The Appearing: Book 2

Chapter 11: Focus

We began uses Kuroko’s Stealth Defense as we moved towards their side and I was eventually up against my old light.

“I’m going to crush you all” he smiled. “Starting with you”.

“You have to crush me first” I replied passing the ball to Kagami as we swapped positions.

Kagami past the ball sideways towards Kiyoshi as he had swapped again with Kagami as he swapped being Power Forward. I was hiding behind Atsushi during this time and then the ball got passed to me and I jumped over Himuro scoring a three. 

Atsushi narrowed his eyes “How did you get past me?”

“I had your attention elsewhere, you dumbass” I smiled.

I really want to crush you” he snapped.

“Then keep your focus” I smirked using his bent knee to increase my height and I dunked.

“Yosen, time out!”

“Their Coach is worried” I smiled through my water.

“It’s your play” Kiyoshi ruffled my hair. “It’s a new one to all of us but the only difference is that they are shocked by how well we do it”.

“I can’t keep switching between Point and Power” Kagami put in. “I’m not used to Point and it’s killing me”.

“I need Huyga on the outside” I reminded. “But I can switch being Power and Point but that puts pressure on me when I have to be on the inside”.

“If Kiyoshi and Mitobe swap as Centres will that work” Riko asked.

“Yeah but Kiyoshi will have to be Point because I won’t be able to do it when Kagami is Power and I have to be on the inside” I warned.

“What do I do if I’m against Himuro?” Kagami asked.

“Beat him” I looked him in the eye. “You’ve gotten rid of the only thing that reminded you of him, remember your promise; if you win there is a chance that you can still be brothers”.

***

The Generation of Miracles stood around the stadium watching as they watched their friend try and win against her old light; they knew she knew in her heart she couldn’t beat him but what made them smile was the fact that she had the heart to try.

***

Kazuya’s P.O.V

No matter how hard I tried I couldn’t do anything against Atsushimacchi and Himuro; my body was shutting down and my mind couldn’t stay focused.

“Seirin, Time out!”

“Kazuya…” Kuroko sniffed as he knelt beside me.

“I can’t do it anymore” I cried into his shoulder. “I can’t do it’.

I heard the others around me go silent and I felt Kuroko tense beside me as we heard a voice;

“Stretch out your leg for me”

I looked up to see Aomine leaning over me as he knelt on the other side of me; I glared at him for a good five minutes before stretching it out as best I could but it wouldn’t stop shaking.

“You’re pushing yourself too hard” he sighed holding it gently. “You beat me for Kuroko; let your idiotic twin brother beat your light for you”.

I turned my head away as I knew what he meant.

“Get her something cold” he replied before leaving. 

Kagami gently lifted me onto his back as he carried me back to our side and laid me down on a stretcher someone had brought over. My leg rested on icepacks while Riko chanted with Kuroko and the others but I had Kiyoshi and Kagami for comfort.

“This sucks” I stared blankly at the ceiling. “This sucks beyond belief”.

“I did say not to push yourself” Kiyoshi chuckled. “You haven’t been yourself since you beat Aomine”.

“I said leave your light business to me and Kuroko” Kagami tapped my head. “You’re not like us; where we can handle that much stress”.

“I thought that if I could beat Atsushi; that the others would finally stop treating me like I was nothing but a shadow” I sniffed. “I guess I was wrong”.

I felt a tear rolled down my temple and I closed my eyes letting the rest of them go. 

“Just rest…” Kiyoshi sighed touching my shoulder. “Seat beside Koga and watch for now; you can cry later”.

I nodded my head and he settled me down beside Koga who smiled at me as he wrapped an arm around my waist to steady me.  

“This is going to get really hard” I thought.