Chapter seven
A brand new challenge.
It had been three days ago since Kise had woken up, and admitted so he could learn to walk, and therapy to process. Midorima's father had questioned suicide, and much to Midorima's delight, it seemed like Kise had set the idea of suicide out of his head, rather focusing on being able to join the group in a short amount of time. He had known that the blond wanted to know if everyone was alright, not really wanting to focus on what happened to him.
That is why Akashi and Aomine visited on a daily basis. Though he did wonder why Kagami never came. For that matter, Kuroko didn't show either. Murasakibara came today instead of Akashi and Aomine. ''Where are they?'' Midorima asked. ''Aka-chin said they had somewhere to go. How is he doing?'' Murasakibara asked. ''Better. He's opening up, more than he did before. He misses everyone a lot. I don't think that he has realised that this is far from over.'' Midorima said, concern present in his voice.
''I don't think Ki-chan hasn't realised this. I think he's bracing himself, and looking for comfort. The last time almost killed him.'' Murasakibara replied, as they watched Kise chattering with his therapist. ''Can I ask you something?'' Midorima asked. Murasakibara nodded, as he offered an pocky to Midorima. ''No thanks. How is it to switch with an another being? Do you get learn his feelings, thoughts? Or are you a stranger in someone's body?'' Midorima asked.
''Oh, right, you couldn't experience.'' Murasakibara said. ''It's weird. I didn't experience much, other than feeling smaller than usual, but when you think like another person, you start to realise how little you know about those that you call friends. You start to feel like drifting apart, and the need to know who the other really is, even if you know that you actually don't want get to know this.'' he explained.
''I don't think I understand.'' Midorima replied curtly. ''No one does. Even if you're in the situation. I wonder if Haizaki knows when he's taken over. He must be lonely.'' Murasakibara asked. ''We never cared before, so why start now?'' Midorima asked. ''Because I know how lonely Ki-chin was when I took his place.'' Murasakibara asked, before he said, ''Tell Kise I said hi. You can visit him today. You need this more than any of us does.''
At the other side of town, Kagami slouched into his couch. It had been such a long time ago, before he had been able to relax. Alex was out, and no-one could take his body over, or at least it hadn't occured since that drama at the hospital, so he didn't feel ashamed to relax in his boxershorts. He watched some drama Himuro had reccomended as he enjoyed his pizza.
Still, he had some trouble getting Kise from his mind. The blond was adorable, no doubt about that. He should have known that the blond was into him, there were plenty of hints if he recalled what Kuroko and Akashi had said. Maybe he was as stupid and ignorant as Ahomine. He shook his head, it had been the best to be honest. He didn't want to hurt Kise, but he didn't want to rush into it either.
Suddenly there was a loud bang on his door, shaking his from his thoughts. He decided to ignore it, probably someone accidentely stumbling agains this door. Then some more banging followed. Sighing, he got up. ''I told you to not forget your keys, Alex.'' he shouted, as he walked to the door. But when he opened it, his face met the most angry face Aomine had ever made, and Akashi, who calmly stood there.
Aomine barged in, as Akashi spoke, ''I'm sorry we've come without saying so.'' he clearly eyed Taiga's boxers as he did so, making it seem like he only cared because he didn't want to see Kagami like that. ''But Daiki had something on his mind.'' ''You could have called.'' Kagami replied, as he watched the tanned man mumbling as he sat on his couch. ''I accidentely deleted your number. Not that it would have mattered, Daiki preferred to barge over.'' Akashi explained.
''And you're here because?'' Kagami asked, getting a little chilled because of the cold weather outside. ''Because Daiki didn't know the way, and I helped him. In return, he will ask Tetsuya to delete that emberassing video before it leaks out. That way, it will cause no scandal for me or Kise, and will keep you stupid mistake of rejecting Kise in the group.'' Akashi said, before walking over to Aomine.
'Prick.' Kagami thought before he closed the door. ''I'll get decent, please don't wreck my house.'' he said, before he went to his room to grab a shirt and some trousers. When he returned, he found an impatient Aomine, and Akashi rumbling trough his kitchen. ''What is he doing?'' Kagami asked. ''Making tea.'' Aomine said. 'Right... Never mind Akashi, don't want to deal with him.' Kagami thought as he sat down. ''I know we don't get along, but I thought we were getting better. Why barge over to my house?'' Kagami asked.
''I thought you were okay, Bakagami. Clearly I made a mistake. How can you reject Kise?'' Aomine demanded to know. ''I haven't rejected him completely. I said I needed time to think.'' Kagami defended. ''Kise said the same thing.'' Akashi shouted from the kitchen. ''Still, Bakagami. Why think it over? He was opening up, don't you ever think about the damage you words could cause?'' Aomine asked angrily, ready to tear him a new one.
''You are one to talk. You treated him like shit before, so why all this now? Why act so buddy-buddy all the sudden like you care. If you care that much, why don't ask him out.'' Kagami shouted. He ignored the sound of a cup falling to pieces, followed by a sorry. ''I don't want to date my best friend. True, I have hurt him in the past. Due to the recent swapping I found out something about him, something I hadn't known. I promised myself I'd be there for him, to make everything up. I don't want to pull another asshole move like I did back then.'' Aomine said.
''What happened?'' Kagami asked. ''I am not going to tell. Kise kept it for him for some reason. I don't think he want others to know. To answer your question before, I wouldn't date Kise for two reasons. It'd be gross, since we are best friends, and two, we both like someone else. Kise likes you, not me. I don't want to be a substitute for someone stupid as you.'' Aomine said.
''I know he likes me. And it's not like I want to say no. I don't want to rush into this, and hurt him. That is the only reason I asked to think it over.'' Kagami told him. ''Oh, I understand that.'' Aomine said. ''How suprisingly mature, Taiga.'' Akashi said, as he walked up to them, with a cup of tea. ''Is that suppossed to be a compliment?'' Kagami asked, but Akashi didn't answer him. ''You know what you wanted to know, Daiki. Time to do your part.''
''Fine, fine.'' Daiki said, ''I'll go to Tetsu tonight.'' ''Wait.'' Kagami said, making both look at him. ''How is Kuroko doing?'' Kagami asked. ''You haven't seen Tetsu after everything what has happened?'' Aomine asked. ''Did you?'' Kagami asked, Aomine shook his head. They both looked at Akashi, who shook his head. ''Mind if I joined in?'' Kagami asked.
As they headed to Kuroko, Midorima and Takao sat across Kise. ''Midorimacchi? Takaocchi? Usually Akashicchi and Aominecchi are here-ssu. It has been a while.'' he said. ''A while? Ki-chan, you had us worried sick.'' Takao said dramatically. ''Takao..'' Midorima began, but Kise stopped him. ''I'm sorry. I didn't want this all to happen in the first place.''
''Well, it did stop for now. But Haizaki's spirit made clear it doesn't end here.'' Takao said. ''The switching however seemingly stopped, meaning we don't know what will be next or when will be next.'' Midorima explained. ''I don't want anything to be next, Midorimacchi.'' Kise whined. ''Well, had you spoken to us before this all happened, we would have helped you out. Seeing that Haizaki suggested that you had some time to think who to spare. It wasn't nice, whatever possesses Haizaki wants to see us suffering. You should have spared yourself, that was the wise thing to do, nandeyo.'' Midorima explained.
''Shin-chan, Kise-chan would never do that. Someone had to keep their sanity straight, you are most likely to do so.'' Takao defended, and Kise half-heartly agreed. Midorima's only answer was leaving, not sure what to do. ''When can I go? How are the other doing?'' Kise asked, after a minute of silence when Midorima had left. ''Not sure, the group hasn't faced each other yet.'' Takao said. ''This is going to tear us apart, isn't it?'' Kise said. ''I think whatever you'll experience next will bring each other back together.'' Takao said. But somehow, Kise didn't feel sure.
''Tetsu, open up!'' Aomine demanded, but the teal-haired player said nothing, choosing to lie underneath his covers instead. Kagami had already explained that he hadn't seen Kuroko around, and now he knew why. Appearently, the shadow had locked himself in his room two days ago, and refused to get out, even when Akashi had ordered him too. Ahomine was banging the door that led to the sleeping room for around an hour by now.
''Daiki, I think you should open the door by force, he isn't going to let us in.'' Akashi said. ''Woah, you can't do that. Think of Tetsu's privacy.'' Aomine retorted. They heard a sudden click, as Kuroko said, ''Only Akashi can come in.'' Kagami and Aomine seemingly wanted to object, but Akashi stopped them. ''Maybe the next phase has occured already with him. We should be careful.'' Akashi hushed, before heading in.
Midorima and Takao looked angrily at the visitor that just missed his appointment to talk to with Kise, luckily currently sleeping steady in his room from the rehabilitation center. ''Are you you, or the other you?'' Midorima asked, before Takao added, ''Not that is any of our business, we don't want to see you either way. The droopy eyes hinted Midorima that Haizaki had been possessed. ''I just wanted to inform Ryouta that he should be careful. Of course, Akashi is probably currently trying to get pre-caution.'' Haizaki said.
''I've been wondering something.'' Takao said. ''You aren't part in any of this.'' Haizaki bluntly stated. ''You've hurt my friends, and beyond all that, I do know Kise's secret. Something not anyone that is participating does.'' Takao said. ''You want to know what I am?'' Haizaki asked. ''No, I want to know why you possessed Haizaki. I assume you are a phenonom, that takes advantage of the situations. You could have chosen any of them. But you choosed it to be Haizaki, the one that was rejected by them.'' Takao said.
''...'' Haizaki strolled off lazily. ''He isn't going to give us answers. Akashi already tried.'' Midorima told him. ''Think again, Shin-chan. He already gave me answers. Maybe not in words, but I can read his body-language easily, because of the hawkeye skills I posses.'' Takao told him, cheerily. ''Nonsense.'' Midorima told him. ''Maybe it is, maybe it isn't. We should warn Akashi the next phase is starting. Maybe it's for the best if we can convice your father to keep Kise here for a little while longer.'' Takao suggested.
''Kise will think he's insane, it'll be more troublesome.'' Midorima explained. ''Even if so, we should at least tell the others.'' Takao said. Just as Midorima was about to object, his phone ran. ''Speak of the devil, and he shall call.'' Takao joked, as he peeked on Midorima's screen. Midorima glared at him, before picking up his phone. ''Shintarou, the next phase has started. Has Ryouta shown any particular signs?'' Akashi asked. ''Nothing yet to indicate something was going on. We have seen Haizaki, we were just about to warn you.'' Midorima said.
''I see. Haizaki hasn't seen Ryouta yet?'' Akashi asked. Midorima hmmm'ed. ''So, that means Kazunari does know? Maybe that's for the best. We are about to meet up tonight. That being said, Tetsuya will be excluded, as will Ryouta for obvious reasons.'' ''We will be there.'' Midorima said, before he heard a click from the other side. He had heard Aomine protest, demanding to know why Kuroko didn't have to come, but that was something that could be shrugged off for the time being.
When they did meet up with them later, they faced a pissed off Aomine, Kagami, Murasakibara slouched against the giant bunny he had recieved from Midorima, and a concerned looking Akashi. ''Where is Kuroko?'' Takao asked, curious if the teal-haired was using mis-direction or was just late. He could never tell with that one.
''Kuroko isn't going to show up for a while.'' Kagami explained. ''I assume something bad happened then?'' Takao said, furrowing his eyebrow. ''Tetsuya has suffered from the first step of what I'd like to call the next phase.'' Akashi explained. ''The next phase?'' Kagami asked, he had realised that something bad was going on when Kuroko had refused to leave his room, but he still wanted to know what. ''Well, what is going on?'' Aomine asked. ''I have promised to allow Tetsuya tell himself when he's ready. All I can tell is that it appears we're going to act upon our impulses.'' Akashi explained.