Good day, Readers! Thank you for reading the previous chapter and also for the kind reviews for my second KnB fanfic… I really appreciate it! :D
Before moving on to the second chap, I'd like to reply some reviews
Silver woman: Thank you so much for your review! I agree, but you will find more info about Kuroko in this chapter ;) Hope you'll like it.. :D
Rinfantasy: LOL! Yep! He should be the only one, if you exclude the emperor :D Btw, thanks much for dropping a review! :)
BabyNightmareLady: It's nice to see you again! XD Thank you so much for reading my second story and giving a review! Hope you like it! ;)
Dhea30: It's nice to see you again :D Thanks much for reviewing my second story! Regarding your review, you will get more info in this chap! XD Hope you like it! :D
Dragon Silhouette: LOL! That's one interesting statement! XD Thanks for your review! :D
Guest: Thank you for your review and support! :)
Before we move on to the story, I forgot to add a disclaimer on the previous chapter (I am so sorry!)
Disclaimer: I do not own KnB, it only belongs to Tadatoshi Fujimaki-sensei..
Alright, Readers! Let's move on to the story! Happy reading! :D
Chapter II
Blue's Pathway
It had been a week since I met Kuroko. I thought he was a year older than me since he is now a second year in high school. It turned out we are the same age or I can say I am older than him. He told me when he was living overseas with his parents, he took advanced class during junior high. Then, when he got back to Japan a month ago, he took a school transfer exam for a second year and passed.
It was an extremely rare case for student to transfer in Summer to Teiko High. Judging from how he managed to pass the exam without any problem, I could say he is a smart guy. The exam was not easy at all, or the chances was 1 out of 1000 people. Then I asked him why he didn't take an advanced program, and he said that he wanted to enjoy his time studying in Japan, so he chose the regular program.
When I asked him why he felt unwanted to the point of committing suicide, he said it was because he was dumped by his childhood best friend. He told me how it happened.
He was reading a book in under a tree where this guy accidentally tripped over his legs. Kuroko himself was a quiet type and this guy was the exact opposite. Things happened and they soon became friends. It turned out that this guy was living near his apartment and goes to the same school and same class. Then he also introduced him to his world, basketball and asked him to join the school team which the later agreed.
He thought Kuroko all basic moves. He trained him whenever they have time. Kuroko tried his best to follow every instruction, but in the end he was no good or he said he was very sloppy. His weak presence didn't help either. Sometimes player from opposite team or his teammate would accidentally bump into him and got him injured.
He wanted to quit but his friend convince d him to stay. "Listen Kuroko, the most important thing is enjoy the game and create connections. Like making friends. Win or lose is not a problem."He explained.
Besides, they created the team just for the sake of having fun and making more friends. Thanks to that, Kuroko decided to stay and made many friends. Before this, he would never imagine to be surrounded with many people. But it was all thanks to this guy. They became the best of friends.
When they advanced to sixth year, their school held a sport competition. Since basketball was originally from America, it became the spectators most favorite game. Being a captain of the team, his best friend motivated the team to win and have fun. Being the best friend, Kuroko understood his intention. It was not only for the sake of victory and fun but he also wanted to impress a certain student from the opposing team.
In the beginning, the opposing team underestimated them. First, the opposing team was quite strong in the neighborhood and trained properly. Second, Kuroko's team was more like a hobby club where they play because they like basketball and also having a Japanese captain made it worse. But miracle happened, thanks to his physics and great skills the game went smoothly. They won by 5 points. It was very unexpected by the opposing team and soon they became a hot topic.
His best friend successfully got close to the girl. Kuroko knows he liked the girl for quite awhile now. His best friend would always steal a glance or two whenever she came to the park where they usually played. Eventually, they became a couple later. Other than that, the basketball team got a proper trainer and more practice games. They almost had request every week.
Kuroko being a weak one, never really had a chance to step in the court and played games. He was always taking care of water bottles and towels. But he didn't mind. If that would help his teammate then he would gladly do it.
Not long after, there was another practice game using their school gym. This time it was against the girlfriend school. As usual, his best friend was trying hard to win. His technique and speed had improved a lot. However, the other team practiced even harder. The game was fierce as both side tried to catch up. Eventually, in the last few seconds, the opposing team made a three pointer, thus they won by 2 points.
The other team cheered. They had their revenged over the last game. His best friend looked disappointed but tried to cover it with a small smile. Both teams lined up and shook hands. Kuroko's coach told them to cheer up and asked them to practice even harder.
Later on, during cleaning up, Kuroko gathered some equipment and headed to the storeroom. On the way, he noticed someone was leaning against a wall in the corner. He was going to ignore that and kept walking. But he stopped when he heard that familiar voice.
"What are you gonna do, Maika? Keep dating that guy?" asked a fashionable and beautiful curly blonde girl
"Dunno. Maybe? By the way, girls, you know what? Yesterday Jason asked me out. I didn't reject him yet. But, after I saw today's game, I changed my mind." Said a half American Japanese girl with long straight black hair.
"Jason? As in Jason Johannson? That junior golf athlete?!" Another good looking girl with short hair exclaimed.
"Yes! Aren't I great?" Maika said while flipping her phone.
"Not fair! You must introduce me to some of his friends!"
"No problem, Lisa! How about we arrange a group date? I can ask him to bring some friends."
"You better be!" Another girl exclaimed as they laughed out loud.
Kuroko hoped that conversation was just a dream. But no matter how hard he prayed, it wouldn't happen. He put his stuff on the floor and approached that group of girls. The girls like other people, didn't even notice his presence.
"Is that true, Maika-san?"
"W-who is that?" They were franticly looking to different direction. Searching for the voice.
"It's me. Kuroko Tetsuya."
Maika and the other girls calmed down. "Oh. It's just you Tetsuya. What are you doing here?" she asked casually. As if nothing happened.
"I happened to pass around here and heard your conversation. So, is it true?"
"What is true?" Maika played innocent.
"About you breaking up with him just because we lost?" Kuroko asked in a serious tone.
"What are you talking about? I never said I will break up."
"Then what about that golf athlete?"
"What is this? An interview about my love life?" Maika laughed followed by the other two girls.
"Just answer the question."
"Of course not. I will do a two timing!" She said excitedly.
Kuroko was so bewildered to hear that. First, when he heard how she talked with her friends. She sounds so bitchy that completely ruin her image. What his best friend knows is a beautiful, sweet and innocent Maika. The same goes with Kuroko. That is why he hoped this was all a dream.
"What? Are you gonna tell him? Do you think he will believe you?"
"I will. I am his best friend. It's the right thing to do."
"Go head then! Just wait and see." She gave a bitch smile. She flicked her fingers and said "Oh! I just remembered something. Do you want to know a secret, Tetsuya? Do you want to know what he said about you being his best friend?"
Kuroko waited for her to continue. She smiled even wider
"He said that he was being nice to you when you guys met. He thought since you looked like a wimpy type who won't make friends in billion years, he would do the favor of being your first friend. Just look how nice and idiotic he is. Without him, you are nothing in the social circle, you know?" Maika and her friends laugh out loud.
"Y-You are lying! He would never say that!" Kuroko denied that.
"Then you can go and confirm that. Let's see who's right, ne wimpy-kun?"
After the cleaned up session, they were all dismissed. As usual, his best friend and Kuroko walked home together. On the way, Kuroko brought up the subject. His best friend being a guy who was deeply blind in love, kept defending his girlfriend. Kuroko didn't give up, He tried his best to convince him.
The conversation heated up and they argued badly. His best friend was asking for prove while Kuroko was asking him for trust. Then, it ended up in an unexpected direction.
"You know what?! Forget it! I was wrong to start a conversation when we met in the first place! It was huge mistake! It was a stupid idea to let you join my circle! I shouldn't have done that! I shouldn't be your friend from the beginning!"
Kuroko was beyond shocked when he heard that. He could never dream of how his best friend would ever say that . He couldn't say a word to him. He stood there with mix feelings. Not anger, but disappointed, sadness and distrust.
The other boy took a deep breath and continued in a more calm steady tone. "Kuroko, we are not friends anymore… From now on, we don't know each other." Then he walked away, leaving Kuroko behind.
Half a year passed since then. They had not talked to each other. He won't even look at him when they passed in the hallway. He treated Kuroko like air. What made Kuroko felt worse, all Maika's words came true. After the fight, Kuroko suddenly became an outcast. No one talked to him. All his so-called-friends suddenly stopped talking to him. Some of them only spoke when school work involved. He tried every way he could to make at least one person explain the situation. Unfortunately, nothing worked out. He eventually gave up.
While Kuroko felt dejected, Maika was beyond satisfied. Her relationship with the ex-best friend continued like nothing happen. They even became more intimate. Rumors said after graduation, he would transfer to her school.
Weeks later, Kuroko sat on a chair, attending the graduation ceremony. It was a big event for his schoolmates. All their parents came to see their boys and girls were about to graduate from primary school. As for Kuroko, he was not lucky enough to have his parents there. They were on business trip to Washington.
So after the ceremony ended, Kuroko stood up and walked to school gates. Along the way, he could see his friends took pictures with families or a group photo. He ignored them as they ignored his presence. He was about to go out of school when someone called him out.
"Tetsuya-kun! Tetsuya-kun, wait up!"
Kuroko turned around to see who was calling him. It was the ex-best friend's mother with her son scowling and walking slowly behind her. But Kuroko decided to greet her politely.
"Good afternoon, Aunty." He greeted in Japanese and bowed.
"Good afternoon to you too. It's been a long time since your last visit to our house" She talked back in Japanese. "What's with the sudden stop visit?" She asked clearly without knowing a single thing. Kuroko was confused on how to answer to that question and the ex-best friend turned his gaze to another direction.
But he made up some polite excuse. "I apologize. It seemed I was too busy with library committee. How are you aunty?"
"I am good as always. By the way, where are your parents? They didn't come here?"
"They are on business trip to Washington."
"I see. That's too bad. Well, since you are not a committee member you can come to our house right? I cooked a fancy lunch for this occasion. I made your favorite vanilla cake too. I am sure you will like it."
Upon hearing that, the ex-best friend quickly turned to his mother and glared on her back. Kuroko saw that clearly.
"I must apologize, Aunty. Someone will come to pick me up later and drive me to Washington. I think my parents made a surprise there." He decline politely with a made up excuse. There was no way somebody would pick him up and made a graduation surprise there. They had meetings from morning till night time and they would not even have time to check on him. They would only call on the day they would be going back home.
"I forgot about that! They must be making up to you since they couldn't come here."
"That's right mom! See, I told you, he has something to do. Anyway, we must get going now. Maika's graduation ceremony will end soon." He ran out to the gate after checking his phone.
"Geez! Slow down, lover boy!" She said to his impatient son. "Alright then, Tetsuya. We will be going ahead first. Please come and visit our house when you have time."
"Thank you for the invitation. I will, Aunty." Kuroko gave a small smile and bowed.
That was the last time Kuroko saw him around. In the end, he never visited his house or the park they used for practice. Instead, he moved out from that town. Kuroko was staying in a school dorm in another city where he applied for an advance program in junior high. He graduated two years later and then continued to high school. He was planning to take another advanced program but soon, he was forced to fly back to Japan.
Akashi closed his eyes and sighed. How ironic. Two unwanted people met on the rooftop. Talk about crap and later made a promise to meet up every day. Talk about anything with a simple rule: No lies allowed. If after the talk, one of them still wants to die, then the other promised not to stop chuckles at the memory. Interesting. Is it a coincidence or is it not?
End of Chapter II: Blue's Pathway (I hope you all enjoy it!)
I'd like to thank frenkym, kanade. akemi, fluffyluv2read, Theendofbooks5, silver woman, killy. sungie, Little. Didith, Kawaii Marshmallow, Grayscae1227, Rinfantasy, bella cullen the original, BabyNightmareLady, 7BlueHana, Dhea30, Yin Yang Shinigami, Kuroko-SenPaille, simsimchocolatte, N.U. Sakura Yukihime, alyperez5, A bad escape, Abunnygonewild, Dragon Silhouette for reviewing or adding this story to your favorite and follow list! :D
Thank you all for reading this chapter! See you guys on the next update! XD
Have a nice lovely day, Readers! :)
