Saka bounced the ball against the ground carelessly, her eyes focused on the hoop. The game between Shutoku and Seirin had been quite intense, enough for her to find a drive to practice after the game. She was disappointed the other girls hadn't made it on time, but she was glad at least that Kazuki had met up with her there.
Saka's cheeks flared as she thought of Kazuki. She stopped dribbling the ball as she brought it up to her face, letting her forehead rest against the orange leather. In all honesty Saka had no idea what to make of the upperclassmen. He was always so cheery and goofy but sometimes she could feel him looking at her when she wasn't facing him, but whenever she looked over his attention was elsewhere.
The party at Shutoku had fuddled her mind even more. In a drunken haze she had leant up, liquid courage pushing her to kiss him but he moved out of the way. Kise didn't help. She had run into Kazuki, Kasamatsu and Kise when they were out shopping (from what she gathered Kise had been an unwelcome presence) and Kise had chattered about how adorable Kazukichii's girlfriend was. Saka felt her cheeks flare even brighter as she pulled the ball away. At least Kasamatsu had kicked Kise for his comment and the blonde brought all the attention onto himself by letting out a loud wail.
"It's strange to see you out here alone." Saka jumped nearly a foot in the air as she spun on her heel, facing the person who had spoken. Katsumi was leaning against the opening in the fence, one eyebrow raised as she looked around, purposefully showing that there was no one else around. Well, almost no one. Hotaru was standing behind her, her hands buried deep in her pockets as she looked rather bored.
"I w-w-was just p-pr-practicing," Saka mumbled as she held the ball gently, nodding from the sphere to the hoop. Katsumi straightened herself up as she walked out onto the court, her arms crossed over her chest.
"You shouldn't be alone Saka. Come on, Ishimura is at Maji Burger. We'll walk you." Saka nodded compliantly. She wasn't really one to deny her upperclassmen and it wasn't like she didn't trust nor like Katsumi. Hell, Katsumi had once offered to help her basketball and a place on Shutoku's female team if she wanted. Saka had been in half a mind to take it.
"It's n-n-not like I-I'm inc-capable of l-l-looking after my-myself." Hotaru snorted as Saka's words drifted over to her. She rolled her eyes and spun around, waiting nonetheless. Saka had to admit she was impressed with Hotaru's personality lately. She was still grumpy, rude and generally uncouth, but she wasn't as bad as she had been in middle school. Saka didn't doubt that it had been Katsumi's influence on her Vice Captain.
"Right, you're so fierce and terrifying aren't you little Saka?" Hotaru muttered. Katsumi just shook her head as she walked beside Saka, letting Hotaru lead the way to Maji Burgers. Saka let out a small squeak as she stepped in closer to Katsumi, her eyes wavering on Hotaru in front of her. Even though she knew that Hotaru had nothing against her, there was still that malicious hatred for Saka's very good friend.
"W-w-what are you d-d-doing out here a-anyw-way?"
"Hm? Oh, we were going past to meet up with Takao and Midorima at Maji Burgers. Ishimura's with them," Katsumi shrugged as Hotaru let out a snort. She had been in half a mind to ditch Katsumi and go and find either Hanimaya or Imayoshi, but Katsumi had been adament that Hotaru join her to meet Takao and Midorima. Now she was stuck with that irritating stutterer from the Queens and then she would be stuck with Ishimura.
Hotaru's fingers curled as she thought of Ishimura Yuki, her blood beginning to heat. Hotaru had no real reasont o hate Ishimura, if it weren't for the fact that the latter wasn't a foe they would probably get along quite well. Only that was it. Ishimura was the one person who Hotaru couldn't quite match. They played the same position, they shared similiar personality traits, they were the same age but Ishimura was always one step ahead, always just out of Hotaru's reach. She didn't like it, hell no one liked it, but there was nothing anyone could do. Joining them was out of the question, there was no point trying to play with them. They were at the peak of the game and had always been.
Hotaru could remember the first time she had played against the queens. They were in middle school, first year. Everyone who played in elementary already knew about them and hell, even Hotaru had known. All the girls who wanted to play basketball heard about them eventually. The almight 'Queens'. Hotaru wanted to spit every time she heard the word, not that she could deny their experience and unbeatable skills.
They were all different, their talents lying in different areas. Jo was the mighty defender, defending the hoop with an iron grasp and able to send the ball to the otherside of the court without much hassle. She was difficult to get by, as although she was quite tall she was surprisingly nimble and Jo was like a wall when trying to get past her. Then there was Takami. She was an analyst, prefering to play the game mentally and psychologically over mere physically. That's why she rarely moved back from her position near the three point line and if she did it wouldn't matter. She was capable from shooting from the centre line if necessary.
Shira was a pain in the ass and she knew it. She wasn't as quick as Meyer or Ishimura, but she was quick enough to suddenly break away without any hint and go in for a dunk without even needing to look if the ball was coming her way. was a decent defender too, able to jump up and match most of her opponents without much trouble. Even Saka, who stuttered and stumbled over her words, was dangerous. She had a way of going out of eye sight, of sticking to the back of her opponents so when the ball was coming their way she would sneak through, catching it before they were aware she was even near them and passing it off before anyone could think twice.
And Ishimura, uh. The name tasted like venom on Hotaru's tongue and her heart pumped faster every time she thought of the small forward. She was quick on her feet and her hands were faster. She would cut in front of a truck and get out the way with the ball before anything could happen. Hotaru had been stuck trying to defend her most of the time and in return, it meant Ishimura was defending her. The amount of games that Hotaru didn't even get to touch the ball because of that bitch was too many to try and count.
Then, there was Meyer. Hotaru didn't know what her deal was entirely but she knew the Captain was more than just a driving force behind her team. She was smart, calculating, fast and better at basketball than she had seen anyone before. As single players they were difficult, as a team they have always been damn near impossible to defeat.
But, Hotaru thought as she glanced back to Saka, who was still chatting nervously with Katsumi, at least they weren't complete dicks. Sure Shira and Ishimura liked to show off and prove they were the best, but they never completely and utterly destroyed their opponents. Hell, some of the time they would let their much weaker opponents take the ball off them and play a decent game, lowering their level. Everyone knew they did it, even their opponents, but for some reason that didn't matter. The Queens never made anyone hate the game they played, they never let their score get so unbelievable high over their opponents that the lights went out. Hell the team even encouraged their opponents by giving them pointers and things they might want to work on after the game.
Still it didn't mean that Hotaru liked them any more than that. Even though it was mostly only Ishimura that she disliked the most. She didn't mind Meyer, Jo was a like trying to talk to a brick wall, Shira was polite enough and Takami would even give her a hello if she wasn't on her phone. Hotaru wondered why exactly that Katsumi had asked Saka to join them to meet up with Ishimura anyway. The girl was smart, not like Takami and Meyer but she wasn't a fucking moron either. It wasn't until they crossed the street that Hotaru saw why Kastumi had insisted she come along with them.
It was hard not to notice her. She was tall and broad, built like a wall and more imposing than even Jo. She had an air around her that demanded she be seen, whether it was the constant snarl curling on her lips or the way her dark eyes looked around and seemed to just survey passersby for weakness. Hotaru clenched her fingers together, narrowing her eyes dangerously. The only person who she disliked more than Ishimura, who got her blood pumping and her heart beating and her fists aching to be used. Tachi Rei. She hadn't changed much in the past two years. She was taller, her hair was shorter and she now had a collection of piercings along her ear, but Hotaru wouldn't forget the sight of her. She had a scar that reminded her constantly.
"Don't start anything," Katsumi ordered quietly. Hotaru stuffed her hands deep into her pockets as she let out a small shrug, avoiding eye contact with the other teen. Tachi didn't seem to notice them, and if she did, she obviously didn't care enough to walk over. She mustn't have seen Saka then, probably because Katsumi was walking close to the younger teen and towered over her.
Hotaru had never been so tense walking into Maji Burgers as she had that moment. As soon as the door closed behind the trio, she let out a sigh of relief and looked around. She spotted the green haired weirdo and his talkative friend immediately, and unfortunately that meant that Ishimura was in the nead vicinity as well. Hotaru had to admit, Takao was attractive when he wasn't talking.
"May as well get the pleasantries over with," Hotaru groaned as Katsumi walked past her, waving happily to Takao. She glanced back over to Saka who was standing sheepishly behind her before letting out a snort. She would do her best to ignore Ishimura, after all Katsumi had threatened to kick her off the team if something happened between the pair. Hotaru slunk over to the table, her shoulders back as she let out another sniff, looking around out of pute boredom.
"Hi Hotaru-San." She knew that it was meant to be polite and she glanced to Takao out the corner of her eye, letting out a click of her tongue as she leant against the couch, already done with the little adventure of being dragged out here. Saka had walked over, sitting next to Katsumi, sitting quite close to Hotaru's captain.
"Where's Ishimura?" Katsumi questioned as she tilted her head.
"She went to the toilet. Anyway..." Takao began prattling on about the game they had played earlier and how it had been a close match. Hotaru rolled her eyes, but Midorima caught her gaze. Her fingers curled in anger again before she turned away, letting out a sniff. She could put up with Takao for Katsumi sake, but every time she saw that grumpy bastard she wanted to punch him in the face for what he did. For what his team had done.
Hotaru almost smirked. Perhaps playing against the Queens had made her used to decency, despite their everlasting winning streak. She could never forgive the oh so mighty Generation of Miracles for what they did, to the teams they played and to the female teams as well. How quickly they overshadowed the Queen's glory, how they took the title of the undefeated team when they had no right. How everyone viewed them as mighty gods of the game when there was the Queens and the teams they played.
"You should play the Queens again." Hotaru hadn't meant to say it and she was glad she wasn't the only person incredibly surprised. Takao choked on his soda and Midorima was staring at her with a very curious look on his face. Saka was looking up at her with her mouth hanging open. Katsumi on the other hand was frowning as though Hotaru was about to start a fight.
"Yeah, but we already played against them."
"Please, you and I both know Shutoku didn't start playing properly until Ishimura cut off Midorima's balls." Takao smirked at her wording and Midorima looked visibly irritated at her comment. Katsumi just sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose, halfway between trying to get Hotaru to shut up and convincing the boys to agree to a rematch. "That is, unless you're not too scared to play them again."
"We have no reason to fear the team from Iwozuka," Midorima replied bluntly, apparently not hearing Saka's squeak in protest. Hotaru grinned, about ready to completely convince Midorima to challenge the Queens when she felt a chill run down her back. Instinctively she looked over her shoulder, seeing that Tachi and her group of friends had walked into Maji Burger.
...
Ishimura had not felt like staying around to hang out with Hotaru. She didn't mind Katsumi, they were opponents only on the court, but Hotaru was always someone who she wanted to avoid. She could name very few people that she would actively avoid in fear of getting into a fight with and Hotaru was definitely near the top of that list. She was currently in the bathroom, having decided to call Kuroko to get him to Maji Burger so she wouldn't get stuck outside of Takao and Katsumi's conversations. Midorima was sulking after the loss and he was being slightly unpleasant. Kuroko had agreed to come to Maji Burger, but that meant that Kagami and Hyuuga were coming as well. She didn't know what to think of that but she agreed nonetheless.
Currently she was standing in front of the mirror, looking rather tired and slightly dishevelled. The boys had been acting up pretty much the whole time she had been babysitting them, so the second her mother had stepped in the house earlier that day she was out the door. And she still missed the bloody game. She reached forward, turning the fawcet on and splashing herself with cool water before straightening up. She couldn't stay in the bathroom until Kuroko arrived, as much as she would have liked that.
She wiped her face down before straightening and walking out of the bathroom. She was still so focused on having to put up with Hotaru that when she walked past the counter she didn't recognise a snarl delivered in her direction. She did register, however, the feeling of her jacket being gripped and her feet flail underneath her as she was yanked back hard, barely able to fight before she was dragged out of Maji Burger. She didn't even manage an insult before she was off the ground completely, being thrown through the air before landing with a heavy thud on the ground.
Ishimura barely had time to register what was happening before a heavy boot started to stomp down on her hand. She ripped backwards, rolling over her shoulders onto her knees and she looked up for the first time.
"Oh fuck," she breathed before she scrambled to her feet, barely managing to avoid a fist swinging towards her fist. The person standing in front of her was at the top of her list of people to avoid. Tachi Rei, a very furious looking Tachi Rei who was in no way constricted by risking her status as a high school basketballer by getting into a fight.
"I've been wondering when I would get to run into you again Ishimura Yuki. I have a favour to repy," Tachi hissed as one hand grazed over her knee. Ishimura stepped back, keeping a very big distance between the two of them, suddenly much more afraid of just getting kicked off the basketball team. Swallowing Ishimura tried to think of a plan. She could run, but then Tachi's friends looked like they were more than willing to chase her down the block a few. There was no way that she could take on three either and by now there was a crowd of bystanders who looked more interesting in seeing a fight than trying to help out any.
"So I guess you can't let bygones be bygones then huh?" Ishimura laughed, lowering her shoulders as she tried to watch the three of them as best as she could. Tachi curled her lip, sneering before spitting at Ishimura, causing the latter the step back and her fingers curling into fists.
"I always prefered the idea of eye for an eye." Ishimura clenched her jaw as she settled herself into a stance that would make kicking the shit out of Tachi a little easier. Her two friends started fanning out, to catch Ishimura in a triangle. Ishimura tensed her shoulders for a moment, glancing around to keep track of them, when someone stepped in behind Tachi, sending the teen flying through the air and landing with a heavy thud at Ishimura's feet. The latter jumped over Tachi, stepping back twice to clear the distance, glancing up to the person who had helped her.
"You aren't the only one who want's eye for an eye, Tachi," Hotaru growled and Ishimura raised one eyebrow, briefly remembering how Katsumi had mentioned that Tachi had benched Hotaru. Tachi stood, her knuckles cracking as she clenched her hands so tight but then her face paled slightly as she stepped back. Hotaru was knocked forward slightly as a hand planted against her back, Katsumi standing on the sidewalk next to her as a heavy arm was laid over Ishimura's shoulders.
"Well this looks like it could be fun," Shira grinned as she leant down, resting all of her weight on Ishimura, causing the shorter team to stumble slightly. Ishimura looked over her shoulder, seeing that Aomine was standing rather confused behind them, with equally confused looking Hyuuga, Kagami and Kuroko beside him.
"I think it's time for you to go back to the hole you crawled out of Tachi." Meyer was standing beside Shira, her hands deep in the pockets of her jacket but her gaze was heavy. Tachi sneered again, stepping forward as though to size herself up against Meyer. The small Captain didn't even flinch, not when Tachi crossed her arms over her chest and leant in very close to her face.
"Or what Meyer? You'll get your little dog to fight for you?"
"I assume you also believe the rumours. I can promise I gave no such order for Ishimura to give herself a concussion and bench herself for most of the year and drag you down with her. Perhaps if you had not been such a close player you would not have been taken down." Meyer's voice was monotonous and her gaze was exceptionally hard. Ishimura wondered if Tachi was well aware of how much Meyer didn't need anyone to fight for her and part of her wanted Tachi to find out first hand exactly why. Instead Tachi leant back, sneering again before spitting. The glob landed on Meyer's cheek and the Captain reached up slowly, wiping it off with the back of her hand. "Do not do that."
"Or what, what will you do you little..." Tachi didn't get to finish because Meyer reached out, the flesh part of her palm slamming into Tachi's ribs. The latter coughed but Meyer sweeped her foot along the ground, knocking the teen off her feet completely and knocking her to the ground.
"Go home, Tachi, no one cares for you here," Katsumi warned as Meyer turned on her heels, stalking inside of Maji Burgers. Tachi looked like she had half a mind to go after her, but her friends, who clearly realised they were incredibly outnumbered and now lost all cockiness they had before exhibited to Ishimura, grabbed her and dragged her to her feet.
"This isn't over Ishimura, you will get what is coming to you!" Tachi snarled before her friends pulled her back, all three of them storming off. Ishimura sniffed, scratching the back of her head before glancing over to Hotaru.
"I guess I should say thanks for you helping me."
"Please, I'm the one who's going to bench you completely," Hotaru growled, her eyes dark and Ishimura rolled her eyes, clicking her tongue as Katsumi dragged her vice captain inside. Shira let out a yawn, ruffling Ishimura's hair before straightening up, looking over her shoulder.
"So Kagami, any reason why Meyer was tagging along with you guys?" Shira teased and Kagami spluttered, shaking his head and going slightly red.
"Any reason why Aomine-Kun was tagging along with you, Shira-San?" Kuroko countered, wiping the shit eating grin off Shira's face and causing Ishimura to crack up laughing. The latter realised she was shaking slightly from the adrenaline rush of possibly getting her ass handed to her and she glanced up to Shira, wordlessly thanking her for popping up when she did. She also made a mental note to thank Meyer for kicking Tachi, although she knew their Captain could possibly get into a lot of trouble for doing so.
"Eh, enough. I'm starving!" Ishimura crowed, rubbing her stomach and turning to walk into Maji Burgers. She would rather dine with Hotaru then have another chance meeting with Tachi any time soon.