Disclaimers: KnB characters are not mine. All rights belong to Fujimaki-sensei and the publishers.

Summary: Murasakibara happened to be good at English – Kuroko's worst subject.

Note: I was really surprised when I found out Murasakibara is better at studying than Momoi. Also, the recent chapters proved that Mukkun is A BIG TSUNDERE! And my AoKuro and OgiKuro feels are over-flowing!...And I'm supposed to be updating my other fics, but...Annnnd this chapter is not really a drabble, sorry... I know it's long...

Practice ended after what seemed like an eternity to Kuroko. The club won't be having practice for the next few days (courtesy of the upcoming exams), so the regimen was cruelly doubled. It took the poor boy all of his mental strength to not throw up and dragged himself to the shower.

When he came out, most people, including Aomine and Kise, had left already, but Kuroko knew they were waiting for him at the school gate. Murasakibara, however, hadn't. He was about to though. Kuroko didn't need to ask to know that the center took his time to finish the snacks he kept in his locker. That was good and all, because Kuroko had something to ask of him anyway.

"Murasakibara-kun," Kuroko caught up to the tall teen.

The said boy flinched, blinking dazedly at Kuroko's sudden appearance.

"Kuro-chin, you're still here~? I thought Mine-chin left already."

"I think he's waiting outside," answered Kuroko. The light and shadow duo always went home together, it's no wonder why Murasakibara asked that.

"Hmm~ Ah, you're so slow he left you~?" The boy teased, half grinning. His hand was already on top of Kuroko's head, mussing the slightly damp blue hair. He had been doing that a lot lately, Kuroko irritatedly noted. And by that, he meant both teasing and hair-ruffling

"Please stop." Kuroko said, slapping the hand away. Murasakibara just snickered back.

They made their way to the gate together.

"Murasakibara-kun, can you help me with something?" Kuroko started.

"Hmm~?" That was Murasakibara's 'what?'. He was too lazy to form a proper word, but Kuroko understood nevertheless.

"Can you please help me study English for the exam?"

"Eh~ Why?"

"Because the exam is next week and I'm horrible with English."

"No, I mean" the violetnette glanced at Kuroko as he said "why me?"

"You're the best one I know. I can't ask Akashi-kun because he's too busy already. Midorima-kun is…" Kuroko trailed off.

"What about Sacchin? Her grades are only slightly lower than me."

"Momoi-san is… I don't think I should ask her." The blunette answered, frowning slightly.

The center raised an eyebrow, but then it dawned on him.

"Right, she'll faint before you can study anything."

The shorter boy kept his silence.

"Mmn~ tutoring you huh~?" Murasakibara drawled, obviously contemplating the choices.

"I will treat you to GoriGori-kun." Kuroko tried bribing. The trick always worked, so why not?

"You don't have to bribe me you know. We're friends." Murasakibara said in a sulky tone, as if saying 'what kind of person do you take me for?'.

"Oh, is that so?" Kuroko asked back, his voice was as monotonous as ever. That ticked the taller off.

"Now that you have said that, I'll make sure the treat is worth the hard work I'll do~." He glared at Kuroko and warned teasingly.

"Please don't. I can't afford it if you eat the whole store."

"Just half of it is ok then?"

"Yes, just half of it please."

Murasakibara half-smirked and ruffled Kuroko's hair. The blunette swat his hand away, but he was smiling a little. They discussed the time and place to study as they reached the door. Aomine and Kise was waiting for them as expected, but to Kuroko's surprise, Midorima and Momoi were also there. Spotting him (or rather Murasakibara then him), Kise flashed a smile.

"Kurokocchi, Murasakibaracchi, let's go to home together!"

xxxxxxx

They agreed to study in Murasakibara's classroom after school. The first three days were good, but the fourth day,…things didn't go too well.

"Uhhh, Kuro-chin, why are we here~?" Murasakibara whined.

"To study." Kuroko stated as-a-matter-of-fact-ly.

"But why here?" He whined again, this time more desperately.

"Because the school is closed on Saturdays, and today is one." Then, as an after thought, Kuroko added, "If you hate the library that much, why did you agree when I asked you?"

"You texted when I was sleepy."

"No, you were sleepy when I texted. It was 8 p.m." Kuroko said, pushing the library door open. With that, Murasakibara continued to sulk.

"Even though we can go to my house~. Kuro-chin, my house is really near~."

This was actually the second time Murasakibara asked that. Kuroko sighed.

"Murasakibara-kun, I told you, I would prefer not to bother your family." The truth was, Kuroko imagined going to the other's house the first time he asked. Unfortunately, the imaginary scenario in which he was surrounded by titans did not amuse Kuroko.

They found an empty space in a secluded corner of the library. The two boys sat down and start doing their homework. Kuroko only asked Murasakibara a few times, but every time it's about choosing between past participle and present perfect. They finished the homework after twenty minutes, so Kuroko gave his homework to Murasakibara to check and took out a stack of cards to learn new words. He was almost done with letter A when Murasakibara stopped him.

"Kuro-chin, forget about new words~. You need to revise the grammar, especially about present perfect tense." He put Kuroko's homework down and look through his own bag. When he didn't found what he need, he looked at the blunette and asked.

"Kuro-chin, did you bring the grammar book?"

Kuroko shook his head. "I forgot it. The library must have them though. I'll go get it." Kuroko stood up and left to find the book.

Kuroko soon found the book he need, but it was at the upper self far above Kuroko's reach, and the stool was no where in sight. After five minutes of tiptoeing and jumping, he felt his limbs went sore. A large hand reached to the book and took it out. Kuroko grimaced. That was the only grammar book in the library!

"Kuro-chin~"

'Eh?' Kuroko turned around. Behind him stood Murasakibara, looking so amused it made Kuroko twitch in annoyance.

"Thank you, Murasakibara-kun" even though I almost reached it, Kuroko added in his mind.

"You're welcome~" His hand went to Kuroko's hair again, but the smaller boy ducked his head and turned to go back to their seats. Murasakibara followed wordlessly.

After an hour of grammar and present perfect, Kuroko slumped onto the desk. Murasakibara, who was doing his Literature homework (got to make use of the study sessions with Kuro-chin), also stop writing. But he didn't set down his pen. Instead, he used it to poke Kuroko.

"Kuro-chin, you're still alive~?"

"No, I'm dead." Kuroko's voice was muffled by the table. Murasakibara stopped poking him.

"Kuro-chin, you're terrible," he laughed. It wasn't loud, but it was enough to get them kicked out, if they weren't sitting in a secluded corner. "This thing is so simple~. I can't understand why you would have trouble with it~."

"It's simple for you, Murasakibara-kun," Kuroko said, his face was still on the desk, "you're always like that, so talented. You're too talented, you can't understand how it feel to be normal. I…envy you for that."

"…Kuro-chin, you're not talking about studying anymore."

"…"

"Are you always like that? Jealous of everyone, Mine-chin, Kise-chin, Mido-chin and Aka-chin?"

"…"

"Why do you still love basketball then?"

"Why do you dislike basketball then?" Kuroko asked back in a voice so soft, it might have been a whisper.

"It's an unfair game~. People with short stature can't make easy shots like the tall ones."

"That's why we have different positions. If no one passes to you, you can't score."

"So what if someone passes to you and you still can't score? That's why I hate seeing people with no talent keep trying. They'll end up hurting themselves anyway."

"You can't just deny effort like that."

"Yes I can, and you know it."

Kuroko didn't answer.

They sat in silence for a while. Feeling a little uncomfortable, Kuroko lifted his head from the table. What met his eyes was a piercing gaze from Murasakibara. Kuroko went still for a moment. The tall teen had his cheek on his fist, his face blank, eyes half-lidded as always, but his eyebrows were furrowing a little.

They stared at each other.

Kuroko felt a little intimidated. It was the same feeling he sometimes had from Akashi. After some time, the boy finally found his voice.

"Murasakibara-kun?"

To his surprise, the violetnette shut his eyes and sighed.

"Ah, that's why I hate library~ I want snacks~" he whined.

Kuroko blinked. "I'm sorry, please bear with it. Today is the last day already."

"Nah, it's fine~. Food tastes better when I'm hungry. You're done with those, Kuro-chin?" Murasakibara eyed Kuroko's notebook.

"Yes." Kuroko handed the notebook to Murasakibara. He watched as the boys skimmed through the page, marking the wrong answers.

It was weird to see Murasakibara looked at him like that. Normally, the center looked so lazy and care-free, and sometimes his eyes glazed up with the thoughts of food. He was simple like that. Like a kid. And Kuroko liked kids. However, as far as Kuroko knew, no kid could looked so intimidating.

Murasakibara placed the notebook back to it's previous place.

"I think you can get above average score now~." He smiled.

Kuroko's eyes lidded up at that. He slightly bowed, still sitting in his chair.

"It's all thanks to you, Murasakibara-kun. I'm very grateful."

Murasakibara waved him off. "You're too formal Kuro-chin~.

They studied a little bit more and then went home together.

On their way home, Murasakibara said something in English, but Kuroko didn't understand. He glanced at Murasakibara as a silent question.

"Kuro-chin, have you read 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid?'"

"No, I haven't. I don't usually read foreign novels. Is it good?"

"It's good. It's a rea~lly popular book you know. My sister made me read it."

"I'll read it then," Kuroko promised, "why did you mention it though?"

"The quote I just said, it's in that stories~. It means 'you can't expect everyone to have the same dedication as you'"

"…I see. That book must be very meaningful. I'll definitely read it."

And thus their conversation ended.

xxxxxxx

That night, Murasakibara texted him.

Subject: study

Kuro-chin, remember to revise the past perfect tense, and also the new words in unit five and six.

Kuroko just texted him back a simple 'ok' and 'thank you'.

xxxxxxx

The exams lasted for two days. After that, club activities were allowed again. Kuro walked to the gym with sparkles around him. They weren't as much as when they won the national, but stilll bright and visible nevertheless.

Aomine choked on his spit.

"Tetsu?! What happened to you?!"

"What do you mean, Aomine-kun? Nothing happened."

The tanned player stared at his partner incredulously. He tried to open his mouth but the phantom player cut him off.

"Have you seen Murasakibara-kun?"

"He's over there. Why you ask? Huh, Tetsu?!" Kuroko used misdirection on him, Aomine bitterly realized.

"Now I know how Kise feels," Aomine muttered, "but really, what've gotten into Tetsu?"

"Murasakibara-kun!"

The said boy jolted. He turned to the blunette.

"Kuro-chin, hello~ you seem happy."

Kuroko shoved a piece of paper into Murasakibara's hand. "Please read this, Murasakibara-kun."

"Hmm~ wow, you got 85 on English~ good job Kuro-chin." The center ruffled Kuroko's hair. Surprisingly, Kuroko didn't swat his hand away. Instead, he stared at the violetnette with expectant eyes.

It didn't take too long for the tall male to realize what Kuroko wanted. He pulled his hand away from Kuroko's head. Kuroko still stared at him with those big round expectant eyes of his.

Murasakibra looked away, hand scrubbing his head.

"I guess,…effort pays off sometimes."

xxxxxxx

Momoi stomped into the gym, looking like she was about to murder someone. And she was, about to murder someone that is.

"AOMINE-KUN, KISE-KUN, COME HERE THIS INSTANCE!"

"Uhh… is Momoicchi ok?" Kise nervously asked Aomine.

"Ahh~ she's fine. We won't if we get near her though."

"Eh?"

"Oh, here she comes. Run!" And Aomine dashed off at lightning speed. Kise followed suit. He still valued his life, thank you very much.

"YOU TWO, STOP!" Momoi screamed and ran after them. "MUKKUN STOP THEM FOR ME!"

"Eh~?"

"I'LL TREAT YOU TO SNACKS!"

"Ok~" In an instance Murasakibara was in front of the two boy and blocked their way. A second later Momoi was behind them.

"Now, what did I said about not studying properly?" she smiled sweetly.

Kise blanched. Aomine just rolled his eyes, but the amount of sweat on his forehead gave him away.

Momoi dragged them away by the collar, probably to the storage room, where no one would know even if someone were slaughtered in there. Maybe a few first-years would hear the murderous scream, but no one cared to risk their life checking the damn place anyway.

"Sacchin~" Murasakibara called out "I want butter-cream flavored maiubo~…Ah~ she left. But that's ok, I have someone to treat me popsicles today~." He turned to look at Kuroko with that smug half-smirk of his.

Kuroko grimaced "Please have mercy…"