a ball on one of this fingers, talking about how Stride shouldn't have gimmicks where as Tatsumaki is arguing that without them Stride would just be a relay marathon. A really short one but even so.
"I don't understand," Yatsuhiro denies blandly as he rests the towel directly over his heart. His counter part, Wakamatsu, sighs.
"They're not human".
It happened rapidly. They had been arguing for more than half the game- more than even three quarters of it. However, in the last ten minutes...It like was watching Aomine in the Zone on steroids- an analogy happily given by Imayoshi. Being chained to Tensai meant his reach was longer- it meant the same for everyone, but for him that made him even more dangerous- and as Tensai went along with him, following his subtle hints and the murmurs left for only her ears to hear she swiftly adapted to certain reactions and which motions the basketball players used for certain lay ups. Defense was impossible, offense was impossible. It was a tornado of raw animal instinct and it was honestly terrifying. They had once more placed themselves on the same wave length and the result was as though they were the same person.
"Well, I'd say that training is over," Momoi announces with a smile as she looks down at the downed teens, most of which being her senpai. "This was a great idea, Yuji".
The green haired male shrugs his shoulders, "It was just something I wanted to try. I'm just glad that we were able to help one another out". Now he grins, "And I lied about today being the last day of training. Tomorrow is".
The resounding, "What the hell Yuji/Nobuyuki?!" from a certain duo hurts the tired others' ears. Continuing to speak, Tatsumaki stands steadily, dragging Aomine with her, "You mean we're not done?"
"No, you're done," Momoi assures with a wave of her hand. "Since you passed the last test that is. Tomorrow is supposed to be a day of relaxation; we're going to the beach at the bottom of the cliff tomorrow. So rest up you guys".
Curious, Asei sits up, leaning back on one hand as his fellow Vice Captain remains resting. Having pulled the hair tie that's normally at the base of his head keeping his hair out of the way, the black locks trail down his back gracefully and in turn it makes him look older. His eyes are for the two Captains whom have gathered their wits about them. While Hanabusa in his heat had taken off his shirt, letting his hard chest and abs drink in the air- muscles that to the kind black eyed senior could probably have meat ground on them- Ishiyama has managed to cool down with his still on. "Did you know about this, Taicho?" Many years worth of experience of hiding a rather strong desire to run his fingers over the hard muscle covered by unmarred flesh helps to keep his voice steady.
"No," Hanabusa admits, eyeing the red eyed pair before turning back to the black one awaiting his gaze, "I didn't. Imayoshi?"
"Nobuyuki had mentioned it to me," the sly man admits with a chuckle, "Though I didn't think he'd actually manage to get this to happen. You've got a kid with a silver tongue on your team, Hanabusa. Let's hope he doesn't get it cut off". He find the bland glare sent his way in response to be amusing, finding his joke to be just the right amount of morbid.
Silence meets this.
However, soon Momoi shakes her head and pulls forth a key from her skirt's pocket, "Okay boys, let's get you uncuffed". Pleased cries meet her ears, causing her to giggle lightly, finding it amusing that such a thing would bring them such joy. All the same, she makes her rounds, gently taking off metal, cloth covered, ring after metal cloth covered ring until finally she no longer has a pair to undo.
However, there is still one last one to take care of. The resounding hum of someone thinking catches her attention. Hell, the boys as they gather themselves to their tired feet also glance in the humming person's direction. Spotting the scene, some of them brush off the sight and leave for their respective hotel rooms, finding no point in watching- it's just a scene after all. The mumblings of various things such as a need for food- although they had eaten dinner before the game began- or just wanting a shower and sleep or even just the former of the three fade as they each make to go inside leaving the black top behind them. The pink haired manager however is curious, and as such she brings her person to her cousin's side. Only for his hand to slap over her mouth before a cooing gasp can escape her. After a short look where she confirms that she will not be too loud, she smiles gently down at the sight. "Adorable," she allows softly.
Having given up on sitting up there are two figures on the concrete still connected by a set of cuffs. For the most part both their long limbs are spread out, dispelling heat the hard way and chasing away their exhaustion with sleep. However, something note worthy is the hand wrapped around paler fingers, bronze contrasting against a lighter complexion, The scratches on her arms and face have faded for the most part, having healed nicely over the time spent training, but that doesn't mean she needs more wounds.
"I'll take her up first and then you wake him up," Yuji announces simply as he continues to crouch. His own bronzed fingers pry at the larger hand holding the feminine one, trying to be gentle as there is no point in rough treatment. However, he starts as the fingers fight his contact and the male's body jolts into a short state of awakeness. Yuji's burning reds meet cool blues hazed with sleep. These blues glare at the reds, "Let go. Go to your room and sleep or you'll catch a cold out here". Something he's not willing to let happen to his white haired friend. However, the only answer that he is given sounds like the slurred words of 'tch, shut up' before those glazed hues fall closed again. The grip around Tatsumaki's hand tightens, claiming it as his own.
Satsuki in the mean time cannot help but find herself some amount of amused and touched. She's never seen Daiki act like that before. Not even once. There have been times when he's flirted with a girl here or there, but that was only because they had large breasts and he could- he'd never been serious about them. This is something quite endearing, actually. "So cute," she reiterates.
Yuji's bland gaze comes with a not so impressed huff. "Yea yea, cute. Help me out here".