Haizaki Quits

If someone were to ask what they thought of Haizaki Shogo, they would reply with one word.

｢ Violent. ｣

The other things like his basketball skills, or his starter position at the reigning champions, were not even mentioned.

Haizaki Shogo's violent tendencies were so prominent that all his other qualities were drowned out by that one aspect of him.

Haizaki was regularly involved in fights with students of other schools, bullying of the students at his own school, going as far as to fighting with someone who just grazed him while walking by.

Even on the court, Haizaki was so violent that Hanamiya Makoto would have loved to have him on his team.

Since their victory in the last year's nationals, Haizaki had started to play rough on the court. His usual trash-talking had turned into playing rough to the limit.

Teiko's reputation as the strongest team had taken a hit, and another label was added to Teiko's basketball team, which was violent and oppressive.

More than half a year of Haizaki playing his usual style for Teiko had cemented them with the new label.

Teiko's own members were unsatisfied with Haizaki's behavior, he regularly skipped practice and ordered around his juniors as his errand boys.

And now the new captain of Teiko's first-string was going to address the first task on his agenda, that was to eliminate Haizaki Shogo from Teiko Middle School basketball.

-*-*-*-*-*-*-

It was during the lunch break that Akashi called Haizaki to the first-strings gym for a talk.

If it had been anybody else on the team, he would've told them to bug off and ignored them.

But this was Akashi, and except Nijimura, he was the only one that Haizaki perceived as dangerous.

Haizaki showed up ten minutes late than the asked time and found the cold faced Akashi standing in the shadows, leaning on one of the walls of the gym.

Akashi noticed Haizaki's entrance and spoke.

Akashi: "You're late."

Akashi's voice echoed in the empty gym and sounded louder than he had spoken.

Haizaki: "Hmm..."

That was all Haizaki spoke to Akashi's question.

Haizaki observed Akashi, who was in front of him and found that this was not the same Akashi that he usually interacted with.

Haizaki walked forward towards Akashi and asked.

Haizaki: "So, why did you call me. I am busy, so it would be great if you make it quick."

Akashi looked at Haizaki and stated the reason that he called him here for.

Akashi: "Haizaki, quit the basketball club."

Haizaki, who had just reached Akashi, stopped in his track and looked at Akashi, who just had uttered the short sentence that shocked him.

He took a few seconds to process what Akashi had said, and finally registered it, with the realization came anger.

An angered expression came to Haizaki's face as he asked.

Haizaki: "Huh? Akashi, what the hell did you just say?"

He grabbed Akashi's collar and pulled him close. Akashi didn't resist and let himself be pulled.

Akashi: "Quit the basketball club. This is an order."

Haizaki shook Akashi by his collar as he said.

Haizaki: "What in the world are you talking about?!"

Akashi calmly spoke.

Akashi: "I am actually thinking in your favor. Your behavior is far from commendable, but you have contributed to Teiko's victories to date."

Akashi looked into Haizaki's eyes as he spoke.

Akashi: "But you won't be able to win against Kise. In the near future, he'll take your place as a starter.

When that happens, you will leave anyways, as you're full of pride.

Why not leave before you are embarrassed in front of the whole club."

Haizaki couldn't believe the bullshit Akashi was spouting.

Haizaki: "You are saying that I am going to have something taken away from me?"

Akashi looked like he didn't care and continued.

Akashi: "Sonner or later. In either case, the end result will not change."

Haizaki was beyond angry, but a part of his mind told him not to start a fight with Akashi.

Haizaki pushed Akashi away and walked away without saying a word.

-*-*-*-*-*-*-

A few days later, the basketball club got the news about Haizaki Shogo quitting the club.

Aomine, who heard the news, took it pretty well.

Aomine: "I see... So Haizaki quit after all. Guess it can't be helped."

Kuroko, who heard that couldn't help but speak.

Kuroko: "Isn't that a bit cold-hearted?"

Aomine turned back to look at Kuroko and said.

Aomine: "You talking to him didn't help, right? Then all I can say is it can't be helped."

Kuroko had found out that Haizaki was quitting the club, and had tried to stop him from doing that.

-*-*-*-*-*-*-

(Flashback)

Kuroko was looking for Haizaki and found him near the incinerator behind the school.

Kuroko ran to find him standing in front of the incinerator with his basketball shoes.

Kuroko panted as he called out to Haizaki.

Kuroko: "Haizaki-kun!"

Haizaki, who was going to burn his shoes, turned back to see Kuroko.

Haizaki: "Huh? Well, if it isn't Tetsuya."

Kuroko looked at Haizaki and asked if the rumors were true.

Kuroko: "Is it true that you are quitting the team?"

Haizaki confirmed Kuroko's doubt.

Haizaki: "Yeah, what of it?"

Kuroko couldn't believe his ears and argued with Haizaki.

Kuroko: "You have such an amazing talent, so why?"

Haizaki laughed when he heard that.

Haizaki: "More like why did you come out here? Are you dumb?

It's not like you are all chummy with me."

Kuroko shook his head and spoke.

Kuroko: "That is not the issue here."

Haizaki clicked his tongue and turned back to the incinerator.

Haizaki: "Shut up... I just got bored with it. That's all there is to it, idiot."

Haizaki looked at Kuroko with the corner of his eyes as he gave reasons.

Haizaki: "It's tiring, I end up reeking of sweat... It is much more fun to be fooling around with girls."

Kuroko didn't believe one word that came out of Haizaki's mouth.

Kuroko: "Is that how you really feel, Haizaki-kun."

Haizaki turned to Kuroko as he said.

Haizaki: "You are really an idiot.

Did you actually think that deep down, I was a serious guy or something?"

Haizaki scoffed as he turned back to the incinerator and chucked his basketball shoes into it.

Kuroko gasped as he saw the shoes burning.

Haizaki spoke once more as he remembered his talk with Akashi.

Haizaki: "There really are bad guys... and scary guys out there."

Haizaki looked at his burning shoes for a while and then walked away.

Haizaki: "See ya."

As he walked away, Haizaki spoke.

Haizaki: "Don't you even think about something off-base as sympathy."

He raised his hand to wave goodbye and mocked.

Haizaki: "It's not out of the question for you guys who stay end up in a more pitful situation than me."

Haizaki had seen Akashi, and he knew that Akashi was like a scorpion, who would sting anyone near him, and drag them down to misery.

(Flashback End)

-*-*-*-*-*-*-

As Kuroko came out of his memory of his talk with Haizaki, he heard Midorima speak.

Midorima: "Haizaki is one full of pride.

If we or our senpai talked to him, we would only, in fact, achieve the opposite effect."

Kuroko still thought that if more members tried, thenHaizaki would have stayed.

Kuroko: "However-"

He wasn't able to complete his sentence when Nijimura interrupted.

Nijimura: "Jeez... Don't be so naive. We're teammates, but at the same time, we're rivals.

When did you get so great that you can worry about others? If you have time to look back, go run!"

Nijimura wanted the discussion to end. He was the one that had to deal with the problems that Haizaki made, but that also made Haizaki the closest junior among the ones that he had in the club.

He didn't want to talk about it, so he stopped it.

Kuroko sighed as he remembered Haizaki burning his basketball shoes and let the matter close.