A/N: Yay~ I actually got some reviews on this story of mine! So, so happy!
-spins around and then fall-
Ehem! Anyway, my college life will soon to begin this June (Nope, I wasn't part of the ones entering K-12 here in Philippines) so I think I'll be busier this year.
Hope you'll still tune in my fanfics because I'll still update them as often as I can.
BTW, I'm taking Tourism Course. Yiiiipppiiiieeee!
"Just Like A Merry-Go-Round"
Chapter Two:
Sometimes, people need to change.
Sometimes, people need to accept defeat.
Sometimes, people need to turn their back and face a new door.
And sometimes, you just need to take steps backward and pretend you didn't see anything.
Yes, people change.
"But memories don't." Kuroko added as he finished one of his two milkshakes.
Kagami blinked and glanced at him. "What? Did you say something?"
He blinked back and shook his head. "No, it's nothing."
"Ah, alright." The red-head murmured and stayed silent for awhile. "Ne, Kuroko."
He slipped out his remaining milk shake and put on the straw before starting sipping on it. Delicious, as usual. He mentally noted and looked up at his partner. "Yes, Kagami-kun?"
Kagami played with his own hair as he mumbled, "Is it alright if I ask you something confidential?"
"That's odd."
"Huh?" The ace growled. "What's odd?"
He slightly smiled. "You tend to just say what's in your mind and ask bluntly whatever comes into that brain of yours."
Kagami scratched his head and pouted a little. "I don't want things to get awkward between us, you know." He murmured and sighed. "I just can't imagine myself nowadays wandering all alone around the town and playing on my own in the basketball courts. Perhaps, I just think that being awkward with you also means being apart with you. I've told you, haven't I? Back then with our match with Yosen? That choosing between my past with Tatsuya and future with you, the answer's obvious." He explained. "It'll always be the latter."
If he was a normal person, then Kuroko's cheeks would be so crimson now. But then again, when did he become a normal person? "You're a pretty embarrassing fellow too, Kagami-kun."
"Wha-! I'm not, you bastard!" Kagami defended, obviously confused.
He took a sip and turned. "You can ask me anything. I'm not a shallow person."
Kagami was speechless. Not that he wasn't expecting this kind of offer but the way Kuroko turned at him with the sunrays shining at him and the wind blowing his hair and coat around, the former just couldn't seem to help himself from thinking that he was with an angel. He composed himself and finally blurted it out, "Do you…uh…like Akashi Seijuuro? You know like…like."
The teal-head's eyes widened. He always thought that his partner was a naïve idiot, but he just proved this quite wrong with the way his partner just asked him. "Let's pretend I don't. Let's pretend that I liked him before, but not now. Let's pretend that I don't feel anything for him. And let's pretend I can move on."
"…So, in short, you do, huh." The red-head breathed. "That's actually quite surprising. I never thought you would fall for someone like him."
"What do you mean?"
"You just don't look the kind of guy who will fall for an asshole." Kagami grunted. "An asshole who doesn't know how to appreciate his teammates and just throw away the memories he possesses with his former teammates. An asshole and a bastard. I just think you're too good for him."
"Do I really look that kind?"
Kagami shook his head as he stared at the clear skies. "That's not it. Let me be blunt with you." He offered and grinned. "I just think that it's hopeless. Even if you two will –let's pretend—be together, I think it won't work out with the way he treats people. He'll just hurt you, so as your partner, I forbid you from falling deeper and deeper for him." He explained and turned at the phantom player. "Got that?"
Why can't Akashi-kun smile like that towards me?
Why can't Akashi-kun understand me as he does?
Why can't he appreciate me as Kagami-kun does?"
Why did I fall for him?
"O-Oi, Kuroko, what the—" Kagami panicked as a sudden clang! Sounded and then as he turned, he found the milk shake on the ground, spilling and pouring out of its' container.
As he faced Kuroko, his eyes widened uncontrollably.
"K-Kuroko-!" He gasped and since he failed to get his handkerchief as soon as possible, he swiftly took the said boy in his arms instead. "Ah, geez! Why did you need to cry now, of all times? At least give me a warning beforehand."
Hiccupping, the teal-head murmured an apology, "Sorry, Kagami-kun, I….I…"
Kagami, ignoring the stares they were getting, patted his partner's head and murmured, "Yosh, Yosh, I'm not really great at comforting others, but…uh, go cry your heart's out. I'll be right here."
As if he was shielded from the rest of the world, Kuroko sobbed silently at Kagami's chest.
Why…?
Why…?!
~LFMH021~
"Gooooooodddddd moooooooorrrrnnnnning, classs! I'll be your new homeroom teacher for this school year and my name is Sir Takeuchi Kaoru! You call me Takeuchi-sensei!" Class 2-B, Kuroko and Kagami's class, was up in an uproar as arguments started on what to call their teacher, would it be: Take-sensei, Uchi-sensei, Urchin-sensei, Chi-sensei and more.
The ever backmates, Kuroko and Kagami, just glanced at each other. One grinned as the other shrugged.
"Let's call him Kaoru-sensei then!" One shouted.
"AGREE!" The others growled.
"HEY! I JUST MET YOU GUYS, HOW DARE YOU!" Their homeroom teacher grunted, but then everyone laughed. "Heck, I never knew I'll be in a lively class! Take care of me!"
"Likewise, Kaoru-sensei!" The whole class replied.
As their first day ever as Second Years started, Class 2-B was filled with laughter as each of them introduced in front once again, for the second time here in Seirin.
"Hi, I'm Kagami Taiga, I like hamburgers—"
"—Fries!"
"—Hotdog sandwiches!"
"—Cheeseburgers!"
"—Parfait!"
"—I'm fat!"
"—I love jumping!"
"—I love falling!"
"—I love dogs!"
"—Yeah, yeah, give him dogs!"
"—Especially make the dogs bite his butt!"
"—OI! You're not Kagami!" Kagami growled.
The whole class started laughing again.
Kuroko watched in unnoticeable amusement how Kagami was cornered by their classmates as he introduced in front. Since he knew that his name would be skipped, he continued on watching in his seat as Kagami remained on giving his own comments, which, somehow, couldn't stop making Kuroko smile.
~LFMH021~
"Sei-chan~" Reo called out as 2-A dismissed its' class for lunch. "We've come to pick you up!"
Akashi arranged his things and stood up to approach his teammates. "Looks like you have a great day."
Hayama jumped. "Yep~ Our homeroom teacher is so funny~"
Nebuya flexed his muscles. "And he complimented my muscles too!"
The red-head smirked as they walked towards the cafeteria. Students, girls specifically, would turn their heads to look at them until they were out of sight. That was the kind of group they were.
After ordering their lunch, the four seated on one empty table and started eating.
"By the way, Sei-chan~" Reo started. "Have you gotten in touch with Kuroko-chan~"
The 'Emperor' halted. "No, not yet. I have seen him yesterday but he brushed me off."
"You? Brushed off?" Reo repeated.
The red-head took another bite. "Yes, it surprised me too, but he really did brush me off. He also bluntly stated that he hates me. He refused to meet my eyes and refused to talk even a single word with me."
"Why didn't you punish him?" Hayama exclaimed.
"I can't do that." He murmured as he took a spoonful of rice followed by a whiner. "I think it's just fitting."
"What do you mean?" Nebuya asked, mouth filled with food.
He ignored the almost-splashed-in-his-face food and answered, "I think all of you remember what I said towards him back in the Finals. I definitely hurt him. I think it's just fitting that he will hate me."
"By the way, shouldn't you hate him too?"
He blinked and stared at his food. "I wanted to. I tried. And I failed. Yes, I surprisingly failed…I just can't hate him. Not when he even approached me after they won and tried to reconcile with me. I can't hate him when he had that happy expression in his face when I finally turned after he called my name so many times back then."
"Could it be that…Sei-chan, do you like Kuroko-chan?" Reo guessed.
Their question's answer was silence.
"EH?!" Hayama and Nebuya gasped.
He frowned. "Don't ask me why, when, where and how, because I have no answers to give you. I am a pretender. A dictator. A prideful guy. A coward. And, I am one hell of a liar." He interrupted. "I've hurt him. I've told him so many painful things. I've crashed his hopes and dreams. I've made him cry so many times. Yet, I still couldn't tell him that I'm just trying to catch his attention, that I'm just trying him, and that…I just wanted him to only look at me. I was a born coward, that's why I used this method instead."
"Must be pretty tough." Nebuya commented.
"It is pretty tough." He agreed and finished his food, left the tray and utensils there before biding, "I'll be in the library for now. I'll see you at practice."
"Ja ne!" Hayama bade and waved goodbye.
People tend to change due to pain.
People tend to turn their back on you when they've realized who you really are.
People are hypocrites.
People are nothing but damn shit.
"Except for him." Akashi added as he opened the door of the empty library. "He'll always be an exemption. For he is an angel. An angel, whose wings I've half-cut."
~LFMH021~
"A-A-Are you kidding with me?" Kise gasped as he hid behind one of senpais.
Mitsuhiro Hayakawa tried pushing him away, but the blonde was a great clingy guy. "What's wrong with that?!" He enthusiastically shouted.
"N-No one informed me about this!" Kise whispered and hid his face behind Mitsuhiro even more.
"We didn't think you needed to know. It's the first day of classes anyway, so I'm sure you're all pumped up." Genta Takeuchi, Kaijo's coach, replied.
"But…why them?" The copycat grunted.
"What's wrong with them?" Kasamatsu, who was visiting their school and former club everyday since he got a not-really-hectic schedule, grumbled and tried kicking Kise out of the shadows. "Why won't you budge?!"
"Just…It's just that…" Kise trailed off.
"Ah, Ki-chan~" Momoi called out as she finally spotted him. "Eh~ What are you doing there?"
He stiffened and sighed in disappointment. He took a deep breath and went out of his hiding place. A fake smile pasted on his face. "Hiya, Momoi-cchi!"
Kasamatsu raised an eyebrow.
They heard a loud yawn and looked up.
"Oi, Satsuki, when is the game starting?" Aomine Daiki grumbled. "I wanna go home."
The pink-head sighed and smacked her childhood friend's head. "Baka~! Can't you see they're still setting things up? Geeeezzzz!"
The bluenette huffed and raised his eyes, only to meet Kise's surprised ones. "Ah, Kise! Oh, yeah, you're from Kaijo."
Trying to calm his heavily-beating heart, the blonde shakily laughed. "Aominecchi's such a carefree guy. Sheesh, seriously. We've played against each other's teams! Remember our team's name, at the very least."
Aomine smirked. "Hai, hai. Kaijo, right? Kai-jo~ Kai-jo~ Kai-jo~ Hm, memorized it."
Momoi's eyes sparkled. "Wow, Ki-chan, you actually made Dai-chan memorize something!"
He grinned. "Well…!"
The bluenette ace and his team's manager started arguing again about the former's idiocy. It was not such a big deal, for many had known that Aomine was an idiot, but he seemed to not accept the truth yet.
Kasamatsu smacked Kise's head. "Hey."
He grunted in pain before turning with a smile. "Yes, senpai~?"
The dark-head stared at him before asking, "Why are you forcing a smile?"
His eyes widened. "W-what do you—"
"Why are you pretending you're fine with this?" Kasamatsu added.
He blinked. "Kasamatsu-senpai-"
Even the others started to listen with their suddenly-serious conversation, which made the blonde even more nervous.
The dark-head frowned. "The Kise Ryouta I know is honest. Quit messing around. Why don't you just spit out that you don't want to play against Too today? That you don't want to play against Aomine Daiki ever again?"
Keep pretending.
Keep smiling.
Keep grinning.
Keep joking.
The pain will subdue.
The pain will go away.
He glanced to his right and found Aomine's questioning eyes on him. He felt cornered and trapped. He felt like he needed to run away soon.
He exhaled and forced another smile. "Nah, you're wrong, senpai! I'm totally fine with it. It's just kinda hot, that's why I look like this." He lied, seeing Momoi and Aomine's expressions change.
"Kise-!"
He turned towards their coach next. "Coach, please sit me in the bench today."
"Why?"
He smiled wider.
Keep smiling.
"I just don't feel that well today." He lied again.
After having his coach's approval, he turned towards the bench. He could feel the way Aomine tried to approach him and get a hold of his hand. He was expecting it.
But he was surprised when Kasamatsu blocked the bluenette from him. "No."
"Huh? What the hell do you mean 'No'?" The other ace growled. "Oi, Kise—"
Kasamatsu frowned. "No means no. You cannot go near our ace ever again. Don't go near him. Go away."
"Why would I?" Aomine complained. He got no reply and all he could do was growl in annoyance. "Fine!"
The pain will go away.
Just turn around.
Kise did and sat on the bench. His eyes never met Aomine's again. Even after Too won, he didn't dare go near the latter again. He knew that the power forward was staring at him, but he kept his head down. Frightened on what would happen if he would ever meet those dark orbs again.
Pretend you're fine. It's better than being truly fine and meeting pain afterwards.
~LFMH021~
"We're quite far away from each other, ne, Shin-chan?" Takao complained with a grin as he approached a certain green-head.
The latter nodded before pushing his glasses. "That's quite obvious. It's because Midorima is far from Takao."
"Eh~ But I never thought our homeroom teacher would arrange our seats by our surnames. So annoying~ I don't like sitting at the back~" The dark-head grumbled.
Midorima shut his eyes before opening them again and turning towards the other. "If you have complaints, you go complain it to our homeroom teacher, not to me."
Takao raised an eyebrow and mumbled, "Why so cold~"
"I'm not cold. This is how I usually am." Midorima defended.
"You're being defensive too! Waaah, are you hiding something from me, Shin-chan?" Takao guessed.
Seeing his partner's shoulders stiffen, the Hawk Eyes' owner confirmed his guess right.
"Shin-chan…" Takao mumbled and took hold of one of Midorima's wrists. "Shin-chan!"
"What?" The green-head sighed.
"We're still partners, right?"
"I think that's a question that has no answer."
Frowning, Takao squeezed his partner's wrist. "Shin-chan, did I do something wrong?"
Shaking his head, Midorima grunted, "Nothing. You did nothing wrong."
"Then why…is this happening?"
"What is happening?"
Takao forced Midorima to turn and face him. Unlike before, the green-head wouldn't meet his eyes. "Shin-chan! Answer me, we're still partners, right? I'm still your shadow and you're still my light, right? Right?"
He got no reply.
"Shin-chan, look at me."
The miracle shooter took a deep breath before meeting his eyes. "Yes, we're still partners, Takao."
Eyes widening, Takao couldn't help reaching for Midorima's face. "Why…?"
"What do you mean 'why'?"
They were heading towards the cafeteria and unconsciously stopped in a deserted place. A place, which was so dark, so isolated, so gloomy that students tend to ignore it existed. It was Midorima ad Takao's usual route since they entered this school. They didn't mind its' gloominess, but right now, they both hated it.
Takao blinked. "Why do you look so sad, Shin-chan?"
This is why I hate seeing you eye to eye, Takao.
This is why I hate complying to your requests.
This is why I tried averting my gaze to not meet yours.
You know me so much.
"I'm not sad, nanodayo." He denied before turning. "Let's go or else there will be no more food left for us."
I'm sorry if I will never meet your eyes again.
I'm sorry if slowly I will drift away.
I'm sorry if I lied.
I just don't want to be hated by you.
Forcing a grin, Takao nodded and followed after the miracle shooter. "Oooooh, I heard that I am in the first place today! And that's you're in the second place! What's your lucky item today?"
"Toilet tissue."
"EH~ Seriously?!"
Midorima took a jumbo toilet tissue out of the bag that hung on his shoulder. "See?"
"No way! That's way too big, Shin-chan!"
"It's not. I'm just doing my best to outrun badluck today."
"Still! That's too jumbo!"
"Jumbo is not an adjective suited for such a sentence."
"SHIN-CHAN, out that back inside your bag! I-It's kinda embarrassing."
"Don't be embarrassed for you will be the one to hold it later."
"NO WAY!" Takao laughed, he tried to look at the green-head's eyes again, but failed.
~LFMH021~
"Good morning, Atsushi." A soft voice greeted from right behind him.
After seeing what section he was in, Murasakibara turned towards the other. "…Ah, ohayou, Muro-chin~"
"What section are you in?"
"I'm in 2-A." The violet-head answered as he re-looked at the bulletin. "You're also in 2-A, Muro-chin~"
Himuro blinked. "Wow, you're so tall. I couldn't even see the sections."
"I'm not that tall~" The center player replied.
Himuro smiled. "Alright, you're not. Looks like we're in the same section again, take care of me."
Take care of you…?
I'm the one who should say that, right?
Murasakibara just nodded before going ahead towards their new room.
Gulping, Himuro reached for his partner's uniform. "Atsushi, mind if I ask you something?"
The other halted and turned. A lollipop hanged between his lips.
"Will you quit the basketball club?" The dark-head mumbled.
"Hm, maybe~"
"Go away, Atsushi. Leave me. Get out of here."
You're the one who said 'Go away', so I'm going away, Muro-chin.
"Is it because of what I said back then?" Himuro murmured.
"…Nope~ I just feel like I don't want to participate in any club this year." The violet-head lied
"Don't quit." Himuro pleaded. "Don't quit, Atsushi. Please."
Students passed by. Teachers passed by. Time ticked by.
But he didn't answer.
I hate seeing him sad.
I hate seeing him cry.
I hate making him unhappy.
But I still continue on doing it.
I'm really such a bothersome guy just like Mido-chin said.
If I'm causing him to do such unhappy expressions then can saying 'yes' make him happy?
Can I make him happy even just for a little while?
He sucked his lollipop and smiled. "I won't quit then, Muro-chin~"
Eyes brightening, Himuro looked up at him with such a happy expression. "Really?"
I was a bother since the start, but he never really got angry.
He's too nice for his own good.
It pains me.
He nodded. "Ne, Muro-chin~ Do you have any more candies there?"
Himuro chuckled and handed him a pack of potato chips he had inside his bag. "Here you go. I figured you might like it since it's a new flavor."
He opened it and offered some to the dark-head. "Wanna~?"
Himuro took some and started eating.
"Just don't. I don't want to see your face right now. Please leave me alone."
This will be the last time I'll stay by your side. I'll just make you happy for a little longer then I'll leave you alone, Muro-chin~ Since I think, that will make your life easier.
~LFMH021~
"W-W-What the hell?!" Riko gasped in shock right after she opened the gym's doors.
With a blushing face, Kagami suddenly halted.
Covering her mouth to stifle her laughter, Seirin's coach mumbled, "W-What's happening here, Kuroko?" She questioned towards the teal-head who was sitting on one of the benches with his cellphone's camera directed towards the red-head.
Kuroko pressed a button before closing his phone. "We're playing truth or dare earlier and it was his turn. My dare to him was to dance like an idiot with the song 'Happy' by Pharrell Williams. He finished the whole song but was still dancing. Wanna see?"
Kagami's face heated even more. "Kuroko, you bastard! That's not part of the dare!"
"Sure, sure, let us see it!" Izuki interrupted.
The red-head tried to get the phone away from his 'shadow' but the latter quickly threw it towards Hyuuga, who successfully caught it.
"Nice catch, captain!" Koga praised and quickly searched for Kagami's recent video. After finding it, they clicked play.
"NO-!" Kagami yelled and fell on the ground after realizing the video started since his other teammates had started laughing.
"What the hell, Kagami?" Hyuuga mumbled, laughing. "Y-Your hips are swaying like—what the—did you had belly dancing lessons before?"
"No way!"
Kiyoshi's expression changed. "Kagami, teach me how to dance like that."
"AS IF!" Kagami grunted and washed his face with his hands in embarrassment.
The gym was filled in laughter as everyone transferred the video into Riko's laptop and watched it in HD and in a bigger monitor.
"Gaaah! Kuroko, you'll pay for that!" Kagami growled and ran after Kuroko.
"I am in a disadvantage here, Kagami-kun. As you can see, I am small and kinda slow in running." Kuroko expressionlessly complained.
"Hey, that's not my problem. If you're having problems with that, then why is that damn Akashi so damn fast even if he's just centimeters taller than you?"
Silence.
Well, shit.
With a sigh, Kuroko murmured, "Say that name again and I'll make my grandma make me a voodoo doll of you. And I shall rip it apart tonight."
"You're so damn scary." Kagami grunted and pulled Kuroko. "Let me repay then."
"Huh—What—K-Kagami-kun!" Kuroko gasped.
Everyone else's attention turned towards their freshmen duo as Kagami placed Kuroko on his shoulders. They looked like kids with Kagami being the older one who would fly Kuroko in a fake airplane thing-y.
Riko took out her phone and recorded this one.
"Too cute." She grumbled.
"Coach, your nose's bleeding!" Koga panicked.
Kagami, with Kuroko sitting on his shoulders, ran around the court. "This is what it feels to be tall!"
Kuroko pulled his partner's hair. "I'm having fun, so don't pinpoint that I'm small or you'll get bald."
"Ow, ow, ow! Fine, I'll shut up!" Their ace surrendered.
The latter threw a ball, which Kuroko caught. "Shoot that."
"Eh?"
"Shoot that." Kagami repeated and pointed the hoop over their heads. "You'll surely reach it now. Like a dunk."
Blinking, Kuroko spun the ball on his index finger and then threw it into the hoop.
Clang! It sounded.
"Yay, Kuroko!" His other teammates teased.
Kuroko looked down at his partner as the latter looked up at him.
"You're quite cool today, Kagami-kun."
"Hey, I'm always cool." Kagami grunted.
With a little smile, Kuroko murmured, just enough for Kagami to hear, "Thank you for doing all of this to make me forget all about him, Kagami-kun."
"Loook! Kagami's cheeks are so red!" Furihata pointed out.
"What, what, what? What did you say to him, Kuroko-kun?" Riko squealed.
"I just—"
Before the teal-head could even answer, Kagami painstakingly covered his mouth. "It's nothing!"
"I…can't…breathe…" Kuroko gasped.
Kagami instinctively removed his hand. "Sorry." He apologized and raised an eyebrow. "Oi, Kuroko, don't you want to get down yet?"
"No. I'm having quite fun up here. Am I heavy?"
"Nope. You're light, actually." Kagami replied and placed Kuroko in a piggyback ride this time.
"Kagami-kun, say 'Oink oink'."
"Oink oink?"
"It suits you."
"What the—"
There were knocks on the door and everyone turned his head to look at the sudden visitors.
"Are we interrupting something?"
Eyes widening, Kuroko stared in shock at the persons standing on the gym's doorframe.
His heart started beating fast.
His mind started to refuse any reasons.
He wanted to look away, but he couldn't.
Not when Akashi was staring back at him.
"Oh! I almost forgot! We're going to have a practice game with Rakuzan High School few minutes later!" Riko announced. "Kagami's against Nebuya this time. Hyuuga against Reo. Izuki against Hayama. Mitobe against their still-unnamed new starter and to add some thrill, Kuroko-kun's against Akashi!"
"Well, shit." Kagami cursed out loud.
I want to forget you, but why do you continue to make this impossible? Kuroko wondered.
You can hide. You can run away. I did those things before too. But I won't let you do it to me this time. Don't avert your gaze. Don't be afraid. Please, look at me again and smile. Akashi mentally murmured.
A/N: And that's how I end this story's second chapter.
Is it a cliffhanger?
For me, it's not.
Or is it?
Wait, is it?
Nah, whatever. XD
Did you enjoy it or got bored?
If it's the latter, I'm so sorry. –bows-
If it's the former, then I'm glad. –bows again-
Some are asking for sneak peeks but I think I can't do that with the second chapter. My mind's not working. Need a repairman first. Maybe in the next chapter?
PLEASE REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW!
Yours truly,
LFMH021
