"You're smiling again, Tetsu."
"Don't think it's because of you."
Aomine, I am not smiling because of you.
I smile because I have friends that value and care about me, as more than just a player.
They trust me.
I smile because I have rediscovered my love of basketball that you hid from me.
I found true love.
I smile because I am on a team.
I am not alone.
I smile because my light has accepted me as their shadow.
I am not going to be thrown out as if I am trash.
I smile because my team has shown me a most wondrous sight.
They have shown me something not even you could.
I smile because I have found myself again.
I have been fixed.
I smile because I am happy.
I am no longer broken.
I smile because I have found a place in this world.
I smile because there is a reason for me to do so.
I smile because you have been humbled.
I smile because I have finally defeated my demons.
I am whole again.
"As long as there is a smile on your face I'm fine. Can you give a thank you to the people that gave it to you?"
"Of course, Aomine-kun."
~A few weeks later~
"Oh, that reminds me. Aomine-kun wanted me to thank you all for him," Kuroko said to everyone while they were doing their drills. Adia was writing some notes, but perked up when hearing the usually quiet boys words.
Everyone else stopped what they were doing as well.
Koganei looked confused. "How did Izuki making a bad pun remind you of that?"
Hyuga ignored him and Izuki's shouts of denial of indignation. "Why would he want to thank us?"
Kuroko looked down slightly, his pale cheeks coloring slightly.
"He wanted me to thank the people that gave me a reason to smile again. He said he hasn't seen one from me in a while."
No one knew how to react.
Kiyoshi did let out an, "Aww!" which just made Kuroko blush a little more.