Aomine galloped past me like lightning right off the starting block – I barely had the chance to hear Kuroko give the signal and he was already at full speed. We were to race one time around the entire track, 400 meters. I bent down low, Kumo's mane brushed my cheeks gently, and pulled on his reins to gather more speed. But the gap between him and me only widened. As I watched, he was constantly gained more and yet more speed, even as he now turned the first corner he seemed to accelerate – was it even possible to accelerate while turning corners? His movements were so fluent, so effortless – literally. It was obvious that not a lot of effort was being put forth from his side.
'Midorimacchi was right – what the hell is that slouch? How is he going this fast when his form is so messy?'
Despite his god-awful form; I dearly hoped he was trying at least a little because if that is what Aomine raced like when he doesn't give a damn then I would have to develop doubts as to his humanity. Hoping against hope I bent down further as I reached the first turn and, praying for Kumo to go faster yet, I nudged his sides with my boots a little to fiercely. Instead of speeding up, Kumo halted violently, causing me to almost topple right off of him.
'Don't do this to me.' I thought as I feverishly pulled at his reins, but this time I was too gentle and Kumo would only trot. I slightly raised my head to seek out Aomine, and was amazed to find he was almost to the finish line while I had barely made it halfway across the tracks.
'How is he even real?' I mused, as I finally got Kumo to start galloping again. I neared Aomine enough to be able to make out his face, and the instant I laid eyes on his bored, don't-give-a-shit profile, something snapped inside me. Before I knew it I yanked at Kumo's reins with force that should have caused him to raise his hind legs and throw me off, but instead he galloped ahead, faster than ever before. I began closing the gap between Aomine and me, but it was much too late – I barely got over the second turn when Aomine crossed the finish line in a detestably, slow and arrogant manner – he couldn't even bother to continue galloping once he knew victory was assured. Annoyance welled up in me as I dashed across the tracks, faster than I thought possible and yet not fast enough. Not even close.
'I don't know whether I am more annoyed or amazed by this guy.' I smiled to myself in disbelief as I neared Kuroko and Aomine, who had already took off his helmet and was gathering his things to leave. We locked eyes for a moment, and he broke out in a fit of slightly evil laughter.
"What the fuck was that?" He cackled, before his face gained a more serious, an almost sad, expression, "I told you – the only one who can beat me is me."
"Oh shut up you spray-tanned blueberry!" The words left my mouth in an undignified yelp before I could compute their meaning. Guess these things just happen when you're overly determined to think of a witty comeback, but too pissed off to think straight.
"It's okay Kise-kun." Kuroko spoke trying to contain his laughter, miraculously appearing right beside me, "You've made good improvement and I think that, soon enough, you won't be reliant on your copying abilities anymore."
"T-thanks Kurokocchi." I sighed, my head bowed from embarrassment. I knew I would lose, yes, but there is a difference between losing and being crushingly destructed.
"So he is the copy-cat you've told me about?" Aomine smirked, giving me a knowing look. "Ya know, you can't just copy someone else's movements in horse riding. You actually need some real skill." He laughed, beginning to guide his nameless horse away.
"Says the guy who can't even bother to practice when he's not forced to." I called after him, irritation welling up inside me yet again.
'He's going to lecture me?'
"For fuck's sake!" Aomine wheeled around to face me, "There you go again with that bullshit – it's none of your business!" He fumed at me, his dark eyes piercing mine like daggers.
"I refuse to accept the fact that you're wasting your natural talent." I responded, trying a calmer approach. "Others train years and aren't half as good as you are."
"Ask me if I give a shit." He shot back, flinging his backpack over his shoulder nonchalantly. I rolled my eyes at him – this was his usual answer to pretty much everything.
"Would you stop with that shitty attitude?" I barked, flinging my attempt at a calm approach out the window. "You're the most arrogant and ungrateful person I've ever met."
"You're the arrogant one here, blondie." Aomine replied, his voice was menacing but his eyes contained another emotion I couldn't quite make out.
'Is he… sad?' The thought popped into my head seemingly involuntarily, and as much as I wanted to I couldn't discard it completely.
"Excuse me?" I cocked an eyebrow at him.
"Horse riding is the first hardship you've encountered and you're acting like a little bitch about it." He stated, arms folded, looking right at me. That was just too much for me. The anger I had been bottling up inside seemed to boil in me.
"You know nothing of the hardships I had to face in life!" I hollered at him, suppressing the urge to punch that gorgeous face of his, eyes stinging with the threat of tears. This sudden outburst seemed to have surprised Aomine, because for the first time ever, he said nothing.
I wasn't going to give him the pleasure of seeing me in this state, and so I stormed off into the main building, leaving a perplexed Aomine and Kuroko behind.
"Ready to leave?" Kasamatsu called out to me from outside the locker room, the impatience clear in his voice, "I've been waiting here for fifteen minutes – what's the holdup?"
"Y-yea… just give me a second." I replied sheepishly, "I'm just looking for my phone… ugh where did I put it?" I mumbled, more so to myself than Kasamatsu, as I began to rummage through the messy locker.
Ever since that argument with Aomine a few hours ago I couldn't focus on anything else – my mind kept drifting back and forth between his last words to me, and that weird almost-sadness in his eyes. I wanted to be angry, just angry. I wanted to take his 'advice' and leave him be.
'I'm frustrated, but I'm not angry' I admitted before myself, 'and somehow I know I-'
"You just can't let it go can't you?" Kasamatsu began, cutting off my train of thought. He had walked back inside and was standing next to my locker. "Ever since your argument you've only been halfway here," He motioned to our surroundings, "and you really shouldn't let what he said get to you so much – he doesn't know about the accident and if he did-"
Here Kasamatsu paused, his brows furrowing before he quickly blurted out "Ok nevermind he'd probably still say it but you get my point nonetheless."
"Thanks Yukiocchi," I gave my best friend faint smile, but I couldn't keep it up for longer than three seconds, "but it's not just that – he had this… sadness in his eyes that I just can't shake off."
My revelation caught Kasamatsu off guard, as the crease between his eyebrows deepened, and one side of his mouth lifted in an 'What on Earth are you on about?'-kind of expression in response to which I couldn't help smiling.
"I'm serious!" I retorted, surprised at my defensive tone.
"No I believe you Kise, it's just difficult to imagine Aomine… sad." He pointed out, "Anyway, that just means you need to keep trying and eventually you'll figure out the mystery that is Aho-mine." Kasamatsu winked at me.
"Good one man!" I snickered, smiling genuinely for the first time that afternoon.
"So did you find that phone yet?" He asked, leaning against the wall of my locker and peering into its chaotic interior.
"No, but it's got to be somewhere-"
"Oh for fuck's sake, "He interjected, "I'm going to wait at the reception desk, alright?"
I nodded yes, and all but put myself inside the locker to resume my search, when I heard Kasamastu speak again in an amused voice.
"Watch your step Kise, you might fall and break your heart."
"Just go and wait for me, idiot." I countered, yet I could feel an uninvited blush creeping into my cheeks. As I combed the mangled heap of clothes and bags in search of my phone, letting my mind wonder once again back to Aomine.
"His name is Raiu." If it wasn't for the proximity, and clarity of his voice I'd have been sure I had just imagined it. But when I lifted my gaze, there he was – leaning against the doorframe, hand in pockets, his charmingly messy hair and perfectly sculpted jawline demanding to be admired. To say I was surprised to see him would be like saying you're surprised you won the lottery.
"I- Sorry?" I stammered trying, and obviously failing, to regain my composure.
"My horse – his name is Raiu," He hesitated, raising an arm to scratch the back of his neck, his dark eyes unable to meet mine, "Listen…I- I'm not really used to this but… about earlier… I might have said too much."
"Are you apologizing?" I questioned, full of disbelief.
His gaze still fixed on the floor, he gave a curt nod, and bit his bottom lip in an embarrassed yet somehow still incredibly sexy manner that made me just want to walk over to him and-
I remembered Kasamatsu's parting words and stopped myself – Aomine was about the last person I should want to do that to. As much as I wanted to help him out as a person, I shouldn't develop any unnecessary feelings.
"Thank you Aominecchi, I appreciate that." I managed to say, the first waves of shock having passed. Suddenly, he lifted his head and looked me right in the eye, his deep stare full of some new energy.
"We'll settle things once and for all at the tournament – if you pass, I'll tell you everything." His voice was tinged with a kind of determination I had never seen in him, and we never broke eye contact as he spoke, "So don't disappoint me, rival."
And with that, he was out the door in one swift motion before I had the chance to give any kind of response. Not that I was in the state to think of one.