Let’s Form a Team! Part 2

(With Kiyoshi's group after leaving Riko's classroom)

Izuki Shun the black haired guy sighed and said "Man, there was even no room to beg"

The brown haired guy, Shinji Koganei, said "Yeah, also that girl's a bit scary"

Kiyoshi said with a serious face "No, ghosts are even scarier!"

Koganei said "No! That's not what I meant. What are you saying!?"

Kiyoshi relaxed his face, smiled and said "Well, I was relieved that we're the same. Basically, she doesn't like half-assed people right?"

The guys stopped so Kiyoshi looked at them and asked "Huh? Am I wrong" 

Shun responded and said, "No. You're right."

Kiyoshi put a hand under his chin and said "Yeah, so how will we convey our seriousness to her? Let's brainstorm about that later." 

Shun then told Kiyoshi, "Hm, about that I wonder" Kiyoshi looked at him so Shun continued " Aida's personality is exactly what you've said but I think there's something more to that. And I know you personally saw some of it." Kiyoshi asked "What do you mean?"

Shun told the group, "When we were in Middle School, Hyuga used to work out in Aida's gym right after practice, so she's the one who watched him train the most. Although she wasn't really lying. It sounded she was talking about Hyuga and her childhood friend." 

Koganei asked, also for Mitobe Rin the silent tall guy with black hair, "Who?"

Shun said "Hideki Takeuchi, one of the Uncrowned Kings, the King of Kings" Kogenei asked, "Wow, how did he get such titles?" Shun then explained, "Well long story short, he and his team always fall short from beating the best Middle School team, Teikou High, but he's beat the other Uncrowned Kings, Teppei Kiyoshi was one of them." 

Kiyoshi put a hand under his chin and said "Oh, so they're childhood friends huh?" Shun then said "Well, that and Takeuchi also trains at Aida's gym, and most of the time him and Hyuga sees each other there." 

Shun then said "Well back to the story, I heard Takeuchi had a despair and depressed episode and nearly threw the next match after being beaten by Teikou. I think you can best explain tha Kiyoshi." Kiyoshi confirmed it and said "Well yes, coach Takeuchi, Hideki's grandfather, said that he was really down after the Semi-Finals match against Seirin, and on his next match for the 3rd/4th placer, we were the opponents. I personally saw that Hideki was not in the match, he was there physically but mentally, he was on his own dark room of despair. I don't know what happened after the half-time break and the 7 minutes after that, but he got his groove back and won against us after a close match."

Koganei just said "Wow"

---

After school, Megumi told Riko and Hideki "I won't go with you guys as I have to do something for the club." Hideki and Riko asked if they can help and said, "Well for now I don't have any assignments for you, I'll tell you when we have something to do for club. Thanks by the way." Megumi left the classroom to head to the club. 

So Hideki told Riko, "So you wanna walk?" Riko nodded and said "Sure"

---

That night, Riko and Hideki passed by an arcade and saw a student with Seirin High uniform playing the arcades, it was a blonde student with glasses, they immediately recognized it was Hyuga after hearing him shout in rage after being beaten in the game. So Riko approached him and said "What're you doing here?"

Hyuga saw her and Riko can't control her laughter and said "Pfff, your hair's really so lame!" Hideki heard that and laughed loudly, earning a tick mark from Hyuga who said at the two "Hey!" Hideki stopped laughing and said, "Wanna go home with us?" Hyuga got his stuff and said "Okay"

As they left the arcade Hideki said "Man, Hyuga, if you wannabe a gaijin you should've told me" Hyuga just said "Argh stop it! I just want a new look alright?!"

---

While walking, Riko broke the ice and said "During lunch, Izuki-kun dropped by, with some weird giant" Hideki then said "Oh Hyuga's big stalker?" Hyuga scoffed and said "Yeah" Riko continued and said "And apparently, they're making a basketball team."

Riko then commented,"Well, compared to them, you're pretty lazy." Hyuga then turned to Riko and said "What? I've got tons of stuff I want to do! Playing games, reading manga!" Riko didn't look at him and asked "Anything else?" Hideki added "Skipping classes?" Hyuga and Riko looked at him so Hideki said with his hands raised "Well, that's what wannabe delinquents want to do!"

Hyuga then said "Also, these days' Medieval armor is pretty hot!" He then showed to the two of them the figure he bought earlier, Riko looked at Hyuga with dead eyes and said "It's fine but, is this a type of hobby for people with that hair?" Hideki said "Yeah, same comment as ehr bro."

Riko then got serious and said "You only look like you're forcing yourself" Hyuga then was shocked and looked at her saying "Huh?" Riko then added, "It's not that you're full of stuff you want to do. You just don't know what you want to do." 

Hideki then added, "Well, that's what withdrawal symptoms look like to me." Hyuga looked at Hideki with an annoyed expression so Hideki said "Look Hyuga, you didn't have to force things, like quitting on basketball or something like that. I know it was hard for you." Hideki had a hand on his chest and said "Your's was just a drop of water, compared to mine, not bragging but, I got my ass handed to me by Teikou. After that whole gimmick of playing second fiddle to Teikou. I tried to be apathetic but it didn't work."

Hideki told Hyuga, "After Nationals last week, I tried to stay away from basketball to think of my future. After a careful thinking of one week, I decided to just, play. Not serious basketball, but having a fun game with people who also love it."

---

After a short silence, Hideki was hungry so he said to Hyuga and Riko, "I'm hungry, wanna grab a bite to eat at mom's cafe?" Riko declined and said "I have to go home now. Thanks for the offer though Hideki." Hideki shrugged and said "Man, I would have been the one who'll cook the meal." Riko was taken aback bu this but Hideki said "Take care going home, and tell your pops I said hi" Riko giggled and said "Sure"

After Riko left, Hideki asked Hyuga the same question and Hyuga answered and said "Sure, I missed your cooking man, haven't had that in months." Hideki just said "Nice! Let me tell mom I'll cook for our dinner, it's on me don't worry."

--

At the cafe, as they entered, Hideki was greeted by the waiter and said "Oh hi Hideki-kun! Kanai's at the back." Hideki nodded in thanks and told Hyuga, go pick us a table Hyuga" As Hyuga stepped back to find a table, he stumbled upon Kiyoshi, so he just said "Ah" with the 'crap' left unsaid, Hyuga quickly told Hideki "I'll eat next time Hideki, gottagobye!" And he ran fast outside.

Hideki saw this and he saw Kiyoshi stunned for a moment so he said "Hey, Kiyoshi!" Kiyoshi just said "Hi" back to Hideki and told Izuki and the others "Sorry, let's eat next time too, I'll pay for it." Izuki just said "Sure?"

Now the group of basketball guys, Shun Izuki, Mitobe Rin and Koganei Shinji was shocked along with Hideki. After a minute of silence, Hideki asked the guys "So guys, you have your orders?" The group shook their heads no and Hideki said "Wanna have the Hideki special for the day? Just a special burger steak with a house secret sauce. Don't worry I'll give you half discount, just tell me what you've been doing with Kiyoshi." The group was still stunned and just nodded at Hideki's proposal, the discount was unheard.