Autumn Games

Summary: Between the summer Interhigh and the Winter Cup, there was autumn. Stories from on and off the court. Chapter 4: ((The door will open automatically in ten minutes or when you press Open))

I don't own Kuroko's Basketball. Fujimaki Tadatoshi does.


Chapter 4: Automatic

'Geeze, this is taking ages,' Kagami-Kun muttered. Tetsuya squirmed behind him. The line for the mall toilets really was moving slowly. He almost regretted ordering that extra large milkshake. Almost. It was a good deal. Extra large vanilla milkshake for him, extra large fries and triple barbecue burger for Kagami-Kun.

'Maybe the other toilets are free now?'

'I doubt it. If we leave this line now we'll have wait even longer.'

Kagami-Kun sighed.

'You're right. Hey, are you OK? That was a pretty big milkshake.'

'I am alright.'

The other boy looked him up and down.

'Sure you are. Hey, what are those?' he pointed to a couple of doors beside the entrance to the men's toilets. The line there was much shorter than the one they were in.

'Ah. Those are electronic toilets. The kind with automatic flush.'

'Techno toilets? I've heard of those.'

The classical music played while people did their business mingled with the pop music playing inside shops. The light above one door turned green as it slid open for a salary man to exit. A teenage girl walked in next and the light turned red.

'Do you want to join that line instead?'

'Well, I'm curious. I've never seen an electric toilet before.'

Tetsuya hadn't used one either; a normal toilet was fine for him. But then again, there was a first time for everything. And their line was really long.

'Let's go then,' he said.

XXX xxx XXX

Ding!

Zzz...

An elderly man left the cubical. The boys were now next in line. Kagami-Kun stepped back and gave him a push.

'You go first. I can wait a bit longer.'

'Thank you, Kagami-Kun.' Tetsuya stepped through the door and pressed the Close Door button.

Ding!

Zzz...

Tetsuya smiled as Kagami-Kun disappeared from his sight.

((The door will open automatically in ten minutes or when you press Open)) a computerised female voice filled the room. Her announcement was followed the sound of classical Japanese string instruments and shakuhachi flutes.

It was larger than a usual toilet cubical, with grey tiled floor and walls, shiny surfaces and bright lighting. There were no taps at the sink.

The toilet has no lid, but everything proceeded normally and Tetsuya decided that since he had plenty of time left, he may as well take a dump too.

((The toilet will flush automatically when you stand up)) said the computer lady as he sat down, startling him.

Ding!

Zzz...

To his shock, the electric door opened, halting the music, and a man in a black business suit, texting on his cell phone walked in. Tetsuya yanked his school bag over his lap.

'Um, excuse me, sir,' he said, 'I'm still here.'

The man didn't notice him over the music from outside. Still texting, one hand hit the Close button, then moved to fumble with his belt.

'Sir!'

((The door will open automatically in ten minutes or when you press Open))

Finally he looked up from the phone and yelped,

'Shit! Where did you come from!?'

'I was here when you came in. The door opened by itself.'

'T-that's the point isn't it?'

'It shouldn't have opened yet,' Tetsuya explained, feeling very surreal. 'I haven't used up my ten minutes yet.'

'Oh.'

Bzz! Bzz!

'Two pm, that's more like it,' muttered the intruder, glancing down at the message.

Ah, he's forgotten me.

'Sir?'

'Ah, ah, OK. I'm sorry. I'll just- oh!' The red-faced man zipped his pants back up and buckled his belt. He bowed to Tetsuya and scrambled out of the room. Unfortunately, in his haste, he left the door open.

Oh damn.

'Oi, Kuroko! Where'd you disappear to?'

Tetsuya had never been so thankful to hear Kagami-Kun's loud voice. Oh but this was going to be awkward.

'Um, I'm in here, Kagami-kun!' he called. 'Can you close the door from outside? I can't reach!'

His team mate's head popped into view. It immediately turned as red as his hair.

'Whoa!' He turned around. 'What the hell, Kuroko!?'

'Please close the door.'

'Why is it open? And there's no "Close" on this side.'

'I can't reach from here.'

'Then get up and – oh. Ugh... hang on.'

Kagami-Kun stepped backwards into the toilet cubical and closed it from inside.

Ding!

Zzz...

'Hurry up and finish,' he muttered, ears red.

When his face stopped burning, Tetsuya decided, he would thank Kagami-Kun.

'Oi,' Kagami-Kun growled over a shakuhachi solo. 'I saw a man running off when I got out. He didn't do anything to you, did he?'

'No. He was as surprised as me.'

'Ah. Something like that again, huh? Man, off the court that lack of presence you have is really troublesome.'

'Your empathy moves me.'

'Tch.'

Flush~

Tetsuya flinched as a jet of cold water squirted him on the bum before he could stand up.

The soap dispenser (it dripped strawberry smelling goo on his hands), sink nozzle and dryer worked automatically when he put his hands under them.

He tapped Kagami-Kun on the shoulder. He jumped.

'You done?' he asked, peeking over his shoulder. 'Alright. Let's go.'

Ding!

Zzz...

They stepped back out into the mall, and Tetsuya had just wondered what they might look like when,

'Kagami! Kuroko!' Hyuuga-Senpai gawked at them from the normal toilet line. Kiyoshi-Senpai waved from behind him.

'Did you two just leave the toilet together?' he laughed.


Notes and translations

This happened to me on holiday. I went into one of those tech toilets because they were more private than ordinary ones. How ironic that the electric door opened early when I was in there. An old guy started to walk in! I cried 'whoa!' and rushed to pull up my shorts. I don't know who was more shocked.