Chapter 16
"Kagami. I call Kuroko is on my team today..." Sayumi's loud voice echoed as she ran from outside and onto the courts.
The boys turned around to see the girl dressed in a black tank top and a pair of blue basketball shorts with white stripes on the sides. Sayumi stopped when she noticed that there was an extra guest.
"Kineno-chan?" The blond model noticed her first.
"Kise-kun?" Sayumi stared at the boy in the white tank top.
"You two met before?" Kagami asked and looked at the two acquaintances stare at each other.
"Kagamicchi and Kurokocchi both know Kineno-chan?"
"Kineno-san." Kuroko threw the basketball to the girl in the ponytail.
Sayumi bounced the ball and made a shot from the three point line. "Yes! Lucky!" She ran to retrieve the ball.
"Kineno-chan plays basketball?" Kise asked excitedly.
"Blondie. She's been playing with us since forever. You're the newcomer."
"I came yesterday, Kagamicchi."
"Kise-kun. You were here yesterday?" The model nodded. "Kuroko. Kagami. You found a replacement already? I was only gone for two nights."
"We can play two on tw-" Kuroko was interrupted when another familiar face joined the party.
"Tetsu?" A navy-haired boy walked in.
"Aominecchi."
"You're here too?"
"Aomine-san," Kuroko greeted.
"What are you doing here with Kise?"
"What are you doing here?" Kagami interrupted.
"Almost forgot you were here." Aomine taunted Kagami. His eyes rolled over the three boys and finally stopped at a certain young lady.
"Aomine-kun."
Aomine recognized her and looked away after recalling the missing basketball incident.
"Aomine-san. This is our friend Kineno Sayumi. Kagami-san and I play basketball with her."
"Kurokocchi. You're so cute. Aominecchi knows her already."
"Kineno-san. You're really popular."
Sayumi didn't hear Kuroko's last sentence. She walked towards the newest guest. "Aomine-kun. About the basketball..."
The four boys became quiet. "I thought I told you I left it in the park."
Kagami and Kuroko looked at each other confused and then glanced at Kise.
"I wasn't talking about that. I was going to tell you that the money I owe you, I have it, but not on me right now. I didn't know that I'll bump into you anytime soon."
"Oh, that. Don't worry about it. Kise gave me a replacement ball already," the boy said nonchalantly.
"Kise-kun." Sayumi looked at Kise thankfully. The boy returned her silent gratitude with his killer smile and secretly chuckled when the girl blushed.
"Girl." Sayumi turned to Aomine. "Did you ever find it? Your basketball I mean."
The girl shook her head. Perhaps her face was too honest, but all the boys, even Kagami, sensed a little change in her mood. It was quite obvious that she was upset about the still missing ball.
"Should we play now?"
The four others jumped a little at Kuroko's voice. The sudden realization that all of them forgot Kuroko broke the gloom and filled the party with laughter.
"I call Kurokocchi and Kinenocchi!"
Sayumi's face reddened when she heard her new nickname. Kagami looked at the smiling model in disgust.
"Who said you're picking the teams. Kuroko and Kineno are on my team. You and him against us," Kagami directed at Kise.
"You guys are just being sexist. Just because I'm the girl doesn't mean that I need to be part of the team with more players. Kuroko and I are enough to handle you three."
"I agree," Kuroko added to Sayumi's bluff.
The three tall players burst into tears of laughter.
"That's cute you two," snorted Kise.
"Tetsu. You never change."
"We'll crush you by accident. I don't advise Kuroko and Kineno by themselves. Listen to me," Kagami told the two.
"Fine. Then how are we going to break this even?"
The five teens stood dumbstruck at the realization that creating a balanced team would be difficult.
"You guys can play first," Sayumi finally said and stepped out. "Two on two. I'll split the teams. Kagami and Kise." Kise smiled when she dropped the honorifics. "Aomine-kun and Kuroko."
"What about you?" The four boys asked together.
"Kinenocchi. You're not playing? I wanted to see you play."
"I didn't say I'm not playing. You guys just play first. I'm calling a friend over to play. When he comes, we can go three-three."
"Can he keep up?" Aomine asked arrogantly.
Sayumi smirked. "Don't be intimidated. He's part of the Generation of Miracles."
The four boys stared at the girl.
"Perhaps she doesn't know."
"Kinenocchi is so funny."
"Kineno-san."
"..."
"Scared now? Wait until you meet him." The girl triumphantly pulled out her phone and excused herself to make the phone call outside.
"She really is clueless." The boys nodded in unison.
...
{Incoming call from Sweets Girl}
"Murasakibara. Are you busy?"
"Yeah." *munch munch*
"Busy eating?"
"Yeah."
"I need you to come meet me somewhere."
"No."
"I'll treat you to something extra nice today."
"..."
"Oh. I also bought a new flavor of Nerunerunerune candy. It's surprisingly interesting."
"Where are you?"
"Wear some exercise clothes. I'm at the park."
"I hate moving."
"I hate giving away free candy."
"Give me fifteen minutes."
Sayumi smiled and hung up the phone. When she stepped back in, she saw a bunch of angels playing the beautiful sport of basketball.
[I'm in heaven.]