Growing up, Imogen had spent a lot of her time alone. Her parents had often been out on business calls or business parties, anything related to their jobs. She hardly saw them at all. Whenever they were out, she always spent her time with Midorima, hence why she had grown up close to him. He had always been there for her whenever her parents weren't, which was more often then not. One night, Midorima hadn't been home, so Imogen had been stuck at home by herself. During a nasty storm. She had a fear of storms, loud thunder and bright lightening along with the wind and the heavy rainfall always put her on edge. She had spent the entire night and even the next day by herself, shaking and crying the entire night. She had been five at the time. Her parents hadn't even considered checking on her when they returned home for the few hours they had to do paperwork and whatnot. Whenever they did see her, they were strict and monotone. They'd remind her to mind her own business and do her chores and homework, if she didn't she'd get in trouble. If she wasn't prim and proper, the girl would be forced to miss a dinner. She basically grew up independently, though she did get to rely on Midorima, and soon those who took care of her at Teiko.

Imogen hadn't always been like the way she was now; playful, open and determined. As a child, she had been fairly quiet and isolated, trying to keep to herself and avoid doing anything wrong. When she had joined the basketball team as the fill-in, it had been unintentional. She had bumped into Aomine the first day at Teiko and the two had gotten along quite well, he and Midorima taught her plenty of skills, however she had been naturally talented in the sport. During a scrimmage, her father had interrupted the practice, going off about how a proper lady doesn't play such grueling sports, which brought the young girl to tears. She had been a disgrace to her family by playing the sport and just when she had asked to quit, the team had helped her back onto her feet and reassured her that she would be just fine with them.

Over time, they had managed to break her out of her isolated shell and turned her into the way she was today.

Imogen hadn't spoken to her parents since that day. She had moved in with her aunt and uncle until she reached high school, where her aunt and uncle offered to pay for her apartment and rent as long as she promised to continue pursuing what she loved. And she did.


Imogen rubbed the back of her neck, adjusting the crutches underneath her arms.

"I...um... Yeah, I'll stay home then. Tell everyone I said hi," she mumbled, disappearing back into her room, kicking the door shut behind her and locking it.

She crawled back into her bed and curled up onto her side, staring at the opposite side of the room. She wasn't mad at Kuroko, he was simply trying to do what was best for her, however she didn't like being left alone for long periods of time. Call her clingy, but it was her parents' faults that she was like that.


The three boys stared at the door, two of them watching solemnly, while the other stared in confusion.

"What was that about?" Kagami asked, looking between Kise and Kuroko, an expression on his face that demanded answers.

Kuroko sighed and began to explain it all to him. By the end of the entire explanation, Kagami looked rather livid.

"Those bastards! How could they do that to her? She was a child!" Kuroko reached out and rested a hand on his shoulder to calm him down.

"Imocchi's parents were strict, much like Akacchi's father, however they were never there to support her or check in on her. They sometimes even went as far as not allowing her to eat a meal, whether it be one meal or all three. If she didn't do what they said. Imogen and Akashi could relate with how strict their parents were, which is why they got along so well, but lots of things changed. Imogen moved out and she hasn't seen her parents since. Her aunt and uncle pay for this place for her," Kise explained, letting Kagami process it all.

Kagami seethed before nodding his head.

"I can see why she would want to go to a practice after being away from everyone for a few days. I don't think she's had any company until today, but Hitome-san said she was to be on bed-rest unless it was absolutely necessary that she gets up," Kuroko spoke out, glancing back towards the door.

"I don't think we should leave her alone, Kurokocchi."

They couldn't debate on anything for too long since they'd have to leave for practice in just a few minutes. While Kise made a phone call, Kuroko and Kagami went to say their goodbyes, though they both seemed reluctant to do so. Kuroko knocked lightly on the door.

"Imogen-san, we've got to leave for practice. I'll text you how it goes," he said, stepping back. They could hear her quiet voice utter out an 'okay'.

"See ya' later, Imogen, rest up so that we can have you back with us," Kagami said before following behind Kuroko.

The two of them never seeing the small smile that stretched across her lips.

"Imocchi! I'm on my way out too! See you soon, okay?" Kise called out to her, waiting for the faint 'alright' he received in return before leaving the apartment after Kuroko and Kagami.

He had made a call, thankfully receiving an answer. Imogen wouldn't be alone for much longer.


Imogen had exited her room about half an hour after everyone had left, making her way into the kitchen, albeit quite spitefully. She had had enough of these damned crutches. Her knee was fine. Imogen dropped the crutches from her grip, walking- more like limping- the rest of the way to the kitchen. It hurt. A lot. But she couldn't stand feeling to weak. She despised it.

She stopped by the pantry, pivoting on her leg to open the door. Her knee went weak and she collapsed to the floor, her arms out in front of her to brace herself from the fall. Imogen frowned, her arms shaking. She pushed herself into a sitting position, leaning back against the wall.

Imogen felt a whirlwind of emotions; frustration, irritation, melancholy, and dejection. And she felt alone. However, not for long. Imogen's head lifted up when there was a knock on her apartment door, a look of confusion settling on her face.

"The door is unlocked," she called out, not caring how pitiful she looked.

The door clicked open and in walked Midorima Shintarou.

"Hm, Shin-chan? Why are you here?" She asked, watching the green-haired male make his way over to her crutches, picking them up with his neatly-wrapped fingers.

"Ryouta-san called and told me that you were alone, in fact," he said subtly, leaning the crutches against the wall next to Imogen before leaning over and forcing her to her feet, holding her up until he could retrieve the crutches.

"I should have guessed that you'd do something as stupid as try to walk on your own," he added, handing her each crutch before she was stable on her own.

Imogen scowled, glaring at him.

"Are you surprised? You know me, I don't like feeling so weak," she muttered, moving around him to the pantry.

"Besides, don't you have practice, or something?" She asked, changing the topic before she got the typical Midorima lecture about herself.

"We did, but Kise had made it seem like an absolute emergency so I asked to leave early, you're lucky that Otsubo agreed."

Imogen rolled her eyes, shaking her head as she reached up to grab a box of crackers. A hand reached over her's and retrieved it for her, bringing it down to her height.

The girl scrunched her face up in a look of annoyance.

"I didn't tell you to come here so don't be mad at me, and I could have gotten that, in fact," she mocked, taking the box anyway, and carrying one of the open flaps in her mouth so she could move around Midorima.

"Mmph, well..." she paused, setting the box down on the counter once she had made it, "since you're already here, lets watch a movie."

Midorima looked down at her with a stoic expression. She had made it clear that it wasn't an option for him to say no so he simply sighed and gave a single nod of his head.

Imogen smiled, picking the box back up in her mouth and making her way to the main room with the couch and television.

"Come on, Shin-chan, no time to waste," she called out, though it was muffled a bit from the box she was carrying.

Imogen dropped onto the couch with absolutely no grace, setting the crutches on the ground beside her. She crossed one leg over the other as she laid back, taking the box of crackers into her hands and beginning to munch away on them.

Midorima entered the room, going to sit in the love seat beside the couch, however Imogen's narrowed gaze told him otherwise.

"Just throw a movie in and you're sitting over here," she ordered with a grin.

If she hadn't been injured, or had she not been in such a pitiful state moments ago, he probably would have argued with her. He brushed it off and picked out a movie, setting everything up before going over to the couch, carefully picking up her legs and sitting down, allowing her legs to fall back down afterwards. Imogen smiled at him gratefully before turning her attention to the movie.


Imogen's attention span in a movie never did last too long so it was no surprise when she began looking for something to entertain herself with. She reached into the box of crackers and took a few out, quickly tossing one at Midorima, watching it thunk off of his forehead and fall into his lap. His eyebrow twitched and he slowly turned his head in her direction. She threw another one and snickered when it hit his forehead.

"You shouldn't be wasting your food, Imogen-san, and must you hit me with it?" He asked with a sigh.

Imogen shrugged her shoulders and threw yet another cracker at him, this time the cracker landing in his hair.

Midorima gave an exasperated sigh, picking the snack from his hair and flicking it back at her. She swiftly caught it in her mouth, though that was merely by luck. She snorted, chewing the cracker up before swallowing it.

"Come on, you have to admit, that was pretty smooth," she said, holding her hand up expectantly. Midorima rolled his eyes and shook his head, simply complying to her silent request and giving her a light high five.

Imogen beamed at him, closing up the box and setting it down on the floor.

"Hey, if you win your next match, you'll be going against Rakuzan, given if they win, right?" She asked, looking up to him. Midorima pushed up his glasses and nodded.

"They'll win," he assured, though he seemed to be acting a bit grim.

Imogen hummed. "Then I wish you the best of luck, and don't let Mr. Almighty get to you," she encouraged, shifting so she was sitting up.

She leaned against Midorima and sighed, her gaze straying towards the television, however she was no longer watching the movie. Midorima noticed the shift in her aura, glancing down at her.

"If we make it to the finals and end up going against Rakuzan, Kaijo, or your team again, there's no doubt in my mind that my condition is going to get worse. I wasn't really planning on telling anyone until after the matches, but a few people already know, and I didn't want to keep it from you because you're usually the first person to know, but I'm leaving after the final game to America," she explained quietly, her eyes shifting down to her knee.

The Shutoku student sat in silence, waiting for her to continue.

"Surgery on my knee is already being planned by Hitome-san, she's going to schedule the appointment and let me know the details on the flight and what not," she added, shrugging her shoulders.

"It's a make or break moment, y'know. This decides if I'll be able to continue to play basketball or if our last match in the Winter Cup will also be my last match."

Midorima knew this as well, however he didn't want to dwell on that fact. It was a fifty-fifty situation that she was in, either outcome completely plausible. "Then you'd better play each game to your best ability."

Imogen blinked at the statement, processing his words before nodding in agreement, a smile pulling at her lips.

"Yeah, I guess so. Thanks, Shin-chan," she said gratefully. Imogen hummed quietly to herself before leaning her head against his shoulder, her eyes falling shut.

"Will you win against Akashi's team, Shin-chan? For me?" She asked softly, "I know I won't be able to do it myself."

Midorima remained silent, uncertain of how to answer. Akashi was a more than formidable opponent so the outcome of a game between himself and the male was unpredictable.

"I will do my best," he finally responded, giving a slight nod of his head, though he knew that Imogen couldn't see it.

"Promise?" The question had caught him off guard, his eyes widening just a fraction.

He gave another small nod, uttering the quiet vow.

"I promise, Imogen-san."


Yay, finally some Midorima time! I love Midorima quite a bit. Anyways! Feedback is always appreciated! xxx