Chapter 14

Kuroko. How am I supposed to know how the tutor looks like if all you tell me is "girl" and "long wavy hair"? This is seriously really stupid. I would have never imagined someone like me would ever spend my precious weekend sitting inside a library.

Kagami put his head down.

I'll just wait until she finds me. That is, if she even comes. Kuroko is seriously too naive. What person would help tutor a stranger without expecting anything in return? It's just too good to be true. I should just leave.

...

Kuroko-kun. How am I supposed to locate your "big" and "tall" friend? Most of the boys in here are bigger and taller than me. I should probably just sit down and wait.

Sayumi walked over to the table with only one person sitting.

"Sumimasen. Is this seat available?"

Kagami looked up to see a pretty girl with a red hairband in her wavy golden- brown hair.

"I was just about to leave. Make yourself comfortable." The big and tall boy stood up from his seat.

"Kagami-kun?" Sayumi asked when she saw the boy stand. "Kuroko-kun's basketball friend, right?"

The boy looked at the girl one more time. "Yeah."

"Hajimemashite. I'm Kineno Sayumi. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu."

"You're the tutor?" Kagami gaped in disbelief.

"Yes."

"I'm Kagami Taiga. Kochira koso, yoroshiku."

Kuroko that guy. How did he manage to find such a cute girl tutor when the rest of the team barely got a chance to even start a conversation with a girl?

...

"Does it make a little more sense?"

"Not really."

"That's fine. This is a more complicated structure. Just start over from the basics. Identify the subject first and then the verb." Sayumi looked at the boy who was scratching his head.

"Kagami-kun. Do you want to take a break? We've been at this for two hours."

"Nah. It's fine." Kagami directed his attention back to the book. Sayumi knew he was trying, but she could tell that nothing was sinking into his brain. Even she was feeling a little stiff from sitting so long.

"Kagami-kun. Can you pack up your books?"

Kagami stopped reading and saw the girl pack her things.

"Sure."

She must be bored too. I don't blame her. She's already better than I expected. Most people give up after fifteen minutes.

Kagami gathered his books and walked out of the library with Sayumi.

"Um. Thanks for helping. Walk home safely."

"Kagami-kun. Tutoring isn't over yet."

"Then where are we going?"

"Somewhere I go every day."

Sayumi led the big and tall Kagami to the basketball courts of the empty park.

"Kagami-kun. Basketball please."

The boy stared blankly at the girl who was tying up her hair in a neat ponytail. He unzipped his bag and pulled out a ball.

"How'd you know I had a basketball with me?"

"Intuition. Pass me it."

Kagami threw the ball lightly to the girl.

"Let's play a game."

"What happened to tutoring?"

"After we play."

Kagami grinned and put down his bag on the bench.

I'm starting to like this girl more and more.

"One-on-one. No rules. I'll start," Sayumi said confidently as she dribbled.

...

"What you looking at?" Sayumi asked when she caught the boy watching her wipe her face with his towel.

"You're pretty good. You on a team or something?"

"Haha. No." The girl laughed. "This is my first time playing in three years."

"I don't believe you. Three years without playing?"

"Exactly three years."

"Why'd you stop?"

"I used to play with my onii-chan every day. But I stopped after he passed away."

"Ah. Sorry... I didn't know."

"No need to be. I'm very glad I got to play with Kagami-kun today. I haven't had so much fun in a very very long time."

"Your brother must have been really good to teach you to play like that."

"Your style is similar to his. You remind me a lot like him."

"We should play again. You weren't going all out, were you?"

"Not at all. How could I if you didn't either?" The two new friends laughed.

"So when did you meet Kuroko again?"

"Yesterday."

"No way."

"Well. He saved me before, but I only met him yesterday. He's a little hard to notice, if you know what I mean."

"You don't say..."

"Kagami-kun. After you go home, take a shower and eat something. After you settle down, just reread the chapters that we gone over at the library."

The boy looked at her doubtingly.

"Trust me. We both know you know it. You were just a little stuck since you're giving yourself too much pressure. Reread the contents. Give me a call if you have any questions or if you want to come out and play again."

Sayumi exchanged numbers with yet another stranger before leaving the park. Kagami watched as the girl skipped out.

Kuroko. How did you ever meet such a girl? Kineno Sayumi. I'll be seeing you soon. You can count on it.

...

The next week, Kagami took the test and passed with "flying colors" (according to his own standards). The good news spread across quickly and the basketball team no longer had to worry about losing their valued member.

"Kagami-kun. Did the tutoring help?" Kuroko asked as he sipped his usual vanilla milkshake.

"I guess."

"You should let her know about your score and thank her."

"I'm going to tell Kineno tonight."

"Tonight? With Kineno-san?" Kuroko noticed the casual tone Kagami used when referring to the girl.

"Yeah. We play basketball in the park at night."

"Oh."

"She's incredible though she's shorter than you. You have to check her out."

"Sure." Kuroko's expression did not change, but inside, he was very curious about the girl who Kagami has taken a profound interest in.

That night became the very first time the three played together.