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逃亡皇后

ーThe Runaway Empressー

by Amanozako-hime

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第40章

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— 金曜日 (20xx年2月13日) —

* Wakayama, Japan *

和歌山、日本

Kimiko stood at the side as the members of Teikou's basketball club filed onto the raised platform reserved for the champions of the recently concluded Nationals tournament. Nijimura Shuuzo, the current captain, was at the center, flanked by his redhaired vice captain, Akashi Seijuurou, and the rookie ace Aomine Daiki. Beside Akashi was the bespectacled shooting guard, Midorima Shintarou, who was wearing a hot pink wristband that looked so out of place on his person and the current setting. Coach Shirogane Kozo claimed the spot on Aomine's left, a satisfied smile on his face that quickly morphed into pure amusement as Murasakibara Atsushi lazily settled on the floor in front of Nijimura. Legs crossed, arms wrapped around the gold trophy in his lap, whining in that lazy voice of his, "Kumi-chin, I want my snaaacks~"

The chartreusette had to move a bit further as the photographers lined up to take pictures of the winners, but she can't help but chuckle as Murasakibara had to crane his head slightly to catch her gaze. Momoi too was giggling as their tallest player made grabby hands in their direction like an overgrown toddler. Kimiko shook her head firmly as if to tell him to behave, but then Nijimura tugged on the giant's hair with an order. To the two girls' surprise, Murasakibara rose from his seat, handing the trophy to Aomine and headed towards them. Without a word, he grabbed their wrists and began to lead them to the rest of the team.

"M-Mukkun!" Momoi yelped as she tried in vain to plant her shoes on the polished floor. "W-wait, what are you-!"

"Mura-chin said to bring you two over," was all he said, before unceremoniously presenting them to their Captain and resuming his position by the floor. Nijimura snorted at the looks of confusion on their faces even as Akashi and Aomine automatically moved to make space for them.

"Satsuki, over here," Aomine gleefully called to his childhood friend after he gave the trophy back to Murasakibara. The proud smile on his face was yet to disappear, still drunk with the exhilaration of the championship match against his rival Tomoyaki Inoue from Kamizaki High. Momoi blushed as even Coach Shirogane beckoned her with a tilt of his head, but Aomine was having none of it as he practically lunged and dragged her beside him, resting his elbow on her shoulder with a grin.

On the other side of Nijimura, Kimiko did not need further prompting and smoothly took her place between Akashi and Midorima, not even blinking at the atrocious wristband that the latter was wearing. Instead, she poked at it with a dainty finger and with a sigh of relief, she said, "Thank the gods it's not orange."

"Why were the two of you hanging back there?" Akashi asked her.

"Eh, don't you think we kind of ruin the picture?" She gestured to her Teikou uniform then to his own jersey, then at the Kamizaki High team to their left, with their professional managers in business suits. When Akashi only tilted his head at her like a confused puppy, she mirrored his position and stared blankly at him, as if staring back would somehow convey her explanation to him.

Unfortunately, Nijimura was having none of it. "Oh, cut it out, you two. Look straight ahead at the camera so they can take all the pictures they want. I want this over and done with."

"Don't forget we have interviews as well after this, Shuuzo-senpai," Kimiko sang, enjoying the tortured look on their captain's frowning face.

"Smile, Captain," Akashi said with a light laugh, and with a tug at the mischievous girl's hand, he stopped her from further teasing their poor upperclassman.

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"CAPTAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIN!"

Kagami barely had time to pull away from Akashi as the latter was ambushed by his teammates, led by one particularly hyperactive blonde. Do blondes have to be so loud, was Kagami's initial thought, followed by Oh my God, that Hayama is gonna get himself killed right here and now, as he watched in almost morbid fascination the way Rakuzan's small forward jumped on Akashi's back and clung to him like an overgrown koala, all the while yelling at the top of his lungs.

"Akashi, that was so coooool!" Hayama crowed from his perch, Akashi trying his best not to buckle under the weight because Hayama is taller than him and really, he's too old to be asking for piggyback rides, much less from someone like him. That's why he shot Nebuya a grateful look when the muscled center plucked Hayama by the back of his shirt like a mother cat picking up an errant kitten and placing him a good three feet away from Akashi.

Which, of course, means that Mibuchi can now hug him without the barnacle stuck on his back.

"Sei-chaaaaaan~!" Mibuchi reached forward to embrace Akashi, who was about to sigh in resignation - and when did he start indulging his teammates so easily like this? - when he heard Mibuchi squawk like an offended parrot. "Mayu-chan, get out of the way!"

"I don't think Akashi will appreciate getting smothered by your sweaty self, Mibuchi," Mayuzumi droned in that bored tone of his. Akashi must have been really tired when he did not notice the exact moment the phantom placed himself before him to ward off Mibuchi, and to his exhaustion he blamed the chuckle that slipped past his lips. So they won the Nationals, yes, but was it enough of an excuse for the feared Kaibyaku no Teiou to behave like a bunch of overexcited puppies?

"Yes, we won, and yes, it was cool," Akashi said as he rolled his shoulders one at a time to ease the tiredness that was just making itself known as the adrenaline in him started to fade away, "but we need to get in line, now."

In the middle of the court, Rakuzan and Seirin bow to each other as the referee blows his whistle, "Game over! Final score 116-115, Rakuzan High wins! Rei!"

"Yoroshiku onegaishimasu!"

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The four of them fell behind Akash naturally as he walked towards the bench, where Coach Shirogane and the rest of the first-string was waiting for them, all with pride and happiness radiating from them. Akashi graciously nodded in acknowledgment to Shirogane's praise of a job well done before heading straight to the lone girl who was standing with a towel ready to wipe the sweat that now turned his hair to a darker shade of red. The world ceased to exist as he surrendered himself to her care, bowing his head low so that she can pat his hair dry just like how he did in tournaments years long past, when she still shared his responsibility, though he was sure to change that in the near future.

Kimiko was quiet as she worked, and only when she was on her second towel and patting his temples dry did she huffed and said, "Congratulations on your win."

Akashi's lips quirked into a half-smile. "Aa. Arigatou, Akumi."

"I know you're going to win for sure," Kimiko said, smugness coating her words. "As long as your father knows to honor his words, then you'll still be able to play basketball for the rest of your time in Rakuzan."

"Mn. And you?" he asked. Where will you be during that time?

Kimiko frowned, but her eyes were sparkling with amusement. "You'll know when the time comes," was all she said, tapping his nose with her finger and laughing when his face scrunched up with disappointment. She handed him a bottle of water before moving on to tend to the rest of the team, as she should be while posing as a faux-manager for the Kyoto team. "Patience is a virtue, Seijuurou," was her parting words to him, and Akashi sighed. Taking a seat, he gulped down his water almost petulantly, uncaring of the knowing look that Mayuzumi was sending his way. Why can't she just answer me with a simple "Yes" or "No"?

But of course, that was Kimiko Akumi, and what would she be if not infuriatingly annoying?

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Kise had dozed off when Kimiko visited him in the gym's infirmary. She smiled softly; the game must have really tired him out. He'd done the unexpected again and made his Perfect Copy last for almost 8 minutes, which allowed Kaijou to beat Yosen. It was reckless of him, and Kimiko would lecture him later for it, but she understands why he had forced himself to win the game - Kise had found his place in Kaijou, and this will be his senpai's last tournament. He wants to send them off to university without regret; he'd felt like he'd failed his team in the first two tournaments, and no way he's letting the team down a third time or he'd have failed as an ace entirely.

With nothing to do and almost an hour to kill before awarding ceremonies, Kimiko sat on the chair beside the bed and watched Kise sleep. Seeing him like this, one would not expect him to be his bubbly self when awake. She reached out and brushed the hair off his forehead. His hair's getting long, he should get a haircut soon, she mused. His eyelids fluttered but remained closed, and Kimiko can't help but take notice of his long eyelashes, which reminded her of Midorima as well. It was a riot when she dared Midorima to use contacts for the day instead of his glasses - the poor guy was traumatized by the admiring looks that Teikou's female population had thrown in his direction, leading to an epic hallway chase when Kimiko held his glasses hostage. Ah, fun times.

In the middle of her reminiscing, Kise woke up. Of course, the blonde was happy to see her there, but was immediately wary of her impending lecture for landing himself in the infirmary. Fortunately, Kimiko was willing to postpone it and instead fussed over his well-being.

"...ttaku... You just have to go all out, eh?" she sighed as she helped him sit up, propping the pillows to support his back. "How are you feeling?"

"Gomen ne, Akumicchi," he said with a nervous laugh. She poked his right foot that was propped up on a pillow while watching his expression carefully. A barely there flinch betrayed his pain, though.

"I see. Wait here," she said unnecessarily before she went off to rummage through the cabinets until she found a roll of bandages. It was cute, seeing her on tiptoes. She could've made her life easier by standing on a chair but no. However, Kise quickly hid his amusement before she saw him laughing at her shortness; he'd rather not suffer a whack to the head. She sat on the bed and gently moved his injured foot so that it was resting just above her knee.

"This might hurt a little," she told him as she slowly unwrapped the worn bandages on Kise's ankle and replaced it with a new one. Her fingers were cool on his skin, and Kise was gazing at her in wonder when he suddenly became conscious of the fact that Kimiko was touching his sweaty foot with her bare hands that he almost jumped out of the bed. His sudden action surprised Kimiko that she dropped the roll of bandage as she scrambled to hold his leg in place so as not let Kise injure himself further.

"Baka! What the hell, Ryouta! I'm-"

"But Akumicchi, my foot!" Kise cried, still struggling in her hold. "You can't touch it!"

Kimiko frowned, then pulled at a hair on Kise's leg, which sent him yowling like a cat. "Stay. Still! You idiot!"

"BUT MY FOOT-!"

"Is injured and will be more so if you don't stop struggling! Quit it or I'll fetch an earthworm and put it on your shoe!"

Kise froze in terror and wailed. "WHA- HIDOI-SSU!"

"Now choose, earthworm or me?"

"Of course, I choose Akumicchi!"

She glared at him then. "Then stay still. I can't wrap your foot if you're squirming like a salted earthworm!"

"Ugh, gross..." Kise's face had gone white. He'd finally calmed down, or rather, the fight was taken out of him at the mention of those slimy earthworms, and Kimiko resumed her work after she picked up the bandage on the floor with an annoyed huff. "I don't need that visual in my head, Akumicchi."

"Hmph. What's gotten into you, anyway? You're not...," Kimiko paused and looked at his bare foot in her hands then to Kise's face then back to his foot again, "...ticklish, are you...?"

"Akumicchi, I'm gonna jump off the bed this time if you're thinking what I'm thinking."

A sinister smile suddenly graced her lips. "Heh..." Her finger drew closer to the sole of his foot slowly. Kise looked on in horror, his breaths coming up shorter and shorter, his heart thundering in his chest, and when her nail was but a hairsbreadth away, Kise closed his eyes shut and screamed bloody murder.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAGHHHHHHH!"

The force of her laughter almost had her rolling on the floor had she not been gently supporting Kise's foot on her lap. He's just too easy to tease, and the betrayed look on the Kaijou player's face when he realized that she was only joking almost sent her to tears.

"Mou, Akumicchi..."

Kimiko finished wrapping up his ankle and patted his foot a few times before putting it back on the pillow rest. She giggled. "Gomen gomen. It's just... pfft..." Kise just let out a disgruntled sound as he leaned back on his pillows while she threw the used bandages and washed her hands in the sink in the corner of the room.

"Hey, Ryouta, it's almost time for the awarding ceremony - should I get your teammates for you?" she asked some time later while they were talking about random things. They also had a mini photoshoot with Kise featuring his injury and had a good laugh at the pictures. Kise had asked for copies, saying he'll post them later on his social media accounts. They had gone to discuss the finer points of gyaru fashion when Kimiko noticed the time.

"Ah, I'm pretty sure they'll be here soon. You can go ahead, Akumicchi."

"I'll wait. Let's play janken then."

And thus commenced a game of janken with the two Teikou graduates giggling like kids high on sugar even though they haven't started playing yet.

"Jan-ken-pon!" Kise won with a rock to Kimiko's scissor. "Acchi muite hoi!" He pointed to the ceiling, but Kimiko was safe since she had looked to her right.

"Jan-ken-pon!" This time, Kimiko won, and when it came to the "Acchi muite hoi" part, she caught Kise when he looked down, where her finger was pointing. Gleefully, Kimiko reached up and flicked Kise hard on the forehead.

"Itte!!" Kimiko only laughed. They continued playing excitedly, spurred by the incentive of flicking the other's forehead, their hands moving faster. Kise did not hold back and flicked her forehead just as hard, cackling at each other's red spots. They were so caught up in their game that they did not notice the sound of approaching footsteps. It was Kise's turn to hit Kimiko's forehead when Kasamatsu called out to the two of them, and like a pair of guilty preschoolers, they stopped laughing and turned to look at Kaijou's captain and center who was standing in the doorway with bewildered looks on their faces. They then hurriedly cleared their throats and sat properly before giving awkward greetings.

Kasamatsu felt an incoming headache. "What even..." Well, their ace looked rested and the bandages on his foot looked new so maybe they weren't fooling around as much. Though their giggling can be heard in the hallways. "Kise, come on. Kobori and I will help you."

"Sorry for the bother, senpai," Kise said with an embarrassed smile, but Kobori only ruffled his hair a bit while Kasamatsu waved him off.

"Don't be so shy, Kise," Kobori said. "It's because of you that we're standing on the podium this year." Meanwhile, Kimiko and Kasamatsu were fighting over who's gonna put Kise's shoe. Kimiko was holding the shoe while Kasamatsu was trying to grab it away from her hand. Kobori suggested they settle it with janken, and Kasamatsu won. Kimiko stuck her tongue out at him.

"Real mature of you, Kimiko," Kasamatsu retorted as he pulled the shoelaces and tied them in a knot.

"Hmp. And it's Akumi, Yukio-senpai."

"That's Kasamatsu-san to you, brat."

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* Tokyo, Japan *

東京、日本

empress_akumi Wakayama Big Whale

*a carousel of pictures showing the different teams wearing their medals and trophies*

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empress_akumi Congratulations to all the participants of the National Sports Meet! #帝光中学校 #洛山高校 #誠凛高校 #海常高校 #陽泉高校

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"Ahhh, Tetsu-kun~!" Momoi squealed when she got to Seirin's podium picture. Kuroko was in the middle, flanked by Kagami and Hyuuga, the silver trophy in his arms as if to mark his existence. Momoi was giggling as she double-tapped on the screen just to see the "heart" overlap with Kuroko's face in the picture. She looked up and saw Aomine returning from the kitchen. She waved her phone at him. "Dai-chan, mite, mite!"

Aomine yawned and scratched his stomach as he settled beside the pinkette on the couch. Momoi's parents were out of town so she was staying the night in the Aomine household. "Hmm, what is it, Satsuki?" Taking the phone from her hand, he swiped at the pictures lazily, though he paused on Kaijou's photo a second longer before moving to the next one. "So Kise beat Murasakibara…" Aomine backtracked and focused on Kise's foot. "Ne Satsuki, Kise hasn't healed his foot, right?"

"Eh?" Of all the things Momoi expected him to ask about the photos, this was the least expected. "I don't think so. I mean, he wasn't fully healed during the Winter Cup and Haizaki had aggravated it during their match, then he had to practice right away for the Nationals…"

Aomine had suspected as much. "Stupid…"

"As if you're one to talk, Ahomine!" Momoi shot back. Aomine had lashed out at her when he found out that Momoi had asked the coach to restrict him from playing due to his elbow injury.

"Aish, I'm all healed now, okay? Thanks to you and your meddling…" he muttered the last part, but Momoi heard anyway and threw a pillow at his face. "Hora, I said thank you already! Why are you so angry?"

"Stupid Dai-chan, do that again and I'll ask the coach to bench you the entire season."

Aomine simply snorted as he gave her back her phone and ruffled her hair just to annoy her. "Heh, as if he'll allow that. Anyway," he yawned as Momoi swatted his hand, "I'm sleeping early. Night."

Momoi settled back on the couch with the ease of someone who had grown in the same house. Hugging a throw pillow to her chest, she resumed scrolling on Kimiko's Instagram account in search of more photos of Kuroko. "Mm-mm. Oyasumi, Dai-chan."

Now back to finding Tetsu-kun…

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* Wakayama, Japan *

和歌山、日本

There's a congratulatory banner and another bearing Rakuzan's crest and motto "は文部両道なので" - "Accomplishment in both letters and arms" - hanging inside the Yanagi Hall of the Vermilion Hotel. Four long tables were arranged in the middle of the room forming a square with seats all on the outside so that everyone can see each other. A buffet with an impressive lineup of food choices is on the right side of the room. On the head table were seated the regulars and Kimiko, with Shirogane Eiji in the middle. Higuchi was supposed to sit there as well, being the manager of the team, but he'd chosen to sit with the other third years, much to the annoyance of Mayuzumi. He's pretty sure that he'd be called for a toast or a speech or something stupid that people do during these kinds of gatherings, but Akashi had wisely seated him on his side of the table with Kimiko, whom his misdirection was completely ineffective. He'd tried using Mibuchi who had been whining about being separated from his "Sei-chan" but of course, his plan was so obvious that Akashi merely smiled in amusement instead of giving him a reply.

So here they are, simply waiting for the others to finish loading up their plates with food and getting back to their seats. Mayuzumi was never one to pig out, but he was tired from the game and the ceremony and the interviews that followed (where he was even included much to his annoyance) so for tonight, he decided to eat his stress away. Besides, it's free food and it tastes absolutely delicious - as expected from a five-star hotel owned by the Akashi conglomerate. He might as well make the most out of his stay here.

"A word from you, Mayuzumi?" Shirogane asked him just before desserts were served, and seeing that slight curve on the redhead's lips had him cursing internally. Akashi had already given a short speech at the beginning of the party being the host, and now it appears that it's finally his turn. Heaving a great sigh, Mayuzumi pushed off his chair and stood wearily to address the crowd.

"Thanks for letting me play for Rakuzan in my final year," he began, his voice calm even as he glared at Akashi's direction. The brat was playing with his wine glass that held no wine at all but plain fruit juice while looking expectantly at him. "This wouldn't be possible without our captain."

A complicated expression flashed on Akashi's face but it vanished so quickly that Mayuzumi could've just imagined it. It's not like he can ask the redhead about it so he made to reach for his glass to end it with a toast, but he caught Shirogane's look that was a mix of a prompt and a warning that had him straightening up his spine as he scrambled for something more to say.

"In the light novels that I like to read, the rooftop is a very important location. Most of the time, it is where the story starts. Sometimes, it's the events that take place on the rooftop that gets the plot rolling. You see, the rooftop is a place for strange meetings." Here, he paused as some people chuckled while looking at the equally amused Akashi, who already knew what this anecdote of his is all about. Mayuzumi finds himself smiling a little bit.

"Don't get me wrong - it's not that I am interested in finding such things. At the end of the day, it's all fiction to me. On that day, I had already handed my resignation to the basketball club and was about to enjoy a peaceful and uneventful final year in high school. But then," he gestured at Akashi, "he appeared out of nowhere and pulled me back with a promotion to first-string of all things. And what happened after that, you all know the story, so I won't go into the details. Long story short, avoid the rooftop at all costs." This line prompted a round of giggles and an indignant shriek from Mibuchi claiming that he's making it sound like Sei-chan is one of those strange creatures in his novels. Mayuzumi promptly ignored him. He waited for the laughter to fade before he soldered on the final part of his speech.

"That aside, regardless of everything that happened… Looking back on it now, I was glad to have been on that rooftop on that day and to have that fateful encounter with one Akashi Seijuurou. I…," here, he faltered a little. Does he dare say it? If he doesn't say it right now, there will be no opportunity for him in the future. It's alright, since he'll be graduating from the club right after they return to Kyoto, and he'll no longer be seeing these faces after that (hopefully). So Mayuzumi huffs to himself and clears his throat as he forces the words out of his throat. "I am happy." He looked the rest of the regulars in the eye after saying this, his gaze lingering on Akashi longer than the others before he faced the rest of his audience. "Happy to have played on the court with this team and for being given the chance to leave my mark in Rakuzan. My three years is not a waste. I'll be graduating next month with no regrets. And that's all I could ever ask for." Finally, he reached for his fancy wine glass and raised it with aplomb. "To Rakuzan."

"To Rakuzan," Akashi returned, raising his glass in answer and all the rest followed amid cheers.

"To more championships!" Hayama yelled above the din, his drink almost splashing at the enthusiasm of his actions.

"To Sei-chan!" Mibuchi offered with a wink in the captain's direction.

Nebuya, as if seeing the pattern, was pressured to say something as well. Unable to think of anything else, he shook his head and roared, "TO MUSCLES!"

"EI-CHAN, NO!"

Now free from his audience, Mayuzumi smiled.

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Why, hello there. *drops this and hides back under a rock in the middle of nowhere*