In Shadows | Kuroko no Basket Fan Fiction

22. Settle the Score

In Shadows
Chapter Twenty-Two
Settle the Score

Gina, Kuroko and Kagami returned to the team, just in time to receive a few final instructions from Riko. The coach and the other team members watched them enter, the three of them solemn and serious, and noticed the cut on Kagami's cheek. Questions were in their eyes, but fortunately didn't ask about what had happened during the meeting with the Generation of Miracles, and Gina was glad. She did not want to recount what had just transpired just yet. She still needed time to process everything, for Akashi had shaken her up quite a bit. Instead, she put all her focus on to listening to Riko in an attempt to block any other thought out.

Gina was so absorbed in Riko's words that she jumped in surprise when everyone started to move out, headed for the court. She looked around to regain her bearings, and noticed that somebody hadn't moved from his position; Kagami was still seated by the lockers, appearing to be lost in thought.

"Kagami-kun, it's time." Gina yelped at the voice, only to realise that Kuroko was still in the locker room as well. She shook her head as she recovered. I can't believe I still get caught off guard by that.

"Yeah." Kagami blew out heavily and began to push himself back up into a standing position. "Akashi had me at a loss, but that's all. There's no point thinking about a guy we're not facing yet. Besides," Kagami's eyes narrowed. "My head's full of thoughts of him right now."

There was only one person he could be talking about: Aomine, the ace of the Generation of Miracles, and their opponent for today. Gina knew that Kagami was eager to play Aomine again after Seirin's previous loss to Touou.

"Well, you're not going to be able to repay him from in here," Gina laughed. "Come on, everyone else has gone."

The three of them hurried to reach the rest of the team, joining them just before they emerged from the corridor and on to the gym.

Gina inhaled sharply, her ears suddenly hit with the sound of cheers and applause. She looked up to find the source of the sound and marvelled to see the stands... were absolutely packed with people. She experienced a brief bout of stage fright, even though she wouldn't be playing. Even when she had played netball, she had never walked out on to a court that had been as packed as this one was. She felt really overwhelmed.

"It's only the first day, but the stadium's packed," Gina marvelled, as the team sat down at their bench and made their final preparations, pulling towels and drink bottles out of bags so they'd be accessed at the ready. Gina could barely spot an empty seat in the crowd. "And the cheers..." She shook her head. "I never even went to netball game where there were so many people."

This may as well be a professional level game. Gina shook her head. Then again, considering the skill levels of the Generation of Miracles... especially since it's Aomine who's playing today...

"Are we popular?" Gina heard Furihata wonder.

Hyuga scoffed. "Idiots, of course we're not," he muttered.

"You can do it probably doesn't mean what you think it does," Izuki agreed.

"Unfortunately, most of the spectators are here to see our opponents," Kiyoshi said.

Sure enough, just as he spoke, a roar of cheers and applause erupted from the stands. If Gina had thought the cheers for Seirin were loud, it was nothing compared to the thundering applause Touou was currently receiving.

Gina turned and saw the members from Touou make their way into the stadium. Dressed all in black uniform and emitting an aura of immense strength and skill, they were an intimidating side. Gina gulped as they walked past to their bench, the nervous butterflies in her stomach multiplying tenfold. She'd never seen Touou as an entire team before. Seeing them now... she could understand how they had placed second in the Inter High that summer.