黒子のバスケ: 僕の選択

Kuroko no Basket: My Choice

Effort only fully releases its reward after a person refuses to quit. ~ Napoleon Hill

Kotone had requested to Riko that she needed to miss a few practices so her leg injuries could heal. She allowed this and gave her three days. After that, she came to practice, but whenever she showed up she looked miserable, and then she'd leave early saying that she didn't feel well. She continued with this routine for almost a week, showing up to practice less and less until she had not arrived for almost five days. This irritated both Hyuga and Riko.

"I know she got really shook up from losing against Aomine, but this is a bit too much." Riko griped.

"I'm upset too, but do you think she might…?" Hyuga began, but then was cut off by a suddenly angry Kagami.

"Makoto isn't that kind of person!" He interjected with frustration. He felt the back of his knee jabbed harshly; he spun around and saw it was Kuroko.

"You don't know that Kagami-kun." He said with his usual blank expression. Kagami gritted his teeth, and clenched his teeth, but managed to refrain himself from punching the lights out of Kuroko.

###

Kotone ceased from doing her homework and changed into her sweats and grabbed a jacket. From her garage she picked up her basketball and told her eldest sister Okamine that she was heading out for a bit. She hadn't spoken to Ryu for quite a bit; she was too scared to face him after that, too scared of what he would think of her, even though he promised his feelings wouldn't change no matter what.

She arrived at the basketball court in the park and stood solemnly at the three point line. Even thought it was only a couple of weeks, it felt like years that she had never felt the rubbery surface of a basketball. Ever since Ryu had begun practicing with her, she felt its texture almost every day; being away from it for so long felt strange. She threw it up into the air and it went in, swooshing through the net. Her skills had remained the same. The ball bounced and rolled, stopping at someone's feet. She was surprised to see that it was Kise. He picked up the ball and smiled at her.

"Hi, Kotocchi." He greeted happily. She frowned a bit, but she didn't feel angry.

"Please don't call me that." She demanded.

"Sorry." He apologized sarcastically, throwing her the ball. She caught it in both hands.

"So why are you here?" she questioned.

"I actually came to town to see how Seirin was doing, since we'll be seeing each other soon in the winter cup. But they told me something interesting; they said you haven't arrived at practice for weeks, care to explain?"

"Why do you care?" she snapped.

"I felt the same when I lost to him." He said instead. She listened intently. "I hated the game so much; but my teammate picked me off my feet and consoled me. That's when I realized that to actually feel the win is to work with your teammates. What you did wasn't a mistake; you did the right thing." He expounded. She said nothing and just gaped at him.

"Also don't you dare quit until I've gotten the chance to beat you on the court." He said with a smirk. She smirked back.

"Good luck." She retorted.

"One more thing; I don't think your boyfriend Toshiyuki-kun would like it if you gave up on your dreams of playing basketball." He added. She blushed a bit and her eyes went wide like a deer caught in headlights. She quickly made a scowl.

"He's not my boyfriend." She corrected.

"Yeah, yeah it's a platonic friendship or whatever; anyways I'll see you later." He said, walking off.

###

Kotone thought about all that Kise had said to her as she dawdled back home. She felt kind of selfish, not considering how her moping around would affect Ryu and her teammates. She spotted Ryu walking down her street with a bag in hand. He noticed her as well.

"Oh, there you are Koto-chan." He greeted. "I thought you weren't feeling well so I wanted to get you this." From the plastic bag he pulled out a pink box of Pocky that had Hello Kitty on it; it was strawberry flavored with little pink sugar sprinkled on it, her favorite. She thanked him simply, opened it up and started eating.

"Ryu, I've decided." She began.

"Decided on what?" he asked, confused.

"About whether or not I want to continue with basketball." She replied.

"Remember I'll be fine with whatever you decide on." He reminded. She grinned up at him.

"I know." She said, giving him a quick hug. He hugged her back, and then held her cheek, planting a light fleeting kiss on the forhead.

###

The next day, the Seirin team gathered in the gym after school for practice like usual. When they entered little by little they came to a surprise; Kotone was there, changed in her gym uniform and dribbling a basketball.

"Makoto?" Riko uttered. She turned around and smiled.

"It's about time that you guys showed up." She joshed.

"What're you…" began Kagami, but then was interrupted.

"I'm sorry for skipping practice; I'll make it up coach." She said.

"It's not that." Riko said.

"We thought you quitted basketball." Hyuga informed. She grinned a bit.

"I can't quit; not when I have to help you guys out." She said. They all smiled at her, happy that she had bounced back from her depression, and that she hadn't given up all hope.

Hi everyone! This is the final chapter of Unwilling to Stop so get your fill of you for all the views and I might consider making another story, of Kotone facing the rest of the GoM and others (Murasakibara, Akashi, Hanamiya and maybe a rematch with Aomine) if you all think it's okay. But, for now See you! ~ Love Roriko