"Sorry I have to ask," you said to the green haired teenager next to you. He turned his attention to you curiously.

"What's with the bandages on your fingers?"

He smiled very softly, "Do you really want to know?"

You nodded and he laughed.

"It's for basketball."

"You play?"

"Yes. I do."

"Are ya any good?"

You watched as his eyes widened slightly, still smiling, "Why don't you come and watch my practice today? It ends at five."

"Sure! I'm ________. What school is it?"

☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Shūtoku High.

You pouted a bit, "I should have known."

You applied for Shūtoku High School in middle school, but they had already filled up the register and kept you on a wait list. Seven kids would have to suddenly drop out of that school for you to join.

You made your way to the gym next door and heard sneakers against hard floor.

You made your way up the bleachers and scanned for the green haired boy(who never told you his name).

You saw him on the other side of the court.

You had never seen someone play as gracefully as he did. You didn't get into basketball, so you weren't sure exactly how it was played but the green haired boy played so well that even you could tell.

Then practice ended, the green haired boy ran up to you.

"You came," he said, mildly surprised.

"Yeah well I had nothing to do so I thought it sounded like fun," you smiled.

"Great, would you like to go eat somewhere?"

"Uh, sure!" you smiled.

"By the way...." you said thoughtfully, "I never got your name..."

"Shintaro Midorima."

☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

"________!" called your mother.

"Yeah?"

"Come into the kitchen! I have good news!"

You stood up and walked into the kitchen where your mother held a letter to her chest. She excitedly handed it to you. You read the letter and your eyes widened.

"Wh-What?!"
"Yes! Isn't it exciting?!"
"Momma!" you hugged her happily. "I'm going to Shūtoku!"

☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

"So what exactly happened to get me into this school?" you asked Shintaro.

"A group of kids decided they were tired of life and killed themselves with gas."

"Oh wow, sorry I asked."

"It didn't bother me. They had it coming anyway."

"What do you mean?" you said curiously.

He smiled softly and fixed his glasses.

"Do you really want to know?"