Overprotective: AOT/KNB Crossover [Reader x Eren]

Chapter 25: You're Forced to Be...ATHLETIC?!

~from (y/n)'s POV~
You went to school the next day as usual and discovered that Sakurai, Furihata, and Koganei were all in your first hour class (although maybe Mayuzumi was supposed to be there, but you weren't sure...)
"Partner up!" the teacher said, as with every day.
You looked over to Eren, but Mikasa was already glaring at you (crap) and was dragging Eren by the sleeve towards a different set of desks. Feeling a bit lost (and - you admit it - kind of lonely), you stared at your desk for a few seconds, only to have someone tap you on the back.
"Eeek!" you shrieked softly on automatic instinct, but then someone's hand covered your mouth.
"Hey, (y/n)!" Koganei said, popping out from behind you, and Sakurai took his hand from your mouth.
"Sorry! Sorry!" he apologized, his face red.
Furihata was cowering behind him. "Sorry, (y/n). We didn't mean to scare you..." Furihata, you look more scared than me!
"Eh?" you said, the confusion fading from your face. "The basketball transfer students?"
Koganei grinned. "Yep! That's us!" "We were...we were wondering if you'd be in o-o-our group, A-a-ackerman-san," Furihata said, avoiding eye contact the entire time. You looked at Sakurai. "Really?" you asked, tilting your head slightly. "You want...me...to be in...your...group?" Sakurai nodded before bowing. "Sorry, (y/n)," he apologized, his face pale. "Eh?!" you exclaimed. "You don't have o to apologize! It's just that people don't ask me to be in their group very often," you explained, puffing out your cheeks slightly. "Because, you know, I get scared too easily and I scream a lot..." "B-b-but Ackerman-san is really nice," Furihata said, blushing slightly, and Koganei nodded in agreement. "Yep! And now you're stuck with us, (y/n)!" he added, grinning, and Sakurai winced. "Sor-" "Thanks," you said, smiling at your new friends. "I think you guys are fun."
Sakurai and Furihata blushed, breaking eye contact with you, but Koganei just grinned. "Hey, (y/n)! I've got a great idea!"
You blinked, skeptical, because "I've got a great idea" sounded to your ears like a harbinger of doom. "Yeah?" you asked cautiously.
"We should all play a game of basketball together! You know, to solidify our group!" he suggested.
"Eh?? But...you guys are actually on the team..."
"It's okay, (y/n). Just for fun! Please??"
How could you say no to that? "Well..."
I really should refuse...
***
After school, you met your group in the gym, more or less apprehensive about the entire event to take place.
"I haven't played in a while," you warned them, and Koganei smiled in response.
"It's all cool, (y/n)," he said. "Practices start next week, and we should get in some extra practice whenever we can. Having you here just makes it that much more fun!"
"Ok, but don't expect a lot from me..."
You split off into pairs for a 2-v-2 match, and by luck of the draw, it ended up with you and Sakurai versus Koganei and Furihata, who already looked pale.
The jump ball between Sakurai and Koganei went to your team, with Sakurai apologizing as he passed to you. You stared in surprise at the ball in your hands for a second before realizing that Furihata was running towards you, and with a small shriek, you ran in the opposite direction (by sheer luck, the direction of your offensive basket). As soon as Koganei was open, you passed to him, and he easily made a three, with Koganei jumping for a block a second too late.
Then Koganei got the ball and took it back down, passing it to Furihata, who began to go for a lay-up, but you were blocking his way in a please-don't-kill-me-or-injure me position, one eye closed as you squinted with the other, your body braced for a high-speed collision, but Furihata got scared of injuring you and passed to Koganei instead, only Sakurai ended up making a steal and making his way down the court, only Koganei was guarding him a lot closer this time, wary of Sakurai's threes. With no other choice, Sakurai passed to you, mumbling an apology across the court, and out of instinct, you quickly dribbed around Furihata and jumped, letting the ball fly off of your fingertips and into the basket.
Everyone was silent for a second before Koganei grinned and cheered for you. "Nice going, (y/n)! Great basket!"
And the game continued...
***
By the end of the game, you and Koganei were ahead 30-21, and half of the baskets were actually yours!
"Were you hustling us, (y/n)?" Koganei asked, tired but grinning despite his exhaustion.
"Not really," you said, looking at the ground. "I haven't played in...a year, I guess. Give or take..."
"Were you on the team before?" he asked, merely curious, but the memories pained you.
"Kind of. I made the team, but I wasn't a regular or a starter. They put me as a first string reserve, but I was a second string player. I liked basketball a lot, but because I'm short, they wouldn't put me in any games because they said that I wouldn't be able to do anything against players who were so much taller than me." You sighed, looking up. "And then..." And then...
"And then...?" Koganei asked, tilting his head.
"And then I transferred here," you said, forcing a half smile.
Koganei nodded, deep in thought, before turning to his friends with a grin on his face. "I have another great idea!"
Why do I get a bad feeling about this?
"(Y/n)," he said, turning back to you with a smile. "You should be our team's manager!"