The spring was approaching fast. Kou could tell it easily by the prickling sensation in her cheeks when the sun lighted her face. That was one of the reasons she preferred to stay in the classroom during the self-study period. The other was that Kou truly hated the springtime. It was sunny, it was loud, and after three months of constant rain and blazing sun weather swings came summer which was probably even worse... hot, steamy and full of merry teenagers.

Today Hanamiya told her to brush up on her knowledge about Seto, Furuhashi, Yamazaki and Hara. He didn't say it outright but it looked like he believed that the basketball team would soon turn to him. Kou was sceptical about this, however, she didn't utter a word. If Hanamiya was wrong, she could rub his mistake in his face later. On the other hand, hardly ever wasn't he right... So just to be safe, she leafed through her thick notebook while walking around the park. Kou could feel her skin sizzle upon the contact with the despised light, making her even more annoyed that Hanamiya decided to waste her break on walking around the school and making use of, how he phrased it, a fresh air. As if the air in the city inhabited by 13 million people could ever be fresh.

One way or another, Hanamiya and Kou were making a third lap around the school when her friend turned to the benches. The girl followed him, brushing damp hair from her neck, her skin ridiculously hot for a mild temperature of an early April. The tip of her archer's ring painfully scratched her collarbone. Even though it'd been a week since she got it, she couldn't force herself to leave it in her club's locker. It was special at the least but to be specific it was a custom made ring, formed according to her instructions. Instead of a rounded tip, the steel ring had a sharp, pointy end, that made the bowstring tremble while sending the arrow in the air. The use of steal was debatable in archery for the difficulties involved with using it by many players, Miho, however, found it extremely advantageous. Steel divided pros from amateurs, and she certainly wasn't among the latter.

Hanamiya dropped on the bench, outstretching his legs and leaned over the backrest; he closed his eyes, looking as if he was enjoying the sun. Kou took an exaggerated step over his limbs before plopping on the other side of the bench, her nose still in the notebook. To her, the whole basketball team was a bunch of half-witted apes who ran around fulfilling orders of a man who held a position of the coach only thanks to his connections with the Kirasaki Daiichi's Headmaster. After all, only an idiot listened to the orders of yet another dumbass.

Kou trailed a tip of the ring over the photo of Seto Kentarö, who seriously reminded her of a Lar Gibbon with his dull, black eyes and small lips. If her memory was correct, among the players there was a boy with his ears sticking out enough to make him look like a chimpanzee.

What a menagerie... she snorted inwardly and turned the page but a sigh snapped Kou out of the comfort of her mind. She glanced at her friend.

"We're gonna have a company," Hanamiya informed, his face not changing the relaxed expression he'd managed to pull earlier.

"Don't get your hopes up," Kou scowled, turning back to her notes. "Let's see what they have to say."

If Kirasaki's team decided to turn to Hanamiya now, she could expect more work in the upcoming months but first she wanted to see how would they play it. Hanamiya never had to ask for anything, he had always received what he wanted, so the players had better had a good speech prepared.

The figures of four boys shadowed the place Hanamiya and Kou were sitting. The girl didn't spare them a glance, shifting on her seat to the spot where she could resume her reading in proper lighting, half of her mind set on listening to the forthcoming conversation.

"We have a proposition for you, Hanamiya," Seto announced dully.

Mistake number one.

1. One ought to show respect.

"You're blocking the sun," Makoto informed, his eyes still closed. "Move."

Furuhashi frowned at Seto. "We'd like to offer you a position in our team," he added hesitantly.

Mistake number two.

2. One will not turntables to make it look like one is doing a favour.

"I'm not interested. Just move. I'm trying to enjoy myself here."

Kou squinted at Hanamiya. Yes, he was still pale, nearly green. Hanamiya working on his tan was indeed a petty excuse. She stifled the urge to snigger.

"We'll get disbanded if you refuse," Furuhashi stated.

Mistake number three.

3. One should never show one cares.

"Sign up for a golf club. It's not my problem."

There was a short moment of silence before Seto turned to the girl.

"Kou? Won't you say anything?"

Mistake number four.

4. One would never make it look like he's is dependent on the third party.

"Don't get me into this. I'm not a devil's advocate," she deadpanned, not lifting her gaze at the boy. Even without that, Kou could tell Seto was nonplused. Well, it looked like the conversation didn't work as they'd originally planned.

She felt the bench move as Hanamiya shifted in his seat, locking his eyes at the basketball team.

"Am I not speaking Japanese? Because I can't see any other explanation of why you're still here. But well..." He sighed tiredly; Hanamiya was done with them for today. "Let's pretend I'll do as you want. What's in it for me?" He asked with his eyes gleaming.

Hara, who seemed the least fazed by Hanamiya's brisk statement, stepped closer, pushing Furuhashi aside "What do you mean?" He asked, shifting his gaze from Kou to Hanamiya, and back at her. "You've been among the basketball finest. We're giving you the opportunity to play."

"That's it?"

Hara scratched his head. "Huh... Well, next year the Generation of Miracles enters high school. You can get your revenge on them."

Even though the boy said it in an innocent tone, Hara's remark made Kou cringe, nearly dropping her notebook. She looked at Hanamiya, who by no means looked affected by Hara's words. Maybe a small twitch in his left eye made it visible to her that her friend, just as she, still held the grudge against the inglorious, golden brats.

"What will you say, Miho?" Hanamiya's question burst into Kou's thoughts. "Are we in?"

She closed her notebook, putting it neatly on her lap, and grimaced.

"The next three years will be long if I am forced to see those butt-face gorillas ten hours per day, six days per week."

"Don't be rude."

"I'm saying how I see it." She shrugged, and for the first time since the basketball team came, Kou looked at them. They indeed were a bunch of talking apes. Well, maybe she was wrong about Yamazaki. Instead of a proper Chimpanzee, before her stood a healthy specimen of Baboon.

Suddenly, Hara appeared at her side and sat beside Kou. She winced as the skin on her knee brushed against the fabric of his slacks.

"Is she a package deal?" Hara poked her on the cheek. She instantly froze at the contact, her hand clasping over the steel material of her Archer's ring. "Cute, little manager?" He asked, before blowing a large, pink bubble. The sound of bursting sobered Kou up slightly from the furious state she'd found herself in.

Mistake number five.

5. One would refrain from using the word manager.

"Don't call me that," Kou uttered but Hara only moved his hand on her head, ruffling her hair.

"How cute," he smirked and patted her.

"Move your hand off of me," the girl ordered, without looking at him. She felt that if she did as much as glanced at him, she wouldn't be able to control herself. However, Hara didn't seem to notice her distress and kept on tapping his palm against her temple.

The final mistake.

In a flash Kou was on her feet, pulling Hara up; one of her hand clutched the boy's right wrist, the other one harshly kept the bones in his left hand twisted in an unnatural position. She heard a rumble behind her as Furuhashi jerked forward but one glare from Hanamiya rooted him at the spot.

Hara's mouth went agape, the gum falling from between his parted lips. It made her smirk. Kou opened her eyelids wider, the whites of her eyes flashing ominously. One, last push and she would hear his bones crack. But before she could make the final blow, Hanamiya spoke up.

"Not hands, Miho. I'll need them later."

The girl reluctantly pulled away, before digging the tip of her Archer's ring in Hara's forearm, right below his elbow, and slid it down to his wrist. His eyes widened, as the steal cut through the fabric of his uniform, leaving a thick trace of blood starting streaming from the gush. When she felt a warm moist under her fingerprints, she unhanded him. The thought of being all over in Hara's blood made her cringe with disgust. Kou took a tissue from the pocket of her skirt and wiped the tip of her ring clean.

When the shock passed, Hara's knees gave in under him, making him drop on the bench; he clutched his wounded forearm, red staining his ashen skin.

"Now, ask her nicely. Miho has a will of her own," Hanamiya advised, drawing everyone's attention from sick looking Hara to the girl.

Feeling rather displeased with the turnout of the events Kou glared at the Kirasaki's team. They looked at each other, apparently not knowing what to do now. Finally, Furuhashi met her gaze.

"Kou, would you kindly accept an offer of becoming our manager?"

The girl titled her head while looking at the boy. Furuhashi gulped, as she kept staring at him without blinking.

"No."

Furuhashi winced and opened his mouth to say something but no words came out, resembling him to a fish.

"Would you mind?" Hanamiya rolled his eyes at his friend, before turning to Furuhashi. "Get this over with. I don't have all day," he sneered, taking a phone from his pocket and flicking it open.

Furuhashi watched for a few seconds as Hanamiya moved his fingers over the keys, before addressing her again.

"Kou-san, would you consider our proposal of you joining our team?"

"I'll think about it."

"Wonderful!" She heard Hanamiya exclaim in an overly cheerful manner. It made her feel even more resigned with this whole situation. "So it's all set then. Let's go."

He pocketed his phone and shot up on his feet, slowly directing to the entrance of the school. Seto, Furuhashi, Yamazaki, and on the very end, Hara, followed her friend; Kou however stayed by the bench. When Hanamiya noticed her absence he called if she was coming. She said that she'll stay, to which Hanamiya only shrugged.

Kou plopped on the bench, covering her face with her hands. It was a tiring self-study period and she kept cursing Hanamiya for dragging her out. She could feel her face prickle with an upcoming sunburn.

"What a nuisance..." She muttered.

Kou phone beeped with a new message.

Speak of the devil...

Mako-chan:

Coach Komatsu and his assistant. I want them out by tomorrow.

Kou gave a loud, resigned sigh and bent in half, pressing her face against her lap. At this moment she really thought that if she turned her laziness into the power of productiveness, she'd be truly unstoppable. However, being the hard-nosed she was, she dismissed that thought as useless. She forced herself up and grabbed the notebook from the bench. Before she was done for today, she had to pay a visit to Komatsu and his assistant. A tiring experience she didn't particularly look forward to. Hanamiya always left her the stuff, he either didn't think were important enough for wasting his time on, or he simply didn't want to do.

Where devil can't...

...

sry guys... I've decided to finally make it a regular ff :/ hope you forgive me <3