HAPPY 200TH REVIEEEEEEEEEEEW! Wow we've reached 200 already who ever thought Kicchin would make it this far? Thank to you guys, yep you, you one amazing lovely darling reader is the reason for everything! I love you guys and I hope you are always reminded of that, if anyone tells you otherwise lemme kick their asses because you are certainly without a doubt someone special and dear to me! COME ON GROUP HUGS EVERYOOONE!
Anyways guys just wanna share some stuff, if you are anywhere in Indonesia I hope you visit my friend Anin Napaled's booth in a local convention there. SHE SELLS LIKE LOTS OF CUTE AKAFURI MERCH *thumbs up* you can find her on COMIFURO9 K28 at their Mini Cafein! Please see her booth I guarantee lots of cute akafuri stuff!
So promoting friends aside, we are now back though again I am terribly late-I'M SO SORREEEEEH-aahaha anyways, yeah, so what will happen to Aokise now? We'll know on this chapter and more AKAFURI now! I've been kinda itching to write about Akafuri since they're like my OTP which you guys probably know by now. Anyways, since Akafuri is coming in soon, it also MAAAAY mean the end is coming quite close now.
There are still lots of gaps to fill for me so the next update may come late again, I'm soooo sorry guys. I promise I'll do something about my tardiness. Also uhm, I hope this isn't much to ask...I kinda hope you guys include me in your wishes/prayers at night, please hope luck gets in my side for the upcoming licensure examinations this October. I'm hoping to be a licensed and be able to practice psychology soon! So yes, uhm thank you in advance guys! LOVE YOU LOTS!
ENJOY AND PLEAASE LET ME KNOW OF YOUR THOUGHTS!
Chapter 31: Bravery
They have a sin against Kuroko, a sin so great it would only be logical that he would harbour anger and bitterness against him. They abandoned him when he was most weak and as if that wasn't enough they cut and wounded him before basically telling him that he is useless without them. They have taken his light and threatened him, they made him fear for the thing he once loved. Their sin was so big that the guilt disabled Kise to reach Kuroko, the guilt filled his chest so much that he felt the only way to preserve what remains between them was to draw farther away.
Kise could only concern himself from afar, he fears the sharp words that Kuroko could throw back at him once he makes himself known. However, he realized only recently that there was no need for him to do this.
Kuroko's heart has always been his weakness, Kise had always been secretly concerned of this. He is weak to affection and kindness, his faith towards people are so great that sometimes it brings him nothing but disappointments and hurt, just as what happened to the Generation of Miracles. Kuroko held on to them even if he was hurting because he hoped things would change, and when they didn't his heart shattered, and it was trampled by the people he believed in.
Kise thought this would become his weakness, he thought this would break him, however people are very surprising.
Kuroko returns back to the light, and this time, he's stronger. His eyes are brighter and his heart warmer than ever.
At first, Kise feared for his friend, what if history repeats itself again? In a vain attempt to salvage his friend's heart, Kise tried to claim back Kuroko but instead what Kise saw in the crimson eyes that stared back at him was a will stronger than they ever had, a loyalty and devotion fiercer than they ever possessed and courage. At that moment Kise realized there was no need for him to be concerned of the fragile and humble heart of his friend because there is a man who is willing to hold it and wrap it in the comfort of his kindness, understanding and perhaps even love.
A few years ago, Kise would have hesitated, but right now things have changed.
Kise sobs as Kuroko smiles at him, standing at the airport's lobby the blonde artist holds Kuroko's hands in his—they are warm just like his heart, a contrast to his icy blue eyes. Behind Kuroko are Kagami, Furihata, Takao and Midorima.
"Please take care of yourselves." Kuroko says with a quiet voice.
Kise nods and smiles through his fat tears, "I will!"
Kuroko looks behind Kise where Aomine is standing with a casual look.
"Aomine-kun please take good care of Kise-kun." Kuroko says, "I know he could be quite troublesome, but so are you, so please."
"I know already." Aomine says before putting a hand over Kise's shoulder, "You too, if Bakagami does something you call us anytime."
"What's that supposed to mean?!" Kagami exclaims.
"Don't worry, I can handle this much." Kuroko jokes making Aomine laugh.
"Well, I guess that's expected."
After Aomine and Kise spoke to each other, the two agreed to fly to America to cool the issue about Kise's health. Aomine didn't like the thought of the press crowding Kise especially now that his hearing loss is becoming more progressive. The blonde's physician also recommended for him to stay away from stressful environments.
Kuroko have already expressed his thoughts, Aomine's tactic is obviously stupid, he could just take a break but he chooses to officially retire, however being himself the teal haired musician also expressed his respect on the matter. It is understandable that Aomine want to be with Kise for as long as he can, and people have various ways of doing this—this is the dark skinned artist's way.
"I'll miss you guys!" Kise says.
The blonde without a warning started wrapping his arms to Kuroko, then Furihata and Takao. Kise flashes them his most genuine smile, this made Furihata and Takao return the gesture.
"Furihata-cchi, Takao-cchi, thank you so much, even if we have only known each other for a short while you guys were very kind!"
Furihata bows his head back and raised, "The pleasure is ours."
Takao chuckles and waves his hand, "It's nothing."
"Kuroko-kun is a very important friend to us, he's like a brother, and whoever our friend values, we value as well." Furihata says making Kuroko glance at him with a small smile.
"Waaah! Furihata-cchi is so cool!" Kise exclaims before launching himself to the brunet.
"Ah Kise."
Kise blinks as he hears Takao call him, detaching from Furihata the blonde looks at Takao who is holding out a yellow fox plushie to him.
"Eh?"
"For you."
Kise's eyes practically sparkled as he accepts the gift, "It's so cute Takao-cchi!"
Takao chuckles, "Yeah I know right."
"But why fox and a plushie to boot?"
Takao rolls his eyes and playfully jabs his elbow to Midorima's side making the tall green haired man flinch. Midorima doesn't say anything and remains looking away. Takao laughs at the other's hopelessness when it comes with expressing himself.
"Well someone said that it's Gemini's lucky item for today, for safe flight or something." Takao says smirking at Midorima who is now starting to form a blush in his cheeks.
Kise laughs, "Why thank you Midorima-cchi, I knew you care."
"Die." Midorima mutters making everyone laugh again.
Taking a deep breathe, Kise looks at last at Kagami.
Kise remembers the very first time he saw Kagami with Kuroko, he didn't know how to react then. Kagami was a new face but he gave off a very familiar aura, he was just like Aomine when they were new, but when he spoke with him it was then when Kise realized Kagami is something else.
Kise unlike Midorima is not superstitious, he didn't believe in things like luck or fate, but at that very moment when Kagami's red eyes were engulfed with mixed emotions as he said—if not swore—that he will not abandon Kuroko no matter what, for a moment he told himself that if destiny exist it would feel, look, sound like that. It was as if when the world was created, Kagami's atoms probably the same as Kuroko's and somehow they were inevitably drawn to each other, craving and longing to be with each other the moment they took their first breathe. Kise does not intend to romanticize it, it was simply how things felt like for him to see them.
It was as if the shadow finally found the light that makes him stronger and visible.
"Kagami."
The red head looks at Kise and grins.
Kise smiles back and bows his head to the red head, "Thank you."
"Huh?"
Kise raises his head, "Thank you for being there for Kuroko-cchi, thank you for taking care of him when we were too weak to do so. Thank you that you gave us a chance to mend things."
Kagami chuckles, "You don't have to say thank you for it, I'm his light it's only natural I do that, right?"
Aomine laughs in the back, "Yeah, of course, we're making sure of that or else we'll feed your ass to the vultures in Africa."
When their flight arrive Aomine and Kise all bid them goodbye. It is surprisingly easier than Kuroko imagined. Their ride back to the studio is full of small idle talks, the tender laughs of Takao and Furihata fills the air while Midorima drives. Kuroko finds himself smiling at the current situation. It has been quite a day but unlike before it feels as if everything is better, his heart is calm.
Kuroko quietly hopes these days would never end.
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Rustling
"Huh?"
Kagami blinks as he finds Kuroko dumping a bouquet of flowers straight to the trash bin after receiving it. Walking towards Kuroko, the red head stares at the bouquet, they are an arrangement of white roses and pink peonies. Kuroko never refuses a gift unless they are from Akashi, however from what the teal haired musician had told him Akashi never send anything but red roses which obviously tells Kagami that the poor flowers are not from the latter.
Kuroko left for a second to go to the toilet and when the teal haired has not returned after a solid minute, Aida ordered Kagami to fetch the teal head and make sure he hasn't drowned himself in the toilet bowl or something. It was absurd thought but Kagami went on anyways, however to his surprise he finds Kuroko there dumping the unsuspecting bouquet.
"Why did you throw that?" Kagami asks.
"I don't like them." Kuroko answers coldly without looking at Kagami.
The teal haired musician didn't need to look to know it was his light, he probably knows even the weight of the other's footsteps. He doesn't lift his eyes from the bouquet, bitter feeling strings in his chest.
That's strange, Kagami thought, there was some sort of sharpness in the musician's voice. Kuroko never lose his calmness before like this. It was as if he is…angry.
"Huh?" Kagami raises an eyebrow, "You never throw out gifts."
"They're not from a fan."
Kagami isn't convince, he could sense something wrong about this. Kuroko sighs and looks back at the bouquet, his expression is cold and if Kagami didn't know him well enough he'd say it resembled the aura that Akashi gave him when they first met.
Kuroko feels a bitter feeling in his chest, as soon as he finds the name in the sender of the bouquet he knew he had to throw it away—even if he knows it was wrong.
"Kagami-kun?"
"Yeah?"
Kuroko reaches to his necklace, he fiddles with the cold metal of the pendant.
"Do you remember when I told you I've grown to understand Akashi-kun?"
Kagami nods, he remembers distinctly, not only because it was their first date, but also for the secrets Kuroko revealed that day.
"I really do think I understand him now."
Kagami blinks and finds Kuroko turning his back and walking away without further explanation.
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.
After a small meeting with Aida, Kuroko was called to supervise Furihata's recording. The teal head actually insisted on this. He went straight to the recording studio where Aida said the brunet is already starting his recording.
Kuroko arrives just in time. He stands behind the soundproof two-way mirror watching Furihata singing to the lyrics of the brunet's own composition. Apparently, this has been their third attempt to record, numerous times, the brunet had refused and said it would be better if Kuroko and Kagami's vocals are used, or maybe Takao.
Kuroko sees the musical director cringe as Furihata misses a note—again, the brunet inside seem to have realize this and furrows his eyebrows, lips press in a straight line. He doesn't remove his eyes from the musical sheets, he doesn't dare look at them.
"It's not too late for you to change your mind about this Kuroko-san." The director says, "We still have a week or two, if it's you and Kagami I'm sure—"
"No, let Furihata-kun do it." Kuroko says without tearing his eyes from the brunet inside the recording room.
The director sighs and turns his swivel chair to face the teal haired musician, he shrugs his shoulders.
"We've been here for three hours, and he keeps missing, mistaking, failing, on almost random areas. He doesn't improve even how many times we try." The man replies, "I feel bad, look at him, he doesn't know what he's doing."
Kuroko doesn't listen to the man, he heard that line before—too many times back in Teiko. He heard people told him he simply can't do it, that he is not cut out for it, that he should just give up. The only time he shall fail is when he does as what they said, if he had given up, if he believed he cannot do it, if he had let them dictate what he could only be perhaps he would not be here.
"Excuse me." Kuroko says making the director blink.
The musician doesn't waste any time, he walks to the door to the recording room and steps in. Furihata looks up from the music sheets and greets the teal haired musician with a sheepish smile. Guilt paints the brunet.
"I-I'm sorry I-I'll try again i-it's just—I'm sorry." Furihata says.
Kuroko shakes his head with a reassuring smile.
"I-I'm really…trying my best…"
"I know." Kuroko says.
Furihata chews in his lower lip feeling the familiar feeling of guilt swell in his heart. He doesn't want to disappoint Kuroko or his bandmates, they believed he can do this but some things are making it difficult—things he kept for too long. Kuroko fought firmly even with Aida that this song—Furihata's first composition should be sung first by the composer himself. Kuroko believed he has the voice to sing but somehow he managed to bring nothing but frustration yet again.
"I can't believe you're my son."
"I can't have him out in the daylight! What will others say, that I have a son who can't even play a flute to save his life?"
"Furihata-kun."
The brunet blinks out of his reverie with Kuroko's hand in his shoulder, he turns to him and he finds the teal haired musician with his rare smile.
"When I first came to audition for your band, you ran after me and convinced me to do another take but that moment you asked me to sing with Kagami-kun. You were the first person to have thought of that." Kuroko says, "When I was in middle school, in Teiko, I was told that I cannot sing, I remained in the bottom of my class until the Generations of Miracle took me in. Very few people knew the nature of my talent, when I sought to learn about it I found out that it's rare occurrence in the industry to have a voice like mine and usually, that kind of artist don't really flourish…unless they find the correct partner.
The moment you took a risk by asking me to sing with Kagami-kun, I was already amused. I told myself you were not just someone."
"T-Thank you Kuroko."
Kuroko smiles, "I am taking a leap of faith too just as you did that moment."
Furihata raises an eyebrow at the teal haired musician's words until he finds him taking the music sheet off the stand. He turns to the brunet again and looks him in the eyes.
"You remember the lyrics correctly, yes?"
"Y-Yes."
Kuroko nods and looks at the musical sheet, he doesn't say anything for a moment and suddenly Furihata finds the other singing the song. Kuroko sings the lines perfectly as if it was written in the back of his hands. Furihata listens to every note, every edge and low. He cannot believe how fast Kuroko can perfect and understand the music.
As soon as Kuroko finishes, he turns to Furihata with an unreadable expression.
"I'm counting on you." Kuroko says before exiting the recording room with the music sheet in his hand.
As soon as Kuroko closes the door, the director raises an eyebrow at the teal haired musician.
"You took his music sheets." The man points out, "He needs that."
"No." Kuroko says as he looks back at the two-way mirror, he watches as Furihata nods his head to his imaginary music, his lips moves to the lyrics of the song.
"He can't even sing with one, how can he sing without it?"
"You will be surprised."
Kuroko walks close to the intercom and presses the speak button, "We're ready now Furihata-kun."
Furihata turns to the mirror surprise paints his face, he waves his hand. Kuroko chuckles as he reads his lips asking for a second or a minute. He puts up a thumbs up and pulls away before turning to the director.
"Let's give him another chance." He says to the man.
The director sighs and waits until Furihata takes a deep breath and put his headphones back on. As soon as the brunet closes his eyes and visibly relaxes, the director starts the music. Kuroko stands back watching quietly, Furihata opens his eyes and they land on the black wall across him then to the empty stand before him. His gesture doesn't change, his head nods to the music and then his voice blares to the speakers inside the control room. The man doesn't make a move, his ears sharpened waiting for the brunet to make a mistake on the very same note…but he doesn't.
He perfects the note and he proceeds to the other, the director's eyes are wide, it is not just that he is not making a mistake but his flat lines are now polished and turned to a complete 180 degree change. His voice is smooth surfing to the beat—it is just as exactly as he wanted it to sound.
"H-How is this possible?" The man said. "T-This is…I-I can't—"
Kuroko smiles to himself, he does not only prove Furihata's underlying talent but also his own theory of Furihata's anxiety. He holds the musical sheet in his slightly crumpling it.
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.
.
"I can't believe I did it!" Furihata exclaims happily.
Takao chuckles like a proud mother to his child while holding an iced coffee, the four stood in the lobby of Seirin Records, beside Furihata is Kuroko who genuinely smiles at his friend's success. Kagami meanwhile eagerly listens to Furihata's story.
"It just happened and Director Abe said he was shocked! I was shock as well!"
"You did well Furihata-kun, I'm sure our fans will be very excited to hear your singing voice." Kuroko says.
"Thank you so much Kuroko!" Furihata says with a big smile.
Takao and Kuroko look at each other with a small smile, the brunet's innocent gestures always seem to remind them of a very affectionate small animal. He is what would someone call too pure for this world.
Kuroko turns looks at the brunet yet again, his smile falters. Today confirms his hypothesis. The brunet has developed some sort anxiety through his past which he has expertly concealed from them. However, his revelation made him admire the brunet, it made him remember where he started, it made him feel as if he is seeing himself again…but at the same time he didn't want him to suffer the same way he did.
Furihata Kouki has a secret, Kuroko concludes.
Furihata Kouki can't read music.
"Kouki?"
Kuroko freezes just as Furihata raises his head to the voice. The party turns to the source of voice and a woman with a short brown hair walks towards them, her red lips spreads to a smile.
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.
.
"Mother."
Furihata gasps as she wraps her arms around her however instead of warmth he feels his body trembles, his hands shakes, his throat dries up. She pulls away and stares at him with his familiar strict brown orbs.
"What can you not understand?!"
Furihata shuffles in the floor as he picks up the tear stained musical sheets on the floor. He can feel the eyes of his siblings peeking behind the gap of the slightly opened door. His mother paces back and forth in the room, her delicate and expensive shoes stomp on the carpet of the room.
"I-I'm sorry." He says in his small voice.
"I do not need your apologies! That does not make you a better musician!"
The little boy feels smaller at his own mother's words.
"Your brother and sister can play three instruments at your age! Where did we go wrong with you?"
Where indeed, the little boy asks himself. Why was he different? It wasn't fair, his siblings did not have any difficulties and yet there is unable to understand even one note. He is just a burden to them. She walks to a chair and sits down, he hears her frustrated sigh.
"What did I do to deserve you?"
"—ki, why are not responding to my letters?"
Furihata blinks out of his trance, he shuffles uncomfortably in his mother's hold which did not go unnoticed from the rest of his bandmates. Kagami frowns however decide not to comment.
"I-I don't know what you mean Mother I—"
"I've sent you flowers and letters, did you not receive them?"
Furihata looks away, "N-No, M-Mother I—"
"Are these your friends?" she asks smiling and ignoring the brunet's protest, "Ah, I've seen them yes."
Despite the obvious discomfort of their friend, the three bow their heads to the older woman in greeting.
"Furihata-san, it's a surprise." Kuroko says with his monotonous voice.
"Ah, Kouki has decided to be independent and we haven't talked much since." She says putting a hand on her cheek, "it took me quite long to find track of my dear Kouki."
Lies. Kagami thought to himself, he can see her smile is fake. Kagami has never heard of her before either, if she really wanted to meet with Furihata, she would have done it a long time ago. He doesn't try to conceal his frown and displease. The red head is about to step in when he feels Takao putting a hand over his shoulder. Turning to the bassist, Kagami finds Takao shaking his head.
"We understand you need sometime?" Kuroko asks.
The woman smiles again, "Ah, thank you for understanding."
Furihata doesn't say anything but Takao walks up to him and puts a hand on the brunet's head.
"Call us later, alright?"
Furihata nods meekly.
"Let's go." Takao says.
Takao leaves and Kagami and Kuroko follows. As they were nearing the exit, Kuroko turns back to look, he finds Furihata with his head docked down, shoulders slightly trembling as his mother walks to him and puts a hand over his back saying something. He feels as if something heavy sinks down to his gut.