There was something different in the air today.
Kuroko couldn't quite pinpoint what it was that felt different, but he brushed it off as he prepared the lesson plans for the day. He let the ghost of a smile flicker onto his face as he flipped through the activities he'd be doing today to help the children learn numbers, hoping they'd enjoy the activity as much as he enjoyed planning it for them.
Setting off for school, his mind was filled with a flurry of images and thoughts, but none of them made sense. Even as he arrived and walked into the small school building, he couldn't single out what was setting him into such a weird mood. Kuroko sets his stuff down at his desk, planting himself behind it as he awaits the arrival of the little devils that he taught every day. He had dreamed of being a teacher from a young age, and felt accomplished that he had managed to succeed where most people fell short, but unfortunately, it left him without another serious goal in mind.
He had always loved basketball, but he wouldn't have time to fulfill both jobs of his, so he had opted to teaching kids instead. It left a lot of thoughts of 'what could have been' in his head, but most nights he was able to brush it aside and be thankful for the life that he had obtained for himself.
Kuroko's day went as it normally did, with him standing in front of a group of rambunctious five year-olds who wanted to do nothing more than play and paint; he tried to incorporate creative activities such as those into his lessons as much as he could, finding that it helped them to learn quicker when they were enjoying themselves at the same time. Smiling as he cleans up for the day, he can't help but be glad that he got into this line of work, because it never failed to leave him with a smile on his face and warmth welling up in his chest.
Heading home for the day, he almost wishes he didn't have to leave his little bubble of happiness to return to his quiet home, although his small Alaskan Malamute would be awaiting his arrival. Rolling down his window to get some fresh air, the feeling from this morning returns full forced; it feels like there's a heavy weight on his heart that won't budge no matter what he does. A mix of smells hit his nose, ones that briefly remind him of his youth when he used to go camping with his parents, when he spots the group of stopped cars.
His car screeches to a halt just before he hits the road block, and within seconds he's out of his car, mingling in the crowd that's gathered in front of his home. His eyes widen as flames dance in his vision, the crackling of burning wood reaching his ears before the screams and cries of his neighbors do. There's a faint wailing in the distance that's slowly getting louder, the firemen coming to the rescue, but Kuroko's mind is left on something else.
Tetsuya 2 was still inside.
Easily slipping through the crowd, he darts through his front door, his eyes blurred by the smoke but his ears easily picking up the sound of a dogs whimpering.
"Number 2!" He calls out, squinting his eyes in a poor attempt to see through the smoke. He can't help but cough as he shifts deeper into his home, searching in every crevice for the puppy that he'd been given by a close friend of his. He hears the scraping of paws on the bathroom door as he enters his bedroom; he quickly throws open the door, picking up the scared Alaskan malamute before he accidentally hurts himself. Turning around the leave the burning house, he senses imminent danger as he runs into the living room. There's a moment of shock where he freezes, the scaffolding from the roof falling down and blocking off his exit. His sharp gasp causes him to inhale smoke, and he falls to the ground as his fate dawns onto him.
Tetsuya 2 whimpers as his master lies on the ground, coughing and wheezing weakly as he tries to find the will to live, but finds that his idealistic wishes are met with darkness.
Arriving on the scene, it isn't long before word spreads that the owner of the house had run into the building. Scoffing at the stupidity of it all, Kagami is quick to grab his axe and rush inside. He didn't like to claim to be a hero, but it was in his nature to be the first to rush inside. With fires it was a race against time, and at the moment, time wasn't on his side. It was almost like fighting a losing battle, but he had always prospered when the odds were against him.
Kagami hacks through the burning wood, making sure that none of the embers damage the frail body that he can barely see lying in the center of the room, his path to him still blocked off by a considerable amount of danger. If he let the boy breathe in much more smoke, his lungs would be done for; the smoke was already making it near impossible for him to see. Determined to not let anyone die on his watch, he continues to push through as he hears the rest of his brigade working on dimming the fire in the surrounding houses to prevent it from spreading even further.
The red-haired firefighter can hear the soft whimpering of a dog, but forces his way through regardless of his fear, his body acting despite his mind telling him it was a bad idea to go any farther into the burning building. There was an innocent life at hand, and he'd rather die than leave behind an innocent dog and its owner. With a newfound fire in his eyes, he manages to hack through another piece of charred wood, finally able to reach the small body in the center of the room. Observing his face, he notes that the man can be no older than 20, with skin covered in soot due to the fire; the dog was nestled against his chest, refusing to leave his owner behind.
Kagami easily picks the man up in his arms; carrying him bridal style as the dog balances itself on his owners' chest. He quickly makes his way from the building, with no time left to spare as he hears the foundation creaking with every step he takes. Its moments later, as he finally manages to find the exit that he hears the floor collapse inside, but he blocks the close call from his mind and focuses on his task at hand. He rushes past the groups of people that had gathered near, fighting to get to the ambulance as fast as possible.
Only when he has the small injured body laying on the gurney does he allow himself a chance to breathe, head whipping back towards the house. The rest of his brigade had handled the fire, and soon it would be nothing but a charred house and a horrifying memory to all those gathered around. Letting out another exhausted sigh, he let one of the EMT's check him over for wounds as they got ready to head to the hospital with the individual he'd just saved in the back, still unconscious and hooked up to an IV to keep him alive.
He made a mental note to visit the hospital before heading home, just to ease his mind after a long day of work, before heading off to help the rest of his team tame the roaring fire.