I KNOW! It's... short. Really... short. ;( I'm sorry.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: I'm seriously considering to CHANGE THE NAME OF THE FANFIC. PLEASE SEND IN IDEAS OR YOUR THOUGHTS ON WHETHER NOT TO.
Chapter 9 - Because I Made A Promise To Myself Two Years ago
"Well then, I'm going," Kuroko said as he hobbled to the court.
"Wait, wait! It's impossible no matter what! You're injured right?! Look at how unsteady you are!"
"But coach said I should go now..."
"I DIDN'T! IT WAS ONLY A 'WHAT IF'!"
"Then I'm going."
"HEY!"
"The situation will change if I got back on the court, so I beg of you..."
Riko still looked unconvinced at the fact to send an injured player back on court.
"On top of that, I made a promise to become Kagami-kun's shadow." Kuroko glanced at Hazuki, who briefly glanced back at the Seirin bench with immediate comprehension of what was going to happen.
"...Alright! But if I think it's even a bit dangerous, I'm substituting you immediately!"
Outside of the gym, somewhere in Tokyo there was a certain black-haired boy pedaling away, carrying a certain green-haired boy.
A kindergartner watched them in naive wonder. "It's a rear car..."
"Damn it! We were supposed to switch at the light!" The poor black-haired boy yelled as the green-haired boy just drank his shiruko calmly.
"You haven't pedaled once!"
"Of course I haven't... Today's 'Oha-Asa' predicted the greatest of days for Cancers like me."
"What does that have to do with anything!?If we're going all this way just to watch a training match, your middle school teammates better be good!"
"It's the copycat and the invisible man."
"Is that supposed to be strong!?"
"Hurry up, or the game will be over!" The green haired boy sighed.
"IT'S YOUR FAULT FOR READING HOROSCOPES!" The other guy screamed. "It's probably the fourth quarter already!"
"Member change for Seirin!"
Everyone's eyes immediately turned to the referee table where Kuroko began walking towards the court with his fingers in the number 8.
Eh... not me? Hazuki blinked. Mitobe hi-fived Kuroko, clearly exhausted from the last three quarters and a half. Don't tell me...
"No way..." Hazuki muttered. I'm... not that even that... tall!
"Are you serious... Coach?" Koganei asked, sweatdropping.
"Yes."
"But..." Furihata muttered.
"THIS IS PRACTICALLY A DWARF VERSUS A GIANT!" They all tsukommied as Hazuki thought the same thing, facing the center of Kaijou, Kobori.
"Hrm..." Hazuki thought out loud, troubled.
"Se-seriously?" Kobori muttered.
Hazuki shook her head, "I know."
Coach wouldn't do that for no reason, Hazuki thought as they began to race to the Kaijou goal. There must be a reason she wants me to take into practice... something I need to realize.
Izuki passed the ball to her. Hazuki paused in front of the 192 cm obstacle that was more than twice as strong as her.
She closed her eyes and fell left.
"Huh!?"
This was a dangerous moment, especially on opponents who were physically stronger and more experienced than her. But if she didn't try now, she would fail. And that included future opponents.
Now!
She swept her arm right as she began to barely slide into the perfect hole in Kobori's defense. She flicked her wrist and managed to twist the ball around Kobori and towards Kuroko.
Kuroko immediately caught the ball and immediately bounced the ball to Kagami.
"We got used to it but he got back to the invisibility he had from the start!" Kasamatsu shouted, his eyes going to the more immediate danger.
"Is it because he wasn't playing for the last 20 minutes!?" Kobori muttered.
Kagami caught the ball then hurled it towards Hyuuga. Hyuuga grinned and shot the ball. A perfect 3-pointer.
"It can't be…"
"You must be kidding…"
"TIED!?"
"THEY TIED?!"
"Seirin has finally caught up!?"
We're… tied? Kise thought.
"...Heh."
His aura… changed? Kagami thought.
"Kise!" Kasamatsu yelled.
Kise caught the ball and sped on past Kuroko. Kuroko blinked in surprise and immediately swiped for the ball. Kise gritted his teeth and passed it to his other hand, far away from Kuroko.
"...!" Riko gaped.
Kise raced past Kagami and dunked so fiercely, the hoop shook.
He's even stronger! Kagami thought.
Kise got up and glared at Seirin. "I won't lose to anyone. Not to Kuroko. Not to anyone."
He even left out the chhi suffix, Hazuki thought.
He even saw through Kuroko's pass?!
"Damn…" Hyuuga wiped his sweat with his jersey. "I hope you're all fired up. Because until the end of the match it'll be just like the first quarter."
A STRUGGLE FOR POINTS!
91-93
Kobori dunked into the goal.
93-93
Hazuki shot the ball into the basket.
93-95
Kise got past Kuroko and Kagami and dunked.
95-95
Izuki made a layup.
95-98
Hyuuga strained his arm and shot into the basket.
98-98.
"Damn, they're stubborn!"
"Let's finish them!" Kasamatsu yelled.
15 seconds left.
"If we don't steal the ball now, it's over!" Hyuuga shouted.
"YEAH!" Seirin yelled.
"Kagami-kun, just a moment," Kuroko said.
"If we can steal the ball now, there's a way to shoot that even Kise-kun can't copy."
"..." Hazuki wiped the sweat off her forehead, silently alert at what Kuroko just said.
"DON'T JUST DEFEND! ATTACK THEM!" yelled Riko. There's less than 10 seconds… we don't have the stamina to go over time! "GO!"
Kasamatsu bent his knees and formed the position to shoot.
"Tch!" Hyuuga glared and jumped, but he was too late.
Hazuki already was there to intercept.
"Wha..." Kasamatsu said.
Hazuki hurled the ball down the court to where Kagami and Kuroko were waiting.
"Kuroko!" Kagami passed to Kuroko.
Kurokocchi can't shoot! There's no other choice but to send the ball back to Kagami…!?
Kuroko shot at the goal.
"!?"
"Wha…"
"NO! It's an alleyoop!" yelled Kasamatsu.
Kise jumped. "I won't let you!" He widened his eyes as he realized that he was falling first. What the hell, how long is he gonna stay in midair?!
Hazuki just looked down, smiled, and did a fist pump to herself.
Because, this, is the first step in the promise I made to myself two years ago.
"You won't copy anything anymore! Because...!"
If you score a buzzer beater, it will be alright.
"I'll end with that!" Kagami dunked into the basket.
100-98. Winner: Seirin High School
PLEASE READ THE IMPORTANT NOTICE IN THE FIRST SENTENCES! :)