"Kuroko, pass!"
"Catch, Kagami-kun!"
The Seirin Basketball team stared the interaction between the two. "W-Wow…" Izuki murmured.
"When did they start getting along like this?" Tsuchida asked, amazed by the coordination between Kagami and Kuroko. Riko merely smiled. "Maybe something happened yesterday." She said. "After all, both of them found out each other's strong points in the mini game."
The ball Kuroko was about to pass hit Kagami in the face, earning pained yelps from the young man. "What the hell, Kuroko?!"
"I merely passed the ball towards your direction."
"You could have been more gentle!"
"How can one be gentle in passing a ball?"
"I meant you shouldn't pass it like you're trying to throw a cannon ball at me!"
"What would be the point if I make a pass anyone could catch?" Kuroko sighed, still keeping a straight face. "Ah, Kagami-kun is a Kagamidiot."
"You little-!"
"I am not short. You are just ridiculously tall.(1)."
The others merely felt beads of sweat roll down their faces. "They're best friends, alright." Many of them muttered.
"Alright, what are you guys staring at, anyway? You're supposed to be practicing, not watching those two be idiots." Riko said commandingly. "Double the training menu!" She said, skipping away.
Hyuga and Mitobe gave her disagreeing looks, while the first years wanted to cry for having their already-torture training menu get doubled.
Kuroko stopped, breathing heavily. "I think I had enough for today, Kagami-kun. I need to pick up the medical supplements…" He sat on the floor, trying to control his breathing.
"Hey, are you okay? I've never seen you like this before." Kagami asked, concern laced over his tone. Kuroko shook his head. "No, this is normal. I always experience this after doing something stressful."
"Then shouldn't you not play basketball?" Kagami asked. Kuroko huffed a little. "It's not that bad, everyone can experience this." Kuroko looked away. "I just happen to be a part of that."
"Kuroko. You've only been passing to me for 10 minutes."
Kuroko didn't reply. He stood up when he was sure he could catch his breath. "I just need to energize a little." Kuroko said reassuringly to Kagami. He then turned to Riko who was talking with Hyuga about something. "I'll take my leave now, coach!"
Riko thought for a moment. "Sure, practice is over already."
Before Kuroko could leave, Riko gave him a camcorder. " Oh, and Kuroko-kun, I need you to observe at Kaijo tomorrow." She said with a gleeful smile. Hyuga knew this was going to be bad.
Kuroko, unsure what to say, just nodded and left the gym.
"Riko, don't tell me…" Hyuga started hopelessly. Riko gave him a sweet grin.
"Yes! We'll be having a practice match the day after tomorrow." She said.
"Oh, dear."
-
Kagami was walking alone, his obvious destination would be at his favorite diner. Kuroko's actions today was quite odd. But since Kuroko told him that it happened often, Kagami just shut up and let him be. That still didn't stop him from worrying, though.
"Damn you Kuroko, making me worried and shit." He grumbled furiously, kicking an innocent rock from some side of the street. He looked up at the sky, feeling inclined to do so.
"You're acting too weird." Kagami said to himself.
Kuroko was heading towards a different direction. It wasn't towards Maji's. In fact, Kuroko didn't feel like having milkshake at the moment. He felt like filling another desire he couldn't always refuse.
Sweets.
He went to the local small restaurant-café or something. He went to the cashier, who greeted him after noticing he was standing there for last 30 second. "What is it you want to order, dear?" She sweetly asked.
"One strawberry shortcake, please." Kuroko said, handing over some money.
The cashier gave him his change. "Thank you, sir. Table 8," She gave him a table number.
Sitting down, Kuroko rested his chin on both of his hands. Another memory came into surface.
"May I ask what is that you're drinking?"
"It's a vanilla milkshake, stop sounding like you're disgusted. This is the only thing that can disguise my obsession from my friends."
"Desserts for breakfast, lunch, and dinner isn't a great idea for a balanced diet, Tetsuya."
"I dislike unsweet things."
"How come you eat the food the others make? I doubt those are made from sugar."
"…I try to be polite."
"Then what about the ones I make for you?" He asked with a smirk.
"…For some reason, everything you make for me tastes sweet." He replied with a gentle smile. "I think you're the only one capable of that, Seikkun."
Both of them let sweet echoes of laughter come out of their mouth. Kuroko never noticed the light frown on Akashi's face right after.
None knew what their newfound love will fall into.
"Um, sir?"
Kuroko snapped out of his trance, seeing a waiter with the food he ordered. The waiter looked a bit concerned, but went away after Kuroko confirmed that he was fine.
He stared at the tasty-looking shortcake in front of him. Taking the fork from beside the plate, he took a piece and put it in his mouth.
It tasted sweet. Just like any dessert would taste like. At the same time, it only made him lurch from the memories that kept coming back to him. He didn't know what he was feeling. That was weird, he was sure he cut off any trace of emotion after Akashi did that to him.
"Even if he's not here, he still manages to confuse me." Kuroko muttered, a hand unconsciously roaming up his head.
'….tastes the sweetest…'
'when eaten barefoot…'
'but I can't ever do that with you…'
He was in deep thought, not even realizing he was almost finished eating the cake.
'…If he made me another dessert, will it stay the same sweetness I always tasted from him…'
He gulped down the last piece.
'Or will it taste different from what it once was….?'
(2)
-
next day
"Kuroko Tetsuya, you're excused for classes today." His teacher informed him. "Apparently, you're supposed to observe something for the basketball club."
Everyone looked around, trying to find him. Kuroko watched in amusement as their eyes frustratingly searched around for him, and finally stood up when he felt like he was hiding for too long.
"Thank you. I will be taking my leave now, sir." Kuroko said, taking his bag. Kagami gripped his wrist. "Wait, where are you going?"
Kuroko gave him a stoic look. "I am heading to Kaijo's practice." Kuroko said. "Coach wanted me to take note of how their training procedure flows." He said. Kagami let his wrist go, giving a light sound of unsure approval.
"I'll see you later, Kagami-kun."
With that, Kuroko gave one final bow before leaving the classroom.
"Man, practice is harsh-ssu!"
"Hey, Kise, stop complaining. Do you want me to punch you again?!"
"Agh! Sempai, not the face!"
"There they go again…" one of the players said, their names too un-needed to even mention. "Geez, they look like brothers who're fighting over who gets the last piece of candy." Another said.
"Be quiet, you two." The coach of Kaijo commanded. "Resume with practice. We don't have time to put up with your stupid arguments."
"Yes, coach." Both the junior and senior said defeatedly. "Right, you heard the coach!" Let's go back to practice and finish up." Kasamatsu lead his team to the court, and all proceeded to continue their training regimen.
Kise frowned slightly when he heard one senior talk about sweets. He felt sad whenever he heard any reminders from his past. He clutched his hands tightly.
It's been a year since the last time he saw his old team.
A year since they all broke apart.
…A year since he had seen Kuroko Tetsuya.
Everyone wondered where the boy could have gone. It was not like him. Sure, he disappeared from time to time only to reveal he'd been standing behind them the whole time. But the last time he disappeared, he never came back. He never showed his face again. All that was left from him was the heartbreaking club resignation form that appeared in his open, empty locker.
The worse part was no one seemed to have been affected.
Murasakibara looked uncaring when he saw the note.
Midorima only thought that it was only Kuroko being weak.
Aomine didn't even flinch at the mention of Kuroko quitting.
Akashi was unreadable.
Mayuzumi only smiled victoriously.
He didn't know why he had left. Kise reminisced about the time when he figured out the cute little things the phantom man had.
His love for adorable things.
His blunt nature.
His naivety.
His love for sweets.
Kise thought he'd be able to learn more about the youngest team member by the time they were going to graduate from middle school. Sadly, that didn't happen. Kise became too full of himself, and he hated himself for it for a long time.
And Kise could only regret how he didn't notice what they were doing to their dear teammate. He could have noticed and stopped Kuroko from leaving. But no-, he was stupid and hesitated to even talk to Kuroko whenever he seemed lonely, or whenever he seemed so deserted.
He still hasn't forgiven himself for ignoring Kuroko when he needed him the most.
Kise had started to lose some respect for Akashi the moment he realized what was going on. Of course, Kise wouldn't outright admit that he didn't like what Akashi did. He didn't have a death wish. He liked being alive.
And that person who didn't deserve the title 'Phantom Sixth Man'….
"….What the hell was Akashicchi thinking…?" Kise wondered exasperatedly. He still didn't understand. Akashi was a bastard for doing that. Didn't he love the adorable ex-phantom? Why was he such a sadistic little nutcase back then when he replaced Kuroko?
Okay, this kind of thought is getting extreme.
Whatever Akashi did was unforgivable. Knowing Kuroko, he'd probably be unable to refuse any kind of apology from Akashi. That's how nice Kuroko was. Kise sometimes despised him for it because he makes the stupidest decisions sometimes, but he appreciated him nonetheless.
The letter containing only four words that was revealed to all the Generation of Miracles made Kise even more ashamed of himself.
'I am a coward.'
He also remembered what Akashi said after seeing the letter.
"…He means he's scared of facing the truth… Scared of facing us."
Kise could only bite his lip as he tried to think of what he could have done for Kuroko
"Kise! How long are you gonna stand around for!?" Kasamatsu exclaimed angrily, making Kise shiver in fear a little. "C-Coming!"
The blonde went to the bleachers to set his things up.
Kise sighed. "Sempai is so mean." He mumbled to himself, hoping no one would hear.
He wondered where the little blunette was right now… Wherever he is, Kise could only hope for the best. 'Would I be able to meet him again? Even if only for a moment…' He thought hopefully, before releasing a sigh.
"It wouldn't happen in a million years." Kise said to himself with a rueful smile. "I should get going, or that violent mean sempai will hurt me again."
"…It's not nice to talk about your seniors like that, Kise-kun."
Kise turned to the direction of the voice. He was shocked when he saw a familiar boy with blue hair and eyes staring at the clipboard he was holding.
"K-Kurokocchi?!"
Ugh, I hate this chapter.
It seemed so… Rushed…
Tell me of any mistakes or opinions!
Are you reading this? Tell me you're reading this. Answer: Do you like the story so far? Keep reading the author's note, there might be some stuff you'll learn, or stuff I need you guys to answer,, thanksss!
Anyway, sorry for being late. (actually, I'm always two days early, just so you know…) I was working on chapter 3.5. XD If the winner is reading this, yes, I'm still working on it. I woke up too late. Don't worry, I'm almost halfway there.
IMPORTANT: If you're reading this, then I need you to answer this question .
'Do you understand what is going on with Kuroko and what he is thinking?'
If I don't see an answer, I will post this a day late. –u-
THANKIEES FOR THE REVIEWS, FAVES, AND FOLLOWS! OMG, I DUNNO HOW I GOT HERE
IF YOU READ THIS NOTE, SAY KAPPA
(1)- Anyone reminded of Edward Elric's short rants?
(2)-If anyone manages to guess what he means, I will forever be amused.