“Amei-chan, you’re going to school now?” Teppei ran after Ame after seeing her walk pass their street alone. “Huh? Where’s Kyo? Why isn’t she with you?” Ame was playing on her PSP as usual and didn’t look away from it but answered the brunette.

“She went to school ahead of me. Said she had something to plan about”

“Oh, I see. Has your fever gone down now?”

“Do you think I’ll go to school if it didn’t?” Ame sassed and sighed. “I really wished it didn’t since I don’t want to go to school today”

“Don’t say that Amei-chan, many people missed you when you were absent” Teppei told her. She just gave him an unconvinced expression. “I highly doubt that, idiot”

“But it’s true” he insisted.

“Really? Like who?” Ame raised an eyebrow.

“Well, I missed you Amei-chan” Teppei gave her a smile and patted her head. “Uh” Ame just stared at him emotionlessly while he looked away while blushing. “A-And Riko said she missed you too! A-And the whole team!”

“What a miracle” Ame slapped his hand away and walked ahead.

“But it’s true Amei-chan. They even said they weren’t used to practice without you” Teppei cope up with her in walking.

“Whatever you say…”

“You know Amei-chan, I have a feeling that you don’t feel wanted at the team at all” Teppei stopped on his tracks and so did she, a few feet ahead of him. “But I should tell you that everyone sees you as a part of the team, so whatever happens….” He gave her that smile she was always annoyed. “They’ll treat you like family. That’s what a team is”

“A team huh…”

TIMESKIP~ At the gym~

“Senshinkan High huh?” Ame wondered as she and Riko planned for a strategy for the upcoming game they have. She rubbed her chin and seemed uninterested about the opponent. “No need for a strategy. You can beat them easily…” she waved her hand confidently.

“EH?!” Riko’s jaw dropped. “But Ame-san…”

“Don’t worry Coach, have faith in your team. They’ll be fine”

“But…”

“Just let get them to train hard, and everything’s gonna be fine”

“If you say so”

Ame’s POV

Coach seemed to be convinced so she proceeded in ordering the players in the training. “You seem to be confident on our next opponent” someone said from beside me. I turned to see Hyuga standing beside me. Wait, can I call him Junpei? T^T I’m not used in calling other people last names… “They defeated us twice now, you should know that”

“I know that, dumbass. I’ve been researching on that team since last night” I told him and pulled out the research papers. “Don’t think that I’m that useless as a strategist”

“Huh” Junpei looked at me startled as I slapped the papers at his face. I smirked at him as he pulled the papers away with a sour look. “Be confident for once, think that your team’s strong” I said and crossed my arms.

“I know that. I just don’t want to lose trice to that team” he admitted.

“Don’t worry, you won’t” I assured.

NEXT DAY~

“I told you” I gave Riko and Junpei a mocking look as they smirked at me. Like I said, they’ve won against Senshinkan and destroyed them, 17 points ahead. I looked over to the match beside ours and find out it was Makoto’s team that lost to Shutoku. Wait, where’s Makoto? Why isn’t he playing?

I glanced up at the seats and saw him with his team watching down at the game. He had that evil look on his face again, that always annoyed the crap out of me.

“Amei-chan, you seemed pretty tense there, loosen up, will ya?” Teppei drape his arm around my shoulder and patted my head.

Ghh… this guy… T_T

He smiled at me again but I just gave him a blank look. What am I supposed to do, smile back at him? I forgot to do that. I forgot to smile.

“Ame-san!” I jolted away from Asami who suddenly appeared in front of me. “I-I look forward on our next match!” she bowed in front of me.

Oh right… Shutoku’s our next opponent…

BACK AT THE LOCKER ROOM~

“There’s no time to celebrate” Junpei and the others looked tense since the team we’re up against next, is Shutoku High. “Our next game would be difficult”

“But we have Kiyoshi-senpai!” Furihata assured. “We beat them last time, and now we’ve become better!”

“I wouldn’t so sure about that, kid” I spoke up as everyone’s heads turn to me. “It’s true that you guys beat them in the Inter High, but don’t you think they’ll let you do that again this time” I stood up from the bench I was sitting on. “Have you seen the look on their face earlier? That’s not the look they give if they’re underestimating us”

“But they looked like they’ll give everything to win…” Riko finished then turned to me. “You seem to have the right idea, Ame”

“Of course I do” I sat back to my sit, beside Teme. “For the next match, we have to be ready for anything new in their strategy. Also…”

Masaaki Nakatani… my old man used to be teammates with him. And even the old hag from Yosen. Those coaches distributed in different schools are something… Huh, there’s one thing I know about their weaknesses…

It’s that…

Their strategies originate from their former team strategists, Toshi Araki, my old man.

.           .           .

We were currently walking back to school when Teme suddenly tapped me on the shoulder and whispered something. “Uh, Amei-chan, could you tell the team I forgot something?” he requested. I gave him a questioning look. I thought he was complete with his stuff. I looked at the dark hallway then back at him.

“Sure” I said and left him there with the team.

“Ame, where’s Kiyoshi?” Coach asked me.

“He said he forgot something” I lied as Kagami approached me and looked at me seriously. “Does the guy at the corner have to do with it?” he questioned me as I faced him. “So you noticed Hanamiya Makoto” I mentioned that idiot’s name. He flinched and gave me a hard stare before more questions were asked.

“Are he and Kiyoshi-senpai friends?” Furihata asked curiously. Pfft…

Those two? Friends? I highly doubt it. “They’re the complete opposite of each other, how can they be friends?” Junpei spoke up, joining in the conversation. “Hanamiya’s Kiyoshi’s antithesis, if Kiyoshi Teppei is known as the most honest player, then Hanamiya Makoto is the most dishonest”

“And very disgusting” I added as my nose cringed. “He was called even called “The Bad Boy” when we were in middle school”

“You went to the same school as him?” Junpei wondered.

“I was classmates with him during my first year, worse year I had I may add” I mentioned. I turned to the hallway and still hasn’t caught sight of the brunette idiot, and wondered what did that idiotic bastard told him. “I’m going to go get him” I say to them before disappearing off to the hallway where I left Teme.

“Whoops, I’ve said too much” as soon as I heard Makoto’s voice, my ears bleed.

I’m kidding, I’m overacting.

He walk pass the dark corner and saw me causing him to stop on his tracks. At the same time, Teme ran after him and also caught sight of me. “Amei-chan” “Hana” they chorused, both causing another vein pop on my head and received a punch from me. “Stop calling me unwanted names, idiots” they both fall on the ground.

“That hurts” Teme winced while touching his cheek.

“Everyone’s waiting for you, idiot” I told him with a hiss tone, and held out a hand for him to stand up. He gratefully accepted it and smiled idiotically at me. “Stop smiling, it’s annoying”

“Tch, what was that for?” Makoto hissed at me with an annoyed glare. I returned the gesture and walk pass Teme, standing in front of him. This jerk, I bet he said something stupid to people again. And I bet he’s planning something dirty again. “Wait, you’re with him?”

“Have you forgotten that he’s in Seirin? Idiot” I sneered at him. I made him irritated more (=v=) which I celebrated internally.

“Tch, whatever” he huffed to himself then smirked. “Good luck on your next game. I’m rooting for you” Makoto turned his back to us and started to walk away. Yeah, distance yourself before I return your dirty tricks to you and injure all of your limbs. “Oh, and Kiyoshi…” he paused and smiled back evilly at us. “I hope your injuries heal soon. I’m really concerned about you” and he disappeared completely. No, not in a death kind of way (Which I wish would happen), but he completely disappeared out of our sight.

“Wait, Amei-chan you and Hanamiya know each other?” Teme asked me as we started to walk back to the team.

“Let’s just say he’s an unwanted classmate and rival of mine during first year of middle school” I answered.

“I see” he faced front and smiled. “You seem to be more open now” I cringed at his statement and had a sour look on my face.

Nooooo….

I looked at him and noticed the worried look on his face. Maybe it’s because of our next game against Shutoku. They’re a tough opponent I must say, but I think that’s not a reason. I looked down at his knee then back at him. “What are you so nervous about?” I inquired causing him to twitch.

He gave me a nervous smile before replying. “What are you talking about Amei-chan?”

“Stop lying to me, it’s written all over your face”

-__________-

“Ah, sorry, it’s just, I’m just nervous on our next game” right…

“I admit they’re a tough team, but you should also believe that your team’s strong too, you know” my encouragement didn’t really match my stoned cold face. but hey, it’s better than saying nothing. “Have faith in them”

He looked at me in awe then smiled. “Yes. And I’ll have faith in you too, Amei-chan. Thank you for staying with us”

Well it’s not like I have a choice =.= ---> o_o

He started to ruffle my hair again, his arm drape around my shoulder. For a second there, I felt the warmth he gave me the other day again. I stared at him with an unreadable expression and just looked straight forward. This guy…

He’s not bad at all.

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Ho ho ho! Merry christmas~ :D Here's a chapter for you guys <3 thanks for the support of this book! And if i'm not busy later, I think I'll post a christmas chapter later ;) what'dya guys think? :DD 

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