In Shadows | Kuroko no Basket Fan Fiction

17. Care for You

In Shadows
Chapter Seventeen
Care for You

Gina grinned and ran up to the gym. She pulled her coat more tightly around her body and secured the scarf around her neck. It was cold, and her cheeks lightly tinted pink due to the cool temperature. She could hear the occasional bounce of the ball from inside the gym and the hum of voices. She couldn't wait to be among her friends again.

"Hi guys!" she yelled, jogging up.

"Hey, Gina!" Kiyoshi called, waving.

Gina grinned and ran up the steps, but her foot landed right on the edge. She felt her ankle give way beneath her and, before she knew it, she was falling to the ground.

A cry escaped her lips as she fell down. Her hands shot out instinctively, bracing her fall. She winced as skin was scraped from her palms, her small frame hitting the stairs hard.

"Gina!" The cry came from many voices as all activity within the gym ceased, everyone instead looking with concern to the girl just limit side.

"Shoot." Gina laughed shakily and began to stand up. "I'm okay, I'm -" A flare of pain shot up like wildlife up her leg. Gina's face scrunched up and she cried out. The pain was too much; she collapsed back to the floor again, the concrete hard and digging to her back. Her hands instinctively moved and clutched her ankle as she breathed in heavy, sharp breaths.

"Gina!"

Kuroko was the first one to reach her side, despite being the slowest on the team. She guessed that had something to do with the fact he had been closest to her. He reached out, gently placing his hand on her back as he assisted her into a sitting position. "Gina, are you okay?" he murmured, looking intently at her.

"I'm fine," she murmured, her voice a little shaky. "I think I did something to my ankle."

"Huh?" The others gathered around, but Gina's eyes stayed on Kuroko's.

"Remember what I was telling you?" she murmured. "I have weak ankles. I used to get injured a lot while playing netball - even when I did sprinting at the track team I had to keep my braces on. Ouch." She winced as she unintentionally moved her ankle, pain shooting up her leg once again.

A small yet warm hand was placed on her shoulder. "Don't worry. You'll be okay." Kuroko's eyes were so sincere. Gina couldn't help but relax with him near.

The blue-haired phantom looked around at the others. "Where's Coach?" Riko would know exactly how to treat her ankle.

"She's not here yet," Kogeani said. "She'll be here in a few minutes."

Kuroko turned back to her. "Can you stand?"

Gina shook her head. "Not very well."

Kiyoshi, the tallest one there, walked forward. "Kuroko, could you move aside?" he asked.

Kuroko hesitated, but moved aside and allowed Kiyoshi to walk forward. Kiyoshi bent down and helped Gina to her feet, picking her up. He lifted her up the concrete steps, and carried her deeper into the gym.

Gina's face was flushed deep red by the time he placed her back down on the gym floor, her back to one of the walls. "Thank you," she stammered.

"Izuki, can you find an ice pack?" Hyuga asked.

Seirin's point guard nodded. "On it!" He ran out.

"Is there any chance you could find a way to elevate my leg, to help stop the swelling?" Gina murmured. If there was one perk of often injuring her ankle, it was knowing exactly how to treat it.