Disclaimers: KnB is not mine, all rights belong to Fujimaki Tadatoshi and the publishers.

Summary: Himuro is observant, Murasakibara is hopeless.

Note: The author is crazy for writing MuraKuro in the middle of Seirin vs Rakuzan match. And she is not a native speaker. And she tried writing in-character story. Please note: tried. Also, who the heck talks in third pov. Now, if you're ok with that, please proceed reading. Thanks.

"So tired~ Practice is so troublesome. Maybe I should skip next time." Atsushi said as he opened the locker.

Himuro glanced at Atsushi and smiled. "Atsushi, if you skip, coach will be angry."

"I'll tell Masako-chin I'm sick. I can't practice if I'm sick."

Himuro chuckled. "I'd love to see how that'll go." He said. But Himuro knew he'd never get to see that, because Atsushi wouldn't skip practice. Not after they have lost to Seirin in the Winter Cup. No, even before that, Atsushi still came to practice as often as everyone did.

Himuro asked Atsushi about that once, about why he worked so hard every practice if he hated it. Atsushi said it was because he hated losing even more. That was true, but it wasn't good enough of an answer to Himuro.

Whenever Atsushi practiced, he always had this weird expression of determination mixed with anger. Himuro couldn't understand why. Until he met Taiga again.

xxxxxx

He was really surprised when he saw Taiga at that street tournament, even if his face showed as much emotion as a talented poker player in the middle of his game. Taiga reacted just like how Himuro expected, all confused and emotional. But Taiga changing one hundred and eighteen degrees after being hit and lectured by his partner was not in Himuro's prediction. The Taiga he knew would never listen to anyone in such situation. Taiga changed, Himuro noticed. And it was probably thanks to that guy next to him. But…who was he again?

When Himuro's learned the boy's name, he had this weird inkling that everything made sense then. He had heard the name Kuroko Tetsuya a few times from Atsushi, but only briefly, usually accompanied by 'I don't like him' or 'we don't get along', and the conversations wouldn't go any further than that.

Himuro called Atsushi to the game, mostly because he needed help, partly because he wanted to see what the center would do when he saw Kuroko, but Atsushi was late. Fortunately, he appeared just in time, right after when ball was thrown into the air. He apologized to Himuro, and Himuro faked annoyance to his unpunctuality but inside he was thinking 'impressive entrance Atsushi!'. With little hassle, the game continued with Atsushi on his team.

They have to go back when the rain interrupted their game. On the train, Himuro's mind was a mess thanks to Taiga. He wanted to distract himself from the matter, so he asked Atsushi about 'Kuro-chin', something like, 'You guys looked like you get along at first, then all hell broke loose. Why?' and Atsushi said something along the line of 'if only Kuro-chin stopped bringing basketball up everytime we met'.

They sat in silence for a moment, and then Atsushi suddenly said "I don't like him."

Himuro was stunned. The way Atsushi said that was different, not just idly mentioning it like he usually did with his sulky tone. Atsushi was serious, more serious than Himuro had ever seen of him. Himuro looked at him, and he saw it. He saw anger mixed with determination. He saw the expression Atsushi always wore at practice, only this time it wasn't so subtle, it was clear, it was intense, and it scared Himuro.

xxxxxx

In their match against Seirin, Taiga showed him he really did change. He was just as reckless as ever, making Himuro feel offended. But he changed. He didn't play for himself like he used to, he played for his team. That's why he was better than Himuro. That's why Himuro envied him.

Himuro was too busy being miserable that he didn't see the change in Atsushi's mood. The moment he came back to reality, the first thing he heard was Atsushi giving up. The frustration was unbearable. Himuro remembered punching, yelling, crying at Atsushi's face, and how Atsushi frowned and stood up again. At that time, he didn't know he did Atsushi a big favor.

Atsushi cried when they lost the game. Himuro wanted to cry to, but he couldn't. Somehow, Himuro was happy. Just a little bit, but he was happy. The last pass he sent to Atsushi, his mind was clear from envy and sadness, thinking about victory alone. It was the first time in a very long time that Himuro could truly enjoy playing.

Seeing Atsushi's tears, Himuro, as well as the rest of Yousen, understood something. Murasakibara loved basketball, no matter what he himself said.

But there was something that only Himuro knew.

xxxxxx

Atsushi was childish. He hated the thing he hated, he liked the things he liked. He couldn't be neutral. He didn't like basketball for that reason. His mind told him to hate the sport, but his heart said otherwise. Basketball made him confused, and so did Kuroko Tetsuya.

Himuro heard it countless times, how Atsushi despite people who keep trying even though they knew they couldn't do it. But Himuro had also heard Kuroko's name being said in a voice filled with nostalgia and longing whenever Atsushi mentioned his time at Teiko.

Atsushi didn't seem to realize his own feelings, and Himuro could only wonder when Atsushi would stop being such an idiot. Himuro guessed he should lend Atsushi a hand, and do it discreetly, too.

xxxxxx

It was April, but the weather was still a little chilly. Perfect for basketball, Himuro thought, and also perfect for a hopeless dork to come to realization. God helped Himuro when Taiga texted him that Seirin would come to Akita for the school field trip. Himuro immediately texted him back and asked for a 2-on-2. Of course Taiga agreed.

In the break, Himuro came to Atsushi's class to ask him. He ignored the stares and dreamy sighs directed at him and go straight to Atsushi's seat.

"Atsushi, do you want to play basketball this weekend?"

"Eh, but we don't have practice this week~. Take a rest, Muro-chin."

"But our opponents are Kuroko-kun and Taiga. It's a rare chance, you know."

"…No, I want to rest. You go alone, Muro-chin." Atsushi yawned and slumped on his desk.

"Suit yourself then." Himuro shrugged. "8 a.m at the basketball court near our school if you want to come."

"…"

Himuro smiled, shaking his head. He headed to the door, thinking that Atsushi was even more hopeless than he thought. Himuro didn't bother asking anyone else, because Atsushi would definitely be there anyway.

"Hopeless Atsushi." He muttered, sighing.