The sound of shoe soles squeaking against the sleek parquet echoed in the gymnasium. From his seat on the bench, Akihito could hear the thumping of the ball as it rhythmically hit the wooden floor.

He inhaled the fresh morning air that blended with the light scent of sweat. The odor was strange, unusual, he wasn't used to it yet.

Unlike the theatre club, the basketball club wasn't bustling with voices early in the morning. There wasn't any sound of rehearsals or moving prompts, only the dull noise of the basketball hitting the floor blended with the taunts and jeers of the players.

Golden eyes followed with rapt attention as the ball bounced around, they flashed with doubt.

Wasn't that a foul?

He mentally shook his head, unsure. Maybe his eyes were tricking him, or perhaps he remembered the rules wrongly, either way, Akihito focused back on the game.

His eyes darted from one side to another, never leaving the ball as he carefully committed the players' playing style to his mind. Precisely, the tells before a pass, a dribble, a three-pointer, a dunk, etc.

Who knew? What if one day he was asked to play a basketball player? What if one day he needed to create a tell for his character?

It could always come in handy.

Akihito's eyes flashed in recognition. This time he was sure, he hadn't seen wrong. Not now, not before, Hanamiya's game was sketchy.

He tilted his head in wonder, leaning back to grab his schoolbag, he pulled his bag closer to himself before taking a thick, used book from it.

It was a— gift, or so he unconsciously liked to think, from Tetsuya.

In large, bold, white letter font, on an eye-catching yellow background, stood the title "Basketball for Noobs."

Akihito hadn't taken the naming to heart, Tetsuya had told him that 'noob' was just another way to call out a beginner. And who else but him was more fit to be called a beginner?

His fingers quickly flipped through the pages as he looked out for the rules. Maybe he would need to buy an official guide, where the basketball rules and basketball guidelines were recorded.

He would ask Tetsuya, the boy probably had one in his collection.

Reaching his desired section, a ghost of a frown adorned Akihito's poker face.

So, it was a foul.

His eyes flicked upward to gaze at the ongoing game before flicking downward to stare at the rules, in turn.

Wasn't fouling a bad thing though?

He would ask Mako-chan. Mako-chan would know best. After all, he was the one who had played for the longest time.

"A foul?"

Akihito gave a silent nod as he pushed the manual in Hanamiya's hands. "See, it's written right there," he pointed out with his finger.

Hanamiya first raised an eyebrow at the book, 'Basketball for Noobs', unexpected yet not so much when he thought back on who the blue head was. Snorting, he looked down to read the pointed out line.

"Ooh," he drawled, feigning surprise. "That," a wicked smile crept up his face as his eyes carelessly read the line over. "Don't sweat the details, Akihito. It's not called a foul if you don't get caught."

"It's— not?"

Hara, who eavesdropped on the conversation, nodded in turn, agreeing with the raven's statement, he bore a large Cheshire grin. "Right it isn't, Kuroko. Everyone does it," he assessed with a cackle.

Akihito blinked, his golden eyes slid to look straight at the silver head's overly long bangs. He didn't bother to acknowledge Hara's discomfort at his staring, long used to it.

"Is that so," he acknowledged, seemingly convinced. Tetsuya hadn't told him about this side of the game. Well, he wasn't omniscient, he probably forgot. He paused. "But I saw, so isn't it a foul? Since I caught you?"

Hanamiya's grin stretched, at least Akihito had learned not to thoughtlessly accept his every word. That was progress.

"But you're on the team," he easily countered. "It doesn't count since we're on the same side," he kindly explained.

Akihito showed a rare frown, highlighting his confusion. He wasn't sure that Hanamiya's words were right. But, at the same time, his explanation seemed logical? He nodded in understanding.

Hanamiya beamed at the blue's acknowledgment. His hand went to friendly pat the blue head's shoulder.

Ah, such an easily deceived puppy, he mused, his eyes crinkling in mild appreciation as he gazed into the shorter's eyes.

Sure, he found the teen's deceivable nature a bit annoying at some first, but recently Hanamiya found himself liking this side of the boy more and more.

He found it endearing.

He was like a blank canvas, devoid of any smudge, ready to be painted in colors— his colors.

Hanamiya refrained the shiver that threatened to crawl up his spine. It was so exciting.

He had never thought much of his mother's overly enthusiastic personality when it came to education. Of how despondent she became when he emancipated himself and how passionate she turned when she laid eyes on Akihito.

It turned out that she already knew the exhilaration one could get from leaving their trace.

Opening his gourd, Hanamiya took a gulp. "Either way, Akihito, we need your help to refine our playing style," he said, more or less diverting the subject.

Akihito perked up at those words. His eyes brightened, gleaming with barely repressed excitation. "Really? What do you need me to do, Mako-chan?" he inquired.

Hanamiya narrowed his eyes. A little puppy, he could almost see him wagging his tail happily as if eagerly expecting his master's next orders.

He chuckled. "It isn't anything complicated, see the chair there?" he rhetorically asked, waving his hand the said chair's way.

Akihito curtly nodded, his golden eyes deeply focused on the seat, as if it would disappear the moment he blinked.

"I want you to sit here and tell me when you see us—" he paused his words, his eyes looking up as if searching for a less crude way to put his thoughts into words. "Foul," he finished, settling for the most direct approach.

It was Akihito he was talking to, he knew the boy wouldn't take offense or question his wording no matter how crude or overly flowery it was.

Akihito hummed, his golden eyes slid to look at Hanamiya before gazing past him at the rest of the team who was watching them. His lips quirked up in a small unnoticeable smile, he nodded.

"Sure, Mako-chan, that seems feasible."

Hanamiya chuckled. "Good, good," he set his water bottle down and clapped his hands to get his teammates' attention. "Okay, let's get back to it," he instructed. "Watch us carefully, Akihito," he indicated.

Akihito's eyes glinted with a light he didn't quite understand. "Mhm!"