Chapter 14
The game continued playing, each players trying their hardest to win but with three of the G.o.M playing there is no hope in winning for them. The fourth match is nearing its end, Aomine scored once again, grinning he positioned again to take the ball. Once the ball is in his hands he looked around and noticed that no one bothered to guard him anymore, they have already given up.
"…Mine-kun. Aomine-kun."
Snapping out of hiss stupor, Aomine looked at Kuroko after he finished remembering the game. "Aomine-kun!" Kuroko called again to Aomine, worriedly he stared at Aomine who seems to be a little out of it. "Ah, Y-yes." Aomine stuttered slightly which made Kuroko frown "Is something wrong? Are you feeling unwell?" Kuroko asked his light worriedly. "No… it's nothing." Aomine replied distractedly. "Recently, I've been doing really well, haven't I?" Aomine's sudden question startled Kuroko but he quickly composed himself and answered "Aah… I guess so." Came the quiet reply of Kuroko. Looking at the darkening sky Aomine was about to ask Kuroko "…say, Tetsu…" taking his eyes off the sky, he looked at Kuroko with a hint of sadness in his eyes. "…no, forget it." He just waved it off and continued walking followed by a confused Kuroko. "? Alright then." Deciding not to question him anymore, Kuroko let it slide.
Standing outside the stadium, they waited for everyone. Continuing to stand, two players from the other team passed them, who seems to not have noticed them; too busy talking. Aomine broke the silence "Come to think of it, you've finally found your basket-style, you've been watching people more and more haven't you?"
"Yes, I'm observing people."
"Ha?" 'Observation…?' Aomine thought with a sweatdrop. "I'm training to put misdirection to practical use anywhere." Kuroko continued, "?.? " Aomine just pretended to understand though he really didn't understand a thing about what Kuroko said. Behind them Satsuki let out a noise of understanding "Ah." "In other words –"
"TETSU-KUN!"
Chagrined, Aomine looked at Satsuki who interrupted him. Sweatdropping at them both Aomine asked rhetorically to Satsuki "Recently you've been really forceful around Tetsu, haven't you?" Kuroko who was still being hold by Satsuki barely chocked out "Excuse me, you're strangling me." However he was ignored and the two continued talking as if they hadn't heard him "Don't do as you please… it's because I can't wait to see him at the training" there were sparkles around her as she said it and Aomine couldn't help but heave a big sigh. Finally letting go of Kuroko, Aomine continued "Anyway, you've cut him off in the middle of his story…" sighing again. Satsuki who only caught the last of their conversation pretended to not understand "Eh, what? What story?" Kuroko answered before Aomine talked again that would start their argument again. "Ah, that's it. Then… that's alright… Momoi-san." Even though she let go of her feeling for him, Satsuki couldn't help but blush at Kuroko's kind words.
Looking around, Kuroko tried to find Hanako and Haruko and when he couldn't find them anywhere, he asked Satsuki "Momoi-san…? Where are Hanako and Haruko? Aren't they with you?" Satsuki momentarily looked saddened but covered it up quickly by smiling brightly "They said they'll go home first, they said they're not feeling well" Though she technically didn't lie, she couldn't help but remember her conversation with them earlier.
*FLASHBACK A FEW HOURS EARLIER*
Satsuki looked around the court not spotting her two friends, finally spotting them at the bleachers talking quietly she went there. "…hope so" confused at the words, she looked at Haruko and spotted tear stained cheeks, walking hurriedly she asked what happened. Haruko hesitated but from Hanako's gentle nudge finally blurted out "I-it's just, Sei, he's been ignoring me and hardly talks to me anymore! I don't know what I've done wrong…" sobbing harder Haruko gripped her thighs to stop herself. Satsuki was deeply saddened by this display as this is the first she saw Haruko cry, embracing her "Shh… shh don't worry, I'm sure the two of you will go back to being sweet again." They remained like that for a few minutes before Haruko stopped crying, letting go of her Satsuki proposed a solution "You two should take a break, and by break I mean do whatever you want, I'll cover you up!" she looked at the two with determined face, daring them to disobey her. Smiling slightly they thanked her and left.
*FLASHBACK ENDS*
Snapping out of her trance she looked at Kuroko in the eyes, the two stared for a moment before Kuroko talked in a completely different topic "… Momoi-san it seems you are the type to return a stare when people stare at you." "Eh!?" Surprised, Satsuki sweatdropped along with Aomine "What the heck?" undeterred, Kuroko continued explaining "It's like the different story genres, of cource there also exist people that avoid their gaze when being stared at. People possess different reactions as well as various habits. Observing these allows me to classify people in groups. For example the person we passed by earlier had a habit of touching his chin. To diver peoples' gazes, I have to also take into account the person's habit and style without forgetting understanding the mental reaction people will have. In summary, it means making what I do in this training an everyday thing." There's a small silence after he finished his explanation, stunned, Satsuki just stand there with her hand on each side of her cheeks blushing 'I-I stared at Tetsu-kun…! Ah, so that's it!' she thought before saying dazedly "I stared at him…"
Aomine just ignored Satsuki, already used to her doing that almost every day, and grinned at Kuroko "So then, can you tell me what my habit is?" he said challengingly to Kuroko who remained unfazed and answered with his same monotonous voice "As you are easy to understand, it's pretty simple to get your habit… "
"Hey!"
Kuroko continued as if Aomine just didn't interrupt him, "Sometimes, it's necessary to lie, to be able to avert someone's eyes." Kuroko looked at Aomine, remembering their earlier conversation, the one that Aomine conveniently changed the topic. "Ah… I asked it on myself…" 'I give up…' as Aomine uttered those words, those words that he didn't intend for Kuroko to hear. "I haven't particularly told you everything. Eventually, you'll have to tell me everything at some time." Kuroko smiled slightly when he said this, Aomine glanced at him, surprised before letting out a small smile "Yeah, alright." Satsuki smiled at them. The three continued to stand there until they're called by Kise "Here they are! Aominecchi, Kurokocchi! Everyone is going to eat ice-cream, go back with us!" Kise grinned childishly while waving his arm. "Oh, alright." It was Aomine who answered Kise as the other two seemed keen on not answering. "What about you, Momocch?" Kise turned to Satsuki "Ah, I can't, Akashi0kun asked me for the data of a game…" Satsuki trailed off sadly "Where's Haru-chin? And Hana-chin? Shouldn't they be helping you? Lately, Aka-chin has been demanding concerning information." Murasakibara said lazily, his eyes flickering to the papers Satsuki's holding. "It's a lot of work indeed. Ha ha ha, it's surprising but I've come to think he wants to be my friends…" Satsuki not answering the questions didn't become unnoticed but they let it slide, she will tell them when she felt like it.
"Then, see ya next time." Aomine told Satsuki who was already walking away from them "Yes, see you all." Satsuki glanced sadly behind her, the intuition of something bad happening weighed heavily on her mind. She saw Aomine smacking Kise behind the head, and she couldn't help but smile slightly, turning around she left the boys.
*NEXT DAY*
The squeaking of shoes and heavy breathing filled the court, on one side there stood the director; Shirogane Kouzou an older man, with a few wrinkles and short, thin and combed back light gray hair. He has a well-kept circle beard. He dressed formal, in a dark business suit, a white shirt and a colored tie, along with Haruko, both silent and just taking in everything around the court. Scribbling some notes in her clipboard about the things needed to be trained more, Haruko looked at the corner of her eyes at the director before going back to the court.
In the court, the players continued to guard their respective marks, Midorima who holds the ball positioned to shoot a three-pointer, however player 5 jumped to block; only now realizing the fake he gasped. While Midorima passed the ball to Murasakibara; who dunked it. "Yeaah, nice, Murasakibara" one of the players said. "Alright, next, once more" player 5 said before repositioning again. Before Murasakibara completely passed Midorima, they held eye contact.
"Their coordination has considerably improved, this is somewhat almost perfect… " Haruko informed the director who look amused "Yeah. It's a wonderful team. Now, I only have to stay still on the side lines." The director grinned, Haruko sighed in disapprovement "This isn't true at all." "I understand, as usual it seems you don't get the joke, Haru." Shirogane sighed and shook his head in mock disappointment. The two have grandfather-granddaughter relationship, Shirogane because he wanted a granddaughter and Haruko because he reminds her of her own grandfather whom she hadn't visited in sometime. 'Huh? That was a joke?' was her thought before answering "I apologize, I understand why you said that. With that perfection, Akashi-kun and the other second years have already crossed the middle school student levels. They are certainly the strongest now." Haruko finished, sighing before looking back at Shirogane. "… hmph." Was all he said while hoding his chin, looking back at the G.o.M he commented "Perfection… huh? I would say it's the complete opposite, though. They're still developing this is the extent of their ability." Haruko looked at him, startled at his words "They're ominous kids. Who knew the person who said "The Generations of Prodigies" would be absolutely right? They're indeed the strongest .Their talent equals none other." Akashi, Kise, Aomine, Midorima, and Murasakibara. "A manager proficient at scouting "Momoi Satsuki "A surprising sixth man."Kuroko Tetsuya.
"As well as a doctor."
A depressed aura surrounded Haruko when Shirogane said that. Said man was just laughing before patting Haruko's head who was mumbling "… doctor… doctor" there was silence around them as they continued watching the players. "You know, your ability to see even the smallest of twitch, to know what will happen if they go into that form and to strategize quickly, it's very useful you can even surpass the most famous trainers. Tell me, what is your dream, my dear?" it took a moment for Haruko to answer, and when she did it wasn't what Shirogane thought she wanted to be. "I don't know" surprised, Shirogane asked again thinking he must have misheard it. "I don't know. My mother wanted me to be a doctor, but I feel uncomfortable about it." Haruko admitted, very embarrassed about what she said. "Don't be embarrassed, take your time in picking, don't be tied down just because what your mother wanted. Pick what you like at your own pace, and when you do find the one you like, tell me. I might not be your real grandfather but you will always be a real granddaughter to me." Haruko can only look at him in surprised and thankful eyes, he look back at her with warm eyes.
The day is warm, the breeze floated gently between each students, the stadium was almost full of people who came to watch the game. The big nationwide basketball tournament or middle schoolers, district preliminaries. Opening day.
Inside, the players are preparing for the game. "Now, the game between Teikou Middle School and Kadooka Middle School will start." The speaker announced, making the audience shift in anticipation. "They came… Teikou the strongest… even though Kadooba is a good team… faced against such a team, they have no chance. Honestly, faced against Teikou who can't lose any team would seem unprepared…" one person in the crowd murmured.
Meanwhile in the court, Shirogane is giving them last minute advice. "One more thing. Give your best to win against your opponent, these is the etiquette of fighting. Go all out" they prepared to go to the court; Akashi, Murasakibara, Aomine, Midorima and Kise. Haruko along with Kuroko and Hanako just stood on the side lines, preparing their drinks and towel for later.
Midorima shot a three-pointer again, his opponent can do nothing to stop him. The ball was on the Kadooka team before it was stolen by Murasakibara who scored and used his height to intimidate the one guarding him. This continued until the third-quarter, the Kadooba was almost giving up. Their scores nowhere near enough to match the Teikou's. "UOO! Teikou is at full throttle! They show no mercy! There is a rumor that every year they are above the rest… This year it's entirely different, they're too strong!" someone in the audience shouted, excitement and small surprise coating his tone as he stared at the score; Teikou: 91, Kadooba: 32.
"Dammit…" a player in Kadooba couldn't help but curse his frustration as a time out rings for Teikou. "Teikou member change" the referee announced. "You can do it Kuroko-kun" Haruko and Hanako cheered as Kuroko walked towards Kise. "…Ah? Who?" "No way. He's also from Teikou?" the other team couldn't help but doubt his small stature and weak looking figure, almost challenging if he can do anything at all. "Do your best." Kise said to Kuroko as he walked towards the bench "Yes." Was Kuroko's reply.
And the game began, with Kuroko doing his passes the other team but feel frustrated as they didn't know who was doing it. This time the pass was directed to Aomine who caught the ball and dunked it. "What-!? An alley-hoop!? No even more than that, before… what was with that pass…" Aomine and Kuroko just grinned at each other, well more like Aomine grinned and Kuroko smiled, fist bumping each other.
After that, Teikou won all of its matches. Their opponents did not even hold a candle to them, they won everything-
Waaaah finished at last! Thank you for reading, review please, I feel like Hades' Neko-san is the only one who appreciates my effort *^* anywho thank you again,
Bye bye~