Title: (No) Cause for Worry
Summary: Akashi's unexpected arrival in Tokyo digs up Takao's buried jealousy and insecurities, so Midorima makes it a point to take care of it once and for all.
Notes: Midorima and Akashi have a purely platonic relationship here, even in their middle school days. Just a heads up in case some of you like the idea of Akashi being Midorima's ex.
Tuesday
"Shin-chan, it's not here," Takao says exasperatedly. "Let's just go back."
"I won't go back until I find my lucky item," Midorima responds firmly, scouring through the rows of phone cases but not finding the one he needs.
"How are we going to find an iPhone 5 case with the score of Vivaldi's Spring as its design?! And why is it so specific?! And it's outdated! And you don't even have an iPhone!"
"Oha Asa doesn't come up with non-existent lucky items. This street has many stores selling phone cases, so it has to be here somewhere. Let's go to the next shop."
Takao groans but follows after Midorima anyway. When they leave the shop, Takao's ready to start complaining again, in the hopes that Midorima would relent. But they're stopped short by a familiar red-head, whose mouth forms an 'o' at the unexpected coincidence.
"Akashi," Midorima says, not really a greeting, but more of a surprise.
"Midorima," he addresses him cordially. "Takao Kazunari."
"Yo," Takao greets back, thinking that it's way too much of a coincidence to bump into Akashi here.
"What are you doing in Tokyo?" Midorima asks.
"Rakuzan and Yousen have a practice match here. We just arrived this afternoon and I was taking a walk. The hotel we're staying at is nearby."
Right, Takao thinks, naturally Rakuzan would be able to afford providing hotels for accommodation.
"What about you?" Akashi asks.
"We're searching for a lucky item."
"Shin-chan's the one searching. I'm just being dragged along."
Takao can feel Midorima frowning at him and Akashi merely glances at him before asking, "What might the lucky item be this time?"
"Vivaldi's Spring music score on the back of an iPhone case," Midorima answers straightforwardly.
"Oh?" Akashi says and smiles. "I know where you can find that."
"Really?" Midorima questions, not even bothering to hide his eagerness.
Takao highly doubts that. They've been searching for an hour and the moment Akashi turns up, he says he can find it? What, is he like a heaven-sent gift or some—
"Yes, I passed by a shop on my way here. It had a row of cases with music score designs. With how renown Vivaldi's Spring is, I'm sure you can find it there."
"Then, take me there."
"What? Are you serious?!" Takao can't help but exclaim.
"Follow me."
Takao sincerely believes that someone up there is playing a joke on him because why the hell does he feel like he's the third wheel in this scenario?! Midorima is his boyfriend damn it!
He walks alongside them but is somehow unable to take part in their conversation. These are not things that he had interests in, let alone engage in conversation for. When they enter the shop that Akashi mentioned, the Rakuzan point guard escorts Midorima to the display and sure enough, there's a whole range of iPhone cases with music scores splashed across the back. Takao watches as Midorima strides over and immediately reads the notes, searching for Vivaldi's Spring.
He stands awkwardly behind him, because even though he can read notes, he doesn't know the ones to Vivaldi's Spring. He stares helplessly as Midorima and Akashi consult each other on the various scores they've found. They seemed so in sync, like two people finding their place with each other again. Takao is someone who never feels out of place, but in this moment, he has never felt so alienated before.
Wednesday
Takao kicks a stray pebble on the sidewalk as he makes his way home, with no grouchy green-haired giant by his side. Apparently, he's out with Akashi Seijuuro, who called him after yesterday's coincidence and suggested to meet up properly for old time's sake, and of course it would be Midorima who gets some one-on-one time with him. He tried hiding his displeasure when Midorima told him that he couldn't go home with Takao, and he can't say he did a very good job at that.
"Takao," Midorima said as they headed back to class from the roof. "I won't be heading home with you later."
"Why not?" Takao asked curiously. He didn't mention anything about having appointments.
"Akashi's asked to meet up and bring him around for a bit," Midorima answered simply.
"Bring him around?" Takao laughed. "He's not a tourist! It's not like he's never been in Tokyo."
"I suppose he wants to catch up."
The phrase sounded foreign on his lips, as if it's a concept he's not familiar with.
"Hmm…" Takao pondered out loud, the image of Midorima and Akashi strolling across the streets of Tokyo taking form in his mind. It's strangely fitting. "Then you're going?"
"Of course."
Of course, it's Akashi, Takao thinks.
"Okay." Takao's answer, so different from his usual rants and ramblings, caught Midorima's attention.
"Takao?"
"Tell him I said 'hi'," he replies coolly.
Takao doesn't like to sulk. But Akashi's arrival was rather unexpected and Midorima was a little too ready to accede to his request, in his opinion. It certainly did not do well for the feelings he's been trying to avoid regarding the red-haired point guard. And now, instead of spending precious time with his tsundere, he's on his way home alone. What's up with that?
But there's no point in brooding. Since this is one of the rare alone-times he has, might as well make good use of it. Takao changes route and heads in the direction of Nakano Broadway. It's probably time to collect more of those rare cards anyway.
Thursday
Takao finds himself going home alone again. Midorima's errand as a tour guide wasn't a one-day job it seems. He makes a low growl in his throat and his stomach follows soon after. Refusing to go home on an empty stomach, he decides to make his way to Maji Burger for a well-deserved meal.
It comes slightly as a surprise when he spots a familiar red-head with split eyebrows scarfing down one of his burgers out of a mountain of them while he scans the place for a seat. He welcomes this coincidence and bounds over to the Seirin power forward.
"Kagami!"
The person of interest looks up in surprise, and gulps a mouthful of burger before answering.
"Oh, Takao."
"Don't mind if I join you," Takao self-invites and takes a seat opposite Kagami.
"Sure."
"So, where's Kuroko?" he asks and unwraps his own burger.
"With Akashi," Kagami responds, careful not to spit any food on Takao.
He perks at the sound of that name and raises his eyebrows at Kagami.
"He's in Tokyo you know?" Kagami continues. "Kuroko said he wanted to take the opportunity to meet the rest of the Generation of Miracles."
"Yeah, I know," Takao says, not sounding as excited as he just was.
It's then that Kagami notices Takao was missing his partner. He puts two and two together and comes up with a deduction.
"Midorima too?"
"Bingo," Takao smirks. "Looks like they're having a nice get-together, with the captain rounding them all up."
Kagami just grunts and continues feasting on his burger but now that Takao knows Kuroko's with them as well as the rest of the Generation of Miracles, he seriously wondering what they do.
"Hey Kagami, what do you think they do?" Takao asks and takes a sip of his shake. "Like, do they do stuff normal friends do?"
The red-head actually thinks the question through, but his answer doesn't reflect that. "Basketball?"
"Duh. I mean besides basketball."
"Kuroko said that they used to stop by the conbini to get ice-pops in middle school," he offers.
"I highly doubt that they just go to the conbini though," Takao deadpans. "Do they go to the movies? Visit Nakano Broadway? Maybe the arcade?"
"How should I know? If you're curious, just ask Midorima."
"You bet I will," Takao promises and then pauses. "Ah…but at the same time, I don't really want to find out. What if they're on a date?!"
Kagami raises his eyebrows. "Aren't you two together?"
"Yes, but what if in spending all this time together, they rekindle their liking for each other?"
Takao knows he's exaggerating, but a small part of him doesn't preclude that possibility.
"Why are you under the impression that they used to be together?" Kagami is properly confused now.
"Weren't they?!" Takao exclaims. "They were captain and vice-captain after all, so they probably spent the most time together and Shin-chan actually admires Akashi, even if he doesn't admit it."
"So you're just making a wild guess," Kagami says unamused and turns his attention back to his burger.
"An educated guess," Takao corrects, to which Kagami sighs.
"Seriously, if you're not sure, just ask him. Though I doubt Midorima's the kind to go out and have dates behind your back when he's already with you."
Takao lets Kagami's words sink it and he mildly registers how he has the capacity to provide comforting words, contrary to popular belief.
"I guess…"
Friday
It's only on Friday that Takao gets to have Midorima all to himself. They're lounging on his ace's large bed, with Takao nestling comfortably between Midorima's legs and the taller boy wrapping his arms around Takao's frame languidly. There's a sports fashion magazine in Takao's lap and he'd slid down the bed a little so that Midorima can rest his chin on his head to browse the magazine. A comfortable silence rests between them as their eyes scan the pages, occasionally lingering on the few basketball shoes featured in the issue.
As much as Takao likes worriless moments like this, he's too preoccupied to give the magazine his undivided attention. A hundred questions about Akashi run through his mind and he entertains implausible ideas, although at this time, he doesn't know that's all that it is. Eventually, curiosity gets the better of him and when he remembers what Kagami said yesterday, he decides to take his advice.
"Shin-chan."
"Hm?" Midorima hums and turns the page himself, since Takao had been staying on the same page for quite some time now.
"What did you do with Akashi?" he dares himself to ask. "When you went out."
Midorima's a little surprised at the sudden question but looks up anyway, trying to recall what exactly he did with Akashi. "We played basketball, went for a few rounds of shogi, had dinner…"
Takao's ears perked as Midorima listed off each activity. "That…sounds pretty normal."
Midorima frowns. "…What do you think we did?"
Takao doesn't turn to face Midorima. Instead, he fixes his gaze on a particular figurine on Midorima's desk and lets his mouth take over. It turns out to be a bad idea because he goes off the rails the moment he opens his mouth.
"I don't know, eat at some posh restaurant, go back to Teikou to reminiscence about the times you spent together and realize that you still have feelings for him and then sneak to music room where you lost your first kiss—mmph!"
"Shut up Takao," Midorima says irritably as he covers Takao's mouth his hand. "What the hell are you even talking about?"
Takao pulls his hand away and Midorima relents. He sucks in a breath before answering tentatively, "Because you used to like Akashi right? Back in middle school."
Midorima pulls back in utter bemusement, forehead creasing and eyebrows raised. Judging from the softness of that voice, he knows something is bothering Takao and there's no doubt that Akashi's the cause of it. He's asked about Akashi before, but nothing as direct and upsetting as this, and Midorima finally realizes that all those vague questions about Akashi before were just the tip of the iceberg, so he ventures to clear things up. And people call him the troublesome one.
Sighing, he answers, "Not in the slightest. At least not in the way that you're thinking. Where did you get that idea from?"
Not wanting an answer from someone whom he couldn't see the face of, Midorima turns Takao around by the shoulders. He yelps at the abrupt movement and casts his silver blue eyes downwards, away from Midorima's piercing green ones.
"Well?"
God, this was so embarrassing. Having to admit that he's jealous and insecure.
"Akashi's the one you get along with the most right?" Takao starts. "Not only because you were captain and vice-captain, but because you and he are alike, in terms of interests, personality, status…so naturally, you spend a lot of time with him. I won't be surprised if during that time, you realize that he's—"
"That's not—"
"Let me finish," he interrupts. At this point, all he wants to do is get it off his chest. "That he's probably good for you."
The admittance makes him feel defeated and leaves a bitter taste in his mouth.
"The only reason why the both of you aren't together is because he changed when he awakened his Emperor Eye. But now that he's back, who's to say that you won't start from where you left off?"
Takao bites on his lip, forcing himself not to continue. He's just about done digging his own grave. When Midorima speaks, he does so firmly and with so much composure that it surprises even himself.
"You're right."
Takao's head whips up and Midorima sees nothing but hurt and fear in his eyes.
"We are alike, at least compared to the rest of the team. But I've never thought that he was good for me."
When he sees the confusion creeping into Takao's eyes, he continues, "Akashi was someone I shared interests with, and he's probably the first person I could really consider a friend. I admired his determination, and how he always gets it right the first time. But that's where it stops. I never saw him as anything but a friend and rival. And I assure you, it's the same on Akashi's side."
"But when he's here, you're happier than usual. Don't deny it, because I can tell. And you don't even hesitate to grant his request."
There's a question hidden there, Midorima knows. It's probably something like 'Why are you so eager when it comes to Akashi?' He decides to be elusive with his answer.
"When Akashi changed, I felt like I lost a friend and it wasn't easy to accept. Now that he's back, it feels as if I've found my friend again. Do you understand?"
Takao scrunches his eyebrows, and he thinks he starting to comprehend the dynamics of their relationship, but Midorima clarifies just to make sure.
"With Akashi, it's about companionship, and trying to surpass a rival. But with you…" Midorima takes a breath before adding, "I've come to realize that there's nothing platonic about the way I feel about you."
Even though he's in an honest mood, it still takes a lot of courage to say that and his cheeks are already red.
"Shin-chan…"
Takao's eyes are wide and he's rendered speechless, a commendable feat that Midorima accomplishes. He understands now, because Midorima has made it crystal clear. But there's still one thing he wonders.
"Then…why me?" he asks. "Of everyone, why did you choose me? I mean, the way I am, it's worlds apart from the way you are."
Midorima realizes that he doesn't even need to think about to say, because it's so simple.
"Because you stayed. You stayed, even when you had every reason not to. I know how I am Takao, I know what people say about me. But you didn't just look past that, you found the good things in me that I didn't even know I have."
He makes sure to look directly at Takao when he gives voice to his next thought.
"And because you're real."
He wanted to say 'genuine', because Takao is always entirely himself, but he's unable to be articulate in this moment. There's a lot of things he wants to say; that Takao's genuineness was what melted him, that he's still confused over why Takao stays but it makes him happy nonetheless, that he grew on him, that he was the constant in his life he intends to keep. But he doesn't need to say it, because Takao understands. And there would be many more opportunities to say it anyway.
Takao feels like crying, because he feels so stupid about his insecurities and that this is the first time Midorima has ever said something like that and it just puts him over the moon hearing such a sincere and heartfelt confession from him. He never knew Midorima felt this way and finally knowing it assuaged his insecurities and did strange things to his heart.
"Shin-chan you idiot! You should have told me all these before so I won't have to feel jealous and scared! And now…now I'm super happy damn it."
"You're the idiot," Midorima counters. "For thinking stupid things. And for assuming that my first kiss was with Akashi. You're the one who took my first kiss…and I know I wasn't your first kiss so you don't have the right to be jealous at all."
"You can be my first for everything else!" Takao exclaims too loudly and scoots nearer to Midorima, wrapping his arms tightly around his body and burying his face in his chest. The shooting guard responds by embracing him back, curling his fingers in Takao's shirt.
When he's calmed down and gathered himself, Takao murmurs into Midorima's chest, "I'm super happy you know."
"I know."
He looks down as Takao raises his head and the only thing they register is their lips on each other's. They kiss gently, revelling in the newly-discovered feelings. When Midorima traces his tongue on the seam of Takao's lips, he invites him in willingly, clinging on to his shirt as their tongues met. It feels like a long while before one of them breaks the kiss and for a few moments, all they did was look at each other, as if they're convincing themselves that this is real and this is better than good.
"By the way," Midorima starts. "Akashi invited us to a friendly tomorrow, with the rest of them. Kuroko and Murasakibara are bringing Kagami and Himuro-san as well. Will you go?"
"Hehh…" Takao smirks, immediately devising a plan to assert his dominance. "Of course I will!"
Midorima wants to point out Takao's suspicious smirk but cleanly forgets about it when he kisses him again.
Saturday
"Here," Momoi smiles and hands out the yellow bib to Takao, who says a 'thank you!' and puts it on eagerly. This is a good team, even though Midorima wasn't in his, Akashi's in the opposing team and that's all that matters. In yellow bibs as well are Kuroko (passing with him is going to be fun), Himuro (ah, the Mirage Shooter), and Murasakibara (great defence, Takao thinks he'll need to pull his weight in offense). He eyes their opponents: Aomine, Kagami (two power forwards, he'll get the taller guys to handle the defence) with Midorima and Akashi. Kise was sitting out on this round so he settles himself on the bench. Grinning, Takao thinks that this will be a lot of fun.
"Are you guys ready?" Momoi calls and heads to the center of the court, basketball in her hands.
"Hell yeah!" Kagami exclaims and takes his position at the center line.
Before the game can start however, Takao feels a rush of impulsiveness and against his better judgment, allows it to take charge.
"Akashi!" he shouts, which causes everyone to turn their attention to him, surprised at his sudden outburst. Akashi stares back, curiosity and not confusion resting on his calm features. Takao looks at Akashi straight in the eye and points a finger in his direction. "I don't care if this is a friendly, I will beat you for Shin-chan's sake!"
"T-Takao!" he hears Midorima sputter in horror.
"Shin-chan's mine!" he continues, oblivious to the amused glances, snickers, and mild amazement that was showing on some of their faces now. "You'll have to fight me for him!"
His eyes are ablaze with determination and satisfaction and by this time, Midorima is red with mortification, mouth hanging open in utter disbelief that Takao just declared a challenge against Akashi for him in front of everyone!
An amused smile appears on Akashi's lips and he decides to indulge in Takao's gratuitous challenge. It's really unnecessary, because why would Takao need to fight for Midorima when he's already his and that nothing, or no one, is going to change that?
"That's the spirit," Akashi says mildly, letting his amusement linger.
"Huh?!" Midorima exclaims, wondering why the hell Akashi is playing along with whatever Takao's pulling.
Momoi giggles and takes the opportune moment to start the game.
"Tip-off!"
"Go Takaocchi!" Kise cheers from the side-lines as Murasakibara steals the ball from Kagami.
3 Days Ago
"Do you eat scones?" Midorima asks as he stops at the little confectionery shop on their way back.
"Rarely," Akashi answers, stopping as well and watches Midorima peer into the shop. "But I don't mind trying some. Are the scones here recommended?"
"Recommended by an unofficial source," he replies with a hint of amusement so tiny that Akashi almost missed it. "Takao says the scones here are good, made his taste buds explode with how delicious they are, was what he said."
Midorima scans through the outdoor menu and doesn't notice Akashi studying his face.
"I was sceptical with that sort of exaggeration, but they serve red-bean flavour here, so I guess Takao was right. He likes the green tea one, he says it has a good blend of sweetness and bitter aftertaste. They have many flavours here, you can buy some for your teammates."
Akashi doesn't answer straightaway, only looks at the side of Midorima's face, feeling heartened and amused that his friend could make such an expression after all.
His bout of silence causes Midorima to look at him, "Akashi?"
"Midorima," he finally answers. "You really like him right? Takao Kazunari."
The question catches him completely by surprise and for a few moments he feels utterly exposed. He's embarrassed to be caught and called out because of the expression he must have been making while thinking about Takao and scones but Akashi is looking at him expectantly, waiting for an answer he knows damn well of. Eventually, Midorima composes himself and gives his answer.
"Yes.."
End
Notes: Takao's team loses in the end. But he still makes it a point to declare that Shin-chan belongs with him, specifically to Akashi, much to Midorima's chagrin.