Author's Note: So after an exhausting first week in Uni, I have somehow successfully managed to write the second chapter of this story. orz I am under the impression that it will probably end up 4-5 chapters long, actually. More than I intended but I assume everyone will be grateful all the same? Again, I apologize if Kuroko is OOC. I think I'm starting to get a better handle on his personality. He's just not my favorite so that brings added challenge.
Also I don't exactly have a proofreader/beta reader so if you see typos or whatnot, I'm honestly sorry. I edit everything myself so I'm trying my best. ;A;
This is set during Seirin, not Teikou just so everyone knows.
Two
"Tetsu-kun!"
An unfamiliar mane of cotton candy pink streams across her vision. Asami's first instinct is to put herself between Tetsuya and this unidentified assailant – and in so doing she finds herself caught in an uncomfortably suffocating embrace by a woman whose breast size is double that of her own.
"Huh? Who are you?"
"Yamamoto-san... it is alright. I know her."
Asami bristles at those words, if only because she does not think Tetsuya should be so relaxed around someone who seems perfectly content to fly right into him. Although she knows it is none of her business. Maybe the two have... that... kind of relationship? She frowns to herself.
"Yo, Tetsu."
"Aomine-kun," the lighter blue-haired greets in turn with a nod of acknowledgment.
"Tetsu-kun, who is this girl? I thought we were just meeting up with the three of us?" the pink-haired girl inquires as she peels herself away. Still she wears a curious expression on her face as she seems to walk a circle around Asami as though inspecting her.
Although these actions are generally intolerable to her, Asami makes a point of exercising her patience for Tetsuya's sake. She grips her hands into tight fists before relaxing and attempting a smile. "Sorry, we sort of ran into each other and I insisted on tagging along. He didn't exactly invite me." Apologizing leaves a bitter taste on her tongue but she forces the words out just the same.
"So you're a new friend Tetsu-kun made at school?" the pink-haired girl deduces with a grin. "I'm Satsuki, by the way! Momoi Satsuki. Ah, and this is Dai-chan."
"Aomine Daiki," he corrects. Although the taller, darker skinned man does not seem half as excited to meet Asami. In fact, judging by the expression on his face, he gives the impression of being both perpetually bored and simultaneously annoyed. She gets the feeling he would rather be anywhere but here.
"Yamamoto Asami. It's nice to meet you?" She knows she shouldn't sound so ambivalent about that but, frankly, she would much rather be alone with Tetsuya than stuck with these two unfamiliar people. Although she supposes that hanging around them might give her more insight into the mystery that is Kuroko Tetsuya.
Aomine scowls as his gaze sweeps across the surrounding area, as though looking for something – or someone. "Where's Kagami?"
"The rest of the team said they would come later," Tetsuya answers.
They seem like an odd group to be visiting a shrine together for the New Year. Although Asami herself is only here by coincidence. Bumping into Tetsuya just twenty minutes ago had not been something she had anticipated. Although given the opportunity to spend the New Year with him as opposed to fighting with strangers, she has to say she prefers the former.
"Oh wow, your arm is all bruised. Are you alright?" Momoi asks, having latched onto Asami's wrist.
"Hm?" Surprised that someone has paid close enough attention to notice, Asami glances down. Her skin does appear somewhat splotchy with bruises of varying colors. She does not seem particularly affected by it, though. "Ah, yeah. They're usually like that."
"What?" Momoi gasps in surprise.
As though sensing that this may lead into an awkward conversation, Tetsuya suddenly appears between the two of them, breaking Momoi's grip on Asami's arm. "Momoi-san, you said you wanted to visit the food stands before we meet up with everyone else."
"Ah! That's right. We should hurry, Dai-chan. Let's go!" She pumps her fist into the air and then proceeds to lead them like a marching band toward wherever the stalls are apparently located. Aomine seems unenthused as he shoves his hands into his pockets and trails behind her.
"Sorry," Asami mumbles to Tetsuya. The two of them linger behind and end up walking side-by-side. She wonders if he is intentionally matching her pace or if he is just naturally used to lingering behind since he is largely forgotten and unnoticed even in small groups of people.
"There is nothing for you to apologize for, Yamamoto-san."
"No," she says with a shake of her head. "I don't want to embarrass you. What would your friends think if you were hanging out with a yankee?" A self-deprecating laugh follows as she averts her eyes. These are one of the few times she finds herself lamenting the fact that her temper flares so easily that she ends up tangled in unnecessary fights all the time.
Those icy blue eyes study her side profile for a moment as they walk and he finally says, "Even so, I don't think you are a bad person. But I do think you should stop fighting."
Asami stares back at him and lets out a delayed chuckle. "Is that so?"
"You could try talking it out instead, if you have disagreements with someone. I don't think using your fists is the right way to solve things." Although it sounds the same as the lectures she has heard a million times before from teachers, there is something powerful about those words when they come from Tetsuya.
"Maybe," she concedes. "Next time I guess I could... try to talk it out? But I don't think it's that simple, either."
"Waaah! They have it this year! Look, Dai-chan! We have to go to that one there!" Momoi seems to have spotted something that has piqued her interest, at which point she immediately whisks Aomine along with her over to one the stands.
"You don't want to go too?" Asami asks suddenly as she notices that Tetsuya seems perfectly content to linger behind.
He only shakes his head. "Momoi-san is the one who wanted to visit the stands."
"Ah, then how about..." thoughtfully, she traces her chin before saying, "Aren't we supposed to get our fortunes read?"
"Okay." He does not seem particularly inclined either way, and she gets the feeling that he will show little emotion regardless of what suggestion she makes.
Honestly, this will be the first time in quite a few years for her to be partaking in the New Year activities. She grins to herself as she starts down the stone path leading to the shrine. Tetsuya follows along silently behind her. Perhaps due to his diminished presence, however, he finds people constantly bumping into him as they try to manuever through the crowds.
"Watch out."
"Hey, look where you're going!"
There is a moment where he is almost swept away by a wave of people, at which point Asami is forced to yank him out. "Jeez, I don't know how you'd get around by yourself," she grumbles as she grips his hand in hers. "Here, like this, then you won't get lost in the crowd."
"Thank you." Although his tone of voice does not convey gratitude – he sounds as flat and unaffected as ever, which makes it all the more comical.
She finds herself laughing as she pulls him along.
"What are you laughing for?" he asks, brows lifted questioningly.
Asami can scarcely hear his voice over the clamor of the people around them. She grins back at him, though, and says, "There's never a dull moment with you around, Tetsuya-kun. You are unexpectedly a lot of fun."
"You should smile like that more, Yamamoto-san."
Her face lights up and she instinctively yanks her hand away from him, stuffing it into the pocket of her jacket. "U-um... well... anyways, we're here. You can go first." She motions for him to move ahead, if only because she is afraid he'll end up swallowed by the line of people if she does not keep a close eye on him.
"Alright..."
Moments later, she finds herself unfolding a slip of paper only to declare, "Worst luck! Crap, this is why I don't do this anymore. It's always the same every year. I can't catch a break. How many of these do they even give out? What are the chances?"
"Excellent luck," Tetsuya recites solemnly.
"No friggin' way. What are the odds of this?" she sighs.
He reaches over and pulls the slip of paper from her grasp. After a moment, he manages to tie the two pieces together in what looks like a makeshift bow. No doubt it is clumsily constructed but she thinks she understands the sentiment. "If we combine them then we can both have normal luck."
"B-but, um... if you do that... I mean, I don't think you... want your luck tied to me."
"I don't mind."
Asami fidgets in return as he passes over the tied paper strands. She cups it in her hands and steals a glimpse at Tetsuya, who seems completely oblivious of what she is thinking. Although she suspects he does not realize, there is some significance to tying one's luck together.
"Yamamoto-san."
Startled by his voice, she jerks her head up. "Y-Yeah?"
His index finger jabs in the direction of the tree where other people – couples, noticeably – are tying their fortunes. "Are you not going to tie it?" The way he says it almost sounds more like a statement than a question since his voice is so flat.
Asami grins at him. "Hm, I guess we should, huh?" Although by the time they make their way over there, she finds that most of the branches at her level are pretty full. "Maybe... we should put it on a higher branch, but..."
Tetsuya suddenly holds out his hand. "I can do it for you, Yamamoto-san."
Although she has not really paid much attention to it before, it's true that he is slightly taller than she is. She smiles softly and passes over the two fortunes. "Will it be easy to tie them since they're already tied together?" she wonders aloud.
He stares at her thoughtfully for a moment before untying the fortunes from each other. By some feat, he manages to reunite them on the branch of a tree by tying them all together in something that more or less resembles a knot. Asami wants to be impressed but the job ends up looking a little makeshift. Tetsuya raises his brows at her. "You are laughing again...?"
"Sorry, sorry. It's just like I said earlier. You're really fun to be with, Tetsuya-kun."
By now they have completely lost track of both Momoi and Aomine, having wandered off to the shrine by themselves. At the thought of that, Asami quickly speaks up, "Shouldn't we get back to your friends? Uh... Momoi-san and the tall, grumpy looking guy?"
He gives a nod. "Mm. Although..." his gaze shifts to the crowd of bustling people and it becomes quite apparent that locating anyone amongst this chaos will be near impossible.
"Ah, you could call or text them!"
Tetsuya stares at her for a moment. "I did not bring my phone."
"Y-you're kidding..."
"No," he responds with a shake of his head.
It is quite obviously that he has no reason to lie. Tetsuya is not the type to do so anyways. She breathes out an exasperated sigh. "Okay, well... then what do you want to do? Do you want to go home?" Although it seems a little anticlimactic for their night to end so suddenly. She also suspects that his intention in coming out tonight was not to end up hanging out with her until the wee hours of the morning, when dawn's first light peeks over the horizon.
"You do not want to wait to see the first sunrise?" he asks with a blank expression.
This is what makes him impossible to read and she finds herself somewhat disadvantaged as a result. Nonetheless, she gives a sharp shake of her head. "No, I wouldn't mind staying and seeing them with everyone. I just thought you might get bored with me. It's kind of my fault you got separated from your friends." She lets out an awkward laugh at that, though there is little humor to be found.
"We can meet up with them later."
"Then... should we go look at the food stands?"
"Alright," he agrees. Then suddenly he holds his hand out toward her.
She stares at him in surprise, blinking slowly as if confused at the gesture.
"So I don't get lost."
Asami's lips crack into a grin. Does he really believe that? "Haha, okay, Tetsuya-kun." She does not contest it either way and threads her fingers with his before yanking him along.