Hello! This is a rathe long chapter. LOL WHOOPS. I've decided not to make this GoM/Kuroko anymore, but rather GoM & Kuroko because I don't want this to be a harem thing for his love but, y'know, if we get some moments before Kagami and Kuroko are a official thing, then it's all good in the hood amirite
Sorry if that upsets anyone. I was all for it at the beginning of this story but as we're progressing, I've changed my mind. Ya never know though, I may change it again by the end of this story lol ALSO, canon-divergence this chapter.
Kuroko: Hey, how you doing? Well I'm doing just fine. I lied, I'm dying inside
Everyone: do you need to, like, talk or cry or something?
When faced with an impossible challenge, man has three choices: face it with rage, resign in defeat, or face it with the mindset of overcoming said challenge.
When all hope seems lost and all their left with is a sense of hatred for the very thing they used to love, used to care for, then they must make their choice.
Once upon a time, Tetsuya had to make this choice. He chose wrong, chose prematurely. He chose in a moment of wallowing darkness and resigned to defeat, submerging himself in a endless cycle of hatred and bitterness towards basketball. Once upon a time, if felt like he would be burned to the bone if he touched a basketball, loathed to the core by everything that had fallen upart around him.
Tetsuya had been lost, barely grasping air as he drowned in his emotions, when he was given the chance to make another choice. And this time, armed with a idea, spurred on by his sickly body, he made the right choice.
Yet, as Tetsuya stood across from the Seihou team, he wondered if it truly was the correct choice. Gathering up his blackening emotions and thoughts, he shoved them back and restrained them behind barriers.
"Look, look, look! It's Kurokocchi!" Kise cheered as he found a seat, tugging Kasamatsu with him to sit next to him. "He really does look so small…"
"Not a day goes by that I don't regret getting stuck babysitting you," Kasamatsu spoke in a breezy tone, looking curious as he stared at the teams on the court. "Seirin doesn't look like they're doing so hot."
"No, they really don't," Kise commented, eyes trained unwaveringly on Tetsuya. "What is Kagamicchi doing? He's going to get pulled off the court if he continues to foul like that." Kise's eyes went up and down Tetsuya's body, narrowing on how much the teen was sweating. He hadn't been that active on the court, not with how Seihou had been playing, so why was he exhaustng himself so easily?
"Your little friend doesn't look so good," Kasamatsu pointed out, seeing where Kise's attention was at. "Is he sick? Is he that type of guy to play with a fever?" Kise didn't answer, eyes growing glossy as he processed his senpai's words.
"Is he sick?" Kise was immediately thrown back to the day he stole Tetsuya away for a private conversation, only for it to end with him cradling his dear friend due to a dizzy spell.
"Yeah, that happens. It'll pass after a while." Kagami had made it sound like Tetsuya frequently experienced dizzy spells. As if it was something they all knew about and maybe that was why Kagami had gone after them, worried for his teammate. They'd treated his head injury with caution, keeping him resting. Knowing Tetsuya, he would have gotten up the moment his head had stopped hurting. But he hadn't. He'd laid there the rest of the match and seemed almost flocked by his teammates the moment he was up.
Kise doubled over, electing a alarmed yelp from Kasamatsu as Kise stared at nothing, eyes wide in realization. The weight loss, the dizzy spell (which seemed to not be the first one Seirin has experienced), his seemingly easily exhausted body…
"Kurokocchi is sick," Kise breathed out, snapping his head as he sought out his old teammate. "He's sick?" His eyes found Tetsuya being substituted out along with Kagami and his eyebrows pinched up. "He can't be sick. He was completely...fine…"
Kise was abruptly thrown back to their third year, during the last months before graduation. Tetsuya's increasing absence from both the team and school in general. How Momoi said their house seemed empty when she'd gone to visit. How withdrawn he seemed when he'd finally appeared for graduation. How pale and small looking he'd seemed, hunched up and trying to diminish any known presence of himself in that giant hall.
"Hey, Kise, you okay?" Kasamatsu put a hand on his shoulder, bringing him back to reality. Kise gasped and turned to Kasamatsu, eyebrows pinched up in a way that made his usually handsome face look ugly and watery.
"Senpai, why wouldn't he say anything?" Kise blabbered. Kasamatsu reeled back, wondering what exactly the blonde was talking about. "Kurokocchi never said anything at all! Why is he playing if he's sick?"
"Hey, hey, calm down," Kasamatsu tried to soothe, looking around as people glanced their way curiously. "That-uh-Kuroko guy probably just has a fever. It's fine, he's okay." Kise shook his head, giving a weak laugh.
"Senpai doesn't get it," Kise muttered as he turned back to see Tetsuya walking back onto the court, "but thank you."
Midorima's mother was a doctor, right? Maybe he could ask Midorima to ask her questions. Maybe Kise could figure out what was wrong with Tetsuya.
Maybe he was just overthinking and his beloved former teammate wasn't sick and it was all in Kise's mind.
Tetsuya wheezed, pressing his sweatband to his mouth as he tried to calm his breathing. His chest heaved, his legs trembling as he took one step at a time. They'd barely managed to defeat Seihou, but they'd done it. All that was left now was facing Shuutoku.
Tetsuya's chest tightened again, a weight settling down over his shoulders. His eyes throbbed with a heating pressure and he shook his head, trying to collect himself. His muscles were screaming, each step feeling like it was taking every ounce of strength. His joints flared up in irritation and Tetsuya knew that the rest of the day was going to be a struggle.
Seirin made it to the locker room, everyone's muscles cramping. Kagami collapsed, knocking out like a light within seconds of sitting down. Furihata slumped down against the lockers and then stiffened as a weight settled against him.
"G-guys, a-a little help?" Furihata stammered out as everyone settled down to rehydrate and rest for the moments they could. Izuki snorted as he caught sight of the 1st year, seeing him sitting stiffly against the lockers. Tetsuya was leaning against him, dead to the world as he slept. Furihata trembled slightly, glancing around for one of the members to help move Tetsuya.
"Aw, he looks so peaceful," Koganei chirped as Mitobe wobbled over to the two, draping his jacket over the two. Mitobe gave a comforting smile and patted Furihata on the head, ignoring the teen's protests for someone to move him.
"Leave them to sleep," Riko decided as she eyed the sleeping duo. "You aren't going to cramp up like that, are you Furihata?" Furihata shook his head rapidly, looking stricken as he fidgeted. "Kuroko-kun needs all the rest he can get. He was very adamant about starting in the next game."
"Is he okay?" Tsuchida asked, eyeing Furihata and Tetsuya. "He said he was sick, but what exactly is wrong with him?" Riko pursed her lips, digging her hands into Izuki's calves as she massaged the sore muscles.
"He has a bad immune system," Riko explained carefully. "And something wrong with his nerves. It's a big bundle of exhaustion for him." Everyone nodded in understanding and turned to look at the sleeping teen.
"Well," Izuki spoke, smiling despite the wince he'd let out at Riko's tight massaging, "he's a sick basketball player even with his sickly body."
"If you don't shut up," Hyuuga commented as he leaned back with a groan, "I am going to drown you in the toilets."
"Kinky," Izuki blurted out and ducked a flying water bottle.
"Come on guys," Koganei sighed as he stood up. "Let's not get flushed with annoyance." Silence met his pun and Izuki gasped as if he'd been betrayed.
"I'm the Pun Master!" Izuki cried out. "Me! You betrayed me!" Fukuda and Kawahara laughed loudly as Mitobe got in between the two lest a fight broke out. "I make the puns!"
"Shut up! You're going to wake them up!" Riko called out, voice ringing in the close-walled locker room. She glanced worriedly at Kagami and saw him snoring. She looked to Tetsuya and saw he'd slumped down onto Furihata's lap, the other teen barely breathing as he stared wide-eyed at everyone for help.
"Guys," Furihata cried out, "seriously, please help me. I need to pee!" Furihata squeaked as Kagami was suddenly beside him, slumping down with a grunt. Bleary-eyed and head tilted to one side, he easily maneuvered Tetsuya off Furihata's lap and onto his own. Furihata wasted no time in shooting up and rushing out of the locker room for the bathroom.
Everyone stared.
"What?" Kagami asked, looking up tiredly as he caught the silent stares. "He needed to pee. What are you looking at?" Kagami blinked the sleep from his eyes, one of his large hands carding through Tetsuya's blue locks.
"...you two are really close," Hyuuga commented. Kagami raised an eyebrow and then seemed to perk up at a realization.
"Oh yeah, the Japanese aren't big on PDA, huh?" Kagami asked as he continued to run his hand through Tetsuya's hair. "My dad does this with my mom when she's having trouble sleeping. It calms her down and relaxes her enough to get a better rest." Kagami paused and then shrugged. "Thought the same would work with Kuroko."
"That's...really weird," Riko mumbled to herself. "Well, are you rested enough?" Kagami nodded, turning his attention down to their phantom player.
"Yeah. He feels kinda warm though," Kagami commented. Riko was over in a moment, pressing a hand against Tetsuya's forehead. She frowned.
"It might just be overheating. He seemed to push himself a bit during the Seihou match. I'll keep an eye on him when I bench him." Kagami nodded at Riko, stretching his legs out with a grunt.
"Alright guys, let's move out!" Hyuuga called. Kagami gently shook Tetsuya awake, everyone freezing from moving to the exit as Tetsuya sat up. Izuki was visibly restraining himself from laughing, burying himself into Mitobe's side. Koganei was on Mitobe's other side, hiding his face as he openly cackled. Hyuuga and Riko were gaping, jaws slack. Fukuda and Kawahara were openly pointing, laughing their stomachs sick. Poor Furihata came in, looking lost until he caught sight of Tetsuya and gasped.
"What the fuck," Kagami breathed out. Tetsuya blinked sleepily at everyone, rubbing the palm of his hand over his face.
"I'm sorry?" Tetsuya mumbled as he bit back a yawn. "What's wrong?"
"Your hair!" Izuku finally relented, bursting into a gut-busting laugh as he doubled over, slapping the ground. "Your hair!" Tetsuya absently raised a hand, feeling the unruly locks spike up.
"Oh. Yes, I have bedhead," Tetsuya commented and, with the help of the bewildered Kagami, stood up. He tried to flatten his hair, looking irritated. "It's not that funny."
"You barely even moved!" Koganei wheezed, clinging to Mitobe to keep upright. "How is that possible?!" Tetsuya frowned, tugging ruefully on his messy locks.
"Ah well," Kagami snorted and mussed the hair up further with his hand. "There, now it looks normal again. Let's go." Tetsuya grumbled softly behind the tall teen as the group left the locker room.
They got onto the court, Midorima immediately meeting eye contact with Tetsuya.
"Did you take a nap?" Midorima commented, eyes going up to the stray locks sticking up with a mind of their own. "Is your team that weak that they needed to overwork you to win?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about," Tetsuya replied as Kagami tugged on a few of his wayward strands. "But please stop insulting my school. We will be winning this match."
Midorima snorted, pushing his glasses up. "You say that but at the end of the match, we'll be the victors. It has been decided already. Man proposes, God disposes." Midorima turned, walking back to his team.
"What does that mean?" Hyuuga asked, saddling up beside Kagami and Tetsuya.
"I've been on the same team as him for 2 years and I still don't know," Tetsuya responded and Kagami barked out a laugh and nudged him towards their team.
"Kurokocchi must have taken a quick nap," Kise observed, smiling at the mussed up hair.
"How would you-you know what, no, I don't care," Kasamatsu spoke, crossing his arms as he watched the tip-off. "So, let's be honest. Who do you think will win?" Kasamatsu eyed Kise, who stopped smiling and was just staring at the beginning game with a considering look.
"Before? Kurokocchi hands down. But now...with Kurokocchi sick...Midorimacchi can dominate a court if he wanted to. He's never missed a shot and I doubt in the time we've been apart he's slackened on his training," Kise spoke slowly, face serious. "Kurokocchi is strong and I honestly do respect him, but look at him right now. He's...weakened. He can't fully draw out everyone's own power - he can barely draw out his own."
"Yeah? You don't think he has a chance?" Kasamatsu asked as he leaned back, uncrossing his arms to scratch at his neck. "He was a regular with you at Teiko. That has to count for something."
"Yeah," Kise mused and frowned deeply as he watched Tetsuya waver on his feet for a split second and play it off as balance lost, "but that was back when he was at full health. Now? Now I don't know. Seirin could have a chance with Kagamicchi but I doubt it."
Tetsuya's wrist ached. He shook it out as he watched the course of the ball, hoping that his hand wouldn't cramp up on him. They'd managed to score off Shuutoku if only because they were caught off guard by Tetsuya's pass, but now they were more cautious, more on guard.
And Takao had marking Tetsuya, which was growing increasingly frustrating. Something cold and hard was forming in Tetsuya's chest as he tried again and again to pass, only to be stopped each time by Takao.
Look at that, a soft voice whispered in his mind as Tetsuya gasped for breath. You're so slow and weak that they can easily stop your passes. What good are you on a team if you can't do your job?
Tetsuya's breath hitched and as he turned to pivot, his knee buckled. Kagami whirled at the resounding thud from behind him, the referee blowing their whistle. Takao was gawking at Tetsuya as he just blinked dazily at nothing.
"Hey! You okay?" Kagami rushed over, helping Tetsuya to his feet.
"I lost my balance," Tetsuya excused, pushing away from Kagami. "Tripped on my own feet."
"Kuroko! Substitution!" Riko's voice hollered and Tetsuya turned to her to argue. At her heated glare, his mouth snapped audibly shut, his teeth clicking together. He swapped places with Tsuchida, sitting down with a eerily blank expression.
"You're out for the remainder of the game," Riko stated, eyeing his legs. They were trembling, just slightly. "I don't want any arguments."
"And if we lose?" Tetsuya questioned, looking up at her as she threw a towel on his head. "What then? What if we lose because I'm not out there, helping?"
Furihata eyed the two warily, feeling the building tension. Riko stared him down, eyes cold.
"Then I failed as a Coach if I can't even train a bunch of guys to not depend on a sick teenager," Riko spoke, ice coating her tongue. Tetsuya looked down, hand moving to pick at his cuticles. "Kuroko, you can't be pushing your body like this, and it's horrible to rely on you to save our asses if we're struggling. We're a team - we shouldn't have to flounder until you come to save the day. Have faith in our team, okay? We can do this. And if we lose, well, that'll suck. But we can learn from our loses and build a better plan to win that way."
"Kurokocchi looks like a wet kitten," Kise commented as he watched Riko drop a towel on his head. "Do you think they'll keep him benched for the remainder of the game?"
"Dunno," Kasamatsu answered honestly. "Maybe? The kid's already stumbled twice. It takes a lot of energy to play against a 'King', and if he's got a fever like you think...well…" Kasamatsu leaned heavily on his knees as he peered out on the court. "I'm more concerned about that Kagami guy."
"Kagamicchi? Why?" Kise turned his eyes away from Tetsuya, watching Kagami brush his fingertips against the ball as Midorima threw it. "Oh, that's why."
"Yep," Kasamatsu agreed.
"How much do you think it'll hurt to punch someone?" Tetsuya commented airily beside Furihata, eyes trained on Kagami.
"Wait, what? Punch? Please don't punch the coach," Furihata blabbered, looking from Tetsuya to Riko.
"I mean Kagami-kun," Tetsuya elaborated, face concealing his growing agitation. The end of the third quarter was called and Tetsuya stood up as Kagami and the team marched over, Hyuuga grumbling about Kagami being a ball hog.
"What we need right now isn't teamwork - I'm the one scoring," Kagami snapped out, sweat dripping into his eyes.
He sounds just like them, that small voice of doubt whispered as Tetsuya stood in front of Kagami, not yet noticed. And you can't even save them. Can you save your current teammate? Tetsuya swallowed down the lump in his throat, trying to tune out the voice. He couldn't pay it any attention right now. He couldn't pay any of his insecurities attention right now.
Tetsuya clenched his fist and swung, connecting with Kagami's cheek. Everyone gaped as Kagami surged forward, grabbing Tetsuya by the jersey collar. The lump in his throat lessened, just the smallest amount.
"Kuroko you little-"
"Basketball is not a one-man sport," Tetsuya cut through, ignoring the burning pain lacing through his knuckles. "You can't play it by yourself. So what if you have the most points at the end of the game - can you call it victory if no one's happy?"
"Well…" Kagami loosened his grip on Tetsuya and gently lowered him to his feet. "No...I guess not…"
"Kagami-kun needs some water to calm himself down," Tetsuya spoke and then proceeded to dump a water bottle over his head. Inwardly, Tetsuya smiled at the flabbergasted expression Kagami sported as the water soaked into his uniform.
"What the hell, man!" Kagami flailed, grabbing for a towel as Tetsuya stared. "Not cool!"
"You were being rude," Tetsuya replied in reasoning. "Apologize to our upperclassmen." Kagami wiped at his face, turning shameful eyes to his teammates. They were just watching the scene silently.
"Sorry…" Kagami muttered. "It'll be better if we win this together." The rest of the team good-heartedly smacked him on the shoulder, saying they understood. He was a hot-head after all.
"You can do this," Tetsuya spoke, the words sounding heavy as he spoke them. The corners of his vision were beginning to distort with fuzz as his own words burned into him like a brand. "I can't continue playing but I believe in you. We will win." Kagami stared down at Tetsuya, expression soft against how wild he'd been moments before and he raised a hand. He folded his fingers, extending his pinky to Tetsuya.
"I promise we'll win," Kagami spoke, giving a reassuring smirk. Tetsuya blinked at the offered pinky and connected his own, giving their linked fingers a childish shake up and down.
"Promise."
"Kurokocchi isn't playing!" Kise whined, watching the teams go back onto the court. "Did you see him punch Kagamicchi? That definitely hurt. Kurokocchi has very strong arm strength despite how he looks."
"Did he seriously splash water on that guy though? He has no fear. I would have decked him if he'd done that to me," Kasamatsu stated and then shivered as Kise turned sharp eyes to him.
"Senpai wouldn't ever think of touching Kurokocchi, right?" Kise asked casually, smiling despite the lack of warmth in his eyes. "Because it's alright when Senpai hits me, but don't ever think of trying the same thing on Kurokocchi, got it?"
"Stop that creepy shit!" Kasamatsu snapped and tugged on Kise's cheeks, stretching them. "Who'd touch that kid anyways?"
"Ow, ow, ow, I'm sorry," Kise complained, crocodile tears streaming down his face as Kasamatsu pulled harder. "I just got worried because it's Kurokocchi! Please Senpai, it'll leave red marks! I have a photoshoot tomorrow!"
"Good!"
They'd lost.
Tetsuya stared at the scoreboard, the sounds muffling around him. The red numbers seared into his eyes, taunting him. Sitting on the bench, he suddenly felt as if he were floating, drifting away to be stolen by the silence. Tetsuya felt lost, as if he wasn't supposed to be in the gym and he knew it but was unable to point out exactly why. It was an unsettling stiffness along his shoulders that told him this was reality.
They'd lost.
Beside him, Riko grew in a sharp breath and clenched her hands into fists. The muffled volume dimmed into a static and a pressure settled against his skull, squeezing.
They'd lost.
Tetsuya could see Kagami staring unblinkingly at the basketball hoop, as if he couldn't comprehend the idea of a ball going through it. Hyuuga was doubled over, hands digging into his hips as he gasped for air. Mitobe, solemn and silent, had a gentle hand on Koganei's back. Izuki looked grimly at the floor, standing a little ways from Takao.
Seirin lost.
Seirin lost and Tetsuya felt like it was entirely his fault. Kagami had been so close but Midorima ended up getting the ball and made a basket right before the buzzer went off. They had been so close - so close and Tetsuya knew if he'd been able to play the last quarter, they'd have won.
It was all his fault they'd lost to Shuutoku.
Seirin lined up to thank the other team for the game and Tetsuya gave small, little gasps from his spot on the bench. His chest was growing heavy, each breath a struggle to hold in. A stinging itch was beginning to build behind his eyelids and the lump that had been tolerable was now choking him. He had to get out of here. He had to leave now.
All his fault. All his fault. He wouldn't be able to do it. He wouldn't be able to save them. His head pounded a tightening band of pressure in sync with the thoughts beating into his brain. He had to leave. He had to leave.
He had to leave.
As Seirin left to go to the locker room, Tetsuya patted Riko's shoulder. Riko turned to him, trying not to look like she wanted to cry, and pursed her lips at him.
"I'm going to go use the bathroom," Tetsuya spoke, hoping his voice didn't have a notable tremor in it. Riko blinked curiously at him, eyes moist and barely hiding forming tears. "I'm going to be a while so please don't wait for me."
"Oh." Riko must have came to her own conclusions because she just nodded, voice dead. "Yeah, take your time. I have antacids if you need them. We're going to go to the closest restaurant after we change. I'll text you the address so you can meet up with us." She looked like she didn't want to do anything after they changed but it was a morality boost more than anything and Seirin needed it. They needed it. She needed.
All his fault. All his fault. It was all his fault.
Tetsuya nodded and turned, walking out of the locker room. His steps were long, trying to conceal his hurried pace as he dodged around people to make his escape.
All his fault.
"Where's Kuroko going?" Koganei asked as he noticed the phantom walking away.
"He's got stomach cramps," Riko explained and Izuki snorted listlessly. The punster opened his mouth, only to have a soiled towel thrown at him.
"If you make any sort of pun that has to do with poop, I will fight you," Hyuuga yelled, voice lacking the usual bite. They rest changed in silence and Kagami eyed Tetsuya's bag worriedly.
Midorima excused himself, leaving the locker room. He pushed open one of the doors leading to outside and stared at the falling rain. He hummed, taking in the darkening weather.
He leaned up against the wall of the building, barely protected from the wet droplets.
"Dammit," Midorima muttered to himself, "I forgot my umbrella." His phone went off. He grunted and answered the call, blinking at the caller ID. "Mother?"
"Why so formal, Shin?" Keiko responded and Midorima sighed. "What's wrong? Don't tell me your team lost?"
"Please," Midorima softly requested, closing his eyes. "Oha-Asa is never wrong. Victory was assured this morning because I followed fate. Of course we won. Kuroko made a mistake with that weak school of his."
"...Kuroko, huh?" Keiko mused softly. "You'll have to tell me all about it when you're home. We're having dinner at a friend's house so can you meet with us there?" Midorima sniffed, blinking at his mother's words.
"...dinner? At a friend's house?" Midorima repeated.
"Yes. Is there an echo in here?" Keiko teased and then lowered her voice. "Come when you finish getting dressed and cleaned up. I'll text you the address. Aoi-san says dinner will be ready in about an hour." Clattering could be heard in the background and Keiko sighed. "Asami, stop! This isn't your house!"
"I'll be there," Midorima responded. Aoi-san? Midorima couldn't recall his mother ever mentioning being friends with anyone named Aoi. He said goodbye and hung up, jumping as his phone immediately rang again.
"Hi~! Midorin! How was the game?" Midorima cancelled the call, eye twitching as the phone rung instantly after.
"Momoi-!"
"Damn, must have lost if ya hanging up on a girl tryin' to have a conversation with you," a boy's voice interrupted. "So what, did ya lose?"
"Aomine," Midorima bit out, as if he'd eaten something spoiled. "Of course not. Kuroko chose a weak school to become the shadow to- there was never any doubt in my win." Midorima glanced up at the sky, frowning as he noticed the rain seemed to fall heavier.
"Just wondering who won and who lost," Aomine mused aloud, yawning. "He made a stupid choice, alright. I was looking forward to crushing his school, too."
"You will do well to stop focusing so much on him," Midorima snapped back before he could stop himself. "My school will be facing yours next and victory shall be Shuutoku's again."
"Yeah, yeah. Whatever. I'm not worried. The only one who can defeat me is me," Aomine snorted, "so there's nothing to fear. I won't lose." Aomine ended the call and Midorima sighed, bringing the phone away from his ear to see his mother had messaged him the address. He straightened up, leaning back as he allowed the sound of the rain to wash over him.
Midorima blinked as a foreign sound entered the music of nature, tilting his head to the side. It was a weird...hiccuping noise? Midorima frowned and moved, following the sound.
Tetsuya found himself outside without really processing it. Everything was a blur of panic. Of -run run run- and -not here, not now. Hold it in, hold it hold it hold it- until Tetsuya couldn't form a coherent thought.
He blinked, dazed, down at the wet concrete under his knees and silently wondered when he'd ended up on the ground. It was raining outside. The temperature had dropped slightly with the falling water and Tetsuya shuddered as he hunched over, grasping at his chest.
He could feel them, all of the emotions and thoughts he'd carefully locked away, breaching the barriers set up. He wheezed, the air coming out in broken gasps as his vision blurred.
Seirin lost. All his fault. Seirin lost. All his fault.
Slowly, slowly, slowly, the barriers chipped, cracked, and finally -
Seirin lost. All his fault.
-they shattered.
Heat coiled around his eyes, burning, scorching, consuming him until tears were trailing down his cheeks like the rain pouring around him. He tried to inhale, only for it to lodge in his throat like a cut-off hiccup. He tried twice, thrice - the same effect. The entire world was trembling, shaking, and a tiny sliver of his mind not cloaked in a fog of hysteria realized that the world wasn't shaking. He was. Tetsuya covered his mouth with his hands, trying to muffle the sounds he was emitting. It only seemed to amplify the noise to encase him.
He struggled with the slivers of control he had, grasping desperately at thin air to retain himself as a wave towered over him. It crashed into him and he was floundering, drowning, unable to find solid ground to stand on.
[His mother sobbing into his father's chest, acting as if he'd been handed the date of his own death. His grandmother, a sturdy hand on his shoulder, like a anchor to keep him from drifting away. The doctor, words foreign in his ears as he listed off what he had, what he could take to help counteract the effects. Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Fibromyalgia. Words unknown, like a Witch's Curse, etching into his being as incurable illnesses.]
Tetsuya choked out short sobs, saliva stringing as he opened wailed. His shoulders hunched as he curled into a ball, his forehead almost brushing against the concrete. It felt as if a hand was digging claws into his chest, squeezing until he could barely manage a wheeze. His lungs felt like they were expanding, pressing up against the walls of his body, expanding more and more to compensate for the air he was lacking. Black spots danced across the blurred, twisted view he saw from his water-rimmed vision. Tetsuya gripped at his jersey, squeezing his eyes shut against the inferno behind his eyelids. Dizziness toppled him in circles, fear bubbling up in an almost feverish frenzy. Tears tore into his flesh, leaving pale markings to show their existence.
He lowered his hands, his nails dug into his legs, biting crescent wounds into his flesh as he gritted his teeth against the choked cries. If only his legs hadn't given out. If only he hadn't been so exhausted - so tired. If only if only if only.
He was a liability to his team, a example of why people with medical conditions usually shied away from sports - from anything that led to people depending on them. Soon Seirin was going to realize how much Tetsuya was holding them back, how much he was weighing them down with losses. Soon Seirin would see him as dead weight and then, he'd be casted aside again.
[A gaping hole clawing at his heart as he watched his former teammates turned their backs on him. A increase in his heartbeat, quickening breaths, dilated pupils, a fear unable to be wiped away. He was not needed, never needed, never will be needed. No one cared. No one ever cared enough to notice him, to seek him out.]
Thoughts after thoughts slammed into him, beating him down until Tetsuya was pressing his forehead against the cold, wet ground. Seirin tolerated him, the Generation of Miracles dismissed him, Ogiwara abandoned him. He was left with parents who only sympathized with him after a doctor declared him sick and people who treated him like he'd collapse at any moment.
[125. 126. 127. "We got his test results back," Keiko spoke slowly, gaze seriously. "His protein levels are extremely high." 128 leaves. 129.
"What does that mean?" Aoi's voice wavered, uncertain of the meanings.
"It means that he's releasing a concerning amount of protein into his urine. With healthy kidneys, this should never be the case."
"His kidneys aren't functioning properly?" Aoi's voice was calm - steady. Betraying the wetness evident in her eyes.
"His kidney functions are normal, but there may be damage we don't know about until we do the biopsy. I've scheduled the biopsy but we won't be able to do it for another three weeks."
158.]Tetsuya didn't want to think about it. Didn't want to get lost in thoughts of what if's, of could'ves, of possibilities. He didn't want to fall deeper into the black inkiess of his mind, painted like his name, stained like his chances.
They'd lost. Right in front of him was the reality - he wouldn't be able to defeat the Generation of Miracles. Kise was a fluke. They were too strong. He couldn't even do his job as a shadow to support Kagami, who had a chance to face the Miracles on equal footing. He'd failed. He'd failed them all.
Tetsuya's body throbbed like one giant wound and it hurt.
[He couldn't move. His joints felt as if they were glued in place, unable to be moved or bent. It hurt. It hurt it hurt it hurt. Tetsuya gave a soft sob as he struggled, his arms and legs flaring in liquid heat. He hated this. He hated it. He hated it. He hated it.]
A small voice cried off softly, I'm scared. He was scared. Scared of what could happen, scared because he honestly couldn't completely grasp what was happening to him. Tetsuya laid awake some nights, feeling the telltale ache of his kidneys and think, Are they failing? Am I doing to die? Some mornings he could barely twitch a finger and as cold seeped into him like a loving friend, he'd think, will this be the day I just stop?
Tetsuya was indescribably scared every time he went to the doctor's. Every time he went, it seemed it was only negative news that was spoken. Most times, Tetsuya could barely focus, losing himself in his mind and watching like a unattached bystander as his mother cried or Keiko looked solemn. Was it that serious?
It was and Tetsuya knew deep down, past the stubbornness accompanied with the devouring desire to prove his basketball was the right basketball. And with that knowledge, with that heavy knowing of severe gravity, Tetsuya only grew more terrified. His medication list grew in length, his doses doubled, and he constantly doubted it, wondered if it was even going to help.
["There is an option I want you to keep in mind as we progress with his treatment.
No no no no shut up shut up shut up
"What treatment?"
Stop stop stop stop please stop-
"I'd wait for the biopsy report but once we have that, we should discuss the options of dialysis and a kidney transplant for the far future, depending on how his body takes to the medications. Immunosuppressants and steroids can only do so much but after a while, the kidney can grow a complete dependency on the steroids and we'd rather him not be on a chronic-dose of steroids. After a while, they can negatively impact the body."]
Tetsuya forced himself to breathe, the sound like thousands of nails to a chalkboard. The pressure in his eyes had morphed into a incessant itch, stretching out to mix with the pounding headache that was impairing his ability to properly form thoughts.
And suddenly he wasn't being assaulted by pelts of rain and white shoes entered his field of vision.
"Kuroko?" Midorima swam into view, a collage of green and orange, and Tetsuya blinked numbly. "Are you okay? Can you breathe?" Midorima's hands were cold and wet against his shoulders, guiding him up into a sitting position on his knees. Tetsuya allowed himself to be moved like a doll without strings, a bone-deep exhaustion seeping in with the cold wetness the rain had settled over him. "Kuroko?"
Tetsuya shook his head, hiccuping as he tried to shove at Midorima to let him go.
"Hey Shin-chan~ so this was where- whoa, hey, wasn't going on?" Takao rounded the corner, caught sight of Midorima, and then caught a glimpse of blue. His eyes took in the blue haired teen's crumpled form, his flushed face, swollen eyes, and the tears that left his skin blotchy with uneven tones. Takao rushed over, holding up an umbrella. "Is he hurt?"
Tetsuya sniffled, shaking his head as he tried to hide his face with his trembling hands. Midorima's hands moved from his shoulders to his wrists, gripping them in a firm yet loose hold. Midorima tugged, uncovering his tear-stained expression.
"Kuroko, are you in pain? Are you hurt?" Midorma's voice had a sharpness to it as he gave a once-over to the phantom. He'd never seen Tetsuya cry before. He'd heard him during a emotional conversation with Akashi once, but never actually seen him shed a tear. Besides, that time had sounded like a emotionally exhausted bout of tears while this - this was like he was a drowning man scrambling to stay afloat and was choking on the water. Midorima doubted that losing a game would cause such an intense reaction - no matter how much Tetsuya loved the sport.
Tetsuya shook his head back and forth, bottom lip trembling as tears continued to bead down his cheeks. Midorima's expression pinched as if he'd eaten a particularly salty dish, and made up his mind.
"Not a word," Midorima barked out, starling Takao, who jumped. Midorima tugged harshly on Tetsuya again and the shorter teen fell into his chest. Before he could shove himself away again, Midorima pressed a hand to the back of his head, keeping him in place against his jacket. "It's okay."
Tetsuya dug his shaking fingers into the orange fabric of Midorima's back, twisting it tightly in his grip. His breathing picked up again and Tetsuya burrowed into the warmth under him, letting his tears be soaked away by the soft material.
Midorima smelled faintly of strawberries and peaches and the familiar scent seemed to be the chain ball around his ankle. Tetsuya was dragged under the sea of his emotions and gladly let himself be lost in the current.
Midorima stiffened, unsure of what to do, when Tetsuya broke down into heaving sobs. Tetsuya clung to his Shuutoku jacket, acting like it was a lifeline, and just cried. Midorima looked to Takao, eyes wide and clearly conveying the uncertainty in the situation. Takao just stared, his own eyes wide, and he shuffled over hesitantly. He crouched down, awkwardly patting Tetsuya on the back.
"You-" Takako cleared his throat- "you should like, uh, pat him. It's a, um, comfort thing?" Takao was drawing on knowledge from manga and TVs drama, where he always saw a crying character be embraced and patted like a wounded animal.
"He isn't a dog," Midorima snapped out softly, shoulders tense as he glanced down at Tetsuya. He hesitated and cautiously raised an arm.
Kuroko Tetsuya had to be one of the most infuriating basketball players Midorima ever had the misfortune of meeting. With his weak demeanor, lack of presence, emotionless expressions, and dististancing way of speaking, he was someone Midorima could not, for the life of him, understand or read. He was a blank slate, bare to anyone who looked for something in him. He was a contradiction, weak and strong at the same time with a stubbornness and hestiance to him that drew Midorima into a small rage.
Midorima respected the strength Tetsuya carried, respected his love for basketball, respect for carrying such a good-sport mentality that not even their years at Teiko could tarnish. But at the same time, Midorima detested the thought of him diminishing his own strength in a weak school. He abhorred the stubborn choices that the smaller teen constantly made, deciding to go up against the five of them as if he stood a chance.
And then, in the midst of all of this, he remembered the cold feeling of something when he'd noticed the seemingly scarce appearances of Tetsuya during their last months in Teiko. He'd thought, for one split second, that they'd pushed Tetsuya past the breaking point. He'd skipped so much school, completely disappeared for the basketball graduation, and barely acknowledged any of them during their actual graduation day.
"One of my teammates suddenly stopped appearing at practice and now I can't find him anywhere on campus." Empty desk, apologetic teachers who couldn't share his whereabouts, rumors and Momoi's tears at his absence at his own house. "You think he quit school? You think we pushed him to quit school?" Tetsuya's soft sobs as he demanded why they did what they did to Meikou. His haunted eyes. The way the life just seemed to disappear from his frame. Midorima remembered catching sight of him walking into the Coach's office, walking out. That had been the last time he'd seen Tetsuya until the last day of school.
Midorima would never forget the weird sense of vertigo he felt at seeing Tetsuya in his seat in the auditorium, sitting through the principal's speech. Tetsuya, while always described as a phantom, looked like a hollow husk of a once great boy. Midorima had been unable to look away the moment his locked on the pale figure, taking in the way the teen's very body seemed to struggle to hold itself up, how dark circles encased his lifeless blue eyes.
Basketball couldn't have done that, there was no way, and even then as Midorima held Tetsuya close while he cried, he still believed that.
He was scared though, to inquire about his fears and doubts. He didn't deserve an answer, wasn't owed one, and he highly doubted Tetsuya would willingly share anything personal with him. The shorter player had always been rather reserved in giving away information to his teammates and friends - Midorima doubted that particular characteristic had changed.
And so he knelt there, hugging a broken down ex-teammate close while trying hard to ignore the curious look his current teammate gave him.
When Tetsuya resurfaced, he was clinging shamelessly to Midorima, mucus and tears straining his orange jacket. Takao was crouched down next to the two, one hand holding up the umbrella and the other running soothing circles on Tetsuya's back. Midorima was making soft noises of comfort and was gently running his bandaged hand through Tetsuya's hair, repeating "breathe" like it was a protective prayer.
Tetsuya breathed in deep, blinking. His eyes felt like they were three sizes too big to fit in their sockets, his eyelids struggling to close around them as tears dried the skin into a almost annoying itch. His face felt taunt, pulled back as far as it'd go, leaving the phantom with a uncomfortable tightness to his cheeks. Tetsuya sniffled and pushed off Midorima's chest, scrubbing at his face with his sweatband.
"I-this was-um-" Tetsuya had no words that could properly convey what had just happened or how utterly embarrassed he was feeling. His cheeks were heating up in shame as Takao stood up with an audible pop from his cramped knees and Midorima looked down at his soiled jacket disdainfully. He felt sick to his stomach at the thought that they'd assume he was crying about their loss.
How humiliating.
"Hey,it's okay," Takao eased, his hands unwavering in their comforting motions. "Don't sweat it - we won't judge. Sports can be very emotional and a loss is a loss - it sucks! I'd cry too if we had...uh...lost…" Takako winced, realizing he was unintentionally rubbing salt into the wound.
"Thank you," Tetsuya breathed out, taking the excuse while he could. He moved away from the two, backing up as he slowly got to his feet. His knees knocked together and Tetsuya knew he was skipping dinner tonight. Sleep was calling to him in a heavy voice and he was desperate to answer it. "I am sorry for bothering you two."
"Kuroko," Midorima spoke, following Tetsuya up. He was frowning heavily, eyes reminding Tetsuya of his mother when she was displeased with his stubbornness. "Are you sure you are okay? You look ready to topple over." Tetsuya pressed his palm against the wall to steady himself, sniffling again to clear his stuffy nose.
"Midorima-kun is being surprisingly vocal about his concerns," Tetsuya commented, blinking blankly at the teen. Takao snorted and threw an arm around Tetsuya's shoulder, maneuvering the teen until he was leaning most of his weight against the taller boy.
"Shin-chan is being pretty vocal, isn't he? He's usually such a tsundere too!" Takako teased, eyes piercing as he side-eyed Tetsuya's flushed cheeks and the dark circles that seemed prominent against the swollen red of his eyelids. "Hey, what are you doing after this? Want to get some food with us?"
"No thank you," Tetsuya declined. He'd rather not spend more time with them after such a personal display of weakness. "I'm going straight home." A hot bath, a pain reliever patch on his back, and a long sleep were demanding his attention and he was never one to ignore things.
"Takao," Midorima sighed. "I can't either. My family is requiring my attendance tonight at a family friend's house." Takako blinked owlishly at him, as if caught off guard by the denial.
"Aw~! Shin-chan! That's no fair!" Takako whined, continuing to hug Tetsuya to his side. "I'm going to be by myself." Midorima opened his mouth, ready to argue, only to click his teeth together as a shadow fell over the trio.
"What's going on?" Kagami asked, covered from the rain by his jacket. In his one arm was Tetsuya's bag and jacket. He eyed Takao, lips tugging into a scowl. "You messing with Kuroko?"
"They were helping me," Tetsuya jumped in, untangling from Takao's arm. He reached for his jacket, making sure to keep his head down and away from Kagami's sharp eyes. "I was...having issues and they helped." He'd leave it up to Kagami to draw conclusions, not wanting to further dig himself a hole by revealing his breakdown.
"You okay?" Kagami asked immediately, eyes sweeping over him. "Need me to carry you home?" Midorima and Takao moved to stand together, eyebrows raising as they watched the two talk back and forth. Midorima's mind raced, latching onto the carry you home offer. The player made it seem like that had happened before. And with how Tetsuya was acting, trying to brush aside his emotional episode, was reasonable. No one wanted to be seen as weak. And Midorima and Takao had stumbled upon a especially weak moment for the phantom player.
Something pulled at the back of his mind but Midorima ignored it, focusing on the two players in front of him.
"I'm fine to walk by myself," Tetsuya spoke, his tone belaying his body as it slumped forward. "I'm just tired." Kagami huffed, planting his hands on his hips as he stared Tetsuya down.
"I'll walk you home then," Kagami spoke, his tone leaving no room for arguments. "In case anything happens." Kagami's eyes shot up to the two Shuutoku members as he said that, as if making sure to keep the two out of a private conversation.
"Ah, I should be going," Takao suddenly said, turning to Midorima. "Have fun at dinner! See you tomorrow!" Giving Midorima a clap on the shoulder and a wave to the two Seirin players, he left. Midorima shuffled uncomfortably and then pushed his glasses up. His careful studying under his parents made his mind protest at leaving Tetsuya after such a scene but he felt like he was intruding on something personal. Making up his mind, Midorima opened his mouth.
"Well, if you are fine then, I shall leave. Goodbye Kuroko," Midorima nodded his head and turned on his heel.
"Thank you," Tetsuya called out and Midorima walked on with his head held high. Tetsuya turned to Kagami and motioned for his bag. "Ready to go?"
Kagami nodded, ignoring the grasping hand motions to hike up their bags higher onto his shoulder. "Yeah. Coach and the team went to some okonomiyaki place. I decided to wait for you." Tetsuya stared up into Kagami's eyes, taking in how his eyes seemed red and rubbed at the corners. A pang of tightness shot through Tetsuya's chest and he looked back down, swallowing the new lump that tried to form.
"Thank you," Tetsuya forced out and then bit his lower lip. "I am sorry." Kagami raised an eyebrow as Tetsuya zipped up his jacket, protecting his soaking wet jersey from further rain.
"What for?" Kagami asked, looking pointedly forward as the two began to walk, sticking close to the wall of the building to try and keep out of the rain. Kagami pretended that Tetsuya's shoulders weren't slumped, his eyes weren't nearly swollen red, and how his cheeks weren't blotches of color. He pretended that the rain was to cause for the discoloration, for the mood, for the heavy silence between the two.
"It was my fault we lost," Tetsuya spoke up, voice void of emotions. Kagami snorted and elbowed Tetsuya, nearly sending him tumbling into the rain.
"Shut up. No it isn't and no one blames you. Sports are all about winning and losing, Kuroko. Sure it sucks but if all you did was win, then it gets old quick, y'know?" Tetsuya knew that more than anyone, experienced what only winning could do to someone, but he kept his mouth shut. "We've got three years to kick some Generation ass, so no rush." Kagami patted Tetsuya's shoulder and kept his hand there, letting the warmth of his body seep into Tetsuya's bones. And if Kagami's own voice was strained, Tetsuya didn't point it out.
He wasn't going to say anything, wasn't going to break that thin strand of hope and determination, even as his mind whispered about possible deadlines. For now, he'd just soak in Kagami's warmth and light, and try and rely on him.
"Why are you following us?" Kagami snapped as Midorima trailed three steps behind them, walking down the street leading to Tetsuya's house.
"I'm not!" Midorima repeated, for the fifth time, since they'd left the train station. He waved his cellphone up in the air, the screen a beacon in the darkening surroundings. "I'm following the directions to get to my family's friend's house."
"I call bullshit," Kagami grumbled as Tetsuya, for the seventh time, wobbled into him with a bleary-eyed blink. He'd nodded off on the train, almost catatonic by the time their stop had come up. Now he seemed to be in a dazed, half-awake state, practically useless on his feet. Kagami snorted and grabbed Tetsuya before he could smack into a telephone pole. "I think you're following us to rub your victory in."
"Who would do such a thing?" Midorima scoffed, face showing his disgust at such a rude implication. "I was raised with manners, unlike some people." Midorima eyed Kagami bitterly and huffed. "Here, don't believe me? Look." Midorima sped up his steps and shoved the phone into Kagami's face, nearly taking an eye out.
Kagami reeled back, blinking at the address displayed against the white background. He stared.
"...that's Kuroko's address," Kagami slowly spoke, still staring, even as a hand reached out to pull Tetsuya away from a couple walking past them.
"What?" Midorima stuttered out. "No it's not. It can't be. You're mistaken."
"Dude," Kagami cut in, pushing the phone out of his personal space. "It is his address. Why are you going to his house?" Beside them, Tetsuya stumbled and yawned, rubbing at his eyes.
"My...my mother said they were invited to dinner…" Midorima choked out, looking between his phone screen to Tetsuya. "...Fate hates me right now." Kagami bit back a startled bark of laughter and shook his head, snagging Tetsuya by the back of the collar when he tripped.
"We're almost there," Kagami addressed Tetsuya, keeping a hand on his upper arm. "You're a wreck."
"I'll punch you," Tetsuya spoke up, the first word he'd said since they boarded the train home. Midorima trailed behind them, shaking his head as the two began to lightly bicker. They made it to Tetsuya's house without incident, Tetsuya nearly crashing face first into the door.
"Tet-chan! Welcome home!" A blur of blue crashed into Tetsuya, reminding Midorima of Momoi, and blinked as a older woman hugged Tetsuya close. "Kagami-kun! Hello! And you must be Shin-chan!" Midorima sputtered as the woman, blue eyes and long blue hair, beamed happily at him. Her presence was weak, which Midorima only picked up on because of how used to her son he was. If it wasn't for her bubbly personality, she'd probably be a ghost just like her child. "Tet-chan, what happened to your face?"
"H-hello," Midorima greeted as Aoi titled Tetsuya's face up to inspect. He shuffled in place awkwardly.
"Sorry to intrude. I was just walking him home," Kagami spoke and began to back up. Aoi clamped a hand down on his jacket sleeve and held.
"You're staying for dinner too, right Kagami-kun?" Aoi asked, her smile almost threatening. Kagami nodded awkwardly and the four bustled into the house, Tetsuya slumping down on the floor of the foyer to paw uselessly at his shoes.
"You are such a baby!" Kagami chided, rolling his eyes as he swooped down and easily tugged Tetsuya's wet shoes off. "You are ridiculous." He lined up their shoes neatly, Aoi lingering as she worriedly glanced at Tetsuya.
"Hey, you found the house alright!" Keiko spoke as she popped into the hallway. Midorima watched as his mother's eyes instinctively did a once-over of Tetsuya, as she did with anyone she noticed looking less than 100-percent healthy. "Is he alright?" Her eyes focused on his face, her gaze narrowing in observation.
"I'm tired," Tetsuya responded, letting Kagami help him up to his feet. He swayed, blinking as he covered up a yawn. "Hello. I'm Kuroko Tetsuya."
"Midorima Keiko," Keiko spoke, lips twitching up in bemusement. "So you're the famous Kuroko from Teiko. Shin would complain about you to me all the time." Midorima's ear reddened and he huffed as Kagami gave a snicker.
"Mother, please!" Midorima spoke, not whined, and Keiko gave a short cackle as Kagami rudely laughed at him.
"Please, please, come in! I'm Aoi! Call me Aoi, okay?" Aoi spoke, ushering the three teenagers into the living room. Tetsuya fell heavily onto one of the chairs, his head lolling back against the cushions. He was out in seconds.
"I don't want him to be rude and skip dinner," Aoi mused as she eyed her son, "but he does look tired."
"He didn't eat even half of his lunch," Kagami piped up, settling next to his teammate. "Thanks for having me."
"Of course!" Aoi beamed, dragging Keiko out of the living room with her, leaving Midorima to look around.
The living room was fairly comfortable, lined with two matching couches, a few lamps, and a nice looking TV with a small stand. The walls were lined with picture frames and Midorima's eyebrows raised up at the sight of the baby pictures.
"He was a very chubby baby," Midorima blurted before he could stop himself, "happy too." Midorima couldn't look away from the rosy, plump cheeks, or the bright, toothless smile. He looked back to the snoozing teen and blinked.
Where had all those emotions gone?
Distantly, Midorima remembered the early days of Teiko, when Aomine or Kise would surprise strings of laughter from the blue haired boy. Of moments after practice when Tetsuya would smile and joke with Momoi over Aomine's barbaric manners over ice cream. Of sparkling blue eyes slurping down milkshakes.
When had he stopped showing those emotions? When had his time at Teiko sucked the happiness from his very soul?
"Took you long enough!" Midorima Asami burst into the living room, her eyes glued to her phone screen. "I had to deal with the adults by myself!" Her brown hair was braided over one shoulder, her light green eyes narrowed. "Oh, hi." Asami's cheeks heated as she caught sight of Kagami. She absently twirled her braid in her free hand and batted her eyelashes at Kagami.
"Hi," Kagami awkwardly greeted back, adjusting Tetsuya into a more comfortable position on the couch. Midorima snorted and pushed his glasses up, watching Asami's body language deflate at the red head's clear disinterest with her womanly charm.
"Didn't you play Seirin today?" Asami asked, catching sight of the school name on Kagami's jacket. "Who won?"
Kagami and Midorima tensed, eyeing each other. One waiting for some sort of rude remarks, the other wondering if they should even say anything to be respectful.
"Midorima-kun's team won," Tetsuya spoke as he sat up, rubbing the palms of his hands against his eyes. "Hello."
"Geh!" Asami cried out, jumping. "You really are like a ghost! Oh man though, that's awkward! Talk about facing your failures." Kagami winced and Tetsuya raised an eyebrow. Midorima pinched the bridge of his nose and exhaled loudly.
"Asami," Midorima began, tone chiding. Asami threw her hands up, giving a big smile.
"Hi there. I'm Asami! I'm a second year at Teiko middle school," Asami spoke up, waving to Kagami. "You're really tall looking." Even sitting down, Kagami looked towering.
"Thanks…?" Kagami blinked, unsure of what to say.
"Just ignore her," Midorima spoke out. "She'll eventually get bored and leave us alone for her phone."
"True," Asami agreed, already moving to sit next to Midorima as her eyes went back to her screen. "I'm surprised Takao-kun didn't follow you here like a lost puppy."
"Takao isn't a lost puppy!" Midorima snapped. "And why would be follow me?" Asami rolled her eyes, feeling like she didn't need to respond to the obvious question.
"Tetsuya," Chiako called and Midorima watched as Tetsuya moved in the blink of an eye, disappearing to where the kitchen was. Kagami and Midorima eyed each other again, not knowing what to say. Asami hummed as she played a game on her phone, oblivious to the growing tension.
"You've been to his house before, I take it," Midorima began, trying to keep his tone polite. "I'm surprised. The only one who knew where Kuroko lived was Momoi, and that's because she had to deliver school work to him during his absence."
"Oh yeah?" Kagami asked, raising an eyebrow. "It just kind of happened. I've only been here one time before." Kagami could see that, in a way. Tetsuya had been reluctant to share anything about his illness with Kagami and the team. The only reason Kagami knew where Tetsuya lived in the first place was because he'd felt at fault for making the kid play while he had been obviously sick. Tetsuya was the type to politely hold everyone at a distance and if you found yourself lucky enough to be close with him, then he trusted you unconditionally.
His reckless attachment towards the Generation of Miracles was testimony to that.
"I see," Midorima two fell silent again.
"Oh my god," Asami groaned as she looked up, glaring at the two boys. "You guys are so awkward it physically hurts me. I'm going to go see if they need help in the kitchen." Asami crawled off the couch, shaking her head at the two.
"Asami," Midorima called. "Is dad here as well?" Midorima would be surprised if he was - his parents had completely different shifts at the hospital. While his mother worked a 12 shift beginning early in the morning, his father worked at night, leaving them to barely ever catch sight of him until the weekends when both of them miraculously had the time off.
"Nah," Asami shrugged and disappeared, leaving Midorima and Kagami to sit there.
"I don't want you thinking Kuroko is weak just because we lost," Kagami spoke up, pointedly staring at the turned off TV screen. "He isn't. Seirin isn't. Some stuff just...happened."
"You mean how Kuroko's legs seemed to give out by the second quarter?" Midorima asked after a pause of silence, his eyes hidden behind his glasses. Kagami startled, as if not expecting that question.
"How…?" Kagami shifted in his seat, uncomfortable as he turned his gaze to Midorima.
"I've been raised by two doctors," Midorima bluntly explained. "I've been taught, since childhood, how to notice when someone is unwell. It doesn't take a genius to recognize the signs of fatigue and muscle weakness." Midorima rubbed at his eyes, feeling tired. "I don't particularly remember Kuroko being so weak as to get muscle weakness after barely two games."
"What would you know?" Kagami grumbled. Midorima glared.
"More than you. You've been playing with him, what, maybe two months total? I was on a team with him for three years. What would you know?" Midorima had meant to keep the bite from his tone but he couldn't. He respected Tetsuya, dammit, and he hated that this stranger implied that they knew more about Tetsuya than he did.
"You don't know anything about Kuroko! You lot were the ones who-"
"Dinner is ready," Tetsuya interrupted, popping up behind Kagami. Kagami yelled out as Midorima jumped. "Are you two getting along?"
"Stop. Doing. That!" Kagami hissed as he jumped up, rounding until he was facing Tetsuya. Midorima just watched, speechless, as Kagami grabbed him by the face and squeezed his cheeks together.
"That hurts," Tetsuya slurred emotionlessly, blinking up at Kagami. Kagami huffed and let go, tugging on his cheeks for a moment before dropping his hands.
"You coming?" Kagami gruffed as Midorima stayed motionless on the couch. Blinking out of his stupor, he followed the two down the hall to the kitchen. "I'm afraid my father had to stay late at work tonight, so it'll just be the women."
"That's fine," Kagami spoke, sounding relieved. For some reason, despite Tetsuya's father showing more expressions than his son, he was more creepy and unsettling than the shadow.
"I made hamburger steaks for dinner," Aoi spoke as the teens settled down at the table. Midorima nodded his thanks and then caught sight of Tetsuya's plate. "I hope you like it."
"...that's ochazuke," Midorima pointed out, looking at the bowl of rice topped with salted salmon, seaweed, sesame seeds, green onion ringlets, a egg white, and parsley. Tetsuya, who'd been reaching for the tea kettle, stilled.
"I don't have much of an appetite," Tetsuya explained softly, looking embarrassed as Kagami eyed the dish curiously. "So my grandmother was kind enough to make this for me instead." Midorima's eyes flashed over to the elderly lady settled at the end of the table, who smiled kindly at him.
"What is it, though?" Kagami asked, leaning over to better look at the food. "What's with the tea?"
"It's dashi," Tetsuya corrected and lifted the lid, showing the returnee the light colored liquid. "Soup base. You can use tea as a broth instead, but I personally can't handle the caffeine well." He poured the broth over the rice, Kagami reeling back in alarm.
"You pour tea over that?!" Kagami's nose scrunched up and he blinked as Tetsuya raised his chopsticks out to him, a decent sized chunk of soaked rice in between the plastic. Midorima sputtered from across the two, looking embarrassed for them while Asami snapped a photo.
"Yes. Would Kagami-kun like to try it?" Tetsuya asked, offering up his chopsticks. Kagami eyed it for a moment before leaning over, biting down on the offered food.
"Oh hey, that's really good!" Kagami chewed, leaning back against his seat. "You better eat all of that."
Aoi giggled softly and Keiko snorted. Beside Aoi, Chiako just smiled widely.
"You have no shame!" Midorima snapped out, ear-tips red. "You are shameless!" Kagami raised an eyebrow, looking uninterested as he chomped down on his hamburger steak.
"Do Japanese not share food? It's a totally chill thing in America," Kagami pointed out, shoving another chunk of his meat into his mouth.
"America?!" Asami nearly slammed her hands against the table. "You lived in America?! Oh my gosh, I'm super jealous! What's it like?"
"Fattening," Kagami answered instantly. "I miss my greasy fast food. The pizza here just isn't the same." He sighed remorsefully and then perked up. "Um, but your food is delicious, Kuroko-san. Uh. Yeah." Tetsuya snorted next to him, taking a small bite of his rice.
"This is delicious," Midorima agreed, eyes narrowing at the snail's pace Tetsuya was eating at. "Kuroko, you can't seriously be getting full. You had three bites."
"I'm eating," Tetsuya spoke up, voice terse. "I can slowly."
"Eat faster," Kagami piped up, already finished with his portion. "Thank you for dinner."
"Of course!" Aoi beamed, halfway finished with her own meal. "Thank you for coming over!" Kagami didn't exactly have a chance but he nodded anyways.
"Kuroko," Midorima sighed and lifted his broccoli from his plate, plopping it down in Tetsuya's bowl. "Eat that too."
"I don't want to," Tetsuya spoke, looking at the green vegetable as if it'd personally offended him. "I'm getting full."
"You are being childish," Midorima countered and plopped another broccoli in his bowl. "Do you remember what Akashi used to do to picky eaters?" Immediately, Midorima clammed up while Tetsuya looked up from his bowl, eyes wide. Inwardly, Midorima punched himself. How could he be stupid enough to mention Teiko. Their awkward tension was bound to worsen now.
Everyone else watched on, silent and curious as to what would happen.
"You wouldn't dare," Tetsuya finally settled on saying. "Even Midorima-kun isn't harsh enough to destroy a vanilla milkshake in front of me." Midorima gave a surprised snort and Kagami choked on his drink.
"Wait, what?" Kagami wiped at his mouth as Tetsuya took another bite of his dish.
"When Akashi-kun found out someone was being picky about our special diets," Tetsuya explained as his eyes glazed over at the memory, "he'd find out your favorite food and either destroy it in front of you or make sure you couldn't eat it until you finished your chosen meals."
"...destroy it…?" Asami questioned softly, looking horrified and ecstatic at the same time. Her brother never talked about Teiko, so this was gold.
"Kise-kun dislikes unagi with a passion," Tetsuya elaborated, "and refused to eat it whenever we were at training camps and it was on the menu. Well, after Akashi-kun found out about his dislike for the food, he learned that Kise-kun really loves onion gratin soup. So, for the remainder of our time at camps, Akashi-kun had the staff prepare a pot of the soup." Tetsuya paused, seeing Midorima's lips quirk up. "Midorima-kun, would you like to finish the story?"
"What's left to say?" Midorima spoke, trying to hide his smirk. "Akashi had it to where anytime Kise refused to eat the unagi, he'd serve everyone but Kise the soup. No one could give Kise their portion of the soup, even if they hated it. Kise would only get a bowl of soup if he ate the unagi."
"That doesn't sound so bad," Kagami commented, confused why they made it seem like such a big deal.
"It wasn't until Kise stole someone's soup without eating his unagi and ended up getting a spoonful of wasabi," Midorima finished. "Akashi made sure that the bowl he stole was completely mixed with wasabi. I don't believe Kise ate dinner with us the rest of that trip, did he?" Midorima turned to Tetsuya for confirmation.
"It's true," Tetsuya agreed and gave a soft laugh. "Or the time Akashi-kun burned Murasakibara-kun's Nerunerunerune candy because he kept giving me his carrots."
"If I remember correctly, you also got punished," Midorima recalled, shaking his head. Tetsuya gave a careless shrug of his shoulders.
"Details," he responded and the thin tensions seemed to disappear as the two tried to hide their small smiles. Kagami settled back in his chair with a content, lazy grin and the adults shared secret smiles.
"God this is so gay," Asami whispered to herself, only to be smacked by Keiko.
"Mom," Midorima spoke as the three walked down the street, heading for the bus station.
"Yeah?" Keiko asked, turning from Asami to study her son. "What is it?"
"How...how do you know the Kuroko family?" Midorima asked slowly, words cautious. He observed his mother's tightening expression and he mentally despaired. "Kuroko is sick, isn't he?"
"Why would you say that?" Keiko asked carefully, tone neutral, not giving anything away.
"Because of how familiar you acted with him. He introduced himself to you but your tone of voice with him was familiar. Also, his behavior and physical health are drastically different from just last year. He's...weakened, and he seems sickly compared to during Teiko and-"
"Shintaro," Keiko stopped him, halting their walking. Asami looked up from her phone before hastily looking back down, avoiding the conversation. "I have the duty to keep silent about my patients."
"But he is a patient of yours then?" Midorima challenged and Keiko sighed. "Is it serious?" Life threatening?
"It isn't my place to say," Keiko finally relented, looking up at the stars. "You can ask him, but he may not answer. He can tell you, but do you want to listen?" Keiko met his eyes and she gave a soft smile. "That boy is seriously stubborn, Shin. You had a good friend. If tonight was anything to prove, it means that you didn't burn your bridges well enough."
Midorima stood there for a moment, taking in his mother's words, and silently decided that he as going to work to earn the answer he wanted.
I like my teenage characters to act like teenagers thanks
Also since we have no base on who Midorima's sister is, I took matters into my own hands to make Asami just so done with everyone's drama lol
Hope you guys liked it! We got two Miracles closing in on the truth and we've LEARNED WHAT'S UP WITH KUROKO! YAAAAAAY.
Lupus (SLE; Systemic Lupus Erythematosus): A systemic autoimmune disease that occurs when your body's immune system attacks your own tissues and organs. Inflammation caused by lupus can affect many different body systems — including your joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, brain, heart and lungs.
Fibromyalgia: A disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue, sleep, memory and mood issues. Believed that fibromyalgia amplifies painful sensations by affecting the way your brain processes pain signals. Though not considered a autoimmune disease by many doctors, it is shown that many patients with LUPUS usually have Fibro as well.
Though more common in women, there is a percent of men and children with the rare mix of both Lupus and Fibro. Due to Fibro's unique symptoms, often times the symptoms of Lupus are intensified than if someone were to just have Lupus.
If you have any questions, don't be afraid to ask or google! It's pretty interesting to learn about.
Thank you for reading!