Distance
Disclaimer: Kuroko no Basket is rightfully Fujimaki Tadatoshi's.
Pairing: TakaMido.
Genre: Hurt/Comfort, Romance
Midorima Shintarou's P.O.V.
"Shinchan!" He looked really happy when I came back then. Well, it's been a year after the previous meeting, after all. I'm eleven back then, and I still remember how the road had changed slightly. But the cheerful Takao haven't changed, he's still as energetic as usual. Even though his built, just like me, had grown a bit.
"Hi, Takao. Long time no see." I put aside my penguin plushie, my lucky item for today and put it on the bench.
"Whoa, penguin! Your lucky items gets more hilarious, Shinchan." He tried to stifle his laugh, and failing miserably. "Huahahaha! Seriously, Shinchan, how could a penguin help you to make your shot?"
"Ask Oha-Asa. As long my shots are in, it doesn't matter."
"And how could I ask Oha-Asa?" Takao laughed his heart out, and somehow, instead of feeling irritated, I'm feeling soothed.
"Hello, Shinchan? Don't tell me that you've fell for me?"
"No way in hell." I answered immediately.
"How mean~" Takao teased. "Let's play another shooting competition!"
"You wouldn't win."
He chuckled. "It's okay."
And the day was filled with his laugh and my sighs, again, just like the previous year. But even though I always looked like that, deep down…
I'm happy.
"What are you doing when I wasn't around, Takao?"
Takao sat on the bench, smiling. "Hoo, curious, aren't you? I always think of Shinchan every time I didn't see you~ joking, Shinchan. Don't stare at me like I've committed criminal stuffs."
"Answer me seriously, Bakao."
"Yes, Master." He never listened. Whenever I scolded him, he always said yes, but nothing of it actually went inside his brain. Geez, Bakao.
"Doing nothing really. I don't know what is the reason for me being here, but I think I am here to accompany lonely Shinchan, don't you think?" He laughed.
"Not funny, Bakao."
"It is, Shinchan." He smiled.
"You should understand how much I want to hit you. Too bad there's no stick near here."
"And you should understand how much I want to hug you, but too bad there's no arm extension here~"
"Does arm extension really exist?"
"Who knows," Takao laughed. "Seriously, I will just hanging around here, maybe going to the forest to find something interesting, but the most interesting things I've been doing is this. Playing basketball with you."
"Even though you always lose?"
"I know I'm inferior but stating it like that is a bit harsh, Shinchan." Takao laughed. Even though he said that, he never got offended with all of my harsh words. Which is why he's my friend.
I smiled secretly.
"How about accompany me to the mountain?"
"Isn't it dangerous?"
"Not really." Takao stretched his hand as if he's going to grab by hand, but he inserted his hand inside his pocket instead. Well, it's not like he didn't want to, but he wasn't able to.
"Shall we go?"
I nodded.
"Crap-" Splash!
Thanks to Takao, I forgot to bring my lucky item with me. And misfortune by misfortune keep falling on me!
"You exaggerate things-" Even when Takao haven't finished his words, a big tree branch fell just right in front of me, and almost made my heart stopped beating.
"I should go back and retrieve my lucky item."
"But we're already this far~" Takao said.
I lifted the bridge of my broken glasses. "I can't assure that I will make it there if misfortune after misfortune keep falling on me like this.
"But…"
"Let's head back, Takao."
"Tomorrow, you're going back, right?"
I shut my mouth. My house and my school had moved, that's why I rarely visit Takao. Gladly, my relative's house was near here, but of course I only able to visit at holidays.
"Yes." I nodded.
"I want… to show you…" Takao shook his head. "Never mind. Let's head back."
"Huh? Want to show me what?"
"Uh…" Takao fidgeted, but before he could open his mouth, another branch fell. " (&$*(*%!" I screamed. It hit my back quite hard, and now I can't move.
"A-a-are you okay, Shinchan?" Takao almost touched me, but I quickly shouted to him, "Don't touch me, Takao!"
"…A-ah. Yeah." He backed down, and helped me to lift the big branch (for real, it's as big as an adult body) from the other side.
"My bones…" I stood like an old man, sighing and complaining. He stifled his laugh, but not too long after that his laugh broke to the air.
"You looked just like an old man, Shinchan!"
"Shut up. Let's go back."
Takao smiled. "Yeah!"
"Shinchan? Are you okay?"
I nodded. My body is covered with bruises, and my glasses are broken as well. Those jealous kids just never learn. Just because I got good grades and never missed my shots, they mocked me as 'perfect guy' and challenged me to fight. Well, they're children after all.
"Shinch-" His hands moved to touch me, but I dodged that.
"Bakao."
He, realizing his actions, smiled and pulled back. "Sorry. Seems that hanging out with you made me too comfortable."
My face blushed in pink. "Sh-shut up, Bakao."
"Eh, why?" Takao looked at my face. "Whoa, whoa, Shinchan? Are you blushing?"
"S-shut up!"
I realized well that he's staring at my hands. Somehow, I can tell that he's really sad, for being unable to touch me.
"Bakao…"
"Don't put that kind of expression." I hit him with the ball I brought. "It didn't suit you."
"Ouch, Shinchan, you're mean."
"Everyone has to be mean, if it's you. You are just too…"
"Too?" He tilted his head adorably, and I can't help but to look away.
"Never mind."
"Eehh, Shinchan~"
"Bakao."
"Look, look!" Takao pointed at the star. "There's one shooting star just now! Pray, pray!"
I look carefully at the stars. When one shooting star caught my eye, I prayed, "I pray for Takao to be able to touch humans again."
"What are you praying about, Shinchan?"
"S-shut up!" I looked away to hide my reddened face. I could hear him stifling his laugh, and failing miserably. Bakao…
This memories… took place four years ago.
To be continued…
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