Quarter 5: I will do it

The second day in Rakuzan High started. Furihata was still unable to decide whether she should join the basketball club or not. "Hnnnn…" She breathed out a light sigh.

"What's wrong Furihata-san?" Her classmate, Kotani Erika, sitting in front of her asked. "Something is bothering you, right? You've been sighing all morning."

"Eh! I'm?"

"You can tell me if you want to." She offered.

"It's nothing important. I just can't decide whether I should join the basketball club or not." Furihata replied.

"So you are interested in basketball. Our school has a great facility for basket; plus it won every championship. Especially now, with the ex-captain of the generation of miracles, Akashi Seijuurou and three uncrowned kings, we're unbeatable." Kotani said with great enthusiasm.

"Ahhh… I know 'bout that. The thing is I was a manager of Seirin high basketball team before I transferred here. I don't know if I can face them properly if I meet them on the court. They are like a family to me." She didn't tell her classmate that she had an Akashi phobia because it would look strange.

BEZZZE BEZZZE

Her phone started vibrating. Furihata quickly took it out of her bag. The caller ID said it was from Kuroko Tetsuya. "Sorry, I need to answer this" She told to Kotani and walked out of the class. "Hi, Kuroko-chan." She answered the phone.

"Seriously Furihata-chan, are you an idiot?" Kuroko flat, monotonous voice with hints of angers appeared from the speaker. Furihata was shocked. 'What did I do to make her tell me I'm an idiot?' Among her list of people whom should not be made angry, Kuroko Tetsuya ranked second followed by Akashi Seijuurou. Despite her small figure, Kuroko could be one hell of a fearful person if she was greatly angry.

"Umm… Kuroko-chan, what's wrong?" Furihata asked.

"You texted me last night asking for my opinion to join the basketball team." Kuroko said, "It depends on your choice. Be decisive. Why are you making a great deal about joining a club? You love basketball, right?"

"It's true, but…" Furihata paused, "but what if I face you guys as opponents in the match. I wouldn't be able to fight you properly as an opponent."

"You're really an idiot, Furihata-chan. Everyone in Seirin have to play against their teammates in the middle school. That goes for everyone. The generation of miracles, too, fighting against each other and competing for the top position. No one in Seirin would be mad at you just because you join Rakuzan basketball team. So stop being stupid and what you really wanna do." Kuroko words were sharp but true. It made the brunette feel encouraged. She smiled and laughed then sighed, realizing another big issue.

"One more thing, Kuroko-chan." The young girl looked around to check a certain red-haired, winning-obsessed boy. "I don't think I can be in the same the team with Akashi-san fir three years. I could die from standing next to him."

"Then, don't join." Kuroko replied coldly. 'Crap, why did I even tell this to the queen of blunt?' Furi mentally face-palmed. She loved Kuroko as a friend, but it was still annoying to hear her blunt, emotionless comment when Furihata was in a mess.

"You're right. May be I shouldn't." Furi said sadly looking out of a window at the corridor in front of her homeroom. She looked up at the sky above her head. There was a faint rainbow in a distant place. 'It might have rained in some part of Kyoto.' She loved the sky since the sky keeps changing every time.

"You're such a coward. What's more important, your love for basketball or your fear of Akashi? Don't lose the sight of your goal. Didn't we promise we would become No.1 in Japan when we joined the basketball team? Even if we're in different team, don't you dare breaking our promise or I'll be mad." Kuroko scolded her from the other end of the phone line. The young brunette looked at the rainbow again.

"Yeah, there comes the rain before the rainbow." Furihata whispered and chuckled lightly.

"Did you say something, Furihata-chan?"

"Nothing. Thanks, Kuroko-chan. You help me a lot. See you later." Furihata happily told her friend.

"You sound much better. Don't worry. I'll be your friend forever and if you need me I'm here for you. See you." Kuroko hanged up. Furihata looked outside with full spirit. 'Yes. I'm a coward. But there're things only a coward can do. I'm not giving up on basketball just because of a guy.' She smiled and then went into the classroom.

Furihata reached for her drawer of the desk as soon as she settled down on her seat and pulled out a white sheet of paper. It was the club application form for the basketball team. She wrote down her name quickly and filled the rest of the blanks in the form.

xXx

In the evening of that day, a small, brown-haired girl was seen wondering around the gym. Furihata breathed out, releasing her tension." C'mon Kouki. You can do." She pushed the door opened and entered.

"I'm sorry, but can I ask you where to put the club submission form?" she asked a nearby person.

"Club submission? Please give it to the captain or the vice captain." He looked around the practising players to point out the girl their captain and the vice captain. "There's Mibuchi-san, the vice captain. Please give him the form." He showed her where Mibuchi Reo was in case she did not know who he was.

"Thank you." She bowed and walked over to Mibuchi. He was facing his back to her and looked like talking to somebody. From her view, she could not see who the other was. "Umm… Mibuchi-san, excuss me." She told her the tall teen when she arrived neat him. Mibuchi turned around to find the person who was speaking to him.

"Ah, Furihata-san. So you decided to join the team?" It was a statement than a question. She already told him the day before that she might be joining the club.

"Yes, I want to join the team please take my submission form." She handed him. Mibuchi reached out for the paper but a hand grabbed it before him.

"So you want to be a manager of the team, Furihata Kouki-san?" A tone that could make Furihata faint said these words. In front of Furihata, there was no other than the absolute emperor, Akashi Seijuurou. Furihata shivered. But she gathered her strength and said out loud.

"YES."

Juliessa: Yeah, fifth quarter ends here and Furihata and Akashi met fir the third time. I'm not too sure whether Mubuchi is the vice captain or not. If you know who really is the vice captain of Rakuzan Basketball team, feel free to tell me.