During times of relaxation from basketball, Riko Aida brings the Seirin basketball team to a new environment other known as a concert venue where Teppei Kiyoshi finds himself growing deeply interested in one of the crew members of the band that had...
SCHOOL DAYS are a different kind of horror for most.
For Teppei, those days are a great distraction, although rather bothersome at times. However, the chance to see his friends or the reassurance of engaging in basketball practice once again has made him eager to come back.
Due to the severe knee injury he suffered last year, basketball seemed like a distance dream— an increasingly impossible possibility.
However, after undergoing several treatments at the hospital and, better yet, waking up to a text from his very good friend and coach— Riko— his dream of playing seemed real. He could finally be back on the court with his friend. He could finally wear the game jersey again. He could finally fill the void that has been killing him since he had to put a pause on his basketball career.
Akin to a kid coming to school with brand new shoes, Teppei could not wait to tell Riko that he will soon be discharged from the hospital and would be returning very soon.
To his satisfaction, he found himself at the doors of the Seirin gymnasium once again, two weeks later.
However, to his dissatisfaction (and slight confusion), he seemed to be the target of the day for silly remakes. So caught up in the excitement of playing again, he had come in wearing his game day jersey.
Teppei was scolded for this by Hyuga, the current captain, which caused him to change into his usual basketball attire.
The rest of the day only became more eventful for him as he proceeded to challenge a first-year student named Kagami for the ace position on the text. Although the results were nearly shocking to him, Teppei partly blames his loss during the one on one on his goldfish memory, which has caused him to forget to put on his basketball shoes while changing, leading to him playing in shoes unsuitable for the sport.
However, this is the start to something great, and he is sure that nothing but amazing things will come out of it.
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"A CONCERT?" The boys voices echoed throughout the gym.
It was one thing for Riko to give them a day off, but another to instead fill it up with a chance at some kind of team bonding experience.
To Teppei, this was very out of the blue. In some ways, a part of him couldn't wait to experience what a concert venue is like or get a feel at different genres of music. He had seen multiple videos about such places online. For a moment, he almost forgot about the fact that he was close to becoming a third year and leaving Seirin for good. For a moment, he didn't feel the need to worry too much about the what ifs of the season.
He could just worry about this very exciting yet confusing announcement by Riko, who wore a closed-eye smile at the boys, making it hard to truly believe her every word.
"Is this some kind of joke? Are you about to rhyme?" Asked Izuki, the vice-captain of the team.
This only seemed to tick their coach off as her face soon turned annoyed. "Gee, I want to do something nice for you guys once and all the sudden, nothing is real," she said.
"I mean, this is a bit odd," Kuroko added to the series of comment flying out of everyone else's mouths, earning a few nods, and gasp from those who happened to have forgotten about his existence for the hundredth time. The nonchalant shadow of the team only sighed at his teammates' shocked reactions, way too used to it all.
One person that really couldn't get his mind around all this was Kagami, as he continuously bombarded Riko with questions like, "Why a concert?" or "You like music?" This only caused him to get shoved harshly by the hard-headed girl.
"Seriously, enough with the questions! I just thought it was a great opportunity to get closer as a team. And plus, a good friend of mine made this possible for all of you."
This earned her a few confused looks, eagerly awaiting more details.
She sighed and added, "it was a small favor I had asked a friend of mine who happened to be a part of a band, okay? We are actually going to watch them perform. I just— you guys have been working very hard. It felt right to reward you for it in some ways." Her rosy cheeks and averted gaze caused the boys to stare at her in awe, almost in shock at her sudden softness.
Teppei, who prided himself on being in tuned with his emotions, wore a sad smile. This was kind of his way of teasing her a bit, which earned him a death stare.
He only chuckled at this.
Hyuga, who was still able to keep it together, looked at the boys. His captain's demeanor coming off strong as he exclaimed; "C'mon now, thank our hardworking coach for going out of her way to get us all tickets!"
The Seirin boys all bowed respectfully in front of Riko, who— out of embarrassment— kept shaking her hands as a way to signal for them to stop.
"You guys, seriously, it's nothing." However, she couldn't stop the thoughts of how nice it felt to be appreciated in such a way.
Teppei only smiled warmly at the scene before him when he stood up from his bowing position. He felt good, he felt like he belonged, and most of all— he felt at home.
