A/N: You guys are so sweet. (*´ω`pq)
Generation of Roommates
Chapter 2: For a Long Time
Aomine's chest heaved harder and harder as he continued running through the streets, bumping bystanders here and there. "Damn!" he cursed. The tanned teen looked through the window again, finding just ordinary people chatting and enjoying their food. "I was sure he would've been here." Aomine tsked. He had already checked the market and the library had kicked him out when, being the idiot he was, he yelled out Kuroko's name loudly. Not that he had a choice– he'd rather be dead than take one step closer to books with fancy words and other shit. His 'reading' interests lied elsewhere. Convincing himself that his shadow was nowhere to be found, he left Maji Burger, and decided to try the post office next. Another curse left his mouth. Just how hard was it to find a phantom?
Murasakibara hummed in thought. "If I were a Kuro-chin, where would I be?" It could come to no surprise, for anyone who knew the six-foot-ten center of Teiko, that the first place he would check was the market. Some shoppers had to shush their children for pointing at the "giant-san."
He looked through the aisles, and could not find any trace of little Kuro-chin anywhere in the store. Murasakibara pouted. By the time he got the library or the post office, one of the others had probably already found Kuroko. The purple-haired teen could feel a bit of anger twist inside him. He was never a fan of losing. Coming down the candy aisle, Murasakibara picked up a pack of a 'limited time only' vanilla candies. "Maybe I can just bribe Kuro-chin and still be his roommate," he pondered. Nodding to himself, he headed to the cashier to pay for the vanilla candies. Along with two boxes of Maibo, seven varieties of chips, three trays of cookies, and some chocolate bars.
Consider it a housewarming present– Murasakibara Atsushi edition.
Things weren't looking so good on Akashi's side of the story either. He, the absolute Akashi, cannot find his very own teammate and precious pet. He had checked each place of which Kuroko mentioned, and found no sign of the sixth man anywhere. As he looked, he noticed some the others had also looked for Kuroko in the same place, at the same time he did. Akashi frowned slightly at the memory when he searched the library. He unfortunately had witnessed Aomine's screeching, along with security pulling out his aggressive teammate.
The captain sighed. He wonders about Daiki sometimes.
Akashi finds himself in a predicament. Not only can he not locate Tetsuya, but the bet was agreed on the terms of no contact with Kuroko whatsoever.
"YOSH! Then first one to find Tetsu gets to be his roommate for two months!" Aomine grinned, as he added, "And to make things interesting, no calling his cell at all times! It's only fair that the person who can actually find Tetsu deserves to be his roommate first!"
The red-head pinched at the bridge of his nose. At this time, Akashi really wished he hadn't taught Kuroko how to use his lack of presence.
Okay, so maybe he did care about the competition.
Maybe he did want to be Kuroko's first roommate.
And maybe he wouldn't mind b-b-bathing with Kuroko.
…
"I take it back."
Or maybe he didn't.
"Yes, I did."
Maybe he was in denial. Maybe he really, really, really, really, does want to share a room with the phantom. Maybe he could try and become closer with Kuroko. Maybe Kuroko can even call him by his name, his first name. Maybe he can treat Kuroko better than that ganguro ever would. Maybe he can convince Kuroko to come to the same high school. Maybe they can still play basketball together. Maybe he'll finally understand Kuroko's basketball. Maybe he could stop his tsundere ways, just for Kuroko. And then maybe, just maybe, Kuroko and him could become more than friends or perhaps even lovers–
"I SAID I TAKE IT BACK!"
"… Sir? Will you, uh, will you be purchasing that?"
Midorima looked at the employee, then at the book in his hand. Dating for Dumbies.
The greenet's felt his face start to heat up and turn a shade of scarlet completely. He shoved the book at the assistant librarian's chest rather rudely, and ran out the library as red as a tomato.
The employee stood, unsure what to do, and watched as the weirdo made his retreat out the building. The assistant librarian let out a sigh. That was the second disruption that had happened. What was wrong with teenagers nowadays?
Kise walked around aimlessly. The sun was setting soon, and he had yet to find Kuroko. He checked every place he should've, and could've, been. At this point, he had almost given up. Even if it was agreed that everyone would get to spend two months as Kuroko's roommate, Kise can't help but feel jealous. It was almost as if he was in non-stop competitions. Ever since he became a regular, he realized that he had even more competition– the Generation of Miracles, his own teammates.
Kuroko may have been his mentor, but Akashi was his. Kuroko may have been his tutor for algebra, but Midorima was his. Kuroko may have given him all sorts of sweets, but all passed down from Murasakibara. Kuroko may have said he was a shadow, but Aomine was his light.
As of his skill; copying? He scoffed at the word. More like second best, Kise thought, bittersweet. I wonder why I'm thinking about this all of a sudden… is because of the roommate competition or, something else? Now here he was–lost and alone–sitting on a park bench close to Kuroko's house, all the children leaving the playgrounds to return to their homes. He supposed he should head home too, with or without Kuroko. Another sigh found its way out his lips. "Maybe it wasn't meant to be…"
"What wasn't meant to be, Kise-kun?"
Kise jumped, and looked to his right. Kuroko appearing out of thin air as usual, though Kise is sure he'll never get used to it. "You scared me, Kurokocchi!" He tried to laugh off his previous lamenting. There's always a tomorrow, the blond reminded himself. "So, what are doing at the park this late?" Kise smiled, although fake.
Kuroko's keen eye caught this, but decided not push the subject. "After I was finished with my errands, I came to the park." He looked from Kise to the empty swing sets. "Our neighbor's children like to play here, and they asked if I could join them."
Kise tired to imagine the scene. So cute! "Kurokocchi must really like children, ne?"
He nodded.
The two basked in the silence, until Kise stood from the bench and suggested they head back. It remained quiet the walk back, and soon Kuroko's house was in sight. That's when the bluenet decided to speak.
"Kise-kun shouldn't belittle himself."
The comment caught Kise off guard. "Eh?"
"I've always respected Kise-kun," Kuroko started. "Your skill is something you shouldn't take for granted. I think you make it unique, because you're the only one who could perform such a skill. I wish I had that kind of gift." Kise swore he saw Kuroko pout. "Be greatful for what you have, Kise-kun. It will take you far, and show you sights you've never seen before. And if you don't believe me, I will be there to knock some sense into you."
Kise stared at the phantom sixth man as he spoke each word, a look of surprise on his face. Unique..?
"B-But, how did you know..?"
"It's not very nice to show the people you care about a smile to hide what you're really feeling." Kuroko met Kise's golden-orbed eyes, and gave the blond warm smile. "Be sincere."
They had finally reached the house, and before Kuroko could open the outside gate, his back was pulled against a well muscled torso hidden under its clothing. Kuroko opened his mouth to ask the taller teen, but stopped when he felt the arms across his chest held him tighter and heard a faint, but clear, "Thank you, Kurokocchi."
The only reply Kise received, was a small hand that placed itself in his.
"Yay-ssu! I get to be Kurokocchi's first roommate!"
"I call for a rematch!" Aomine yelled over the kitchen table.
Midorima sighed. At least his dinners will be livelier than usual. "You're the one who made the bet, Ahomine." The point guard subconsciously picked at his food. "Accept your fate."
"Where's Kuro-chin?" Murasakibara asked, already on his fifth bowl of rice.
Akashi wiped his mouth with a napkin, his meal finished. "I believe he's taking a shower."
As if on cue, Kuroko called out from upstairs. "Excuse me; can someone bring me a towel?"
A commotion could be heard from the outside the bathroom door, and what sounded like multiple steps coming up the stairs. "Maybe they ate something bad," Kuroko said thoughtfully, glancing at the toilet beside him.
There you have it! Kise was the winning vote, and now all the KiKuro fans can live happily. I was actually surprised most you guys voted for Kise, but when I read your reasons, I completely agreed. I've always felt that Kise was the kind of person who would always compare himself to the other GenMira's, as if he was in a constant competition for acceptance. Personally, I ship all the GoM equally with Kuroko but I do have a soft spot for Kikuro! I think Kuroko has always cared for Kise's welfare, and never had to wait to ask Kise if something was wrong– he just knew.
Don't forget! Now that everything is basically set, I will now be accepting requests for any Kuroko ships! Leave a review or PM me! (Unless a ship is being neglected, then I'd write it to keep things even). This chapter is a bit shorter, just because I mainly wanted to focus on who found Kuroko first. It's so hard to write over 2,000 words! (－‸－) But I promise I will try! Anyway, thanks for reading!
By the way. That whole thing about "Midorima being pregnant" was because I thought it'd be funny if Kuroko played doctor and gave a fake diagnosis due to Midorima's tsundere disease. Ha, funny me.
Omake
In the end, Kise had to bring in his own bed (much to his disappointment). While Kise was about to finish unpacking all his belongs, with Kuroko's help, the little shadow began to feel sleepy to which the model relieved him of his help.
Kise turned off the light and settled in his bed. "Oyasumi, Kurokocchi~" A little 'oysu' was heard in reply, a dorky smile formed his lips that wasn't gonna leave anytime soon. But before sleep came upon him, Kise had to ask, "Kurokocchi?"
Kuroko blinked owlishly in the darkness. "Hai..."
"I'm glad that I met you."
"I feel the same way, Kise-kun." After hearing that, Kise grinned with content and soon fell asleep– his dreams soon filled with little Kurokocchi's.
Kuroko smiled softly at Kise's words, although unseen by Kise, and followed suit into the dream world. I'm glad I met everyone, as well, Kise-kun.