I Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Like Bubblegum

Well it's a bummer that Hideki lost again in the Finals, twice in a row, by the same team, lead by the same man, so he took a break from anything basketball, to get his mind away from the creeping depression that comes with repeated defeat. In his previous life, he knew that NBA teams that lost repeatedly in the Finals feel really down, and some of them developed a mental health issue.

So to take a break he told Megumi that he'll be taking a break, and let Morioka handle practice for the week. Megumi was shocked to hear that from Hideki, the basketball-minded man. Hideki heard that and told her he even has his life aside from basketball. Megumi giggled at that. 

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Friday came and in class Hideki and Megumi are talking about their homeworks, Megumi can see that Hideki is still feeling down about things and the break is not helping, so after talking about classes, she told him "Hideki-kun" Hideki then looked at her and said "Yeah?" Megumi told Hideki "You still look down, wanna hang out tomorrow?" Hideki smiled at Megumi's concern and said "Sure, thanks for inviting me and trying to lift my spirit up."

Then as if a light bulb shone on MEgumi's head and proceeded to pull out her phone and texted a number:

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To: Momoi Satsuki

"Hi Momoi-chan, are you free tomorrow, let's go shopping!"

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From: Momoi Satsuki

"Hi Megu-nee, I'm free tomorrow, where are we going?"

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To: Momoi Satsuki

"Let's to the mall near downtown at around 10AM"

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From: Momoi Satsuki

"Okay sure! I am also looking for basketball training stuff, hope you don't mind?"

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To: Momoi Satsuki

"It's fine, let's do that first, before shopping so we can have our time choosing clothes. And don't worry if we bought more, someone's with us so he can help us carry the bags"

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From: Momoi Satsuki

"Okay, see you tomorrow Megu-nee"

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Megumi felt she was a successful mastermind that Hanabira has ever produced. Then she looked at Hideki with a mischievous grin, Hideki looked at her and was cautious and asked cautiously, "Uhm, Megumi-chan, should I be scared of what's gonna happen tomorrow?" Megumi giggled and said "Don't worry we won't ride a horror train"

Now Hideki was cautiously curious, but as he knew from his experiences with numerous females, don't question everything, let God do his magic.

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Tomorrow at the mall 15 minutes before 10.

Megumi was walking towards the mall entrance when she saw Hideki sporting jeans and a white shirt, she waved at him, and he saw her, so Megumi talked to Hideki for while and then she said "Hideki-kun a friend wants to come with us, is it okay?" Hideki now was feeling nervous about Megumi's statement and said "…Sure?" Megumi see that Hideki was feeling nervous and told him "Don't be nervous! We won't do anything life-threatenning! We'll enjoy this day I promise" 

Hideki shrugged and decided to place his faith on Megumi.

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Minutes before 10AM, Momoi arrived at the station and saw Megumi and she got near while getting her attention "Megu-nee~", she then hugged her, Megumi was a little bit surprised by the hug but welcomed it, and said "Oh hi Momoi-chan"

Hideki saw Momoi and was shocked on many levels, when the shock was too much, his brain short-circuited and didn't function for a whole minute. 

Megumi saw this and pinched Hideki's side to force reboot him and told him "Hey Hideki Momoi-chan's here, greet her will you?" 

Hideki then had his bearings running in record speed and said "H-Hi Momoi-chan, I-I'm Hideki-"

Momoi giggled at the closeness of the Captain and Manager of Hanabira and said "Yes, Hideki Takeuchi-senpai. The captain and ace of Hanabira. I'm, Momoi-Satsuki. Megumi-nee invited me, so I hope you won't mind?" 

Hideki shook his head rigorously, and more than what is needed and said "I-It's fine, I was actually, I actually wanted to go with you" Hideki then corrected him so things don't get out of context "I mean, I am taking a break from basketball so going out with Megumi is a surprise welcome for me"

Megumi giggled and Hideki then turned his head towards her and asked, "Hey what's wrong!" Megumi denied what she was going to say next and said "Nothing idiot, why don't we start with buying some basketball training stuff for Momoi?"

Hideki who is now relaxed, shrugged and said "Sure why not, let's go to the sports section then"

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At the sports section, Megumi was walking in front of Hideki and Momoi and she was skipping, like she was treated to a candy by her parents. Hideki chuckled at Megumi's skipping and looked at Momoi. Momoi felt that Hideki was looking at her so she looked at Hideki, Hideki then looked quickly in front while blushing, so not to be really awkward, he decided to break the ice, he then asked Momoi "So Megu-nee, huh?"

Momoi heard his question and answered him "Well, she is like a big-sister figure for me, after that Finals game, we became quick friends from that." Hideki chuckled and said "Well, that's rare from Megumi, my first impression of her really was a very shy girl." Momoi giggled at that revelation.

So at the sports store, Momoi and Megumi were getting stuff for their respective teams, and Hideki was watching them get things monotonously, but he was seeing that they are talking while, getting things then after getting some powder, Megumi had gone to the counter to purchase the things she got and Momoi looked like she still has to buy somethings so she went ahead to the tapes section.

Hideki was puzzled by this so he followed Momoi and asked her, "So why are you buying tape? Is someone injured on your team?" He can't really remember if somebody from Teiko is injured or what, and he hasn't heard any news from them in a while so it may be very recent. 

Momoi shook her head and said "No, it's a quirk from one of our player, in anything but basketball, he puts tape on his fingers so he 'protects' them from being unlucy with his shooting." Hideki was shocked by the explanation and asked "Let me guess, your Shooting Guard?" 

Momoi nodded and proceeded to go to the wristband to purchase a green wristband, Momoi then told Hideki "And one of his quirks, is his belief in the daily horoscope reading show Oha Asa, and he told me that one of the lucky items for him next week is a green wristband." Hideki chuckled and asked "Let me guess, lucky items boosts his luck?" Momoi nodded, so Hideki told her "Well, I won't say it's luck but it's his skill. But I guess that's why you say that's his quirk"

So after buying the things, from the sports store, Hideki and the girls decided to grab an early lunch, so they won't be bothered much by the fabled "Japanese Lunchtime Rush", Hideki looked at the two girls and asked "Well girls any suggestions where we can eat?" Megumi was the first one to shrug and said "Well anything's fine for me, how about you Momoi-chan?" Momoi put a hand under her chin and asked the two, "I heard this cafe near here, is it fine if we try there? I heard from my friends that they serve good food." Hideki, well he didn't have any suggestions so he said "Well, why not, let's go there"

As they walked, Hideki was having a strange feeling, because the place Momoi was bringing them was very familiar to him so he thought "Please let it not be there" and after 10 minutes of walking they arrived at the cafe that Satsuki was saying, Hideki had an "Oh Fuck" expression and he was not ready for this development, meanwhile Megumi was covering her mouth not to laugh at Hideki's expression, Momoi asked the two and both of them straightened up, due to different reasons, and said "No, it's nothing." Momoi now is looking like she is regretting her decision, maybe the food here isn't that bad, but she was too late.

Now Hideki was not expecting this and silently said "Ah shit"