Here is an update! Yay! (Damn it, CaptainRainbowSama. Here is the update you asked for.) (Sorry, we're really great friends in real life.)

Chapter 10

"There is always one person that will never be noticed by the person they love. They'll do everything they can, just to grab the other's attention – even to the point where they will transform into the villain of the story."

Midorima Shintaro tapped his pencil on the desk. During his second year of middle school, many things had changed. Akashi becoming vice captain, (and not to mention, the president of the Student Council) Kise joining first string, Haizaki becoming less troublesome… The green head had no problem whatsoever adjusting to the new atmosphere – it was just that he had a bad feeling. Oha Asa did warn him that this year was going to be an eventful year, with a downhill of continuous unfortunate sequences of happenings.

Libra, Sagittarius, Virgo, Cancer, Gemini… and Aquarius. Midorima glanced cautiously at the female who was sitting behind him. It was not a coincidence. The list of zodiacs that the fortune telling channel had warned to the general audience were not to be acquainted as much as possible throughout the year.

It was definitely a little too late for that.

"Akashi, are you done?" Midorima asked, as he dragged the Student Council's office open. The red head was playing shogi in the midst of the silent, lonesome classroom, lost in his own world. "Captain had told me that you were to report immediately to the coach's office after practice. It sounded like something important, so…" He shrugged, as Akashi looked up and smiled.

"I see. Thanks for passing on the message. Speaking of practice… don't you think Haizaki is oddly… attentive, nowadays?" The florid eyed male threw his bag over his shoulder and locked the classroom shut. "Even Nijimura-san is surprised by how early he comes to practice compared to last year."

Midorima blinked at the commentary. "If I have to add, he also seems a little unenthusiastic." Akashi narrowed his eyes at that, as if inquiring for further explanation. The bespectacled male went on. "At least during his first year… he was very eager to come in to first string, I remember that much. And then he entered the string after winning fifty points all by himself in two practice matches against other schools. He was tardy to practice, but he was willing to defeat other teams. Nowadays, I feel like Haizaki… Well, he is honored and titled the name of ours, the Generation of Miracles, but he scarcely tries to play in matches. He gives most of the chances to either Kuroko or Kise."

"I guess." Akashi turned around the corner, and stepped into the locker room. Kuroko Tetsuya. Aomine Daiki. Haizaki Shogo. And finally, Akashi Seijuro. Aomine and Kuroko were getting closer as days went on, and Haizaki was growing seemingly distant from the two. It was either that he was starting to give up on pursuing for the female, or was just fed up with having to deal with a one-sided relationship… Akashi didn't know. The red head himself had been exhausted. He found himself on his knees, begging for the attention and love of the female.

It was pathetic. Akashi knew it was pathetic. Despite all his efforts, Kuroko never looked in his direction. Everything he did was futile, useless, and unnecessary. The female was deeply in love with Aomine Daiki. The latter wasn't as refined as Akashi, or as wealthy. But Aomine and Kuroko had an invisible connection and bond between them – a trust that was in the form of love, and love that was in the form of trust. Something that Akashi couldn't have.

He fondled with the white horse toy that Kuroko had presented to him quite long ago. It was the only affection that she had ever shown to him so openly – and Akashi treasured it. Clenching it in his fists, Akashi gave it a last squeeze and closed the locker.

Practice was quiet. Everyone seemed to be on edge for no reason – especially the third years. Akashi remembered that Nijimura wanted to have a word with him after practice; the captain himself was nowhere to be seen. The red head clutched the basketball he was holding in his hands, and stared down at cautiously. His head spun, and the ground was shaky as if it was going to fall apart right beneath him.

"Akashi-kun?"

He took a while to regain his balance. Kuroko was looking down in a worried fashion, with him on the floor. Gazing up at the female, Akashi realized how fast his heart was actually beating. It was abnormal. The girl spread out her hand towards the male, and Akashi just stared at it for a while, until he hesitantly grasped it as she helped her up on his feet.

"Are you alright?" She inquired. "You suddenly crashed down. Did something happen? Do you feel nauseous?"

Akashi winced at the bright, radiant aura Kuroko was releasing. She was too much for him. For a Light like her, a Shadow like him wasn't necessary. Perhaps, to make Kuroko happy, there just needed to be another Light – like Aomine. Akashi was too weak to protect her. He was barely living on, dealing with his own family. There wasn't a necessity for there to be a Shadow that was supporting a Light. There just needed to be two Lights supporting one another.

"… I'm fine." The red head looked away, and walked far off to the corner. He was attracting attention. "Nothing that you need to be concerned about." The pale-faced girl froze for a second. Akashi knew that he was acting cold towards her, when she didn't even do anything wrong in particular. But he couldn't manage, if things went on like this. It was either that he tortured her with his needless affection and became a nuisance, or that he forgot about her completely.

Practice ended with the same solemn silence. The third years, unlike how they normally did, wandered around as if they were waiting for something to happen. And judging by their expressions, it certainly wasn't something that was supposed to be pleasant.

"Coach Shirogane, it's Akashi." Akashi knocked the door and opened it with much precision. Inside there was Nijimura and the elderly coach conversing with one another, as they both proceeded to pause as they caught sight of Akashi. "… Am I too early?"

"No, no… you're perfectly on time." Coach Shirogane gestured towards the empty seat. "Please, sit down. We have quite a bit to tell you today." Akashi obediently walked towards the seat and faced the coach. The fact that Nijimura wasn't saying a word was bothering him, but the red head decided to observe the situation before coming to a conclusion.

"So, Akashi… how's your duty as the vice captain going?" Coach Shirogane asked, as Akashi frowned.

"Quite smoothly, coach."

"I see, I see… that's nice to hear, isn't it, Shuzou?" The coach turned his attention to the current captain. Nijimura nodded his head in silent agreement. "The thing is, Akashi… I think it is time to move you from your concurrent position as vice captain."

The red head tilted his head to side. "Are you saying you are appointing a new vice captain to replace me, coach?"

"No, the exact opposite. You are going to be appointed as the new captain of the Teiko basketball team."

Akashi took a while to process the short sentence. He glanced at Nijimura, who just remained quiet for a few minutes, until he opened his mouth to provide an explanation.

"It's the natural occurrence that the vice captain becomes the next captain. I… I have to resign from the club itself, due to my father's sickness worsening… so I decided to appoint you as the next captain. Be proud, Akashi – you're the first vice captain to ever be appointed captain during their second year. You can choose whomever to be in you service as vice captain. I would recommend Midorima or Murasakibara, but that's your choice. Midorima would be the more responsible of the two, though. I apologize for leaving you with so much responsibility."

The red head felt like his head was going blank – just like a white sheet of clean paper. Responsibility. Captain of the Teiko basketball club. Nijimura leaving the school. He was used to the weight that was always added to his shoulders. All he needed to do was adjust to it, and continue moving on.

Nijimura stood up and exited the room, as Akashi quickly followed. "Nijimura-san."

The said captain stopped in his tracks. "… I'm sorry, Akashi."

"No, I'm not asking for an apology –"

"Doesn't matter. I'm sorry." Nijimura casually turned around, a towel around his neck. "It wasn't my intention to give up my position as a captain. You must have your own issues going around, but… yeah. Sorry about that."

"… It's fine." Akashi said after a while. That's right. He was fine. All that was going to change was his position from a supporting captain to an actual captain. He was the president of the student council – what could possibly be so much more challenging, just because his rank increased on the pile?

Nijimura stared at him for a while, and then opened his mouth. "Hey, do you know where Shogo is?"

Akashi blinked. He had never heard Nijimura call Haizaki in such a manner before – calling someone by his or her given name usually implied the fact that they were very close. Nijimura seemed to have noticed this, and laughed a little. "I'm a friend of his brother, you see. Haizaki Hasaya – you know, the senior's troublemaker. I scarcely make it obvious of my relationship with Shogo – people will think that I am presenting favoritism. But yeah, do you know where he is?"

"The last time I saw him was at the gym." Akashi nodded, as Nijimura thanked him and went. The red head then proceeded to retrieve his belongings in the locker room, and then headed outside – going past the said gym in the process. He looked over his shoulder through the gap between the double doors, and caught sight of Haizaki and Nijimura sitting down in the middle of the court and talking furiously – well, more like Haizaki looked like he as going insane, while Nijimura was trying to keep the latter in control.

"So let me repeat that fucking stupidity that danced out of your mouth. You, are leaving the basketball club because you can't handle the fucking Generation of Miracles?" Haizaki demanded, as Akashi froze.

"No. Well, yes. That's partially the reason – but I told you, my father is sickly. You already know this because Hasaya told you, right? And it's not the Generation of Miracles I can't handle – I can handle you. It's just… they're too powerful for me to order around. They're beasts. It's just the timing… I need to leave." Nijimura muttered under his breath, as Haizaki groaned, running his fingers through the locks of his ash-gray hair.

"Nijimura, you know that Akashi isn't gonna let me stay on the team, right? I'm gonna be kicked out sooner or later –"

"Shogo." Nijimura started sternly. "You're not like how you used to be before. I know that Akashi is aware of that – he won't kick you out of the team unless you resign yourself. And I'm not going to allow you to do that because then Kuroko will be left alone in the end, and that's the last thing I want happening to her at Teiko."

Haizaki gasped for more air as he began to retort. "Kuroko has that damned ganguro, okay? She has Aomine! They like each other, and I know it. Do you know how those other guys are all over her, being so over-protective all the time? There's no way she can be left alone from guys like that!"

"Trust me – she's going to need you by her side at some point. Even if she doesn't like you back, Shogo." Nijimura sighed, as Akashi silently listened to the whole conversation and left before he heard the conclusion. That's right. Kuroko had Aomine. She didn't need anyone else… she didn't need anyone apart from the remaining of the Generation of Miracles. Akashi Seijuro was an unnecessary puzzle piece in her life that didn't belong in the picture.

It was almost close to a year and a half – a year and a half, ever since Akashi had fallen in love with Kuroko Tetsuya. She was the Light in his life. No matter how tough things were at home, her scent, her voice, her face, and her smile – practically anything about her could make his day feel so much enhanced. The horse key chain she had presented to him reminded him of her on the bitterest days. She was the only source of comfort he had.

He didn't want to lose Kuroko.

It was fine if he only got to look at her from a distance. If even that was too much for Akashi to deserve, then just being able to hear her laugh was fine too. Her sign of happiness was a relief to Akashi, and it was almost as if his worries didn't matter to him anymore. Everything would be okay.

That's when an idea sparked into Akashi's mind. If she can't love me… He lowered his gaze. Then surely… she can hate me. It was totally fine if Kuroko despised him, after whatever he did. If only she was within his reach…

"Aka-chin, I don't know what you have up your sleeve, but don't do it."

Akashi jumped, as he saw Murasakibara passing on a cross look as he stood there, clutching his water bottle, dressed in his school uniform.

"… Murasakibara, I didn't even say anything. Besides, I thought you went home already."

"That was my original plan," Murasakibara shoved some chips into his mouth, "but I made some changes. I'm not going home today."

"You're sleeping outside?"

"Bluntly saying, yes." The giant shrugged; as he met his sluggish looking eyes with Akashi's sharp ones. "Not a big deal. I do it every now and then when I'm fed up with my siblings. None of them care, so that's fine too."

"What did you mean, 'Don't do it'?" The new captain glared up at the tall boy.

"Well…" Murasakibara started. "Aka-chin looked a little weird… tense… so I was thinking you were coming up with another absurd idea of yours. Am I wrong?"

"Yes." Akashi lied. "How rude."

Shrugging a little, Murasakibara proceeded to the locker rooms – presumably where he was going to spend the night. Whether the purple head was going to sleep outside or not wasn't Akashi's business – so he decided to depart as well.

Teiko had been chaotic as soon as Nijimura had resigned from the team. The intensity and conflict between the second years and third years increased, due to the fact that both the vice captain and captain were second years, when the third years thought that it was only the right thing for them to be the slightest bit in charge. Akashi and Midorima had a difficult time convincing the rest of the team that they were capable of their duties.

Haizaki had grown even more distant from the team, almost to the point where some people scarcely remembered the fact that he was on first string. New members that joined since second semester didn't even know who this Haizaki Shogo was.

Apart from that, everything went smoothly. The Generation of Miracles was still at the peak of their name, all kinds of magazines coming to interview them victory after victory. Kise had become the new rising star of the team after Haizaki resumed to his frequent absences on the starting lineup, while Aomine and Kuroko continued showing the best in their work.

Teiko was still the undefeatable power school.

"Everything's surely going easy nowadays, aren't they?" Kise laughed, as he threw a basketball and instantly made a two pointer. "We're winning all the practice matches too – I wish I was officially appointed as one of the starting members already… I bet I can win Haizaki-kun by now anyway. He's been slacking practice, right?"

"It's not good to underestimate Haizaki-kun, Kise-kun. He's one of the strongest players on the team, after all." Kuroko chided, as Kise whined.

"But Kurokocchi, you saw me yesterday, right? I just stole that ball from the brown guy and whoosh! My copy skills are flourishing day by day!"

Aomine snorted. "When all you do is copy, you'll never win against a decent opponent even once, Kise."

Huffing, the blonde stomped his feet on the ground and thumped his chest with pride. "I'll show you one day, Aominecchi! I'm going to be the victorious one against all of you in maybe… uh… high school? And beat all the Generation of Miracles at Teiko!"

"In your dreams." Midorima said from faraway, but loud enough so that Kise could hear him. "If you're really so confident that you can win all the Generation of Miracles, say that after defeating Haizaki on a one-on-one match. If you can't defeat Haizaki, then that means you're unworthy of beating any of us here, anyway."

"Geez, Midorimacchi is only good at three-pointers anyway!" Kise remarked, as Midorima glared meaningfully.

"Are you looking down on my skill, Kise?"

"N-no, of course not!" The blonde laughed nervously, as he stumbled over his own words. "But geez, then I'll just need to defeat Haizaki-kun and show him that I got stronger, right? Then the small forward position on the starting lineup is officially mine?"

"Well… yes." Midorima frowned, as he fixed the position of his glasses. He was doubtful that at Kise's current level, that he would even stand a chance against Haizaki. Despite the fact that Haizaki was a slacker, he was accepted because of his skill. That's why Nijimura stressed the importance of training on the gray-haired male, and that method of violence of their former captain had been effective while he was present. Kuroko's entrance to the first string was a plus as well. But after Nijimura's departure, and presumably some other component that pulled on Haizaki's strings, stopped him from practicing any further than he previously had.

Even so, Haizaki could still stand victorious against Kise.

As if on cue, Haizaki entered the gymnasium. He looked rather lazy, as he took off his jacket and threw his bag to the side of the court. A somewhat bothersome expression was spread across his face – something that was between the lines of depression and determination.

"Ne, Haizaki-kun!" Kise approached the gray-haired male, who gave Kise a despicable look. "Do you want to do a one-on-one with me?"

"No." Haizaki responded curtly, as he tried to push his way through Kise.

"Oh, come on! We both play the small forward position, so I thought I could challenge you to your spot on the startling lineup…"

Haizaki scowled. "Starting lineup… Oh, right… I was in something shitty like that…" He threw his sneakers around as he slammed then right down on the floor. "You can have it. No need for a one-on-one."

The whole gym went dead silent at that comment. Kise looked dumbfounded.

"That's it, right? If you're done, then I'm going. I have some business I need to take care of, you see –"

"Wait, wait! Is it that easy for you? To hand over your position to someone else? What happened to your spirit?" Kise exclaimed, as the other players on first string gave Haizaki a cross look, as it sounded just like Haizaki was mocking all of them.

"Spirit?" Haizaki snorted. "Seriously, cut me some slack. I never had any of that to begin with, and besides… I'm not that much of a passionate person to simply play a one-on-one match with a newbie like you over my position, you see. So I'll give it you. It's an unnecessary position for me, you see…"

"But Haizaki-kun –"

"Kise Ryouta." Everyone in the room instantly flinched at Haizaki's tone – his dangerous tone. "I'm not interested in your little shit. Now get out of the fucking way – I have business with Akashi, not you." He pushed through the model, and then paused before turning back to face the latter. "And by the way, why don't you take some good care of your girlfriends? It's kinda annoying when they're latching to me, you know – when it's not like they have big tits or anything."

Kise's face flushed a little, as he mustered up a retort – but before he could even say a word, Haizaki was out of the scene.

"I heard you had business with me, Haizaki." Akashi glanced at the male who just gave him a slightly cocky look. "What is it?"

The small forward just pulled out a piece of paper that was scribbled with almost illegible handwriting. It was written 'Club Resign form' on the top, with all the different reasons written beneath. The red head frowned, as he scanned the paper. He didn't really bother to decipher the code-like sentences on the page, and decided to ask Haizaki straight out instead. "Why?"

Haizaki shrugged in response. "Got bored. Not intrigued to play basketball anymore. No motivation and all. You heard what happened over there just now, right? I'll hand over my small forward starting member position to Ryouta. You can continue doing whatever shit you are doing, and with me resigning from the team, you don't have a troublemaker to deal with anymore. It's for the better situation of both parties – I thought you'd be delighted."

Delighted. More like confuddled. "Regardless, you are a excelling player on first string. Your abilities surpass a handful of seniors, and you display formidable results during the Nationals and the practice matches. I can't possibly allow you to resign from the team so easily –"

"Then just say you fucking kicked me out – what's the big deal?"

Akashi paused. "… I thought Nijimura-san wanted you to continue performing on the team as a starting member."

Scratching the back of his neck, Haizaki groaned. "I don't actually pay attention to what that guy says about me and my improvement every single second, okay?"

"No, about Kuroko."

The gray-haired male froze at that one. "You were eavesdropping on our conversation? Wow, asshole."

"It wasn't intentional." Akashi said in his defense, and went on. "I thought the Generation of Miracles were incapable of staying by her side till the end."

Throwing his arms up into the air, Haizaki rolled his eyes. "You know that Nijimura is just blabbering nonsense. Kuroko has Daiki – you see it too, don't you? If you have eyes and a fucking brain that function as well as mine, then you'll get it. The love is in the air!" And then he stopped for a while. "And you should've noticed. Kise's ability is something to go over. He'll surpass me in a matter of years."

"Haizaki –"

"Losers aren't needed on the team, right?" The latter mumbled. "I'm gonna leave, Akashi. Leave me alone. I really don't want to meet that girl anymore."

Akashi knew perfectly well. That Haizaki was in love with the girl as well, and was jealous of Aomine as much as he was. He didn't know whether the emotions that were building up inside were frustration or relief. Frustration that Haizaki was giving up, and resigning from the team – or relieved that he had one person less to fight against for Kuroko.

But at the same time, Akashi also knew that Haizaki was lying. Haizaki loved the girl more than anyone else – possibly more than himself and Aomine. The way he had drastically changed due to the female's influence was significant. He had fallen hard for her. Hard to the core.

And that's why he didn't know what do.

Haizaki Shogo stepped out of the gymnasium, and walked towards the back of the school. He stared at his basketball shoes. Man, those were costly. His mom almost killed him when she found out that he had used her credit card to purchase them at the mall – even though they were on a seventy-percent discount.

He stared at the ball of flames that were burning inside the box. The materials inside were no longer recognizable. His shoes would be one of them – soon. He had no regrets. He tried his best. Not because he liked basketball, but because he wanted to see a certain girl smile. She looked so… contented, when they had won a game, after all. Everyone else was getting bored by the consecutive victories that were won without much effort – but she always seemed to joyful, every single win. So he tried. Even during the moments where he was lazy and exhausted and bored throughout the game, he felt like he could somehow go on when he saw her thin lips curl into a smile, directed at him whenever he made a shot. Everything he accomplished was suddenly so valuable, so worthy at the end.

Now, he wanted to let go.

He lifted up his basketball shoes and prepared to release his tight grip on them.

Suddenly –

"Haizaki-kun, don't."

Small, skinny fingers wrapped around his wrist and pulled it back. Haizaki's eyes widened at the sensation and the voice – he recognized all of them. Kuroko was standing there, her large teal eyes looking concerned and worried – for him.

"What are you doing?" He spat.

"Stopping you from doing something reckless." She responded, sounding slightly angry and agitated. "Haizaki-kun, please. Don't do this."

He could feel his heart falter. His mind was yelling at him to go retrieve that resignation form or whatever from Akashi and said he was joking about the whole thing – and that he couldn't bear to see Kuroko look at him like that. But no. He knew that he needed to let go.

"… You don't have anything to do with this."

"Of course I do! You helped me then. I… never paid you back for it." Kuroko looked away. Haizaki realized she was talking about what happened back then, in the locked room.

He groaned. "That was nothing –"

"It was something to me. And this is something to you." She said sternly. "Please, don't quit the team- no, don't quit basketball."

Haizaki looked down at Kuroko. Why was she so desperate? She had Aomine. She found her happiness. Haizaki didn't. He gritted his teeth. "Why are you fucking so…" His body acted up on its own. He moved forward, and wrapped his arms around her thin neck and hugged her tight, like she was going to disappear – as if this all a hallucination, a distant dream. Kuroko's eyes widened. "Why…" He whispered again.

I can't give up on her.