4 - All Their Prerequisites

He touched Kuroko's hand, feather-light.

"I want this to work," he said.

Kuroko turned his hand over and held Akashi's hand, even if it was only for a moment before he put it back to his lap. "Me too."

Akashi nodded. "Then, this relationship will work."

Kuroko focused on him, his eyes like a still lake. "Akashi-kun is going to make himself like me?"

Akashi jerked his head back and averted his gaze from the too-knowing blue one. Kuroko's straightforward questions weren't always easy to face. "I - I mean, I would. If I knew how."

"These things don't have a methodology or a 'how', Akashi-kun."

"But -" His voice rising with each word, he whined, "I know I have all the prerequisites!"

"Prerequisites?" Kuroko turned sideways on the bench, bending his knee and pulling his leg under him. Akashi straightened at his serious expression. "Akashi-kun, you don't perceive this relationship as a contest, right? There is no medal or victory here."

"No - yes, I know." He gave a hesitant smile, "I just want to win your heart?"

"You already have it, Akashi-kun."

His heart skipped a beat and all blood rushed to his face. Choked up, he said, "you would have mine?"

"Is it your victory condition?" Kuroko said, narrowing his eyes.

"No! There is no victory - or defeat - like you said -"

Akashi wished the wind would cool down his cheeks already. Or that Kuroko would look anything other than his steady and composed self.

"In one week, you moved from seeing me as a friend to actively trying to change your emotions." Kuroko sighed; Akashi felt his suddenly clenched stomach helped him cool down more than the winter cold. "I know how Akashi-kun looks when he eyes another victory on the horizon; this time I can't understand though. What is the gold medal for you in this relationship?"

"This is not a competition. I know that - and I don't see you like a medal - don't say it like that -"

"You changed your mind just before you made me ask the question." Akashi felt a dropping sensation - with a jerk, he grabbed the bench's back. It was fine, this was Kuroko - he leaned back when Kuroko inclined towards him, a calm-eyed predator. "What was the thought that made you start a relationship with me?"

Akashi sagged. He joined his hand on his lap and looked at them with unfocused eyes. He wanted to be with someone that knew him inside and out - but this was so difficult. It felt like Kuroko could read his thoughts and was ready to call on his bullshit every time.

Just a few hours ago, Akashi said he didn't want any secrets between them - and it was true, he still didn't want any but - but this was too close to his heart - Akashi felt like running away - he closed his eyes and bit his lip -

Kuroko touched one of his hands with his fingertips, as light as he could. Akashi startled and looked at him: Kuroko with his hand in the air with a deer in the headlights expression. Then, as if Akashi was the deer that would scare away if he moved too fast, Kuroko lowered his hand to cover Akashi's.

"I didn't mean to interrogate you, Akashi-kun," he said, softly. "I, kind of, can't believe this is real." His cheeks gained the lightest of blushes when he smiled. Akashi gulped a deep breath like a drowning man; with each breath, his chest warmed. Kuroko didn't look like a predator anymore. "I don't doubt your intentions or anything like that."

He shook his head. "You were right on every account." He threw a sideways glance, "your observations are on another level."

"It is because you are Akashi-kun," he said and took his hand back.

Akashi looked at Kuroko's clear blue eyes and then raised his head to the grey sky. One of his hands was warm and the other was cold. "In any future I daydream, there is always one scene: My special person and I are sitting on a sofa; we are happy, comfortable and - trust each other. The scene is always soft, kinda hazy, and quiet; we never do overt things. The person smiles and I know what it means; I touch the person's hand and receive a fond look. And that is - enough. So - when you -" Akashi choked.

"So, I slotted to that calm, quiet place easily," Kuroko completed his sentence.

Akashi nodded and looked at Kuroko to discern his expression. He was rotating his bouquet with a soft expression.

"That place deserves respect, trust, and comfort born from familiarity. Those were the prerequisites you mentioned, I guess."

Akashi nodded again.

"Now I understand," he said, "thank you for sharing it with me." Akashi only twitched his lips; he was waiting for his verdict. "It is a lovely scene, Akashi-kun. I would like to be in it."

Akashi's breath hitched. Did that mean -?

"Although I don't think I can," Kuroko continued and sighed. Akashi swallowed, feeling his heart shrinking. Unaware of his reaction, Kuroko stared at the leave-less sakura tree with unseeing eyes. "I've liked Akashi-kun since middle school but didn't dare to confide it because - my life turning around school and basketball was too small for you. Our lives intersected in basketball - and I am grateful for it - but while basketball was my whole life, it was just the pastime you liked the most among others." Kuroko's smile was bittersweet when he looked at him - and Akashi wanted to wipe it off his face. His hand clenched on his lap. "Akashi-kun, you are brought up for your prestigious future - that I can't even dream of. So, you might have the prerequisites for this relationship - but I don't."

Akashi opened and closed his mouth, with no noise coming. What did Kuroko - dear Kuroko thought - "No," he croaked finally, shaking his head. "I don't -"

"Have you ever been bad at anything, Akashi-kun?"

"Keeping my sanity?" He snarled. Then jerked back - this was Kuroko - whose eyes widened for a moment - "Social things? I know, I am not the best -" Akashi gritted his teeth. He was born lucky, he knew it -

"I don't begrudge you for being talented, Akashi-kun, I would never do that. You are the Akashi-kun I really like, after all."

"Then - why?"

"Akashi-kun, I only have my family, school and basketball in my life. I am mediocre in school and in the sport that I love - I don't have any talent."

"Kuroko what -!"

"I built a place for myself, I know it. I am also not a gifted player, we both know it. You said it yourself on my birthday, it is fun to play with me. I am not and never will be a vital member of a team."

"No, no." He felt like shaking Kuroko to get him to see reason. "Both in Teiko and Seirin, you were crucial for victory."

Kuroko shook his head. "Teiko just wouldn't be unstoppable without me. And for Seirin -" he hesitated and sighed softly. Akashi barely heard it over the wind. "I think I chose them because they would need me. Unlike any of the champion schools."

"Like Rakuzan?"

Kuroko nodded. His mind must have started working because then he blinked. Akashi snorted.

"The oldest champion that got the nationals and inter-high this year - with your replica in the team. You are vital for any point guard with half a brain; playing without you is crippling. The other teams just don't know what they are missing."

Kuroko frowned and crossed his arms; his most emotional reaction in this conversation. "I don't want to talk about Mayuzumi-san right now. His presence irritates me."

"Oh, he is irritating. But he was also valuable for the team. So are you, for any team you decide to play in."

Relaxing his stance, Kuroko glanced at him. "You really believe in that?" Akashi nearly glared at him in reply - he had just talked about his other personality for hours. Kuroko had met him; was he the type to let useless people on his team?

"Sorry," he murmured with a tiny sheepish smile. Akashi forgave him on the spot - and decided Kuroko should smile in all his conversations. "It took me some time to accept my place in basketball. And in life. Being in Seirin helped - as did gaining my friends back." His smile softened, "and gaining you back. I even decided to tell you of my feelings - without expecting a relationship."

Akashi swallowed. "You said you liked my dream."

"Yes, it is lovely and I would like to be in it - except I know the next day you will go to the highest floor of a tall building to manage one of your holding companies and I will just go to a - kindergarten or something."

"Kindergarten?"

He shrugged. "It is something I am considering."

"Oh. I always thought you'd be something - more - I don't know -"

"More?" His voice sharpened. Akashi gave him a questioning look.

"More depending on observation? Like - well, I can't think of anything now - maybe lie detector?"

Kuroko relaxed and then even giggled. "Lie detector, Akashi-kun? Is that even a job?"

"I don't know!" He felt a smile tugging his lips; this felt like his comfortable conversations with Kuroko. "I never thought about your future job. Kindergartner teacher suits though."

"To me, yes. To the CEO of an Akashi company, I doubt it."

"I don't get it. What do you need to be to fit my side?"

Kuroko tapped the bench. "Someone more ambitious? With more medals and victories? Or maybe just more beautiful? Not me with my affordable house and small presence."

Feeling helpless, he said, "But you're beautiful, you know that?"

Kuroko snorted.

It was the last straw; Akashi's brow ticked and - he started counting to ten. Took deep breaths and tried to feel the wind messing with his hair. How did Kuroko manage to find such a silent park in this city anyway? Must be the cold.

When it wasn't enough to loosen up his muscles, he counted backward too. Kuroko - dear, observant but also ignorant Kuroko - waited for him with his famous patience. Also caressed his bouquet in the meantime, warming up Akashi's heart.

"Okay," Akashi started, gaining Kuroko's attention. "First of all, you are the strongest person I know. You say you are bad at basketball - and it is your weak constitution, let me tell you; your basketball sense is wonderful - but you carved your place in it. No one I know, including me, would work so hard on something they weren't good at. You are stronger than all of us."

Kuroko's cheeks warmed up and a hesitant smile appeared on his lips. "I, kind of, got it this year."

"Good," he stated. "As for the other - thing. I don't know what kind of life you assume I am living but -" He wrinkled his nose, "my family is obsessed with success, Kuroko. Medals, victories, and champions everywhere. You saw what caring too much about it did to me." Kuroko nodded, understanding. "And I know - I just know with all my heart - that if my mother was around, she would have stopped me. And my dad. She never cared for my medals - but how happy I was about receiving it. I lose myself in my family madness so easily; I need someone to pull me back."

"You can find someone like that in your social circles, Akashi-kun."

He shook his head. "Where I am another Akashi who is always successful? No, I can't." He sighed and looked at the sakura tree again. "I don't like them, Kuroko. I don't like our manor, drivers or the future written for me. Your affordable home and small life are comforting - so are my dorm room and small life in Kyoto. I accepted my place in life but I also would have liked to be a professional shogi player in the future - I would have liked to have the option." He looked into his friend's startled eyes. "So, in my dream, the next day we cook our breakfast together in our small kitchen. We don't have huge dining halls, maids or silver cutleries in our home."

"Is it possible?"

"I dream." Akashi smiled, feeling lighthearted. "You know how I am with things that I want."

"And my role is to stop you from going too far?"

"If you would accept it."

Kuroko chuckled. "I still have doubts," Akashi opened his mouth to refute them and Kuroko tapped his lips, feather-light, once. It was enough to freeze Akashi. "But you say that this relationship can work."

"Yes!"

"Okay." He breathed in - and then out. "I might have carved my place in basketball but it wouldn't have happened without Akashi-kun's confidence in me."

"You give too much credit to me."

He shook his head. "So, in this, I will trust you again, Akashi-kun. And wait for you to sort out your emotions. Is it okay?"

Feeling faint with an enormous weight off his chest, Akashi nodded with a large smile.