Chapter 7: Half-assed determination
On a round table sat 7 people. Horikita, Ayanokoji, Kushida, Sudo, Ike, Yamauchi and finally Yuto, who was sitting next to Horikita with a ambiguous smile.
____________________________
2 hours ago..
Horikita sighed and asked. "How did you know that I told Ayanokoji recruit the 3?"
Yuto shrugged, "He told me"
Horikita scowled at Ayanokoji, who calmly explained, "I asked him for help recruiting the 3 as he is more influencial than I am. I didn't even say that you were the one who was making the study group. I didn't know that he was going to forsee that I would ask Kushida for help aswell."
Indeed, Yuto had anticipated Ayanokoji seeking Kushida's assistance and calculated that any resulting ripple effect by his presense would be inconsequential. Sensing the opportune moment, he resolved to make a demand from Horikita.
_________________________________
Present.
Horikita glared at Yuto, 'Sly bastard!'
Horikita initiated the study session, but Yuto seized every opportunity to address her by her given name, grated on her nerves. However, what further annoyed her was the utter stupidity displayed by Ike and Yamauchi. Sudo's aggressive demeanor and Idiocy set him apart in a league of his own, making the study session even more pestiferous.
"Did you just call me incompetent?!" Sudo yelled at Horikita.
"Yes, you can't solve a basic simultaneous equation, I can't help but shudder thinking about where you'll end up in the future." Horikita stated matter-of-factly.
Sudo gritted his teeth in frustration, and was on the verge of grabbing Horikita's collar when Yuto intervened, his expression dead serious. "Let's not go there," Yuto cautioned. Sudo shuddered, recalling what Yuto had done to the third years.
He retracted his hand and grumbled, "Studying is pointless anyway! If I want to have good future, I can just go pro in basketball anyways!" And proceeded to leave, prompting the other two to also leave.
'Ripple effect huh?'
"Pro my ass! I bet I can beat someone like you in basketball with a hand behind my back" Yuto provoked. Sudo's brows furrowed as he shouted "You wanna go?!" Ike and Yamauchi smirked as they knew Sudo would win while Kushida showed concern. Horikita however was shocked on how that lazy Yuto stepped up to support her.
"Sure, but if you loose, you and your goons are going to shut up and sit and study."
"Like hell I will lose!"
_____________________________
The seven of them arrived at the basket ball court.
"I don't wanna waste my time here so let's just do first to 3 baskets" Yuto suggested.
"Sure." Sudo scoffed.
"For further handicapping myself, you can start with the ball"
All the six had a mutual thought, "Is he actually serious about handicapping himself!"
As the match began, Sudo seized the early lead, weaving past Yuto's defenses for the opening point and scoring the first basket 10 seconds into the game. Cheers erupted from Ike and Yamauchi.
"The result is obvious!"
"This will be quick"
The other 3 had nothing to say.
Yuto remained composed, his left hand tucked behind his back, a smirk playing on his lips.
With a girn, Yuto seized control. Despite the handicap, his dribble was fluid, his movements graceful. Sudo endeavored to contain him, but Yuto's finesse was unmatched as he jumped for a successful dunk.
The crowd's jaws dropped!
"How the hell did Kazuki score" Yamauchi shook his head in denial
"What a monsterous vertical" Ike mumbled
Sudo meanwhile thought, 'A lucky fluke..'
With the score tied at 1-1, A cold sweat dropped from Sudo's side as he was dribbling the ball, Yuto shifted into high gear. With lightning speed, he stole the ball, darting effortlessly towards the basket. With a flick of his wrist, he scored, the ball swishing through the net.
Ike and Yamauchi were actually in the verge of faintling. they have been together with Sudo for the past month and knew his unmatched talent in basketball, but to seeing him getting wrecked like this was a big time shocker.
Kushida and Horikita were also taken aback.
"Why didn't Kazuki-kun tell anyone that he was good in Basketball?" Kushida asked in a questioning tone.
No one replied.
Sudo was visibly agitated.
As the final point approached, Yuto stood poised, his ego unwavering. With a swift dribble, he evaded Sudo's defense, his gaze fixed on the hoop. In a breathtaking display of skill, he launched the ball from half-court, the crowd holding its breath as it arced towards the basket.
It went in.
The aduenice had zero words.
Sudo, had zero words.
He simply stared at Yuto with inferiority in his eyes. His whole life, all he did was play basketball in order to go pro, but in a single day, he was humbled by some who didn't even pursue basketball. Not just that. He didn't even play seriously! Sudo was in the verge of tears.
Ike and Yamauchi meanwhile, saw at Yuto in a new light.
"Dudeee, you were like so cool. Super cool."
"Can you teach me how to do that dunk! pleaseee"
Yuto smiled and said "Sure, but wait a second" as he turn to Sudo, who was looking at him with a mixture of emotions. Yuto stood directly parallel to Sudo and slapped him! Everyone, including Ayanokoji was flabberghasted!
Sudo put his palm on the area where Yuto slapped him, slowly turned to Yuto's face and made eye contact with him.
"With that half-assed determination, forgot going pro, even playing in street-side tournaments would be good for you." Yuto grimaced.
Those words were it. Sudo's legs gave up as he placed his knees with the ground and his forearms for support, he looked at the ground with a hoarse breath.
All the sudden he shouted, "DAMNNNN IT!" then broke down. He cried silently as he thought of what Yuto said.
Ike, Yamauchi and Kushida all came running to Sudo, who was still crying on the floor. Kushida came up to Yuto and slapped him on the cheek. "Kazuki-kun, you went too far."
Yuto was just expressionless and went up to Horikita, "I agree with Kushida-san, you went too far."
"It was nessesary. I had to break him. To allow him to build himself anew."
Horikita threw a confused glance and Ayanokoji knew perfectly well what Yuto meant.
"I'm sorry Suzune-chan, but I don't think he can attend today's study session. He probably will attend starting tomorrow but doubt he can actually pay attention. I even doubt if he will do well in the upcoming exam but I assure you that he will get better. Probably the best he could be. So in simple terms this is a-"
"Long-term investment" Ayanokoji cut in to which Yuto just nodded.
"I see, but I hope the others attend."
"They will." Yuto and Ayanokoji said at the same time in the same, indifferent tone.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
kreakerss
kreakerss I wanted to try something new for this chapter and this was my first time writing something which conveyed 'emotion'. I would appreciate any feed back given. Please feel free to point out what I did wrong and maybe I'll rewrite the chapter and make it better.
Chapter 8: Confession!
There Yuto was. Laying on the bed, his gaze fixed upon the ceiling, his expression devoid of emotion.
"I let 'him' out for the second time this month," he sighed, rising from the bed and making his way to the bathroom. Peering into the mirror, he confronted two identical yet vastly different reflections. One radiated brightness and cheer, while the other exuded darkness and gloom.
'I'm famished. Maybe I'll head out and grab something to eat...'
___________________________
Yuto had just exited a store, one hand nestled in his pocket while the other gripped a plastic bag. He made his way quietly back to the dorms when a familiar voice caught his attention.
"Coincidences can be scary."
Curious, Yuto turned his head and was greeted by a bizarre sight. Manabu and Ayanokoji locked in a tense stare, while Horikita looked on with palpable fear. Yuto, with his goofy expression, stood there, observing the scene with bewilderment. Just as Manabu noticed Yuto's presence, he asked, "Why are you staring at me like that."
Yuto's eyes widened in realization.
"I knew it! It's a family tradition!" he exclaimed, connecting the dots in his mind.
"No reason, I'm just a spectator," Yuto replied casually, his goofy demeanor intact. "If I may ask, what's happening here?"
Manabu adjusted his glasses and replied, "Just an unfriendly coincidence."
Ayanokoji interjected with his own question for Manabu, "I also have a question. Who is it that you spoke of when you said, 'You're the other one'?" His gaze bore into Manabu, hinting at a deeper inquiry, Suspicious if it had anything to do with the white room.
Manabu chuckled, attempting to dispel the subtle threat under Ayanokoji's scrutinizing gaze. "Oh, I simply grouped you with him because of your identical behaviors in academics," he explained. Then, gesturing toward Yuto, he added, "As for who it is, he's standing right next to you."
Ayanokoji turned to Yuto in bewilderment! His brows even twitched a little. Horikita also looked shocked for some reason. Yuto, meanwhile just waved at them with a awkward smile due to the lack of context.
Manabu turned to Yuto and stared at him with a deadpan expression and asked, "Kazuki Yuto, I'll repeat the same thing I asked Ayanokoji here. You scored 41 in every subject in his entrance exam. The other day, you scored 41 in your quiz aswell. Every single time, its one mark above the fail grade. Was this intentional?"
Yuto, taken aback by the sudden question, let out a sigh before responding, "Yes." His admission didn't come as a surprise to anyone present, prompting Manabu to continue with a barrage of questions.
"Why?"
Yuto appeared slightly embarrassed before speaking up. "I will tell you the reason, but I have a condition," he declared, catching the interest of everyone in the room.
Manabu raised his brow before saying, "Ask. depending on what you say, I'll decide." as Horikita thought, "Not this again. That sly pervert is going to ask something absurd again!"
"Can I call you brother?" Yuto stated with a innocent smile.
Manabu's confusion was evident as he opened his mouth to respond, but Yuto swiftly interjected, "As in brother-in-law."
Manabu's eyes widened in shock, while Horikita's cheeks flushed crimson with embarrassment. "What the hell is that pervert saying?!" she exclaimed. Ayanokoji, seeking to avoid any awkward gazes, glanced in another direction, silently processing the unexpected situation.
Manabu regained his composure after the initial shock, adjusting his glasses before turning his attention to Horikita. "I see. I wasn't aware of the relationship between you and my sister. Perhaps I judged too quickly, and she is changing after all," he remarked, his tone more measured now. "I suppose I have no reason to say n-"
"WE ARE NOT IN A RELATIONSHIP AND NEVER WILL BE IN ONE." Horikita yelled, her voice tinged with indignation and losing her cool as she was with her brother.
Manabu felt a pang of disappointment, though he kept his emotions well-hidden. Meanwhile, Yuto, stuck his tongue out and rubbed the back of his head with a cheeky grin. "Well, it was worth a try!" he quipped, his tone light-hearted despite the tension that surrounded him. Inwardly, Yuto was devastated. Horikita's words had dealt a crushing blow to his willpower. However, he could change that. Given some time. He hoped for it atleast.
Yuto paused, allowing his words to sink in before continuing.
"I have no reason to lie to my brother-in-law," he asserted. "I scored low on the entrance exam intentionally, hoping to dissuade my mom from sending me to this school. She only warned me not to return if I failed, and I figured the lowest mark possible would do the trick. Clearly, it didn't." He sighed, reflecting on his failed strategy.
"As for the quiz, I thought pretending to be a retard would make so that lesser people would talk to me. Obviously, that plan backfired."
The group was left dumbfounded by the absurdity of Yuto's explanations. Manabu cleared his throat, breaking the silence. "I see. Let's leave it here for today," he stated tersely before walking off without another word.
As soon as Manabu left, Horikita approached Yuto, her hair cascading to overshadow her eyes.
"Oh, Suzune-chan, mind explaining the context behind this encounter?" Yuto asked with a smile, but Horikita ignored him.
"Suzune-chan?" Yuto repeated, puzzled. Suddenly, Horikita punched him in the gut. Despite Yuto's attempt to brace himself and lessen the impact, he still partially felt the force of the impact and gasped, "How hard did she hit me?"
Yuto exaggerated the punch by stumbling onto the ground, hoping to avoid any further retaliation from Horikita. He sprawled on the ground, groaning softly as he glanced up at her, hoping his act would be convincing enough to deter her from any further aggression.
Looking up, he saw Horikita with a flushed face. "Idiot..." she muttered under her breath.
Yuto's face turned red as he thought, 'Cute..'
Ayanokoji stood awkwardly nearby, observing the scene unfolding between Yuto and Horikita. He couldn't help but feel a twinge of anger at Yuto's antics, a sensation he hadn't exprienced in his life. "To think he could make me feel a hint of annoyance," Ayanokoji mused silently. "It certainly is interesting...."
CREATORS' THOUGHTS
kreakerss
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