It's been two days since Christmas. I'm so glad. The only downside is that I still have a pile of presents from my team in my living room. I don't want to touch them. I don't even want to look at them at all. I have my reasons for thinking this way. I don't like to talk about it though. It's very painful.
I sigh and start to sort through the gifts, opening the ones that I know will be asked about later. I reach for Kuroko's first, opening it slowly, a blank look on my face. I don't even smile when I see the pair of shoes that I've wanted for a year. I just look down and take a deep, shaky breath. I love these, but the fact that I got them for Christmas hurts me.
There was a sigh from behind me, making me stiffen.
"Kagami, It's me. Alex." I relax and smile back at her, holding the shoes. She just scowls.
"So, you're just now sorting through the presents? I thought that you'd do that earlier." I stick my tongue out at her, making her do the same.
"I didn't think about it until now."
"Yeah, because you were just laying in bed the whole break." This was true. Whenever I get depressed, I just lie in my bed until I feel better.
Alex goes into the kitchen, looking in the fridge.
"Oh, by the way! I invited over all the people who gave you a present!" she shouts from the fridge, shaking her butt a little. I freeze and jump to my feet.
"WHY!?" I could tell that she was smirking. God damn it, Alex.
"Because they all want to know how you liked their gifts to you." I growl and sit down in front of the pile of different colored wrapping paper.
"Alex! Could you get me a pad of paper and a pen please?!" She didn't answer. She just did it. I smile faintly at her and start to open the many gifts, writing down who they're from. This is gonna be a long day…
"There! I'm done!" I clap my hands together and let out a deep breath, mountains of paper around me. It turns out, everyone was very thoughtful with getting me something. Kuroko got me the awesome blue and red shoes, coach got me a new apron that I desperately needed, Teppei got me a basketball keychain that I can put on my set of keys for my apartment, Hyuga got a tiger poster, and Izuki got me some good socks.
I was about to get to my feet when Alex comes over and smiles evily.
"Oh, that was only from your team~." My eyes widen as she puts down a whole sack of presents as if she's Santa. I sigh and I reach for the nearest gift. My mouth drops when I see who it's from. Midorima.
"Oh, god. What could it POSSIBLY be?!" I quickly rip off the orange paper and open the box, seeing a bowl with rice details inside of it. I grab the note that was on the inside and read it, laughing a bit.
"Merry Christmas, Kagami Taiga. This is your lucky item for the 25th. Please use it when you are making rice. -Midorima." I laugh even more, knowing that he would probably say this is his very serious voice. It was a nice idea though.
I look up at Alex and hand it to her, my smile starting to fade once again.
"We gotta use this bowl when we cook the rice. Midorima would be happy." She nods and pats my head before going into the kitchen. I look down at the new pile and sigh.
"Better get that done quick before everyone comes over~!" I scowl and glare at the back of Alex's head. I WILL get her back for this.
I just lay there, feeling someone's foot lightly touching my side. I groan and bat it away, turning over onto my other side.
"He doesn't want to get up, coach! What do I do?" Is that...Teppei?
"Just carry him to the couch and we'll wake him up in a little bit!" Coach…?
"Hai! But what if he wants a pillow?" There was a sigh from the kitchen, making me uneasy. Coach was in the kitchen, probably cooking.
"Then just let him sleep in your lap. You'll like that more than Kagami."
"Hai, hai! Will do!~" There was a hint of excitement in Teppei's voice. I groan and turn onto my back, opening my eyes slowly. I take in the sight of my plain ceiling before I sit up, seeing my team in my living room. My eyes widen.
"What are you guys doing here? You're not supposed to come until 5." They all smile and laugh. I tilt my head and look at the clock, seeing that it's 5:10. I scowl and sigh, getting to my feet.
"Sorry. I've had a… busy day."
"Kagami." I jump when I hear Kuroko from behind me. I look at him and fake a smile.
"Yeah, Kuroko?"
"It looks like you just opened your gifts today." I blink, trying to act stupid. I open my mouth to say something when the doorbell rings.
"Coming!" I shout, noticing that all of the wrappings were gone and all the things are put back. The tiger poster was put up on the wall. I shake away the thought and open the door, seeing Midorima, Takao, and Kise. They all smile at me, even Midorima. I smile back and let them in.
"Welcome. Thank you for the bowl, Midorima. And the headphones, Takao, were the ones that I wanted! And thank you so much, Kise for the picture of all of us together." They all smile even more as they walk in.
"It was a pleasure, Kagami~!"
"I knew that you were looking at those headphones!"
"I hope that my gift to you is of use to you." I nod at all of them and was about to close the door when I hear a familiar voice.
"Are you gonna close the door on your own brother?" My eyes widen and I look at the doorway, seeing Himuro and Murasakibara. I smile and hug my theoretical brother and smile at the giant that goes with him everywhere.
"It's so good to see you two! Thank you so much for the skateboard. It's so cool! I'm gonna hang it up on my wall!" Murasakibara smiles, but Himuro knows better. He just smiles sadly at me. I smile happily and let them in, closing the door.
"Is this everyone?" Everyone shakes their heads. I scowl and see Kise on his phone.
"We're only missing Momoi and Aomine. Akashi can't make it." I cheer inwardly, not really knowing what to say about the blue boxers that were in my EXACT size. I don't wanna ask and I don't wanna know. I see Alex shrug and get to her feet, bringing out all the food that I helped coach and her prepare. When Midorima sees that we're using his bowl, I see his eyes lighten up a little bit. I smile and set it down in the middle of the table.
Once everything was out, I sit down. Kuroko sat next to me. I gulp when he kept on looking around my house. Everyone was chatting and having a great time, but me. I wanted this to end. Now. I didn't want to open any Christmas gifts let alone look at them.
Kuroko leans in close to me, his breath tickling my ear. I raise an eyebrow at this.
"How did it take you so little time to take down all your Christmas decorations? It has only been two days." I feel myself go pale and I was about to answer with an excuse when there was a knock at the door. I get to my feet and run down the hall, happy that whoever it was that was at the door came at the best time. I open the door and smile, seeing Momoi and Aomine. Of course, Aomine looked bored as usual. My eyes widen a little when there was a small bag in Momoi's hand and a guilty look in her eyes.
"Merry late Christmas, Kagami! Sorry we're late, but we had to pick up a present for you." I smile more and hug Momoi, feeling bad that she went to all this trouble. Look, I'm not completely heartless when it comes to Christmas. I buy everyone a gift I think they'll like and just hope and pray no one gives me anything in return.
"Oh, thanks you guys. You didn't have to do that." I put my chin on Momoi's shoulder, not thinking that Aomine would see the sad look that was making it's way on my face.
"Well, of course we had to! You gave me those amazing bath soaps and facial washes and Aomine a new pair of Jordans. And the best ones too!" I pull away from Momoi, the fake smile on my face.
"Well, I just thought that since you helped me when I needed shoes that it was really nice of you to help out." I look over at Aomine and see the strange look on his face. I just brush the thought aside and let them in, sitting back down next to Kuroko. Aomine decides to take the seat that was on the other side of me while Momoi sits down next to Kuroko and Kise. The two bluenettes beside me were both silent, making me uneasy. I just hope they don't wise up and ask me what's going on.
I open my eyes when I feel someone flick my head. This annoyed me.
"Who just flicked me?" I ask, a tone to my voice.
"You were falling asleep, Bakagami. God, and to think we came only for you to fall asleep." I scowl at the sound of Aomine's voice. I open my eyes and look at him.
"I haven't slept in 4 days. Bear with it." The Touou ace just looks at me with a puzzling look on his face.
"Why didn't you sleep? What, did you wanna see Santa~?" A smirk made it's way onto his face, making my scowl harden.
"For your information, I never believed in Santa." Aomine just pouts in a mocking way.
"Awe~. Did someone see their parents put the presents under the tree~?" I growl.
"No, it's because…" I go silent, leaving Aomine to wonder what I was about to say.
"It's because why?" I just look away from him, locking eyes with Alex to see the disappointed look on her face. I look down at the small bag in my lap, feeling even worse. I'll just wait until everyone leaves and just hide it away with the rest of my presents from years before. That is until Alex just HAD to say something.
"Hey, guys! Kagami has one last present to open from Momoi and Aomine! I wonder what it is!" Everyone agrees. Momoi just starts to giggle. I shoot a glare at Alex and see that Himuro was sitting next to her, smiling as well.
I gulp and pick up the present, opening it carefully. I sigh inwardly before I take the tissue paper covered rectangle out of the bag. I then saw another rectangle wrapped up too. They got me two things? Now I feel even worse. I take off the paper slowly, closing my eyes a little. That's when I saw the shiny metal. My eyes snap open, my mouth dropping. I pull off the paper in one swift movement, seeing if my hunch was correct. It was. They got me a 5th generation iPod touch.
I just sit there, my mouth hanging open, no sound coming out of my mouth. Everyone started to laugh.
"Ya know, there's a second present in there." I nod and reach back into the bag, quickly unwrapping the second gift. I think I stopped breathing at the sight of my favorite quote on the back of a basketball themed otterbox. It said, "Life is about challenges. It's perfect if I can't win!"
I cover my gaping mouth with my hand, my new iPod to replace my stupid nano and otterbox in my other hand.
"Holy shit. This is amazing." I mutter, not moving a single inch. Everyone started to laugh again. This is the thing I wanted the most, and yet...I wanted to cry so badly. I hold back the tears and put my new iPod in it's case. I look at Momoi and then Aomine, a huge, fake smile on my face.
I'm not ungrateful or anything, I just really do NOT like Christmas. And for them to do this for me, it's sending me over the top. I get up and hug Momoi, thanking her and then go over to Aomine, sitting back down.
"Uh…I don't really…Thank you." He raises an eyebrow and puts his hand out. I laugh a little and take his hand, giving him a bro-hug. It was very quick and afterwards, we went back to normal. I glared at him slightly, but he didn't. He just kept the puzzling look on his face. I gulp a little and turn away from him, clenching my wrist tightly. I just hope he doesn't ask me anything.
"Bye guys! Thank you for coming!" I shout, waving my hand as everyone leaves my apartment. Kuroko gives me a strange look before he walks into the elevator along with everyone else. I close the door and sigh, putting my back against it and sliding down to the floor. Alex comes in front of me, her hands on her hips. I look up at her, sadness in my eyes.
"Why did you have to do that?" I ask, my voice quiet and pitiful. My teacher sighs and kneels down, putting her arms around my neck. I will myself to not cry and hug her tightly, needing this really bad.
Once she pulls away, she smiles faintly at me and goes into the kitchen to clean up. I get up and follow her, starting to talk.
"Alex, could you please not do that ever again?"
"Hm? Why not?"
"Because...it was so painful." I see how Alex was about to say something when there was a knock on the door. I shrug and walk over to my front entrance, looking out the peep hole to see who it was. I froze in fear. It was my father.
Hope you liked it...sorta. This is gonna be like a really depressing story...WITH A HAPPY ENDING! I PROMISE! Please don't hate me if Kagami is a little too OOC for you. It's supposed to go along with his past. So, please review, favorite, follow, whatever you want. Just please give me a little feed back.