Title: I Beg to Differ
Summary: To most, Midorima and Takao are Shuutoku's very own light and shadow. Midorima thinks they can't be more wrong however, because Takao is so bright he lights up his whole world.
Midorima first heard the statement, "Midorima and Takao are like Shuutoku's very own light and shadow" from his teammates. He had found out that it was Seirin's shooting guard who had first made this observation. Word got around fast when everybody was practically friends with everyone else outside the court, and it had finally reached the person who was (half) the topic of interest. It had taken him a little by surprise, because he never thought that the label "light and shadow" would apply to them. Midorima remembers glancing away and pushing up his glasses, darting his eyes to Takao, who was practicing drills with the other second-years.
It was only after practice that Midorima allowed himself to ponder over it. To him, "light and shadow" was an intimate title; it meant that teammates were connected by an inseparable bond. When he thought about it this way, he understood why others would say that. He and Takao made a great team. Midorima trusted the point guard on the court, and even if he wouldn't admit it, off the court as well. It was with Takao's hawk eyes and superb passing skills that Midorima was able to score as many three-pointers as he did. But while they formed an impressive duo, with Takao supporting Midorima in sinking his perfect threes, Midorima thinks they couldn't be more wrong, because Takao is so bright he lights up his whole world.
Somewhere along the line, Takao's wide grins turned from something he found excessive to something he started to cherish. Takao's presence turned from an annoyance to a necessity. And Midorima found himself enjoying his company, even looking forward to it sometimes. Takao had weaselled his way into Midorima's life and planted himself firmly there with his overly familiar nickname for Midorima and his general lack of inhibitions. When he entered Shuutoku, he never expected to make friends and he was prepared for that, friends were just temporary and obligatory people that the gods placed in his life anyway. He would meet them at some point in his journey and once he took the next exit, they would be looking at the back of his head.
But Takao, Takao just kept appearing at every exit he took. He was there at almost every turn, at every exit, on the highway and the low road. He was there so much that Midorima found himself walking alongside him. And now here they were, in the same class in their second year. Takao had, for some reason that escaped Midorima, stuck to his side when he had every opportunity to take the next exit. And with his constant presence, Midorima felt his world grow a little brighter.
Midorima first realized how bright Takao was when he shot him one of his vibrant smiles when the buzzer sounded at the end of a particularly gruelling game against Kirisaki Daiichi. They had won by less than 10 points and it was Midorima's consecutive threes that brought them to victory. When the ball passed the hoop without a single graze to the rim, Midorima turned around to face Takao, who was the one to make the final pass. The point guard stood in the centre of the court with beaming eyes, shaky hands brought up to give him a thumbs up.
"Nice shot, Shin-chan!" Takao praised, his smile threatening to split his face despite the large, purple bruise that Midorima discovered when they were the only ones left in the locker room and when there was no Kirisaki Daiichi to confront.
Midorima remembers, clear as day, the way Takao's mouth curved upwards in his trademark smile, and how his slate blue eyes shone with joy and carelessness. It made him suck in a breath and his heart race. It pounded against his ribcage, deafening and fervent. He couldn't remember if his team had pat him on the back or congratulated him, nor did he notice the scathing look that Hanamiya Makoto threw his way. All he could focus on was Takao standing there, with blithe smiles and mirth that surprised him. In that moment, Takao was so bright he obscured everything else.
Midorima fell in love with Takao's laughter the same way he fell in love with Takao's smiles. Denial first, then a realization that made him feel like he was hit by a truck. It happened after one of their extra practices when they were packing up. He didn't remember exactly what he said, but it was funny enough to make Takao look up at him in surprise, then burst out laughing. It was the bubbly kind, and contagious if only Midorima wasn't so reserved. His laughter resounded throughout the empty court and Midorima felt his face grow hot with a mixture of embarrassment, annoyance and something he couldn't quite put his finger on.
Midorima found himself thinking about it that night. The image of Takao laughing, bending over and clutching at his stomach floated around in his head while he was brushing his teeth. Takao's laughter was soothing and lighted-hearted, something Midorima could never accomplish and he was envious of Takao for that. It was carefree and genuine and he liked it. As much as it scared him to admit it, he liked that way Takao's laugh sounded in his ears. But he liked the fact that it was him who had made Takao laugh like that even more. By the time he took off his glasses and slipped into his covers, Midorima had a slight blush dusting his cheeks.
Takao's brightness was particularly prominent when they were in social situations. In their team, Takao was the mood-maker, always making jokes and injecting humour in their otherwise exhausting practices. Where Takao got his energy from Midorima could not comprehend. Seniors and juniors alike enjoyed Takao's company. In class, it was the same. Takao had his fair share of classmates drifting towards his table to strike conversations with him during breaks. Their female classmates would approach him the day before games to wish him luck and congratulate him on a job well done when Shuutoku won. Midorima decided not to dwell on the fact that he hardly gets approached even though he was the team's ace. Even during the times when they were with the other schools, Takao always captured the attention of those around him.
He was like a ball of light that people naturally gravitated to and when they did, he got along well with them. As Midorima watched Takao interacting with the others during their annual street ball event, making them laugh and just radiating, he felt a twinge of jealousy. Because Takao's brightness was so innately part of his personality, it meant that others could enjoy it. As selfish as it may seem, Midorima wanted that for himself. Takao had waltzed into his life and permeated his whole world with a little more light, changed it so much that he felt he should have some degree of ownership over it.
"You've been staring."
The green-haired shooting guard jolted and almost yelped when Kuroko appeared out of nowhere to make that absurd claim.
"Please don't do that," Midorima said curtly, pushing up his glasses to collect himself.
"My apologies," Kuroko said. "What are you looking at?"
Midorima looked at everywhere except Takao and stayed silent.
"Takao-kun is very entertaining, is he not?" Kuroko stated and Midorima inwardly cursed at the uncanny way Kuroko is able to read between the lines so accurately. Fortunately for him, he was spared from answering when Kagami called out to Kuroko, who excused himself without making any more insinuations.
When he turned his attention back to Takao, he was already calling out to him and he found himself gravitating towards Takao like he always did.
Midorima admitted that he loved Takao's smiles and laughter (there was no point running away from it when it was simply too pervasive) and that he tolerated his personality, but he never admitted that he liked Takao. He told himself that there was a reason why he liked certain things about Takao and why, despite a nagging thought in his head, continued to spend considerable amounts of time with him. There was a reason, but it was not love.
That was before the realization truck hit him with much more force than necessary.
When they had lost to Seirin for the Winter Cup championship title, Midorima took it harder than he let on. He had hoped to redeem himself and his team but there was always something to hinder his way to victory. Second place wasn't enough.
He stayed back in the locker room until everyone left, including Takao. Losing made him feel so frustrated, but admitting the fact that Kuroko's and Kagami's team play was better than his and Takao's was even worse. Before he knew it, his glasses were collecting the tears that fell. The towel draped over his head prevented him from noticing someone entering the room and Midorima suddenly felt the towel slipping away.
He jumped in surprise and looked up to see Takao standing over him, the towel in his hand and a flash of hurt crossing his eyes.
"It's not fair Shin-chan," he said softly before Midorima had any time to feel embarrassed. "You can't just go off alone like that. If you want to grieve over losing to Seirin, you have to do it with me."
"What? Why?" Midorima's voice came out hoarser than he would like.
"Because we're partners right?" Takao said matter-of-factly. When Midorima didn't reply, the point guard continued, "Unless Shin-chan doesn't want to be my partner anymore?"
At that, he snapped his head to Takao and after noticing the lack of seriousness in the other boy's eyes, gathered himself before saying, "Don't be ridiculous."
Takao chuckled and sat himself down next to Midorima on the bench. Impulsively, he hooked the towel over Midorima's neck and pulled, bringing the shooting guard's face closer to his. Midorima made a strangled sound but didn't withdraw.
"Shin-chan, let's work hard together again okay? We still have a lot to show."
Midorima avoided Takao's piercing gaze and said, "Of course, you idiot."
Grinning, Takao added, "You did well today Shin-chan."
It was amazing how Midorima felt that Takao's one compliment was enough to dispel his blues and restore his resilience. Takao had that sort of effect on him and he welcomed it, blushing and hoping it wasn't noticeable in the dark locker room.
"Come on, Shin-chan," Takao urged and released his hands from the towel. He got up and dragged Midorima by the wrist to leave. "The team's waiting for us. We're going to celebrate, we did get second place after all!"
He let himself be pulled by Takao, noticing how his wrist was tingling. It had been so simple really; Takao, with his bright smiles and mirthful laughter and constant support, made him happy.
The next morning, Midorima waited for Takao for 7 full minutes before seeing him pull up to his house with the rear cart in tow with the sort of predictability that Midorima sought comfort in.
"Yo, Shin-chan," Takao greeted, a little out of breath.
"You're late."
"I went to get something for you," Takao answered and Midorima only looked at him curiously.
He rummaged through his pocket to fish out something small and green and threw it to Midorima, who caught it with one hand.
"An omamori?" Midorima asked rhetorically and studied the large face of a golden shiba inu donning the amulet. "It's my lucky item for today."
"Yup," Takao chimed. "When I heard it on Oha Asa, I thought I'd go get it since I know of this cutesy shop that sold tons of omamori. I got one for my sister before. Apparently, this one means keeping vigil or something like that. I think it has something to do with Hachiko."
Midorima continued to finger the amulet with his taped hands and asked after a short pause, "Why did you get it for me?"
"Why, you ask…" Takao answered without missing a beat. "Because Shin-chan is my ace-sama, isn't he?"
Midorima looked at Takao's familiar smile and shining eyes, who was acting as if it was the most natural thing to buy his partner lucky items and deliver it to his house and that is was okay to make him feel like he was balancing precariously over the edge.
"Come on, Shin-chan," Takao said and pulled Midorima by the arm to get into the rear cart. "We're going to be late for school."
He entered the rear cart silently, not realizing that he hadn't said "thank you" and put his omamori into his sports bag, leaving it there so it was the only lucky item that didn't join the others on his table, or his shelf or in a box at home. As Midorima sat in the back of the rear cart, he stared at Takao's back, wondering just when his feelings turned from tolerance to yearning. It felt so natural to fall in love with Takao right there, and so he did.
Eventually, he had come to accept it; falling in love with Takao was denial and realization all over again.
To Midorima, he may have been the light on the court, but Takao was never a shadow. When he entered Midorima's life, the latter never expected his world to grow as bright as it did.
So no, Midorima didn't entirely agree with the statement, because Takao was his light.
"Shin-chan, you're staring."
"I am not," Midorima started and hastily returned to his notebook.
Takao lowered this month's issue of Basketball Monthly that he was reading and eyed Midorima. "I can feel your eyes boring a hole in my forehead."
Midorima kept quiet and scribbled away in his book, deciding that it was better not to tell Takao what he was thinking. It was a futile attempt at evading Takao's question because the raven-haired boy always had to know. Midorima felt any hopes of keeping mum slip away as Takao put away the magazine and scooted closer to him.
"Why were you staring at me?" Takao persisted. "Oh, are you hor—"
"No," Midorima interrupted before Takao can finish and fought the urge to roll his eyes. When he finally looked up to give Takao an unamused expression, Midorima saw him smirking and he knew that he had fallen into Takao's cleverly-laid trap. He could never get used to Takao's teasing and one of these days, he was going to wipe that satisfied smirk off his face.
For now, Midorima dropped his pencil and sighed. "I was just thinking about what Seirin's shooting guard once said about us."
Takao's interest was piqued. Midorima hardly cared about other people said, and to think that it had made him stare at Takao without realizing he was being obvious about it made him curious about the contents of what was said.
"What did he say about us?"
Midorima took a breath before answering, "He said…that we were like Shuutoku's light and shadow."
He had averted his gaze when he said that.
"Ohhh," Takao said, eyebrows raised in amusement and mild surprise. "Hyuuga-san thinks so nicely of us. Although I thought we would have gotten a cool nickname instead of sharing Kuroko's and Kagami's title. But I guess it's quite apt, you're the light that secures our victory with your threes and I'm—"
"I beg to differ."
Takao stopped short and glanced at Midorima quizzically.
"You're not a shadow," he said simply and pushed up his glasses.
"Shin-chan?"
"You're…too bright," Midorima said evasively.
When Takao cocked his head to the side, Midorima knew it as a cue to explain, but he did so with great difficulty. "Your smiles. And your laughter. And the way you make me feel…just—you."
By this time, Takao was smiling. Not the wide grin that Midorima had fallen in love with, but the rare, soft smile that he was beginning to. The shooting guard knew it didn't do much to clarify what he meant but if Takao was good at one thing, it was knowing what Midorima meant without him actually saying it. Still, he felt he needed to reiterate.
"You're not a shadow," he repeated, hoping that Takao would know it translated to "You're my light."
Takao smiles even wider and says, "I know, Shin-chan," before covering Midorima's mouth with his own.
End
Notes: After writing The Distance Between Us, I have finally returned to this ship. There is a chance that this would be part of a collection of MidoTaka oneshots because I have all these ideas in my head and I need to materialize them into fiction. Also, that Kirisaki Daiichi match? It's on my to-write list, but probably with an established relationship. Look forward to it!
Omamori are amulets sold at shrines. It has protecting powers and helps to ward off bad luck etc. There are generic ones sold in Japan, even some with Mickey Mouse or Hello Kitty designs, so that's the kind Takao got.
Then, please let me know what you think!