A/N: Okay! Here's the second chapter. Initially I wasn't gonna update until I actually wrote up to the part where Akashi and Conan meet but uhm... I got too excited now that I've hammered down some important details for the Arcs.
Chapter Warnings: DCMK canon slowly bleeding thru, Unreliable Narrator, Anime Logic, is this basketball?
Chapter 2
On the surface, not much has changed since that day.
Kuroko was now Tetsuya, and Ogiwara-kun was now Shige-kun. They played basketball, ate freeze pops, and went around to play with the various pets in the neighborhood. Sometimes Tetsuya would be pulled into one of Shige-kun's whims of adventure—they'd be wandering around, traversing small alleys or even some creepy wooded area, until Shige-kun inevitably forgets the way back and Tetsuya would dutifully retrace their steps.
The usual.
But somehow, Tetsuya felt… free. Like Kuroko Tetsuya was less of a name in the endless sea of names and more like an actual identity—a person who can grow into its meaning, into the kanji that he wrote as katakana when introducing himself because names held significance. And because of that, it became easier to talk, to smile, to frown, to show emotion, to be more open even if it's just to one person outside of his home. Obaa-sama had always insisted that he needed to make more connections outside of the family.
So here he was at the park, trying his best not to melt under the August heat as he waited for Shige-kun to arrive. Tetsuya had taken shelter under a tree, a novel in his hands and arm propped up on a (new!) basketball as he let time pass by.
He'd been here for quite some time now, a few hours earlier than the time they had decided to meet. Tetsuya enjoyed the quiet peacefulness within the Kuroko home, only interrupted by obaa-sama or okaa-san shuffling about, but some days his ears pricked at the silence and the sense of loneliness chaffed. This was one of those days.
Though a small part of him wished he had the foresight to bring cold treats before he settled into his spot. He could really do with a vanilla popsicle right now instead of sipping at the single bottle of water he had.
People milled around, children and teens on their summer break ready to meet up with friends and hang out or play. Some adults pass by in a hurry to get to their appointments, some others just out to enjoy the day to themselves. Tetsuya absently flipped a page and wondered which one of those he counted as.
"Waiting for someone?" a voice inquired right in front of him. "Or just enjoying a day for yourself?"
Tetsuya hid a flinch, grip tightening on his book as his eyes reluctantly trailed away from the text and up to the face peering down at him curiously.
Nearly a month wasn't really that long of a time, but Tetsuya quickly saw signs of exhaustion that hadn't been there the last time he'd seen Edogawa-kun. And that didn't include the forming bruise on the other's cheek or the bandaged scrapes that littered his skin. Even his hair was messier than Tetsuya remembered, his gray short-sleeve shirt rumpled and missing a button.
"Domo," there was barely an inflection in Tetsuya's voice, but Edogawa-kun apparently read something from it. The other boy huffed and settled himself beside Tetsuya, careful to keep a calculated distance between them. Tetsuya watched, curious but patient enough to wait.
Eventually, Edogawa-kun said, "I think it's both."
Tetsuya tilted his head in question.
"The ball and your water bottle," Edogawa-kun explained lazily, pulling out his phone to type out a quick message. "The ball's new, probably bought yesterday. You obviously have an intention to play, as you do everyday, but you show no signs of physical exertion yet. Judging from how dry your water bottle is, you've been here long enough for the condensation to evaporate."
Deduction, Edogawa-kun had called it. Tetsuya had to wonder how he could make such intuitive judgments with small things that usually went unnoticed. Tetsuya himself was no slouch in figuring people out, in knowing what to look for. That Tetsuya was one of those unnoticed only contributed a part of it.
But then again he wasn't one to voice out his thoughts, not unless it was absolutely needed, so he just nodded in response and tried to get back to reading.
Tried, because Tetsuya caught himself darting a look at Edogawa-kun's visible injuries.
For a while, they remained silent, Edogawa-kun having pulled a pocketbook out of nowhere—English, he absently noted—and Tetsuya engrossed with forcing himself to focus on his own novel.
"You can ask, you know." Tetsuya glanced beside him. The shrug and amiable smile Edogawa-kun presented him with was convincing– yet not. "I don't mind. It's better than feeling your stare burning through my skin."
The last statement was said teasingly and it was almost worse than being caught red-handed. Mortified, Tetsuya felt his face heat up. Being caught staring was very new, just as much as being singled out like Edogawa-kun had done so easily. It was, oddly, not a bad feeling. In fact, a part of him was pleased. So—
"If Edogawa-kun really doesn't mind," Far be it for Tetsuya to ignore the offer to pry, the curiosity greater than his embarrassment at that personal discovery. "I was wondering why you look like you just got into a fight."
Edogawa-kun mulled it over, possibly going over what to say and what not to. Then with a peculiar glint in his eyes, he replied, "Kidnapped. Apparently I was convenient to grab and use as a hostage so he can get away from the police. Knocked me out and managed to drag me all the way here to central Tokyo."
Whatever it was Tetsuya expected, the words that came from Edogawa-kun's mouth was... well, not exactly it but at the same time, it made a sort of sense. It was the nonchalant tone that threw him off rather than the contents itself. Tetsuya shuffled and turned his full attention towards the other boy.
Edogawa-kun correctly took his silence as a signal to continue, tone inappropriately playful and self-satisfied, "I don't think he counted on me fighting back. The police got him in the end." Then he mumbled an aggravated, "You'd think they'd learn by now."
It was easy to tell that a lot of information was being glossed over, just as it was easy to tell that Edogawa-kun was being truthful. What purpose would he have to fabricate such a lie? Even in the short time of knowing Edogawa-kun, Tetsuya knew the other boy was not the kind to engage in senseless violence. It was just easier to not be in disbelief.
After hearing where their new friend resided and wondering why Tetsuya knew where Beika was, Tetsuya had done his due diligence.
Japan, while relatively crime-free compared to other countries, wasn't much of one as most media outlets would claim. The Touto ward of Tokyo, in particular, had once been known to be the epicenter of crime in Japan. And Beika rested somewhere within.
Up until a few years ago, criminal activity had been at an all time high. Murders and bombings, kidnappings, attacks typical of terrorist movements. Tetsuya's only regret for not having clear memories of that time (a gruesome time he was more than happy to not recall at all) was of learning about Kaito KID after the mysterious thief had once again disappeared from the public eye.
Then again, the Magician Thief was not the only one to have vanished. News reports on crime had dwindled, such stories slipping into obscurity in favor of other light-hearted sensational news. Tetsuya had been left with little else than gruesome snippets and dates and statistics, cases of old that never mentioned names that weren't the police and the culprits.
(Was it by design or not?)
Tetsuya didn't even have to consider Edogawa-kun's off-handed mention of knowing a private detective and called him occhan to believe the other boy's words.
What was alarming was the implication that it happened enough times, or had so small an impact that Edogawa-kun treated it as just another part of his life. That it wasn't just bravado or a mask held up by childish pride. That he'd fallen into this situation when Japan was supposed to be safe.
As far as he knew, Edogawa-kun was the same age as they are; eleven– too few in years to have to fight back and succeed with little regard.
It was concerning. For his friend, for what kind of image this was building in his head. Tetsuya gripped his book tighter. "Should Edogawa-kun really sound so nonchalant about it?"
"Why not?" Edogawa-kun shrugged dismissively, attention now back on his book. "It's not like it's the worst that can happen. I got out fine and they've got the guy behind bars, or at least in police custody. No one else was hurt. Should anything else matter?"
Was there a correct answer to that question? Tetsuya didn't think so. Edogawa-kun didn't seem to be expecting one, either. But it was hard to deny that it left Tetsuya quite rattled, confused and too inexperienced to think of a response that would satisfy the unease it brought out.
Should anything else matter?
It was a boundary being established. Tetsuya wasn't so oblivious to not realize that. However, he also wasn't one to back away easily.
"Yes," Tetsuya answered, just as pointed. It doesn't matter that this was only their second meeting, that their understanding of each other was still too shallow. But Tetsuya felt that it would betray something in him if he just let it be. "I'm not sure what Edogawa-kun wanted to hear, but there is always something else that matters. Yourself, for one."
Edogawa-kun paused, blinked, and stared at Tetsuya with the same sharp gaze as they first met. It was jarring how Edogawa-kun can easily go from the picture of disarming innocence to something… else. Tetsuya was not one to be easily intimidated, not by adults or the situations he'd encountered. But Edogawa-kun—pretty, serious, scrutinizing—had his teeth on edge.
Resting an elbow on a bent knee, Edogawa-kun propped his cheek on his hand. His smile was perhaps the most real Tetsuya had ever seen, if only it wasn't so wistful and cynical. "You're a weird kid."
Blandly, Tetsuya responded, "Edogawa-kun speaks as if he isn't one himself."
"Weird?" Edogawa-kun chuckled, covering his mouth and turning his head away, "I guess so."
It wasn't shameful, Tetsuya admitted to himself, that he felt relieved when those eyes redirected their focus on the surroundings. He was quickly realizing that Edogawa-kun's particular brand of duplicity made him dangerous, made Tetsuya wonder how far the boy could—did—take it.
(How much of him is the truth and how much of him is a lie?)
Curiosity overrode whatever doubts and hesitance this realization spawned. But again, Tetsuya was patient. He would eventually wear down on Edogawa-kun, there was no use in pushing it now.
After a minute of silence, Tetsuya took it as an end to that conversation and went back to his novel. Beside him, Edogawa-kun watched the thinning crowd as the sun reached its highest peak. Too alert to be relaxed, too vigilant to just be watching.
Letting himself be absorbed back into texts that form fictional worlds, Tetsuya concurred to Shige-kun's remark so many nights ago.
He wants to be Edogawa-kun's friend. Not because of something so selfless like Shige-kun claimed, of befriending a boy that needed more friends. He wants to be Edogawa-kun's friend because Tetsuya is so visible to him, because Edogawa-kun is such a strange, peculiar, interesting boy that could pick Tetsuya out of a crowd.
Through some sort of silent agreement, both boys decided to skip lunch in favor of basking in silent companionship. Tetsuya having a small enough appetite that he didn't feel the need to eat and Edogawa-kun being too absorbed in the book he was reading to even notice nor care.
They didn't move from their spot until Shige-kun arrived just a bit past 2:00 PM.
Usually, Tetsuya would have been snapped out of his own bubble by the chestnut haired boy's unnecessarily loud calls of Tetsuya, where are you?! And Tetsuya would then spend a couple of minutes entertaining himself with the boy's antics as Shige-kun peered through bushes and trees and signages trying to find his blue haired friend.
It would have been reasonable, Tetsuya conceded, had he not chosen this specific spot everyday to wait for Shige-kun.
Ridiculous.
But this time, with the added person by the name of Edogawa Conan, the blue eyed boy with glasses easily spotted Shige-kun. And because Shige-kun had been on the lookout for Edogawa-kun since they met, Shige-kun was also able to spot them faster than usual. Their eyes met and Shige-kun beamed.
"Ah!" Shige-kun screamed, practically tripping over his own feet in his haste to get to them. "Tetsuya! Edogawa! You're here!"
With an almost identical sigh, Tetsuya and Edogawa-kun shoved their books into their respective storage (Tetsuya putting his inside his bag, Edogawa-kun putting his…somewhere) before pushing themselves to stand up.
"Good afternoon, Shige-kun," Tetsuya greeted as the boy zoomed to his side. At least Shige-kun had enough self-control not to lunge at him. With grace, Tetsuya accepted the arm that slung over his shoulders.
"So," Shige-kun turned his attention towards their other companion. Tetsuya knew that despite his general airheadedness, Shige-kun wasn't as oblivious as he likes to project, so it was likely the boy took note of Edogawa-kun's obvious injuries. "What brings you by?"
"Some errands," Edogawa-kun lied with a smile (sincere, mischievous, secretive), "I didn't feel like going home yet so when I saw Kuroko-kun, I thought I could spend some time here. I did promise to stop by."
Shige-kun grinned, bright and happy as he hustled them to the direction of the courts. "Yeah! Wanna join us for some basketball? We can get some freeze pops after. My treat this time!"
Tetsuya pointedly stared at Edogawa-kun's bruise, hoping to communicate his concerns without having to open his mouth. While he wanted to play basketball with the other boy again, he wasn't sure to what extent he was injured. Tetsuya wasn't about to forget he had just been kidnapped all the way from Beika and had to fight off his kidnapper. It was a wonder why he hadn't been escorted home.
Meeting his stare evenly, Edogawa-kun waved off his concerns with a shrug, "I've got time."
Which was in no way reassuring at all. But. Edogawa-kun acted as if his injuries didn't exist at all.
With a great cheer, Shige-kun took Tetsuya's hand and ran, happy to have roped in someone else into their game. Tetsuya found himself swept up in his enthusiasm, putting the matter of Edogawa-kun being injured at the back of his mind but not forgotten. The amused smile on Edogawa-kun's face as he trailed behind the two eased some of Tetsuya's apprehension.
With a resigned huff, Tetsuya finally acknowledged the excitement that bubbled up at the prospect of playing basketball with Edogawa-kun again.
The court Shige-kun dragged them to was relatively close to the park and the same one where the three of them met.
It was a fairly popular place; well-kept and maintained by some local groups and those that regularly drop by, spacious enough to house two full basketball courts with enough space for passers-by to linger without having to watch out for stray balls, but out of the way of the Tokyo city bustle even at the dreaded rush hours.
Which also meant that since schools were on break, the courts were filled when they arrived. It was a hit and miss, Tetsuya supposed. While popular, this particular court can be quite empty every now and then. Today was just one of those days when everyone seemed to have had the urge to play basketball.
"Well," Shige-kun muttered, watching a rather heated match between some highschoolers with wide eyes. Then a boyish grin stretched his lips. "I guess we'll have to head to your court, Tetsuya."
Irked at the teasing, Tetsuya elected to ignore it.
Edogawa-kun raised an eyebrow. "Kuroko-kun's court?"
"Yeah," Shige-kun's grin widened. "Tetsuya's the only one who uses it. Everyone else thinks it's haunted."
Tetsuya had to quail the urge to jab his friend. It wasn't as if it was his intention to make people think it was haunted. The mentioned court was just a couple of blocks away from their house, was out of the way enough that the more tenacious neighborhood kids were the only ones to use it, so it was the most convenient place to practice in.
Everyday, Tetsuya would spend a few hours playing alone, often staying until nightfall. Before he knew it, the place was called haunted and everyone avoided it like the plague. And those few brave souls who did step a foot in left screaming whenever Tetsuya greeted them.
Shige-kun had laughed and Tetsuya had been particularly miffed.
Edogawa-kun's, "Why would it be haunted?" snapped Tetsuya out of the dark mood he was getting into.
"Shige-kun please stop saying it's mine," Tetsuya answered, sending a look at Shige-kun as he did so. Then to Edogawa-kun, "My lack of presence is unsettling to some people. It has been explained to me that I appear out of nowhere even if I had been there the entire time. I try to greet people politely but they end up screaming at my face and running away."
Okay, yes, despite his outward apathy on the subject, it does get under his skin every now and then. The frustration was not easy to ignore when the incidents brought up are ones that he did not have a hand in consciously orchestrating. Getting used to it is more of a continuous process, as he had been repeatedly faced with.
"That's stupid," Edogawa-kun's tone was dry, disdainful, and Tetsuya was grateful it was not directed at him because it sounded so condescending that the hairs at the back of his neck rose, "No one appears 'out of nowhere'. Sure, you blend into the background better than some people I know, but you're not that invisible. They should have their eyes checked. Better yet, they should have their intelligence checked. Who could miss someone with light blue hair and pale skin?"
In the duration of Edogawa-kun's speech, Shige-kun grew more and more despondent, each word comically striking him like an arrow. By the end of it, there was a heavy cloud of gloom hanging over his head.
Taking pity on the usually very cheerful boy, Tetsuya said, "I think, in this case, Edogawa-kun is the minority."
"Am I?" Edogawa-kun scoffed but didn't make any more remarks. Accepting, if a bit disbelieving.
Truthfully, Tetsuya did appreciate his words. This was the first time anyone had ever defended Tetsuya's presence in such a way that implied he wasn't the problem. But that didn't stop the urge to roll his eyes at the inevitable self-praise Edogawa-kun's statement contained.
Tetsuya's low to nonexistent presence might elicit quite a few negative emotions from him, not in the least the ever-present identity issues and crushed self-esteem, but it was simply a fact of life at this point in time.
Absently patting Shige-kun in comfort, Tetsuya answered an unneeded, "Hai." And then figuring out that Shige-kun was simply being overdramatic, he stopped trying to console his friend and started walking away. "Well then, let's go."
Edogawa-kun dutifully followed while Shige-kun perked up and chattered as they walked.
Overall, it was shaping up to be quite a pleasant afternoon.
They make it there in no time.
As expected, the court was empty despite being close to a crowded playground. It was rather run down, with some cracks on the pavement, faded paint, and the nets long since ripped away from the hoops. The entire court was a bit smaller than a standard one but it was clean and still in perfect condition for a casual basketball game.
The main reason they don't automatically go to this particular court was in the hope that it would deter the haunted rumors and allow other people to use it. No such luck yet.
"I've been waiting for this opportunity for weeks!" exclaimed Shige-kun, pointing a finger at Edogawa-kun in challenge. "You, deceiver, must pay. Me and Tetsuya have been practicing just to get revenge, so don't think that it'll be easy this time!"
And they had, at Shige-kun's insistence, practiced. Tetsuya's newfound competence at passing had been put to good use even though he still fumbled quite a lot, especially in games with strangers. Shige-kun chose to work on his dribbling and focus after developing some sort of complex when Tetsuya kept stealing the ball whenever he's distracted. Working together, they made quite the pair even though technically only one of them could score.
It had been some of the best memories Tetsuya had of playing; working with rather than trying his best to keep up.
The important thing is that both boys could claim they've improved since the day they were shown up by a soccer player.
"I will not carry the shame of losing to someone who doesn't even play basketball!" had been Shige-kun's favorite line. And to be honest, Tetsuya could see his point.
"Oi oi," Edogawa-kun sweatdropped. "I didn't lie—"
"But you did!"
"And I barely played by the rules–"
"It doesn't matter, you won by three baskets!"
"Well I haven't played since!"
"You didn't play much before then either!"
Tetsuya watched all this go down with amusement. Edogawa-kun gave off the impression that he was cool and composed most of the time, so seeing him exchanging what amounted to pre-game trash talk with Shige-kun was quite the sight. It was also surprising to see Shige-kun so riled up, considering the boy was quite laid-back and easy-going in everything else.
"You know what?" Edogawa-kun eventually asserted, a grin so razor sharp and predatory on his lips. "Let's settle this like good athletes. On the playing field."
Scary.
Tetsuya suppressed a shiver.
Shige-kun didn't back down and instead wore a grin deserving of a basket-baka. "That's what I've been waiting for. And it's called a court!"
So, with two competitive spirits burning and practically making the air hazy around the court, Tetsuya can't help but be swept up along with them. After all, despite not voicing it out like Shige-kun, Tetsuya had also been looking forward to playing against Edogawa-kun. Their last game had been interesting and eye-opening to say the least.
This time around, they started out using the full court on Edogawa-kun's insistence against the barrage of concerns about his injuries. His argument was compelling and manipulative.
"Please, what's the point of a rematch if we don't do this properly?"
Tetsuya wasn't sure what to feel about how fast they fell for that.
At first, their pace was slow to give some semblance of a warm up and for Edogawa-kun to get used to handling the ball with his hands rather than his legs and feet. Possession of the ball was quick to change, more a playful game of passing and stealing than anything.
Boys that they are, it didn't take long for things to change.
Tetsuya had been in the process of sneaking on Edogawa-kun to get the ball as Shige-kun distracted him. The light blue haired boy had a split second to register the smirk Edogawa-kun sent him before, with only a subtle shift in stance, their opponent moved the ball behind his back, twisted his elbow and flicked his wrist then used his other hand to guide the ball around Shige-kun. Edogawa-kun pivoted, and in a great show of flexibility, wound around Shige-kun's other side and caught the ball without so much of a stumble.
The two boys could only stare in dumbfounded wonder as Edogawa-kun ran on quick feet and scored the first basket of the day.
Soon enough, Shige-kun snapped out of his trance and screeched, "Can you play normal basketball?!"
Edogawa-kun simply tilted his head in confusion. "Was that not allowed? I didn't touch you, did I?"
"Well– I– No, but–"
Tetsuya was still stuck wondering what he just witnessed. They'd had an inkling that Edogawa-kun was very athletic despite his stature being closer to Tetsuya's (in fact, they might actually be the same size) and that there was a big chance he'd use unorthodox plays, but twisting around Shige-kun like he was some sort of contortionist without tripping on his feet or fumbling with the ball?
"How?" the question was out of his mouth before Tetsuya realized it. But he wasn't going to take it back even when the two boys turned their attention towards him.
"Ah, well," Edogawa-kun rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "It's really just instinct? Or I guess it's like self-defense." At their blank looks, he added, "Martial arts? Dodging projectiles?"
"Edogawa-kun please stop speaking nonsense."
"It isn't! I just had a lot of practice!"
Shige-kun had this weird thinking face that Tetsuya knew from experience didn't always mean the boy would come up with the best idea. And the smile that crept on was the same one he wore right before he dragged Tetsuya somewhere and promptly got them lost.
"I've got it!" Oh no. "If we win at least one match against you today, Edogawa, you'll have to train us." He looked awfully proud of himself.
Tetsuya can't help but despair a little inside the privacy of his own mind.
Edogawa-kun's eyebrow twitched. "Isn't that putting too much confidence in my abilities? How do you even know I can teach you anything?"
"You're right," Despite his words, Shige-kun didn't look at all deterred. Instead, he squinted, as if that would help in thinking. "Then if you win at least half of our games and we win against you once, you'll have to train us."
Edogawa-kun's eyes narrowed, as did Tetsuya's. It wasn't that Tetsuya was against learning from Edogawa-kun. In fact, he'd really like to. Edogawa-kun had already proven there were things he could teach even if it wasn't specifically for basketball. It was just that Shige-kun was being uncharacteristically sneaky about it, ensuring that Edogawa-kun couldn't throw the games on purpose. Unless…
Tetsuya scrutinized Shige-kun's hopeful, guileless grin.
Unless it was just sheer stubbornness and optimism and he didn't actually know what he was doing.
It was hard to describe the odd relief at not misjudging Shige-kun.
Edogawa-kun snorted, arms crossed. "No."
"Come on, please? Just consider it at least." Shige-kun's expression turned into something pitiful.
Puppy eyes, Tetsuya realized. And, well, maybe a part of him wasn't above such things as well because Tetsuya found himself doing his own version turned towards Edogawa-kun. He was sure the other boy wouldn't fall for it—
Edogawa-kun's eyes widened and averted his gaze–
"Fine!"
Oh, he did. Well.
"But!" Edogawa-kun interrupted the consequent cheering, "One match. You win at least one match out of three—yes, that's the limit, don't think I didn't notice Kuroko-kun doesn't have the best stamina and neither do you Ogiwara-kun—and I'll consider it."
There was a seriousness in Edogawa-kun's voice, something harder in his eyes, the tension he carried much more prominent with the visible evidence of his injuries and what it implied. These were dots, breadcrumbs that Edogawa-kun left for Tetsuya to follow and connect. After all, Shige-kun didn't know where Edogawa-kun got his injuries.
Isn't that putting too much confidence in my abilities? Tetsuya wanted to fire back. But then, that in itself is also a part of it. The test, the one that will dictate how Edogawa-kun will treat them in the future.
How many children their age even contemplate such symbolisms and nuances just to start a friendship? How many boys their age are so wary (of other people, for other people) that they had to create such convoluted ways just to decide?
Shige-kun quieted and shared a look with Tetsuya.
"Alright," Shige-kun verbally answered at Tetsuya's nod. "We don't want to force you."
"Hm," Edogawa-kun's tone was unreadable as he picked up the ball and handed it to Tetsuya. "We'll see."
The flowers sprouted by Edogawa-kun's smile had teeth that snapped at them.
Chapter End
Chapter otherwise known as: It took Kuroko two meetings to realize Something Really Isn't Right With This Boy Must Help! and for Ogiwara to think Edogawa Is Like Kuroko My Babies Who Hurt You. So Kuroko did his research, but how much of his understanding of it can be trusted? Where did he even get that information?
Still on the same track with the main ship, but it'll still be a couple of chapters before they meet. In the meantime, which Kuroko ship is your favorite (except AkaKuro/KuroAka)?