Clarity
Chapter Two
Kuroko tried to hide under his blanket. He just wanted to block out all the noise. He poked his head out, up just beneath his nose before stretching the blanket half way down the futon. His clock showed 7:10. Why was he hearing Aomine and Kagami's voices so early in the morning? Aomine especially. He was never up this early unless he had too. Last time he checked, they were on holidays.
Kuroko groaned as he got up. His sleepwear oddly shifted and his hair wild and untameable. He made it to the front door within 10 paces. It really was a small place, but he only rented somewhere to be closer to school. It was also cheap. It was the reason a lot of students lived in the building.
Kuroko stepped outside and looked down the railing to the floor below. Sure enough, Kagami and Aomine wobbled to their doors; their fortune of being neighbours. It was then that he noticed they were still wearing the same clothes from yesterday. Add in the time of day and their sloppiness, Kuroko knew exactly what happened.
He couldn't be surprised where Aomine was concerned. It wasn't that he was an alcoholic, but when he turned the drinking age (20) he had gotten into drinking with long nights in group events and drinking games. The results usually weren't good since Aomine was competitive.
It was probably the reason why Kagami was drunk too. The two of them were fiercely competitive. Even before they became neighbours. But living next to each other only aggravated their complex relationship and more things turned into a competition or a fight than should. He felt bad for their other neighbours. He honestly did. He should probably go handle them now.
He walked down the stairs slowly, careful not to trip in his status of half-asleep. It didn't matter because Aomine and Kagami were still fumbling in attempt to find their keys.
"I won."
"You wish. The only one who can beat me is me."
"Then I must be another you." Yes, Kagami was definitely drunk. Otherwise he would never mention being like Aomine—even in an attempt to bash him.
"In your dreams!"
Kuroko often contemplated how to deal with drunks. But these weren't just any drunks. They were his friends. He could offer them some medicine and water but he questioned how much good it would actually do them. He could try to restrain them but they were both larger and stronger than him. If they didn't want to be restrained they could easily overpower him. Kuroko chose the best option available to his well-being and the well-being of everyone else in the area. He punched the back of their heads causing them to fall to the ground. In their state, it knocked them out.
Kuroko sighed. Now just to find their keys and to drag them back in their apartments.
He started with Kagami because Kuroko knew he always kept his keys in the same spot. Opening the door, Kuroko dragged Kagami to his bed. His place was really clean and depersonalized. He did spend a lot of time at work, Kuroko reasoned. Kagami dropped out in his second year. School wasn't his forte. He decided to become a firefighter, though, so he was out a lot. He left the key on the table for Kagami to find later.
Next was Aomine. His place wasn't dirty to say, but it couldn't be called cleaned. His dirty clothes were in a somewhat neat pile; his clean clothes still in his laundry basket. Some magazines were lying about, but Kuroko was certain that Aomine looks at them often so the fact they were out wasn't a surprise. Then there was some wrappers from prepackaged food and takeout. Aomine couldn't cook and while he normally discarded the garbage, it was just as easy to throw it all out in one go. Probably a bad habit he picked up when he moved out of his parent's house. Kuroko placed the key on one of the magazines, hoping Aomine would find it.
No one had explicitly told him, but everyone else was glad for the man who could keep those two in line. They would have moved out by then if it weren't for him.
Kuroko returned to his apartment, locked the door and flopped down on his futon. He was going back to sleep.
.
Midorima played on his grand piano when he was alone in the house. He always preferred when he had no interruptions. He was playing classical—his favourite music genre—partially from choice and because music competitions usually have strict rules on what songs are allowed. His fingers unwrapped in order to play.
He stopped abruptly deciding to stop rehearsing. He placed some music scores in front of him and reached for his pencil. It was the first song he was trying to compose and he started a month ago. It was a slow process for him. It was originally something productive as he took a break from studying for exams, but he came to the conclusion that he should finish it.
He was stuck on a part, though. No matter what he did it sounded harsh and out of touch with what he had composed so far.
Midorima's phone suddenly rang. This was his luck alright. Usually when he practices, he mutes his phone not wanting interruptions. He was ranked 11th today, though. His lucky item must not be good enough.
He flipped open his green phone to look at the caller ID. Just his luck it was Kise. He denied the call and put his phone back down. A moment later it beeped to inform him he's received a message.
From: Kise
Subject: (none)
You're so mean, Midorimacchi! Answer the phone.
He hadn't finished reading the short message when Kise called again. How the blond knew he wasn't busy, he didn't want to know.
This time he answered the call. He wouldn't have any peace until he did. "What do you want?"
"You're so mean Midorimacchi!"
"Why are you calling?"
"Ssu~" Kise said in a deflated tone. "What if I just wanted to talk to you?"
"…I'm hanging up."
"Wait! Wait! Don't hang up ssu!" Midorima stopped himself from hanging up. "Saturaday, a bunch of us are getting together. There will be food, karaoke and games. It's a party before school starts back up Monday. You'll be coming of course. Invite someone if you want. I'll message you the details."
"I don't want to—"
Kise ended the call before Midorima could finish saying he didn't want to go.
An hour later he got a message that was probably sent to everyone at once.
He wasn't going.
His phone beeped again. This time it wasn't from Kise. This person wasn't much better.
From: Takao
Subject: Party!
What time are you going?
If Takao was involved it was sure that he would be dragged there.
Because he definitely wouldn't go otherwise.
Not at all.
.
Kuroko looked up at the cherry blossoms as he walked down a secluded path. It was nice weather to take a walk and escape everything.
"Ah!"
He looked over to the figure that fell. A girl, probably in high school, was on the ground and her many shopping bags scattered.
Sayuri liked to think herself different from her brother. Unlike him, who spent the majority of the break alone, she was often out with her friends. Today she had gone shopping with them. She probably bought more then she needed but there were just so many cute clothes. Next thing she knew she had more than she could comfortably carry. One of her friends was kind enough to help carry it until they had to split up. It was the reason why she fell.
"Are you okay?" She looked up to see a rather plain young man. Well, if she looked past his plain clothing he had a nice face. Especially those cute round eyes. She blushed at her drifting thought. She finally took notice of the hand he extended out towards her. He hesitantly placed her hand in his and he helped her up to her feet. She was in a daze as he stared picking up her bags.
"Ah—I got it!" She helped the man pick up her bags. There really were too many for one person to carry.
"Do you need help carrying these home?' He looked at some of the store names on the bags wondering how she made it this far.
Sayuri saw stars. This person was amazing. He was so nice. "You would help me? That's great!" She had no problem having a stranger help her. She was tired of shopping, walking, and carrying bags so she just wanted to get home and relax.
As he followed her, walking on her right, she compared this moment to the ones her best friend told her about in those romance stories she read. She wasn't much of a reader, but she would listen to her friend rant on.
She found herself drifting her gaze to his eyes. If she had to choose one thing that she particularly liked the man, aside from his kind nature to help her, would be his cute round eyes. She blushed as those eyes drew her in.
"Yes?"
She squeaked as she was caught. What was she doing? "Nothing." She looked forward the rest of the way.
When they arrived at her house he gave back her bags and patted her on the head in a comforting manner telling her to be careful.
Sayuri walked into the house and dumped her bags on the floor. She didn't bother calling 'I'm home' because she still felt the heat on her head from his gentle hand.
"How much did you buy?"
Her thoughts vanished upon hearing her brother's annoying voice. "None of your business, Shintarō."
"That couldn't have been cheap." There had to be at least 12 bags. Probably more.
"Says the one spending their money on useless items."
"They're lucky items," he retorted.
"Even I don't believe that stuff and I'm a girl. Aren't girls usually the target for that kind of stuff? Ah. I know. You're secretly a girl aren't you, Shintarō," taunted Sayuri.
"I'm not," Shintarō immediately denied.
"And here you are ruining my thoughts of the kind man who helped me."
"You ran into someone you know?"
"Not at all. He still helped me though. And he had really cute eyes."
"You're too loose."
"And you're too uptight. Now help me carry these bags up to my room."
This story will probably get a rating change to M in the future but that's still far off.
There's no Midorima and Kuroko interaction in this chapter but there will be in the next one.
Also, I'm totally jealous of Akashi and Midorima since they can play instruments. I know one scale for the guitar and if I practice a lot I can play simple songs on the piano…by memorization or imitating sounds. (How come pretty much everyone on my maternal family's side can play at least one instrument and my dad can play an instrument, and both have talent for it yet I'm terrible and awkward with rhythms. Not fair!)
