Kagami Taiga

I wasn't supposed to fall in love with you.

That, I can assure you, was not part of my plan. I was supposed to be your friend, your teammate. Your shadow. I'm not quite sure when I started to desire something more from you, more with you. But I do know how (embarrassingly) long it took me to realise that what I wanted could never be. How naive I was to think that you would ever consider allowing something to come between you and Aomine-kun. You had finally, at long last, found happiness. He had helped you find it. Aomine-kun was the main reason for you to fix your brotherhood with Himuro. He helps you improve your basketball skills. (Which I don't think you realise how special and singular that makes you. He has never extended such an offer before. I doubt that, before you, the thought ever seriously crossed his mind.) And you have healed him as well. You were the true reason that the Generation of Miracles were able to fix their friendship. (You really don't understand how valuable that was. I can guarantee that every single one of us has felt incomplete and lonely for the past two years, because we had broke our team off in such a convoluted and twisted way. It wasn't a clean end, it was full of unsaid conversations and words we regretted saying. You fixed all six of us, Kagami. Don't underestimate how much that meant.) We still have some rough edges, but we have hewn new nooks inside each other that are just like home to us. You gave Aomine-kun back the light in his eyes when he plays basketball. It hurt me to see him so empty. But now that he has honed you into a worthy opponent, the game has become appealing and fun to him again. When you two team up, on or off the court, you two are unstoppable. Unopposed and powerful, completing each other in the messiest and most flawed, raw, and beautiful way possible. I sound bitter, don't I? Honestly, I couldn't feel happier for you or Aomine-kun. I just wrote this because I felt I owed a reason to you. Why I've been distancing myself more (not that you noticed. I'm not insulting you, just pointing out the truth.) and becoming more isolated from the team. They don't deserve that sort of treatment, and neither do you. My grandmother recently got admitted to the hospital for her terminal cancer. My parents have been busy with work these past few months, so they aren't aware of the situation. Since her time is dwindling, I'm taking a week off from school–and by extension, practice–to spend time with her. Adia already knows, and has given me a worksheet of exercises I can complete with minimal resources. (My grandmother has requested to meet you, by the way. You can feel free to call me if you would like to visit. It's completely your decision.) When I return from my mini hiatus, I will be back to how I usually act. It won't affect you much, seeing as you wouldn't have noticed anything wrong in the first place. But I'll make sure that I still stay your close friend, still go to Maji Burger with you after school. Aomine has the rest of the day with you, and you have the weekends for yourself. It will be as it always has. And you needn't worry yourself with feeling uncomfortable or self conscious around me. Because the little break should do one of three things. I should have either come to the realization that all I feel is infatuation and my care for you will subside to an average level, that of a friend's. I will have time to bury the love I feel into the deepest recesses of my mind where it will lurk, never to resurface. Or the pain that the distance from you brings me to the point where I am forced to discipline myself into abandoning any hopes of a romantic relationship with you, to save myself. Honestly, I'm thinking a strange combination of all three will happen.

I never meant to fall in love with you. I regret it completely and totally, because it hurts and is pain in it's purest form. But regardless, you shouldn't feel awkward or guilty or anything like that, because you are not at fault or responsible in any way. I know you'll try to somehow blame yourself–don't. I'll regret writing this more than I already do. And I'm sorry I didn't have the bravery to confront you in person.

But I suppose I didn't have the courage to confront you in words, either.

But I suppose I'm okay with that. As long as I know what I would have said, that makes me feel okay.

Ha. I've been reduced to lying to myself.

Cowardice is an evil and fickle demon to try to wrangle on your own.

Kuroko Tetsuya

(P.S.–On the off chance that you do find this, bypassing by everything else–I can see the way you two look at each other. I have never seen such a look of utter euphoria and joy before I saw you and Aomine play together. I haven't seen his smile in years, and you gave it back to him. I'm not an idiot.)

Hyuga sharply drew in a breath. "I really don't think we should have read that."

Although he couldn't see them, he could tell that Adia and Izuki agreed with him. This was too personal, too intimate and private that Hyuga felt a wave of shame wash over him.

"Well, should we do anything about this? Talk to him, maybe, or…." Adia trailed off. The three looked up from the paper at the same moment, hearing a squeak. They just saw a flash of light blue hair and the edge of a bag.

"Shit," Izuki mumbled under his breath. He made a move to go after Kuroko, but Adia and Hyuga grabbed him.

"Just leave him for now. He probably doesn't want to be approached by anyone right now. Let him cool off, we'll see him tomorrow. He doesn't take off until Sunday," Adia said calmly. Izuki nodded.

Hyuga ran his fingers through his hair.

"I think Kagami deserve's to read this, even if it means losing Kuroko's trust."