Summary [chapter 9]: After weeks of learning how to walk with crutches, Masuko finally returns to high school to discover a (not so) new addition to the team and begins to prepare Seirin and her best friend for the Winter Cup.
Following the canon chronology with some additions for the purpose of the story. Main pairing of the story: Midorima x OC.
Written in the third person. The words in italic are characters' thoughts and the words written like this are said in another language (French or English). No harem x OC.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything except my OCs
[PRELUDE OF SUMMER TRAINING CAMP ARC]
FRAGMENTS
~.~
Chapter 9: of basketball and chemistry
"I still can't believe you didn't tell me you went out the other day!" Miyuki exclaimed, outraged.
"Come on Miyuki, I already apologized for that!" Teppei sheepishly replied.
"I didn't even know we could go out a week before our release..."
"It's only because I've been here for a year that they let me," he assured her.
"I see..." The pout remained on Miyuki's face and he was still giving her his sheepish expression, not knowing what else to say to defend himself. He wouldn't tell her he went to Seirin to finally meet Kuroko – because it wouldn't be fun to tell her now – and since she was good at seeing through lies, not saying anything was the best option. "Since it's our last official day at the hospital for the both of us, we should celebrate that!"
He was surprised to see she had food in her hands.
It looked like... a homemade sort of cake?!
"How did you bake them?" he wondered outloud.
She laughed, giving him a slice of the pastry. He never saw that kind of cake before.
"It's obvious I couldn't bake it here, Teppei! That's from my best friend, Taiga, who promised me a pastry before my release. It's called profiteroles, it's not really a cake but it's a choux pastry ball filled with pastry cream... It's not the best thing to eat as athletes but we've suffered enough in reeducation so who cares!"
Kagami Taiga, Seirin's new ace and Miyuki's best friend.
Kagami was one of the reasons why Teppei avoided telling her who he was. Teppei wanted to know more about her as a person and not as manager. Miyuki was too professional, meaning she would've mainly talked about tactical schemes if he would've told her he was part of the team and put some distance between them. But here, she spoke about Kagami as Kagami Taiga, her best friend rather than Kagami Taiga, Seirin's, ace. Riko was confused when he asked her not to say anything to Miyuki about him but she still complied, sensing that there was more to it.
He looked at the cake (?) again and took a bite.
"It tastes good, woah!"
Miyuki nodded. "Taiga is a really good cook! That's his main talent along with basketball."
"Is that so?"
"Yep, although... He recently had a hard defeat against one of the members of the Generation of Miracles."
It was almost amusing how someone who just recently arrived knew about their reputation.
Pretending not knowing who the Generation of Miracles were when she knew he was playing basketball was ridiculous so the only thing to do was to ask...
"Is he okay now?"
Figures.
It had taken Teppei weeks, even months to be okay again after his crushing defeat against them, especially against Murasakibara. He wasn't even sure he was completely okay but he had been among the 'lucky' ones.
He was still an Uncrowned King after all.
"Not really as you can imagine, but he's getting better. I told him to go to practice even if he can't play for now because I don't want him to stay alone for too long."
He saw the sorrowful smile she had. He understood her sadness and frustration as she had been stuck in the hospital and couldn't help Seirin, just like Teppei. "I see..." Hyuuga and Riko were right, she really was a devoted friend. "Do you think your best friend and his team will get over it?"
"Of course they will. That's sport, there's no other way if you want to win again and I know they're craving for victory. I also knew they would lose but there's still a chance that they become strong enough for the Winter Cup. I would even dare to say that I think Seirin can win it."
"Oh?"
That was something he was sure she didn't, or more accurately couldn't say so frankly to Riko.
It made sense: there was no way a maanger could say to their own team (especially to their coach) that they were not strong enough to win against a member of the Generation of Miracles... yet.
Miyuki knew it but couldn't tell them to spare their feelings. A small part of her still had had hope that they would somehow win... He had had the same hope, no matter how unrealistic it was.
"I'm only here since late April so I'm probably more impartial to the situation. I saw how some of the Generation of Miracles members play and... there was no way Seirin could beat that for now."
Teppei blinked. "For now?" he repeated.
"Yep." She wagged her head, a half smile on her face before taking another bite of the pastry.
Did Miyuki see something in Seirin like Teppei did? He had the feeling that year was going to be special. Maybe Miyuki had the same feeling too.
"I never asked, but what's your position?"
"In basketball?" he asked.
Miyuki scoffed before rolling her eyes. "Of course Teppei, what other sport could it be? Football?"
"Ah, you're right... I'm Center," he replied.
He heard her grumbling, "The only post I can't play..."
"Eh? But why?"
Did she hate that position? Teppei was proud of his position as a center despite only being one since last year. Defense was important!
She rolled her eyes again and he felt offended for one second. "Teppei, there's a certain height difference between you and I... Even in football, I can't play as a center back."
Oh. Right.
Although what she just stated was true, she didn't have a small stature for a girl. She was even taller than most of Japanese girls... but that was probably because she was half French.
"Football and basketball have the equivalent positions?"
He had played football last year at P.E classes and watched the World Cup every four years but he couldn't exactly remember everything.
"Not exactly since every player in basketball do both defense and attack while in football, we're eleven per team so we have our own job in a way... If I oversimplify it, I could technically do most of what center backs do except contesting headers due to my height. And no matter how futile it looks, headers matter, especially when the opponent gets a corner or a free kick."
"Ah, that's why! What post do you play then?"
"Left back winger mainly," she answered. Mainly? Miyuki's eyes suddenly had a sharpness that got Teppei on guard. "It's strange but I imagined you as a point guard."
Teppei's eyes widened. She wasn't wrong. He had initially been a point guard until high school. Sometimes, Teppei missed it but he didn't mind being a center for Seirin.
"I see..." Miyuki said after a long moment of observation. She caught his surprise and he wouldn't be shocked to hear that she guessed he used to be a point guard. "I hope I'll be able to play again in six or eight months."
Teppei was grateful she dropped it and started another conversation. "Isn't that a bit quick? It's a professional rhythm and it could be dangerous..." What he was going to do himself was dangerous for his possible future career but it was his only solution to win for Seirin.
It was now or never.
She pat his shoulder reassuringly, an unusual smirk on her face.
"I do plan to participate to an international competition, so I'll be on a professional level."
"Uh?" That was something Riko did not tell him.
"Not many people know it here for now but my aim is the youth World Cup. I have the double nationality and I'll play for France but that's another story... So, do you want to play cards again?"
He remained silent for a moment, still agape by what she just said. There was obviously more behind her statement but he didn't want to make her uncomfortable with tons of questions to answer at the same time.
He had time. She was Seirin's manager and she was getting to know him. She would confide when she would feel comfortable enough, it was okay... But her abrupt change of subjet never fail to unsettle him.
"Of course! Can I have some cake again?"
"It's not a cake, Teppei, it's called profiteroles."
"That's too hard to pronounce," he whined.
She snorted. "I'll learn you some French then."
Teppei was grateful. Miyuki really made the end of his rehab a lot more fun.
"I deeply thank Osawa-sensei and Midorima-san once again for the successful intervention on my knee and also for permitting me to get released from the hospital. Futhermore, I must thank you for letting me pursue my reeducation by my own methods." She bowed as much as the crutches in her hands allowed her to.
Miyuki knew they could have said no. Hell, most people would have said no with what was at stake but she didn't want to sacrifice everything once again to make it to the youth World Cup. She had already given so much for the sport she loved...
Her education at school and being with Taiga were as important as football.
"I can assure to Osawa-sensei and Midorima-san that I will come here for the weekly appointments to continue and strengthen my reeducation," she promised before bowing again.
Osawa-sensei allowed himself to drop his usual professional expression, the strict look smoothed by a rare smile.
"Masuko-san, there's no need to thank me again, I only did my work."
Midorima-san bowed as well. "We are honored you entrusted such important thing as your future career to our hospital."
It was almost strange to see a man like Midorima's father bow. She saw the similarities between father and son, both of physical and moral characteristics. He wasn't as tall as his son but he had the same green hair and green eyes as well as the constant seriousness known as Midorima-kun's main characteristic.
It had been striking when she had first met him.
"I should leave you, I have another operation planned in fifteen minutes."
"Do so, Osawa-sensei." Midorima-san gave a nod to Osawa-sensei before turning back to her. "I heard from my son you are also a basketball manager."
Midorima-kun talked about her? "Hai, I'm Seirin's manager."
She could read slight surprise in his eyes. "Isn't that the team that recently beat Shintaro?"
Miyuki, while perfectly knowing it could be inappropriate to sound proud of that achievement in front of Midorima's father but she couldn't help it. She smiled. "Hai."
"And you became friends after that?"
"Indeed, Midorima-san," she confirmed.
"Interesting," he paused before saying, "My daughter greatly admires you, Masuko-san."
"She does?" She didn't really know how to react. Such thing was new to her but she didn't dislike it. It was good for young girls to have someone to look up to, especially if it was another girl. She would have liked to have someone in women's football to look up to when she was younger. It might would have been easier for her to believe she could be considered by everyone as good as a man sooner. "I'm honored she considers me as someone good enough to be considered as an example."
"Such modesty after what you've accomplished isn't necessary, Masuko-san. My daughter showed me a few videos of your team playing and I must say you do have the potential to become a full professional once your rehab is over. Have you thought about it? Because it could change important elements of your reeducation."
She knew she would have to answer to that question. It was also one of the main questions she would have to answer to the media and to her fans. "I... have already considered the possibility but finally decided against it. At least not in the near future."
"... I see." She knew he wanted to know why but simply didn't ask by politeness. She was grateful for that. "I shall leave you for now, Masuko-san. Do not forget your next appointment with Osawa-sensei."
She nodded firmly, knowing that they kept insisting because they knew athletes tended to skip some of the appointments. "Of course."
She finally left the hospital room after giving a last look at it. She rejoiced in the thought of finally returning to her apartment after three weeks away.
As she reached the exit of the hospital with her crutches, she saw Taiga waiting, her luggage in his hands.
"Took you long enough. Bet you spent all this time thanking them."
"Come on Taiga, I owe them a lot."
"Maybe but you're always bein' too polite it's annoyin' me. Now that you've finished, let's just go home."
Home.
She was starting to consider the place where she lived as such only thanks to Taiga's presence. It made the place warmer.
"You're right."
She was relieved the ride in the taxi wasn't long. as Taiga insisted they took one to avoid tiring her.
Miyuki smiled as she finally went back to her place.
"You did water the flowers, Taiga. You have my congratulations, I'm pleasantly surprised!"
"Oi, don't underestimate me!" he shouted.
She looked at him, amused. "Did you cook food or not?"
"Oi, don't ignore me!" he shouted. "It's in the fridge."
"Great!"
She sat down as Taiga brought the food. It looked tasty.
"Here."
"Thanks."
They never did the Japanese traditional 'itadakimasu' before eating, being too used to directly eat and she didn't mind because it was just the two of them.
She looked around. Coming back to the apartment made her notice how empty it looked.
"I should seriously begin to fill the rooms. And paint them too."
"Why? It looks fine."
She sweatdropped. "You're saying that because you have no decoration at home."
"Meh, I don't care 'bout that."
She rolled her eyes. "I can see that... By the way, how did practice go while I wasn't here?"
"I couldn't play so..." She kicked his leg. "Ouch! I was jokin', I'll start playing tomorrow so that's– Don't hit me again! I know what you mean and yeah, you were right, they're not okay."
He wasn't okay either... But at least, he openly talked to her about it.
She sighed. "It's normal, everyone tried their best. I'll try to do something with Riko-san to cheer you up! And after you'll work up your differences with Tetsuya, I'll start the personal additional training you were yearning for. And don't lie to me about Tetsuya, I know you still haven't talked to him about it yet."
Her best friend looked away and scratched his neck. "I know! But I'm not the type to make the conversation unless it's with you."
"But neither is Tetsuya..." she said, deadpan.
His shoulder dropped. "Yeah," he conceded.
What would he do without her?
Taiga had serious communication issues. Basketball was great but he couldn't solve everything with the sheer power of the sport or whatever her best friend had in mind.
"You'll have to have a talk if you want to fix your issues."
"I know! I'll do it after the practice matches, okay?!"
"Fine." She smiled, knowing it took him great efforts to accept. Taiga was skeptical about coming to practice even if he couldn't play but finally went to the hospital with a smile to tell her it was great to see the team was there for him too. Talking about teams...
"I forgot to tell you the three of them have le bac!"
"They all passed and graduated from high school?! Amazing! And where are they going next year?"
Le bac or baccalauréat was the equivalent of the U.S's highschool 'Graduation' that every student in last year wants to have to get higher education.
"Blaise will go to the Faculty of Medicine in our city, Tahani is going to STAPs and Etienne will be working for our local social center."
"That's awesome!"
"Yeah... I'm really proud of them. I bet they've been continuously celebrating since they've got the results."
"Having that thing is a miracle."
"You're saying that because you're too lazy to work... And if you thought I forgot the term tests, you're wrong. I hope you'll put at least some efforts for the next ones too, Taiga."
Tests... Again, yes.
"No need to say it, I don't want laps as punishment again," he grumbled.
"Good," she said, a sly look on her face. It wasn't just laps, Taiga forgot who was about to become his English teacher ub September... "By the way, don't wait for me after classes tomorrow. I have to go somewhere before joining you for practice."
She had already informed Riko-san about her possible lateness but she said she would compensate by spending a few hours at Aida Sports Gym for her reeducation afterwards (to Riko-san's elation).
"Uh? Why?"
"I have to give to Midorima-kun his birthday gift since he couldn't come to visit me this week." She texted him a 'Happy Birthday, Midorima-kun! May you have a great day' though and she received a short yet polite 'Thank you, Masuko-san' which was better than the 'Go die' Kise-kun apparently got in return (Miyuki only knew about it since Kise-kun had complained to her through texts full of crying emojis).
"Crap, I forgot it was last week – I mean, yeah whatever, just go to visit that bastard," Taiga said, sulking.
"Of course."
She shook her head to herself. Those two were unbelievable.
Why were they too stubborn to admit they were friends? Or maybe it was their way to show they were friends... kind of?
"Wait, how will you do when you'll have French classes? Spanish classes are already taking you two hours every week."
"Don't worry about it Taiga, I've made arrangements/ I'll just arrive late once per week at practice and begin at 8 A.M instead of 9 A.M on Tuesday."
"Is that enough hours for you?"
Taiga was right. She used to have four hours per week but now, she only had two hours.
"No but it'll work for this year. I'll see what to do for the other classes next year, but I think it'll be easier without math!"
"Stop grinning like an idiot every time you think about dropping math."
"Well, stop sleeping every time we have class and then we'll discuss,"she immediately said back.
They kept staring at each other in silence before Taiga finally averted his eyes from her first.
"Fine. You won that one."
She smirked, satisfied. "Then I would require you to make breakfast for Tetsuya and I tomorrow."
"No matter what I would've done it already," he replied though the tone he was using made it obvious he enjoyed spending time with Tetsuya and her outside of school (even if he had to cook).
She had invited Tetsuya a few days ago to eat breakfast with them the morning after her release from the hospital to celebrate, as eating and celebrating were the same thing, anyway.
Taiga took her plate and washed it.
"Come earlier than usual tomorrow to actually tell me what do you want to eat and prepare."
Miyuki nodded. "I will."
She did not come earlier.
Taiga wanted to go and see if his best friend was still sleeping but Kuroko was supposed to come in a few minutes and he always was on time.
She must have been really tired not to come sooner for food... FOOD.
Emilie loved food, almost as much as he loved it (but she didn't eat as much as him... she still ate a lot for a girl).
The doorbell interrupted his thought. It was probably her (finally).
"Took you long enough, Em– GAH Kuroko! Don't scare me like that in the morning!"
Right, Emilie had the keys, she would've never knocked on the door.
"Domo," Kuroko greeted him.
But holy shit, his hair!
"What's with the hair?"
It was a mess, there was no other word to describe it.
"It's just this way every morning."
Oddly enough, his voice was the most expressive when he was still half asleep.
"Every mornin'? You sure?"
"Hai."
"How did I never see that?" he wondered out loud. They were had morning practice and they were in the same class...
"Kagami-kun is always sleeping during classes in the morning... and also the rest of the day."
"Bastard!" He wasn't exactly wrong though so it was better to drop it before Emilie got a word of that. "Oi, I didn't forget you snitched me on Emilie the last time."
"Miyuki-san would have known it anyway."
True.
Hearing Kuroko use someone's first name was weird... Not unpleasant, just weird. Hearing Emilie's Japanese first name wasn't a thing in L.A nor in France whenever he went to see her, as her friends called her by her French first name or her French last name she had used when she (partially) lied about her identity.
"Yeah, right." Emilie knew him too well and she had like a super-power when it was about him doing something bad, she always knew. "Come in."
He let him in and went directly to the kitchen.
"You can sit here while I start preparing breakfast," he said as he showed a seat with the spatula in his hand. When he didn't get any answer, he turned around, "Oi Kuroko, what's with the face?"
He was just staring at him dumbly with his before noting, "Kagami-kun's house... is really big."
"I was supposed to live here with my old man but he had to stay in America. Emilie's comin' here every day... I guess she kinda lives here too."
She even planned to custom his house for whatever reasons she had.
The sound of keys opening the door finally announced Emilie's arrival.
"Hello, Taiga. I know I'm late, shut up," she mumbled in English.
She rubbed her eyes and finally noticed Kuroko's presence... Damn, she must still be really sleepy to only notice Kuroko's presence now.
"Good morning Tetsuya! I apologize for my current state, I'm still not used to wake up at this hour anymore."
To think she was still sleeping while he was having class at eight in the morning (... he was sleeping too but that was another thing).
"It's not a problem, Miyuki-san."
Was that a hint of surprise in Kuroko's voice? To see her like that, with her PJs still on and still half-asleep must be a shock to someone who had only seen the usual neat and proper Emilie until now.
She had always been like that but her clothes impeccably worn, constantly perfect manners and overpoliteness had contributed to the perfect picture of submisiveness she had created for herself in contrast to her more cunny, pushier and messier alter ego playing in a man's team. Emilie was all of that but only showed her flaws to people close to her, and now Kuroko was about to discover it.
"Your clothes are still in the room," he indicated her.
She had put one of her three school uniforms in his guest room and he did the same in her apartment.
"Thanks."
She left to put her uniform, leaving her shoes and her bag on the doorstep. It was kinda impressive to see her use well her crutches while still being half-asleep.
Kuroko looked at him with his stupid face and big blue eyes, waiting for an explanation.
"Emilie tend to speak and swear in French or English whenever she's tired or angry. She's... not a morning person."
"I see."
Taiga looked at what was the fridge and took the milk, orange juice, and some eggs.
"What do you wanna eat?"
"I'm not really hungry, Kagami-kun."
"If Emilie hears that, she'll kill you. Come on, I'll cook you somethin'!"
Emilie was such a mother hen sometimes, especially about food and nutrition.
Talking about her...
"What do you wanna eat, sleeping beauty?" he asked her as she took a seat.
"Do you still have pancake batter?" she asked before yawning.
"Yep."
"Then I'll take some, please. I'll make my hot cocoa myself," she finished with another yawn.
"Got it."
Taiga prepared the pancakes for her and made some for Kuroko too. He felt like Kuroko was the kind of guy who preferred sweet food than salty food since he was obssessed with Maji Burger's vanilla milkshake and that was not even substancial food, no matter what Kuroko claimed.
"I'm still sore from yesterday's session," his best friend complained. She took longer than usual to get ready so yeah, she was still really sleepy. She continued to complain while making for herself the hot cocoa she took every morning. "I think I went too hard on the abdominal crunches yesterday." She was making exercises to keep her in shape too. She was a good athlete, a better one than him if he was being honest. "I missed drinking my daily sweet cocoa! Tetsuya, do you want one as well?"
Kuroko blinked curiously before politely agreeing. "Hai."
"It's a cinnamon hot chocolate, I hope you don't mind."
"No..."
Kuroko was probably used to traditional Japanese breakfast because he looked really lost and confused (his face was too hard to read in the morning and the hair was distracting so Taiga wasn't too sure).
"You're making food tonight," Taiga started.
"Don't worry, I will. I bet you're saying that because you're tired of making food for us during for weeks, especially for Midorima-kun and Kise-kun."
The little shit!
She was... right.
"Shut up. They just eat too much."
"Sure, and you don't," Emilie answered. He sulked, not knowing how to reply. "Come on, don't brood. I'll make homemade cheeseburgers for you in compensation."
He smirked, happy to have what he wanted. Emilie's cheeseburgers were seriously the best.
"Miyuki-san and Kagami-kun look like a family."
They turned their heads at the same time, "We get that a lot."
"People always call us 'platonic married couple' or 'brother and sister' but it's not really that. I just consider Taiga as my another family but he's not my brother." That was how he considered Emilie too, yeah, except he didn't know how to put it into words.
Kuroko tilted his head as if he was trying to understand the meaning of her words.
She joined Kuroko and he took everything on a tray since she still couldn't take much with a crutch in each hand.
Kuroko accepted the cup. Emilie was waiting for a reaction.
"It tastes... really good!" Kuroko finally said, his eyes sparkling.
Was that... a HALF-SMILE? FROM KUROKO?!
Kuroko's reaction pleased his best friend who told him, "Then I'll make it every time you come for breakfast."
Shintaro looked again. And again. But the content of the text he just got remained the same. He had read it correctly the first time.
Takao chose that moment to pester him. "What's going on, Shin-chan?"
"Nothing."
It was Masuko. She sent him a curious text the morning (and he still hadn't answered because he had no idea what to write back).
'Hello, Midorima-kun, I hope you are well. Could I see you after classes? I can come to Shutoku at 4.20 P.M if it doesn't bother you.'
"That's Masuko-san!"
SHintaro jumped in surprise. How annoying.
"Oi! Don't look at my phone, Takao."
"But I called you out loud three times and you didn't answer... So, why does she want to see you?"
"... I don't know," he answered honestly.
What was the purpose of her visit?
The thing that bothered him even more than the reason for her visit itself was the fact she was still on crutches. Did she really think she could go from Seirin to Shutoku with crutches now? She was just released from the hospital yesterday!
"You can answer to her text like normal people do, you know."
"Shut up," he automatically replied while finally responding her.
'Aren't you still walking with crutches, Masuko-san?'
A rhetoric question as they both knew the answer.
'... Indeed, I am.'
"What an idiot," he said out loud before standing up.
"What are you doing, Shin-chan?"
"I'm going to Seirin, nanodayo."
"Shin-chan, we have practice in an hour!"
"I'll be back on time."
"Okay."
What?
Shintaro turned his head. No 'I'm coming with you, Shin-chan' or any stupidity from Takao? He probably has something else to do for once.
"Hm."
It took him fifteen minutes to arrive at Seirin. The school was small compared to Shutoku but the buildings were new and fresh, with trees and flowers everywhere. He saw Masuko, with her two crutches and her bag on her shoulder. She wasn't wearing the usual blue vest with her uniform.
"Masuko-san."
"Midorima-kun! I promise it won't be too long but could we go somewhere where I could sit, please?"
He nodded and she led them under one of the sakura trees where benches were installed.
"I got you a belated present for your birthday."
"Masuko-san, I told you that you didn't need to–"
"I promised you a gift, so a gift you shall have."
Masuko had a determined look, which confused Shintaro to no ends but he let her. She opened her bag and took out something neatly wrapped. Before he could say something, she put her lips on his left cheek. It was different compared the light pecks she made as greetings that merely lasted a second.
It felt... warm and sweet.
He remembered Kagami explain that Masuko was someone affectionate towards her friends despite being initially cold and reserved. He could see why.
It probably also felt warm because he was blushing.
"Happy belated birthday, Midorima-kun," she said, her hand still laying on his shoulder. Shintaro felt the tips of his ears getting redder.
He watched the smile that was spreading on her face before taking a look at the package in his hands.
"What is it?" he replied, somehow feeling numb.
"Open it," she encouraged him.
The gift in his hands had the shape of a book... unsurprising, knowing the fondness she had for books. A fondness he shared to a lesser extent.
He opened it carefully and discovered a notebook, with a brown and golden cover.
He looked at the first page and saw the inscription in neatly written kanjis saying: 'Biology and Chemistry notes' with a few sentences in English below.
"What–"
"Turn the pages."
He did so and read things that he had learned a month ago and even things he didn't know yet.
"I've transcribed in Japanese the notes I took in classes in my former high school. I know these are your favorite subjects and since you want to become a doctor, I thought it could be useful for you because I know you think most of the gifts are just futile and we're still not friends enough for things like jewelry."
He didn't even ask how she correctly guessed all those things but it was surely a skill she used in basketball as Seirin's manager too. He turned the pages and noticed how detailed yet organized the notes were, sometimes explained with drawings.
Somehow, it felt even more personal than jewelry and Shintaro had no idea how to feel on the matter. He felt his throat go dry.
"You didn't have to do this, Masuko-san."
"It was something that permitted me to progress with kanji and I got to repass everything I saw in classes again. I even added some of my friends' notes who were in classes above mine during our studying sessions. It can be helpful for you, especially since one of them is going into med school next year."
Shintaro looked away. He felt uncomfortable yet not unhappy over her attention. "I thought you appreciate literary classes," he said instead of properly thanking her. He cursed his own inability to converse.
"I do prefer literary classes but I appreciate biology and chemistry as well, I was even first in my class in each term. Math is the only course I loathe."
There was something childish in Masuko's aversion for math but Shintaro found himself thinking it was amusing.
A few sakura petals fell on Masuko's head and Midorima itched to remove them to his own confusion.
"I shall leave Midorima-kun now. I have to go to practice and you have yours to attend as well," she said as she took back the crutches in her hands.
Shintaro blinked and averted his gaze from Masuko's head.
Practice, right.
"Goodbye, Masuko-san," he told her. He made an effort to bow in an attempt to show his gratefulness.
"'Masuko' is fine. And if you don't understand something in the notes, just text me and I'll answer you."
Did she know using the 'san' suffix wasn't usual for him?
Probably (again).
"Hai... Masuko," he replied, liking better the sound of her name without the suffix. He stood up and started to walk before stopping. "You can... call me 'Midorima' as well."
She stood up as well and whispered, "Fine, Midorima."
Masuko smirked. It was becoming more and more usual for him to see such expression from her.
He allowed himself to smile to Masuko's surprise, who momentarily stopped her movements.
"Smiling suits you," she told him before going to the gymnasium.
For some reason, her words made him feel lighter. Shintaro allowed himself to let the smile on his face linger until he saw Takao's spams.
Miyuki tried to enter in the gymnasium as discreetly as possible. Obviously, it didn't work at all.
"Oi, Masuko, come here!" Hyuuga-senpai yelled.
"Took you long enough, Emilie."
"Captain!" She ignored Taiga and greeted her senpai with a bow instead.
Was it her or Hyuuga-senpai was more irritated than usual? He was more aggressive than usual and had a pout on his face.
"Welcome back, Masuko-chan!"
Furihata-kun was the first one to greet her like a normal person would do. He was a nice guy. He had come to the hospital to visit her twice a week, sometimes with a slection of books from the library.
"Thank you, Furihata-kun. It's good to be back."
Everyone came around her to welcome her back and she thanked them one bye one, grateful for their kindness.
She saw one more person was with them. Brown hair, thick eyebrow, really tall...
No way.
She gasped. "Teppei?"
He waved at her casually. "Yo, Miyuki."
Wait...
HOW?
"What... Why are you here?!"
"Masuko-chan, do you know Kiyoshi-senpai?"
She laughed, laughed at herself for being so oblivious.
There were many clues... the smirk when she said her name, the fact that he knew she preferred using her first name or the lack of mentions of his highschool's name...
That was where he went last time!, she realized.
"You're good, Teppei, you managed to fool me. I should've known you're attending Seirin... Riko-san knew it as well, didn't she?"
Miyuki took it as a challenge. To have someone of the same kind as her in the same team... Teppei was making his goofy smile but it was clear Hyuuga-senpai could see through it as well.
"Haha, about that... I asked Riko not to tell you, to make you a surprise."
"Well, you did surprise me," she flatly stated.
If Riko-san accepted that, there must be a good reason for it.
He stopped smiling and she knew he was about to say something stupid.
"Wait, can you still be Seirin's manager and train for the youth World Cup at the same time?"
She stared at him open-mouthed while everyone looked at her.
HE. DID THAT. ON. PURPOSE.
"Well..."
"What is it about, Masuko-chan?"
"What?"
"You're going to participate in a World Cup?"
The team was asking tons of questions and she didn't where to start. The fact they knew didn't bother her because she intended to tell them but it wasn't how she planned to do it.
Damn that Teppei.
She would get her revenge one day. And it would be when he expected it the less.
"EVERYONE STOP!"
Silence.
Riko-san really was her savior!
Meanwhile, Taiga was enjoying it too much, that bastard (he would pay it as well for sure).
"Masuko-chan chose to continue her reeducation with me to play football again..."
"And if everything goes well, I'll be part of the French national team for the Women's Youth World Cup that will be held in a year but be at ease. I will still keep help you to become number one," she finished, apprehensive to see their reaction.
Would they reject her?
"That's..."
Would they think she didn't have her place there on the basketball team anymore?
"AWESOME! Masuko-chan is awesome!"
"We're so going to be number one in Japan with Masuko-chan and Coach with us!"
She blushed, both feeling happy and relieved (so relieved) to see how enthusiastic they all were. It changed from reactions she used to have every time she said she played football.
'You're a girl.' 'You can't beat guys.' 'Girls will always be less known than boys in the sport anyway.' 'Why football?' 'Yeah, you're just showing off to look cool with guys.'
Why was she always compared to men? Why did people think comparing her football to men's football was something that would make her feel inferior?
She wasn't seven anymore, the fear of being less competent than a man in football wasn't there anymore but she knew she had to work harder to prove her own abilities to everyone.
Men had the advantage of being taken more seriously as a player: that was a fact. However, she knew she could be as strong as them, if not more sometimes (because most of them were incompetent when it came to tactics).
And she was just so happy papa saw it, the team saw it as well and did not care she was a girl, she was a player first.
Seirin didn't care either...
Taiga went to the good team. They both went to the good high school.
"I hope you'll accept to help me as well since I'll be having practice with you from tomorrow."
"Of course!"
"We'll talk about it tomorrow. Everyone split into two teams, you're playing two games of thirty minutes. Teppei, go with the blue team."
Riko-san was visibly as curious as for her about how would Teppei play with Taiga. She also noticed Riko-san didn't put Taiga and Tetsuya in the same team, probably knowing they hadn't fixed their issues yet.
"Hai!"
Taiga played as usual... like he did since he was with Seirin. He was full of energy and even smiling. It was a relief. Perhaps her words had an effect on him. He didn't need to talk to make her know how he felt but she knew the fact that Tatsuya was coming back to Japan soon and play against Seirin made him want to be the best ace Seirin could have. Seeing how he worked well with them was such a nice sight.
He played really well with Teppei.
"Teppei is really good though I'm sure he isn't playing at his best."
"How do you know that, Masuko-chan?" Riko-san asked, curious.
She winced. "He is... wearing indoor shoes, Riko-san."
Teppei might be really clever but tended to have his head in the clouds, honestly.
Riko-san dropped her whistle. She gritted her teeth.
"Masuko-chan, give me my paper fan please."
"How much credit are you going to give them? Right Shin-chan? I guess you wouldn't know, huh?"
Shintaro made the shot before turning his head to answer to Takao.
"I know him."
Kiyoshi Teppei, Iron Heart.
Of course he knew him.
"What?"
"From middle school. We only played him once, but I remember him. Kuroko hadn't joined us yet, so he likely doesn't know about him."
Iron Heart had been the captain and the point guard of the team. He was good, almost on par with them.
"What kind of guy is he?"
"It was similar to the recent Touou game. In the face of overwhelming odds, just like Kuroko, he refused to give up until the very end."
He had overheard Iron Heart's discussion with Murasakibara about 'enjoying basketball' during their match. He was similar to Kuroko and Masuko in a way.
Foolishly stubborn.
"Wait a second... That doesn't make any sense," Takao exclaimed.
What?
"You ended up going to see the championship league! 'I don't want to see it', my ass!"
He didn't go to watch that because he felt concerned about Kuroko nor Kagami's well-being, not at all.
Shintaro looked away and flatly said, "I simply live nearby."
"You live far away! And in the opposite direction! I know it!"
"..."
Adding something would only make it worse. Luckily, it seemed Takao wanted to spare him for once.
"By the way, how did it go with Masuko-san?"
... Or not.
It was the tone Takao used every time he wanted to say something, something that would irritate him. Coincidence or not, he was using it every time Masuko was referred.
"Good," he curtly replied.
"Come one Shin-chan! Tell me, I've been dying to knoooooow! What did she want? Did she ask you something? Was it –"
"She gave me a belated birthday present."
"What is it? Do you like it?"
"I'm going to the locker room, Takao," he announced instead of answering Takao's seemingly simple question.
"Shin-chaaaaaaan, come on! That means she gave you a good gift, right?"
He stopped his steps and sighed, knowing Takao wouldn't give up on this.
"Indeed."
He was wrong about even saying a word because while he drove the rickshaw, Takao asked more questions.
After going back home and eating dinner, he went to his bedroom to look at the notebook Masuko gave him.
He skipped the ten first pages since he already saw in classes these things. He stopped at the page talking about potassium permanganate.
"KMnO4 can be used to determine the quantity of total oxidizable organic material in aqueous samples: permanganate value. In this experiment (here drawn), its aqueous shape was used as an oxidizing titrant for redox titrations (color change). Redox is explained on the two next pages. Below the drawing, KmnO4 is represented with the Lewis structures."
He hesitated. The 'Lewis structures' seemed obvious to her because she already studied it but he now saw it at middle school. Well, she said to text her if needed and he decided to do so.
'Masuko, I hope I'm not bothering you. Can you tell me more about the 'Lewis Representation'?'
He sent it but then thought it might not be the good time to text someone. She might be even sleeping. Fortunately, he received a quick answer that confirmed she was still awake.
'You're not bothering me, Midorima. I'm still outside with Taiga for his additional training, so we can text. I made what you can call 'resource' pages at the end explaining things such as Lewis Representation and elementary experimental procedures you need to know to do and represent with drawings.'
He went to the last pages and saw more drawings to explain how to use a volumetric pipette for example and also what he was looking for. The mention of an additional training for Kagami in her text slightly intrigued him. Was she simply watching him or was she coaching him?
'Thank you, Masuko. Isn't it late for training?'
He closed the notebook, noticing it was almost midnight but remembered the sentences in English he didn't have time to read when Masuko gave him the notebook. He went back to the first page and he could read the words 'General knowledge' written in a feminine and neat writing. If she wrote it in English, then it meant she knew he could read it and it wasn't related to the content... not directly, at least. He slowly read the text out loud, to make sure to understand everything.
"Amusingly, chemistry in English is also used as a metaphor to describe a relationship between two people (mostly romantic but can apply to platonic). Like in a chemical reaction, if two people react well together, a positive reaction will be created, on the contrary, a bad reaction can be created, just like potassium and water."
When Shintaro said she was confusing, that was a prime example of what he meant. He saw a little asterisk saying: *it was in my original notebook (for an assignment in English class) and I chose to still re-transcribing it because I thought it could be interesting to know.
He recalled the time where Masuko talked about how French tests worked. Unlike their test where he could learn and pass the test without necessarily understanding the content, it seemed theirs needed more reflexions about a precise subject. It was probably why Masuko used anecdotes while tutoring Kise and Kagami (strangely, it worked with them since these anecdotes made them understand what they were studying).
He received a new text cutting his thoughts.
'Taiga loves playing basketball after dinner so he always goes here and Tetsuya joins us sometimes . Taiga asked me to train him after the defeats so starting tonight I'm doing this!'
He knew she had something in mind. She always had.
Unlike that idiot, she knew jumping wasn't enough for them, especially against Aomine because he wasn't even at his strongest against Seirin and they still had lost with a wide gape.
Kagami was also still not used to restrict his power and injured himself, how foolish.
'I see. Let's hope your training will get Seirin to the Winter Cup.'
If the whole team improved, they could have another match during the Final League, or even in the Winter Cup. Shintaro wanted... no, he needed a revenge. Losing that match awakened something new along with his desire to play basketball.
He wanted to avenge himself for that affront and a deeper part of him wanted to feel the thrill of facing a player like Kagami again. Winning against Seirin was something he longed for. His phone signalized a new message.
'I don't think you need to worry about this, Midorima, not only him but Seirin will be stronger. I can even tell you something useful for you and your team.'
Masuko was really intriguing. Did Seirin have new a technique ? No, there was no way she would reveal something of that nature to another team, she was Seirin's manager.
Masuko was professional, no matter how friendly she was with players from a rival team.
'What is it, Masuko?'
'Kiyoshi Teppei. He has returned to practice today and will be part of the new Seirin.'
He stared at his phone, unsure whether he read the information correctly or not.
Iron Heart.
So he was really back, huh. Shintaro smirked. Interesting. He received another text.
'You can even tell to your coach if you want ;)'
He slowly chuckled. Winter Cup would be interesting.
"Great, Taiga!"
After minutes (more like hours if someone asked Taiga) of juggling with a soccer ball (Emilie would kill him if she heard the word 'soccer'... European people...) with his foot, she had finally let him play basketball.
She gave no explanation about that weird training he had to go through... Usually, he would only touch a soccer ball because she wanted to play with someone but it couldn't be the case with her injury and he didn't ask because she always had a reason for everything.
Her methods made that bunch of idiots back in France better to the point they became Inter High champions so whatever she would tell him to do was good.
She would explain at one point anyway, she always did.
Taiga closed his eyes to concentrate and replayed the practice game they had in his mind. It wasn't enough. If he wanted to beat all of them, he had to survive a one-on-one. 'Them' now included Tatsuya too. Emilie gave him his data and it was as ridiculous as the Generation of Miracles and she apparently didn't even write about his mysterious ultimate technique.
'You won't believe me until you see it by yourself,' she said and she looked scared.
"Kagami-kun!"
That voice was definitely not Emilie's. He turned his head to see his teammate and partner out of breath.
"Kuroko..."
"Tetsuya!"
He was looking at him with those big blue eyes but something about it reminded Taiga of the way Kuroko looked before a match, full of determination. "Can I talk to Kagami-kun for a minute?"
"If you want some privacy, I can go somewhere else," Emilie proposed, still sitting on the bench.
"Miyuki-san can stay as well."
Taiga waved to signal he needed some water so she threw him the bottle. He swiftly caught it by reflex and quickly noted her accuracy was intact.
After drinking half of the water, he asked, "What did you want to talk about?"
Kuroko briefly glanced sheepishly to the side before looking at him again. "I apologize. The truth is, I haven't gotten all my thoughts together yet."
"Oi!"
How did that guy can come here just to say that ?
"I don't know where to start. Please give me a minute."
"From now? Sheesh." He threw the ball at Kuroko and he read surprise on his face. "I've got nothing to do while I wait."
"Why not–"
He didn't even need to turn his head to reply to his best friend, "No Emilie, not juggling with a ball again."
She was probably pouting again.
"You're no fun, Taiga."
Yep, definitely pouting.
"Play against me. You can think while you play."
Emilie snorted. "Taiga, you can't even think straight while playing, so that's rich coming from you."
There were moments where she acted petty on purpose like now, grumbling not so discreetly some annoying shit (he did hear her clearly say 'fuck you, Taiga') with her polite fake tone. Why were they even best friends, again?
"Shut up!"
"Don't make a fool of yourself, Taiga."
"All right, my fourteenth point!"
"Um, please go easier on me today. I can't think like this."
Okay, maybe Emilie was right. But like hell he would never admit out loud. She was already making that annoying expression every time she was right.
"I am going easy on you! You're just too weak!" Taiga stopped bouncing the ball, remembering with a smile their first one-on-one on the same place. "The first time we played was a lot like this, too. When I later found out what you could really do, I was blown away. Not only that but..." He remembered perfectly Kuroko's word about him becoming his shadow. "Hey, I've been wondering about something since then. Why did you choose me?"
He just had that odd feeling. He could have asked Emilie but even her could not be a hundred percent sure. He had to know from the guy himself.
"I'm sorry. I have to apologize to you. I lied. In middle school, I received a uniform as the team's sixth man."
"I know that. You were the trump card of the Generation of Miracles..."
(... Although he didn't know much about Kuroko's time in middle school, he had the feeling it must have been as fucked up as Emilie's last year in middle school.)
"That's not quite right. They may have believed in me, but they didn't trust me. I may be more accurate to say they stopped being able to trust me. When a was a first-year, I was an unremarkable player. I joined the bench as the sixth man in my second year. Back then, I believe they still trusted me." He paused. "But as their talents began blossoming like Aomine-kun, they lost their faith in me. The Generation of Miracles began placing their trust in themselves over everything else. If we were one point behind with only a few seconds in the game, they couldn't pass. They had to do it themselves. The truth is, it didn't have to be you. I simply used you to force the Generation of Miracles to recognize my style of basketball."
It took a moment for the words to absorb.
That was a long ass speech from Kuroko.
Well, he was used to that kind of thing with Emilie but Kuroko was saying all those things for that?
Taiga might not had good marks at school like Emilie but he wasn't stupid.
He understood how people work. He figured out Kuroko was kind of using him at the start, but who cares?
He got to play against those guys, the Generation of Miracles and Kuroko was helping him so in a way, Taiga used Kuroko too. They had been using each other at one point so what?
But it had changed at one point... It had become something deeper and Taiga truly started to feel a bond with him.
"I was wondering what you might say. I had a feeling it would be this." Kuroko's mildly surprised face was satisfying in a way, Taiga thought before he continued. "I've always felt it. I'm just like them. Even though you had supposedly quit the Teiko basketball team because you rejected the style of the Generation of Miracles, I knew why you chose to work with me. Everyone plays basketball for their own reasons. I'm not any different –"
"No. Kagami-kun, you are different."
Did Kuroko the ever so polite Kuroko just interrupt him? Kuroko?
"In all of our games so far, you trusted me. Those weren't parting words, but words meant to make us stop relying on each other and become even stronger." He was talking about their one-sided discussion after their defeat against Touou in the locker room. Emilie knew what he meant without even being there and explained it to Kuroko but he must have probably guessed himself too. "So we could combine even greater strength to win. Allow me to correct myself. I am glad I go to Seirin. All our senpai are wonderful people, our classmates who work alongside us are great as well. Miyuki-san is not only a good manager but also a great friend and you trusted me. I'm not Teiko Middle School's sixth man, Kuroko Tetsuya. I'm Seirin High's first-year, Kuroko Tetsuya. I don't want to make someone else the best player in Japan. With you, and everyone else, I want to become the best in Japan! That's why I'll become even stronger and defeat the Generation of Miracles."
People like Kuroko and Emilie were so complicated... Taiga initially didn't even really care about the reason behind Kuroko's desire to beat those guys but somewhere between getting to know him as well as Kise and Midorima, he started to wonder.
Taiga just wanted to beat strong opponents but he somehow got involved into that mess. Still.
"That's what I've been meaning to do all along. And you got it wrong again!" He passed the ball to Kuroko who gave him back to dunk. "You don't want to be the best. You're going to be the best!"
"Hai."
A/N: Before talking about this chapter, DID YOU SEE THE OVA PV?! Everyone is so happy so it makes me happy and my precious daughter Momoi can finally see her friends playing basketball together once more. Anyway, with holidays I am posting more quickly than usual. This chapter is shorter than the previous one because it's somewhere between the end of the hospital arc and the beginning of the summer training camp arc but one of the highlights of chapter 9 is KIYOSHI!
Ah yes, Kiyoshi, the one that pretends to be goofy (well he is but not as much as he pretends) when he is, in fact, someone really sly who, like Hyuuga said has already something in mind.
Little fact: Fujimaki stated that if Kiyoshi would have taken the review test, he would be between first and fifth of Seirin. So all this cleverness here is shown because he managed to trick Masuko (though imperfectly) and he managed to know more about Kagami not only as a player but as a person) thanks to Masuko talking about him. That's why while the chronology is still the same, Kagami and Kiyoshi did not have a one-on-one: Kiyoshi knows Kagami is fine because Masuko is here and Kagami doesn't play all alone because of what he heard at the hospital though he still wants to get stronger as an ace (reason why he asked Masuko to train him).
Time to answer to comment(s):
shadow girl : Hello lovely ! I'm glad you follow my story and I'm happy you appreciate the way I write them since I want them to be as in-character as possible. I'm glad you love this scene because I think it was important for Kuroko to confide what he felt to someone who could understand because of a somehow similar past. Haha, Takao is just so fun to write to be honest, even as fun as Kagami to be honest. I hope you enjoyed reading this chapter.
I would like to thank the people who have favorited or is following this story after I published the previous chapter : Yuuki-Hime 2097, AnonymusLee, ilovebooksplusanimeplusstuff
Once again, thank you for the fav/following guys ! Don't hesitate to post comments, I'll make sure to answer them on next chapter's A/N :)