Meeting Aomine

1

The school grounds were bustling with an amass of students, as the clouds parted ways to the sun. Cherry blossom trees hung above multiple stalls, and petals fell softly with the warm breeze as the commotion went on beneath them, striking through any silence of a normal day.

"Interested in rugby?" "Have you ever played shogi?" "You gotta play basketball if you're Japanese!" "Swimming! It feels great!" Groups of pupils gathered around various stands, trying to attract the attention of any and all people that would pay mind and interest in their chosen category.

Myself, Koganei, Mitobe and Izuki found a free open space amidst the accumulation of bodies, and began advertising the basketball team. "Basketball, basketball club! How'd you like to join the basketball club!" Koganei exclaimed whilst waving a flyer above the heads of everyone present. "This seems like a futile effort, guys. Nobody seems even the slightest bit interested." I let out a sigh through the tiring work of continuous attempts at recruiting new players. A bead of sweat forms on my forehead underneath the rays of the sunshine, I swiftly swipe it away.

"Koganei, you can't be serious." Izuki turns to peer at Koganei with his thin brows knitted together, forming a slight frown.

"How else am I supposed to say it?" Koganei retorts through genuine curiosity.

Izuki rotates his body to meet the direction of his face, pointing his index finger upwards. "New kids, join the basketball club! The basketball club needs some serious help!" Izuki's voice dips in pitch as his face takes on a light-hearted smile through the closing of his eyes.

I look in sarcastic disbelief at Izuki's approach. "That's your idea of serious?" I ask through a devious chuckle.

"H-Hey!" Izuki stutters through his words at my remark.

"I've had enough of both of your jokes, (y/n), Izuki." Koganei's exasperation states its presence in his voice, until it peaks as he signals Mitobe. "Mitobe, make sure they hear you!" he exclaims through the noise of others conversing. Mitobe displays an innocent smile as I laugh at Koganei's rather mindless effort. "Idiot." I playfully jab Koganei in the oblique's of his stomach, and he returns me a slow-witted look, whilst he says to Mitobe "you're not gonna do it, are you?" Koganei comes to the obvious realisation that Mitobe was going to address recruiting in his own way, I simply smile at Mitobe as Koganei reaches out to a boy of slightly small stature, his pale blue hair matched that of the sky, but he seemed ever so interested in the book he was scanning, had Koganei not reached out to him, I wouldn't have noticed he was there at all.

The boy continued on his path through the crowds, it's proving to be difficult at recruitment this year, sheesh.  

We continue on the endeavour to interest people in joining the team. "Basketball, basketball club!" Koganei continues. "Join the club and you'll be cute, too!" This is where I lost my composure and almost my breath through the snorting of a laugh. "What's your excuse then, Izuki!" I tease, wiping away the false tears. "You're so mean, (y/n)!" Izuki pouts.

At that intense moment, a shade looms over the hind of me. I sigh in appreciation of the brief coolness, until I turn to meet the frowning eyes of a tall male. "Are you guys in the basketball club?" his deep voice enquires, before walking away without a response. I lean over to Koganei, "'Guys.' Did he just completely ignore me? And what were those eyebrows!" I shriek. "He was massive!" Koganei joined in.

Meanwhile, Riko and Hyuuga sat at a table with application forms under their fingertips. "Just a few more would be nice." Riko complains. "We couldn't even get ten." Hyuuga begins. "We're just getting started. We're a new school. If we win the Inter-High and Winter Cup, we'll be a big deal starting next year." Riko positively states, with the addition of a sadistic expression, aimed at Hyuuga. "Are you casually putting pressure on your captain?" he asks as the sweat glides down his face. "Hyuuga-kun, have you always been so delicate?" Hyuuga sighs, his arms elevated in surrender as he succumbs to his defeat. "I'll do my best, I will do my best." Riko knew she could count on his shear determination, although faint at this moment. "I wonder how the recruitment is going?" she somewhat asks. My eyes pique at the golden glare of Riko's as I wave a small hand in her direction, to which she politely returns. She focuses her attention back to Hyuuga. "If they could just bring in some promising ones, that would be..." her voice cut short at the sudden shifting in front of her, she peers ahead. Koganei's worrisome face meets Riko in surprise. "The new students here" he shakily says, hanging from the arm of a tall figure, one met earlier. "What?" Riko veers her head in surprise, her eyes meeting those of red orbs, looking down on her like prey. "Yeah..." she trails. Who is this guy? He's got the intensity of a wild tiger!  she thought to herself.

"I want to join." He pulls the blue garden chair between the length of his legs and plants his rump into the fabric, releasing Koganei's collar. I twist my body after another failed attempt at recruitment from afar, and widen my eyes at the seeping red aura sat around the basketball table. It's crazy eyebrows guy...

"What?" Riko's disbelief exits her mouth. "The basketball club." He states, as though obvious, as it was. Riko's excitement ramped up at his appearance. "Uhm, welcome, welcome!" she starts, "Wait a minute!" She hands him a white plastic cup filled with a cold beverage. "I'm sure you know, but our school just formed last year." Riko explains, as he lifts the cup to his mouth, swallowing its whole contents in a few gulps. "We only have second years to compete with, so I'm sure someone of your build would be..." she continues, but is abruptly cut off by the dominance of his voice. "I don't care. I'm going after I leave my name." He grabs a pencil, stating his name as Kagami Taiga, but leaving his reason for joining blank, to which Riko picked up on. "Huh? You don't have a reason for joining?" She questions. "Not really" and with two short words, he flattens the cup in the palm of his hand as he elevates from the seat. "Basketball's the same, no matter where you go in Japan." Raising the hand with the mangled plastic, he tosses it backwards, without a single glance, it lands in the trashcan several feet behind him, the throw completely effortless. Riko's surprise is seen by her mouth held agape in astonishment.

"He's terrifying! Is he really a first year high school student?" Koganei, lubricated in his own sweat contorted his face to the picture of fear. I, Izuki and Mitobe approach the three bodies sat in confusion, excitement and amazement, my (h/l), (h/c) hair dances through the wind as my feet carry themselves to a halt, besides the stall. "He's one in a million" Izuki speaks after a long period of silence and observation. "You! Where have you been hiding!" Koganei shouts through a panicked breath.

Hyuuga picks up the application. "Kagami Taiga." reciting his name aloud amidst the group.

"So, eyebrows has a name." I say, mien emotionless, as I lean a hand next to Riko.

"He went to middle school in America. Must have learned from the source." I raise my brows, America, huh?

"Either way, I'm sure he'll be extraordinary. Right, (y/n)?" Riko's eyes bore a warmth as she asks of my opinion.

"I suppose there is only one way we'll find out." I reply, returning a smile with sincerity.

Suddenly, Koganei's voice interrupts the conversation. "Yo. You forgot this club request."

Riko apologises, "Oh, sorry. Let's see, Kuroko Tetsuya..." Riko's bewilderment makes an appearance on her heart shaped face. "Huh? I was here the whole time, but I don't remember him at all." She examines the paper under her nose, bringing it closer to scan it intently. 

"What's wrong?" Hyuuga asks, as she takes a rapid gasp. Stuttering, she says, "H-He's from the Teiko basketball club!" Everyone's eyes widen in shock. "Unbelievable, we tried recruiting for hours, and this one gives us the slip?" I add in slight agitation. "Teiko? You mean the Teiko?" Hyuuga questions with doubt clothing his voice. "Yeah! And if he's a first year, he must be from the Generation of Miracles." Riko exclaims, failing to contain her happiness. "Could we be so lucky?" I question in more of a statement tone. Once again, Hyuuga recites the team name, "Generation of Miracles...That famous group?" Riko shuffles in aggravation, a groan escaping her lips. "Why can't I remember that golden egg's face?" A head of sky blue comes to mind, but I dismiss the encounter as something ordinary.

"And that guy just came back from America." Riko mentions, regarding Kagami. "This year's first years could be ridiculous!" she utters in exhilaration.

"You're not wrong." I reply, shortly.

We all direct our attention to the backside of Kagami and Kuroko's bodies moving in slight synchronisation just mere feet apart, leaving our line of vision in wonder.