Title: How to Fall in Love: The Takao Project
Author: Kasamatsu-senpai
Rating: T
Pairing: Takao Kazunari and Midorima Shintarou
Disclaimer: I don't own Kuroko no Basket in any way possible. Nope. Nada. Never. Hope you enjoy the ride anyway!
NOTE: SHOUNEN-AI (boys' love; boy x boy). No flames. You were warned.

どのように恋に落ちる：ジェクト高尾

Entry Four: Rickshaw (人力車)

I clasped my hands behind my back as I exited the basketball court. Finally, practice is over. It's just like some military hell camp… except it's only for basketball. Well, we are known as the Three Kings of Tokyo, so we better live up to that name for the sake of those punks underestimating us.

Oh, and Shin-chan was so cool back there! I wish I could be good as him. Yeah, right. Then I'd be just a horoscope fanatic too. No, thanks.

I should have been heading home by now, but then I blinked and narrowed my eyes. Huh? Am I just seeing things? I rubbed my eyes to prove myself it wasn't just my imagination.

A rickshaw (parked right outside to be exact)? Who in the right mind would—?

Takao subsequently had a hunch about the owner, and when he spun his head around, he couldn't help muffle a snicker. I knew it, he thought.

"You're in my way," said Midorima, his expression stoic as ever. Who else would bring such an ancient vehicle? Unless if Oha Asa mentioned it was today's lucky item.

"Oh. Sorry, great maestro," Takao sarcastically said, casually making way for the green-haired shooting guard. He didn't want to laugh at him; not yet.

"Hmph." Midorima furrowed his eyebrows even more than usual as he sat on the saddle and put one foot on the pedal. He was grateful for the vehicle for the good fortune it brought upon him, but alas, it was time to bid farewell to it. Maybe it could serve future use if ever his lucky items were to be heavy luggage?

Takao eyed the back of the vehicle, and instantly came up with a proposition. "Hey, Shin-chan. Can I ride in the back?" he asked. "It's vacant, after all." And don't forget it's free transportation! he forgot to add.

"No. You'll just be extra weight," Midorima replied curtly, defiantly staring at the other. "You'll make it hard for me." What was it with him and directness? He wasn't afraid of his bold remarks at all. He certainly would get in trouble for it someday.

Takao frowned. "You're no fun at all," he commented. "I'm not that heavy, you know."

Midorima remained nonchalant and blasé. "And do you think such insignificant words will help me change my mind?" he quipped.

The word insignificant stabbed Takao. Maybe Midorima implied he was insignificant? Well, that kicked right in the gut. His eye twitched, and began to feel ticked off at the shooting guard. "You really say what you want, do you?" A tick mark was visible on his forehead.

"Is there a problem with it?" said Midorima, raising a brow at Takao. He looked triumphant… victorious… proud… downright cocky.

He's having fun with this, I can tell, thought Takao just as he said, "No, but..." He put one hand on his hips, waved the other hand around, and sighed, "if you keep this up, you'll end up without having any friends." Which just goes to show Takao could be just as straight-forward as Midorima.

Who was Takao to say such a thing? "Mind your own business, will you—"

"But don't worry. I'll be sure to keep up with you," Takao added, beaming. "We are friends, right?" He chortled. "I can deal."

Ever since they met, they had been inseparable, and thus, Takao became used to Midorima's peculiarities. Midorima would never get used to the other's simple-mindedness though. He could never understand why his companion (read: he was forced) was his complete opposite. Why were Scorpios and Cancers the most compatible in the first place?

"…" Midorima paused. "If you're that confident with yourself—" His eyes oddly glimmered with rigorous determination. He clenched his fist, and fixed his glasses as he said, "We shall see how long it will last. I will make you eat your words." He was talking about how long Takao could deal with him.

Takao wore the exact same expression. "I bet I can last a lifetime," he said as he clenched his fist as well. He knew that gesture very well; it was for a game of—

"Janken pon!" they shouted in unison, stretching out their arms.

Takao became utterly devastated at the result. "No way!" he yelled. Takao apparently threw out paper as his move and Midorima threw out scissors.

"You lost. Now start pedaling," ordered Midorima as he pushed his glasses up this bridge of his nose. Midorima was already sitting in the back of the rickshaw, obviously proud of his success.

How did you get there so fast? Takao thought, startled. He then sighed happily. Midorima didn't look like it, but he was excited. He was just too tsundere to admit it. How cute.

"So there are other things Shin-chan is good at aside from basketball," he said in a sing-song voice.

"What are you implying?" Midorima hissed. He was so smart, he was slow at simple things.

Takao chuckled. "But I'll be sure to win next time!" I want a free ride from you!

"Don't bet on it," said Midorima as Takao began to drive the vehicle with extreme difficulty in the orange haze casted by the sunset.

[ A declaration of friendship? ]

End of Entry

A/N: Hooray! I finally posted the fourth chapter. I'm very sorry for the delay. I was already typing a chapter, but it was too late when I realized I was writing it in advance! Like... 4 chapters advanced, I mean. So yeah. I have the next four chapters at the ready. I just need to type 'em, is all.

Till the next cute filler-like chapter (it's fluff-friendly, I promise)!