Chapter Text
Neo Fujiyama has only ever experienced what it's like in club selection in America.
...But here in Japan, jeez, he'd much rather stay home.
Neo is trying to find the basketball club sign ups, it's sort of been... a commitment to joining the basketball club every year. He wouldn't say he's amazing— he's only ever trained with his Dad, but he loves watching matches and stuff, like every teenage boy in America, apparently. As Neo is searching around for the basketball club, he accidentally bumps into someone. "Gah—!? Sorry, sorry, I—" Neo pauses when he tries to look up at the guy he bumped into.
There's... no one there? Huh? Neo stands there confused for a moment, stunlocked before he gets a chill up his spine. 'Maybe it's— it's a ghost?!' Neo thought, but then he slapped his face, "Shut up, Neo, that's ridiculous..." Neo then starts picking up the pace again, trying to find the basketball club before he freezes.
Oh, there it is! The basketball signups! Is that the manager? Then where's the coach? Is that guy the captain? He looks kinda scary– Wait— he can't just stand there! He needs to sign up! Neo rushes over. "Uhm, hi? I'd— I'd like to sign up... please." The two at the desk, who were previously distracted, accompanied by three other guys— lord knows where they came from— turn their attention to Neo. "Ah! Yes, please sign this form..." The brown haired girl passes Neo a slip. "Thank you," Neo says, another, more whispered thank you comes out after the first one.
Neo promptly writes his form before passing it back and giving the girl another small 'thank you' before running off.
—---
Once he runs off, Riko and Hyuga, along with the three others, check the form.
"Fujiyama Neo? What kind of name is Neo?" Riko questions, "Hey, don't be so judgemental! He's also from America, maybe the naming conventions are different there!" Koganei defended. Riko thinks for a moment, "He's also from America, huh? He could bode well for the team..."
———
Neo is rushing to the Gym. He's paranoid that he might be late, despite having more than enough time to take a short stroll around the school garden, or grab a drink from the nearby cafe. But that doesn't matter, because Neo has accidentally bumped into someone for the second time today, but this time, falling flat on his bum.
"Goddamnit! Neo, you–" "Woah, you can also speak English?"
Neo froze when he heard the very familiar dialect of the English language. He looked up to see and equally as flabbergasted a guy standing tall before him. Neo, finding a sense of camaraderie in this guy he met quite literally 5 seconds ago. "Wait– Wait, are you also from America?" Neo asks a little too excitedly, jumping up in joy, but it's alright because this red haired guy responds with the same amount of enthusiasm. "Hell yeah I am! What's your name?"
That's when Neo pauses. This name, he loves his name. He chose it himself, but telling others is kind of... scary. It isn't a normal name for someone who's Japanese, is it? But this is the first person in Japan he's found a sense of familiarity with, so he just has to bite the bullet. "My name is Fujiyama, Neo Fujiyama." There's a moment of silence and Neo panics. It's just a name, it isn't that big, but it's still... horrifying.
"That's... a sick ass name! That's so cool!" Neo's eyes sparkle. "T-Thanks!! I like my name too!" Neo feels bashful, someone likes his name, that's... nice. It's a good feeling.
"The name's Kagami. Taiga Kagami." Kagami extends his hand for a handshake. Neo stares at his hand for a moment before accepting.
"Nice to meet you, Kagami."