Chapter 2's out! Actually, I managed to finish writing this chapter yesterday but I wanted my friend to beta read it first. Anyways, here it is! I know that this story may seem pretty slow-paced, but I think I like it that way. Some stories are meant to go fast, and some slow. What do you guys think?
Oh, and it seems that I've forgotten something very important in the last chapter: the disclaimer! Oh well...
*Disclaimer: No, I'm definitely a girl and not Tadatoshi Fujimaki... So Kuroko no Basuke is definitely not mine... Sigh...
Akashi blinked before masking his shock by asking, "What are you doing here? And who are you?"
"I was here before you," the boy replied, taking a sip of his cold beverage.
Now Akashi was even more confused than before and he absolutely hated it. He always knew what was happening and how to react in any situation but this time, he was stumped by the blue-haired student. For the life of him, the red-haired captain of the basketball team could not figure out how he didn't see the small boy when he was sitting just in front of him. His eyes were sharper than the normal human's, after all. "That's highly unlikely. I would have noticed you."
"It doesn't surprised me that you didn't," the boy seemed adamant that Akashi hadn't seen him. And Akashi was irked at the fact that his fellow student might be right, which meant that he - Akashi Seijuurou, the prodigy and epitome of perfection - actually failed at something. "Not many people do."
That was interesting. To think that a boy with such a shockingly bright hair colour and large round eyes would be so easily overlooked by the general population was rather strange. "And why's that?"
The pale, blue-eyes boy shrugged his shoulders. "I have low presence so it's hard for people to see me. To be honest, I would've been rather surprised if you'd noticed me, Akashi-kun."
A fine red eyebrow was elegantly raised. "You know my name?"
"Of course. Everyone in the school knows you," the boy replied. "It would've been hard not to be able to recognise you. The teachers constantly praise your good grades, the girls are always squealing over you and the you're the envy of the boys."
"You words are too flattering," Akashi's lips twitched into a rather bitter smile. "But in reality, I find that I'm not all that great. In terms of personality, that is." He didn't know just why he was admitting the one thing that he loathed to confess, but the other boy seemed to radiate a calm and welcoming presence if you could actually feel his limited amount of presence.
"There are many rumours about you going around," the boy remarked. "Most of them are not very pleasant."
"I can imagine so," Akashi muttered dryly. "But if that's the case, then why are you talking to me?"
"You're interesting," was the blunt reply that Akashi received. "I also can't say anything against you without knowing how you are. It wouldn't be very fair. And besides, you looked lonely."
Akashi scoffed when he heard the last statement. "True, I may not have friends, but I'm certain that I neither need nor want any."
"Aren't your basketball teammates your friends?"
"No," Akashi answered immediately. "I may be able to tolerate their presence but we are merely teammates."
"Is that so?" There was a slight pause in the conversation as the boy sipped his drink, looking like he was contemplating something. Then, he looked up and his crystal-clear blue eyes met Akashi's ruby-red orbs. "Excuse me for saying this then, Akashi-kun, especially since I just met you. I think that the kind of life you described - a life without companions and comrades - sounds very sad and lonely - pathetic almost."
Right at that time, the school bell sounded for the start of lessons. After the bell quietened down, the boy bid Akashi goodbye before pulling open the door and disappearing down the stairs.
And it was precisely at that time that Akashi Seijuurou realised that he never managed to find out what the boy's name was.
When the school bell had finally rung, sounding out the end of the school day, sighs of relief could be heard from every class. Akashi wordlessly packed up his things and after having his lunch, made his way towards the first-stringers' basketball courts. Teikou High's basketball club was extremely popular and as a result, the members had to be separated into different strings based on their performance level. When he arrived at the indoor sports hall dedicated solely to basketball, he saw that there wasn't anyone there. He was exceptionally early, again. As expected since he was the captain, after all. It wouldn't be good if the captain himself was late.
After changing into his basketball gear, Akashi noted that most of the club members had already arrived and were currently heading to the locker rooms to change.
"Akashicchi!" Kise's loud, exuberant voice echoed around the indoor hall. He halted just in front of his red-haired captain, knowing full well what would happen to him if he attempted to hug his teammate.
"Aka-chin," Murasakibara greeted.
"Hello, Atsushi, Shintarou and Ryouta," Akashi said, not failing to note the absence of the team's ace. It was almost time for practice. At this rate, the tanned male would be late and have to face the wrath of an Akashi. At this thought, Akashi almost grinned sadistically.
"What's the training menu for today, Akashi?" The vice-captain of the basketball team, Midorima asked, using his fingers to push his glasses up the bridge of his nose.
"I'll address that later, Shintarou. Where's Daiki?"
"Ah," It was Kise who spoke. "Aominecchi said that he had detention so he won't be able to come today."
"Ara? Mine-chin's going for detention?" Murasakibara voiced out everyone's disbelief. It wasn't that Aomine Daiki was the model student that never got into trouble, it was just that... "I know Mine-chin's been given detention lots of times, but he never goes to any of them."
"Yes, this is news to me too," Midoima added, clutching his ink unicorn stuff toy - his lucky item for the day, probably - closer to his chest like he was afraid the world was ending.
"Ryouta, explain," Akashi ordered.
Kise scratched his head nervously before answering, "I think the teachers got too fed up with him skipping detention. Sibce the're always so busy after school, they asked the student council to oversee Aominecchi's detentions. Some of them immediately surrounded Aominecchi right after class and dragged him off to lunch and detention."
Akashi tutted his disapproval at Aomine's lousy study attitude. "I guess it was just a matter of time." Then, he proceeded with ordering the members around and doubling or tripling their training menus, much to the dismay of all basketball club members. Their captain only gave them a sadistic smile that could rival that of the devil's.
It was six-fifteen when the basketball club had finished its rigorous training - courtesy of their demonic captain. It was six forty-five when Akashi had finished his meeting with the basketball coach, showered and changed out of his basketball clothes.
As he ambled along the many corridors of the school building, waiting for his chauffeur to pick him up, a voice behind him ask, "Oh, is Akashi-kun still here?"
Barely masking a gasp of surprise, Akashi whirled around to see the blue-haired boy that he had met that very afternoon. Willingly his palpitating heart to calm down, he said, "Oh, it's you again. What a coincidence. And to answer your question, I am the captain of the basketball team. Of course I have other things to do even after practice has ended. And did you think I wouldn't notice? That you haven't answered my question earlier today about who you were?"
"Akashi-kun is sharp," the boy complimented. "I'm Kuroko Tetsuya. Nice to meet you, Akashi-kun."
Kuroko Tetsuya? That sounds familiar but I can't really remember where I heard that name... And Akashi Seijuurou hated not knowing anything. "I think I've heard of you before, but I can't remember where. Anyway, now it's my turn to ask what you're still doing here in school."
"Like Akashi-kun, I still have some things to finish," Kuroko responded monotonously. A soft ding then could be heard. Taking a sky-blue flip-phone out of his blazer pocket, Kuroko checked it before excusing himself. "It's been nice meeting you, Akashi-kun, but I have to go now."
And Akashi was left alone in the empty corridor.
And that's it for chapter 2! Yes, despite my hopes, it's as short as the last one. Anyways, have a good night/day! And please review!
Latios963