Aida Riko was really pissed off.
Not being able to release her anger at the certain blue haired boy was making her more frustrated. Since the blue hair boy was nowhere to be found she let her anger on the poor boys from Seirin by being more nazi with their training.
"You all were running so pathetically, 20 more laps NOW!"
The half dying poor boys from the basket club almost cried out in desperation, but they all knew if any of the made a single protest they will get brutally wiped out by their coach, especially when she's in her demolish state.
Riko was biting her nails frustrated. The match with Shutoku just ended for a couple of days ago, and they barely won against them. Shutoku's perfect three points shooting by Kuroko's previous teammate almost made they lose the game.
The superstitious green haired freak was a really tough opponent. However their next opponent, Aomine from Touhou will be a much tougher opponent compared to Midorima. As their couch it is Riko's responsiblitiy to train the boys and lead them to victory. And the only key for making it possible depends on the cooperation between Kuroko and Kagami! But one of the biggest threat for their failure lies on Kuroko too. No matter what kind of miracles the fragile blue haired boy can make in the court, it has its limit. Kuroko's lack of stamina is one of their biggest challenge. In order to level up the boys within one week before their match against Touhu, Riko has asked/demanded all of them to stay and train some hours extra as they did before each important matches.
None of the players has dared to say no for their forced extra training (beside Kagami who was the only one who happily accepted for the extra trainings) except Kuroko. Kuroko was the only one who has turned down and didn't show up for any of their extra trainings. Riko has done almost anything to make Kuroko stay longer after each training, but everyt ime Kuroko will bow and apologize in a very politely way while looking at her with a pair of troubled (puppy dogs) eyes which made her weak and letting her guard down, and when she tries to get harder again Kuroko has disappeared.
No one in Seirin, even Kuroko's partner Kagami know the reason why he never participate in their extra trainings. Every time when they try to ask him for the reason he will 'misdirect' them with other issues, and when they finally remember their real motive Kuroko has disappeared.
If Kuroko was the type not taking basket ball seriously Riko and the other teammates would have forced Kuroko to stay and train with them. However, all of them knew that Kuroko is being more passionate with basketball then anyone, and if had declined their additional trainings he must have a very good reason..
Damn, I swear to God I will stalk you everywhere tomorrow! Wait for me!
Riko suddenly realized she had been screaming out her inner thoughts just now when many pairs of eyes were staring at her strangely...
Next day Kuroko once apologized to Riko that he could not stay over and train with them after their usual training before he disappeared. But this time Riko was prepared, she has given order to Kagami to follow Kuroko everywhere, and if he dares to lose sight on Kuroko he could prepare for his own funeral in the same day! After a while Riko received a message from Kagami where Kuroko was located, she stormed out right away toward the location.
Riko arrived the cafe where Kagami texted her after biking for little while and found the tall red headed guy at the table by window.
"Where is Kuroko-kun? Don't tell me he is having a date in this coffee shop. If he is ditching his training for a date I will make him feel very sorry and wished that he never ditched us and..." before Riko could finish her threats Kagami pointed toward the window quietly, and when she looked toward the direction where Kagami was pointing she found Kuroko. Riko has been thinking of many possibilities of Kuroko's mystery disappearance, but this was a very surprising...
The day after was a free day at school, the boys of Seirin basket club all gathered by the court for their morning practice. Riko were looking troubled at the blue haired boy who was doing his best for not falling too much back from the others while they were doing their warm up running around the court. Since yesterday when she and Kagami found out about Kuroko's secrete it has been bothering her for a whole night whenever she should be honest and open with Kuroko or not. It's not like she wants or wish to interfere with his own private life, however the victory of Seirin is on the stake here and as their coach she has to think and act for the team's best sake.
"Kuroko-kun, Hyuuga-senpei, can you two please come over to the club house? There's something I want you two to help!" Riko turned away and started to walk toward their clubhouse with an uneasy feeling.
To Riko's surprise Kagami came together with the two others. "You said you needed help so I thought three person would be better than just two" Kagami lied while looking at Riko with a I-have-the-right-to-know look. Riko sighed and knew perfectly that Kagami would never leave them no matter what.
"Fine and sorry Kuroko, I lied about needing you and Hyuuga-senpai's help. The reason why I called you and captain out is because we are worried about you..."
Kuroko looked dumbfounded at her while she continued "We were following youy esterday after you left for the training..."
"I see..." Kuroko tried to look calmly as he usually does but Kagami could see Kuroko were getting tensed.
"Hey Riko, I don't understand any of these. And why were you following Kuroko in the first place?" Hyuuga looked confused at Riko.
"The match with Touho is getting close, and I really need Kuroko to stay longer with everyone to practice. But since he has turned down all the night practices I got curious and wanted to find out why. And yesterday I told Kagami to follow Kuroko, and we found at that he has been secretly working as a bartender at a night club..."
"What? Is that possible? Kuroko, you are not even 18 years old, how can you legally work as a bartender? And not to mention it is forbidden for the students in Seirin to have any night shift part time job! Is there some kind of misunderstanding here?" Hyuuga looked at Kuroko doubtfully.
"I wouldn't have believed this until I saw with my own eyes, but what Riko said is true! Kuroko, why in the hell would you risk for getting kicked out from the school? You don't seem like an idiot to me!" Kagami hissed at Kuroko. He has always thought that he knew Kuroko best and he felt kind of being betrayed by Kuroko, although he does't understand why he felt that way.
Kuroko made a deep bow and apologized, "Sorry for putting the team in danger! But please help me to keep this secret... I promise I will be very careful for not being caught... Sorry!"
"What the hell Kuroko? Are you still going to work at the nightclub? I don't want you to get... I mean I don't want to to bring any trouble to the team! If you get expelled we all will be in deep shit!" Kagami was getting really pissed. Does this weak yet very strong boy in front of him realize how dangerously he's living right now? Not only he was breaking the rule of having night shift part time job and not to mention faking his the age of his ID. He could have been expelled right away when the school finds out about his secret! Never in his wildest dream has Kagami thought of not having Kuroko on the court beside him...
Kagami grabbed the fragile shoulder of Kuroko hard, and yelled the question that all of them in the clubhouse wanted to ask, "Why?".
An uncomfortable silence filled the club house. Kuroko's head was hanging down and his hair was covering his eyes which made it hard for the others to see his expression.
"I'm sorry... But I really need this work... So I beg all of you please help me to keep this secrete. I promise I will do my best by not being found out by the school about my parttime, and I will do my best in the match against Touhou, so please don't kick me out of the basket club..." Kuroko's trembling voice were lower than usual, almost like whispering. They were all taken aback by the new side of Kuroko, it was their first time seeing him losing his calmness.
Hyuuga was the first one to react, he looked at the blue hair boy who looked even more fragile than usual and said, "Of course we don't and won't to kick you out of the club! But I am more worried about you. Do you have time for study? And do you even have enough sleep everyday? And why do you have to keep working? What about your parents, do they know that you are working at all?"
"I... I do study sometimes. I... Have enough sleep, and sometimes I will sleep in the train and..." Kuroko made a pause and grabbed his arms nervously and continued, "My parents... they both died in a traffic accident for some few years ago and I have been living and supporting myself since then". Kuroko looked up with a terrible fake calm mask and continued in a stronger voice but yet still trembling, "I never told anyone about this because I can perfectly take care of myself, but since this time my selfishness might affect the team I think I have the responsible to explain my current situation!"
While the tree of the them were still in shock Kuroko once found his courage back continued with a less trembling and determined voice, "Please let me stay and play in the team, I promised myself and Kagami that together with the other teammates we will become the best basket team in Japan! Basketball is all I have let, so please!" Kuroko made another big determined bow toward the others.
Once again the room were filled with an uncomfortable silence. None of them knew how to react for this sudden turn of events.
Suddenly there was another voice outside the clubbing room calling, "Kuroko, are you in there? Aomine from Touhou is at the court and he is looking for you!".
If Kagami thought he had seen the most weak and afraid side of Kuroko, then he was wrong. Because Kuroko turned more pale and looked terrified right now!
To be continued!