STEPBROTHER (HAIKYUU X KUROKO NO BASKETBALL SUMMER CAMP)
13

The night is getting late, the moans of rain begin to drip slowly to wash the earth with the accompaniment of the night wind that is able to penetrate the skin. In fact, the drops are now beginning to wet all of Ushijima's clothes that have not moved from their place.

For almost half an hour he stood across the street facing his father's flats. He seemed too hesitant to approach the Father, so he decided to stay there and cursed himself who was too afraid to meet the Father.

And the fear was further aggravated, when he saw a young woman who was holding a toddler aged several months was welcomed happily by his father. Clearly, Ushijima immediately abandoned his intention to meet the Father because he did not want to disturb the happiness of the Father with his new family.

Ushijima walked with hurried steps leaving the area, breaking through the falling raindrops. Now, his tears began to blend with the raindrops that were increasingly heavy until no one would realize the sadness that Ushijima felt today. It seems clear from his attitude, if at this time he did not care at all about himself who had been soaked, soaked, though if you think about it, he could get a fever if he let his body doused in rain water without even a single intention to take shelter.

In the meantime, in a different location. Akashi suddenly woke up when listening to the ringing sound of his legged phone call Akashi, obviously this is increasingly disturbing Akashi who felt sick of the worries of his friends.

However, when he wanted to turn off the call. His eyes were instantly stunned for a moment when he saw there were thirty missed calls from Nijimura and Ten missed calls from Mayuzumi. And some missed calls from members of Kiseki no sendai and Rakuzan.

To him, the call notification from his friends alone was already very stifling. Moreover, he had just obtained a call from both of his Seniors, surely his heart felt even more crumbling and it was difficult to speak at all.

So Akashi was forced to pick up a phone call from Nijimura, when Nijimura contacted him again because however he did not want to be considered a disrespectful and disrespectful Junior by the Senior. On the other hand, his current mood was also not too bad because he was so tired of crying and cursing himself during this week.

"Finally you picked up my phone too, Akashi." It was clear that there was a breath of relief from across the phone, as if Nijimura was very worried about the former vice-captain of his trust.

"What's up, senpai?" asked Akashi who was leaning on the edge of the bed with a blank look.

"There are two things I want to tell you, Akashi. First, you shouldn't make all your friends worry like this. They asked for my help just to find out what you are doing now, do you realize that your current attitude has made your team in Rakuzan or Vorpal Sword lose their Captain?" asked Nijimura who was even like she was lecturing Akashi.

"Are they still willing to have a captain as weak as me? I no longer have the strength to be recognized as a captain, Nijimura Senpai." Akashi answered flatly, he even sounded more like a person so desperate that Nijimura spontaneously shouted at him.

"Akash! You shouldn't talk like that. It is precisely your foolish thinking that makes you weak, have you never learned from experience? You're the breath in your team. If you just stop breathing like now, then how can your friends in Rakuzan or Vorpal Sword live?"

Akashi stared back at Nijimura's words, so long he dragged on in despair that he forgot to realize his existence all along. He was too afraid to look into the eyes of his members, until he forgot that at this time he had given up the responsibilities on both shoulders.

With a body that began to feel weak due to lack of energy intake, he stood painstakingly while facing the door of his room that was still locked tightly.

"Then, what's the second thing you want to say about that?" ask Akashi.

"The second thing I wanted to say, was actually more of a question, Akashi. I'm quite curious and want to ask you, do you trust me, Akashi?" ask Nijimura.

Akashi's eyes widened, inexplicably, he was silenced by the simple question.

Nijimura smiled from behind her mobile phone, "Then, from now on you should stop hiding behind your disbelief. Please go back to acting like the Akashi I've known all along, can you be Akashi?" ask Nijimura.

Akashi did not reply, he was too hesitant to give any answer to Nijimura. Nijimura has to turn his brain again to persuade Akashi, as he always did with the members of Teiko Basketball Team.

"I hope your silence right now is good news for us the next day huh, Akashi." Nijimura sighed for a moment, "Your friends miss you so much right now, just as much as I worry you more than I worry about my own life. Do you understand what I'm saying, Akashi? I've put too much faith in you and my dreams, even to this day I still feel proud to have appointed you as Team Captain Teiko."

"I'm sorry, Nijimura Senpai. I - "Akashi can no longer continue his words, he looked down embarrassed without saying anything more.

"It's okay, Akashi. You can just rest tonight, just vent all your fatigue and leave your distrust in the dream."

"Okay, Senpai." Akashi nodded slowly, then he did not forget to say good night before ending the call.

Somehow, now his feelings began to improve a little after listening to Nijimura's advice. Just as he had always felt during his time as vice-captain of Teiko, it felt like a phone call from Nijimura gave him a little strength to get back up.

"I think trying to play basketball right now doesn't hurt," muttered Akashi who accidentally stared at the doorknob of my room. And without much consideration as well as a passionate feeling after getting motivation from Nijimura, he immediately ventured to go out that night to the basketball court.

Coincidentally, the rain had stopped by then and the weather also began to return friendly to the atmosphere of the night that still felt cold. Of course, the only fun way to get Akashi to warm up is to play basketball like he did all this time.

With a quiet step, he walked down the corridor of the house to the basketball court in the front yard of the house. Coincidentally, the territory of his house is very large, it does not rule out the possibility of making rich people like Akashi do not have a basketball court. In fact, it currently has two outdoor and indoor basketball courts.

And no need to wait a long time, he finally arrived at the basketball court in the front yard of his house. With a slightly groggy hand, he grabbed the basketball under the pole and walked back a little away from the basketball hoop.

He stared for a moment at the high ring, it felt very difficult when relying on one eye to master this area of the field. Moreover, his position as a Point Guard must require a very broad view to give passes to his colleagues and the right strategy in the match.

"Free, I will only look weak later in front of them. Or it could be that I will become a burden to my team and humiliate them in front of the opposing team" complained Akashi who began to give up, he immediately threw away the basketball in his hand without direction and closed his eyes for a moment to feel the gust of night wind that increasingly pierced his blood flow.

Until finally, he listened to the voice of someone who sounded addressed to him and simultaneously by the touch of a basketball that came back to him. Calmly, he looked back to see the figure of the owner of the voice.

"Are you just going to give up, Akashi?"

***

Who was that person who was talking to Akashi? Yuk don't forget to support continue ya😊😊