A/N: Hey, I'm back! I'm super sorry about the huge hiatus the Blue Phoenix took. I had a huge case of writer's block, and COVID-19 struck my family hard, especially since a large number of my aunts, uncles, and cousins are in the medical field. I don't even want to talk about school, now that that's starting up. I felt really bad for everyone who wanted to finish the Blue Phoenix, but never got past ten chapters (I think?), and I intended to continue writing, but never got around to it. The selling point was when someone commented, "Are you discontinuing?!" That's when I knew I had to get something out there. So even though this chapter is pretty crappy, and I didn't proofread it as thoroughly as I did for my previous chapters, here it is!
I licked my lips apprehensively, still tasting salt from my meal at Maji Burger. It was a good restaurant, comparable to the burger places in America, which is saying something. Despite Kagami-kun's reassurance, a ball of nerves sat in my stomach, and there was an incurable dryness to my throat.
Kagami-kun struggled with the door for a few minutes, some English curses flew from his mouth, but he eventually got it. The suspense was not helping matters. There were probably sweat marks in my jacket, visible sweat marks. God, this was such a bad idea. Why did I let Ash talk me into this? Sentimentality? Fear prickled underneath my skin, setting even my teeth on edge.
"Right, you ready?" Kagami-kun studied me gravely as he gripped the door tightly, "Mentally prepare yourself, I've- we're a family, but we're rowdy... or so we've been told." Well, I might as well get this over with; it's not like it'll be any better if I hold off on this.
I nod and wipe the sweat off my clammy hands and flip on my hood, rubbing my headphones in hopes of calming my palpitating heart. It'll be more efficient if I set small, manageable goals for myself.
One, I should introduce myself. Even if my senpai already know who I am, I should inform the people of my past about my backstory- nothing too heavy, just the basics. They're my senpai, and if Kagami-kun's receptiveness towards them is anything to go by, we must be close.
Two... two is a work in process. It's not like I've led the conversation with the Generation of Miracles; they were the ones who shared their (our?) anecdotes with me. I was just... sitting there, awkwardly listening to them. Actually, am I really ready for this? I mean- I just got to Japan, and I barely- I slept in a metro station! How in the world am I supposed to deal with socializing with people who already know Kuroko Tetsuya, but not Blue?!
Kagami-kun nods, breaking me out of my thoughts and burning away any hope of running away, and yanks the door open. Sounds flood into the hallway from the people inside.
In the gym (which is small, but extremely clean and well-kept), there were seven people and a dog, six boys, one girl, and what looked to be an Alaskan Malamute. I'd remember because that one time I went to the animal shelter, I'd seriously considered getting one. They were so beautiful and friendly and honest-to-god adorable, and I barely held my composure. But I couldn't, of course, there's no way I'd be able to give that dog a complete meal every day, much less provide for it in every other manner.
"Teppei, you basketball idiot!" a brunette- not quite yelled, but certainly wasn't talking demurely towards the tallest person, a large brown-haired boy, "You can't expect Kuroko to want to play basketball the moment he gets here! You should talk first! Catch up- see what he's been up to!" A dark-haired, glasses-wearing boy nodded from the other side of the- Teppei, his name was Teppei.
"Idiot!" He exclaimed sharply, "Stand up, Koga! Stop rolling around!" There was, in fact, a cat-faced boy- that was Koga, apparently, rolling around on the ground, howling in silent laughter. He was getting pretty red-faced, and I'm pretty sure that's not a good thing. Asphyxiation is a horrible way to go, I've been told.
"Maa, Hyuuga, let the kids kid around while they're still kids!" A plain, black-haired boy smiled and whispered to himself, "That was a nice one!" The Alaskan Malamute yipped in agreement. Both the raven-haired boy's and the Doggo's actions only seemed to make the glasses-wearing boy- Hyuuga, even more aggravated.
"Shut up, Izuki!" He roared. The other boy, Izuki, seemed unaffected by Hyuuga-san's animosity.
"Guys, guys..." a bald boy raised his forearms up and down in a placating gesture, but it was a futile effort, "Maybe we should all take a deep breath and calm down..." The other dark-haired boy waved his arms around without a word. I can only assume that's some form of sign language, because otherwise, I'd just guess he's high or something. It's not a huge shocker for locals in Los Angeles to see a drug-addict loitering the streets in broad daylight.
"Y-yeah!" Koga gasped between his fits of laughter, "Mitobe, t-tell 'em! Bakagami should be coming any minute now!" Mitobe nodded. "Bakagami"... that must be a nickname for Kagami-kun. Being that Kagami-kun's name was plausibly similar, and there should be no one else coming.
Speak of the devil, that was when Kagami-kun decided to announce his presence.
"YO!" Kagami-kun's voice boomed and echoed off the walls, "We're here! Where the hell is everyone else?" The people stopped talking instantly (it was almost remarkable how quickly they cut themselves off) and stared straight at them like a child with their hand caught in the cookie jar. I braced myself for either continued silence or a raving response. Then they exploded with life.
"BAKAGAMI!"
"Arf! Arf!"
Nothing could have prepared me for it. How the fuck were 7 people (and an adorably awesome doggo) so loud? They stormed Kagami-kun, and I deftly moved to the side to avoid being trampled.
The girl (I don't know her name? I'd have thought they'd mentioned her by now) wordlessly squealed with delight. They all clamored around Kagami-kun, their excitement made the air hum with potential energy, and their voices swallowed each other's, talking and talking until their words were incomprehensible. Even Kagami-kun was joining in the symphony.
They were a single unit, a united clan. To an outsider, or someone with less experience, they may sound like a set of discombobulated noises, but I can tell. It's how their voices slot together comfortably, and how they can bump into each other and step on their toes and not have to apologize. Kagami-kun was right; they really were family.
It'd been a while since I'd seen anything like it. People on the streets... they don't take kindly to anyone, even their blood relatives.
It made me mad. That the people on the streets were throwing away their one chance at happiness. When you're on your own, there's no way to get out of that hellhole, unless you were willing to stain your hands and your name. It made me mad that people who had some semblance of hope to raise themselves off their asses refused to when I had to sully myself to bring myself back from the cusp of death by suicide.
"Wait! Where's Kuroko-kun?!" The girl asked, breaking the din, "You said he- was- did he not... show?"
"What- no! He's..." Kagami-kun looked around for me, his and everyone else's confusion growing. Gosh, they were so lost. I should step in, if only out of pity. "I swear, he was right-"
"I'm here," I jumped in, scaring everyone (figuratively) shitless, "I'm right here." If I thought their noise was the most overwhelming thing, then I was dead wrong. Being on the receiving end of their eyes- they had an intensity that sent shivers down my spine, something that's only happened once before in my life (that I know of).
Hazel, green, grey, and brown all scrutinized me; their inspection pinned me down like a butterfly under a microscope. The world held its breath, and suddenly, my throat dries, and I'm choking over myself again. There goes my meticulously made plan.
"Oh my god..."
God, this was... so much worse than I thought it would be. The silence just stretched on and on. I fought to keep my discomfort off my face. This was going to take a while.
"..."
This was a mistake. I never should've agreed with Ash. The silence crushed me and made my stomach perform somersaults like a hormonal teenager. Is it healthy for your stomach to be more acrobatic than you are?
"KUROKO(-KUN)!"
Holy cow. I jumped back at the sudden noise. How in the world was a team that silent become so loud? The others screamed and ran towards me, and the girl encased me in the tightest bear hug I've ever felt, and that's saying something. I've lived through overbearing Asian grandparents who haven't seen their grandchild in years. Trust me, this notwithstanding, nothing- and I mean nothing has anything on Asian-grandparent-hugs. The other surrounded me and screeched like banshees.
"A-ah, I can't... breath!" I gripe, my voice was already raspy from the lack of use, "P-please... let... go!"
"Oh! Sorry!" The girl relinquished her hold on me, and everyone took a step back, thank goodness.
"Wow, you haven't changed a bit, have you?" the girl murmurs. It sounded more like she was talking to herself more than anything, so I politely ignored that statement.
Then her face morphed into something more dark and twisted. It wasn't like the normal "I'm gonna fuck you over" face you can find by walking down the wrong alley, but it was still terrifying in its own right. Like a snarling tiger from the other side of the fence. That was the only warning I got.
It happened just a few seconds after her face changed, but it was lightning quick. It was only thanks to my quick reflexes that I even noticed her hand being raised and lowered at an alarming rate, but I couldn't even do anything to help myself.
WHACK
Her hand landed right on the crown of my head and elicited a surprised, "ite!" from me. The blow was more surprising than painful, but the fact that she hit me at all was much more pressing. I don't have any experience with abusive homes, but this... seems like it's toeing the line. What happened to the sense of their familial bond I'd felt earlier? Really? I made eye-contact with Kagami-kun and tried to portray my betrayal.
"Kuroko freaking Tetsuya!" The girl cried through gritted teeth, "What in the- what- where were you?! You've been gone for years! Do you know how hard we looked for you?! AND ONLY NOW YOU POP BACK UP!"
Oh.
There were tears in her eyes. She was crying.
No, not just the girl. The other boys were blinking rapidly as well. Kagami-kun remained dry-eyed, but his face was twisted in a sorrowful grimace.
They missed me. That... Seirin loved me. They wanted me back, but I was gone. The girl continued to rant and rave, and I let her. Ash told me it's a healthy coping mechanism to get your feelings off your chest. But I tried my best not to listen to it.
"Riko, that's enough," Teppei murmured, "I think he gets it." He smiled at me warmly, "Besides, it couldn't have been easy for Kuroko to stay away from his friends for so long; I'm sure he had a reason." It was slightly insulting that Teppei assumed I was friendless, but Seirin probably knows more about Kuroko Tetsuya than I do. Riko took a deep, shuddering breath, but she nodded in the end.
Well, what was I supposed to do in response?
They all looked at me expectantly, and I probably hesitated a touch too long for it to be socially acceptable, but whatever. It's not like I can go back now.
I nervously make eye-contact with Kagami-kun, though I'm not sure what I was hoping for. We're not friends- at least, not anymore (or maybe not yet?); he doesn't have any obligations to help me out any more than he already has. But regardless, Kagami-kun gives a jerky little nod of encouragement. His ruby-red orbs flickered over towards the rest of Seirin. Reminding me that I had to do something.
I looked over everyone's faces, and in that split-second, I remembered that no one here knew who I was. Seirin didn't know about the Blue Phoenix, they didn't know about Ash, and they certainly didn't know about the untimely end to Kuroko Tetsuya. But they cared- they wanted Kuroko Tetsuya back. Even if that could never happen, the least I could do is offer them some closure.
"When I was 15, I got in a plane crash..."
