"A Poetry anthology, huh..." Hiroto looks around Alex's little book shelf, "there's nothing but basketball magazines here." He finds a dictionary, and then a travel magazine. "There's nothing but magazines."

"Your luck is tenth in the ranks today, so be very careful," Midorima warns him, for the millionth time in their conversation.

His disapproving face is clear on the screen of the laptop, and Hiroto chuckles. Midorima tends to prefer video calling Aisaka just to make sure he can see what Hiroto's doing, but it also makes him quite a nag.

"I promised Tatsuya I'd go out to get myself a new brace," Aisaka tells Midorima, showing the camera his very visibly worn out strap. "And then, I'm going to try playing basketball again with his friends. They have a streetball court around the corner, and they invited me to join."

"That's great to hear," Midorima says, "tell us when you're done crushing them."

"Oh, you sound like Atsushi."

"Do not compare me to that sugar-brained buffoon."

Hiroto laughs at that. Midorima's as prickly as ever, and as usual, he gets along awfully bad with Murasakibara.

"I'll get one on the way out, then," he assures the boy, "isn't it about time for practice on your side? Go on now. Say hi to the generation of idiots for me!"

"Don't call us tha--!!"

The call disconnects. Aisaka stands up with a contented sigh.

It's been roughly a month or a little more since he made it here, and LA was starting to look more familiar. Maybe it's because he was here a lot in his past life.

His voice was back in perfect condition after countless noisy video calls. He still stutters every so often and his speaking is much slower than his mother tongue has any right to be, but he can talk and that's all that matters.

Tatsuya and Alex quickly found out his linguistic ability in English after that, and then efforts were made to settle him into the country.

No school though. He'll probably skip until high school.

"Alright," he squeezes his fist a few times for good measure, "time to get myself back in shape for real."

He goes for morning runs, but he wonders if he still remembers how to play basketball. Oh well, all the fun is in starting over, right?

-

AISAKA:

Looks like we'll need a raincheck
On that promise (◞‸◟；)

But I'll definitely come back!

OGIWARA:

I'll be waiting! ˭̡̞(◞⁎˃ᆺ˂)◞*✰

But Kuroko is mine until then
cus ur meanie for leaving us

AISAKA:

I don't want him!!
(ノ｀Д')ノ~┻━┻

KUROKO:

I have terrible friends.

-

He enters the huge indoor court, and he's amazed.

There are three fields, and though there's less people here than there are in Teiko, he can hear the traffic-like squeaks, rattles, and hollers. The thump of the basketball on the clear, waxed floor.

It's such a beautiful cacophony. Has it really only been a month or so? It's felt like ages since he came into a basketball court.

Now to look for Tatsuya and Alex...

"It's the Fairy Onii-chan!"

He gets suddenly engulfed by two tiny figures. For a moment, all he feels is panic, then his arms are spread to receive the nine-year olds that barrel into his stomach.

He staggers, and suddenly his face is full of brat, squeezing and hugging his head whilst making excited children noises.

What the-- he takes a good look at the two. No way--?!

"Wait, Setsuna! Souta! That's dangerous! Get off me!" he swirls at them, holding a hand at the girl that is clinging to his head, and the boy is doing his best limpet impression around his elbow. "You're gonna fall and it's gonna hurt!"

"It's the Fairy Onii-chan!" they declare again, and now all eyes are on them.

"GET OFF OR I'M TELLING YOUR BROTHER!"

So how exactly did he end up being the climbing post to Nijimura's obnoxious younger siblings? Well, let's just say Hiroto has no idea either.

Eventually, people got around to reel in the kids for him, and the two were now clinging to his sides. Hiroto put a hand on their black-haired heads, and they smiled like the little shits they were.

"I heard you came over to LA in December, what a strange coincidence," he says, "how have you guys been?"

He is definitely going to charge Nijimura for this.

"So you're acquaintances? Small world," Tatsuya says, chuckling slightly.

Hiroto feels his face heat up. He quickly hisses at the kids, "don't call me that nickname oh my god please."

"You mean Fairy-niichan?"

"But you're Fairy Onii-chan, right?"

Hiroto is going to die of embarrassment. Curse you Nijimura, I hope you die in a pit of poisonous vipers and I'm going to be the one laughing while pushing you down.

Hiroto turns to Tatsuya with the most polite awkward smile ever.

"We knew each other back in Japan. Their big brother was my club captain," he says, "are they members of this club?"

"Well, sort of," Tatsuya said. "They usually just watch."

"Hey, Fairy Onii-chan, do that thing!" the girl asks excitedly, and at the same time, the boy pipes up, "Fairy-niichan, what are you doing in America?"

Hiroto's about eighty-percent sure he wants to scream into a pillow right now. This is so embarrassing. "Stop calling me that..."

About half the court is looking at them.

Then Alex comes by, "oh, Hiroto! You made it!" she greets cheerfully, walking over.

Slinging a shoulder over the boy, the woman gives the biggest grin and makes a dramatically showcasing gesture.

"Hey, guys!" she speaks in the most american accent Hiroto has ever heard, "this is my nephew, Hiroto! Break him in, folks!"

-

AISAKA:

Camera115.jpg View Image

I found a pair of rascals save me

NIJIMURA:

WHY THE FUCK RE THEY WITH YOU

AOMINE:

WOAH it's the Nijibrats

NIJIMURA:

I'll Nijipunch ur face in

KUROKO:

Small world.

AISAKA:

Met them at my aunt's club

Apparently they infiltrated and
Wouldn't leave them be.

NIJIMURA:

Pls yell at them for me

-

"The Fairy of the Court, huh?" Tatsuya teases, and Hiroto lunges over, covering his mouth desperately. Tatsuya laughs.

When someone gives him a confused look, Tatsuya beams and translates the nickname to him.

"Stop that!" Hiroto wails. "Don't spread it! Please!"

It's all over the hall now, and people are calling him Fairy affectionately. Someone even calls it cute. There's a misgendering comment somewhere in there and Hiroto doesn't know which he should do first, kill Tatsuya, or run out of here at full speed. Maybe he should do both in that order.

Nijimura Setsuna is standing on the bench, her little fingers running through Hiroto's hair. She finishes it in a tiny bun, and beams, "I'm done!"

"Ah, thanks," Hiroto pats her on the head when she hops off the bench.

"Here you go, Fairy-niichan!" Souta has Hiroto's new wrist brace in his hands.

Hiroto takes it, "what did I tell you about going through my stuff without permission?"

"That it's fine!"

"I said no!"

He cuffs them over the head, and tugs in his wrist brace, admiring the tightness and extra support. It's always nice to wear new things.

"By the way, what's this?" Souta raises the poetry anthology in his hand.

"It's from Oha-asa Onii-chan," Hiroto says, "it's my lucky item."

"Can I throw it away?"

"No. Put it back."

-

"This is Mike, that's Henry, and CJ." Tatsuya does a quick introduction of the five-man team. His hand lands on Hiroto's shoulders. "And this is Hiroto."

"Hiro?" Mike says.

"What's the 'toe' for?"

"Got your toe!"

"That's about enough messing around, guys," Tatsuya chuckles, "he's pretty fluent in the language, but try to use easy words, okay?"

"Nice to meet you," Hiroto says.

"Oh, Japanese!" Mike cheers, then in the most accented English in the world, he says, "nICe to MEet yOU!"

Hiroto can't help but chuckle a little at that. "English is fine," he assures them, "I'll try my best to keep up."

"Don't mind Mike, he's just a ninja fanboy," Henry laughs, "you can ignore him about, fifty percent of the time--"

"Hey, rude!"

"My mistake. I meant to say ninety percent."

"I am wounded, I can't believe you guys would betray me like this!"

Tatsuya claps his hands, "right, right, enough!" he pacifies them. "Game's starting, we can chat all we like at Wendy's after this."

"Right, right," CJ walks up to Hiroto, "welcome to the party, Hiro! So you played Basketball in Japan? What's your position?"

Hiroto shakes his hand. "I'm fine with anything other than the Shooting Guard," he raises his right hand. "And looking at the height ratio, I think I'm better off not playing Center either, right?"

A round of amused laughter rings through, and soon enough, he's tugged around by arms around his shoulders.

Tatsuya smiles warmly at the sight. Looks like his worries were unfounded after all. Everyone's doing a great job at making Hiroto feel welcomed.

It's a liberating feeling, finally being in the game again. Touching the ball, bending on rubber soles, the loud clatter of the basketball hoop.

It's the tip-off.

Hiroto sprints forward, one step, two steps-- and he soars.

-

-

-

"What are you saying, Akashi?!" Haizaki yells, slamming his fist against the wall. "Are you listening to yourself?"

Akashi's gaze is firm. His arms are crossed, and he isn't fazed. "I said what I said, Haizaki. I want you to leave the club."

Haizaki's teeth grits.

Ever since Nijimura left, Haizaki lost his last shred of impulse control. Maybe he does mess with Kise too much. Maybe his joyriding is going too far. Maybe he causes too much trouble fighting for Aisaka's lost honour with other school assholes.

Maybe Kise is a much better number eight than he is.

"Soon enough, Kise will take your place in the starting lineup. You're now an inessential member in this club," Akashi tells him. "Your presence here will only further taint the good name of the school."

This isn't like back then with Hiroto, when they subbed him out for a better dynamic between the starting lineup.

This is an eviction notice, and he's getting thrown out.

This is what the reign of Akashi is like.

And the worst thing is that Akashi cannot be reasoned with. This isn't a petty child's battle where you could settle disputes with arguments or a basketball match. Akashi will get his way, and there's nothing Haizaki can do about it.

He grips his fists, and bites his bottom lip. The words are stuck in his throat, but he looks down, fists shaking in the effort.

Why did Nijimura and Aisaka have to leave?

-

"No," to everyone's surprise (not really,) Kuroko is first to chase after Haizaki when the news comes out. "He is not going anywhere."

"He went to the incinerator with his shoes," Midorima helpfully informs, and Kuroko dashes right out after him.

A moment later, Kuroko is back, tugging Haizaki in by the ear.

"Haizaki is staying," he says, and his glare means he isn't accepting any other opinions on this matter. Kuroko rarely glowers at people, because he's the patient and tolerant one-- so this, this is something no one wants to go against.

"It was my order," Akashi says, firm. "He is now dispensable to the team."

"No one is dispensable!!" Kuroko raises his voice, and everyone collectively shrinks back. Who in their right mind yells at Akashi?! "Maybe some of us are replaced or some of us are left behind, but no one is ever dispensable!"

The entire locker room goes silent.

"No one in this team is allowed to leave! Ever again!" Kuroko declares, "our school motto is to win, but we joined this club for basketball! The school motto can go to shit, what's the point of this club if we aren't in it for basketball?!"

Akashi tries to say something again, but this time, Aomine lunges over and puts his hand over the captain's mouth.

Akashi glares, but Aomine's panicked expression shuts him up.

This is followed by the most fearful hissing Akashi has ever heard from him, "dude Tetsu is swearing you do not talk with him when he swears you will cry I'm not kidding"

Then Aomine snaps at Murasakibara, who immediately stands up.

"Now now, Kuro-chin," the purple giant rummages around, and retrieves a handful of purely vanilla candies that he has obviously stored up for situations like these, "want some candy? I heard the conbini downtown makes milkshakes now, wanna go?"

"Kuroko, your lucky item today is a pencil, so you can have one of my special lucky roller pencils for extra luck," Midorima inserts himself beside the blue-haired boy, holding up one of his magical pencils of blessings or whatever.

Haizaki sighs, sitting dejectedly on the ground. He takes out his phone, and turns on the camera. "Look over here guys, I'm taking a selfie for Mamasaka."

Akashi stares with an incredulous expression. Then he sighs longsufferingly.

A laugh escapes him. "Man, I just can't win against Kuroko, huh?" Akashi says. "Next in the hierarchy turned out to be him instead of me."

Kise watches the entire exchange, looking more confused as it goes on.

"Are you all idiots?" Kise asks.

"Shut up, Kise."

-

HAIZAKI:

Camera38.jpg View Image.

Akashi was a bitch today but then
Tetsuya cried so it's all ok now

KUROKO:

I wasnt cryin

-

-

-

Nijimura chuckles from the hallways beside the lockers.

"I'm relieved," he says into the phone, talking to Aisaka, "looks like our kids will be fine, after all."

There's nothing to worry about.

He can go where he must, without any lingering regrets.