A/N: Hello readers~ I'm really bad with puns and describing Basketball, so I'm just gonna apologize before hand. I'm so sorry!
I'm glad you all are enjoying the story and the OC's so far, it really makes me happy. c: Thanks to everyone who followed and favorited~
sin kx: I'm glad that you like their relationship between the OC's so far~ When I write this story it seems like the characters are in my head telling me to write this or add this. So.. Yeah. c: I hope that doesn't make me sound crazy, it's just the only way I can describe it. As for who Airi likes.. I'm mostly just throwing dashes of fluff in every chapter just to see how people respond to it. But I do have an idea for a pairing now~
I feel like I'm updating so much recently because I almost abandoned this story for a year. I'm making up for lost time I guess. Thank you for your continuous support~ I adore your story by the way~
fullmoonlonewolf: Thank you for reviewing again~ You are so faithful to this series, it makes me tear up! I'm glad you enjoying teach chapter~ Thanks for you continuous support!
Elololol: Uhm, I don't speak too much spanish so I used google translate.. c: I'm glad you like Airi so much and that you like the story so far~ Thank you!
Sezu-Ni: Thank you for reviewing and I'm happy that your liking the story so far~
I'm sorry for the long Authors Note. I sound like Sakurai.. I'll stop now. Sorry.. Okay, now I'll stop.
Happy Reading~
-SomeRandomFemale
"Kuroko-kun..." Airi mumbled as she diligently wiped the blood off the phantom players bow, her usual impassive expression now pulled into one of concern.
"I am alright, Yukimura-san. Don"t worry yourself too much over me." Kuroko interjected weakly, which didn't do much to help the girls mood.
"He's not looking too good, Yukimura." Kagami stated from his spot behind his fellow red-head.
"I know, but the best I can do for now is to clean and wrap the wound. Ad since we're in the middle of a game we'll have to wait until afterwards to see if he's got a concussion." The manager spoke serious, tilting her head to meet Kagami's gaze.
"You seem pretty serious right now."
"Of course, Kuroko-kun is injured."
"So... what if it wasn't Kuroko who was injured?"
"I'm still here." Kuroko mumbled, but was ignored.
"I'd be equally as worried if it was anyone else on the team who was injured."
"I'm actually surprised to hear you say that."
"Shouldn't you be listening to Aida-senpai's instructions?"
"Trying to get rid of me?"
"...Are you jealous that I'm spending so much time with Kuroko-kun?"
.
.
.
"WHAT THE HELL KIND OF QUESTION IS THAT?!" Kagami's face was a bright red as he turned away from the girl.
Airi, assuming he walked away, turned her attention back to the injured player before a large hand was laid on her head.
"Don't worry too much, he'll be fine." The tiger then walked away, leaving the manager to her thoughts.
"Kuroko-kun can't play anymore, so it's up to the remaining members! The second years will take care of offense! It's only the second quarter, but we can't let the gap get too great!" Aida said, facing the team with a hand cupping her chin. "It's a bit early, but consider it a 'Critical time', Hyuuga-kun!"
Hyuuga nodded as he took a bottle of water for Azami, who was busing herself by making sure the team was hydrated.
"Even if Kuroko is out, you guys still have to play at your best!" The raven haired girl spoke enthusiastically, handing a bottled water to Izuki. "We don't need you getting dehydrated now!"
"That would definitely dampen your enthusiasm." Her grey eyed senpai commented, taking a gulp of water.
.
.
.
"Don't talk anymore, you're wasting the air."
"I thought that one was pretty good though.."
"No."
"Quit it." Aida called out, immediately causing the two to quiet down. "Since Kise-kun will just copy you, you won't take part in offense, Kagami-kun! Focus on defense instead. We've got to keep Kise-kun down, even if only for a short while."
"Is.. is that really.. going to be alright?" Kagami spoke up, hesitant in the choice the coach was making.
"It's alright, believe in us!" Hyuuga answered, not liking how little faith he kohai had in him.
"But.."
"I'm telling you it's alright, you fucking moron! Listen to what your senpai says from time to time or I'll kill you!" The captain turned to head back to the court. "Let's go!"
.
.
.
"Hyuuga-senpai is pretty terrifying." Airi broke the silence that fell soon after the captain was out of earshot.
"I agree with Yukimura-sama." Azami responded from beside her idol.
"Of course you do, you're pretty obsessed with her. Even in class all you do is talk about how amazing you think Yukimura-chan is." Fukuda retorted from the other side of the bench.
"OI, WHO ASKED YOU ANYWAY?!"
The match went on, with Aida explaining to both Azami and Airi the specialties of their senpai's.
"So Hyuuga-senpai is bipolar and can shoot really well when he snaps, Izuki-senpai never loses his cool and has an odd love for puns, Mitobe-senpai is hard-working mute, and Koganei-senpai is mediocre." Airi summed up, counting off her fingers as she went.
"Exactly!"
The three girls and benched players watched the match in tense silence, each being left to their own thoughts.
"Coach, is there no way out of this?" Kawahara asked after noticing there were only three minutes left in the third quarter.
"Because of the high pace of the first half, they don't have the stamina left for a complex strategy." Aida spoke, more to herself than anyone else. "If only, Kuroko-kun was able to play..."
"...Understood."
"K-kuroko-kun..!" Airi shot up from her spot on the bench when she noticed the phantom player making a move to stand.
"Good morning. Well then, I'll be going." The bluette was already on his feet as these words left his mouth.
"Wait, wait, it's impossible no matter what! You are still injured! Look at how unsteady you are!" Aida quickly stood up from her seat to block Kuroko from walking any further.
"But the coach said I should go now." Was his response.
"I didn't! I was only a 'What if'!"
"Then I'm going."
"Hey!"
"The situation will change if I go back on the court, so I beg of you... On top pf that, I made a promise to become Kagami-kun's shadow." Kuroko's tone made it clear that he had no intentions of staying on the bench much longer.
Airi, Azami, the Freshmen Trio, and Kuroko waited from the coach to make her decision with varying expressions.
"Alright..! But if I think it's even a bit dangerous, I'm substituting you out immediately!" The brunette spoke after a deep sigh passed her lips.
With Kuroko back in the game, Seirin's plays seemed to be much smoother than before. The gap was slowly closing as time was running out.
"They managed to tie the score." The manager mumbled after looking at the score board briefly after Hyuuga made a shot.
"That expression.. does he have something else up his sleeve?!" Azami shouted, too into the game to realize she was clutching her idols shoulder.
The last minutes of the game both teams were relentlessly attacking each other, struggling to get ahead as neither team seemed show signs of giving up.
Kagami dunked the ball into the net just as the buzzer went off, signaling the end of the game.
"We won..." Airi mumbled, looking at the score board which read 100-98.
"We won!" Azami shot up, along with the Freshmen Trio to go congratulate their teammates.
The red-head let a small smile slip onto her face as she made her way slowly towards the team, but she paused as he gaze fell on Kise. The blond looked absolutely distraught that his team lost, which pulled at her heartstrings. She changed her course and quickened her pace so she could somehow comfort the model.
"Kise is crying?"
"Well, I understand it must be frustrating... but it's only a practice match.."
"Kise-kun.." Airi called softly, once she stepped in front of him. "I know it's not the best time right now but.. Is it okay if I consider myself a fan of yours from now on?"
Kise, who had started wiping his tears away the second she spoke, looked down at her with an unreadable expression.
"Yukimura Airi, right?" The manager nodded. "I'd appreciate it, Yukimuracchi!"
"Please don't call me that." Airi turned slight, so she wouldn't be facing him directly.
"It's okay, right Yukimuracchi~" Kise placed a hand on the girl's head, ruffling her hair into even more of a mess.
She opened her mouth to protest but paused when she noticed several tears still in his eyes.
"Do what you want. Just stop crying like a little girl who got her dolls taken away."
"YOU'RE SERIOUSLY MEAN, YUKIMURACCHI~!"