Wednesday, 4:27 PM

Kuroko was really frustrated, yet he didn't show it. Kise's revelation took its toll on him. Why not? Kuroko was already still hurting from what happened at Teiko. He didn't understand anything. They saw him as weak. They threw him out, replaced him, not bothering to try to explain why. Akashi had broken the promises he made. He had lied to him. Now, Kise comes to him out of the blue and tells him those rainbow bastards were going to judge which school he will pick. They had the nerve to expect Kuroko to attend the school they were going to.

Kagami was observing Kuroko, unbeknownst to the latter. Kagami noticed the difference of a normal-tempered Kuroko to… this kind of Kuroko. After a reasonable amount of time being with the teal head, it was already normal for Kagami to know when something was bothering the younger boy. Even so, Kagami made no attempt to question him.

"Right! Everybody, take your seats~ This will be a quick announcement." Their playful female teacher clapped her hands to gain everyone's attention. She was quite the weird one. Kagami recognized her as their music teacher, Gumi Meguri. Their class know her as the unpredictable woman who dumps impossible work on them whenever she could.

"So we all know our annual school festival is coming in January." She said. "Every teacher will grade you guys in one way or another, right?" She asked. The students were mumbling to each other about it, while Kagami looked uninterested. The other teachers already announced what they were going to do already, and God, were they boring as hell.

Gumi grinned. "While you're all gonna deal with boring crap like decorating, hosting, store handling, and etcetera, etcetera, I'm gonna give you a fun challenge!"

Everyone groaned.

"What you're going to do is…. A music video competition!" She announced happily. Some students gave her questioning sounds and looks, some looked excited, some didn't give a crap at all. Kuroko didn't know how that would work. How was she going to grade that? And this wasn't any school project a school had. It also sounded challenging, since this was never done in any school he had known before.

"Music video competition?" A female student repeated. The teacher nodded vigorously. "Right, right! A music video competition." Gumi visibly softened, silencing the students around her. "You see, this isn't just an individual challenge. Surely, everyone is in a club, right?"

"I will grade each video created by each club. I expect there to be… 8 videos in total." Gumi guessed. A male student raised his hand. "But how will we fare for that? This doesn't seem promising at all, teacher!"

Gumi darkened. "Shut up. I'm the teacher, and I decide what you do. I already have permission from the principal." She said with a sickening smile. The student gulped, and the atmosphere became much colder.

"Anyway, the music video competition will only apply to the first years in the club." She announced.

Meanwhile, Kagami and Kuroko were having their own conversation. "Gumi's a crazy hag." Kagami whispered, sweat dropping. Kuroko shook his head in disagreement. "That's not nice, Kagami-kun." He said. "Besides, even if miss Meguri's project is confusing, it's quite exciting."

"So be careful of what video you make! You're representing your club with the video you'll create, after all." She said. With that, she took her stuff and left the classroom.

"…She's not gonna watch us?" Kagami asked to no one. Kuroko didn't say anything. Kagami sighed. "Well, it's almost time for dismissal, anyway. Come on, Kuroko."

"It's not nice to skip, Kagami-kun."

"Shut up." Kagami grumbled.

As they walked through the halls, Kagami couldn't help throw the question that was bugging his mind all day.

"Say, Kuroko, you asked me something about betrayal and all that. Were you trying to get all dramatic with me again?" Kagami asked. Kuroko shook his head. "If that was what you were thinking, I was not." Kuroko answered truthfully. "Sorry for getting you all bothered because of that."

Kagami had pondered about Kuroko's question since yesterday. What was that boy thinking? It was probably the second time Kuroko had asked him something about betrayal. The teal didn't seem like the kind who had experienced such a thing. Then again, Kuroko was part of the Generation of Miracles. They were a strong group, and Kagami knew this being the case means they kick out anyone who is deemed weak and unworthy of their title. Surely they weren't truly like that?

He would just have to ask Kuroko about it later.

Out of nowhere, a weird ringtone rang. It was Kuroko's phone. Kuroko stopped walking along with Kagami. When he opened the phone, it was a message from an unknown number. "Ah, Kagami-kun, please go on ahead. I need to answer this call. "He lied. Kagami shrugged and walked off. "I'll wait for you by the gate, so hurry up!"
Once Kuroko decided coast was clear, he opened the message. His eyes widened when he read it fully.

[Sender: Unknown Number]
[Subject: -no subject-]

[How wonderful. I should have known better. Don't think you've successfully avoided meeting us, you pathetic excuse of a player. I know where you are, and I have to say you have a disappointing taste in choosing a team. I was expecting you'd look for a team on par with the rest of us, but this is laughable. No wonder you got replaced so easily. Don't worry; no one's looking for you. After all, who would crave for someone as useless as you are? You really are a coward, Kuroko Tetsuya. No wonder you are no longer fitting of the title you were given.]

Kuroko's eyes narrowed at the message. He didn't know who would have sent this, but he did know it was one of the Generation of Miracles. Judging from the style of words used, it was deadly familiar of who might have sent it.

Akashi Seijuro.

"Why won't you just leave me alone?" He gasped out. "I know already you don't need me anymore. Why would you keep throwing it in my face?"

He dropped to the ground, continuing to mutter the unanswered question like a mantra.

"…Why…?"

It was unfair to him. Kuroko had already left him, but Akashi kept coming to haunt his mind. Kuroko was breaking apart because of him. Just when Kuroko had left to heal whatever was broken, Akashi just had to come back and hurt him even more.

Kuroko couldn't take such torment anymore. It hurt. He didn't want to experience that feeling again. He didn't want to see Akashi again. He didn't want to see any of his former teammates, whether it was Kise or Momoi. He didn't want to see them and feel the same way he did that day.

Whenever he pieced these thoughts together, one thought formed and engraved itself in his mind. Something he had admitted long ago that brought more pain than anticipated.

He truly was a coward.

… 8 minutes later …

"Kagami-kun," a familiar voice resounded behind him. Kagami turned around, seeing Kuroko already in his school uniform. "Did you wait too long?" He asked. Kagami shook his head. "No, come on. I'm getting hungry!" He walked out of the gym with Kuroko following behind him. Kagami realized something strange from him. Kuroko looked lifeless.

"You should really control your hunger, Kagami-kun." Kuroko chided, but anyone could tell his heart wasn't into it. "Simply wasting worth 3500 yen over 30 burgers isn't healthy." Kagami grumbled at his statement. "Shut it, it's not your business what I eat, anyway." He muttered. Kuroko didn't say anything else against him, knowing fully well that Kagami will continue doing as he pleases no matter what he does.

Kagami observed his partner. Kuroko had that damned blank expression again. Nothing out of the ordinary, he assumed. Except… Kagami noticed something strange in the boy's eyes. I should really stop staring at him or else he'll find another way to screw around with me. It was like Kuroko was pissed off… And Kagami knew a pissed Kuroko is a dangerous Kuroko. He wondered why.

"Yo, Kuroko, you seem pissed. Something happen?" Kagami asked casually. Kuroko shook his head. "It's nothing, Kagami-kun." He fell silent again. Kagami felt awkward. "Well, you look pissed to me." Kuroko sighed. "Whatever floats your boat, Kagami-kun."

Kagami stared at him incredulously. He didn't deny the second sentence. "Look, Kuroko. You can tell me anything." He said. "You're worrying everyone with your sudden mood swings. What are you, a girl?"

Kuroko looked away. Both of them continued walking. "It's nothing that should concern any of you, alright?" Kuroko said, not noticing his own voice raise by a slight percent. Kagami just stared at him with hard eyes, not looking away. Kuroko lost the staring contest immediately and just made a defeated face. "Sorry for raising my voice, Kagami-kun."

Kagami shrugged. "It's okay. Sorry for being persistent."

Both of them fell silent again.

"Kagami-kun…" Kuroko bit his lower lip, hesitant to continue what he started. "Can I trust you?" He asked. Kagami huffed. "Of course you can. Why would you ask me something like that?"

"…You were wondering why I've been asking you such bizarre things, right? If I tell you everything…."

Kuroko knew he shouldn't regret anything if he tells Kagami. For some reason, it felt like the right time to do so. It felt like Kagami could be trusted with whatever he will say.

Perhaps it was time to tell someone, after all.

Sorry for this sorry excuse of a chapter.