Imperfect match // Daiki Aomine (Kuroko no Basuke)

1. New gym

It's the start of the academic year.

The volleyball gymnasium was supposed to be refurbished over the summer but ended up being demolished due to structural failure, which means that a new facility is being built but nowhere to be ready for the players.

In the meantime, the volleyball teams are sharing the basketball gymnasium which is twice as big to start with, so they occupy a third of whole area for training purpose.

The first training session of the women's first team coincides with the men's first basket ball team training.

It's 4pm, and when the ladies arrive on the court after changing, they feel observed but try to focus.

Satori hears a guy on the other side of the dividing net shouting shamelessly.

"Hey! Hey! The girl with blue tshirt! What's your name?"

She's wearing a blue top, but doesn't look in his direction and doesn't answer, not interested in satisfying a loud arrogant ape. She hears a chuckle and the first guy whining. She can't help but being intrigued and, when she finally glances discreetly in their direction, she sees Kise, a blonde hair tall guy, defensively pushing another guy with dark blue hair, Aomine, who was obviously the one messing with him, smirking, before they both walk away, not noticing she finally turned towards them.

Hoping this is the most interaction they will get from the new neighbours, she resumes practice with her teammates.

At the end of the session which was interrupted multiple times by unsuccessful attempts to get their attention, she leaves with her bag over her shoulder and gets heckled by the same guy again.

"Don't be a jerk, leave them alone" Aomine says.

"I just wanna know her name." Kise says.

"She obviously doesn't want to tell you. Drop it."

Later, looking at a notice board while waiting for one of her friend to finish her course, Satori's eyes get drawn to a flyer.

"Want to increase your vertical elasticity?"

That's perfect. She makes a note of the number in her phone and while checking the number she sees a shadow taking over the notice board. She turns around and sees him, imposingly standing behind her.

She's 176cm tall and not used to feel small but he's easily over 190cm, could be a volleyball player too. It's that guy from the basketball team. Aomine. He seemed nice, not that he smiled but he helped getting rid of blondie, Kise, at least.

"Hi." She feels obliged to say, as he stands so close when no one else is there, wondering if he will recognise her.

He looks at her but says nothing, his eyes quickly back on the notice board.

"I'm from the volleyball team... I saw you earlier... you stopped that other guy..." She stops herself mid sentence, realising she's wasting her time.

He's ignoring her and puts a number in his phone before leaving.

Rude.

Her friend arrives and they walk off campus to have dinner. On her way home, she calls the number.

"Hi. This is Jordan."

"Hi. I saw your flyer."

"Really? Great! So I am a Phd student in sports science and I am doing research on vertical elasticity enhancement. Basically, I need Guinea pigs. Are you interested?"

"Sure. If I can gain a few centimetres, I'm up for it."

"When can you start?"

"Tomorrow?"