Me: Okay, so first of all I am planning this longass AU that I don't know when will be published. Since the plot changed, I won't be needing this scene anymore. I just want to address the fact that the GoM never bonded outside of basketball. But anyways, please enjoy this cut-scene/deleted scenario that I will not be adding anymore.

EDIT: I wrote this last November 21, 2020 according to my Google Docs version history. I have no idea what I meant by "longass AU."

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Normal POV!

"Tsuya!"

A forceful nudge, but in a steady stance he remained as a heavy weight settled on his arm. Too used to carrying the weight of basketball players taller than him, with the addition of unexpected attacks from Momoi-san, Kuroko stands unfazed as he turns to meet the eyes of one of his closest friends.

"Yaoyorozou-san," he says, eyes steady and voice betraying nothing but blankness. "I was not expecting you to be here."

The woman laughs, the sound like bells ringing in his ear as her eyes crinkled in mirth, replying in a soft tone. "Neither did I. I have known you for years, Tsuya, and you are certainly not the type to attend these kinds of parties."

He wasn't, but mother had asked him to.

Her gaze softens, almost looking at him fondly as the grip on his arm loosens. "And I thought I told you to not be so formal with me. Call me Momo."

He will not.

"Or Yaomomo if you wish."

Kuroko doesn't like confusing his friends, but Yaoyorozou reminds him too much of pink eyes and sakura petals in bloo— "Yaomomo." he decides. Pausing, he gazes at her in question. "What brings you here?"

Yaoyorozou's eyes crinkle, her grip tightening slightly as she hums in answer. "Oh, you know how it is."

Ah, that's right, business. Forming connections — networking, like what he's doing right now.

"Right." pursing his lips, he places the half-empty glass on his hand down to face the raven-haired woman fully. "It has been a while since I last saw you." Kuroko whispers, grabbing her hand to lead her aside. "How have you been?"

Despite the loud noises, Yaoyorozou was too used to his presence to not notice the soft lilt in his tone. "I've been alright, Tsuya." she says softly, a small quirk on her lips. "I hear you've taken up basketball?"

"Not anymore." the teal-haired boy shakes his head, replying too quickly for his taste. He watches as a frown takes over her face, hands habitually raising to her chest where her heart was.

"Oh?" her brows furrow, genuine concern in her eyes.

Kuroko does not reply, choosing to admire her in her long, glittery red gown. "I," he pauses, clear hesitance in the way he spoke. "I lost interest in the sport."

Yaoyorozou pretends not to notice the pain in his eyes, like she always does, and Kuroko loves her a little more for that. "Ah, classic Tsuya." she smiles, clasping his hand as they watch the rich mingle like parasites in a pond. "Still jumping from one sport to another. I see you haven't found one that challenged you?"

"It is not about finding a sport that drives me competitively." Kuroko frowns, watching people in dresses and tuxedos pass them by with a goal in mind. "It's about…" he feels her gaze on him, waiting as he searches for the right words. "—finding a sport I… genuinely enjoy." he finishes lamely.

Yaoyorozou stays silent, but hums in understanding. She does not, but Kuroko is glad that she does not pry.

"Young master."

They both turn, seeing a tall figure approach them with purpose in his stride, standing tall and proper.

Kuroko tilts his head in greeting, Yaoyorozou bowing respectfully before turning away to grant them privacy, leaving the teal-haired boy with the midnight-haired man.

"Rei-san." Kuroko calls, staring at a pair of ruby eyes with the same deadpan look he adorned. "Did something happen?"

The man shakes his head, no expression on his face yet his eyes convey a softness reserved only for the young man he once helped raise. "Nothing of the sort. But, the master is asking for you."

"I preferred it more when you called me by my name." Kuroko says suddenly, startling the older man with a jolt, but otherwise did not react. Teal eyes softened, but did not say anything else. Turning, he calls, "Thank you for informing me, Rei."

As the tealnette walks away, the taller watches on, his lips lifting slightly as he whispers under his breath;

"You are always welcome, Tetsuya-sama."

~•~

"When your mother told me you were coming, I admit to having been in a state of disbelief with how distant you have been…" came the drawl of his father's voice upon opening the doors to his office. "Although, I should have learned over the years to never doubt your mother."

Kuroko swiftly ignores the jab, walking towards the center of the room as he readily meets his father's gaze. Sitting slump on a black leather chair, no one would believe they were father and son if not for their noticeably similar features, the older man being more defined and having dark hair instead of the lighter hue the younger got from his mother.

"You called." Kuroko says, eyes hard and focused.

His father chuckles, waving his hand to dispel whatever tenseness was in the air. "Don't be a stranger, Tetsuya."

"Is there something you need?"

'Straight to the point, as always.' the dark-haired man sits up, facing the younger with his arms folded on top of mahogany desk, lazily. "Is it really so hard to believe that I called my only son because I miss him?"

"Subtlety does not suit you, father." Kuroko quips, the corner of his lips raising lightly to express he meant no harm. "You are usually busy with work."

Ah yes, work. The taller smirks. "Nonsense, my boy. Work is nothing compared to your well-being." he lifts a glass to his lips, revealing a half-finished wine on his hands. He laughs. "And I'll have you know your father can be subtle when he wishes to."

Kuroko ignores the playful wink sent his way, releasing a breathy laugh of his own. "Nothing is ever subtle when a former yakuza marries the leader of a mafia gang, Otou-san." he smiles, before letting it fade. "You never call me during an event like this."

The older man nods, taking a small sip of his wine before placing it back down. "You and… that young woman —Yaoyorozou?— have been getting along quite well lately." he says, almost drowsily.

"We always get along." the shorter man was quick to reply, speech turning clipped. "We just haven't seen each other much until now."

The other only nods, waving the accusatory look being thrown his way as he took another sip of his wine. "Yes, yes, another one of your childhood friends that you managed to keep away from me…" he looks on with an amused glint in his eyes, ocean pools never leaving a pair of teal ones.

"Father," hesitant. "If this is about marriage—"

"No, no, Tetsuya, you misunderstand." chuckling, the dark-haired man straightens as he waved off the younger's suspicions. "You know I would never make you do anything you don't wish to." he gave a half-hearted smile before musing aloud. "Though I must admit that she is quite the match should you choose to pursue her."

Kuroko sighs with exasperation, a small simmer of anger bubbling in his chest. "Father—"

"Not everything is about basketball, Tetsuya."

He shut his mouth, a small tick forming on his forehead as frustration seems to seep through his mask. He knows, of course, but that doesn't answer his—

"Which is why it makes me wonder…" his father leans in, a dangerous look in his eyes. "What they did to make you hate it so much that you decided to cut off all contact and leave. That is not like you."

One step forward, two steps back.

Kuroko does not understand. "I…" he stops, sighing as he slumps from his own body's tenseness. "... what are you trying to say, father?"

He watches as the other's face melted into a fond look, gazing at him softly. As if he was something precious, something meant to be treasured.

"I worry…" is whispered in the silence of the room. Sitting back, his father continues with a faraway look in his eyes. "Everyone says you take after me, but I swore from the moment you were born that you were nothing but the exact replica of your mother."

Kuroko stays silent, relaxing slightly as he listens.

"You… there is something about the two of you that draws people in, a certain kind of charisma only you possess." dark blue eyes slide to meet his. "You are a kind boy, my little prince. Too kind." his father shakes his head, a nostalgia-filled smile plastered on his face. "It's because of this that your mother married someone like me." bitterly letting out a mirthless laughter, he stands up from his chair, approaching the younger one. "And I cannot watch you make the same mistake she did." he stops, a few meters away. "They did something to you, something that not only made you quit basketball, but also broke your trust." he frowns, putting a hand on the shorter man's shoulder. "And I cannot bear to watch you hurt yourself like this."

"I am not hurting — anymore, father." says he, unsure himself as he tries to appear bigger than he felt. "You have said so already. I left—"

"That doesn't make it hurt any less." the grip hardens. "You left because it hurt too much, yet something is keeping you from letting go." he lets go, standing straighter as he sighs, anger dissipating slowly. "I always tell you that you love too much, Tetsuya, get attached too quickly..."

How could he? Kuroko looks down. How could he when everytime he closes his eyes he sees pink, smells sweat and rubber, remembers the blue, red, purple, yellow, green and everything in between? How could he forget the peals of laughter ringing in his ears, the bruises he gained from training, the teasing remarks and banters shared between —friends. He… no...

There was always basketball in the equation.

Kuroko does not look up, afraid to meet his father's pitiful glance. He does not want to admit how much it hurt to watch the five women who showed no fear of playing a sport made for men simply because they loved it lose the fire in their eyes, play his heart like a game, and trample on his promise with a friend like dirt. He does not want to remember, but he also does not want to forget.

Akashi Seira, Midorima Shino, Murasakibara Atsumi, Kise Ryouka, Momoi Satsuki, and Aomine Daina.

Memories with them always included basketball, basketball, basketball… and with it gone there is nothing left to return to. There was never anything to return to, was there?

"Oh, Tetsuya…"

He does not register the tears falling from his eyes or the warmth of his father's embrace. All he knows is broken bonds and broken trusts, soiled memories and the crushing realization that they were nothing without basketball, that he was unneeded either way, and yeah, maybe their relationship has always been brittle from the start, but for a moment he hoped, hoped that everything was real, hoped that it was never as simple as trust and teamwork but something deeper like faith and friendship, hoped for something more than being teammates, but he finds nothing.

For a moment he wants to pretend.

"Tetsuya," his father coos, soothingly running a hand down his back in comfort.

And for a moment he wants to believe.

"You deserved so much more…"

But his trust has been broken far too many times.

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Me: There were supposed to be three (3) more scenes after, but I wrote this part a year ago so I don't know what I was supposed to add. Anyways, I hope you liked it. I'm not adding any more because I forgot what this was about.

Midoriya: Don't forget - the author now has a link to a discord server (tdNdHA9).

Me: Oh yeah, xD Uhm... please remember that it's NEW.

~~~CHAO!~~~