In Shadows

Chapter Seven

Sudden Downpour

- Two weeks later -

"Kagami! Kuroko!" she called. She smiled brightly and waved eagerly at the two boys; Kuroko sitting straight and immersed in a book, while Kagami leaned back lazily in his chair. They both looked up as Gina called out their names.

Kagami looked up and grinned, "Gina!" 

Kuroko smiled as she neared. "Hello."

She grinned, and came to stand between them. "It's good to see you guys!"

Over the past few weeks, Gina had found herself collecting the courage to talk to Kuroko and Kagami more and more. What had started out as a few quiet greetings when they passed each other in the halls, to stopping for small conversations, greeting each other warmly when they entered class... Gina now felt comfortable and accepting amongst them. Kagami's height didn't put her off anymore- she was now very much used to it.

Their friendship had grown so much and they were now so comfortable around each order to the point where Gina no longer felt the need to add honourifics after their names, and they felt the same way. While they might not be as close as she was with Saki or Momoi, they still had a strong friendship that wouldn't easily be broken.

"How did the track club go yesterday?"

Gina hesitated, her smile and her cheery outlook facing slightly at the mention of the club she'd joined. "Not very well," she admitted quietly. Her gaze drifted subconsciously to the floor. "I'm still a long way behind the others."

Unfortunately, this was true. The two years worth of difference between their abilities only seemed to make itself more and more known the longer Gina remained in the team. No matter how hard she pushed herself that resulted in her lungs burning with a fierce need for oxygen, no matter how much she ran to the point of her muscles screaming at her and begging her to stop, no matter how much sweat poured down her forehead, it wasn't enough. Her times were barely improving, and the gap between her times and the times of the others only seemed to get wider. Even when she managed to decrease her average time, the others did the same.

She knew people were wondering why she'd ever joined the club in the first place. From the way things were going, it didn't even look like she'd be able to qualify to compete in competitions. It wasn't exactly the sort of thing that boosted your confidence. Gina wondered if she was even cut out to be a sprinter at all.

Maybe she'd have been better off joining another club. The literature club might have ended up being boring, but she knew a lot of books, since she'd been reading a lot ever since she came back to Japan.

She hadn't noticed she'd started a prolonged silence or that her head was hanging until Kagami spoke.

"But you're improving," he told her. "That's a good sign. You'll be showing them soon, Gina, and they'll be sorry they ever doubted you." He grinned in her direction.

Kuroko nodded. "That's right. Keep working, Gina. You'll get there."

Her spirits lifted a little at their words, and she smiled appreciatively at them. Whatever happened, she knew her friends would be there and have her back. She felt especially encouraged after Kuroko spoke. She knew he had struggled a lot when he first joined the basketball club at Teiko, and it had taken him a while to become a part of the team.

If he could do it, Gina knew she could, as well.

"Thanks, you guys," she murmured. Wanting to change the topic to something more lighthearted, she asked, "How's basketball practice coming along? You said the first round of the Winter Cup preliminaries are coming up soon?"

"In a week," Kuroko said. "If we win this match, then we'll go on to the play-offs, and if we're one of the top two teams we'll advance to the Winter Cup."

Kagami rolled his eyes. "Not if, baka. We will be one of the top two teams, and we'll play to become the best in Japan!"

Gina chuckled, amused by the two. "Do you know who you're against?" she asked, curious. She probably wouldn't know the school, but she still was interested.

Kuroko shook his head. "No, we don't. I just hope that it's not Shutoku."

"How come?"

"That's the school Midorima-kun went to."

"Oh. I can see why you wouldn't want to go against them first."

Gina remembered Midorima, just as she remembered all members of the Generation of Miracles. She only encountered him a few times, but she had picked up some obvious habits about him. He was obsessed with following fate, which included reading the oha-asa horoscope every day, and carrying around the day's lucky item, no matter what it was - even if it was something as ridiculous as a stuffed frog. He always taped the fingers on his left hand, taking care of his nails. He claimed his strict following of fate was the reason his shots never missed.

Man proposes, God disposes. That was his saying. And he certainly worked hard, staying behind every practice to continue practicing his shooting.

He definitely wasn't the sort of opponent you wanted to face in an instant knock-out round.

While Gina was thinking this, Kagami looked at her with surprise. "You went to Teiko as well, Gina?"

She cocked her head to the side. "Didn't I tell you that?"

"No."

"Oh." She flushed a little. I was sure I did. "Well, yes, I did go to Teiko, but only for third year - that's when I made the move from Australia to Japan. So, I know all of the Generation of Miracles to an extent. I ran into each of them at least once, which isn't surprsing I guess, considering we were all in the same year."

Kagami nods. Gina brushed a stray lock of hair from her face and grinned. "Anyways, I'll come and watch the game."

Her red-haired friend frowned. "I thought you didn't like basketball?"

She rolled her eyes. "Bakagami," she scoffed, calling him exactly what she'd overheard Riko call him once. "The two of you are my friends, are you not? The second-years are nice, too. Of course I'll come to support you."

She's about to say more, but their teacher chooses that moment to enter the classroom. After bidding the two a quick goodbye before she dashes bac to her seat.

"Sometimes I wonder if I'm being replaced," Saki commented with a twinkle in her eye, as Gina slipped into her usual seat.

Gina chuckled lightly. "Trust me, you're not. The guys are great, but you'll always be my best friend."

Saki lets out an overly dramatic sigh of relief. "Ah, you had me worried for a minute!"

They giggle quietly, earning them a sharp look from their teacher. They quickly quiet down.

"How's the concert rehearsals going?" Gina asked, as their teacher asked them to get out their textbooks and open to a certain page. She used the significant amount of background noise to drown out the sound of her voice.

"Great. I'm to play a solo piece as well as play in the orchestra."

Gina gasped, excited for her friend. "Saki, that's brilliant!" she gushed. "You'll do great!"

If there was anyone who deserved a solo, it was Saki. Despite her habit of skipping practice on occasion, Saki loved playing the cello more than anyone, and she certainly had the talent. Gina was glad the club overseer had decided to look past Saki's few absences and instead look at her talent and her dedication.

Saki smiled weakly, actually looking a little nervous. That was the first time Gina had seen such an expression on her friend's face. "You sure? Only two other first-years have been selected to play a solo... the rest are all second years..."

"You should take that as encouragement!" Gina enthused. "It tells you that you're good enough to compete with your senpais, and your skill is being recognised!"

"I guess so." Saki flushed a little.

"When's your performance?"

"From what I've heard, around about the same time the Winter Cup is being held."

Gina sent a grin her firend's way. "Tell me the date when it's confirmed, and I'll buy tickets. I'll definitely be there for you, Saki!"

Saki grinned. "Thanks, Gina."

*          *          *

Track team finished again with Gina sweaty, and gasping for breath. She stalked off to the change rooms before anyone else, ripped off her clothes and her ankle guards (something she needed to wear, considering her weak ankles), and quickly stepped into the shower. She did this all as quickly as possible. She didn't want to stay in the same room as the others in the track team for a time that was any logger than necessary.

She finished showering quickly, only spending a long enough time in there to wash the sweat from her body before she pulled her school uniform back on. Once she'd finished, she stepped out of the shower, brushing past another person who had lined up to use it next, and headed outside.

She walked briskly, having made it halfway across the school grounds when the heavens opened.

Gina gasped, as she what hit with sheets of icy cold rain. She instinctively crossed her arms above her head as though that might offer some protection. Her eyes raked out the nearest shelter: the school.

Without hesitation, Gina made a run for the school, drops of water getting into her eyes and clouding her vision. It was a relief to be under shelter once again. Gina looked down at the blouse she was wearing and breathed out in relief. She had gotten out of the rain quick enough so it didn't stick to her figure.

Gina bit her lip as she looked out at the outside. The rain was pouring heavier now, falling in thick sheets. Gina frowned. She certainly wasn't going home in conditions like that. Her home was about ten minutes away; she didn't want to run through the rain all that way, freezing to the bone, while the rain unfortunately plastered her blouse to her body. She cursed herself for having forgotten to bring her jumper with her that day.

Of all the days...

Gina sighed as she pulled out her phone. Fortunately, it wasn't wet. She quickly scrolled through her contacts and selected her mum's mobile. Her mother picked up soon. After quickly explaining the situation, her mother agreed to come and pick her up from the school. She'd be there within ten minutes, at most.

Not fancying waiting in front of the school with nothing to do for ten minutes, Gina wandered back into the school. Her feet subconciously took her to the gym, out of the hope the basketball team might still be practicing, and that she might see Kuroko there.

Huh? Why Kuroko especially? Gina frowned and shook the feeling off.

As she neared the gym, Gina heard the sound of balls bouncing on the floor, but it didn't sound enough for a whole team. She hung in the threshold, looking in. Only Hyuga was in the gym, practicing his shots.

"Hyuga-senpai?"

She'd obviously caught Hyuga off guard, for he threw the ball wildy into the air. It hit the backboard with hard force, bouncing back down to the ground.

Hyuga looked across to where she lingered in the doorway I chuckled. "Oh, Gina! I thought you were Kuroko for a moment, sneaking up behind me!"

She ducked her head slightly, a light blush colouring her cheeks. "Gomen. Do you mind if I stay here until I get picked up? It's just... the rain... and I didn't bring an umbrella or a jumper or anything like that..."

"No worries."

"Thank you." Gina smiled and walked into the room, picking up a ball. "I'll stay on the other end of the court, then, and let you keep practicing." As a shooter herself, Gina knew that every minute of practice you could get in was imperative. 

Ball in hand, Gina wandered down to the other end of the court. Hyuga was already practicing again; she heard the sounds of the ball swishing through the net or lightly hitting the ring, before smacking back down on the ground. 

Standing before the hoop on the other side, Gina bounced the ball once before getting herself into position, falling back into the regular rhythm of endless shooting. With each shot she made, she stepped a little further back, loving the challenge. It was an excerise she often did during her netball days, to increase her accuracy over all ranges.

"Hyuga! And, Gina."

The new voice startled Gina and she turned around, unsure of who it belonged to. As soon as she saw his face, she smiled and remembered. "Izuki-kun," she greeted warmly.

The black-haired lad further entered the gym. He must be another person trapped in school due to the sudden, heavy onslaught of rain. "Shooting practice?" he observed.

"Yeah." Gina faced the hoop once again and shot. She smiled to herself as the ball passed through the ring. She looked back just as Hyuga scored another three.

Izuki grinned. "You two, you're making spectacles of yourselves."

Hyuga narrowed his eyes, his eyebrows twitching a little at Izuki's remark. "Shut up, Izuki!"

Gina rolled her eyes, subconsciously fingering the pair of glasses she was wearing, her eyes drifting over to Hyuga's own pair of glasses. "That was terrible," she moaned, shooting a glare Izuki's way.

Izuki seemed unaffected by their responses to his joke. It must happen a lot. He walked away from Hyuga - since he seemed to be the most annoyed - and approached Gina.

"Don't see you in here often, Gina," he commented. "Sheltering from the rain?"

"Yeah. I called Mum, and she should be here soon." Gina turned and shot another goal. Her teeth gnashed together as the ball hit the backboard, causing it to fall into the ring by default. She felt like she'd just cheated a goal.

As always, she felt Izuki eye her unusual form with interest, but was glad that he didn't comment on it. Explaining netball over and over could be a tiring business.

"Mind if I shoot?" he asked suddenly.

Gina nodded. "Sure." She threw him the ball - a firm shoulder pass. Izuki caught it and looked up at her, surprised. Gina chuckled. She didn't look it, but she could throw one hell of a shoulder pass if she wanted. That part of her hadn't disappeared, since four years worth of passing was basically engrained into her body. She remembered the technique for it.

Recovering soon from the shock, Izuki prepared to make his own shock. Before he could, Gina reached up with her arms, standing on her tiptoes as Izuki shot for goal. The light swish of the net told her it had gone in.

Izuki raised an eyebrow. "What was that?"

"Netball defensive position." A frown crossed her face. "Probably didn't do much because of my height, but oh well."

And that's the one reason I was never even considered for a defensive position.

Izuki frowned, but didn't question the unfamiliar word Gina had brought up. Instead, he passed the ball to her once again. Gina grinned and proceeded to shoot once again.

The two of them left Hyuga to continue practicing his shots, even though he'd look across at the two of them on occasion and smile. The two of them talked and joked as they shot, playing a few mini games as they passed time.

About ten minutes later, Gina's phone went off. Quickly, she accepted the call, spoke a few brief words before she ended it. She sighed, throwing the ball back to Izuki. "Mum's here," she said, running over to the corner where she'd left her bag. "See you, Hyuga-senpai, Izuki-senpai!"

She heard their calls of goodbye as she ran out of the gym, already bracing herself for the heavy sleet of rain she'd be running into.

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i'm so sorry this is late, but this chapter is finally up! sorry if you think this has been going a big slowly so far, but I wanted to establish gina's relationship wrung all the characters before we got deeper into the plot, so her position in future chapters doesn't feel forced.

next chapter will include the josei match!