Chapter 61 - Kise Joins The First-String (1/2)

A group of five people was eating lunch at a canteen together.

If one were to describe them, they would choose the word diverse.

Every single one of the people of the group had a hair color that stood out from the rest of the people.

The group of people was actually the regular members of the Teiko middle school basketball club, first-string.

The canteen was the school canteen.

Akashi Seijuro, Murasakibara Atsushi, Aomine Daiki, Midorima Shintaro, and Kuroko Tetsuya were eating together in harmony and peace.

But a chaotic element intruded in their peaceful environment and created discord.

The person who intruded was Haizaki Shogo. He had greyish-silver hair and had multiple piercings in his ears.

He came casually and picked up a meatball from Kuroko's plate.

Haizaki: ”That meatball is now mine!”

After saying Haizaki dropped the meatball into his mouth.

Aomine who saw that complained in place of his silent friend.

Aomine: ”Damn you, Haizaki! If you're hungry, order extra-large or go get seconds!”

Aomine pointed at Haizaki with his chopsticks and rebuked him.

Aomine: ”Don't go stealing food every time!”

Kuroko didn't want a fight to start in the canteen, and he truly didn't mind sharing his food, so he spoke.

Kuroko: ”I don't particularly mind.”

Haizaki looked at Aomine and spoke while chewing the meatball.

Haizaki: ”It's no big deal. I mean, you eat people's stuff a lot too.”

Aomine didn't agree with Haizaki comparing them.

Aomine: ”I only take when I'm hungry.”

Midorima spoke up, correcting Aomine.

Midorima: ”That's the same thing, Aomine.”

Aomine backed off at that and grumbled.

But Midorima wasn't done yet he addressed Haizaki, without looking at him.

Midorima: ”Also, Haizaki, don't make sounds while eating. It lacks table manners.”

Papa Midorima was on a roll as he looked at Murasakibara and scolded him for his incorrect way of holding chopsticks.

Midorima: ”And fix how you hold your chopsticks, Murasakibara.”

Murasakibara stopped eating, looked at his chopstick hand, and grumbled.

Murasakibara: ”Huh?”

Murasakibara looked at Haizaki and said accusingly.

Murasakibara: ”Wait, I got roped into all this because of you, 'Zaki-chin.”

Haizaki ignored Murasakibara's words and focused on the food on his plates.

Haizaki: ”Your fried chicken looks good too. That's mi-”

But before he could reach to grab food from Murasakibara's plate, Murasakibara wrapped his arms around his and said menacingly.

Murasakibara: ”Take even one takuan pickle, and I'll crush you.”

Aomine sweatdropped beside Murasakibara and said.

Aomine: ”Your aura's more menacing now than in games...”

Haizaki looked at his teammates, smirked, and said in a low voice.

Haizaki: ”You guys are making such a fuss. I'm always telling you. It's not like I'm hungry or anything.”

Haizaki licked his thumb and continued.

Haizaki: ”When people eat stuff, it looks really delicious. So I can't help it.”

Everybody looked at Haizaki with an expression of discomfort or disapproval.

Akashi closed one of his eyes thinking about something, Kuroko maintained his usual poker face, and Aomine frowned disapprovingly at Haizaki.

Midorima didn't like the mood of the group, so he changed the topic of the conversation.

Midorima: ”I hear a second year is advancing to the first-string team today.

I also hear that he started playing two weeks ago.”

Kuroko got interested and was surprised when heard that a person who just started playing two weeks ago was already advancing to the second string.

Kuroko: ”What's his name?”

Midorima looked towards Kuroko and answered.

Midorima: ”Kise Ryota.”

Midorima continued to inform the group about Kise.

Midorima: ”Seems, it's the fastest advance since us.”

Aomine, who heard the name, spoke up.

Aomine: ”I know that guy! I've met him.”

In Aomine's mind, Kise was a good guy as he didn't report him to the teachers after he hit him with a basketball.

Aomine: 'I would have been in trouble if he had reported on me.'

Murasakibara picked his bowl of rice and continued eating.

Murasakibara: ”Like I care.”

Haizaki joined the conversation when he heard about Kise.

Haizaki: ”Heh. Kise Ryota, huh?”

Midorima looked up from his plate and looked at Haizaki.

Midorima: ”That's unusual, Haizaki. For you to remember someone's name.”

Haizaki looked thoughtful and said.

Haizaki: ”Well, it's just hunch. But, it seems like he'll do pretty good.”

Haizaki paused for a second and finally said.

Haizaki: ”And, I don't think I'll get along with him.”

-*-*-*-*-*-*-

After school, the second-string of Teiko basketball club members were wiping down the gym floor to remove any sweat that might have gotten on the floor from the school activities during the day.

Kise had a mop in his hands and him with two other members, they were going up and down the gym to clean the floor.

Suddenly a set of feet came in the way of Kise's mop, so he looked up and found a girl standing there.

Without waiting for Kise to speak up, the girl spoke up with a smile.

???: ”Are you the second year, Kise Ryota?”

Kise was taken back by the sudden question, but he managed to answer her query.

Kise: ”Yeah. Who are you?”

The girl looked up at Kise and introduced herself.

Satsuki: ”I'm the manager, Momoi Satsuki.”