'Mother, did you see what I did just now?'
A young, energetic boy grinned as the orange ball went down on the net. He turned his head to see a beautiful, warm smile from the woman whom he loved and cherished the most.
'I am always watching.'
That smile was the last memory she had given to him before she spent her days lying on a white bed in a cold trapped room.
It was during the Winter Cup when Akashi Seijuro remembered the feeling of loss.
"I am... the shadow that has overcome the light."
The moment he saw the ball passed through his hand and swung down in the opposing team's net, he knew that the game had ended in his defeat.
His chest, as well as his eyes, began to feel heavy. The way he could hear the crowd scream and cheer for the new victors in such an audible and challenging manner, made him feel the exhaustion of the game that had just reached its conclusion.
But even so, Akashi did not fail to congratulate the other team that managed to break through his walls of countless victory. Seirin, is indeed, an unstoppable team powered by their strong will and bonds.
"It's your team's win. Also, prepare yourselves...Kuroko. For next time, we will be the victors." the red captain smiled at his opponent, his former teammate, Kuroko, as they shook hands.
This was the person who taught him all these unexplainable feelings in his heart. The one who made Akashi's unperturbed mind distracted and be filled with different kinds of emotion. More importantly, this was the person who taught him defeat.
The feeling of loss was something unfamiliar to him. He may even say that this was the first loss he had even felt ever since he was born.
But, deep inside, Akashi knew that at some point in a person's life, they are bound to fall at some steps on the way. That he too, would be knocked out of his high throne to recover his senses.
Knowing that, Akashi did not really despise defeat. After all, the feeling of loss was also the one that brought his team back together.
"Alright...let's play again."
Or rather, it was Tetsuya who brought this team back together.
Kuroko Tetsuya, the infamous phantom of Teiko and Seirin. The one whom Akashi discovered that possesses a hidden talent and the one whom they left behind because of his defined powerless strength.
They were all proven wrong when said phantom was the one who rose at the top; the one who healed their team and created his own silent, courageous light for everyone to follow.
"Are you saying that nothing is more important than victory?"
'Did that old man made you work on this again?' the woman sighed as she kneeled down on the boy in front of her. Various textbooks and papers with complicated writings laid down beside them.
'I'm fine with it, Mother.' the boy gave her a smile as he grabbed another book to read. It's true that it gets tiring when his father gives him all these lessons to work on. Though, he never really hated it and there are things that he appreciated from it.
'It's not fine. Boys like you should go outside and play.' the woman frowned a bit as she grabbed the book from the child. She took the boy's hand and led him outside.
'But mother-'
'Just go, I know that you want to play basketball right now.'
'Still!-'
'Seijuro' the tone she used was the one where even the boy's father would succumb into. Her words were absolute. Even so, the woman gave such a kind aura.
'I'll be watching you play after telling your father, okay?' the woman pat her son on the head before going through the endless corridors of their home.
"There is none."
Akashi just smiled at the vague memory. After everything that happened, he knew that winning was still a great mindset to be instilled in a person. But he also learned that the best decision was not always the good choice. There are risks in life where you really have to struggle and rely, not only on your own way of thinking, but also on others.
That is why Tetsuya would always exceed Akashi's expectations because Tetsuya is someone who relied on others, and at the same time, an untameable person.
Akashi knew that Kuroko had been through a lot. Well, everyone in their team had experienced different struggles, but Akashi respects, or you could even say admire, Tetsuya the most. The way he never gave up on them was one thing that set apart the bluenette among the rest. If Akashi can label who was the strongest in his team, besides him of course, it would be the boy whose presence cannot be faltered.
"For one to grow, one has to accept the changes..."
'Seijuro'
'Yes, mother?' said the boy as he sat down beside the pale woman's bed. Only a few days had passed, yet he could feel that it was almost time. Even as a young boy, he knew. He can see that the world was now trying to claim the life of the person in front of him.
'Be strong...and remember...' the woman with her frail strength, cupped the boy's cheek gently. 'You're never alone.'
Seijuro noticed a slight tear on his mother's eyes.
'I'm sorry...'
The feint sounds of the heart monitor echoed in the room.
'I failed...'
"Change is the only permanent thing in this world"
When Akashi was given a chance to be with his former team, he did not hesitate to grab it. Watching everyone giving their all in practice for the match against that so called team from America, made him feel a sense of relief. He thought that the team's relationship would be strained due to middle school events, but in turn it actually did the opposite. It was the most fun he had ever had.
At some of their team's practice breaks, Akashi would sometimes observe a certain shadow along with his two lights.
Kuroko is strong. Physically, he's fit, but mentally, he is on par with Akashi himself.
Even when they are about to lose the match against these team of monsters, Tetsuya was the one who gave them the will to fight so that they can emerge victorious.
So all in all, if Kuroko was as strong and intelligent as Akashi had described him, why would he do such a thing?
A few weeks had passed since they were labeled victors from their match against the Jabberwocks. The members of the winning team celebrated and then life went on as usual as they continued school.
Being in the student council, at the same time, captain of the basketball team, Akashi is usually busy but today is an exception. It actually surprises him that his schedule is quite...free. He even went to the student council room to double check if this information is absolute as himself which was answered as he stands in front of his empty table.
No practice, no papers, nothing. The holidays may have something to do about it but he really could care less. At least his father gave him a break for once. It might be his prize since they did get to beat the Jabberwocks to atone for his Winter Cup results. Who knows? Akashi will never understand his father but he did respect the man even if said man has high expectations of him.
Akashi then decides to cherish his free time at home to play violin or shogi. Perhaps, he could even play around with Yukimaru or take a refreshing walk around Kyoto. Leisure days like these are quite rare for Akashi after all.
Fixing his things, he was about to take the long road home. That is, until he got a frantic phone call from a certain group.
"Is this...Akashi-kun?"
Knowing that the voice belonged to a certain brown-haired coach, Akashi was about to reply but is interrupted by the sudden quarrel from the other side of the phone.
"Of course, that's his number! Are you doubting my information?! Give me that!"
"Momoi! Wha-"
It seems that a certain pinkette stole the phone and the coach did not appreciate the action. The voices became blurry as the phone kept getting passed on from one person to another. With his sharp hearing, Akashi recognized most of the voices and wondered why they were even there in the first place.
"Just! Give. Me. The. Phone!"
"Stop it! Barely B!"
"That has nothing to do with this!"
"Oi Satsuki..." a grumbling voice popped up that sounds like he is attempting to grab the phone but instead got himself caught up in between the two girl's mishaps.
Due to that, the poor machine fell on the floor and a certain purple head picked it up.
"Aka-chin..."
Said teen failed to speak clearly as the phone went back to a certain pinkette's hand.
Akashi just sighed. Even without seeing them, he could clearly tell what is happening. Even he knew not to doubt the pinkette's information. Don't get him wrong, he's still absolute.
The voices up to this point suddenly started mixing as if it was a broken cd track.
"Ahh...you really...stop...Aka-chin"
"He might...angry...Akashicchi!"
One might not see it, but Akashi is a really patient person. Though, at times like this, he really does not want to be bothered. He considered hanging up but he got curious as to why his former members are gathered at Seirin...at least, judging from the phone call, they must be at Seirin. Something probably happened.
Akashi was thankful enough when Midorima got hold of the phone. After all, the green haired teen knew how his mood functions.
"Shintaro. Do tell me what is going on."
Akashi assumed that their phone was on loudspeaker because when he asked or ordered Midorima to tell him of the situation, the other side suddenly became quiet.
See? Absolute.
"Since this week is a holiday, Kise suddenly appeared and dragged all of us to-"
"But Mido-chin, I came here on my own..." a certain purple head interrupted as he munched on his snacks.
"I did not drag you, ssu! Tsunderecchi-"
"With the exception of Murasakibara, to play basketball." Midorima glared at Kise. Thankfully, it was enough to quieten down the blonde. "He was about to drag Kuroko as well. So, we went to Seirin but..."
Akashi figured that Midorima was trying to find the words that fit in his sentence. This action already made Akashi wonder because after all the years he spent with his former vice captain, the teen never paused for as long as this.
"...uh..." a few more moments of silence passed and the green haired still wasn't able to find the correct words.
"Maybe you should come here and see it for yourself?" Akashi heard Aomine suggest in the background. He would've threatened the blue haired teen because he was ordering him, Akashi, the emperor.
In the back of his mind, Akashi snorted. The only one who can command me is me. If it wasn't for the tone the ace used, Akashi would've ignored this situation already. The tone? It wasn't Aomine's usual one that's for sure. It's the tone he uses when he is desperate for something.
Putting the two statements together, Akashi concluded that something did happen. Judging from the context, this something, is probably about Kuroko. He was also quite curious on why wasn't he hearing that loud red haired ace. That guy should've been there along with Aomine and Kise's neverending annoying aura.
So, Akashi made up his mind and went the opposite way to catch the train going to Tokyo. It was going to be quite a tiring ride. He considered calling his chauffeur but decided against it as he already entered inside the train.
Akashi just stood beside the train door while staring outside. The sky was bright and the scenery was quite serene and peaceful.
It really was a perfect day for playing shogi...
Being caught up in his thoughts made him distracted for the rest of the ride that he almost didn't notice that he was already in Tokyo. The train doors opened and as he stepped out, the wind blew as if dragging Akashi's free time along with it. Still, his leisure can wait as long as its for his team.
After the long two hour ride and a few steps to the bus station, the red captain successfully arrived at the bright colored gym of Seirin. Everyone looked at him as he entered and Akashi knew that the atmosphere is quite heavy even before he arrived.
"Akashi-kun." the brown haired coach from earlier greeted him.
"Aida-san"
"Well...It's really a shock for us... and we could've just told you this matter over the phone so as not to disturb. But, you see...read this." Riko stuttered while handing out a certain letter to the red captain.
Akashi looked at the letter and it felt familiar. The emotions and memories he felt from middle school suddenly resurfaced as he saw the handwriting on the front indicating the topic for said letter.
'Resignation'
He had seen it before. It may not be addressed to him this time, and the contents may differ but he knew who wrote the said letter.
Letters like these usually gave off a bad or heavy feeling...as if telling him that he had done something wrong. That he did not manage to maintain his team. If he was still the same man as back then, Akashi would not even bother reading these kinds of letters.
Nobody noticed when Akashi gripped the letter as if wanting to tear it into pieces. What they did know is that the red captain is probably also asking the same thing.
Why write such a letter?
Why quit basketball?
"It's also impossible for me to forget everything...I won't play basketball anymore"
What is going on, Kuroko?
AN:
There will be OC's in this fanfic but they're kind of needed to progress the story. I will name all of them once they're introduced.
Sooo, what is this fanfic all about. This fic is just a random plot that popped in my head while writing my other fic. Though, this isn't the main fanfiction that I'm writing now so the next update for this will take quite a while. There are no pairings for this fic because I can't write pairings even though I love reading it *sniffles* I was just inspired by the fact that they were supposed to be brothers in the main series but the idea got cancelled thus this fic is born. It's also inspired by that photo I saw somewhere in Tumblr about Akashi and his mom *tears myself up* What am I doing to myself TvT.
Also, the photo album for my other fanfic, Stygian can be viewed through a link on my acct. So if ever you guys are interested, you can go to my acct page and view it there~
If you guys have questions, feel free to ask me~
Thank you for the support *w*