It has been so long but finally here is another chapter. So sad to say that I will be putting two of my stories on a temporary hiatus. Though this is not one of them, the updates will be like super slow because I haven't had enough time to do anything with my stories. So please bear with me. Anyway enough rambling, one with the story.
Kuroko and Riko were talking to a doctor about the boy's injury before they both bowed and left. Outside, the other Seiren players were waiting.
Riko walked up and gave them a thumbs up. "Everythings okay." Everyone seemed relieved
"Sorry for making you worry," Kuroko said to the group.
"I didn't know what was going to happen when you fell over." Izuki said
"I'm glad you're okay" Tsuchida smiled
Koganei let out a cry of victory "Alright we won!" and the team celebrated again
They walked through the streets. Izuki turned to his team "Let's get something to eat on the way home"
"What do you want?" Hyuga asked
"Something cheap. I'm broke" Koganei chipped in.
"Me too." Kagami said
"So am I" Kuroko added last.
"Hold on" Riko stopped them all "How much does everyone have after transportation costs?"
What they came up with was measly not enough for one meal let alone the entire team. They all sighed looking depressed
"Let's go home" Hyuga said
"Yeah"
They started walking again with much less spirit than before. Riko fell behind a bit. She looked over just as a bus passed advertising free steak. She smiled brightly, hee eyes going big. Riko ran forward blowing her whistle causing the team to turn around looking confused.
"What do you say we go for steak?" She looked excited while the team looked confused at her.
The team went into the restaurant and were served giant steaks. Outside the restaurant, the sign read:
4kg steaks
Eat in 30 minutes or less and it's free.
Those who fail must pay
"What's wrong? Don't hold back" Riko seemed way too happy. This is too much the whole team thought, staring at the steaks with disbelief; except Kuroko who looked as he always did.
"What are we going to do if we can't eat all this?" Hyuga asked, looking troubled.
"What? Why do you think I make you run every day?" Riko asked, looking exasperated.
For Basketball? was the collective thought before they all began to eat their steaks.
Hyuga sighed I should know by now that this is how she is.
Izuki looked at the steak "This steak is Steakalicious"
Koganei who was sitting next to him grimaced "Sorry but that shit is really annoying right now."
Kuroko was only a few bites in when he set down his silverware and dabbed at his face with a napkin "Excuse me?" he said
Hyuga looked over "Do you need some water?"
"I give up" he said simply
"KUROKO!" Everyone yelled in disbelief.
A few minutes went by and almost every single member of the team looked near dead and stuffed to the max. I'm dead, Hyuga thought to himself.
"This is delicious! Maybe I'll get some more!" Hyuga looked over at Kagami who was eating with zeal and he looked at Hyuga's plate "Huh? If you're not going to eat that can I have it?"
He was stuffing his cheeks like a squirrel
"Save me the hassle and bring them all over here." He asked and the team all celebrated
"Kagami, thank you!"
While that was all happening, Kuroko slipped away. He sighed as he left the restaurant and looked over noticing Kise, who was leaning on a railing near the street, right outside the restaurant.
"Hi Kuroko-san. Nice match today. How's your injury? "
"It was just a mild head injury. Not enough to be considered a concussion" Kuroko said
"Ah… good I was really worried. I looked like a really bad fall." Kise sighed out while looking at the teal haired teen.
"Did you want Kagami-kun? He's kind of busy but I can let him know you're here. " Kuroko asks while pointing at the restaurant.
"No, that's fine. I actually wanted to talk to you about something, if you don't mind." Kise questions and the smaller shrugs before following the blond. Making it to their destination, Kise begins.
"So congrats on your victory. And it's a good thing the hit wasn't too bad.
"Yeah it was pretty close."
Pausing for a moment, Kise asks "So watching that guy on the other team made me think about how we were before we met Taigacchi."
"You mean the Generation of Miracles? "
"Yeah. I'm sure Taigacchi already told you but we were pretty arrogant at the time." Kise responds.
"I knew without him telling me. A friend of mine went against you in middle school. You all just played with them while they were honestly trying. He wound up quitting after that."
Flinching, Kise responds "Sorry about your friend. We know we hurt a lot of people and we feel guilty. "
"He's fine now. He began playing again not too long afterward. But he said something about your play style. He said that all you guys cared about was winning and it seemed as if you had no passion for basketball anymore." Kuroko says.
"He was probably right. But each of us also had things we were worried about. That's why I wanted to ask your opinion on something. Taigacchi has beat each of us once, but he's gradually getting better. Do you think he'll grow to be like we were?"
A bit of time had passed before the Seiren basketball players came out.
"Thanks for the food." Riko grinned
"Yeah, don't come back." one of the restaurant men told them.
"I think I ate too much" Kagami groaned as he walked out
"You really are a monster." Hyuga sighed as he walked out right after.
"But you saved us." Koganei said positively.
Riko smiled at them all "Okay let's go home. Is everyone here?"
"Eh. Where's Kuroko?" Hyuga wondered, not seeing him.
"I'm sure he's near the back just like he always…" They all looked to the back expecting to see Kuroko only for it to be empty.
"He's not there" they all sighed before looking around for Kuroko.
"I can't believe no one noticed him leave. I know he's got no presence but this is ridiculous." Riko said
"Doesn't Kuroko have a phone?" Koganei asked
"I can't believe he just disappeared like that?" Hyuga looked around. "What is he, a puppy?"
"Let's just hurry up and find him" Riko said "Maybe I'll put him in a Boston crab hold when we do."
Kagami looked around on his own when he was suddenly distracted as he looked over to see a game of streetball being played. He grinned Street ball. It's been a while since I've seen that in Japan. He looked passed the game suddenly, his eye catching on Kise first and then the teal head on his teammate.
Kuroko stared back at Kise as if trying to find the words but before anything more could happen Kagami raced over and hit Kuroko causing the smaller to spin around, dropping the ball as he did "You bastard why did you disappear like that?" Kagami growled and looked over at Kise. "Hey"
"Were you listening?"
"I sure as hell was. What the hell are you kidnapping Kuroko for?" Kagami questions angrily.
"What? Who cares if I talk with him a little bit? Or was Daikicchi right before?" Kise finishes his question with a smirk.
"We can't go home without him. The coach won't shut about responsibility or something and we've been looking for him" Kagami explained quickly, slight blush forming.
"Damn it looks like there's some trash over here" Someone said. Kuroko, who was behind Kagami looked over. "Come on you've had enough. Give someone else a turn." A thug looking guy said to the street ballers from earlier.
"We just got here. Wait your turn." a brunette said to him.
"Our turn" One of the thugs stepped forward.
"Now now why don't we settle this with some basketball?" Said another.
The fight had caught the attention of Kagami and Kise "Who are those thugs?" Kagami asked watching.
The kids from earlier had the ball first they passed it off to each other and made the first goal.
"Wow not bad we might lose" One of the thugs said smiling.
They passed to each other but one of them missed the pass and the first guys there picked it up taking it back down court they were about to score again when one of the thugs came out of nowhere "Block" He yelled hitting the ball and the player down.
"Hey, what was that? It's three on three." shouted one of the street players.
"Huh? I said we'd play basketball. I didn't say anything about three on three"
"What are you saying, that's not fair!"another of the street players shouted and one of the thugs kicked him in the stomach.
"Huh, what did you say?" he kicked him in the shoulder next "Sorry I didn't hear you."
The thug smiled and turned to step away before stopping short as he came face to face with a basketball that Kuroko was spinning on his finger.
"There's nothing fair about this" he said he moved the ball slightly so it rubbed into the man's nose.
The thug jumped back clutching his nose. "Who the hell are you? Where'd you come from?"
Kuroko looked at them and said, "This isn't basketball. Besides violence is bad." He scolded.
Kagami and Kise watched in shock, not having noticed Kuroko slip away. "What the hell is he doing?" Kagami yelled
"Kuroko-san?" Kise calls out.
One of the bigger thugs picked Kuroko up by the collar "What do you think you're doing?"
The one still holding his nose laughed "There are still guys like this these days. Fine then. Let's settle this with basketball." He paused for a moment as Kagami came up behind Kuroko putting a hand on his head. Kise stood behind Kuroko as well
"Mind if we play too?" Kise asked, smiling easily.
"Why'd you get involved, bastard?" Kagami glared at the thugs as he spoke to Kuroko.
He's huge! The thugs all thought.
"Five on three's fine. Bring it on" Kagami said.
"What'd you say?" One of the thugs yelled looking upset.
The game started and Kagami passed to Kuroko who passed to Kise who scored. Kise stole the ball after that passing it to Kuroko who passed to Kagami who scored. The game continued all of them passing back and forth to one another. The game ended with the thugs sprawled out on the court. Kagami, Kise, and Kuroko standing victorious.
"They destroyed them" The kids who had been there originally said in awe. "Amazing."
The three walked off the court. Kagami and Kise turned on Kuroko
"What were you thinking?" Kagami yelled. "Did you think you could win if it turned into a fight?"
"No, they would have beaten me up," Kuroko said, his tone flat.
"You bastard"
Kuroko held up his arm "Look at these guns"
"You don't have any!" Kagami looked irritated.
"Kuroko-san you were amazing. " Kise remarked, speechless. There is a difference between watching him play and actually playing with him.
"I thought those guys were terrible," Kuroko explained "I just wanted to tell them." Kuroko said.
"You should have considered the consequences first!" Kagami yelled.
"I forgot to."
"Don't give me that crap!" Kagami continued to yell at Kuroko.
"Sorry"
"You said it yourself they could beat you up" Kagami yelled out.
"Sorry. Oh and Kise-kun, I don't think you'll have to worry. " Kuroko apologizes again before speaking to Kise.
Kise then smiled at the two. He picked up his bag "I should get going." he smiled brightly. I got to watch Taigacchi play a good match with his team. And I managed to see something real interesting too. He walked off before turning back momentarily "And Kurokocchi, I can't wait to face you on the court. See you later!"
Looking at Kagami, he asks "Kurokocchi? "
Smiling, Kagami explains, "Don't worry, it's just a nickname he gives to people he acknowledges." And Kuroko just nods at this.
The two walked out of the park when Riko came running up "There you are! Sheesh!" She tackled Kuroko before he had time to react, putting him in the crab hold she had talked about earlier. Kagami gaped.
"Let's go home" Hyuga walked by with the other teammates. This was a normal affair for the second-years.
Kuroko struggled holding out one hand "Kagami-kun" Kagami turned around and kept walking, not wanting to chance the coach turning on him "Save… Save me…" then he fell onto the cement giving up.
Still one of my fav scenes with Kuroko's "guns". Also the two stories on hiatus are Targeted by My Five Sons and Love of A Brother. And review and let me know what you think.