BerryBliss here~! Sorry I didn't get to update yesterday, just when it was Akashi-kun's birthday... =3= But well, this part of the story has more AkaKuro (not exactly how I wanted it, it seems too...dramatic). As for ben4kevin-san, I have considered the idea of Nijimura-san being part of Kuroko's harem, he won't be part of the harem but he will have an unexpected role in it, will be shown later in the story, thank you for that idea though :) Enjoy desu~ I'm sorry I made them a bit uh... OOC, not a bit, they seem so different it's slightly creepy. Enjoy~! Thank you everyone for your continued support, I am trying my best to make the story a bit more enjoyable. Enough about my thoughts, here's Chapter 3~
For both the Bottom Class and the Miracle Class students, a joint class was NOT exactly a good idea.
The Bottom Class's opinions on the Miracle Class was never really good since the said system started, and it has never really changed.
The fangirls of course disagree, when they found out the Miracle students were coming, they were squealing like crazy without bothering to not be a bother.
The boys were obviously annoyed, for two reasons. One was that their girlfriends were all crazy over those miracle students, and second was because they never really like how they were looked down upon, but truth be told, the miracle students never really looked down upon them. Only that the system was never really a system with equality.
Aomine Daiki didn't really mind, judging Kuroko Tetsuya decided to sit beside him, and it made his day.
Why exactly?
Random seating arrangement meant loners were screwed. Aomine Daiki wasn't a loner, but he wasn't the open type either.
Most feared him, but he was just too misjudged. It may have seemed like Aomine Daiki didn't mind, but he always asked himself if there was anything terribly wrong with him.
Kuroko Tetsuya had no idea how happy Aomine Daiki was that he chose him to be his seatmate for the next 3 hours of boring lessons, but Aomine thought he could probably live with it if he had Kuroko by his side.
That is, until the rest of the Miracle students came and sat near Kuroko.
"God damn it, sit somewhere else, bitches!" Aomine shoute a bit too loudly, even the teacher in the front of the classroom heard it.
"We're not asking for your opinion, Aominecchi~!"
"A-aomine-c-chi?" Aomine Daiki found it awkward, it was such a creepy yet cute nickname.
"Oh my god, I can't believe that guy just called the miracle students bitches. Not only are they smart and mysterious, they're totally my type!"
"I know right?! They are soooo hot." A girl almost fainted at being too mellow mellow.
"Kyaaaa! They're mine!"
"No, mine!"
Aomine Daiki rolled his eyes to those fangirl squeals, he found it rather noisy, it just made it seem like he was the bad guy. But well, most would probably believe the words of the Miracles and not the words of a person like him.
"Aomine Daiki-san, mind your manners."
"Pfft. Yes, ma'am."
"Class, please wait for your real substitute teacher, for the meantime, free period, please do not make too much noise.
And so...
Not making too much noise was unfortunately, impossible.
"Why the heck did you choose to sit here? You're killing me..."
"We want to sit here, so we sat here." Midorima calmly sat, still wearing a serious expression. He had no problem trying to annoy Aomine Daiki.
"Kurokocchi! So this is the bottom class? Looks fun!"
"You're the only one having fun, Ryouta. But I don't see anything bad with experiencing this once in a while."
"Akachin's actually interested?"
"Somehow, along with the fact we can't take our eyes off Tetsuya, who knows what Daiki would do to him when we look away, even for just a second?"
"You've got a point..."
"Still sticking to that?! I ain't going to lay a finger on Tetsu. Concerned too much? You sound like a nagging mother." Aomine teased.
Kuroko's reminder before reading on: Beware folks, do not do this at home, for your own safety.
"Humph, Daiki, just because we're in class does not mean you can do what you please, and that includes insulting me."
"Oh? You were insulted?"
"My relationship with Tetsuya is deeper, we've gone through a lot, I've known him since Teiko Elementary school, and so? What say you?"
"...Uh, you've never experienced being taught by Tetsu, because you're not an idiot."
"Yes, but I was the one who honed Tetsuya to the one he is now. Tell me Daiki, what is your relationship with him?"
"Akachin, don't waste your time on him."
"Kurokocchi, we want to know what you think!" Everyone stared at Kuroko, expecting an answer.
And that's when Aomine Daiki noticed his life depended on Kuroko Tetsuya's answer.
"Aomine-kun is a dear friend to me, just like all of you are." was all Kuroko answered, and deep inside, Aomine Daiki felt he owed Kuroko Tetsuya one.
"Just friends?" Midorima asked, obviously unsatisfied.
"Eh? Then who's more important, Kurokocchi? Him or us? Or maybe me?"
Kuroko Tetsuya seemed unable to answer at first, but the next words that came out of Kuroko's mouth slightly surprised Aomine Daiki.
"In my eyes, everyone is equal. You're all important to me."
Aomine could tell the Miracles didn't like that answer, how they were put on the same level to him, who had only known Kuroko from less than two weeks ago. They kept it in, for Kuroko's sake, and for everyone's sake.
Because if they didn't, the answer was obviously an all-out war. Simply speaking, chaos.
"Class, your real substitute teacher is here! Please take your seats and try to be at your most pleasant behaviour." And yet, why did the teacher seem so nervous?
The one who entered was a man who looked like he was in his forties, with red hair slightly streaked white, perhaps because of old age. Aomine didn't need to think about who it was.
Father and son, they have the same look on their face, their eyes.
"Father, humph." Akashi muttered, trying to hide the disgust.
Akashi Seiji, the famed man to have proposed the not so well received Miracle Class project, which was brought upon Teiko more than 20 years ago. It had cause quite an uprise for the students, claiming a school should treat its students equally.
But in the end, are those who work hard crushed by the clutches of those born talented?
The question used to make Aomine Daiki angry, now it made him furious.
Especially when those talented people were his current rivals.
But Aomine Daiki was never fully aware of their feelings for Kuroko Tetsuya.
Until that is, when Akashi Seiji mentioned something known as "partner work".
"The groupings shall be decided later, and of course to make things interesting, I shall let you yourselves choose your partner. Further details will be explained shortly, but for now, class, you have a new student."
"I wonder who? Is he Bottom Class, or maybe Miracle Class? Kyaa!"
"I hope it's a boy, even better, the boy of my dreams! Not that I'm picky!"
"I hope it's a sexy girl, I'm tired of boys..."
"Huh? Weren't you like... homo?"
"What the f-"
"SILENCE!" The way Akashi Seiji said it really resembled how his son said it, only it seemed a bit more cracked and in a way deeper. It quickly shut the students up. "Come in."
A boy entered, he had orange-ish hair, he had a sort of air around him that made him easy to approach. As he walked to the platform, he looked around the room, many faces were staring at him, but someone caught his attention.
He smiled at Kuroko Tetsuya's direction, and the Generation of Miracles were not the slightest bit happy about it.
"That bastard, bothering to smile at Kurochin..." Murasakibara made a "tch" sound.
"Kurokocchi, do you know him?"
"...Yes, he's a childhood friend of mine, we lived in the same neighbourhood."
"Childhood friend huh... I don't like the sound of that."
"Did you say something, Aomine-kun?"
"Nothing important." Aomine replied. Kuroko shot him a questionable look but then returned to paying attention to the new student.
"Now, boy, introduce yourself."
"...Yes, Akashi-san. Nice to meet you, I'm Ogiwara Shigehiro, due to certain circumstances, I have transferred to Teiko Middle School. I am in your hands from now on."
"Your seat... let's see... this is a joint class so I am unsure of which seat is empty." Akashi Seiji looked at the seat plan and pointed to a seat by the window, at the corner of the room. As he walked towards it, something rather unexpected occurred.
He tripped, and it wasn't exactly good manners to laugh at someone at one single mistake. The class was laughing, with the exception of the Miracles and Aomine. They didn't find it funny at all, what they found funny was the fact everyone was laughing over something so trivial.
The new student, Ogiwara Shigehiro, got up again and quickly advanced to his seat, which was not exactly the safest seat, which was behind Aomine Daiki.
"Hmm... Aomine Daiki, switch seats with Ogiwara Shigehiro."
"HUH?! WHY?!" Aomine Daiki wouldn't have minded, but to him, that meant to his relief less time with the "Kuroko is mine" bunch, but unfortunately less quality time with Kuroko Tetsuya.
"Do as I say. Now."
Aomine grumbled and switched seats with Ogiwara Shigehiro, Kuroko smiled at him. He was still near him but it was still different being his seatmate.
"Aomine-san, yes?" Ogiwara Shigehiro turned around to face Aomine.
"You talking to me?" Aomine asked without interest.
"Is it obvious?"
"..Yeah, I'm Aomine Daiki." For Aomine Daiki, it was really hard not being nice to this guy.
"Nice to meet you, you're in the Bottom Class right?"
"Yeah, and so?"
"I'm in the bottom class too, let's work hard together from now on."
"Sorry but working hard isn't really in my dictionary."
"Aomine-kun, you worked hard in the midterms." Kuroko suddenly joined the conversation.
"Geep. That... was a different case."
"Aomine Daiki, I know being nice to new students is a good thing but when I teach, no one else speaks a word. Am I clear?"
"Yes sir." Not really what Aomine wanted to say, but he knew better than to answer back to one of the Akashi family.
He learned his lesson through Akashi Seijuro, who was rather quiet this time. He had some thoughts to himself, particularly about two things.
The first was about the new student, Ogiwara Shigehiro.
But most of his thoughts comprised of Kuroko Tetsuya.
~Akashi's POV~
I did not really consider Ogiwara Shigehiro a rival for Tetsuya's heart and attention.
But what is this uneasy feeling?
I looked at Tetsuya nonchantly talking to Ogiwara Shigehiro, and immediately I knew, I realized what was different.
The way he treated us was different from how he treated Ogiwara Shigehiro.
Everytime, I always felt it to be limited to certain things, therefore I was never satisfied.
But could it be the cause our relationships with Tetsuya are so limited is that we are the ones limiting it ourselves?
Did it all come down to the undeniable fact that we were male, therefore love relationships were forbidden?
Ogiwara Shigehiro was just Tetsuya's childhood friend,just that.
Right?
A certain question has been bugging me for a long time.
What we were we to Tetsuya?
Or to be more precise...What exactly am I to Tetsuya?
"Now, as for the details of the partner work. You yourselves are to choose your ideal partner. Further details shall be explained after you choose your partner."
That sounded very much like father, always planning something... underhanded.
And of course I have only one ideal partner.
But not exactly to my surprise, I wasn't the only one who came to Tetsuya.
~Narrator's POV~
"Kuroko/Kurochin/Kurokocchi/Tetsuya/Tetsu, will you do the honor of being my partner?"
Five people directed that one question to Kuroko Tetsuya, and he was unsure how to react.
"Umm... everyone, just asking, why me?"
"Because Kurokocchi, you're you!" Kise Ryouta exclaimed a bit too cheerfully for his own good.
"I don't quite understand..."
"Kuroko, it simply means we want to be your partner."
"Tetsuya, don't trouble yourself with this, just choose me and all of this will disappear."
"Akashicchi, that's not fair! You always get the good stuff..."
"Akachin, don't keep Kurochin all to yourself..."
"So, Tetsu, who do you choose?"
Akashi Seiji was rather amused by what was happening, he knew it was bound to happen. He smiled to himself for his brilliant plan, because on the outside he was the strict firm Akashi Seiji.
But from behind the shadows, he seemed rather supportive for his son.
The said project actually didn't need partner work, Akashi Seiji was just interested on all the entangled relationships causing conflict. He loved conflict in a way that it was enjoyable for him to watch.
May it be laughter or bloodshed.
"Th-that is.. It would be unfair if I only chose one of you."
"Then Tetsuya, I'll choose for you."
"Oi, Akashi, he has the right to choose who he wants his partner to be." Aomine contradicted. Although truth be told, he really wanted to be Kuroko's partner.
"Aominecchi, don't expect you to be Kurokocchi's partner, cause it'll be me!"
"I-it's not like I want to partner up with you... or a-anything..." Midorima "somehow" thought partnering up with Kuroko could produce good results. Unaware he was that he was rather stubborn and obsessed with Kuroko.
"Midochin, be honest already..."
"I- I am being honest here!"
"Umm... everyone, I have decided." Kuroko said with a tiny voice, but amidst all the fuss over him, his words were absolute, all because they all listened to their dear fellow Miracle... and for Aomine Daiki, mentor.
Every single one of them had the same expectations.
"He picked me!"
"In case I'm the one chosen, no hard feelings ssu~"
"You expect us to give you mercy after what you did to Kurochin?!"
"So, Tetsuya, who?"
"Umm... Since Ogiwara-kun doesn't have a partner, I'll be his partner."
"Aww, but Kurokocchi, we don't have a partner too!"
"Stop, if that's what Tetsuya wants, so be it."
"But Akachin-"
"No buts."
And therefore...
"Class, do you have your partners?"
"YES!" Most of the class were enthusiastic, but a certain five some weren't.
"What do I not have that Tetsuya did not choose me?" -Akashi
"I may be dumb, but did I have no chance from the start?" -Aomine
"Kurokocchi... puuuu, I miss him already!" –Kise (Although Kuroko was quite near him)
"Humph, it can't be helped." -Midorima
"Kurochin.. I should have bought him a lot of vanilla shakes..." –Murasakibara
"As for the project, you are to draw the person you are closest to, along with yourself. This may be done individually or with a partner, for I pity those without a partner." Akashi Seiji referred to a certain fivesome once again, they didn't bother to look for partners, even amongst themselves.
"Eh? Akashi-sama doesn't have a partner?"
"I wanted to be his partner!"
"Midorima-sama, why oh why didn't I partner up with him?"
"Kise-sama, nooooo!"
"Why did I choose my friend over my crush?!"
And so on so forth...
"The deadline of the project shall be tomorrow."
"WHAT?!" The sudden outburst sounded rather loud, and complaints started to follow.
"If you have any complaints, you'll have to go through me. I'm sure students like you can handle it."
It was rather obvious, what the outcome of the projects of a certain five some would turn out.
~And so after the joint class ended...~
"Why do I feel Kurokocchi's soooo far away?"
"To think he chose Ogiwara Shigehiro, it doesn't sound very Kuroko-like."
"Midochin, since when did you know that much about Kurochin?"
"I-it's not like I'm interested in him..."
"Midorimacchi, even for you, that's perfectly obvious."
"Akachin, why are you so quiet?"
"No particular reason, maybe because I am not as immature as to complain about it all day like all of you. It is final, Ogiwara Shigehiro is his partner, it cannot be undone."
"So, what do we do about Ogiwara Shigehiro? What do you suggest, Akashi?"
"We do nothing."
"HUH?! Akashicchi doesn't have a plan?!"
"Akachin, you serious?"
"Do I look like I'm not serious?"
"Why?"
"It's simple, really...
It's because Kuroko Tetsuya is happy with Ogiwara Shigehiro."
His other words remained unsaid, but somehow, he knew what he wanted.
He had always been searching for something, he himself never knew that certain something.
But now he knew, it was Kuroko Tetsuya's happiness all along.
To see that smile on his face, to see him free of problems.
"But why exactly did I feel sad in return?" he wondered.
"Akachin?"
Akashi snapped back to his senses, he felt somehow relieved.
"Akashi, is something bothering you?"
"It's nothing for you to be concerned about..."
"Yeah, we should be concerned about that~" Kise Ryouta pointed at Kuroko's direction who was heading their way, and he wasn't alone. He was with Ogiwara Shigehiro.
"Ah, everyone..." was all Kuroko Tetsuya could manage. It was followed with awkward silence.
"Is me being here... a bother?" Ogiwara Shigehiro slightly shuddered at the weird, fierce atmosphere.
"...Yes, it is." Akashi muttered, he himself didn't know why he couldn't stand it.
"Akashi-kun, is something wrong?" Kuroko Tetsuya seemed concerned, he had never seen the "emperor" like this.
"I'll be taking my leave, I have matters to attend to." Akashi Seijuro felt faces staring at him from behind, but he didn't bother looking back.
~Akashi's POV~
Why am I being such a weak utter coward when it comes to Tetsuya?
What exactly is making me so annoyed like this?!
Why do I feel the whole world is against me?
Are my feelings this confusing that when I think about them, only questions come into mind?
I had always thought that I had always won, to be more specific, I always won.
But what exactly am I up against this time?
"It looks like you're in a foul mood today, Seijuro." It was father, and I was somehow annoyed how he was in a good mood and I wasn't.
Because Tetsuya and only Tetsuya can be happy when I'm not.
But what right do I have to say that? Now that I think about it, I'm only a person. Not just a person, a great person, but still a person.
"Mind your own business..."
"What's bothering you?" It was the same question again and again, it was sickening.
"Tch. Don't give me more problems than I already have."
"Well then, I'm guessing you have someone you want to get rid of, am I correct?"
"How the-"
"Father knows best." Akashi's father was the one who had raised him since he was a young child, judging his mother had died when he was 2.
"Humph... I know what true concern looks like, father, and this isn't it."
"Oh? Well, I support your relationship with Kuroko Tetsuya, isn't that enough of a father's love as it already is?"
"..."
"Well?"
"Well what?"
"Tell me already..."
"Ogiwara Shigehiro."
"Ah, that transferee... yes, I see. I saw him with your dear Tetsuya earlier, and they seemed quite close."
"You're not making it any better father, are you trying to annoy me?"
"I have a plan to get rid of him, after all, I ship you with Kuroko Tetsuya."
"What?" I musn't have heard it right, why does my father sound so... human?
"Exactly what I said, I'll support you. I have a plan. Not telling."
"You're no fun."
"Oh, and be sure Seijuro, to not hate me after this plan."
"Huh?" What did that mean? This man must have been planning something sinister.
"You're smart, Seijuro, you should know by now. Think about it."
~The next day~
It was almost time for another joint class, and somehow, Kuroko Tetsuya was worried on how Ogiwara Shigehiro still wasn't here.
Ogiwara Shigehiro was never the tardy type, he was rather hardworking, and didn't take everything in an outgoing aspect, he took things seriously.
"Hey... I heard, that new student got punished."
"Eh, why? Did he do anything wrong?"
"I think it has something to do with that boy over there."
"Who?"
"That boy, what was his name, Kuroko Tetsuya?"
"They seemed rather close didn't they?"
"Yeah, a bit too close, in my opinion. And the thing is, Ogiwara-kun got expelled because of Akashi Seiji-san, it seems."
"Eh? Wasn't it said that Akashi-kun had a record for killing someone because of Kuroko Tetsuya?"
They weren't really good at making their conversation unheard, even Kuroko Tetsuya understood.
"Could it be?" Kuroko said to himself.
"I heard, Ogiwara-san... not only did he get punished, he got expelled."
"Is it...because of me...?"
Akashi-kun is so OOC :3 AkaKuro is one of my favourite couples... amongst many. After this arc, I have already planned out a more happy-go-lucky arc, which is the vacation arc~ I will conclude this serious arc by next chapter, I somehow felt sad for Akashi-kun... Well then, stay tuned for the next chapter :) ~
-BerryBliss