"Okay, everyone line up!" Captain shouted, over the nervous chatter. A few of the regulars stood up to join the first years but sat down embarrassed when they realised their mistake.

"Now, I want to see if you  can shoot."

He grinned maliciously as a few boys retreated through the back doors. The hour that had passed was a brutal and manic one, filled with endless drills with no pauses. The atmosphere was intense and the 'new members' were dropping like flies, not cut out for this amount of exercise. He turned to the ones still here and looked at the worn out and sweating first years, his face falling when he realised among them were the four that had upstaged him earlier.

"Your still here then?" He scoffed. Kaede glared at him as she tried to regain her breath.

"Of. Course."

"Well, at least you'll be able to find out who's on the team then!" He laughed obnoxiously. Signalling for them to line up again, he clicked his fingers.

"You okay?" Hotaru asked, noticing Kaede was a bit wobbly. Her knees were shaking slightly. Hotaru then realised that she wasn't wearing any tape on her knees, and it didn't look like Kaede had remembered to bring any. If it came down to it, she would ask the basketballer's for some, although that wouldn't go down well with Kaede and she doubted that the Captain would let it slide without a snarky comment.

"Your knees," she whispered harshly. Kaede looked at her confused before looking at them herself.

"Shit." She spat, before realising all eyes were on her.

"Anything the matter?" Captain asked sarcastically. She didn't answer, just continued to glare daggers at the senior.

"Well, we'll share the results now," He clapped his hands, and began dismissing every person who was left, aside from 2 ridiculously athletic looking first years and Osamu.

"Out." He said, looking at Kaede and Hotaru.

"What!" Kaede exclaimed in anger. "We were better than most of the people who tried out! And Hotaru may not be the best player, but she is an amazing coach and she still played top!" All eyes were now on the girls as Kaede practically foamed at the mouth as she played verbal jousting with the captain, spouting insults.

"You didn't think you'd actually be put on the team, did you?" The senior suddenly changed tactics, opting to try and embarrass Kaede. "Your a girl!" He won the whole room's laughter with the statement, which riled up the short point guard.

"Well done, Sherlock, would you like a prize?" She drawled.

"Girls don't play on boys basketball teams. They'll bring the whole team down with their pathetic skills. If you can call their feeble attempts at scoring 'skills',"

"Funny that, because I'm pretty sure I could whip your ass at basketball any day."

"Really?" He snarled.

"Yup. How about now? One-on-one. Now."  Kaede looked up at him, grinning evilly.

"No." Hotaru stepped between the two and then whispered to Kaede; "If you play any more, you'll injure your knees even more, let's just head home, 'kay?"

"But-"

"What a pity, seems the bitch has lost her bark!" The distinct sound of rubber hitting flesh echoed in the gym as Kaede picked up the nearest basketball and threw it at bullet speed towards Captain's face, where it smashed into his face, forcing him backwards, legs flailing in the air. Clutching his nose, he proceeded to scream profanities as the group of first years left, clapping Kaede on the back, in hysterics.

"That was amazing, Kaede~! Super cool!" Osamu chuckled. Kaede nodded, as they headed home after the dramatic event.

"Can we stop here for a bit?" She asked, pointing to the nearby park. It was getting dark, and Hotaru looked unsure, but thought it over before shrugging and agreeing.

"What do we do now?" She asked as they sat down at the swings, Her and Osamu sat on the floor whilst John and Kadede won the race to the swings. (Well, as Kaede looked completely worn out, and her legs were shaking, they had all silently agreed to let her have the swing)

"What do you mean?" John replied sharply. Obviously his ego had been hurt prior the try outs.

"Well, we didn't get on the team, apart from Osamu. So, what do we do?"

"Find another club?"

"Make our own." Kaede submitted her own plan as she swung lightly on the swing, staring at the city behind them.

"How? There's no way we could do that,"  John looked pissed, Kaede looked like she was reminiscing a battle and Osamu looked sullen. Hotaru, however, looked like she had just had a breakthrough.

"But we can!" The three stared at the green eyed, girl who's short hair was bouncing, the bobbles in her hair bouncing as she hopped up and down.

"We'll found our own team! Put out flyers, hold try outs and then, enter the preliminaries!" She squeeled. They continued to look at her in disbelief.

"Aw, come on! Appling for a club is easy, and I'm sure we can find somewhere to train if we can't in the school gym." She pleaded, her face falling as she looked at the blank faces. As they mulled over the idea, they slowly came to agree with her.

"Well, you know I'm in." Kaede stated emotionless.

"Me too!" Osamu cheered, punching the air.

"But you got accepted into the team?" John questioned him, bitterly.

"I don't want to be on a team that doesn't accept fantastic players just because their girls. I'm in." He clarified. Hotaru squeeled again and hugged him.

"What about you?" Kadede asked John, who looked slightly nervous.

"I don't know.."

"Seriously? You looked like you were serious about basketball and when you get offered another chance to play, you 'don't know'?!"

"Yeah, fall down 7 times stand up 8, y' know?" Hotaru added. Osamu nodded silently as he noticed his friend become perplexed and angry.

"Maybe I don't want to play anymore!" He shouted, storming off home, leaving the girls who didn't know him well, confused. Osamu patted their shoulders reassuringly.

"Don't worry, he'll be fine tomorrow. Shall we head home too? I'm tired." He said, yawning. They all followed the park becoming desolate apart from the slow creak of the swing chains.

"Goodnight you two! See you at school tomorrow!" Hotaru waved, unlocking the door which let out a few loud shouts of small children playing tag. Kaede chuckled quietly. Osamu looked at her, waiting for an explanation.

"I don't know how she manages to work in that house, her siblings are always on a constant sugar high." They walked on, silent for most of the way.

"Well, this is me," Kaede put her hand up in a slight wave, a she noticed her brother at the window.

"Ah, goodbye!" Osamu smiled faintly, unsure of if he should say something else or just leave.

"Oh is this your boyfriend, Kidi?" To late.

"N-no! Why'd you say that?!" Kaede stammered, blushing profusely.

"Well, he walked you home," Yuta wiggled his thick eyebrows, leaning on the doorframe for a second before his younger sister pushed him lightly, as payback for his previous statement.

"We happened to walk the same way, that's all!"

"Relax, squirt, I was joking! I'm Kaede Yuta, nice to meet you!" He put his hand out, which Osamu shook nervously, leaning over his sister slightly.

"Osamu Ren." He grinned, sweat forming at his brow.

"Bye then," Kaede waved, retreating inside her home, her brother in tow. Before he shut the door, he glared warningly at Osamu, who was left confused.

"Squirt?"

A/N: Oooh~! I really don't like the school's Basketball team, which is why they probably turned out meaner than what they were like at first. Oh well~! It adds to the drama so I'm fine with it! Osamu has his work cut out if he wants Kaede to be his girlfriend!! (That was not a foreshadow, by the way.) Yuta is a protective older brother!! Thank you for reading chapter 2 and thank you further if you comment, fan or vote!