Queen Of Cards || Akashi Seijuro x OC

Chapter 4

"Airi."

At the mention of her name, the said girl snapped her head up only to lock eyes with her new friend. Airi still had no clue how they became friends.

"Akashi-san. Did you need something?"

"Walk with me to basketball practice."

Airi was slightly irked by his demanding tone, but came to the conclusion aeons ago that his speech was always like that and would forever be like that. 

"Hai."

Picking up her bag and slinging it on her shoulder, the pair left the classroom, walking in silence. Akashi led the way, since he seemed to know where the basketball gym was. Upon reaching the entrance, Airi identified 3 loud voices from behind the closed gym doors.

Without hesitation, Akashi pushed the double doors open, not bothering to hold them open for Airi. She barely managed to dodge the closing doors before rolling her eyes behind the redhead's back.

"Akashi-kun! Kouhai-chan!"

Airi was caught in a bone crushing hug. Startled, she let out a little yelp.

"R-Reo-nee...can't...breathe..."

The motherly senpai did not let her go, merely loosening his grip on her slightly.

"A...kashi...san....help."

The redhead merely stared in amusement, a slight smirk tugging at his lips. Airi's two other senpais were laughing, Eikichi's laugh booming in the empty gym.

From the other side of the gym, a male adult, probably mid 40's, stood with a stern blank face and crossed arms. He approached the group of 4 slowly and Reo-nee let her go, gulping a little at the male's prescence.

"Akashi Seijuro and Yunabami Airi. Welcome to the Rakuzan basketball team. I am First String Coach Shirogane." The man's welcome wasn't warm, Airi could at least tell that. "Mibuchi, Nebuya, Hayama, Mayuzumi, show them the locker room. Then, we will begin."

Airi paused. Mayuzumi? She glanced around the empty gym, spotting a white haired boy putting away a novel into his bag. Airi thought she was going insane because she barely saw him despite the small number of people in the gym.

As instructed, the 4 senpais led the 2 first years to the locker room, where Airi placed her school bag. Airi had researched basketball the whole of yesterday after school, all the different plays, positions, rules, and most importantly the role of the manager. After all, her senpais didn't hesitate to let her join as the manager, with Kotaro being the one who invited her.

She also discovered that Akashi Seijuro was the captain of the Generation of Miracles. The Generation of Miracles were, or are, a group of extremely talented players who even made it as starters in Teiko Junior High in their first year, a basketball specialised school with over a hundred players. She also discovered the Uncrowned Generals, which were her 3 senpais and 2 others that currently attended Tokyo prefecture schools. 

Pulling out a new black notebook and fountain pen, Airi was thinking about the different ways she could format the data she would collect.

~

At the end of the practice, the five of them were sweating buckets. Coach Shirogane didn't go easy on the four, despite it being the first day. She had filled up their bottles during their ability assessments, tossing it to them since they insisted that passing would be too much of a waste of time.

Airi had a lot of work to do, analysing their skills, efficiency, and aptitude. Since the tests today were only fitness, strength, technique, stamina, and power, Airi didn't have any information on teamwork. She had settled on a radar chart along with some side information in a paragraph. Airi thought it was strange that Mayuzumi Chihiro, a third year, was so average but in the first string. He must have either a special ability or excellent teamwork, Airi thought.

"Good work, everyone. Firstly, Higuchi will be coming tomorrow. Secondly, Akashi Seijuro will be captain and Mibuchi will be vice-captain." 

Airi didn't really see Akashi as anything but the captain, but to have it decided on the first ever training was shocking to everyone. However, no-one disagreed. 

"Yunabami, please hand out the uniforms."

"Hai." Airi had grabbed the cardboard box and carefully opened it with a boxcutter. Pulling out the uniform with number 4, she handed it to the sweaty captain. Pulling out number 5, she was unsure whether to hand it to her third-year senpai or her second year vice captain. Luckily, Coach Shirogane started reading out a list from his clipboard.

"Akashi Seijuro, number 4. Mayuzumi Chihiro, number 5. Mibuchi Reo, number 6.  Hayama Kotaro, number 7. Nebuya Eikichi, number 8. Higuchi will be number 9."

Airi followed the list, handing out the uniforms accordingly.

"Expect harsher training tomorrow. Luckily for you, I was going easy on you since it's the first day. Dismissed."

Harsher training? Airi thought that her 4 senpais and Akashi were going to die. Mayuzumi especially looked beat as he laid on the polished court. 

"Airi. Let's go."

Akashi made no room for argument but Airi knew she would feel terrible if she left her oldest senpai by himself on the floor.

"One moment." Airi placed her notebook and pen on the bench where she was sitting on, before power walking out of the gym. She made her way to the vending machine she had spotted before, putting in a few coins before getting 5 energy drink cans. When she returned, she made her way to the locker room where all the players were. 

"I purchased energy drinks for everyone."

At the mention of energy drinks, Kotaro bolted to the girl's side, taking a can and popping it open before taking a giant gulp.

"Wahhh Ri-chan! You're the best!" Airi was engulfed in a very sticky and sweaty hug. 

"K-Kotaro-senpai, you're extremely sweaty." Her voice was muffled in the older male's sweaty P.E uniform.

"Hayama, that's gross. Let Ri-chan go." Reo-nee yanked Kotaro off the silverette and Eikichi whacked him on the back, drinking his energy drink with the other.

"R-Ri-chan? I thought I was Kouhai-chan?" Airi stuttered again and her face turned cherry red, something seemingly common now.

"And now you're Ri-chan." Reo patted her on the back and chuckled before the three second years left. Turning around, she noticed that it was only her and Akashi, with Mayuzumi nowhere to be found. Looking at the bench, there was only one can left, indicating that her mysterious senpai was there but left.

"Ri-chan is kind of cute. Maybe I'll call you Ri-chan from now on."

At Akashi's words, her attention was brought back to the captain.

"D-don't be ridiculous! Just call me Airi like you always have." Airi's still red face was contorted with a mix of surprise, fret, and panic at her new nickname. She picked up the last can and handed it to Akashi, avoiding his gaze. As she turned to leave, she heard Akashi's dreaded, dark chuckle.

"Don't tell me what to do, Ri-chan."