Lunch came slower than Aomine cared to admit. During the third and fourth period, Aomine anxiously watched the clock, praying desperately for it to move faster. At the end of the third period, the tanned male hadn't been able to catch up to Kuroko in enough time.
The blunette had disappeared just as the teacher dismissed them. Like a ghost!
Luckily, it was lunchtime now and Aomine was ecstatic. As the teen reached the cafeteria, he instantly searched the large room. Catching a glimpse of teal hair walking toward the seating area, the ganguro raced over to the blunette.
Just as Kuroko had taken a seat, Aomine slammed his hands down on the table space next to the blunette. "Hey again! You seem good at school. I demand you tutor me!" The insolent request caused Kuroko to eye the male dubiously.
"Aominecchi don't be so rude! And, you know Kurokocchi?!" the unheeded blonde piped up with a confused expression. Aomine glanced at the blonde, startled. "Kise?! The hell are you doing here?!"
"So mean! I'm just eating with my friend, Aominecchi!" Kise snivelled, aggressively taking a bite of his bento, annoyed. The ganguro rolled his eyes at the dramatic blonde. "Whatever."
Turning his attention back to the blunette, Aomine lured. "So? What's your answer?"
"The way you asked was rude, but if you need the help, I will not decline," Kuroko answered bemusedly. Aomine grinned wildly, making a sound of satisfaction. "Thanks, man!"
"Kurokocchi is too kind! Aominecchi is mean!" Kise cut in with a pout. "I need help too, Kurokocchi! Can you tutor me, too?!" the blonde beamed expectantly.
"Kise-kun does not need help. You are smart enough to handle school on your own," the blunette commented before taking another bite of his food. "Aomine-kun needs the extra help."
"What did you say?!" Aomine narrowed his eyes with an irked smirk.
"Aomine-kun needs help, correct? Is that not why he asked me to tutor him?" Kuroko composedly explained. "Duh! But don't make it seem as if Kise is smarter than me!" Aomine shouted angrily before plopping down on the seat next to Kuroko.
"Kurokocchi was just stating the obvious, Aominecchi," Kise teased, sticking his tongue out mockingly. The tanned male growled at him.
"On a more serious note. How do you know Kurokocchi, Aominecchi?" The blonde rested his head on his, propped up, hand. "I doubt you would just randomly ask someone to tutor you."
"We ran into each other during the second period. This dumbass tried carrying a dozen books by himself so I helped him carry them to the library," Aomine shrugged before reaching over to take a bit of Kuroko's bento. "How about you? I don't think you ever told us you had any friends besides the team."
"That's mean, Aominecchi! Of course I have friends! Why should I share my great tales with a gangruo like you, anyways?!" Kise bragged, dramatically flipping his bangs back. Aomine rolled his eyes. "I asked you a question, dumbass?"
"Oh! Well, I met Kurokocchi on the first day! I found him reading under a tree. I invited him to come have lunch with me and our friendship blossomed from there," the blonde dreamily shut his eyes, trying to reminisce in the memories.
Aomine shook his head with halfhearted irritation. Kise was something else.
"I don't know how you handle this idiot, Tetsu." Kuroko gaped up at the ganguro, blankly.
"Tetsu?"
Aomine tilted his head slightly, raising an eyebrow. "What? Too early for a first-name basis?" Kuroko shook his head in response. "No. It's fine."
Grinning gaily, Aomine threw an arm around Kuroko's shoulders. "Great, cause I would have continued calling you 'Tetsu' whether you liked it or not!"
"Wah~ No fair! I wanna call Kurokocchi by his first name too!" Kise wailed, leaning over the table toward the blunette with puppy dog eyes. "Can I?"
"No. It would be weird coming from Kise-kun," Kuroko replied honestly, taking a sip of his drink. "Aw~ Kurokocchi! You make me sad!" Kise glumped on the table, radically.
Aomine cackled madly. He was starting to enjoy this Kuroko kid's presence. Given, anyone who made fun of Kise was automatically on his friend list- but that wasn't the point. The blunette was blunt and straight-forward. Not to mention, compliant. Aomine was gonna enjoy hanging out with the blunette that he is certain of.
xXx
As lunchtime ended, all the students retreated back to their designated classes. During that time, Aomine discovered Kuroko was in his last two periods, as well. It didn't bother him, though. At least now, he didn't have to search everywhere for Kuroko afterschool, so that was a bonus.
As time went on, Aomine started regretting asking Kuroko to tutor him. At first it seemed like a good idea, however now, he wasn't all that excited about it. He'd have to sit there for a few hours, re-learning subjects and studying. Obviously something one wouldn't be very thrilled about.
The navy haired teen just wanted to go home and sleep. It had been a long day and his bed seemed very enticing right about now. Not to mention, Aomine had practice after school, as well. Skipping practice was a no go when it came to Akashi. Alas, he'd have to deal with his captain's arduous practice regime for another three hours.
Aomine settled with just cancelling his plans with the blunette. They could always study tomorrow, anyways. There was no rush.
Unlike lunch, the last two periods went quickly.
With class now dismissed, Aomine raced to the gym. Hopefully, Kuroko would get the hint that he had practice and just go home. Then, he wouldn't have to explain his laziness to his tutor.
Kicking the doors open, the navy-haired teen noticed he was the first to arrive. Glancing at the clock, he estimated that his teammates would appear in no less than 5 minutes or so. All their last periods were relatively close to the gym, anyways.
"Mine-chin~ You are here early," a purple-headed teen sauntered into the gym holding a bag of chips. Aomine pushed himself off the wall he was previously leaning on. "Yeah, just roaring to go, I guess."
"Do you think about anything other than basketball, nanodayo?" Midorima cut in, walking inside holding a stuffed duck. Aomine always wondered how he was never embarrassed walking around with such stupid items.
"I think about other things, bastard! I just got here early! I don't see the big deal!" Aomine snapped angrily. Midorima merely pushed his glasses up.
"Daiki, you're loud as usual, I see." A red-haired male teased halfheartedly, making his way over to his teammates. The ganguro just grumbled under breath. "Whatever. Why is everyone picking on me today?"
"Mine-chin is always noisy," Murasakibara said before putting more chips in his mouth. "Mine-chin should be more quiet."
Aomine was about to retort when a certain boisterous blonde interrupted. "Ah~ Apologies for being late! A few fangirls stopped me on the way over!"
"No one cares, Kise. Let's just start practice now," Midorima replied, heading over to the changing room with Akashi not far behind.
"Wah~ Aominecchi! Midorimacchi is being mean!" Kise wailed while latching his arm around Aomine's. "Get off me, idiot!"
Murasakibara threw his trash away before walking lazily toward the changing room. "Mine-chin and Ki-chin argue like an old married couple." Aomine gawked at the giant. "We do not! Get off me, Kise!"
"How dare you say such a thing, Murasakicchi?! Aominecchi would never meet my standards," Kise released the ganguro, turning toward the changing room dramatically, as always. Aomine chased after the blonde, angrily. "What did you say, bastard?! You are the one who doesn't meet my standards! Don't act all high and mighty!"
"Aominecchi is just jealous I get girls and he doesn't," Kise teased with a smirk. Aomine pulled him into a headlock as they entered the changing room. "Say that again, blondie!"
"You both are bumbling idiots. I don't know how we haven't gone insane yet, nanodayo," Midorima stated while pulling on his gray training shirt. Silver was his lucky color today.
"Shut it, Midorima!"
"Don't be mean, Midorimacchi!"
Off to the side, Akashi chuckled amusedly before pulling on his own exercise shirt. "Aka-chin, do we have a hard practice today? I don't feel like working hard," Murasakibara whined as he flopped onto the bench next to the lockers.
A few other students started making their way into the changing room just as the rainbow haired students finished.
"Of course, Atsushi. How could I not prepare something worthwhile? I shall permit you snack breaks in between, though." Akashi always had a soft spot for the purple-haired baby of the group. "Thank you, Aka-chin~."
Practice went on as usual. Akashi kept to his word and forced them into another tough practice. Kise was whining. Murasakibara was snacking. Same old. Same old.
As the time hit 6 o'clock, Akashi instructed all the players to head back and get changed. The rainbow haired students lagged behind a bit.
"Good practice, everyone. We shall continue this until Inter-high," the red-head announced, smirking at the others' groans of disapproval. "Is there an issue?"
"No, not all, Akashicchi!" Kise assured, sheepishly waving his hands side to side. Who knows what Akashi would do if they complained. He would probably double the training and no one wanted that!
The teens made their way to the changing room once they noticed the others leaving. Redressing in their uniforms, the lot exited the gym, belining toward the front gate after locking up.
"Y'know, Aominecchi.. Didn't you ask Kurokocchi to tutor you? Did you two make plans to meet up after practice?" Kise asked, breaking the comfortable silence. Aomine rubbed the back of his head. "Yeah~ I think he went home, though. I kinda rushed to the gym after our last period."
"So that's why you arrived so early; wanted to escape your tutor, Aomine?" the megane concluded with a raised eyebrow. The ganguro shot him a warning look. "Hey! I didn't want to disappoint him and cancel the plans!"
"It's alright, Aominecchi! Kurokocchi is still here. The two of us usually walk home together after our practice! You can talk to him when we meet up!" Kise suggested with a grin. Aomine averted his gaze with. "Yeah, whatever."
"As you do that, Atsushi and I will head to our homes now. Good day," their captain announced before trekking the opposite direction of the teens. Murasakibara opened another bag of chips, following Akashi without a word.
"Kurokocchi! Thanks for waiting!" Kise vocalized and pounced on the blunette. "I can't breathe, Kise-kun," Kuroko grappled in the young model's arms. "Please let go."
"Ah~ My bad, Kurokocchi~" Kise released the teen reluctantly before glancing back toward the ganguro. "Aominecchi was wondering if the two of you were gonna study this evening."
Aomine slapped the back of the blonde's head with a hiss. "Shut it, Kise! You should have let me talk to him!"
"Ow! That hurt, Aominecchi!" Kise whined, rubbing the impair part of his head. Aomine rolled his eyes before approaching the blunette. "Sorry 'bout leaving you back at class, Tetsu. I had practice."
"It's alright, Aomine-kun. I understand that practice is important to attend on time. I wished you would attend class as often as you attend practice, though," Kuroko scolded, however, his face remained expressionless. The navy-haired teen groaned. "Practice is so much better than class."
'Even with Akashi's insane regulations.' Aomine was tempted to speak his thoughts but decided against it. He didn't want Midorima to tattle on him. No matter how childish that sounds.
"Idiots never succeed in school. There is nothing more to it, nanodayo," Midorima cut in crudely. Kise giggled teasingly in response. "Aominecchi is an idiot~."
"Shut it you Oha-Asa fanboy!"
Kuroko just shook his head with amusement.
"Midorimacchi, I don't think you've ever met Kurokocchi have you?" the change of subject piqued everyone's interests. The moss-head observed Kuroko thoroughly. "No, I have not. My name is Midorima Shintarou. Pleasure to meet you."
Kuroko bowed slightly. "It is nice to meet you too, Midorima-kun. My name is Kuroko Tetsuya," the blunette replied.
"Now that everyone is familiar with each other, let's head to the convenience store! I am craving an ice pop!" Kise exclaimed before grabbing Kuroko's arm and dragging him toward the direction of the, previously mentioned, store.
Aomine shot Kise a look. "Hey! I thought you brought me with you so I could get Tetsu to tutor me!"
"There is always time for that tomorrow. Today we shall enjoy the night!" Kise took a moment to focus his attention on the megane. "You wanna join us, Midorimacchi?"
"I supposed.. But don't assume I am tagging along because you asked. I am going because an ice pop sounds good right about now, nanodayo," Midorima pushed his glasses up again. Tsundere bitch activates.
"Whatever you say, Midorimacchi!" Kise giggled as they continued on their way.
Once they arrived, all four teens instantaneously entered before buying their popsicles. Deciding on relaxing outside the store, each opened their treats before munching away.
"Did you want me to help you study tomorrow, Aomine-kun?" Kuroko proposed. Aomine grunted in response. "I supposed. Not like I can evade it any longer."
"It's best to end your stupidity now rather than waiting and infecting everyone else," the oha-asa fanatic put forth as he continued to consume his snack. Aomine narrowed his eyes threateningly. "Say that again, bastard. I dare you!"
"What? Are you going deaf now? Idiocy mixed with the incapability to hear? What a horrible combination," Midorima chaffed, irking Aomine more. "Put a sock in it you Oha-Asa nut!"
Kise barked out a laugh and leaned an arm over Kuroko's shoulders. "My teammates sure are a wild bunch, eh Kurokocchi~?" The blunette shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly in return.
As the group finished their popsicles, Midorima exchanged goodbyes and went on his way home. Kise soon followed after leaving Aomine and Kuroko, alone. The two teens started off toward the direction of the blunette's apartment; agreeing that it was closer and Aomine could take off from there.
"Thank you for agreeing to tutor me, Tetsu. I asked that moss-head Midorima a while ago, but of course he turned me down," Aomine praised as rested his arms behind his head. Kuroko just nodded in acknowledgement.
"It's not a problem, Aomine-kun. And, you shouldn't phrase things like that. You make it seem as if Midorima-kun rejected your proclamation of love."
"Don't say it like that!" Aomine hissed, blushing slightly. "It was Aomine-kun who worded it. I was just explaining how it sounded to me," Kuroko elucidated bluntly. The ganguro just slapped a hand to his forehead. This kid sure was something.
"Anyways, I have practice tomorrow so just wait for me like you did for Kise today, alright?" Aomine instructed just as they arrived at the blunette's apartment. "Of course, Aomine-kun. I will do just that."
The navy-haired teen watched as Kuroko walked up the stairs and entered his home. With a sigh, Aomine stalked off. All he wanted to do right now was sleep, sleep, and sleep. His ever so beguiling bed seemed even more enticing after the day he's had.
xXx
Kuroko entered his apartment with an exasperated sigh. Kise's friends sure were interesting, no matter how irksome they were to one another. Kuroko wasn't sure if they always fought the way they did or if they were just bickering jokingly. How do they even get along at practice if they don't get along out of school? Let alone, how do they get along during games?!
Putting aside his thoughts, the blunette ambled up his stairs before entering his room and dropping on the bed tiredly. Sleep should do him some good. Today sure was eventful.
Kuroko had met Aomine, been asked to tutor said ganguro, helped out with the student council, and was invited to hang out with Kise and his friends. As someone who doesn't go out much besides school and to buy groceries, Kuroko was worn out.
Today was the most he's had to socialize in a while. Sure, Kise was an overdramatic and exaggerated person, but it's not like the two hung out a whole lot. They got along fine and mostly mingled at lunch and walked home after school. That was it, though.
The young model understood that Kuroko liked his space and enjoyed a more quiet atmosphere, however, that didn't stop him from behaving boisterously. The blunette didn't mind too much, though. Kise was Kise and he wouldn't want him to change.
Casting away his thoughts again, Kuroko got up to change before settling back in bed after turning the lights off. Kuroko didn't usually go to sleep this early, yet he was feeling extra drained today, as mentioned formerly.
Shutting his fatigued eyelids, Kuroko drifted off to the land of dreams.
xXx
A/N: Thank you for reading, besties! Have a nice day!
To be continued...
~Rin