A/N: Yay new story! Honestly, there's like no actual timeline because i centered the story around events that happen in the anime, but I don't know when they take place. This is also un-edited so there are probably some mistakes.

Warnings: Mentions of mental illnesses and self destructive behaviour. Strong language is present in this book. Canon-divergence(ish?). Kuroko/Takao. More warnings will be added as the story progresses.

Summary: "Sometimes, I just want to be noticed by those around me."

"Really? Well guess what, I noticed you the moment we met, and honestly, I couldn't take my eyes off of you after that."

"Thinking"

'Texting'

'Calls'

"Talking"

Chapter One: So Quiet

"The silence allows my demons to roam free.

My thoughts and emotions take over me.

It's so quiet I can't take it anymore.

The silence is something I can't ignore."

After Seirin's match with Shutoku, Kuroko found himself aimlessly walking around a park. Seirin's celebrations had already ended with everyone at home. Kuroko didn't want to go home, if he could even call it that. His home was always empty, his parents were never home, and they were always occupied with work.

Houses were usually meant to be filled with warmth and laughter, but Kuroko's house was cold and quiet. "Hmn it's fitting… I guess," he mused, "I'm supposedly a ghost right? It makes sense that my house is devoid of life."

His thoughts then shifted onto the topic of himself. It wasn't widely known, but Kuroko, hated himself. He absolutely hated that he had no presence, he hated how no one spared him a glance, he hated that he couldn't express his emotions.

Kuroko took out his phone and earphones and played some random song from a playlist Kagami showed him. A soft melody started playing, and Kuroko started walking towards a park bench. He lazily kicked some rocks and decided to lose himself to his thoughts again.

Kuroko didn't know why he had such a low presence, and he's tried many times before to stand out. It didn't work, and all attempts to stand out failed.

He sat on the bench and grew frustrated. He has blue hair for fuck's sake, that isn't a common hair color.

Even in basketball he doesn't stand out. Technically, he is a part of the Generation of Miracles, but even then he's the rumored 'Phantom Sixth Man'.

Phantom, there's the word that Kuroko resents the most.

His eyes start to water as a new song starts playing. He's just so frustrated with everything. Sure, being a phantom is great since he's a passing specialist, but Takao was able to see him and Kuroko was useless during the game. What the hell is Kuroko supposed to do when his only weapon and advantage in basketball is proved to be useless?

By now his tears are running freely down his face. He didn't say anything during the game, but Takao's ability to shut him down scared Kuroko.

"What if the team comes to the conclusion that I'm useless?" Suddenly, it starts to rain covering Kuroko's tears. He doesn't move and allows himself get soaked by the rain.

"What if Kagami doesn't want to be my light anymore," he closes his eyes, "it wouldn't matter, he's already a great basketball player. He doesn't need me to support him."

Kuroko just sits there on the bench with the rain drenching his body, and just cries his heart out. All the pain, stress, and frustrations finally got to him. He bottled up his emotions, and it became too much for him to handle, he snapped.

He's just so hurt and confused. He doesn't know what to do anymore.

The rain stops soaking his body and Kuroko opens his eyes. He sees a clear umbrella covering him and turns his body to look at the owner.

He sees Takao, dressed in sweats, holding the umbrella with his left hand and the other in his pocket.

"Hey," Takao says sounding a bit uncomfortable. Kuroko shivers now feeling the chill from being soaked. "Hey," Kuroko replies. Takao shifts so that the umbrella is in his right hand.

"Why are you out so late and in the rain?"

"Do you want an honest answer?" Kuroko asks, and seeing Takao's nod he continues, "Well, I've bottled up all my feelings and it came to bite me in the ass. Now I'm crying in the rain at twelve in the morning in the rain. I'm probably going to get a cold too, so I'll have to skip practice for a few days. Coach is going to be furious with me and will double my training. What are you doing out here Takao-san?"

Takao is left speechless; he thought Kuroko didn't talk this much. "I decided to go for a walk, I'm still bugged about our loss and I wanted fresh air."

Kuroko hums in response. No one says anything for a few moments.

"Uhm, well if you want, you could rant to me, and I could rant to you," Takao offers, breaking the silence. Kuroko thinks hard for a moment and then replies, "We can, but let's move to a different location. Maybe my house? If you're comfortable going to a stranger's house we can talk there. I really need to change my clothes."

Takao smiles, "Sure."

Takao honestly did not expect to be comforting Kuroko at 12 in the morning. He didn't even know why he offered. He was peacefully walking around the park and saw Kuroko just sitting there, and originally he was just going to ignore him. He acted on impulse and approached the blue haired teen, and now they're standing inside of Kuroko's house.

"Uhm, I'm going to go get a dry set of clothes on, make yourself at home Takao-san," Kuroko said breaking the silence. Takao put his umbrella off to the side to dry while Kuroko went upstairs.

Takao hesitantly headed towards the living room and sat down on one of the couches. Looking around the room, he noticed that Kuroko's living room was plain and lacked any personal touch. Takao couldn't explain it, but there were no family pictures, decorations, or anything really. There was only furniture.

Takao felt as if this place wasn't a home and that fact bugged him more than it should have.

He heard shuffling from the direction of the stairs and turned his head. He saw Kuroko in some sleep wear coming down the stairs and heading towards the kitchen.

"I'll prepare some snacks," he told Takao. A few seconds later he came back with some crackers and water. It was extremely awkward between the two; they finally realized that they were strangers and that they didn't really know each other.

Kuroko wanted to smack himself because everyone knew to not invite strangers into their house during late hours.

Finally Takao broke the silence, "So, are you going to tell me the reason why you were sitting in the rain at 12am?"

"Well, I was thinking."

"What were you thinking about? I could tell you were crying."

Kuroko sipped his water before answering, "Long story short, I'm just sick of everything I guess. I hate my current skills in basketball, and now that you shut down my only advantage I had in basketball, I'm probably going to be kicked off the team."

Takao nodded, "Kuroko-san, I highly doubt your team will do that to you. I hate to admit it, but you are a formidable opponent. I had quite the hard time playing against you. Besides, your skills are unique and amazing, don't put yourself down." When Takao finished, he smiled at Kuroko.

"I guess you're right. What about you Takao-san? What's wrong?" asked the blue haired teen.

"Hah, I'd never thought I'd be venting to you, it's funny actually. Anyway, I guess I'm a bit frustrated too. After we lost I guess I feel like it was my fault? I don't know, it's just one of those times where you're sad for no reason, I guess."

"I completely understand, well I don't know if I can be of any help, but I can try to cheer you up? I'm not very good at it though."

Takao smiled, "It's okay Kuroko-san, talking with you is pretty fun. We should just stop thinking about it. Maybe we could get to know each other?"

"That's sounds like a great idea Takao."

They spent the rest of the night talking, and when Takao left, they exchanged numbers

Kuroko and Takao have been talking a lot recently, and formed some kind of friendship. Today they both decided to hang out, after realizing that they liked being in each other's presence.

Takao stood at Kuroko's door dressed in jeans and a plain shirt, he pressed the doorbell. When Kuroko came out he smiled. "You ready Kuroko?"

Kuroko smiled lightly, "Yeah."

They both decided to go to an arcade, and there Takao learned that Kuroko sucked at games after playing a racing game.

He laughed, while Kuroko pouted.

"It's not funny Takao-kun."

Takao wiped tears from his eyes before replying, "Yes it is Kuroko, you were going backwards, I don't know how, but you did." One look at Kuroko again and Takao burst into laughter once more.

"Takao-kun is mean, and I am never hanging out with him again." Kuroko then tried running away, but Takao grabbed his wrist.

"Don't forget I can see you Kuroko, your misdirection doesn't work on me," Takao said smiling while pointing to his eyes.

Kuroko found himself smiling too, and realized that it wasn't as quiet as it was before.

A/N: Okay, before some of you go "Another story? You don't even update the other two stories." Ah well, I'm currently writing out all the chapters for each story (I also just want to write Kuroko/Takao okay). I've been frustrated with both stories lately, and I just can't bring myself to upload chapters that I feel aren't good enough. I've had no time to really write, it's been a crazy few months. I had to deal with school, and sadly there has been a lot of deaths in my family. The Scars of the Past is going to have it's 1 year anniversary soon, and I find it sad that there's only a few chapters. Don't worry though, I am definitely going to finish these stories, it may take long though, oops. Thankfully, it's summer and I am going to be working hard and trying to get chapters out :)

- The Mysterious Rhea