Disclaimer: I don't own Kuroko no basuke characters. And I write this here only once.

Author's note: Hello there. English is not my first language, so sorry for mistakes. This is my second fic.

It will be closely connected to my story 'Would you dare?'. My OCs will be in both stories, but I'll try to introduce everyone properly, so even if you don't read 'Would you dare?', it shouldn't be too confusing. It should be a slow burn again, so I hope it won't be too rushed (as much as I'd love to catch up with the other fic, I can't do that for now).

I just thought that Kiku and Wakamatsu deserve their own fic so... enjoy.

Haters and bullies are always cowards, you know. They like to pick on little guys. ― Scylar Tyberius, Sebastian the Great

Don't give up now, chances are your best kiss your hardest laugh and your greatest day are still yet to come ― Atticus Poetry, Love Her Wild

Each sunrise brings a new day filled with new hopes for a new beginning. ― Debasish Mridha

Only I can change my life. No one can do it for me. – Carol Burnett

Sometimes it's the smallest decisions that can change your life forever. – Keri Russell

Junior-high school 1st year:

"Why do you need shoes when you can't walk in them? You trip over your own feet!" A vicious girl from her class screeched at her as she threw her shoes into garbage and set it on fire.

Kiku was just standing there barefoot, held by two other girls, watching as her favourite pair of shoes got destroyed. And she knew it was only a start. They'd probably blame her for the mess too. She glared at them.

"Oh? You want to say something?"

"Go to hell." Kiku said quietly.

SLAP.

Her head turned to a side under the leader's hand. It wasn't as strong as it could've been. Defiance was burning in Kiku's chocolate brown eyes. So she was clumsy, and?

That was the very first meeting of Kiku and the three girls, who had turned her junior-high school life into a nightmare. Disgusting nightmare of solitude, suffering and pain. Kiku turned from a normal girl into a ball of nerves and she was now scared of people. The last straw came right before the end of their third year.

Girls sneaked up on her when she went to restrooms. It was a place she feared to go to – so many bad memories – but she needed to go. Kiku was extra careful that no one followed her. Her cramps were killing her and she felt nauseous. Maybe she was nauseous because of the period, or maybe she just didn't eat properly for three days – she didn't feel hungry.

She was washing her hands when the door burst opened and then slammed shut.

"Here's where you went!" A well known voice said.

Kiku closed her eyes. Her stomach turned and she gagged. She tried to hide it and tears filled her eyes, this was a living nightmare.

"Why are you quiet?!" The girl grabbed her hair and harshly pulled her away from sink, which made Kiku stumble and she fell on her bottom. "Say 'hello', you clumsy bitch. "The girl was still pulling her hair and it felt as if she would rip it out from her skull.

"H-h-h-ello." She stuttered in barely a whisper.

"What?! I didn't hear you!"

"H-h-hello!" She tried, but it was only a slightly louder whisper. It'd been some time since she'd spoken in a normal volume in school.

The trio burst out laughing. "Look at her! She can't even talk!"

"What goodbye-gift should we give her? Hm?"

"Maybe a 'boyfriend'."

Kiku's mind was instantly filled with horror; because 'a boyfriend', in their language, meant persuading someone to assault her, or even worse, to rape her. So far it was something that had avoided her, but she knew there was a girl who had transferred, because they'd found her a 'boyfriend' and then had made her look like the one who'd been responsible; who'd deserved being raped, because she had asked for it. Kiku prayed they'd change their minds. She wouldn't be able to live through something like that.

"Don't be disgusting, Ami. What boy would want to make a pass at this?"

"Oh… You're right. Better not taint him." She smirked. "But what should we do…"

"Doesn't her hair look too good for her?"

They smirked and approached her, one of them pulled paper cutter knife.

Kiku's eyes went wide in fear and she was trembling.

The trio of bullies cut her hair. Her long and beautiful silky hair, which fell in waves down her back. The hair she used as a curtain behind which she could hide.

Her world shattered.

Kiku came to Touou, because there was no one from her junior-high. It didn't matter that she had to travel for almost an hour to get to and from the school every day. If she could remain anonymous, it was worth it.

The first day was stressful for her. She hoped to remain invisible.

Checking up which class she was in, however, meant fighting her way through a crowd of students. For someone as small and quiet as her, it was like a fight for survival. To top it, she was afraid of people.

In her trying she didn't look where the crowd pushed her, and she ended up running into someone.

The boy was huge, tall, and blonde and looked scary. "I-i-i-i'm s-s-s-sorry." She peeped, never looking into his face. Her voice probably didn't reach him and she was too scared to look up.

The boy barely noticed that someone bumped into him. Around announcement boards it was a mess each year. "Let's go Tada. We're in the same class again." He said and started to push his way through the crowd.

"Wait up, Kou!" The boy called after him.

Eh? She blinked. In her previous school, she would end up laying in the dust, and here, no one cared. No one saw her.

######

She sat on her chair, according to seating order, and didn't try to talk to anyone. She didn't even look at anyone in particular. Eye-contact might get her into trouble again. She didn't want to be alone, but at the same time, she didn't want to be bullied again.

In the last minute, a redheaded girl ran into the class and took the last vacant seat. Next to Kiku.

She observed the girl by the corner of her eye. The redhead was beautiful. The way she walked was like a dance, she radiated confidence – it was almost intimidating, and she had a sharp look in her reddish-brown eyes. Kiku envied the long red hair she had. She'd give anything to have such a hair again.

The girl noticed her stare and she turned to her immediately. A teacher wasn't there yet.

"Hey. I'm Kagami Aya, you?" She asked in a cheerful voice and her eyes sparkled with enthusiasm and energy. She wanted to know people, talk with them, socialise. She was a polar opposite of Kiku.

Kiku turned her head away and wanted to ignore Aya's greeting at first. It would be very rude of her. She peeked at Kagami-san again. She was afraid to speak with anyone. What if she would turn into a bully, like that time? What if she would embarrass her? Kiku didn't like overly loud people.

"Ah… H-h-h-hello." She greeted her back quietly and cursed herself for stuttering. Oh how much she hated that, but it was so difficult to get rid of it.

"What's your name?" Aya asked her curiously, surprised by the girl's shyness or was it fear?

"O-o-ohno K-kiku." Kiku squeezed out.

"Kiku? Like the flower? What a beautiful name."

Kagami-san's smile was bright and there was no ulterior motive behind it, but Kiku was sure that the girl could be pretty calculating if she wanted. There was no way she would speak with someone unknown just for the sake of talking. There was no way someone would speak with her.

Kiku nodded.

The teacher walked in and saved her from another conversation with her seatmate. Their homeroom teacher, Ueda-sensei took attendance, did some initial talking and then they went for opening ceremony.

Kiku avoided Kagami, because she didn't want to speak with her, or anyone. She didn't need friends. Despite that, she applied for a cooking club. Her parents insisted that she had to be a part of some club, so she complied.

But when the day ended, she went straight home.

######

"How was your first day, Kiku?" Her mom asked when she returned home.

"Fine. It was fine." She said quietly. At least at home she didn't stutter.

"Any friends?" She asked cheerfully.

Kiku's parents never learned about bullying. She didn't want them to worry and her father would definitely say something along the lines: 'You have to deal with it on your own. You are a strong girl.' She didn't want to disappoint him. And so, when she'd come home with short hair, she had lied. She'd said she had wanted a change, and a friend of hers cut it. At that point it was unimportant as the junior-high had ended.

"It's only been one day, mom. But I've joined a club."

"Kyudo?"

Kiku shook her head and took an apple they had on the table. "No mom. I'm bad at sports and you know it. I'm in cooking club."

"What are you saying, sweetie? You are awesome when it comes to Kyudo. You've been doing it since you were little, so why not?"

True. The only way how Kiku managed to stay sane and not loose herself completely, was doing Kyudo, archery. She needed to focus on the target, on form, on breathing; she had no time thinking about wrongs they had done to her. It was calming her down and it didn't involve much running around – where she would trip over her feet. And she'd never been in archery club before. With her glasses, they would only make fun of her, so why bother?

"We have our dojo where I can practise all I want. It would be waste to not try something else." At least she could come up with a clever answer.

Her mom chuckled. "You are right, sweetie. Oh, that reminds me. Could you take this to Akiya-san's orphanage? He should be there with father."

A trip to the orphanage required ten minute ride on a bike. Kiku was fine with a bike, she wouldn't trip over her feet and fall that way. "Sure. Maybe I'll stay there a bit and then I'll stop by the bookstore on my way back." She took a cake her mom had baked. She did it regularly every Monday for Akiya-san.

"Okay, sweetie. Buy whatever you want. And be careful."

"Thank you!" She waved her mom and left.

The next morning, she was standing near shoe lockers deciding whether to change into her indoor shoes or not. It was obligatory, but she feared she might not find her favourite black shoes once the day ended.

She was staring at it for so long, she forgot the time. When she looked at a clock, she tried to walk quickly into the classroom.

The quick walk turned into a run.

She ran up the stairs. At the top, she tripped and fell forward. Thankfully, no one was there to see it, so she got up, dusted off her skirt and continued on her way. The bell rang the moment she walked into the class.

No one paid attention to her and she was glad for it. She squeezed her bag tighter, as if it was her protective wall, and headed towards her seat. Once she would sit down, she would be invisible. She would be safe. Hurry. She thought.

Suddenly, she was falling. She didn't know how it had happened. Did someone trip her? It wouldn't be that surprising. She closed her eyes and readied herself for the impact. None came.

Chairs rattled.

Someone's arm was suddenly around her waist, balancing for a moment, then supporting her and stopping her fall.

"Are you okay?" A girly voice asked her, and she sprang upwards.

"Y-y-y-yes!" She was staring at the redhead in awe. No one would help her. Why did she? Why didn't she just let her fall and then laugh at her? That was the norm. But this girl. This girl had decided to help her. Naturally, out of reflex, she'd helped her. Kiku bowed down deeply. If this girl had a reflex to help, she couldn't be bad. "T-t-thank you, Kagami-san!" Her voice sounded strange; louder than usual. She wanted Kagami-san to hear her.

"It's nothing." Kagami-san was smiling at her, but then she looked at Kiku's feet. "You should tie your shoelaces though." She pointed out.

Kiku could feel blood rushing to her cheeks. She glanced at those traitors; they must have untied when she'd tripped on the stairs. It was so embarrassing. She bent down – barely avoiding her desk – to tie it.

"T-t-thank you again." She breathed out quietly when she got up.

The redhead chuckled. "No need to be so nervous, Ohno-san. I don't bite."

"Y-y-y-yes." She stammered, surprised that the girl bothered to remember her name. Then she sat down and put her bag in front of her, to hide behind it. She was blushing from embarrassment and shame. She shouldn't have lost her balance in the classroom. Now it might all start again…

######

"Kou! Wait up!" Tada Shun was running after his friend, who just wanted to be the first one in the gym.

"Then hurry up! We can't be late on the first day. I'm interested in the freshmen." He called back.

"Oh, come on! Why would you be interested in a bunch of first year boys? Nothing interesting there."

"There is someone from the generation of miracles! And I heard we'll have two managers. Not one but two." He said to his best friend. He knew Tada would be interested in the girls (the club hadn't had a manager in years), and wouldn't slow him down that way.

"Two managers? How come you knew that first?! Tcs."

Wakamatsu shrugged. "If you wanted to know first, you should've become the vice-captain, when Imayoshi-senpai asked you to."

Tada rolled his eyes. As if he didn't have enough responsibilities with his part-time job. "So? What else do you know?"

"Eh? Should I know something else?" He turned his questioning glance at his friend.

"Urgh… come on?! Are you not even slightly interested in those girls?"

"Why so? They are managers. Their job is to help the team. I'm interested in how well they can do it. That's it." He shrugged.

"It's the attitude…" Tada started to lecture him on how he would never get a girlfriend with this mindset, but Kousuke ignored it. Listening to it all the time was annoying. Especially because he knew Tada's different tastes.

After the introductions and all the talking, one of the managers, Kagami Aya, joined their mini matches. And they played till it was dark. Kousuke liked that they got at least one manager, who wasn't afraid of a little sweat and running. The girl seemed to know what she was doing, and what her job was. And he admired such people.

The other one, a pinkette, whose name he didn't remember, ran after Aomine the moment he bailed. That had annoyed him.

"So what do you think?" Shun asked him when they were walking home. They lived in the same apartment complex and so they'd known each other since forever.

"They are decent. Even with the girl-disadvantage, they were good."

"I was asking about Kagami-chan, stupid."

"Wha'? She is a good person." He shrugged. "I've never thought our coach had any family."

Is that the only thing he thinks about her? Tada shook his head in despair: Kou would definitely never find a girlfriend…. But he was too tired to give him another speech. "Well technically, they aren't blood related, but it was surprising. And she sure has guts. I mean, she played against Imayoshi-senpai."

"I'm so hungry." Wakamatsu prolonged his stride; hid growling stomach urging him home. Basic needs first, chit-chatting later.

Shun sighed. "What a simple guy." He muttered and adjusted his pace too.

To her surprise, no one laughed at her the next day. She was so nervous she felt sick in the morning, but no one came to hurt her. The boys that sat around her were already there. They were big, mostly Ishii Ryuu and Aomine Daiki. She was afraid of both, but mainly Aomine-san, who looked so annoyed all the time.

Kagami-san waltzed into the classroom with a coffee from the school's cafeteria and a bright smile on her face. It seemed that the boys didn't notice her.

"Mornin'." Aya greeted them. "Good to see you so lively, Kano-kun. I hope you did your stretches properly."

Oh, so his name is Kano. It was probably the only name Kiku hadn't remembered the previous day. The boy had a humorous spark in his greenish eyes, and it seemed easy to talk with him. Not that Kiku had the courage to try it.

"Ah... Mornin' Kagami-chan. Nope..." Kano sheepishly scratched the back of his neck. "I'm sore all over." He grunted. "I went to sleep right after getting home."

Aya sighed and put her bag on the desk saluting to Aomine, who didn't even glance at her, to approve of her arrival. And she didn't seem to care one bit. What a thick skin… Kiku would probably feel down after such a treatment.

"And you, Sakurai-kun?" Aya asked.

The boy sitting in front of Aya, turned around a bit startled that she actually asked him something. "Y-y-yeah. I stretched properly."

So he is insecure around them too. Kiku thought discreetly scanning Sakurai Ryou. He was plainly looking and stuttering just like her when caught by surprise. By his reaction she could tell he was slightly scared of Kagami-san.

"At last one of you is thinking." Aya shook her head at the two friends. "Improper stretching or lacking warm-ups usually lead to injuries. And sore muscles... Make sure not to omit it next time."

"You mean... you are not sore at all?" Kano blinked at Aya.

Aya's eyes twinkled playfully. "From what? It wasn't a real practise yesterday, just playing around."

"Huh?!" He threw his arms up. If that was not a real practise than what the hell was waiting for them in the afternoon?

Aya shook her head and gave him an explanation. "Senpais were just testing you. Don't tell me you didn't notice. Changing pace of the game often and forcing you into formations, or into playing positions you aren't used to. They wanted to see how well you can adapt. All of them are current regulars. And so far, Sakurai has the greatest chance out of the three of you, to become a regular soon." Then she took a slow sip from her coffee.

"Eh?" Sakurai stared at Aya wide-eyed. "But I missed so many shots. I'm sorry for that!" He added suddenly. And Kiku smiled softly at his apology, she would probably do the same.

"True, but you mostly missed the shots Tada-senpai forced you to shoot. And no one makes 100% of their shots anyways."

"Sorry! I'll get better next time! For sure!" He said quickly, almost biting his tongue.

Aya laughed. "Good motivation you have there." She encouraged him.

"What do you mean by the three of you?" Ishii asked with narrowed eyes, already guessing the answer.

"Aomine is already considered a regular. He was recruited by the coach, and has a sports scholarship."

"Eh?" Kano couldn't believe it. So far he'd never heard about anyone good enough to have a sports scholarship. "You do?" He turned to Aomine, who was acting ignorant.

"Yeah. What of it?" He asked lazily. "Envious?"

Kano snorted. "As if!"

Aya just gave Aomine an unimpressed look, and turned to Ishii and Kano. "I want to see how well you'll work with Naito-kun being your PG. You were on the same team in the middle school, so you should be able to coordinate better with him, than you did with me." She changed the subject.

Huh? She plays too? She played with the boys? Kiku was surprised by this. She wanted to join the conversation. She wanted to talk with Kagami-san, but she had no opportunity to do so, with all the boys around them. The only way was to speak up…

"Hmmm... True, we are used to his passes." Ishii smiled.

You have to speak up... she told herself and tried to muster up the courage... Those two boys were scary. You have to speak up… She repeated to herself. Then… "K-k-kagami-san. Y-y-you play b-basketball?" She asked with a trembling voice. Her voice was too quiet though. She couldn't possibly hear me…

But to Kiku's surprise, Aya smiled at her.

"Sure." She heard the girl's quiet voice and she could see how much inner struggle it must've cost her to speak up. She didn't know why, but she wanted to befriend this girl and to protect her from the day 1. "Although I'm a manager, I played with these guys yesterday, well, plus Oyama-kun from class 1-2. They missed one player for a proper game, so..." She deepened her explanation for Kiku to understand better.

"U-uhm..." Kiku didn't know what more to say. "T-t-that's great." She mumbled awkwardly. Oh god, you are impossible Ohno Kiku… Impossible

"Oh, and you are?" Ishii asked the girl with interest. He almost didn't notice the quiet girl at all. And she was sitting right in front of him.

Her eyes widened in surprise and she stared at him like a deer into headlights. Then she took a deep breath. You have to speak. "O-o-ohno K-kiku." She stumbled at her own name, her cheeks turning red.

"Nice to meet you, Ohno-chan. I'm Ishii Ryuu, these are Kano Hideki and Sakurai Ryou, well, and Aomine Daiki. We're all in the basketball club." He introduced all of them enthusiastically, trying to break the ice and help the shy girl a bit.

She nodded.

"So what club are you in?" Kano asked immediately. He was quick in making friends, and this little girl reminded him of his little sister a bit; though his little sister was one hell of a fighter with the loudest voice in the family.

"C-c-cooking."

"Oooh, so you can cook?! That's awesome!"

Kiku blushed at his praise and looked away.

"Were you already at the club assembly?" Aya asked curiously.

She shook her head. "T-t-there was n-none yet. W-w-we are supposed t-to m-meet n-n-next w-week."

"Will you bake something for us then?" Kano asked and his eyes were shining with expectancy.

"Uuhm…" Kiku didn't know how to react. No one had ever prepared her for this. Because of her junior high, she was now useless when it came to communicating with people.

As if understanding her silent plea, Aya chuckled. "It's cooking, not baking, and even if… Kiku isn't your personal cook, Kano-kun." She scolded him good-heartily. "I can bake something for you for now, but you have to practise and stretch properly."

"You can cook too?"

"Isn't that a skill everyone should have?" She mused. "But you have to earn my food."

Wow… She is amazing. Kiku couldn't help but think that. She managed to help her out, and keep the conversation going. A timid smile appeared on her lips, just so it could be frozen by one of Aomine's judging stares. Those stormy blue eyes and his frown made Kiku uneasy and scared. How can Kagami-san withstand it? She looked away and hid her face behind her fringe, or at least she tried to.

Thankfully, a teacher walked in and stopped the stare as well as the group's chatting. The classes started.

None of them seemed to be bad. Except Aomine-san. He was scary. Huge, grumpy, arrogant, and always frowning; extremely scary in Kiku's opinion. Thank gods he ignored her most of the time and she had no need to talk to him.

Thanks to her little burst of courage, she was now slowly mingling into the group of the basketball club members in her class. And it'd only been a few days. She couldn't describe how good it felt to not be alone. Then again, she feared someone might turn against her.

Kiku's world was changing rapidly, in a way she wasn't used to.

But now, when someone had noticed her, helped her and talked with her; she wanted friends! Therefore, she had to try more. She had to change! She wanted to change!

A/N: I want to explore Kiku more, and even if I do copy some scenes from 'Would you dare?', I'm adding Kiku's thoughts so it's not identical. Originally I didn't want to copy it, but those were some important parts and if I just skip them, those not reading Aya's story might get confused.

I hope it's enjoyable (as it can be for the first chapter). This fic will be updated sporadically, I don't promise anything, but it will get finished one day.

Let me know what you think but remember, reviews are appreciated but never necessary.

-S.