It was a normal occurrence, Kuroko thought to himself as he emptied the tacks out of his shoes. It seemed people weren't happy that Kuroko moved up from the third string to the first in what seemed like a day. People didn't know that he had stayed after school everyday for months just practicing his basketball skills to get where he was today.
The bullying didn't start on the first day he was promoted but Kuroko thought that was because no one could see him. Once people realized they would never have a one on one confrontation with Kuroko they settled for vandalizing his desks, throwing away his shoe's, or putting tacks in them. Kuroko thought it was really childish, but since it never really affected him he let it be.
"Hey Tetsu!"
Kuroko looked over to see Aomine and Momoi walking towards him.
"Hello Aomine-kun, Momoi-san." Kuroko greeted with a nod. Aomine opened the locker next to his and quickly removed his basketball shoes to exchange them for the standard school shoes.
"Your late today Tetsu-kun, well not really, but normally we see you in the classroom." Momoi mentioned.
"Ah, my grandmother made breakfast this morning so I guess I am a little late because of that."
"Eh? Tetsu-kun are you not eating breakfast every morning? Do you want me to start making you bentos?" At this Aomine blanched and started making a 'X' motion with his arms behind Momoi's back.
"That is very kind of you to offer Momoi-san but I do have breakfast every morning so there is no need to trouble yourself." Kuroko flashed her a small smile.
"O-of course Tetsu-kun!" Momoi nodded franticly cheeks stained red. "It's no trouble though so if you want I can, whenever." Momoi rambled on. Aomine mouthed 'nice save' and grinned at Kuroko giving him a approving thumbs up.
Kuroko ignored him.
"Anyways!" Momoi exclaimed. "I just remembered the sports festival is next week, are you guys excited?"
"You bet I'm gonna win every competition." Aomine laughed wrapping an arm around Kuroko. "What about you Tetsu are you going to enter anything, well Akashi might make you but…" Aomine let the words hang in the air.
"I'm not sure Aomine-kun, I might participate in the scavenger hunt, it doesn't seem to be that hard."
"No fun Tetsu, besides I heard the items have been getting really weird lately." Aomine grunted, Kuroko rolled his eyes and ducked under Aomine's arm.
"Well if I have to do something that's probably going to be it."
"We can think about it later for now lets get to class unlike Dai-chan I actually care about my attendance." At this Aomine made a noise.
The three continued their conversation as the walked to their classroom. Aomine and Kuroko were discussing the different events at the sports festival when Momoi let out a sharp gasp.
"Oi Satsuki you alright?" Aomine asked.
Momoi didn't answer and Aomine followed her line of sight to the back room where his and Kuroko's desks were, except Kuroko's desk was covered in dark marking and words of 'Go die' and 'Your worthless' were scrawled across the surface. Aomine's eyes narrowed. Without warning he yelled.
"Alright who did this!? You think you can—" Aomine stopped when Kuroko tugged on his jacket.
"Don't worry about it Aomine-kun it doesn't matter and it's not like it's hurting anyone."
"Doesn't matter?" Momoi echoed softly.
"Like hell it doesn't matter!"
Kuroko ignored him though and moved to grab cleaning supplies from the back closet. Aomine and Momoi stood shocked as Kuroko just cleaned his desk like it was normal. Before they had a chance to say anything the bell rang and their teacher entered the classroom. They could do nothing but sit down and wait for class to end.
When the class took a break for lunch without a word Aomine grabbed Kuroko's arm and dragged him out of the classroom.
"Aominecchi!"
Aomine ignored the blond and continued to drag Kuroko around the hallway Momoi following right behind him.
"Your so mean Aominecchi!" Kise exclaimed but he started following the three anyways. "Where are we going."
Aomine didn't respond but he stopped suddenly in front of a classroom.
"Eh why are we at Akashicchi's classroom."
Aomine slammed open the door, the students instantly went quite turning to where the loud noise had come from. Aomine ignored them though and looked around the classroom, he moved forward when he saw Akashi and Midorima playing shogi and Murasakibara sitting next to them eating some chips.
"Daiki." Akashi called out not looking away from the shogi board. "To what do I owe the pleasure of you barging into my class?"
"Tetsu," He moved the boy in front of him. "Is being bullied and he thinks it is no big deal."
"It really isn't I don't know why you are making such a big fuss." Kuroko stated simply. Aomine glared at him.
"Tetsuya."
"Yes Akashi-kun?"
"Is this bullying effecting you or how you play?"
"No."
"Then it is not a concern." Akashi set down a shogi piece as if to punctuate his sentence.
"Wait Kurokocchi is getting bullied?" Kise asked, he turned to look at the boy who was standing in front of Aomine.
"Yes I suppose but it doesn't bother me." Kuroko shifted uncomfortably not liking all this attention, Akashi gave him a look, Kuroko stilled mask back in place. Aomine noticed.
"I see how it is, you don't care as long as it doesn't affect the team or our chances of winning." Aomine glared at Akashi.
"Calm down you fool, if Kuroko doesn't care then why make a big deal out of it. Obviously he is mature enough not to let some childish bullying get to him." Midorima huffed as he observed the board in front of him.
"Hmm I don't like that people are being mean to Kuro-chin, but if he says he's alright then I guess it's okay." Murasakibara mumbled offering the boy his bag of chips. Kuroko shook his head, Murasakibara didn't seem to upset.
"Eh this isn't right though!" Kise started. "I mean we don't even know what they are doing what if Kurokocchi is lying to us!"
"Kise-kun." Kuroko interjected. Kise quieted.
"Aomine-kun, Kise-kun, Momoi-san. Thank you for your concern but it is really nothing to be worried about. This isn't anything I can't handle."
"If you say so but Tetsu-kun please say something if it gets too much." Momoi pleaded holding onto Kuroko's arm.
"I will."
The sports festival was almost here and the school, being one that mainly focused on sports, was very excited. All the classes were working together to get things prepared, some classes were signed up to prepare food and a few students were being briefed on how to be announcers. Kuroko was pretty sure there was going to be a few scouts coming as well. It seemed a little over the top but as long as everyone was having fun Kuroko really didn't have a problem with it.
"Kuroko-kun." A teacher called out.
"Yes Sensei?"
The teacher who had been looking for the boy jumped and placed a hand on his chest to calm his rapid heart.
"Kuroko-kun! I need you to take these forms to the sports advisor they are the listings of the events." Kuroko nodded and excepted the large stack of papers stumbling a little under the weight.
"Hmm," The teacher looked over Kuroko. "Yoshida!"
"Huh?" A student said from the back of the classroom. Kuroko looked back and saw the boy he had short spiky blonde hair and was a bit taller then himself. Kuroko recognized him as another member of the basketball club.
"Help Kuroko-kun carry these forms to the sports advisor." The boy got out of his desk with a sigh but went to grab the papers anyways. The teacher gave him a approving nod and sent the two out.
The two boys walked in silence, Kuroko wasn't struggling with the papers anymore but it was hot outside and the sun was beating down onto his back uncomfortably. The sports advisor was unfortunately located in another building so the two would have to be outside for awhile.
They reached the stairs soon enough and started to climb up them. Kuroko was cursing whoever made the school why was there so many flights of stairs? When they finally reached the top platform Kuroko was trying to hide his heavy breaths, Akashi-kun would surely punish him if he was seen like this.
Yoshida gave Kuroko a side long glance and walked over to the boy.
"Here I'll hold your forms, I bet you're tired."
Kuroko nodded grateful and handed the other boy his forms. Yoshida sneered.
"Pathetic."
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me. I said your pathetic." Yoshida glared at the boy. "How can someone like you be on the first string?" Yoshida growled and threw the papers on the ground they flew in different directions some falling down the stairs.
"How did someone like you," the word was hissed venomously. "get into the first string, I bet you bribed them." Yoshida shoved his hands into his pockets and shrugged.
"But who knows, everyone sees how the Generation of Miracles are hanging off you, I bet you promised them services other then basketball." Yoshida gave him a vicious grin.
"That's gross."
The grin fell off his face and was replaced with a questioning look. "I don't think your in any position to be making remarks like that Kuroko-kun." Yoshida, before he could react, grabbed Kuroko's arm and twisted it behind his back.
"Maybe if I broke this arm of yours you would stop playing basketball for good."
"I'm ambidextrous." Kuroko deadpanned.
Yoshida growled and tightened his grip on the boy's arm. "I guess that means I just have to break both of your arms."
"Is that really a good idea?"
"Hah? You finally scared?"
"Hmm, not really," Kuroko mentioned. "I know you wouldn't do that Yoshida-kun. You're a hard worker who loves basketball. If not for the Generation of Miracles and myself I'm sure you would be a starter."
Yoshida let out a fierce cry.
"DON'T PATRONIZE ME!" In a fit of rage Yoshida let go of Kuroko's arm and shoved him down the stairs. He watched the small body fall down the stairs with a distant look in his eyes. It was only when Kuroko hit the bottom and didn't move was when he snapped out of it.
"Holy shit." He said under his breath baking away from the edge slowly not believing what he just did. Before he could think of anything else Yoshida felt something hard collide with his face. He fell and hit the ground hard. Yoshida groaned and looked up and through the glaring lights coming from the window he saw a large dark figure.
"YOU BASTARD!"
Yoshida was picked up by his collar, he opened his eyes as much as he could and saw the menacing dark blue eyes of Aomine Daiki the power forward for the Generation of Miracles. Shit.
"Shintarou." A voice called out. Yoshida couldn't see anything except for the seething teen in front of him but he felt someone pass him and start rushing down the stairs.
"Akashi can I beat this bastard the hell up now?"
"Not yet. Daiki."
The piercing blue eyes never left his but Aomine sucked his teeth and through Yoshida to the ground.
"Akashicchi we can't just let this guy go he… Kurokocchi." Yoshida looked over and saw the recent addition to the Generation of Miracles Kise Ryouta the small forward. That means the one that went to check on the brat must have been the shooting guard Midorima Shintarou.
Aomine backed away from Yoshida and he thought it was his chance to escape, that was until he felt himself being grabbed by the shoulders and being held up by the team's center Murasakibara Atsushi.
Before he had a chance to try and free himself from the giants grasp he felt someone in front of him.
"I see you've been messing with our phantom sixth man. We can't have that."
Akashi Seijuurou the point guard and captain of the Generation of Miracles. Everyone in school has heard of Akashi he was genius and everyone also knew not to mess with him either being from a family of old money he could destroy your life.
"I wasn't concerned when I learned of Tetsuya being bullied he's strong enough to not be bothered by it but when things get psychical that when we step in." Akashi took another step closer and Yoshida shivered in fear.
"Shintarou!"
Yoshida flinched at the sudden command from the boy in front of him, that tone was like something out of those military movies his dad always made him watch.
"I can't say for certain but it looks at the very least sprained." Midorima called back. Akashi made a thoughtful noise.
"So you have injured one of our valuable players huh Kisame? Well…" Akashi trailed off and Yoshida felt Murasakibara's grip from his shoulder shift to his wrist.
"An eye for an eye, I do believe that is how the expression goes."
"Kuroko wait! You should not be moving right now!" Yoshida heard Midorima cry out, Akashi glanced away from him and looked towards the stairs. The sound of stomping feet could be heard as well as small puffs of air, suddenly a head of light blue hair appeared in Yoshida's peripheral vision.
"Akashi-kun don't hurt him he didn't mean it!" Aomine made a noise and Kise laughed unpleasantly. Akashi moved away from Yoshida and walked towards Kuroko who was in the middle of catching his breath but he stood up straight.
"Oh really? I can not ignore this Tetsuya you're injured."
"I'm fine."
Akashi sent the boy a doubtful look and gently grabbed at the boy's wrist. Kuroko gasped in pain.
"Yes you are perfectly fine Tetsuya in fact I think we should have a friendly game of basketball right now."
"I didn't know you could joke Akashi-kun." Akashi glared at Kuroko.
"Be quite Tetsuya," Akashi ordered. "I didn't intervene earlier because I knew you could handle petty acts of bulling from ignorant people. But I am not going to do nothing when you are being hurt."
"Then report him you all don't have to get in trouble for trying to beat him up."
"Tetsu!" Aomine called out, "He threw you down the stairs!"
"While I do not condone the actions of that boy," Midorima bit out, "I agree with Kuroko we should not mar our records with acts of petty violence because one of our teammates was injured." That being said Midorima had a scowl on his face as he started to unwrap his fingers and quickly use the bandage to wrap Kuroko's wrist.
"If that's what Kuro-chin wants then I won't fight but I think Kuro-chin is stupid for saying that."
"No! You guys can't be okay with this! That bastard hurt my shadow and I don't care what you guys say I'm going to beat the shit out of him."
"Yeah! We can't just let him get away with hurting Kurokocchi! You guys wouldn't help when he was being bullied so we have to help now!'
While the Generation of Idiots were arguing Yoshida felt that dumb giant's grip on his shoulders slacking. He needed to get out of here fast, when Yoshida was sure their attention was not on him and jerked out shoulders in Murasakibara's grasp and bolted. His escape plan was cut short though when he was tripped down to the ground by that short fuck Akashi. He growled. It was cut off though when he felt that giant step on him back making it impossible for him to even try and escape again.
"Hey whats going on here?"
Thank god a teacher, they would obviously see how Yoshida was being bullied and punish those Generation of Idiots.
"Yamada-sensei."
"Akashi-san? What is going on here."
Fuck that. Yoshida had forgotten that Akashi basically ran the school, every teacher here was his bitch. From the corner of his eye Yoshida saw Akashi discreetly trip Kuroko so he fell into the captain's arms.
"My friends and I were just turning in some forms for a teacher and we saw Yoshida here bulling Kuroko." Akashi motioned to the boy in his arms. Kuroko was glaring at Akashi trying to struggle out of his arms which the teacher must have mistaken for being in pain.
"Is that true Yoshida-san?"
"Fuck that! They're lying they were the ones beating me up."
Yamada made a disbelieving noise. "Thank you for informing me Akashi-san I will take Yoshida to the facility office and contact his parents."
Murasakibara took his foot off of Yoshida and let the teacher take the boy away. When the two were far enough away Akashi turned back to Kuroko.
"Tetsuya."
Kuroko ignored him, he had given up trying to get out of his arms all that struggling started to hurt his wrist. Akashi sighed.
"Tetsuya I apologize for not doing something about this earlier."
"No Akashi-kun, you don't have to apologize I shouldn't have been so stubborn now I can't play basketball anymore."
Akashi nodded but said nothing else.
"Worry not Kuroko I will make sure that you get the best care for your wrist…" Midorima must have realized what that sounded like though because he quickly added, "For the team of course! We can't have the team be short one member due to negligence."
With that the tension was broken and Aomine and Kise laughed at how 'tsundere' Midorima was being. The four walked (Murasakibara insisted on carrying Kuroko) to the nurses office.
"You know this reminds me." Kuroko mentioned. The four turned to him with a questioning look on their faces.
"Yoshida-san implied I was doing 'other' services to you guys besides basketball." Kuroko finished offhandedly.
"…What?" Aomine finally got out with a blush on his face.
"I just thought I'd mention it because I thought it was funny. He probably thought I was some kind of maid or something."
Kuroko felt a hand ruffle his hair and looked up to see Murasakibara smiling gently at him. "Hmm I wouldn't mind that Kuro-chin."
"Eh? I want Kurokocchi to be my maid too!"
Kuroko smiled as he listened to the others argue, he knew that wasn't what Yoshida meant but it was fun to mess with them like this, he heard a quick exhale of air and turned to see Akashi looking at him with a amused look, Kuroko looked away upset he was found out.
"I think if anything," Akashi started still looking at Kuroko, "Tetsuya should be my maid, it makes sense does it not I am the captain after all." Kuroko glared at him but said nothing else. This caused more arguments from the group.
Well it is a bit late but it is still Sunday! I feel like the ending to this was a little rushed I hope it still makes sense. Make sure to comment if you liked it!.
Another announcement I am working on an Akakuro/Kagakuro Noragami fanfiction! I finally found out how the naming system works for it so I'm super happy. another good thing is even if you haven't seen Noragami you can read it because it doesn't follow the story at all and there all no spoilers I'm super happy about that. I am in the process of writing it right now so it should be out in a month or two so I hope you all look forward to that.
Kuroko no Basuke - Tadatoshi Fujimaki