The bell rang to announce the beginning of 3rd period at Seirin High, the steady chattering of the students dimming as everyone went to class. Kuroko Tetsuya sat at his desk near the back of the room, his chin propped on his hand. In front of him, the beast known as Kagami Taiga sat, scratching his head as he quarreled with advanced algorithms. Kuroko would usually be doing the same, as he was very diligent with his studies; but today, he was just out of it. He stared absentmindedly out the window of the 2nd floor, watching the birds chasing each other in the summer air. It was a perfect day; but Kuroko didn't seem to notice.
"Eh, Kuroko…" Kagami whispered over his shoulder, catching the blue-haired boy's attention. "What's the answer to #6?" Kuroko would always help Kagami with his studies, but when he looked down at his own answer sheet, there was nothing. Kagami seemed to notice, for he instantly whipped around in his desk. "Hey, why aren't there any answers on your paper?!"
"Oh…I just don't feel like doing math, Kagami-kun…sorry," Kuroko murmured softly, returning his eyes to the window. Kagami wrinkled his eyebrows in confusion.
Kuroko not doing math? He though, turning back to his own work. Probably just an off day. Without his unlimited source of information operational, Kagami was at a loss. He resorted to tugging at his hair frustratingly and doodling crude anime figures on his paper, but at the end of the class, he was intellectually drained.
"Uggghh, I hate algorithms…" Kagami moaned as he walked alongside Kuroko towards their next class. Kuroko sipped at his strawberry milkshake, mumbling in response to Kagami's griping. Kagami looked down at him curiously, sensing the shift in his usual demeanor. As he looked closer, he saw dark rings under his eyes, which were cast towards the floor grimly. A thickness formed in Kagami's gut at the sight of such a disheveled Kuroko. "Hey, Kuroko, you feeling alright?"
Kuroko glanced at Kagami briefly, nodding slightly. Kagami gazed down at him worriedly, picking at his bottom lip, getting lost in his thoughts. What's wrong with Kuroko? Does he have a new girlfriend? Is it relationship troubles? Maybe his grades are dropping? Thoughts swam around his head as he sat in chemistry, barely paying attention to the teacher.
Eventually, the final bell rang, signaling the end of the day. Kuroko and Kagami once again walked together down to the gymnasium for basketball practice. Kuroko still looked downcast, despite just leaving one of his favorite classes. They entered the change room, grabbing their things from their lockers. After Kagami had slipped on his shorts, he turned to Kuroko.
"You know, if there's something bothering you, you can tell me about it," Kagami said to him, putting his good clothes on the bench. Kuroko was still for a moment, then nodded in silent response. As Kuroko slipped off his shirt, Kagami noticed several purple bruises along his neckline and chest. Kagami was about to ask about them, but Kuroko had already slipped his gym shirt on, as if he aimed to hide the marks. Kagami decided it was a question for another time, when it suddenly hit him.
What if Kuroko is getting bullied outside of Seirin?! He thought to himself, his eyes widening in realization. I'll fucking kill them! With his new mindset of determination, he swore to himself he'd murder anyone who so dare as lay a finger on the small boy.
They left the change room just as all the other team members arrived, as they were always earlier than everyone else.
"I have to talk to Riko-san about something…" Kuroko mumbled as he left Kagami's side to meet Aida Riko, the team's coach, who was rolling a cart of basketballs into the gym. Kuroko had seemed so distraught lately, that Kagami decided to listen in. After checking to make sure no one could see him, he stood near the entrance of the gym, trying to catch snippets of the conversation.
"Oh, Tetsu-kun! What do you need?" Riko greeted him happily, leaning against the basketball cart. She was in her school uniform, as she always was for practice, but Kuroko couldn't help but notice that she looked a little uncomfortable.
"I need to change my home address information…" Kuroko told her, as everyone was required to whenever their personal information changed.
"Ah, alright. I didn't know you moved, Kuroko-san," Riko responded, nodding her head and reaching for a notepad in the chest pocket of her uniform.
"Ah, I didn't move, I just…they raised the rent for my apartment. I can't afford it, so I have moved back in with my parents," Kuroko explained, growing quieter and quieter with every word.
"You lived alone? How would you even pay for that without a job?" Riko asked curiously, poking her bottom lip with her pen. She could also sense something a little off about Kuroko, just as Kagami had; but despite her ability to analyze anyone just by looking at them, she couldn't see through Kuroko's barrier.
"I work on the weekends when I can…" he murmured, scratching nervously at his elbow. His fingers trembled slightly as he did; he squeezed his arm tightly to keep his coach from noticing.
He seems awfully different today… Riko thought to herself. Almost like he doesn't want to be questioned about anything. Taking the hint, she decided to drop it. If Kuroko didn't want to talk about something, then there wasn't much that could be done.
"I see. So what's your new address?" she asked, putting on a big smile, hoping it would alleviate his frayed nerves. Kuroko responded curtly with his new address as Kagami tried to fit the pieces together.
If Kuroko's moving back in with his parents, what's he so upset for? Maybe he doesn't like them? He thought to himself. He would have continued that train of thought if it weren't for the rest of his teammates exiting the change rooms noisily, ready for that afternoon's practice.
"Come on, let's get to practice before Riko yells at us for taking so long," Koganei chirped, following behind everyone else.
"Technically, we were in the change room which is part of the gym, so we wouldn't be counted late anyways," Hyuuga remarked, adjusting his glasses as he led the group. The rest of the group chuckled amusedly, following him out of the boy's room. Kagami waved to them as they walked, hoping they didn't notice him earnestly listening to Kuroko and Riko.
He couldn't be sure what was ailing Kuroko, but he knew it was something deeply troubling to the poor boy. He couldn't help but feel a little sad that he could do nothing to help his dear friend, but he knew that this wasn't the end of it. If it was someone hurting Kuroko, then there was one thing he could do, and that was break both their arms over his knee. He walked into the gym with everyone else, Kuroko and Riko turning to greet them. Kuroko's eyes locked with Kagami's as he walked; perhaps for the first time that day. Something sinister was stirring within Kuroko, and Kagami was determined to find out what.