Chapter 4 :
Midorima got out of the room, feeling horrendous. Sympathy, perhaps, but mostly guilt. His stomach ached, his forehead covered with sweat and his mind was not calm like usual.
" Have you told him yet?"
He heard the voice which came from his right side, but he did not react or even turned to the said direction as he hated what the person was going to say. Seeing the way Midorima stayed silent, the other person seemed to understand the circumstance.
" So, you have not done your job properly. You want me to do the talking, then?"
" No. I've already handed him the file. He's bound to get the message after reading all of it."
" It's too much of an important news to just simply indirectly inform him like that. I would prefer you to tell him straight, Shintarou."
" Akashi! His father died yesterday! For him to stay with a complete stranger from now on is an unbelievable situation to be in. He needs time."
Midorima was angry at the other person's absurb orders so his tone was relatively loud. The redhead who was leaning on the wall with his arms crossed was not affected by Midorima's unusually hard voice, though. He was still calm while the darkness covered most of his face, leaving the smile that never failed to make Midorima's blood run cold.
" Well... He can have a great amount of time at my place. After all, I'm the only one who is willing to have him adopted. Shintarou, don't you want that child to have a home, you want him to be on the street?"
His annoying sneer and the convincing way of talking irritated Midorima who was standing next to him as a scowl appeared on his face.
" When are you going to be satisfied, Akashi? This is not right."
What he said seemed to be intense. However, he knew himself that he was not in any position to say such things and that Akashi would never listen. After saying all that, he averted his eyes, avoiding Akashi's gaze.
" Then..."
Akashi shifted slightly and approached Midorima.
" Why don't you stop me, Shintarou?"
Out of nowhere, Akashi's face appeared in front of Midorima, close. The redhead then grabbed Midorima's collar hard, pulled him to his level and stared into his eyes.
" Talking to me like that! Why don't you stop me, Shintarou?"
His voice was low and threatening and his pair of eyes did not only see Midorima's eyes but probably his inner thoughts, as well. The opposite person's hands were shaking and he was not going to lie. He was truly fearful.
Akashi, after recieving no response which was the best response, pushed him into the wall. Midorima did not expect that and got his head hit the hard surface. He was released from the tight grip and panted slightly with his hand touching his chest to feel his fast heartbeat and to also calm himself. Akashi just looked at the sight and chuckled:
" Shintarou, you are no different from me. We are the same."
He then walked slowly towards the green-haired man and patted his shoulders.
" Don't try to change anything because...we are the same."
Midorima heard each and every word clearly. After Akashi left, he stood there alone in the hallway with complex feelings. He could not deny things Akashi had said. But there is no such thing as an absolute concept. He knew that even though the chances were not high, he could still save Kuroko.
" Kuroko."
His voice was heavy. And there he saw, Kuroko with puffy and filled with tears eyes, looked at him in disbelief. Midorima saw everything and his heart was painful.
" You read all of it, right?"
No answers, just quietness inside the room that suffocated both of them.
" I'm sorry for your current situation, but..."
Midorima abruptly broke the silence and drew Kuroko's attention to his face, his dejected and sorrowful face.
"... what happened, happened. Now, shake them off and get ready. You'll be discharged tomorrow and..."
He knew that even though the chances were not high, he could still save Kuroko.
"... accommodated in Akashi Seijuuro's residence."
Yet, he did not do it.
Because he and Akashi are the same.
End chapter 4.