Prologue
The squeak of shoes that resonates the entire room,
The ball thuds colliding with the hoop,
The final buzzer,
The sound of abrupt and increasing cheers,
The excitement mirrored on every occupant in the stadium,
They were all celebrating over the winner for the National Tournament as the announcer declared the final score.
And the winner was none other than the elite – Teiko Middle School. All celebrated the joy of their favourite players.
But standing in the middle of the basketball field was the so called shadow, with an expression that conflicts any expression that portrayed how he deserved to feel. He was suffocating.
It's too bad that his presence was too weak for anyone else to notice.
Except, her.
The final buzzer was heard as his teammate; Aomine Daiki dunked the ball into the hoop. And as he predicted, they won the National Tournament with a score that he had anticipated.
He wiped the glistening sweat that threatened to fall on his forehead with a satisfactory expression. The red haired captain closed his eyes to engulf himself with the cheers his team received from the crowd as they won. Enjoying that very moment of victory that he could, he always knew that he would won.
Victory matters the most to him.
Upon the excitement, his eyes began to dart frantically towards the crowds, searching for a person – a specific someone. Hoping to get a glimpse of her without getting caught by others, he finally spotted her.
Sitting at a row nearby the basketball court, there she was.
He expected of her to gaze at another player. And it turned out to be true to his expectations. She was staring at Kuroko Tetsuya.
Though, it was her expression that contradicted his expectations. She looked concerned. Instead of being elated at their triumph, she sat there passively. Her eyes wouldn't leave the very silhouette that she was staring.
His monochromatic eyes stilled at her while he could slowly feel the corner of his mouth turning downwards.
And he failed to decipher as to why, for a moment, he felt a sting of pain in his heart.
It was sometime later, when the shadow decided to leave all of his interest towards basketball. When he noticed that the current way he played the basketball was wrong. When he realized that his teammates are no longer the same. It was foolish to think that everyone would never change.
He no longer entered the gym.
He no longer glanced at the basketball court.
All of his determination to become better was lost upon his realization.
"Are you okay?" A voice said. Kuroko Tetsuya turned to face the silhouette who looked genuinely concerned for him – the very girl that he would often share his thoughts too.
"I'm not" He stated as he stared blankly at her. At first glance, the way he looked at her would be considered as a simple stare. However she knew him far longer to know what was hidden behind those eyes. With a sigh, she sat down beside him – joining the view he had been staring for a while. It was the ocean.
"I'm here for you," she said, staring straight ahead. It was the least she could say for him in this situation. She knew something was bothering him from the last tournament. Moreover, his tardiness towards the basketball club, his lack of interest whenever they walked across the basketball court in the streets had been a confirmation for her. She knew so little of what he kept inside his heart. The only way to find out, well, it is to confront upon that matter itself. Kuroko Tetsuya has become lesser and lesser of a boy that she had once knew. At this rate, and as worrying as it sounds, losing him would become a reality that she could not avoid.
Kuroko smiled at her reassurance – touched at her gentle approach. Then, he too, turned to gaze at the waves. Taking a deep breath, Kuroko began to tell. He conveyed everything that would need to be conveyed.
The girl became quiet, silently listening to all of things that made Kuroko Tetsuya feel. She prayed that he would be better.