C07 – A Rival

"Wow, things are getting interesting!" Akari said as she crossed her arms towards her chest while standing beside the coach.

"They're really having a practice game with a non-member. These guys," Genta muttered.

Akari laughed, "well, you can't stop them now that they've started."

Genta looked away irritated that Akari was there because one she wasn't related to any of the basketball players and two she's really annoying. He wasn't the only one who thought those two things. Even Yukio thought that, he just didn't want to offend her.

"Sixteen to sixteen and one more minute. Coach, who do you think will win?" Akari asked with a huge grin printed onto her face.

Genta rubbed his temples, "this girl cannot get any more annoying."

"Go Misaki-san! Misaki-san!" Akari shouted.

Misaki had the ball this time and scouted out for any free teammates. Unfortunately they were all being marked. Misaki gritted her teeth and took a glance at the basket then to one of her teammates then nodded. Kise –who was marking her- looked at her with a confused look. He saw that she was doing the shooting position. He raised his arms then jumped but widens his eyes once he noticed that Misaki didn't have the ball. "Man, Misakicchi is too unpredictable," Kise thought as he looked at Misaki.

Misaki looked at Kise with a blank stare and ran past him.

As soon as they heard the beep, everyone panted. "Good job," Yukio said. "So, what do you guys want to eat?" Yukio asked as he looked at the scoreboard; 16-18. Misaki's team won.

"Uwah, I didn't expect for Misakicchi to win against me," Kise blurted out.

"For your information, I've been playing longer than you I just stopped," Misaki said.

"Well, good job anyway guys! Let's go eat steak!" Koji said and gave Yoshitaka a high five.

"Why can't Misaki-chan join the team?" Yoshitaka asked.

"Is that even allowed?" Akari butted in the conversation. "I mean there's no girls in the team and it looks like the only girls in basketball teams is that manager girl and coach girl. They don't play."

"Even if I was allowed, I wouldn't join," Misaki threw out while putting on her blazer, buttoning it up.

"Why not?" Mitsuhiro asked.

"I'm not playing with a bunch of guys," Misaki said and grabbed her bag. "I'll see you guys later. Eat without me."

"Huh?! It was your idea in the first place!" Yukio said.

"I changed my mind, I want to eat with Nakano-san," Misaki said dragging Akari out of the gym.

"Nakano-san," Misaki said. "Am I supposed to remember something about you?"

Akari stopped walking and looked at Misaki, "why would you think that?"

"Because you said that neither Kise or I remembered you," Misaki said.

Akari laughed awkwardly, "I was your classmate at grade six too."

Misaki widen her eyes at Akari. She didn't even know that they knew each other when they were younger. "Ho-how?!"

"I was really quiet and never really hung out with the popular people," Akari said.

"I wasn't even popular at grade school. I was a nobody!" Misaki said.

"Really? Then why did Kise-kun gain feelings for you?" Akari said absentmindedly. Once she realized what she said, she covered her mouth.

Misaki looked at Akari with confusion in her eyes. "Ki-Kise-kun gained feelings for me?"

Akari shook her head, "wrong person! Not you! It was someone else!"

Misaki looked away and nodded. "I see. It was probably those popular girls."

"Yeah, probably!" Akari said and laughed everything out.

"Misakicchi!" Kise called out and sat down his seat beaming widely at Misaki.

Misaki looked up from her notes and looked at him. "Kise-kun-"

"No! You're not going to call me Kise-kun anymore! You are calling me by my first name from now on!" Kise commanded and pouted his lips.

Misaki blinked multiple times before agreeing, "hai, Ryouta-kun."

"Why are you still here? Class is over," Kise asked.

"I concentrate better in quiet places. At the house I always hear the tv, video game music or a basketball bouncing," Misaki said and looked out the window watching the sun get lower slowly.

"Hm, why don't we go do something together?" Kise asked.

Misaki looked at him. "Do something together? I need to review these notes, Ryouta-kun."

Kise smiled as soon as she heard her say his name. "You need a break from time to time. Come on~ please!"

Misaki sighed quietly and finally agreed. Kise smiled widely and grabbed her notebooks then packing them into her school bag. He grabbed both their bags. "Let's go~"

"I'd never thought that you would eat ice cream sandwiches," Kise said.

"I'll eat anything that's like popsicles," Misaki said. "They may not be healthy, but they're the only junk food that my manager actually lets me eat."

"Really? Why is it the only one?" Kise asked.

"Because she hates junk foods and only likes ice cream like snacks," Misaki said.

"So rational," Kise murmured out with a sarcastic tone.

"So, are you still dating Harumi?" Misaki blurted out suddenly.

Kise froze at his spot. "Ha-Harumi?" Kise choked out and looked at Misaki.

Sure he "dated" a girl in elementary school but that was in elementary school. Were relationships in elementary school even considered as relationships?!

Misaki nodded throwing the plastic wrapper away, "Harumi. Hayashi Harumi."

"We haven't even contacted each other ever since middle school started," Kise threw out.

Misaki nodded, "I see-"

"RYOUTA-NII!" a voice shouted.

The duo flinched at the high-pitched voice and turned around. A seven year old little girl jumped onto Kise hugging him tightly.

"Ryouta-nii!" she called out again and noticed Misaki. She death glared her.

"Hmph, who's this girl? Is she flirting with Ryouta-nii? Another fangirl? Tch, those people never learn do they," she said.

Misaki turned black, "she really does know how to talk, doesn't she."

"Ah, Eriko, you shouldn't say that towards someone older than you," Kise said.

Eriko crossed her arms towards her chest looking away from the two. "I'll never respect someone who's flirting with Ryouta-nii," Eriko mumbled.

"I'm not flirting!" Misaki thought out loud forming fists.

Kise noticed the aura change of Misaki made a wall between the two watching them glare at each other.

"Someone please save me," Kise thought crying.