Good day I bid to you readers! I humbly thank you guys for reading until this far, and I have sad news to be told. This is the last chapter for the story of Before The Rise. On the bright side, be happy that you guys won't shed tears after this. I only ask to cry on this last chapter, although it's a bit short but I already inserted all the plots needed so I'm satisfied. Maybe after this I'll put an extra or something, but still depends on the time.
So, enjoy (crying)! :D
And just a suggestion, I listened to Fox Rain while writing this, because it reminds me of Kise so much (Well, him as Kitsune is one of the most perfect thing ever created in human's imagination), but I warn you, the tears spilled won't be on me okay? xD
Disclaimer: Kuroko no Basket is a work of Fujimaki Tadatoshi-sensei. All credits go to him for this absolutely wonderful and inspiring story.
"Morning, Ryouta-kun."
The teenage boy smiled at Satsuki brightly. "Morning, Satsukicchi!"
Seeing the boy so energetic early in the morning, Satsuki's sleepiness that was heavily fogging her head before was instantly blown away. She tucked on the file at the end of Ryouta's bed, carefully searching for any casualties from yesterday. Until she was satisfied with everything that was written down, her eyes carefully examined the notes joted down. After about two minutes scrutinizing, she shifted her gaze back to the patient.
Ryouta seemed to be busy staring outside of the window. No idea on what he was focusing on though, because there's almost nothing to be looked at the white sheet layering the park outside. Snow didn't fall today, so the ice have some time to form a rigid layer on top of everything it falls on.
Under the shine of the sad sunlight, Ryouta's figure looked aetherial and otherworldly. Satsuki thought it might be her tired eyes, because there was no way a normal human can glow.
"Satsukicchi, I remembered everything last night."
Her eyes quickly caught the sitting figure on the bed. This was a moment to be celebrated, but without the presence of his friends, Satsuki felt it was best for him to recollect and restructure his own memories alone. With hopes that he could cherish the happy times, and not shed tears on the sad ones. Her glossed lips smiled.
"It was fun, Satsukicchi! I hope I can see them again soon!"
She was wrong. Human do glow.
"He is such a fighter."
Ryouta was trying hard not to show his smile, although in his heart he would've probably made a leap of faith from the rooftop of the building. The sentence made him sound like he was the one warrior left standing in battlefield, when the others had either given up or die as martyrs. He knew the whisper, one from millions of them, meant that he managed to live longer than the doctors had predicted. He could say, he was proud of himself. Next time when he was finally reunited with his friends, Ryouta could boast about the fact that he extended his life six months further from his foreseen demise. He chuckled.
Next time, he thought. Sureee… When that moment comes, he should probably tackle Tetsuya first, and later a brofist to Seijuurou and Shintarou. After that, a flying hug to Daiki, which will be dodged by him, or if he's lucky maybe a punch, and landed on Atsushi's body instead. Either way, it's still comforting. Yes, that was the perfect plan.
His hands reached out for the novel at the table nearby, and opened up to the Inter-High preliminaries arc. It was his favourite arc, next to the parts where they have a character named Kise Ryouta.
His pupils carefully read the words organized by Shintarou. Honestly speaking, he had finished the novel a long time ago, and from there, he re-read them a thousand times in order to search for an appropriate title to be given at the end. Yes, he still remembered Shintarou's last wish, the title was left blank for them to decide. Since now it's just him, Ryouta made sure he didn't want to disappoint the others' expectations.
Line by line, chapter by chapter; the next thing he knew, he was already at the loss of Kuroko against Touou. It was utterly disappointing, yet inspiring. Ryouta can't help but cry for the poor Kuroko. All his hard work was still not enough to pull his best friend, Aomine, back to the right track. Wiping his silent tears away, Ryouta felt like giving Kuroko a comforting hug, but surely he would've done it long ago if Kuroko was real.
Speaking of which, Shintarou really nailed the characters' personalities.
And that goes without saying, the Kise Ryouta he worshipped so much, was annoying the hell out of others. He knew he have the looks of a model, and he went around telling his friends he was a handsome freak. "Who doesn't want to kick that no-goody at his butt?" Satsuki once said, which made Ryouta pouted.
The Midorima with a 'stick-up-his-ass' attitude matched the Hakone Shintarou in real world perfectly. His grumpiness, tight face, profesionalism, and most importantly his tsundere-ness, spells Shintarou all over it, and Ryouta wouldn't want him any other way. As an author for the novel, Shintarou was humble enough to let himself appear at the middle of the novel, and not shouting his name right at the start. Because Ryouta would totally do that.
Murasakibara's craving towards snacks was unreal, in Ryouta's opinion, but maybe Atsushi asked from Shintarou personally to add the ability to gobble down a mountain of sweets. Or two mountains. If he can't have the nerunerune candies in reality, let him enjoy them in the novel. Because people, that's what novels are for.
Meanwhile, the Akashi name-holder was downright scary. As fuck. Like seriously. How did Shintarou even come up with that intimidating double-personality disorder? Thank God, Shintarou holds a thing in his heart called conscience, the other calm half of Akashi Seijuurou was a gentleman and won't go scissoring people out of nowhere. And by the way, why scissors?
Aomine Daiki, unlike Chisato Daiki, was very tense and too arrogant for his own good. Although during his younger days, Aomine was very adorable and cheerful, it teared up Ryouta because that Daiki used to be his playmate on court. And yay, Shintarou got him a big-racked friend!...named Satsuki. Ryouta guessed Shintarou must be out of his mind because if Satsuki read this in its entirety, she was gonna gut him alive. Well, in his next life.
For his dear Kurokocchi, just like his Tetsuyacchi, Ryouta adored the small man to his ancestors, and Shintarou really got his facts straight in his novel; Kise Ryouta clung onto the boy like a kangaroo's kid. Which was unfortunate that Kuroko doesn't have a pouch, because he would totally live in him for the rest of his life. Moving back to Kuroko, the man has a high determination, in contrast with his quiet demeanor and short height. And not to mention, very gentlemanly too. Seems like Shintarou didn't forget to insert the little love story of Tetsuya-Satsuki in here, which he enjoyed and at the same time, pitied. Reality-wise and novel-wise, her love was still unrequited.
And there's another main character written in the novel, named Kagami Taiga, who helped Kuroko climb up the stairs to victory. Whoever this Kagami was, Ryouta was forever jealous of him since he was the one who stood alongside Kuroko all the way through the end. Fiery, hot-headed, eats like a bulldozer, Kagami was a perfect match for Kuroko. If he swung that way, he would've probably went after the smaller man, in which Ryouta prayed he did not. Also, what's with his jumping power? Ryouta can jump too!
Once Ryouta had captured the characters' personalities correctly, he tracked up the plot for the story. Shintarou would have just give them his rough idea, but unfortunately his mom had put them away and sealed it for eternity. Ryouta can't go around telling his mom to re-open her old wound. It's like pouring salt over a cut. So he decided to figure out the plot himself. He admit, he didn't have the smartest brain like Shintarou, or as wise as Seijuurou, but he surely can be as bright as them if he put his utmost effort. And after almost two weeks of lone brainstorming, he found out that Kuroko was trying to pull his friends out from straying further into the path of destruction. Such noble intention, such small body. Ryouta never doubted why Kise respected the said person so much.
Ryouta closed the book. His eyes needed some rest, so he looked outside. The snow has started to fall again. He stared at one of the falling flakes, and later jumped to another as the recent ones fall and melted on the windowsill. The slow movements calmed him, and lulled Ryouta to sleep.
But he had something more important to do, so he sat straight back up and called out Satsuki from the machine beside him, asking for a piece of paper and a pen. Not long after that, Satsuki appeared with them and handed the requested items to Ryouta. When she asked what were those for, the patient only put his index finger at his smiling mouth and began writing.
"Just make sure not to make a mess on the room" was what Satsuki said before she left for her other jobs. Ryouta nodded lightly, his mind focused on something else for the moment. Satsuki only said that as a mean of profesional gesture, and she knew Ryouta wouldn't do something stupid on that piece of paper. He has changed after all.
Dear Satsukicchi,
Thank you for reading this letter. And if this letter fall into the wrong person, please hand it over to Dr. Satsuki, our beloved mother. If not, I'll haunt you for the rest of your life! OAO
I'd probably get smacked by Daikicchi later by that sentence, hahaha. I'm asking this out of kindness, please get this letter safely into Satsukicchi's posession, because this is very important.
He inhaled again, taking in the precious breath of oxygen which he might not feel again later. The commotion in his room was making him slightly frustrated. Nurses here and doctors there, this dying man needs some space, he shouted in his mind. At times, his eyes can't help but glance at the only familiar face nearby him; Satsuki. Her face was the very definition of despair and anguish, and it hurt Ryouta to see her like that. He stared at the frantic Satsuki until she looked back at him, eyes in the brim of tears.
"Smile, Satsukicchi," his moving lips mimed the words. Ryouta could feel his heart strickening against his ribs. It's almost time to go.
Satsuki shook her head, tears finally fell from her sleek face. From the end of Ryouta's bed, she pushed her way to his side and held his hand tight. "Ryouta-kun," she writhed.
Satsukicchi,
Like Atsushicchi said, we really can feel it when we're near the end. I can feel mine already. But I'm worried about you, Satsukicchi.
When I'm gone, who will look after you? I had promised Tetsuyacchi to take care of you. Now I'm going away, Satsukicchi, please, pretty please, with cherry on top, find a good life partner that will take great care of you. Because you are, definitely, our beloved sister. We want you to be happy, and all we can do is pray. Seriously, if Tetsuyacchi isn't sick,we had asked (coughFORCEDcough) him to marry you and make the rest of your life a living heaven. Believe me, this little group of ours really love you, Satsukicchi.
So that's what I'm asking this.
Please don't be sad when I'm gone.
Ryouta knew it must be hard for her to be left alone fighting in the world, and if he was to be given ten more years of life, he would spend it protecting Satsuki all the time. Seeing them dying one by one, Satsuki was actually the one hurting the most.
He prayed to God, in his last moments, to give Satsuki, not just a good life, not even great, but an incredible life. Because they knew, and He knows, that she deserved it. Satsuki had given her all in treating them like her sons, and it felt wonderful having someone scolding them like a grumpy mom she was.
Another breath again, but this time a bit choked, since he's holding his own tears within. "Satsukicchi," he breathed again, "please, smile…"
I still remember what Tetsuyacchi said before we go and see Seijuuroucchi for the last time. We will be in a better place, so that means we will be happy! So Satsukicchi, I can't ask you to come quick and see us (/oAo)/, but live your life to the fullest and then, when you come here, tell us all about your amazing experience.
And also, if you still remember about the novel Shintaroucchi worked on, it will be attached to this letter. Well, I hope it will be in a good condition because Shintaroucchi might even sacrifice his life in order not to dirty the book. Um, I don't mean it in that way. Crap, I'm bad at this ._."
Anyway, Shintaroucchi had asked us to give it a an appropriate title. I've read it. More than a thousand times. Also, from the very beginning, this novel was meant for Tetsuyacchi to read, but seems like fate has a better hold of life than us. I am the last man standing in this lone fight, and like Seijuuroucchi, I won't easily give my white flag. I'm glad I got to memorize most of the contents, and hope to tell them later about it.
The doctor's chin was wrinkled up, teeth biting her lips as strong as she can, because she knew the moment she let it go, her cracked voice will vomit a cry. She's trying her best not to be sad, but seeing Ryouta in this state was like seeing Seijuurou and Atsushi all over again. Finally, after almost a minute calming herself down, she gave Ryouta what was probably the most crooked and awkward grin. That's all she can afford for now. The edge of her lips can't lift higher, all this pressure and sadness was weighing each end downwards.
Thank goodness, Ryouta understood her condition, and was satisfied with the Halloween-y smile she put on. He gave back a smile to her as a reply. And what a blinding smile that was, she almost broke into tears once again.
His left hand grabbed a fistful of the blanket, and the other hand gripping Satsuki's hand tight. His back arched upwards, taking almost all the air he can inhale. Satsuki only rubbed his hand gently, heart praying endlessly for a good end.
In the book, we were led astray from the righteous path in basketball, and because of our undefeatable strength, we hurt Tetsuyacchi (or Kurokocchi. Any of them still sounds cute XD) without us knowing it. But I'm thankful, Tetsuyacchi is one adorable and determined man, he dragged us back to the light and even showed us the correct way of enjoying basketball, and I think it's only right to name this novel after him.
No this novel won't be titled Kuroko Tetsuya, don't worry. That will be plain weird -.-"
It will be The Basketball Which Kuroko Plays.
P.S: I know, I know. My grammar sucks. Stop nitpicking Dx
Ryouta lowered his back slowly back to the mattress. His gaze glued at the female doctor with a smile still plastered.
And finally, he exhaled his last breath.
As peaceful as Tetsuya's sleeping face, the boy showcased his sleeping expression to Satsuki. She placed a hand on Ryouta's pale face, feeling it for the last time.
I love you guys too.
"Nee, nee, Grandma! Do you still have the book?" asked a kid with a messy brown hair sitting on top of an old woman's lap. The grandma only nodded with a peaceful smile. "But by this time it'll be too brittle to be played with, but I can give it to your mom and she can read it before you go to bed."
The children cheered. Some of them even swiveled their hands up in the air. The Basketball Which Kuroko Plays was their favourite story, and their favourite character was none other than Kuroko himself.
"Mom, don't spoil them too much!" said a woman in her forties from the kitchen, dressed in a pink apron and hand holding a ladle. Again, the grandma only laughed. "I was only telling them a story, and they like it. What's wrong with that?"
"The book about Kuroko again?" she asked again.
"Yes."
The woman giggled. "That is my favourite too. Kuroko-kun is such a gentleman!" and she turned around squealing like a teenage girl before it was stopped by a man in suits.
"Which man are you talking about, honey?" The man glared. The old woman held her laugh inside, seeing her son-in-law getting jealous over her girl's fictional husband.
"Oh Waka-kun, it's just Kuroko. No need to get all angry," the woman pouted, freeing herself from her husband's hands and left for the kitchen. Still confused, the said Waka-kun turned to the grandmother. "Do you know who is this Kuroko-kun?"
"Kuroko Tetsuya, from the book," answered the old woman with a smile, short and simple. The man seemed relieved.
"Okay, everyone. Lunch will be ready in five minutes. Sakaki-chan, Linda-chan, please make the table," called the woman from the kitchen. Two girls rose up from their seat in front of the grandmother to the dining area, and they start setting up the table as fast as they could.
Even after fifty years, Satsuki was still good with kids, and teenagers, which made her won the title The Best Grandmother of The Year from her grandchilren. She could say, that was a title to be proud of, and she will definitely be boasting about it in front of the guys up there for at least one hour. She chuckled silently at the thought.
"Mom, the lunch is ready." Suddenly her train of thought was interrupted with her daughter's voice. Satsuki nodded and raised her arms towards her daughter, asking for a help in lifting herself up. Old age really has it's quirks. While walking to the eating place, Satsuki kept thinking about the words she wanted to say to the guys, especially her Tetsu-kun.
Because, God Bless, she had lead the most wonderful life and can't wait to tell them soon.
