The Appearing: Book 2

Chapter 10: Old Lights

I had completely forgotten that our next opponent was against Atsushi and Himuro.

The next day was spent watching their past games. Everyone looked at me.

“The next person to stare at me is doing to have a very sore cheek in three minutes” I snapped as I crossed my arms. “I’m not surprised about these results because Atsushimacchi gets tired if he sees people put too much effort and the other team only scored points near the end”.

“Is there anything you can do against him?” Riko asked.

“My plays were based around his height, Aomine’s agility and Akashimacchi’s abilities” I shook my head. “I can use him to dunk like I normally do and add something to make me go higher but other than that we are hopeless”.  

“What about your fancy shooting?” Koga asked.

“My plays are based on Atsushimacchi’s height” I turned to look out the window. “Shooting threes or getting dunks against is difficult even for Aomine and for someone of my size; it’s like trying not to punch Kagami in the face”. 

“That hurt” he winced but everyone knew why there wasn’t much bite in his reply.

“Our game is tomorrow” I sighed. “I’ll think of something in case anything goes wrong then”.

***

“Get either Izukimacchi or Mitobemacchi off now!” I snapped at Riko. “Whatever Kiyoshimacchi said upset Atsushimacchi”.

“Kazuya, you can’t calm him down especially when he is like this” Kuroko held my arm.

“He grew up with us” I looked him in the eye. “If anyone of us needs help; it’s him because if he doesn’t he’ll hate himself for trying so hard to beat us when he hates the sport itself”.

I saw Huyga, Kiyoshi and Izuki trying to triple team him but it wasn’t working. I could see Kiyoshi’s knees starting to wobble a little bit and then my hindsight kicked in as soon as Himuro passed Atsushi the ball.

Himuro was just like me; fast and strategic but with a difference he was only trying to beat Kagami but Atsushi was doing what he also did; fighting not to lose. The other three were just backups just in case any of us made an impossible break.

“Member change!”

“Mitobe, come on” Riko waved. “You can have a rest”.

We tapped and I walked onto the court. I heard the crowd go silent with a few murmurs. There was no way I could beat my light according to them but here’s the thing I haven’t been Atsushi’s light in ages; of course both of us have changed.   

It was our ball and for some unknown reason I made sure I was Point Guard. Huyga, Izuki and Kiyoshi looked between me and Atsushi but I saw in the corner of my eye that Kagami was nodding.

I had the ball bouncing and Atsushi was laughing “I could go for a snack right now just so I can keep up with you”.

“I wish you could too but you can’t” I smirked. I twisted away from him making him falter and then I was in his shadow and the best thing about that was I could see more because it; I hated the bright lights they used and Atsushi being so big made it a lot easier.

He turned to defend but that was my break because all players have their knees bent as an easier way to take off and so I did what I usually do I used his knee as a jumping block. I used my twist to push me higher and then I dunked the ball giving us two points.

I landed and then my leg starting twitching and shaking like I’ve been running for a full game. I had to kneel and catch my breath anyway.

“Kazuya!” I heard Kuroko cry.