"Kazamatsuri-kun," Kuroko spoke up. They were lying side by side one another, breathing heavily after their basketball match- if it could even be called one. Said match consisted of Kuroko and Sho shooting ball after ball, trying to get one into the net. They couldn't run around, considering how Sho is temporarily crippled. In the end, Sho managed to get 3 balls into the hoop. As for Kuroko, it seemed that the universe was truly against him. It might as well be against the laws of physics for Kuroko Tetsuya to score a basket.
"Yeah?"
"You weren't always….using crutches, right?" Kuroko hesitantly asked. Using "crippled" just seemed too cruel. But Sho didn't seem to mind at all, he wore the same smile he always had from the night Kuroko met him.
"Nope~ I injured my leg during a match a few months back. My parents wanted me to give up soccer at that time, but…." Sho paused, lips curling into a slight frown, "..I think if I ever stopped playing soccer, I'd die. You know? For me, playing soccer is the same as breathing oxygen." He said it with the most serious face Kuroko had ever seen on him, and at that moment, he knew Sho Kazamatsuri was telling the truth. "That's why I'm gonna get better as soon as possible! So that I could play alongside my friends again!" He broke out in a grin and - for the life of him- Kuroko couldn't help but smile as well.
Kuroko knew it was late out and that he should start heading home, but no matter how hard he tried to move his legs toward the door, they always managed to lead him back toward the basketball.
One more shot, just one more.
Kuroko started dribbling once more, when a loud slam of the gym doors echoed through the room, signaling the arrival of someone new. The blue haired boy didn't jerk in surprised, but he was immensely curious as to who it was. After the three boys had ran out the gym screaming "GHOST" at the top of their lungs to all of Teiko, no one had dared visited the fourth gym for fear of the supposed "Basketball Ghost" aka him.
Honestly, he wasn't sure to be grateful or hurt about the rumors. On one hand, he had all the space he needed to practice and no one to make crude remarks about how much he sucked and how he should give up. But on the other hand, no visitors means no one to practice with.
"Sup…." Kuroko turned toward the door to see, lo and behold, Aomine Daiki, one of the famed first years who got into first string. "e-eh…?" Like with every other visitor, he boy's complexion blanched greatly and his frame shook with unhidden fear. The younger boy wondered if he should reveal himself, it wasn't everyday that he got the chance to interact with someone like Aomine.
"Um, hello." He walked over to where the tanned boy had been standing and raised his voice a bit to ensure he'd be heard. "...Aomine-kun?"
The latter had chosen to curl himself up into a ball in the corner upon hearing the ghostly voice, body still violently trembling. But upon hearing his name, he turned back to see a smaller, pale boy with soft blue hair and matching eyes stare back at him, his face a mix of surprise and confusion.
After Kuroko explained the situation with the three boys a few days back and how he'd been practicing in the fourth gym every day to improve his skills, the ace finally understood, no longer trembling in fear, but looking at him in awe and elation.
"Alright, I've decided!" He suddenly declared, making the smaller boy look at him with a slightly puzzled expression. "I'll practice with you every day from now on!"
The fist bumped for the first time that night.
"Kazamatsuri-kun, I got a partner for basketball!" At this point in their relationship, Sho had gave up trying to hide how much Kuroko's unexpected pop ups affected me. He jerked away at the sudden appearance of the younger boy and released a high pitched scream he couldn't bother holding back.
"Ku-Kuroko-kun?!" Said boy only blinked at him. Sho let out a deep exhale, trying to calm his frantically beating heart. "You scared me…"
"I apologize." He didn't look sorry at all.
"Ah, no matter. So, new partner?" He raised a thumbs up at the boy, proud and happy for him. "Guess you won't have to be stuck with someone suckish like me anymore, heh?"
"Yes." Kuroko deadpanned. At least pretend you'll miss me!
But at that moment, the corner of the boy's lip raised to form a gentle smile. "His name is Aomine Daiki and he's one of the 1st strings. He's really good at basketball and agreed to practice with me everyday!" It was the happiest Sho had ever seen the boy. " One day, we'll stand on the same court together…"
Kuroko looked lost in thought as he looked at his hands, trying to remember the feel of a basketball. "From now on, I'll work even harder to get promoted!" He voice was laced with such intense determination, Sho could see himself in those cerulean eyes. Then, as if he suddenly remembered that Sho was there, Kuroko turned to him and said, "When that happens, will you...come watch me? Play, I mean."
And right at that moment Sho realized he couldn't. His face must've dropped, because suddenly, Kuroko's smile faded. The two stared at each other in silence as the mood took a turn for the worse. "Ah….I'm sorry, Kuroko-kun. I can't.."
"Why not?" Different possibilities ran through his head, none of them made sense.
"..I'mgoingtoGermanysoon." Sho let out in one exhale. He couldn't make eye contact with the other, for fear of the hurt he'd undoubtedly see.
"Huh? Germany? Why?" Not once during any of their exchanges had Sho mentioned Germany, except that one of his past teammates was half German and moved there with his mom. But why would Sho go all there? "Is it permanent?"
The brunette shook his head. "No, it's for my rehab. I'll have a higher chance of recovering over there." A pause. Then, he abruptly took Kuroko's hand into his own. "But I promise I'll come back as soon as I'm healed! I swear on my life!"
And who was he to deny Sho this chance of happiness? The boy himself had said soccer is the equivalent of breathing oxygen. If he objected and tried to keep him from going to Germany, Kuroko might as well murder him with his own hands.
"Ha...well if it's that, then as long as you promise to see one of my matches as well, then I have no qualms about it." Sho's beaming smile radiated nothing but pure happiness. "Of course I will! And once I can play again, you have to see me back in action on the court too!"
They later decided to exchange numbers and always keep in touch with one another. By the time Sho came back, Kuroko promised to himself, he'd definitely be a first stringer.
