Found you
The only sound inside the office room was the ticking of the huge grandfather clock beside the potted plant placed near the wall. The room was spacious decorated with paintings of sea and mountains. An old paintings of Mount Fuji with writings in it, that was passed from fathers to sons, was hanged horizontally on the wall, above the door. Stacks of books were kept neatly near the huge table, where two people resides for the moment.
One of the individuals had a forest green hair, sitting straight, scowling at the chess board in front of him. His taped fingers - he never really managed to discard the habit to tape his fingers - placed on his chin, in a thinking manner. His emerald eyes will dart back and forth, from his lucky item for the day; a glittery ribbon hair pin. To the pictures on the table, then finally to the chess board. When he had finally made his move, he'll sit back on the seat then cross his arms to stare outside the big window he faced, looking at the big oak tree with its leaves swaying blown by the soft wind.
"Shintarou, is there something on your mind?" the person sitting facing him asked, though his heterochromatic eyes is still glued at the chess board, contemplating his next move carefully. Midorima Shintarou looked at the red haired person, "No, not really," he pushed his glasses up using his taped middle finger.
"Hn, is that so," Akashi said. He was clearly showing that he wasn't convinced with what Midorima had uttered moments before, moving his next move, ending the game with a whisper of 'checkmate'.
Looking up whilst tilting his head to the side, "So, Shintarou, mind telling me what's bothering you now?"
Midorima just stared blankly at Akashi. Folding his fingers on top on the other, he grinned, "We are friends, are we not? Therefore, you must tell me what's bothering you so I can help you," Midorima just continued on staring blankly at the red haired man.
'I'd rather not,' Midorima thought.
"Then, how about we talk about your...problem with another game of chess?" Akashi grinned devilishly at Midorima's expression. Already knowing the other man's thought.
Though before they could start their game, Akashi's phone suddenly rang, saving Midorima from having their 'heart-to-heart' talk. Akashi chuckled when he heard the silent sigh from Midorima, excusing himself to answer the call leaving Midorima alone inside the office.
While waiting for Akashi, Midorima just sat silently looking around the room until his eyes stops at one particular picture on top of the table. Reaching out to the picture, he picked it up to inspect it a little bit closer.
It was a picture of them during their graduation party. They were sitting around a table, the was showing Kagami Taiga and Aomine Daiki glaring at each other, in one of their match against each other for the last meat. With Murasakibara Atsushi snacking on his own snacks texting, if Midorima recalls, his teammate from Yosen high, Himuro Tatsuya. Though he remembered that Himuro politely declined when Murasakibara invited him to come to the party causing the giant centre to pout for a while. Well, until Murasakibara busied himself with patting Kuroko's head, much to the teal haired teen's annoyance.
Takao, who Midorima dragged with him to the party ('cause if Midorima was going to suffer in a party, he want Takao to suffer along with him), was the person who took most of the pictures along with Momoi (though Midorima was quite sure that Momoi's camera was full of Kuroko's picture only). In the picture, Kuroko could be seen talking with Kise, even though it almost looks like the conversation was one sided. He kept staring at Kuroko's face, not noticing when Akashi entered the office again.
"Makes you wonder what had gone wrong, isn't it?" Midorima surprised face was amusing for Akashi, but decided to not tease the green haired tsundere for it.
Clearing his throat, Midorima placed the picture on the table, pushing his glasses, "What do you mean by that, Akashi?"
"You know what I meant, Shintarou. We changed after Tetsuya and his teammates has taught us a valuable lesson, we lost and won against each other in basketball during our three years of high school, and finally, just finally when we were able to strengthen our friendship," Midorima coughed embarrassedly at that, "Tetsuya, once again went missing. And without any explanation at that."
Walking closer towards the desk, Akashi perched his hip on the it, his right arm as support and his other hand holding his phone. Akashi was reading a mail text sent just a moment before. Midorima frowned when he hear Akashi said softly, "But now we can ask him."
Midorima looked at Akashi, "What?"
His answer was only a smile, "Akashi, what are trying to say?"
Midorima stared at Akashi confusedly when Akashi just continued to smile. Not his usual polite and charming smile or smirk, when he's planning something, but a rare smile that somehow managed to show his happiness.
"Aka-"
"One of my workers, he...he managed to track someone named Kuroko Tetsuya," ignoring the fact that Akashi just stuttered, Midorima's eyes widen, "He mentioned that the person is currently working as a kindergarten teacher, in Tokyo.
Momoi almost burst out crying after reading a mail sent from Akashi, in front of her co-worker and clients, if not for her years of befriending and working with the most professional people ever. Holding back her tears, she hastily excused herself from the meeting and went out of the office to the nearest women restroom, gaining a few curious onlookers along the way. Pulling out her phone, she fumbled a bit searching the contact number of a certain someone, she clicked and waited for the call to reach the person. Hearing a distinct click from the phone, a gruff voice was heard saying 'Hello'.
"Dai-chan!" at that moment she didn't care if anyone outside the restroom had heard her, she is too overwhelmed with many feelings to care. The voice sounded annoyed when he answered back, "Akashi-kun, h-he said that-" a choke can only be heard after that.
Sighing in annoyance, Aomine said barked out, "Out with it, woman! I swear I'll -" his words were cut off by Momoi.
"It's Tetsu-kun! Akashi-kun found him! We can finally see him again, Dai-chan!" Momoi was so sure now that the whole company heard her, but still she didn't care. Momoi almost thought that Aomine has hung up when there was no sound coming out from her phone.
"What?!" Momoi flinched and put a the phone a distance away from her ear, "What do you mean by that? Akashi found Tetsu?! T-then, where is he?"
Instead of answering his question Momoi just delivered the same order came from Akashi to Aomine.
"Akashi-kun said that you should come to Tokyo and make sure to bring Kagamin with you, I'm sure he wants to see Tetsu-kun again," she said holding back her tears.
Aomine sounded reluctant to bring Kagami with him, but agreed when Momoi said that it was Akashi's order. Momoi was trying very hard on stopping her falling tears now. She needed to calm down, but the thought of finally meeting with her beloved Tetsu-kun made her giddy with excitement.
"Dai-chan?" Momoi questioned her childhood friend again when Aomine didn't speak or made any noise. Though she heard him grumble, "Yeah, yeah I'll come. And stop crying, you'll look ugly," Momoi just laughed. Who would've thought that Aomine will try to comfort someone, especially her. Usually he would just let her or anyone cry. He'd sooner hit or punch them than try to comfort people. To think in just six years everyone changed and matured, even if it was a little bit. And the changes between them was all thanks to Kuroko.
When Murasakibara received an email from Midorima he just stared at his phone, munching slowly on his cake. When he scrolled down slowly to read the mail, his munching stopped and his eyes slowly widen.
Takao, who was in the middle of drinking his coffee, raised his eyebrow when he heard a loud clank inside the kitchen. Wondering what happened to the purple haired pastry chef.
After becoming a middle school teacher, Takao was quite surprised when he saw Murasakibara became a pastry chef in a café near the school he teached, along with a silent guy, if he recalls one of the player from Seirin, Mitobe Rinnosuke.
He was feeling awkward seeing the giant, purple haired man without Midorima around at first, plus the guy didn't even remember his name. Instead he just called him Mido-chin's sidekick, much to his annoyance. Though after a few times they managed to talk normally, Murasakibara also start calling him Taka-chin, and always ask for snack from him, even though the big guy works in a café.
When he told Midorima about his encounter with Murasakibara, Midorima just snorted and ignored him, saying that he didn't want to know. Takao just smiled teasingly, knowing that Midorima was actually listening.
Whenever Takao came to the café, he would greet the silent Mitobe and (occasionally coming customer) Koganei Shinji and Izuki Shun. Then he will be pestered by Murasakibara for snacks, with only a bored expression plastered on Musakibara's face. The moment he saw the purple haired man rushed out of the café with an expression other than boredness that made him wondered what had happened to him.
When he made eye contact with Mitobe, who at the moment was talking (one sided conversation actually, since the big guy just nodded, smiled or shook his head) with Koganei, Takao raised one eyebrow and pointed directly at the purple haired giant direction. Asking a silent question to Mitobe.
Mitobe just shook his head. Takao just hummed thoughtfully, staring at the red car belonged to Murasakibara driving away.
"Oi, Kagami! You in there?" Aomine banged his fist against Kagami's apartment door, not even bothering using the doorbell. The door opened slightly, revealing a scowling Kagami that almost seem feral. People would've fled or just fainted at the sight of Kagami's face, but Aomine being Aomine, he didn't even bat an eyelash. He just stared at Kagami face in a bored manner.
"What, Ahomine?" Aomine growled at the nickname.
"Shut up," Aomine snapped at him.
Smirking amusedly, Kagami stepped back to give Aomine some room to enter his apartment, he looked at the digital clock on his coffee table showing that it was too early for him to deal with Aomine, "You're really annoying, you know that, Bakagami?"
"Right back at ya, you bastard," Kagami scowled at him and entered the kitchen. Leaving Aomine in the living room. The feelings of dislike and rivalry between them had increased by the years, adding the fact that the two of them are in the same team in the Japan basketball team was not helping either. But being the hospitable guy that he is, Kagami just let tanned man in and maybe serve him something edible.
"Whatever, pack up your things. We're going to Tokyo," Kagami froze and turned his head at the tanned male, then move towards the kitchen just to finish on making their drinks. Minutes later he appeared from the kitchen.
"Why?" holding two cups of tea, he walked towards the living room and looked down to Aomine, that has made himself right at home by laying with a lazy posture on the couch.
"Tetsu," hearing the name Kagami body went rigid. Before he could form any words, Aomine added, "Satsuki said that Akashi had found him".
Tightening his hold on the handle of the cups, "You're not joking, are you?" Kagami spoke in English.
"Why would I joke about that?" Aomine scowled, "And speak in Japan, will ya?"
Aomine could understand English a bit now after becoming Kagami's teammates for two years. Kagami immediately went back to Japan after he graduated from college in America, displeased when he heard that no one knows where Kuroko is (he almost went back to Japan after being informed that nobody didn't know where the sixth phantom man is, not even Akashi knew). When he first arrived in America, he immediately sent a mail to Kuroko and his seniors back in Serin. He had convinced himself the first two weeks that Kuroko was busy with his family or something when he didn't received any emails or phone call from Kuroko, the others had already replied to his mails.
He was worried when he received information that Kuroko was missing. He tried reaching out to Kuroko's family, but he cursed himself when he realized he didn't have Kuroko's parents number nor the number to Kuroko's residence.
Both Kagami and Aomine were given the chance to play in America with their ability, but both of them had decline, claiming that they wanted to play for the Japan basketball team. And maybe search for Kuroko during their day off.
And now hearing that Akashi had found Kuroko whereabout, Kagami didn't even think twice before he went to his room and packed his things to bring to Kyoto, while thinking various punishment and beatings he'll give to Kuroko for disappearing just like that.
"I'm driving," Aomine said, standing in front of his room while holding the keys to Kagami's car.
"What?! It's my car, I should drive," Kagami growled.
Clicking his tongue, Aomine muttered, "Like I care".
"What?!" Momoi flinched from Kise's loud outburst.
"Why can't we go now?" Kise almost whine.
Pinching the bridge of his nose, Midorima fought the urge to punch Kise on the face. It would be satisfying to punch Kise, mind you, but punching a famous idol would definitely tarnish his reputation as a doctor. Plus, he just didn't think that it would be worth it if his hand will be injured, he needs it after all.
"Because," Midorima gritted out, "we still need to wait for the others to arrive".
"But -" seeing Midorima's scowling face made Kise to shut his mouth. Kise just sulked and went to his little corner mumbling about something 'being mean' to him and 'Kurokochi', causing Midorima to sigh.
The three was the first to arrive at the large penthouse aparment belonged to Akashi. Being close friend with Akashi, they were given the permission to enter, which will cause an uproar to his fangirl since Akashi never let anyone, not even his trusted worker, to enter inside.
At the moment, Momoi was talking with someone on her phone and typing on her laptop at the same time to finish her work to calm herself before the others arrive. Midorima had busied himself looking through Akashi books on the shelves, at the same time ignoring Kise.
Akashi was still at his family private house at Kyoto, discussing about something with his family. Midorima still remembers that the older Akashi had remarried six years ago with a beautiful woman named Fuji Aimi, a widower of a generous businessman, whom had been a close friend of Akashi Katsurou (Seijuurou's father). And one year after their marriage, Akashi Seijuurou had told his close friend about his new baby brother, Akashi Shouta. Not that Midorima cared.
Midorima never felt so happy listening to the sound of doorbell, his limits of dealing with Kise was very short for today. But immediately regretted it when he saw who came in through the door; it was Murasakibara with his usual bored expression. The purple haired man just looked around at first, observing Kise who muttering in a corner to Midorima. Then finally decided to sit next to Momoi. Proceeding to munch on his snacks while ignoring the disapproving look from Midorima.
Now they only needed to wait for two basketball idiots to arrive. (In another location, Kagami and Aomine had an urge to curse a green haired megane.)
Seijuurou let out a long sigh the moment he entered his car, feeling an onslaught of migraine coming. No matter how many times he had seen it, it still was a horror to witness his own strict father letting out a childish (manly) giggle around his little brother.
Seriously, one would take back the comment of how scary Seijuurou is when they saw his father trying to catch his younger brother around his office. Seijuurou would definitely agree if they ever say that the two were releasing some sparkle dust around them. Good thing it was only the four members of the Akashi family at that time.
Though, Seijuurou was very thankful that his younger brother was brought up the he is and not the way Seijuurou did. When he first heard of his stepmother's pregnancy he immediately became worried for his unborn brother, already thinking of a way to help his brother escape the strict way of Akashi's upbringing.
He was quite surprised though when his own stepmother put her foot firmly, that this child will learn about the Akashi's family with kind, caring and gentle love. Not the tough love that Seijuurou learn when he was a little child. All the while hugging an awkward-feeling Seijuurou in her arms. It felt strange receiving a mother's love after many years of the death of his beloved mother. (Strange, but he was happy to receive them.)
Seijuurou musings was interrupted when the phone in his hand vibrated, showing a new mail from Midorima. Scanning through the text, he smirked amusedly with the way the text was typed (poor Midorima babysitting the others). He replied quickly just to make sure he doesn't really waste anymore time than needed.
They're in a hurry to find a teal haired man after all.
Seven pairs of eyes were watching the excited children running towards their parents.
Even if they couldn't hear them, they could feel the gratification of the children just from the way they talked animatedly with their parents. They waited until the last pair of parent and child walked towards the direction of home, to take a step towards the entrance of the kindergarten.
Deciding to wait by the gate for a particular person.
"How long does it take for someone to come out?!" asked Aomine, after ten minutes of waiting for Kuroko to appear.
"Hush, Daiki, it's been only ten minutes, not one hour. Everyone is feeling the same as you are right now," Akashi glanced at the tanned male, then returned his gaze at the entrance gate of the kindergarten. Causing Aomine to grumble.
After waiting for a few more seconds, they finally heard of someone speaking very softly. Only to see a brown haired woman speaking to someone on the phone. They only sighed in disappointment as they watched the person walked and turned to a corner. It was starting to gnaw on their patient every seconds they waited for the teal haired person to come out.
Five minutes after, they heard a distinct sound of the gate opening, they didn't even realize the person before had close the gates. It was as if time was moving very slowly as they waited for the person to appear.
Their eyes widens when they saw the person sighing softly, who didn't even saw the group of people, closing the gates and locking them. Only when the person heard the sound of keys dropping onto the ground did she turned to look at them.
Blue eyes widens when the red head called out, "Tetsuya?"
A/N : Well, this chapter took longer to post than I thought.
I really need to broadens my vocabulary, I think I keep repeating words and sentences in my story. Thank you for reading this chapter by the way. I really hope that you enjoyed it. If there's a mistakes or sentences that hard to read, just point it out for me. I'll be very thankful.
Until the next chapter, beloved readers.