The place was dark with only a few of its windows open to let in the pale rays of the moon and the stars. It was chilly inside, the gigantic door letting in the night breeze. The building was an old clinic used before but was now abandoned. It would soon be turned into a new shop.
Mika turned her gaze around the lobby. The paint on the walls was tainted and some parts were already scraped to reveal old timber and cement. The wooden floors were dirty and moldy. Here and there were cobwebs and small insects. The area smelled strongly of disuse. Somewhere nearby a wolf howled.
Wolf?
It was only from Fuyu's cell phone. She was snickering, obviously enjoying this.
"This is ridiculous. I'd rather go back and take a bath," Midorima was already heading to the doors with a picture frame in his hand. "Come on, Takao."
But the other boy didn't move from his spot and said, "Let's join, Shin-chan. We could take a bath later. What? Are you scared?"
"I'm not scared," defended the bespectacled boy. "I just don't want to partake in such a childish game."
"Fufufu." W-was there a dark aura forming around Fuyu? "This is not just a childish game. It's a battle! The winners can ask one favor from the losers and the losers will obey them without any question. This Test of Courage will give you power!"
"That's what she said," Takao called to Midorima. "Which means you could ask Himuro for another ticket to Yuna's concert."
Midorima's eyes seemed to shine despite the darkness of the night. "Is that true?"
"If everyone agrees," answered Fuyu.
Adjusting the glasses on his eyes, Midorima walked back beside the raven-haired boy, taking a chance on the possibility to obtain the mentioned ticket.
"Yuna? I know her!" Kise exclaimed. "But, of course, I won't give you a ticket for her concert for free. Win this and I will! Let's participate, right, Kurokocchi?"
"I want to stay here, too," replied the pale boy.
Momoi hugged him tightly. "I'll join because Tetsu-kun will."
"Che, I guess there's no harm in participating." Aomine looked a bit disinterested but maybe Mika just didn't know him too well.
"It's a match!" Shouted Kagami.
Himuro, Murasakibara's friend, chuckled. "Your tension's too high, Taiga. Are you ready, Atsushi?"
Murasakibara just shrugged his shoulders. "Whatever."
Mika instantly felt like an outsider. That she should just quietly go back to her room to sleep. But as she was about to get out, Momoi and Kise held onto her arms saying, "You'll join too!" The friendly gesture made Mika remember how they were during middle school. Because of Akashi, she was often with the Generation of Miracles. But she didn't know if she could consider them friends. Was she even worthy of having them as friends? She remembered wanting so much to be theirs though. They had been so kind and welcoming to her. Sometimes, she felt bad for ghosting them after what happened with Akashi.
"O-okay," she said. She'd wondered if she could open up with Momoi before but she ended up not to. Now was another chance. Maybe, this time, she could inch closer to becoming friends with them. And, having Akashi here shouldn't be a reason for her to shut out others.
Akashi stepped in front and addressed the group. "There are twelve colored balls in this box. Each has a pair." Fuyu showed them the black box. He continued, "Fuyu will be handing you a random ball-"
"Wait a minute." Kuroko raised his hand. "Why does she need to hand it to us? Can't we just get the balls inside the box ourselves?"
"Right we can do that," Akashi agreed. "In pairs, we would search the place for two basketball balls that were hidden by Fuyu's bodyguards. Don't worry Fuyu and I don't have a clue where they are hidden. A total of six balls are in this building. The first pair to get two is the winner."
"What if nobody gets two? You said there are only six," Himuro asked.
"Then you could battle with someone for one ball. Any game is fine as long as it won't hurt both sides." Akashi looked over the crowd. "Are there any more questions? None. Okay, we'll start giving the balls".
The group started to get one ball. At last, it was Mika's turn. But when she placed her hand inside, there was already no ball. Fuyu slightly shook the box and then one finally appeared. Must have gotten stuck. She picked a red-colored ball and placed it in her palms. Who was her partner? Momoi had a yellow ball, Kise had a green one…
Fuyu approached Akashi, but before the boy could get a ball, Kuroko strode toward them, handed Akashi his white ball, and got the last ball inside the box-a red one.
"Tetsuya, I believe that's mine," the red-haired teen was obviously pissed.
But the pale boy wasn't intimidated by him. "Then let's just ask who has the other one. Who got a red ball?" He was already looking at Mika.
"I," she replied.
"Is it alright to be partners with you, Risa-san?" So it was either Kuroko or Akashi. Gosh, this was obviously planned.
"Fine" was all she could say.
Kuroko walked beside her and on the count of five all six pairs searched the old, creaking building. Akashi's partner was Fuyu. Partners and engaged together. Friendly with each other. They could've been perfect and Mika felt sick at the jealousy eating her up inside as she thought of it.
Just focus on the task.
So much for being friends with the Generation of Miracles.
Now she was paired with the one she was angry with. Kuroko could've just told her that they needed her help with talking to Akashi, though she knew if he'd said that she won't agree to his conditions. She would just find new members for Shelter. She sighed.
"Let's start at the topmost floor, Risa-san. The others might be searching the lower grounds already."
"Right," she replied and they both headed to the third floor.
The wooden stairs were creaking under their weight and Kuroko caught her arm when she lost her balance. Mika noticed that the boy's hand lingered a bit on her arm even after she had stood straight.
They reached the topmost floor. It contained a series of abandoned laboratories with outdated, probably broken, rusty equipment. The girl looked at the corners of the room, searching for a basketball ball. But there wasn't any sign of it there.
She turned to her left and-
"Boo!"
Mika screamed at the top of her lungs.
But she soon realized it was just Kuroko. "Oh my gosh! Don't do that!"
"They say there is a ghost of a kid haunting teenagers on this floor. He wants someone to play with him and will take whoever he wants to." Kuroko's voice was sullen and further crept out the girl.
"Don't say that! That's not true!" Mika had her arms around her chest as if she could shield herself from the said ghost. "Stop it, Kuroko-san."
Kuroko smiled. "Yes. I just made it up. But, I'm glad you finally spoke more than one word to me."
Mika realized that she did. Heck. And she was supposed to be still angry with him. She exhaled. "You win. That was a dirty tactic though." She leaned on the wall as she looked back at the boy. "I don't think you're someone who does something very sensitive and important just for fun." She was pertaining to the situation with Akashi. "You had your reasons for what you did. However, it doesn't make it right. But, then again, I also have no right to judge."
"I'm really sorry."
"I know."
"I didn't mean to hurt you." He walked closer to Mika.
"I know."
"I like you. Please go out with me."
"I kno- What?" All the air seemed sucked out from Mika's lungs. She became nervous.
Kuroko shortened their gap. "You aren't going out with Akashi-kun so it's fine, right?"
"Wait a minute!" How close did he want to get? She placed her palms on his chest, hoping that he would go away. "Aren't you going out with Momoi-san?"
His eyebrows furrowed. "No."
"But she likes you."
He didn't respond, just looked intensely into Mika's black orbs.
"This is crazy." The girl shook her head. "You really should stop joking."
"I'm not joking. At first, I thought I just wanted to be friends with you, and then I realized I wanted something more. I want to go out with you, Risa-san."
Mika was flattered by Kuroko's confession, but within her, there was a small voice screaming "this isn't right!" Instantly, she remembered Akashi Seijuro and the way he held her hand during Teiko's school festival. It had been warm and gentle, and although Kuroko had held her arm before it wasn't the same. Her heart didn't flutter nor did she feel secure. For her, Kuroko was still a stranger. A friend, yes, could be. But as a lover? She just couldn't imagine it.
"I-I'm sorry," she said, looking at the floor.
"It's alright, you don't need to answer now, Risa-san. I'll wait for you."
"No, I mean-" The ground shook. Strong and harsh. The equipment rattled as they danced a macabre tune. "What's happening? An earthquake?!" But the building is very old and dilapidated. It could collapse!
Oh my gosh!
They were on the topmost floor of the structure. They swayed as the ground swayed. She held onto Kuroko's sleeve and guided him toward the table where they stayed underneath. The fluorescent lights cracked and showered their shards all over the dirty, dark room. When the tremors stopped, the two exited the room and ran through the stairs.
One wooden stair gave out and broke as Mika stepped on it with her weight. She had to pull her wounded leg from the hole with all her might.
"Risa-san!"
"I'm alright." Her left leg bleeding, she followed Kuroko out of the old clinic.
The other players were already there, wide-eyed and still panicking.
"Seijuro! Seijuro!" Fuyu was shouting. She was frantic as she asked Mika, "Did you see him inside?"
"Weren't the two of you partners? Where is President?"
"We were in the basement and then the earthquake then we were running but I lost sight of him! He should still be inside!"
Mika felt like she would faint. What if something bad happened to the boy?
No.
She faced the old building again and dashed back to it.
"I'll go," Aomine was already in front of her.
"And I," said Takao. Then to her, "The injured should just stay put and wait outside."
She grabbed Takao's shirt. "Please, find him." She was so worried her heart seemed to be in her throat. "Please."
"Don't worry. I'll deliver him to you shortly." The raven-haired teen had the confidence to wink. "I'm good at that."
Aomine and Takao went inside the building again. Mika clenched her heart through her shirt. Tears threatened to slip down her cheeks but she wiped them harshly.
No.
Akashi should be alright.
He should be.
Another tremor frightened them, the ground shaking with less force but enough to further damage the weakened structure.
President!