Summary [chapter 20]: Her eyes were galaxies and starlight, all full of brightness and promises. Tatsuya had always been fascinated by his best friend's eyes.

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

[HALCYON DAYS ARC]

FRAGMENTS

~.~

Chapter 20: triple threat

Tatsuya had always been fascinated by Miyuki's eyes. Had it not been for them, she could... would have been an even better liar than him (that and also the fact she only made the effort to tell lie perfectly whenever it was absolutely necessary according to her... criteria).

He trusted what he saw in her eyes.

They always looked at him with the devotion and fondness his best friend felt for him. And it was mutual.

Her eyes had often stared at him with something akin to longing and homesickness for what once was her home ever since she had left Los Angeles. They had sometimes watched him with guilt for something she wasn't to blame for, his dispute with Taiga.

But they had rarely bored him with irritation and annoyance.

"Did you and Masako-san really have to drag Murasakibara-kun into this?"

She had insisted they needed to have one of these talks now and persuaded him (meaning politely threatened him) to sit on the metallic chair at the balcony.

Kise-kun and Atsushi already went to bed, the first one saying something about needing some 'beauty sleep' and the other wanting to sleep after a good meal. Since the rest of Miyuki's family still hadn't arrived yet, there were enough spare rooms to allow them to get an individual bedroom for the night.

"No, but you know how she is–"

"Yes, I do know that." She rolled her eyes and scoffed. "She's my godmother after all. And your coach now," she added. "I'm surprised she hasn't directly come to see me yet."

"Don't worry, she will once the rest of your family arrives."

That poor attempt at recruiting her wasn't serious anyway... Not completely.

Such a clever manager could have been useful to Yosen. However, Tatsuya knew that once his best friend had her mind set on something, it was hard to make it change.

Miyuki was similar to Araki Masako on that point.

"I think Atsushi appreciates you." He didn't mention that it was a notable fact since it rarely happened with Atsushi.

"What did you tell him?" she asked, eyeing him suspicicously.

"A few facts about you," he mysteriously answered in a sing-song voice.

"Do I want to know?"

"Probably not~"

The first time he talked about her was after Atsushi found out Tatsuya had an extensive knowledge on French food. It had been comical, really. He had never seen Atsushi so shocked.

So he told him about his French best friend he had met in Los Angeles when he was four. He told him stories about said best friend excelling in baking to make her mother proud and happy. He told him how said best friend made a whole wedding cake to celebrate her parents' tenth year of marriage.

"Fair enough. But I won't transfer to Yosen."

... And you know that, her eyes warned him.

He chuckled. Of course he knew.

Tatsuya had guessed through her letters she had gotten attached to Seirin despite her attempt not to at first.

He knew about the way Kuroko Tetsuya-kun's eyes reminded her of her little brother who was still in France.

(And of herself and Theo in a heartbreaking way.)

He knew she had found a coach who respected her and treated her with care and how she found a tender and witty friend in Furihata Kouki. Not to mention how Taiga needed her more than he did. Tatsuya had stopped being stupidly bitter and jealous over that fact years ago anyway.

Yes, Tatsuya knew he could be a real asshole sometimes.

"This jacket suits you better than Yosen's anyway."

Her eyes were galaxies and starlight, all full of brightness and promises. Tatsuya knew she did the perfect choice with Seirin.

It was what she wanted and needed.

"Thanks."

She was wearing it after he insisted she should get something to protect her from the summer night breeze. It was colder than usual because of the rain earlier, from what he understood.

The white, black and red jacket did suit her well. And strangely enough, it had a striking resemblance with the jacket from her previous team.

"I think Midorima Shintaro-kun likes you too..." he noted, to change the subject.

She shrugged. "We're friends."

But Tatsuya knew from the rare stories Atsushi shared on random occasions that the Generation of Miracles' number one shooter wasn't sociable... And even without that, it was written all over the guy's face. It seemed the members of the Generation of Miracles were not the best when it came to befriend with other people.

Not to mention the fact that both Miyuki and Midorima Shintaro failed to notice what Tatsuya's 'protective best friend radar' (as Shuu put it) detected.

There was something between his best friend and Midorima. He didn't know what but he knew it was something that couldn't be labelled as a simple 'friendship.'

Tatsuya decided he would find out later.

"Tell me what you wanted to say." His mumur was like the wind, a cold caress to her ears.

Too sharp compared to their silent conversations, too distant to be something to say to his best friend in that situation.

But she understood. She always did. "It's... related to your problem with Taiga but you know that."

"I do," he flatly stated.

"I'm not saying that you shouldn't play against him because you would have to at one point but please, change the terms of your match."

His brows furrowed as his mouth turned grim, anger slowly rising. "You want me to just forget everything just like that?"

"No, this isn't what I meant!" She sighed, before gently touching his hair. "I get it, I'm sorry for what I told you back in December. I can see you need to play this match. I'm just asking you to respect two conditions... But only if you want to, because you're in now way obliged to accept it. It's your choice." She delicately tugged the strand of hair he kept longer as a fringe behind his ear. He calmed down at her gentle touch. She always had been the only one allowed to do that. "You're my best friend" she whispered.

He sighed at the contact, her cool fingers refreshing his skin. Tatsuya knew she would never force him to do something he would not want to do.

"... I'm not saying that I agree but I'm listening."

Keep hot heart and a cool head, he had always repeated.

But he let himself lower his guards and forget his motto, even for a small moment. Because it was Emilie there, so it was acceptable.

"Include me in your match." Her left hand touched his cheek.

He tilted his head. What did that mean? "You want to be the referee?"

"That's not what I meant."

He blinked several times, trying to figure out her intention as she placed her right hand on his other cheek.

"Make it a triple threat instead."

He gasped, realizing what she was trying to say. "You mean..."

Her eyes conveyed her intentions anyway. They had the same fire and the same determination she had told him she would win French Nationals with her team.

"Taiga and you. Play against me."

6:30A.M.

"Fuck."

Miyuki struggled to turn off the alarm clock she had to set up.

"Just throw it on the wall."

She jumped in surprised, almost falling out of her bed in the process. "Jesus, Tatsuya..."

She used her hand to grope around before finally suceeding and reach that stupid alarm clock. She made a very unlady-like growl after her alarm clock started ringing again.

"Do we really have to wake up?" he grumbled.

If she hadn't been so tired, she would have made a remark about how the perfect Tatsuya looked like a mess but he would have pointed out she was the same.

"I don't but you have to take the train and I'm being a good host there."

She yawned and stretched her arms, recollecting memories from last night.

The challenge she had proposed to Tatsuya had been stupid and hazardous but she figured out it was the only way she could do something about their situation without ignoring how much Tatsuya needed to play against Taiga again.

'If Taiga or you win, then whatever you had bet on while I wasn't there would be applied but if I win, you'll drop it. The other condition is that while you wait until my knee completely heals, you put a break to this whole thing and try to talk to Taiga. He needed you... He still does. You're still his big brother.'

She knew she had been sly there. Miyuki had always refused to play against her two best friends after she had decided to switch to football. She sometimes accepted to play in their team but she never let them a chance for them to get a one on one against her.

But even before that, neither of them managed to win against her. Ever.

It was probably why Tatsuya accepted, albeit being reluctant about the second condition. She remained as vague as possible but hinted that Taiga had not told him something.

Despite that, she had made a tempting offer there. Only four people had the knowledge she still could play like she used to: her parents, Theo and Alexandra. It was not as if she had try to hide it like in her youth in Los Angeles. She just chose to give up basketball while having the ridiculous thought that it would vanish.

Tatsuya and she ended up sleeping in her bed like they used to. There was a time where they had avoided to do it, when they had that sort of weird crush on each other and were overwhelmed by the fact that they were attracted to their own best friend. Albeit faint, the attraction was still there (Tatsuya was gorgeous) but there was nothing remotely romantic or awkward in sharing such small amount of space together anymore.

She had gotten used to sleeping next to him again when she went back to Los Angeles last summer. It helped her while she was struggling with... everything.

She shook her head to wipe off these thoughts from her mind. It was 6:30A.M for fuck's sake.

"I'll cook some eggs with bacon for you... And pancakes." She took her crutch and aimed a light kick on his leg. "Don't go back to sleep."

"Sure..."

She lifted up her top above her head to put a strapless white dress. Since she always had two off-days per week where she did not practice to avoid a relapse so she would spend the day coaching the first years with pretty face's presence. "Is Murasakibara-kun okay with American breakfast? I also have viennoiseries I made two days ago but it's still a Western breakfast."

Tatsuya didn't bat an eye and stood up to go to the bathroom, still wearing the shirt and baggy pants she had bought when she was with her old team and let him borrow. She followed him and showed him where the disposable toothbrushes and the toothpaste were.

"You look lovely." Tatsuya said in a light voice. "Auntie's dresses are the best. And don't worry, Atsushi will eat anything as long as it's tasty and there's a strong Western influence in Yosen so he's used to it. But how come you're making your own viennoiseries?"

"Thanks. I thought it was time to actually wear it." Having to wear a skirt as part of the uniform for school was odd considering the fact there was no uniform in France. She could not wear skirts and dresses often either since football took most of her time. "Since she isn't here, I would rather make viennoiseries myself since I can't find French food or it just... tastes differently. You'll see."

Tatsuya had not stayed long enough in Japan to understand. Living costs were expensive there compared to France and the only times where she had tried to eat 'French' food she bought there in Japan, she was left disappointed. The croissants always looked so pale (apparently, the way to bake it here was different) and way too sugary.

"I'll come back whenever I have a free day."

"Good."

She doubted Masako-san would let him many free days though.

"What are you going to you tell him?"

She arched her brows. "That's what you're asking me among all things?" He didn't question her second condition as much as she thought he would be. "Taiga knew I had something in mind so I doubt he would be that surprised."

"He would be more surprised about me accepting."

She smirked. "What do you think?"

"What if Taiga doesn't accept your proposal?"

"He will," she automatically replied.

It wasn't her place to explain Taiga's yearning desire in details. And she knew despite respecting her wish that Taiga had wanted to play against her.

He still had to beat her and Alexandra after all.

Miyuki was starting to realize that it might be one of the reasons explaining that mental block Taiga had put on himself without realizing it.

She shook her head. "I'm going to wake up pretty face and Murasakibara-kun, go prepare breakfast," she finally said.

"Ah, I've really missed you," he casually said before leaving a peck on her cheek.

She kissed him back on his right cheek. "I've missed you too."

Tatsuya's mouth twitched, in a poor attempt to fight a smile.

It was good to have Tatsuya back.

"Masukocchi! Are you sure it's not too soon?" Ryouta asked as he watched Masukocchi letting her crutches in the apartment.

He felt bad for making her miss Seirin's morning practice but she assured him it was fine. Masukocchi ended up taking a nap on the couch while he was taking a shower anyway. Ryouta knew she had a long talk with Himuro-san so having her to sleep even for less than an hour at that moment was good.

"It's okay, you'll be my living crutch."

He cocked his head. "Is that even a thing?"

She shrugged. "If I have any problems, I know you'll be here because that's how you are."

Come to think of it, Ryouta wasn't the type of person who supported his teammates. He was a star. But strangely enough, he didn't mind Masukocchi's ambiguous words.

Maybe he could do both one day... Be everything and everyone. Copy them.

He turned his face to see that Masukocchi was watching him curiously. "Is there something on my face?" he asked, uncertain.

"There's nothing on your pretty face, don't worry."

Maybe he imagined it? Maybe she just meant that he would not let her fall. He was touched by the fact that she trusted him and considered him as a friend but Ryouta did not know how to voice it without sounding like an idiot. "So..." he started while they were walking towards Seirin. "What's today training program?"

"I'll be in charge of the first years while Riko-san will train the second years."

Masukocchi was coaching as well? "You are?"

"Starting today, yes. Now that my physical condition is better, I want to help Taiga and the team more actively. I'll make them start with strengh training before focusing on power and I'll end with passing exercices and small matches of two against two with the fifth member acting as the referee."

"It looks... intense." Ryouta had thought until that moment that Masukocchi was more of a casual basketball fan but now he wasn't so sure now.

"Maybe, but training is always fun with a team. Except when you're just doing laps."

"Training is training."

"Do you... feel forced to go to practice?"

Do you enjoy training? was the hidden question.

He thought about Kaijo. About his senpai's encouragements, the matches they had played at the end of practice...

It wasn't so bad. Ryouta often barely made it in time, which earned him a kick from Kasamatsu-senpai, but he came there. Unlike with Teiko. "Not anymore! Uh..."

Oops.

"I won't judge you. There's no need to tell me more." Ryouta breathed again. He didn't realize until that moment that he was holding his breath. Why? Teiko was in the past. "I can understand, I used to hate going to practice too."

Ryouta opened and closed his mouth several times before deciding against talking.

Not now.

"Let's go."

They walked slowly but didn't take too much time to arrive to Seirin High since it wasn't too far from her apartment. Ryouta had proposed to take the bus but she had refused, explaining that she wanted to get used to walk again.

Seirin High was a small but welcoming school. Once again, the few people that saw him immediately recognized him.

"We're going to the locker room first."

"The locker room?"

"Yes, I'm practicing as well. I can do part of the strengh or power training I planned for the them. It's part of my reeducation."

"Ah!"

"I'm also staying after practice."

"Didn't you have a date with Midorimacchi?" he asked in a teasing tone as they sat on a bench.

"He'll help me with my Japanese tomorrow... How do you know about that?"

Shit.

What Ryouta didn't want to say was that he heard and saw part of the conversation Midorimacchi and her had on the kitchen. His intuitions were right, there was something between them. A slight shift towards something that Ryouta would have never guessed to see happening to Midorima a year ago.

"Midorimacchi likes talking about you!"

"He does?" She looked intrigued.

What Ryouta just said wasn't a lie anyway. Midorimacchi did text him about being busy the following day but didn't specify the reason.

"You're the first person that Midorimacchi mentions so nicely after..." He stopped for a moment. "After Akashicchi."

"You already said that name once at the park... Who is he?"

"He's... was our captain in Teiko."

"And who is he to Midorima?"

A relevant question.

Who was Akashicchi to Midorimacchi?

His teammate? His captain? His goal? His enemy?

"It's... complicated but they were friends."

Kinda friends. In a way.

"I see," she said in a contemplative voice before standing up and undressing herself, the strapless white dress falling on the floor.

Ryouta let out a faint shriek at it. He didn't avert his eyes on time and saw her underwear.

"Masukocchi!"

"Don't worry pretty face, I'm just changing my clothes for practice," she said as she took the shorts and the shirt from her locker.

"I would've let Masukocchi some privacy!"

"I shared the locker room with my guy teammates during a whole season and my two best friends are guys too so privacy isn't a thing."

"Right." Ryouta forgot about that. He waited for her to have the shirt on before looking at her again.

"Do you know how to comb hair?"

Ryouta frowned. "Yes."

"Could you please do it for me before we go to practice?"

He smiled. He had always wanted to style her hair. "Of course."

A/N: It took longer than expected to post this chapter and nothing is really happening here but that discussion between Masuko and Himuro is a turning point in one of the aspects of the story aka the Kagami VS Himuro match. I also thought it would be interesting to detail a bit more how Masuko and Himuro behave when they're alone, it's different from the Masuko/Kagami friendship but it's on the same level.

Finding a balance between keeping the whole Generation of Miracles issues along with Masuko's own story is tricky thus the slow pace and hints appearing through the chapters but I hope you don't mind (and yes, Midorima will appear way more once again starting next chapter).

I would like to thank the people who has favorited or/and is following this story after I published the previous chapter: SophsShootingStar19, Sammy006, skyrayle2021, Estriella, Divergent Death, K.C.96, Karasu1809, start12345, KaylanaAthene

Guest : I'm so sorry it took time to update, I was on vacation ! I'll be quicker for the next chapters.

Once again, thank you for the fav/following! Don't hesitate to post comments, I'll make sure to answer them on next chapter's A/N or through PM :)