…

It seems that I'm not the only one that has a bad case of sleepwalking anymore…

"Haku, what just happened here…?"

"Meow… (Ojou scared the crap out of me… Would you be scared if someone suddenly crawls on our window?!)"

"Yeah… Even that'll catch me off guard."

‹Gin›

I literally just woke up and came down to heat up some water and this is what I come up to my room…

Yeah, sure, it's no biggie if I suddenly see her loitering around the living room especially at this time of the day, but there's no way I'm getting used to this! I know that I sometimes become a gorilla when I'm asleep, but how does one cross someone's house and sleep in there…? This better happen once and only this time…

In more ways than one this is stressing me out.

…

That took her a while to wake up, or at least that's what I'm hoping for. She finally started moving around and is showing signs of consciousness. Weakly, she got up with a yawn and… stayed silent for a second while I'm here watching her hair slowly come down. By the time she opened her eyes… It felt almost as if I can hear her eyelids shutting with a loud sound, and her face suddenly reddened.

I would be lying if I didn't say that her clumsy actions are a bit entertaining on my end.

But then, when she was finally prompting to move, she went on her knees and kowtowed.

"I'm really, REALLY sorry about this."

You know, I think me being on the floor defeats the purpose of her gesture, seeing that she is in an elevation.

"…

Why are you on the floor anyway, Potato…?"

Indeed, and with a blanket under me.

"You pick up habits that you shouldn't really get unless you're living with a smart cat. This, milady, is really comfy though."

It was an unconscious. But is it really that or am I too observant of Haku to the point that I'm starting to understand their instinct? Well, he did teach me some ways of how cats move. I just don't know about this one.

"Well, wasn't that quite a show you had there, Rin."

"I think I was having a dream…"

"O-Oh…"

"Do you know the feeling when it's late at night and you realize that your eyes are starting to close off but you keep fighting it, then when you go to sleep it feels so good and then you immediately fall asleep?"

"Oh, yes. Either way feels nice."

"I miss that feeling and then I dreamed about it and then… and then…"

"For one, nothing really triggers my sleepwalking. I don't remember what I do though."

"That sounds like some hammered guy who doesn't remember the things he did when he was all out drunk last night."

"Hey, your vocabulary is getting weird."

…

"Mmmm…! I miss garlic sausages…"

"How come you can sleep so well even in this heat anyway? I'm jealous."

"I think you're just sensitive to the heat, Potato," she said while tying her hair mid-breakfast.

"Have you ever tried tying all of your hair to a ponytail?"

"I actually haven't. Even if I do, I will just look like an entirely different person.

Ah, wait. Not the whole of it but I do brush it up sometimes when I tie them."

"We've been in this for five years and how come I'm only hearing that now…? I demand to see it!"

"No, I'll punch you."

"I don't care how many ora ora I take, I want to see it."

"Mehhh, when I feel like it. You asked too late this time.

How about you cut your hair now?"

"What if I said no even if you're so looking forward to seeing my silver and short hair combo for so long?"

"I hate how you can get through me…"

"Hate to say on my weekend, but I'll be out for the day today. It's so hot…"

"Ehhh, that's new. You never make any plans so what's up?"

"Just an outing with the men. We rented a pool but I don't really know how many we are, honestly."

"Well, nothing really comes out of an organized plan so that's good."

"How about you? Any excursions with Minase or Chiba?"

"Maybe we should… It would be nice to go on a trip to Payns this time of the year. I'm not sure how my savings are holding out though…"

"You haven't posted a personal update on our TAC page yet?"

"I plan on doing it later today. It's just the start of May so I still have some time.

…

Looking at comments though… seems like people are making their OTP…"

"What…? That's hilarious but still weird. Did they by chance found out?"

"Can't jump to conclusions but internet is a huge place. I think they also got a hint on conventions we attended."

"Makes sense."

"Bothered by it?"

"Why should I? We're not celebrities and like we ever post any chummy things on social media. The world doesn't need to know that we're together."

"Right, riiiight~? That's what I wanted to hear. But anyway, they either know now or they're just making assumptions at this point."

"And this is where we're not going to answer when we're asked. Can't believe that we actually have over a hundred thousand people looking at our works."

"Firstly, who would've thought that a bunch of high school students will get noticed on the internet anyway?"

"If anything, it's been many years since TAC and we never really had any objectives apart from being commercially available. Maybe we should be more proactive?"

"Hmm, I don't really think the majority of us can think of it a lot these days, but we'll get into that later. What do you have in mind anyway?"

"It's simply trying to make the industry bigger to some extent and putting people out of unemployment. I'm talking strictly talking about those artists that got dumped by society and was forced to do something else."

"That's something that I don't really hear from you everyday."

"Just some fleeting thought. We're fortunate enough that we learned quite well, but that doesn't apply to everyone. That said, even if try to I can't be so selfless."

"Hahh… Sometimes I don't really get you."

~ ~ ~

"Heeeeey. Took you long enough."

When I said that I didn't really know how many we are, or who exactly we are going with in this little get-together, I mean it. Little did I know that this is going to be an all sorts of combination with things being all over the place.

In front of me is G, Aomine, Hoshino, Obi… and Kuroko? This group is really unusual.

"If you take off your cap, we'll definitely get blinded."

"Yo, we now actually have a gradient, huh?” suddenly, a random thought from G.

But then he stood with me and Kuroko and prompted our juniors to look at us. How slow of me—we are indeed a gradient, hilarious as it is. G has black hair, I have gray, and Kuroko has white.

"Actually, does having white hair actually help cool off your head?"

"I guess…? It doesn't really absorb heat.

But I see you two got your hair cut, huh?"

"Yeah, are you going to grow it out again, G?"

"Nah, it's annoying. But isn't this your first time with a short hair with that head?"

"Yeah, and I'll stand out if I have my usual."

Actually, how did we end up talking about our hair again?

"Anyone here who actually knows what we'll do for today?"

"We actually wanted to play golf, but it's too hot," Hoshino scratched his cheek, "but anyway, we'll probably do some sports."

"Come to think of it, I've never really played any sport outside PE, huh."

"Let's try golfing once it's fall, that is if it doesn't rain."

In the not so far distance, we heard a horn of an MPV approaching us with Nagi's face showing up from the driver seat while the window goes down.

"One, two, three, uhh… I guess we're complete. We better get going!"

"Rock paper scissors, loser has to drive," Kuroko suggested.

"Okay, shoooot."

I lost.

So apparently we have two minivans that were lent to us for free for an hour of travel towards the north of Cotona just shy of where Kyohei-san lives on the mountain. Well, this time we're only going on a hill.

As for the reason this happened… does it really need one? Sure this is some kind of a reunion especially since the ones in Nagi's four wheels are Yuuga, Mori, Akira, Jean, and surprisingly, Ryota. Once more, this grouping in its entirety is really odd as if we just gathered up people we know all over the place. Well, that might actually be the case. But at least I'm in good terms with all of them. Sure, one of them had already tried to kill me, but pff, who cares, man?

"No one puts a banger song on the playlist or else we'll crash."

"Gin, you can't spell vibing from driving."

"Well, I have many near death experience so I wouldn't mind if you guys join me."

Needless to say, our three kouhai at the back got scared, but we got into our destination in one piece, thankfully.

Wait.

( ☉_☉)

I haven't even gotten out of the car let alone let go of the pedal and I can immediately see a rather large contemporary house from the window. Is this actually rented, I asked myself.

But it just felt more real the closer we get to it to the moment we stepped inside. I however have to make myself clear—I think like an old man, therefore I don't really like contemporary architecture. "Never give me a design with walls as glass planes. I understand that it lets out more natural light and makes the house somewhat open, that is, for burglars. This is Orio, my good sir," is what I will probably tell to an architect if I were to build my own house. He wouldn't like me. But as for an exception, I would probably put a window on the direction of the east so it will be bright in the mornings, but not an entire wall.

Even if it's made from AMM I would still feel very uncomfortable. I don't really know if this has basis but this type of houses looks like it is for socialization. Aside from the subjectivity though, I love this house.

Should I just start a podcast talking about my hot takes and arguing with guests about it? Sadly, that already exists.

"So, who actually organized this spectacle?"

"Well," Nagi started, "I was already planning some kind of get-together in a while now but things coincided with my work and this happened."

"Yes, yes, I'm working with Nagi this time," Kuroko added. "I have connections so I was able to borrow this rest house from a friend in the south of the country. We're filming here tomorrow so it works out."

"Ehhh, are you now directing outside plays?"

"Just this once. I brought Obi to help out."

"You sure nothing's really going on with him and your sister?" I whispered.

"Nothing, but he's a good guy so I'll be happy if she picks him.

Anyway, we can't really lend rooms right now but we'll just be here for a short while. Care for some exercise, everyone?"

Then he led us at the back of the plot which revealed a covered basketball court and quite a large pool under a glass roof.

"You sure you're gonna be fine?" I asked with a hint of doubt.

"I've gotten over my illnesses, okay? I'm tougher than I look."

"If you say so."

We are twelve people in total so it just goes by logic that two of us will be on bench in the meantime, but sike, this is all fun and games so there's really no need for ten people inside the court. Two substitutes just won't be enough so we settle with a 4v4. Anyway I asked who among us brought shoes and only four of them showed a pair and I wasn't even in that. We Orions are basically professionals at not getting your feet hurt with sandals or slippers on.

"Alriiiight, I'll have Ryota and G on my team."

"Shut your trap, Gin! We're clearly at a disadvantage with that! You're not getting either of them!"

"Have you played street ball anyway, Gin?" asked Akira.

"Sure, sure. I go with my coworkers from time to time. It's hard to hold back dunking."

"Understandable, have a nice day."

Meanwhile, Hoshino and Obi found Aomine sighing on the side.

"Something up?"

"It's easy to forget when things came and went so suddenly. We're actually dealing with freaks here, right…?"

Even with a vague utterance, the two recalled the incident that happened in Presto.

"Sure, Yuka Gin is an Exile but that's not even the point…"

"Don't say it, Hoshino… I'm scared enough from thinking of that."

"Will the three of us be alright…?"

"I hope we'll be home alive."

~ ~ ~

Honestly though, I don't think the basketball culture here is really rich or potent. Sure, the leagues here are quite mainstream and the flagship team has gotten to the world cup several times, but its impact is not as big as the other countries. It can probably put to just outside of the niche category as it is getting more known; well, it is still bigger than Orio's otaku culture. That said, it's still neither big nor small.

On the other hand, I may look like a center among this twelve for being six feet tall but on the grand scheme of things, I would probably just be a guard, really. Nonetheless, I may have the height advantage but I just know how to play the sport.

I then got teamed up with Yuuga, Mori and Obi as it seems that the other side took my joking proposition seriously and got Kuroko, Ryota and G on Akira's side while the remaining four are on standby. I gave an immediate no on the jump ball for obvious reasons and just let anyone of them to take the tap. And so it was between G and Mori. The ball was tossed, and… someone got too excited.

To no surprise, G managed to get the ball to his palm and immediately launched it to their ring… which actually went in.

"Stop flexing!"

3-0

Finally, the pace began in a slow pace with Obi gently taking the ball to our half court. As to our places, Yuuga and Obi are on support while I am waiting inside the paint hoping that they would pass it to me.

A/N: My word writing this feels weird somehow.

Then the ball went to Yuuga which suddenly did a run and gun to go towards me with a safe pass which I made sure that I have the opportunity to get an easy drop, if only G was not there ready to block me head on.

But it felt as though someone was whispering to my head "give me the ball" and threw it back to the three-point line where Mori was waiting and threw a ringless quick release.

3-3

Then again, I don't think this will ever be just a normal game. If you have three people that has physical abilities that is beyond normal, this can only become a battlefield. And sure enough, G and Ryota are releasing splashes left, right, and center against Mori's greatly marked three-pointers, yet we're still losing. It's hard to probe how much I should output when there are actually people here that will not fly off if I tackle them, which is why I am still confused.

28-21

But talking about Kuroko, while it does not run through the veins, he is also a fast runner just like her sister. Well, he is probably smarter than anyone in this court and he can make plays quite quickly, no pun intended. But this is street ball. Conventional rules do not really apply to this game. And one sly move that I have is a vuvuzela on my feet. When the opponent is at a fast break, I tend to disturb their senses a bit by stomping my feet rather loudly when I run; and it works. Another thing is covering the face of the opponent instead of blocking when shooting, but it appears that it's common knowledge at this point.

I suppose they have their own qualities. Obi has a good handle on the ball, Yuuga has weird ways of passing, Akira is good at feints, and Aomine who just subbed in for us is a well-balanced guy. If anything, I would probably be the one who sucks the most while I only have my own tactics. I can't really run to a blur with the ball with me otherwise I'd call a traveling violation for myself, so I'm still trying to avoid using my cheats.

So while I can't really compensate with my subpar shooting, I can at least open a path to those who can actually score a bunch. Most of them know of what I can do, so I can act as a bait while I give them an opening.

The best I can do is give a former assassin an ankle-breaker and at least score.

65-59

Being a final boss doesn't mean you're unbeatable. What a prideful thing to say, I should really rephrase that. Anyway, our team still lost in the end just before getting lunch.

I guess one regret of mine is never getting to play with them back in high school, because I never really joined when they try to invite me.

That's the price for not having a life of youth, huh.

No one really fancies to cook among us, not even me, and so we just settled to eat out somewhere while wandering around the town without using the maps. Huzzah, we found ourselves inside a Mexican restaurant whose menu is quite big.

"Excuse me, we'll get the Giant's Mouth."

The waitress got shocked, needless to say for the context that "Giant's Mouth" is a burrito that is supposed to be three feet long and width that is the circumference of my palm. But I'm not the carnivorous monster that I know I am this time around. I may be able to eat it entirely, but that's not the point. If I still a bit peckish, I can still order something for my own. But be that as it may, I still have to watch on my intake of meat even if my capacity is higher than normal. I will immediately feel it in the back of my neck if I did and I'm basically out for the count.

But with that out of the way, it's chow time.

"Oh, yeah, didn't know you're quite good at the sport, Mori."

"I guess. I used to play parasports, well, I still do. It's mostly with sensory disabled people but I also play on a wheelchair sometimes. I had to tie my legs to prevent it from moving unconsciously."

"So that's why you still had really good shooting form in compromised situations earlier…" Nagi mumbled.

"That's that, but I'm not really good at other plays."

"Kuroko though… were you a sprinter?"

"At least give me some credit on my fast legs, Gin. I'm at least indifferent."

"Anyway, you were saying? You're shooting a film here?"

"Ah, that. 10bit channel is actually collaborating with me for a film they are working on. That's when I met Nagi and explained my situation."

"Wait… am I hearing this right…?" Hoshino shuddered, "Yuka Nagi is working with 10bit?!"

"Part time though. I'm mostly a backup producer. I don't really hold the cameras but I sometimes make the sets and setup the lights. It's good experience for my course.

I don't really know if it's a good choice but I'm considering of dropping out if I actually get enough work experience while studying."

"Oh, right. In the same sense, question to you, G, how are your plans doing?"

"Oh that… If I'm trying to rush in my case, I hate to say this but doing well is not really enough. It's really stressful even in IIAT but this is what I chose to do and it seems to be paying off.

Are we going to see a common trend here, Kuroko?"

"I didn't. As much as the three of us hates it, people will only look at you when you have exceptional proficiency.

As for you artists, I would probably punch someone on your behalf if they call you a printer."

"You know… you have a gentle face but you're scary."

~ ~ ~

Abruptly after that, we went back to the rest house to wash away the sweat on the showers just next to the pool itself.

It hasn't happened in a while… so I, or all of us kind of forgot.

"So they really are identical huh…" and it seems that our scars has caught the interest of a writer while the jaws of the other five that do not know about them dropped to the ground.

"At this point, we don't care anymore if someone see it as long as we know them. Hahh…"

"Not like I'm that different, really," Ryota also sighed revealing a torso full of scars over a developed build.

"Now that's what I would call battle scars."

Including the mark of the shrapnel on his left arm.

But then Akira stepped in to straight out their visions.

"Sorry about this sight. It sure is a shock seeing this, well, we have the same reaction when we first found out, but that was several years ago so it's nothing new. Sorry but you'll have to get used to this."

"So this is the reason why G suggested a wound like that in one of the fighting sequences in my manga…" Yuuga butted in.

"Oh, I remember seeing that. So that's why it felt so familiar.

But to quote from Rabumonogatari, 'Don't try to remove someone's appendix.'"

An appendix—having no apparent function is still present in the body. In a sense, or in the context of Yuuga's work, the appendix symbolizes a side of a person that exists, but is meant to not be seen by anyone, and "removing the appendix" is forcing that side out, or prying yourself to someone's circumstances.

"You guys don't have to worry about anything. Look at them."

"I know I can't swim but caaaaaaannonbaaaaaaall."

"You should have done a belly flop, Gin…!"

"Ehhh, I heard that it hurts. Don't wanna. I'm in the water anyway."

"Then how about we make a wave pool out of this?"

"Oooohhhh! Good idea. You stay on that side then I'll go there. Kuroko, is this pool sturdy?"

"It has to be if it at least costs something like a million Laxes."

"Isn't that good? Then be our first guinea pig."

"Try not to kill me please. Gin is probably going to marry before me but I also want to have a wife and a family."

"Sure thing. Sanity knows restraints."

"Eyyy, let me iiiiiin."

If anyone actually has an image of Mori to be reserved and somewhat collected, that's not really the case, although even we don't really see him lively a lot of times even when he has regained his sight. At least, it has been so long since he became more open.

~ ~ ~

"Uwooohhhh, this stuff is making me look like a caveman."

"First time using a starter?"

"Y-Yeah… I can try to make fire with manual friction quite quickly, but this is fast, Kuroko.

If only I knew there was brisket in the fridge I would have smoked it the first thing when we arrived here…!!"

"You say that, but you and Jean seems like you just cheated this meat earlier."

"We'll know once we try it later. It wouldn't be as good as a slow-cook but this will be good enough."

"Ever thought about something like this ever happening in your life, Gin?"

"Come on, I'm through with that phase already. I'll only reserve my comments when I'm with Rin. I'm getting old for saying things like that."

"Ahahaha, I guess so.

Anyway, I'm not really one to speak my mind but I'm basically talking to my self here so…"

"Heeeey, G! Can you watch the meat with Jean on the grill? I'll rest for a bit."

"Coming."

"Not really sure if it's something serious but it's more interesting if we talk in my mind, don't you think?"

"…

Sure thing."

…

"Pardon my intrusion.

Oh, wow. Now that's really enigmatic, my good sir."

Was that really your first time doing that? Man, you're a natural. So what was it that you want to discuss?

"I'm just realizing it now but what I said earlier at the pool might only be half a joke."

We are coincidences. While we can't and don't literally read our thoughts, we share a common wavelength that makes us grasp what the other is thinking without much context, as it has always been. In this case, I could immediately feel the loneliness on his tone, which just only hints to one thing.

To fill the void, Kuroko is an uncommon individual—having pure white hair and red eyes, he is associated to vampiric concepts which although is factually a fictional thesis. On the other side of the spectrum, Rin is also one of a kind. To put a sense to it, Kuroko is frankly different in a way that is not very pleasing to the almost unanimous eyes of this world; while Rin is someone that has a strong resolve to accept an error like me.

Putting two and two, I can roughly infer that he is talking about the difficulty of having a partner in his life.

"I'm probably sure that you're aligning things together but I'll say it anyway. I want to live alongside the Exiles for the purpose that we are probably both thinking.

I don't really want to say this, but if I just left my situation to go its way naturally without a stimulation, then I'll just die old by myself. When in Rome, do what the Romans do. I never wanted to become a 'human' to begin with if the first half of my life is just oppression. Sad as it may be, I trust people less than you do, Gin.

The only place I belong to is my family and the place of our fellows that are oppressed. And I know that you are not taking Ban Tobei's warning with a grain of salt. It isn't the world that is our enemy, but the people that is the same as HRCH.

But just like any of you, I just want a quiet life. If there is anyone that I would fall in love with, then I'm pretty sure that it would only be an Exile. Our own family—isn't that what the two of us wishes for the most?"

It was as though I was hearing myself talk in front of me. But in another way, what is happening is quite literally painful, yet he was still able to keep himself. It was the same thing for me even after I have seen Eijiro's life. I know I have seen them, but when they come back especially at large, it is hard to keep my head straight. And for him who just up and entered this mind arbitrarily for the first time, it almost appeared like the gravity was simulated in this gray room.

…

Just don't go for my cousin, you hear that?

"Is that Gin talking, or her father?"

I sure know how he would feel about that but I'm not talking on his behalf.

"I got you."

I'll arrange things with Tenth. Are you going to be a resurfaced?

"Yeah. I'll still live with Rei and my parents."

Then that settles that. I've already had a good nap thanks to this so I'd want to eat some meat.

"Doesn't seem like it uses a lot of energy so I'll see you later this midnight."

"Don't stay for too long though. I have work tomorrow."

▪ ▪ ▪

"I'm hoooooome…"

"Oh, you're back, Potato," naturally, I would see Rin lazing around my couch.

"I left ten hours ago with you here and came home with the same scene. So you have time on your hands."

"How was it today?"

"Did some things I should have done when I was a teenager. 'Twas fun."

"That's a relief."

"By the way, do you usually talk with Reina in your mental space?"

I had no choice but to sit on my floor since she's taking all of the space.

"We're just floating around for the most part, but yeah…"

"I see. Do you actually think that you two speak or think really similarly?"

"Hmm, she's a bit more collected than I do but I think we talk in the same way."

"Kuroko got his first experience. He's one amazing man to still be standing on his feet."

"Heeehhh, was it just for fun?"

"Can't answer that on his behalf, but we'll declare him an Exile soon. Things happened."

"Well, he fits the description so it's not really shocking. But good for him."

"Better for him, I hope."

"Ah, there's going to be a fireworks display in five days. Can you come with me?"

"Ahhhh, I miss the air of matsuri. I hope some people at least prop up a food stall."

"Want to go on a jinbei?"

"Heck no. We'll stick out like a sore thumb.

But let's go some time in Japan so I can see you on a yukata."

"Nanami-san sure is talented…"

"Yeah.

Now I want some takoyaki."

"That's so random. Actually, should we make ice cream mochi for the family dinner?"

"Good idea. I think I ate too much meat today."

"What's with that burrito anyway-"

She stopped in the middle of her sentence and got up silently and lazily stared at my face, rather closely.

"I can't believe this…

Did you actually get tanned?"