When 6 year old Kuroko Setsuna first met Akashi Seijuro who was at the same age, her initial impression of him was terrible.
"Mommy, girls have cooties!" The tiny blob of red hair hid behind his mother's legs, peeking at Setsuna cautiously.
"Seijuro," His mother, Shiori, whom little Akashi share a great resemblance with, gently chided her child," Mommy used to be a girl too. Does that mean you won't want to play with mommy too?"
"B…But… That's what Ruka told me…"
"Ruka kun let his fear take a hold of him. Now, Seijuro, what did father teach you?"
"Forget everything and run or face everything and rise." Akashi gripped Shori's skirt tightly, taking a deep breath before letting go, shyly tugging out his tiny hand to Setsuna," I'm… Akashi…Se… Seijuro."
Setsuna took a peek up at her mother who was standing beside her, who gave the child a gentle push with a grin on her face.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Kuroko Setsuna! You can call me Suna!"
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"Wait, Suna chan! Wait for me!" A spot of red hair frantically used his tiny legs to chase after a blob of purple haired girl who was giggling," Catch me if you can, Sei kun!"
Both mothers of the children sat at the garden table adorned with a huge parasol, chuckled as they watched over them with a gentle smile on their face.
"How's Akihito, Yuki? Will he be back from the states this year?" Shiori gently placed her Darjeeling tea down without a sound, innately thrilled that she can finally catch up with her high school best friend.
"Aki is almost done wrapping up, still saying good bye to his NBA teammates. Hopefully he will be back by this month. You know how my husband is, a big softie. He made so many friends over there, I'm lucky that he's agreeable that now that Setsuna is growing older, we should come back to Japan for good. Perhaps having his twin brother here also helped with the decision to migrate back."
"Of all of us who played basketball at high school level," Shiori sighed, reminiscing their school life," He's the only one who turned pro. I wonder how everyone is doing?"
"Speaking of which, where's Seijuro's grumpy old man? Being nasty, strict with his underlings again?" Yuki rolled her eyes in contempt.
Shiori laughed," Why do you always make fun of Masaomi? He's at work of course."
"That's because he's always so straight-laced about things. You know, talking about the old team makes me want to play. That's why I brought this!" Yuki fished out a basketball from her duffel bag. "Have you show Sei kun the ropes yet?"
"No, he usually don't have much time to play. Do you think the kids are old enough for a game?"
"Of course, Setsuna has always been playing! Come on, let's show the kids! I bet they will love it!"
That was the first time Akashi Seijuro has ever hold a basketball and he instantly fell in love with it. But most of all, what had make it such a remarkable and memorable sport was the company that he had. His beloved mother, Shiori, Auntie Yuki and a cheerful new friend, Suna chan.
With Yuki's return to Japan, the two best friends often spent a lot of time together at the Akashi residence. Yuki often brought her daughter along, whom had spent all her initial years in America and was slowly acclimatizing to the Japanese culture before she goes to elementary school. Shiori always had a weak constitution from early age, despite that, she and Yuki were famous partners during their high school basketball career. Given this frequent meeting with two basketball friends, the mothers often rope in Akashi and Setsuna to play basketball with them. As Setsuna started learning basketball before Akashi, she was naturally faster and better than him.
However, Akashi since young was never one to back down from a challenge, and his strict upbringing had only brought out his competitive spirit. During breaks from his rigorous lessons, he spent all his time practicing basketball in the courtyard, while Shiori looked on with the most beautiful smile on her face, often giving him lessons from the things she had learnt from high school. Therefore, it was not strange when Akashi beat Setsuna for a 1 on 1 after 3 months of training. Upon realizing her defeat, Setsuna did not cry as Akashi had feared, but she had puffed up her cheeks, pout and glared at him with her big glittery ocean blue eyes.
It was such a comical look that Akashi had smiled and laughed heartily at his newfound friend, who had turned even redder in frustration. When Shiori and Yuki had heard his laughter, they were both really surprised given it was such a rare occurrence. Shiori had confide to Yuki that she feared that the "Akashi way of upbringing" was too harsh on her son, and she often pleaded with Masaomi to give him some breathing space. Even when the current patriarch relinquish certain control over his child, as Akashi grew older, his smiles and laughter eventually diminished to rarity, and it was obvious to Shiori, especially when Akashi and Setsuna are together, he often suppressed his obvious amusement and fondness for the girl.
When Akihito, Yuki's husband had finally arrived in Japan for good, they arranged for a reunion dinner for the 4 high school friends at the new Kuroko residence. When Masaomi & Shiori arrived on time with their son in toll, it spoke volumes of how Masaomi felt for the Kuroko family. In fact, it is very much in his power and authority to stop Shiori to stop mingling with 'people not of their class', as Masaomi's father would have put it, and even come up with an excuse for him to not turn up for the dinner at all.
Yuki had smiled gently at Masaomi's appearance welcoming them, thereafter calmly returned to the kitchen with Shiori following her. Akihito had greeted his old friend with a sharp pat on his back, talking animatedly all the while curling his arms around Masaomi's neck in a friendly manner, despite the latter's struggle and protest. Little Akashi had blinked in surprise for he has never seen his father bickered with another so openly, therefore not noticing a little bolt of purple had sprint towards him and bumped him into the ground with a fierce hug.
To little Akashi, the Kuroko house was a lot smaller than his family's, with boxes still strewn around from the midst of unpacking. The living room was packed, adorned with various trophies and medals hanging on the wall and closets. Setsuna showed him around, explaining to him that most of the awards were for her father, while the rest were for her mother when she was in high school.
"And here!" Setsuna reached for a small gold medal on the top of the drawer in tip toes, giving it to Akashi for a better look.
The gold medal was emblazoned with a basketball going through a hoop, flipping it showed '1st Place – Interschool Basketball – Chicago, USA'
"Our team won before I come to Japan." Setsuna simply stated and then gazed at Akashi with an expected grin on her face. If Akashi had to describe her then, she would have looked like a puppy happily wagging her tail, waiting for the praise to come. Even at this age, Akashi had won far more medals than her, be it in violin, piano, Shogi or any competition that his father had make him compete. The kiddish part of him wanted to scoff at her singular award and to show off his achievements, cruel words that were almost at the tip of his tongue, before he decided otherwise and smiled at her warmly, reaching up a little to pat her head," Well done, Suna chan. I'm so proud of you."
Akashi had decided there and then that he loves Setsuna's smile. Upon hearing his words, Setsuna was exultant to the point where her cheeks would have ached from her smile, and her eyes a little teary from the joy that she felt from a few simple words that Akashi gave her.
As Setsuna hugged and almost squeezed the life out of him, the little Akashi heir did not understand why he had felt such warmth in his chest nor the queasiness in his stomach. All he understood, when he sat at the table, dining happily with the Kuroko family, was he would wish to see that smile again.
.
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"…kashi… Akashi. Wake up."
A pair of heterochromatic eyes snapped open, the owner quickly registering where he is, unfolding his arms. Akashi Seijuro was sitting with his head comfortably resting on the student council chair. He glanced down in irritation at the table with applications and reports strewn haphazardly for the upcoming Rakuzan School Festival. He was in the midst of tallying the figures, which quickly became a tedious and boring process as it was marred with mistakes. He briefly thought to fire the foolish incompetent one when his eyes landed on the girl whom he was just dreaming of and also currently standing on the other side of the mahogany table.
"Setsuna." He simply greeted without betraying any emotions that is swirling inside his mind.
"Akashi, let's go. We need to head home to prepare for the soiree Uncle Omi wanted us to attend." The 16 year old girl informed him gently without a smile, already turning away towards the door.
Akashi squeezed his temples a little, trying to shake off the vivid dream that he just had, but he had to ask, "Wait, Setsuna."
The tall slender girl turned around without a word, waiting, with her hand on the door knob.
"Do you still have the Gold medal you won when you were in Chicago?"
Setsuna's eyelashes fluttered down to the ground briefly before looking up at Akashi with a small sad smile on her face," I threw it away."
There was a short moment of silence before Setsuna turned back towards the door," I will wait for you at the school gate."
As the door closed once again, Akashi leaned back against his chair closing his eyes, allowing himself to reminisce quietly on the times that were lost.
A/N: So... How do you like it? ^_^ Does it intrigue you? I had the whole story mapped out already. Do let me know your thoughts in the reviews! (psst, sorry about the grammar)