chapter 11.5

Kagami clasped his hands together desperately. "Please, help me!"

Riko stared down at Kagami - who was on his knees - questioningly. "Um, Kagami-kun, what the hell are you doing..."

"Coach, you're a girl, please tell me what I'm doing wrong!"

"What do you mean, Kagami-kun? And, for heavens sake, stand up, everyone in the hallway is staring at us..."

Kagami followed Riko into a nearby empty classroom. "Now, what are you talking about? Wrong?"

"W-Well, you see...I'm kinda having trouble communicating with Kuroko..."

"Oh, no...don't tell me..."

"Yeah...it started couple days ago..."

'I can hold the door open myself, Kagami-kun.'

'I can walk to the kitchen myself, Kagami-kun.'

'I can carry this stuff myself, Kagami-kun.'

"...and it doesn't end there..." Kagami slumped his shoulders in defeat.

Riko stood deep in thought. "Hm, I think I have an idea! Tomorrow, the forecast calls for heavy rain, so it's likely it'll be raining after school. Catch her before she leaves and offer to share your umbrella with her! It's foolproof!"

"Do you really think it'll work? What if she brings her own umbrella?"

"Oh, don't worry, I'll take care of it~"

"Riko, I am NOT breaking into someone else's locker. No way."

"Aw come on Hyuuga-kun, do it for me?"

Riko gave Hyuuga puppy-eyes that he just couldn't resist. He tried to avert his gaze. "Wh-what do you even want me to do?"

"I need you to break into Kuroko-chan's locker and take her umbrella."

"What?! Why?"

"Pleeeeaaaaaaaase~"

Kyuuga could feel his deterior draining. "W-Well, I mean-"

"Hyuuga-kun, please?"

Hyuuga felt shivers run down his spine. "Y-Yes, of course! Of course, Riko, yes! Right away!"

Kuroko opened her locker, surprised to find her umbrella was no longer there. 'Did someone take it?' she thought.

"Kagami-kun, I think someone took my umbrella."

"I don't remember you bringing your umbrella today, Kuroko, you sure?" Kagami lied.

"Hm..." Kuroko put on her outside shoes and closed her locker.

She was about to step outside when Kagami grabbed her shoulder. "Wait!"

Kuroko turned to him and looked into his eyes. "What is it, Kagami-kun?"

Kagami opened his umbrella and pulled Kuroko closer. "It's raining. Let's walk home together."

Kuroko continued to look straight into Kagami's eyes. "Kagami-kun, if we both walk under the same umbrella, our shoulders will stick out either way. It wouldn't make any difference if we walked together or not if we got wet anyways."

Kagami stopped in his tracks. After a moment of awkward silence, he handed his umbrella to Kuroko and walked away into the rain without a word. Kuroko stood underneath Kagami's umbrella, watching him walk away, unable to speak. Once Kagami was out of sight, she walked back into the school building and sat down on the bench in front of her locker. She slowly closed the umbrella and put it beside her.

"Wacha thinkin about?" Kuroko looked up to see Riko standing in front of her. Kuroko stared into Riko's eyes.

"I think...I'm doing something wrong."

"How so?"

"I tried...to be nice. I tried to do things myself so Kagami-kun didn't always do things...but I don't think he likes it...why doesn't he like it when I try to help him?"

"Well, let me tell it from his perspective. He's trying to be nice to his girlfriend and use common courtesy, but everytime he tries to be nice, he gets shot down. He doesn't know why he keeps getting shot down and in the end he gives up. So, now do you-"

Riko almost fell over when Kuroko bolted up and sprinted into the rain. "H-Hey, you forgot your umbrella!...Hm..."

"Are you sure this helped them, Riko?" Hyuuga asked.

"If this doesn't help them, nothing will. Let's hope."

Kuroko ran as fast as she could in the direction of Kagami's house. Her wet hair slicked against her face and her feet were falling out of her shoes but she continued.

One of her heels slipped out and she fell forwards, hard. She didn't even spend time to look down at her knees; she immediately got up and kept running, ignoring her legs and the shoe she left behind.

While headed down the road leading directly to Kagami's house, she imemdiately made a sharp left and headed somewhere else he was more likely to be. She was right.

She ran towards Kagami full-speed, surprising him when she slipped right in front of him when she failed to come to a complete stop. He helped her up onto the bench at the basketball court.

"Kuroko, you - oh my god, you're bleeding! You're bleeding everywhere! What the hell are you thi-"

Kuroko wrapped herself around Kagami's waist, catching him by surprise.

"Kagami-kun, I...I'm sorry. I'm sorry I ignored you. I didn't mean it. I'm sorry."

Kagami grabbed Kuroko by the shoulders and pulled her back, making eye contact with her. "I accept your apology, Kuroko."

Kuroko stretched her neck out and pecked Kagami's cheek. Kagami kissed her forehead and let her rest on his chest.

"You know, I tried to be the cool guy and offer the damsel an umbrella in her time of need. You totally took that away from me. Now I'm a lot less cool."

"Sorry, Kagami-kun."

Kagami chuckled. "Haha, just kidding." He stood up, picking up Kuroko bridal-style.

"Let's take you home and get you patched up."

"I can - nevermind. Take me home. I demand."

Kagami laughed. "Alright, princess. Let's go home."