“Konnichiwa, watashi Shou Hotaru, I am Kyo-san and Ame-san’s step-sister, and also the older sister of Shou Asami, nice to meet you” an unusual black haired girl introduced herself in front of the whole team after Kyo and Ame brought her with them at the gym to ask help for them to train. Her introduction finished with a bow, as the Seirin team bowed back politely and introduced themselves.

“Ja… then, I’m Hyuga Junpei, the captain of this basketball team. Nice to meet you”

“I’m Kiyoshi Teppei, hi there”

“Right, Hyuga the clutch shooter and Kiyoshi the Iron Heart, I’ve heard about you two from Kyo” Hotaru replied, recognizing the two. “Actually, you don’t need to introduce yourselves since I already know your names. Kyo already informed me about the team I’m helping”

“Ah, is that so?” Riko said and smiled. “Arigato for taking our request”

“It’s not that I’m really helping you. I just provided your venue for your next training” Hotaru explained which caught them curious.

‘Ame-san…’ Riko’s mind wandered to the unreadable strategist of the team. She glanced at her suspiciously and then listened to what Hotaru has to say.

“Before anything else, this is the first and last time I’m helping your team. After having a tie with Asami’s team, I assume that you’d be facing them again in the Winter Cup. Of course I wouldn’t be helping the team that my sister will be facing” Hotaru started off giving Ame that look which she nodded in response. All players nodded understanding, and waited for her to continue. “Now that’s clear, like I said, I’ll be providing the venue for your training at our doujo”

Everyone reacted as she mentioned that. “D-Doujo?” Hotaru nodded and continued. “I don’t know why, but Ame suddenly requested it from me, also she mentioned that you’ll be facing my school next in the final league before entering the winter cup”

“Wait, you attend Kirisaki Dai Ichi?” Hotaru nodded at Shun’s question. “Then why are you helping us? What are you planning?”

“There’s nothing to be aware about, I simply want my own team to get beaten, that’s all”

“Get your own team to be beaten? What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Simple, if they proceed to the Winter Cup, there’s a big chance that Asami’s team might come cross them so I want them eliminated before the competition” Hotaru informed them, giving a hard stare. “We all know what they’re capable of doing” the team flinched knowing what she meant as Ame spoke up, standing beside Hotaru.

“Right, no complaints, brats. We’ll be going to Hotaru’s doujo where you could use bizarre training. There you will be running around the forest avoiding certain obstacles such as trees bushes and other crap you’d be encountering. Also, that is a judo doujo that will help you in your resistance in pain”

“Wait, we’re actually going to suffer there?!”

“I said no complaints” Ame gave a cold glare crossing her arms. “Some judo experts will help you stretch muscles and bear with pain”

Each player looked nervous with some exceptions such as Teppei, Junpei and Shun. The 2nd year starters of the Seirin basketball club. Taiga and Tetsuya seemed to be calm but also can feel a bit of nervousness within them.

“Don’t worry, with everyone’s hard work, I’m sure it’ll get repaired with a ticket to the Winter Cup” Kyo assured smiling at them.

“Wait, there’s a ticket to the winter cup?” Teppei gasped as Ame whacked his head.

“There’s none, idiot” Ame sighed. “Let’s just get this started. I’ll explain it there”

TIMESKIP~

“EH?!” the players shouted in front of a dark narrow forest. It was a long trip to Hotaru’s said doujo and it was already about 3 pm in the afternoon. At that time, it was already dark since it was winter. “WE HAVE TO RUN IN THERE?!” Ame looked cold and just nodded her head bluntly and nonchalantly, not caring that the players looked scared.

“Don’t worry, there are tracks that would lead you back to the doujo so you won’t get lost” she assured waving her hand carelessly as Taiga hollered at her.

“ARE YOU CRAZY?!”

“Yes, crazy for otome games”

“WTF?!”

“Just go already, no complaints” she gave a demanding glare and sighed when the players looked sceptical at the trees. “Fine, I’ll go with you” her decision made them gasp in surprise and stared at her their eyes narrowing. “But Kyo and Hotaru will go too”

“Eh?! Me?” Kyo pointed at herself.

“I don’t mind” Hotaru didn’t have complaints and remained a poker face.

“And also, someone has to carry me for additional training”

“EH?!”

“I’m going too” Riko stepped forward as Ame nodded at her direction. “Hyuga-kun, mind carrying me?” she gave that moe looking face trying to act cute for him which he was forced too because he can see Ame glare from behind Riko.

(O=O|||)

“S-Sure!” he tried not to sound obvious and convince Riko that he agreed without getting threatened. Kyo went near Taiga meaning that she wants him to carry her since he’s one of the tallest players in the team. She just smiled at him without saying anything and he agreed and put Kyo behind his bag.

“Then, Rinnosuke, you’d be the one carrying me” Ame decided instead of Teppei.

“EH?! Ame-ne!” Kyo protested. “Why didn’t you choose, Kiyoshi-senpai?!”

“What? Do you have any complaints with your Mitobe-senpai? He’s pretty strong you know” Ame informed her, jumping on Mitobe’s back as he lifted her silently. “Besides, if Teme carried me, he’d have a harder time avoiding obstacles”

“But Ame-ne—”

“No buts, it’s better this way. Teme will be running without carrying anyone, understand?”

“Fine”

“Hotaru, pick someone who will carry you” Ame ordered Hotaru who still was standing. She flinched and raised a brow. “Do I have to? I’m fine running with them” she said while Ame shook her head. “No, they need to suffer” an imaginary dagger stabbed the players’ backs after hearing that she wants them to die. Riko didn’t have any complaints while Kyo just laughed at them, resting her chin on Taiga’s shoulder making him blush.

Hotaru sighed convincingly and ended up picking the point guard, Izuki Shun to carry her. “I hope you don’t mind” she said as she hoped on his back.

“Don’t worry, (insert mind pun here)”

“I already regret picking you” Hotaru’s face turned purple at the annoyance brought by Shun’s joke. The point guard just chuckled while she sighed and hold onto his shoulders.

“Alright, we’ll be running around the area as one group, no one should be separated since it’s dangerous around these parts”

‘Then why bring us here?!’

“Coach will time us, maximum is 3 hours”

‘Seriously?!’

“As much as possible, we should go back to the doujo before dark, okay?”

“HAI!”

“Man, she’s really good with this” Shun commented smirking at Ame’s skill in training them. Hotaru looked at Ame then down at him. “Since when did she join your team?” she asked him.

“Mm, a few months before the winter cup competitions, why?” he answered looking up at her.

“N-Nothing, just asking”

“Asking, as a king”

“Please stop with your puns”

“All right! 3… 2… 1…” Riko blew her whistle as everyone started to sprint into the forest. They avoided obstacles that could be the cause of any accidents or more injuries. Ame kept a close eye on Teppei, knowing that he’s knee is being damage by all the running he’s doing. She’d secretly let Mitobe run beside him so she could observe if something’s off about his knee. Hours passed, it was already getting dark, the sun was setting and they could hear the crows cackle. Mitobe and Teppei noticed that Ame buried her face on Mitobe’s hair like she was sleeping but when Teppei called her she answered back.

“Don’t mind me” her face was muffled because of her face buried in Mitobe’s hair.

“What’s wrong, hey, look at me” Teppei stopped running, stopping the rest of the team from too, and held Ame’s hand, wanting to know what’s wrong. “Amei-chan” he tug her hand as she raised her head.

“N-Nothing… let me be…” he can tell her voice were shaking and her hand trembling. “Are you cold?” he asked rubbing his hands against hers to keep it warm. “No, I’m fine” she pulled her hand away. “We should continue running”

“No, I think that’s enough” Hotaru spoke up, getting down from Shun’s back. “But it’s not yet 6 pm” Riko reckoned looking at her watch. “It’s winter, it’ll be darker than usual, we should go back” Hotaru declared and started to lead the way where there was a route and side lights. The others followed her with Teppei, Mitobe and Ame being the last where the silent player suddenly tripped without seeing the rock on the ground and accidentally threw Ame at the area of the dark bushes. “A-Amei-chan!!”

“!!!” Mitobe’s eyes widened and came looking for Ame in the dark. The whole team looked through the bushes and heard someone run away thinking it was Ame and shouted at her. “Ame-san!” “Ame-ne!” Ame-senpai! “Amei-chan!” but the steps faded and Ame had freaked out in the dark and ran away.

“Where the heck am I?!” Ame started panicking walking faster, not knowing she distanced farther to her team. She rubbed her arms frantically and whenever she heard a creaking sound she’d flinch. ‘Of all places… I had to be lost HERE’ she groaned ruffling her hair and run away after hearing the bushes move. “EEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!” sprinting away from that spot, she accidentally hit a tree not able to see anything in the dark. She held her head a bit dizzy and tried to stand but failed. Instead, she rested her back against the tree and stared up the starless sky. “Guess it’s going to rain tomorrow” she assumed. “Man, what did I do to deserve this?”

“W-Where is she?!” the whole team panicked as she was lost in the dark words.

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GAH SORRY FOR NOT UPDATING FOR A WHILE. Please kindly and violently blame my internet for that :) It's being a dick and I can't post new chapters so.... Yeah please enjoy this for now XD