After practice the Teiko members went back to the hotel, took a short break and ate, then did some scouting for tomorrow. They watched some past DVDs on the three schools, had a discussion, received instructions from the coach and then were dismissed.
As Aomine and Blaze was about to leave, Coach Shirogane called them back.
"you guys seemed quite distracted today."
"...Not really."
".... Don't worry about it"
They turned away to avoid looking at Shirogane who seemed to have seen through them.
"If that's your answer then I have nothing to say, but if you pull the team down tomorrow I'm removing you from the starting line-up. All right?"
"....Yes."
Aomine escorted Shirogane out of the meeting room and then sighed and turn to face Blaze, who was sitting in one of the chairs.
(Should I go back?...Ah, but if I go back Midorima will probably lecture me about 'Why weren't you focused-nodayo' or something...)
Just when he decided to kill some time in the meeting room messing with Blaze and being a perv *cough*, the TV suddenly turned on.
"UWAAAAAAH?!?!?!"
Rather than freaking out normally, thanks to his natural instantaneous speed, Aomine jumped backwards and tumbled over the table and chairs and onto the floor.
"Owwwww!!"
Blaze on the other hand laughed but was scared as well, Aomine was pissed and pulled Blaze making her fall on top of him *cough*.
"....Are you all right?"
"T-Tetsu?!"
Looking up and reaching out for Kuroko's hand above him, some way or another Aomine managed to get up, then he lift Blaze up.
"Aomine-kun suddenly let out a loud scream, so I was surprised."
"I'M the one who's surprised! I thought that no one was here and then the TV suddenly turned on! Of course I'd be scared!"
"You were scared?" Blaze laughed.
"I wasn't scared!!" Aomine quickly denied while lifting his head as a sign of the little pride he still had and then turned the other way.
Aomine has a habit. When he lies, he shifts his gaze to the other direction. It was an obvious bluff but Kuroko and Blaze didn't say anything and quietly went back to the TV.
"Tetsu, what are you trying to do?" Blaze asked.
"I was thinking of watching this. I borrowed it from Momoi-san," said Kuroko as he showed them a DVD labeled [Kaulaie School]. "For misdirection, 'people observation' is vital."
Kuroko set up the DVD and Aomine, Blaze also sat down to watch. The game was different from the one they watched during scouting, probably because not only it took up time but the coaches felt they didn't need to watch it. However, Kuroko still watched it with intensity. Aomine and Blaze also quietly watched.
They thought of this during afternoon practice as well; all of the players were at a high level. This school's playstyle was one that fully utilized the players' big bodies. Having a match with them would most definitely make one very excited.
(But, is that okay?....) Aomine thought in his head.
"Hey...."

"What is it?"

"Tomorrow, we're gonna go against Tiki and Mira huh?" Blaze sighed.
"Yes you're right."
"....Is that okay?"

"...."
Kuroko stopped the DVD and turned to face Aomine and Blaze.
"Then, does The two aces plan to lose?"
"I don't want to,"Aomine said without thinking, though he became shocked hearing his own words.
Blaze however, just smiled at Aomine and thought the same thing.
"You already have the answer don't you? Once we go into the match, we have no choice but to keep running for the win."
"....Yeah you're right. You don't seem depressed about this at all though," Aomine grumbled as he leaned back balancing on his chair.
"I was also hesitant, until now."
"Eh?" Aomine brought his seat back down and looked at Kuroko. "Until now?"
Kuroko nodded.
"Earlier when I went back to my room, Akashi-kun pointed out that I wasn't focused during practice..."
After listening about Tiki and Mira, Akashi asked Kuroko.
[Do you feel sorry for them?]
Kuroko couldn't give an answer.
Was this feeling pity? No, it somehow felt different. But what was it? He couldn't put it into words...
When Kuroko didn't answer, Akashi continued.
[What they wants is something people think about often. The experience of having basketball..........having something precious being taken away from you, isn't something that only he goes through. Am I wrong?]
"After hearing Akashi-kun's words, I remembered. I too, have also had the same experience. During the time when I was contemplating on whether or not to remain in the basketball club and I asked Akashi-kun to let me take the 2nd and 3rd string promotional test, I put everything on the line. I didn't want them to watch a match with everything on the line without me doing my utmost best."
"Tetsu..." Blaze mumbled.
"It's a painful feeling to not be able to play basketball. While that may be true, it's more painful having people go easy on you," Blaze commented while looking strongly at Aomine. Aomine pursed his lips and gulped, then suddenly smiled.
"That's the second time I've heard that."
"Eh?"
"About going easy on people during a game and people absolutely not wanting others to go easy on them. Remember? You said that when you stuck a popsicle down my back."
"Ah....."
It was true that Blaze said this before when Aomine was expressing his worries about being too strong, and it's thanks to Blaze's words that Aomine was able to regain his passion for basketball.
"I see, yeah..." Aomine folded his arms behind his head and leaned back in his chair. It was the same posture as before, but his face no longer seemed lost. "Since there are guys we can go all out against, it'd be a waste if we don't make use of this chance huh?" Aomine grinned widely at Kuroko and Blaze.
They smiled back at him.
"Yes. Even so it's not certain that we'll win."
"Oi oi! Why are you being so timid all of a sudden?" Blaze glared.
"No I'm not trying to be...but they are strong. We have to be fully prepared.
".....That's true." Aomine narrowed his eyes. His fighting spirit dwelled deep in his eyes, much like a wild animal. "But we have the chance to play them so you want to wipe the floor with them right? They're the type of guys who think that you can't be a basketball player if you're not tall or strong."
Kuroko nodded in agreement.
"...I think I have an idea."
"Are you serious?! What is it?!" Aomine and Blaze bent over and Kuroko lowered his voice.
"I don't know how well it'll go, but I asked Akashi-kun for advice and he thought of a plan that might work...."
To be continued...