Here's chapter 9 everyone~! :) Well, I have some good and bad news, well not really but I think you all have the right to know this xD This is a warning for HARD GoMKuro fans, because well... Kagami is finally making his appearance into Kuroko's might harem. I'm not adding a LOT of KagaKuro in this one, after all it IS GoMKuro but well... there might be some from time to time. You have been warned :)
Warning for: Somehow foul language (I'm sorry for that but well, I figured it would suit Aomine... and Kagami), and grammatical errors and inappropriate word use (yes, I have this tendency of doing that, since I don't know that much at all...)
Thank you for all the support, I'm sorry if this update may seem rather dull in a way, but it's sort of necessary. For the confusion on the flashbacks, I'll explain the author's note in the end :) Enjoy!
Aomine could not believe it, he thought he was dreaming. Well, if he was dreaming, then this could possibly be the best dream he had had since he had step foot on this world fifteen years ago.
"Oi, Tetsu, can you spank me on the face?" He asked as if it would do him a big favour, Kuroko sensed this, and without hesitation, he slapped Aomine in the face hard, which probably could have sent him flying if Kuroko hadn't gone easy on him.
"Damn it isn't a dream..."
Honestly, he was glad it wasn't a dream. Everything in the world started to brighten up in front of him, and now he felt even closer to Kuroko Tetsuya.
That's because from today on... he'll be part of the Miracle Class!
"So this is Teiko High... Doesn't seem to be really impressive by the looks of it."
He stood in front of the so-called prestigious academy, known for its impressive and quite... unique curriculum, but to this particular student, it just didn't seem any different from all those schools he had gone to in the past.
"Uwaaa, he sure is tall... is he a foreigner?"
"Seems like it... what's he doing here?"
"To study of course, you idiot!"
Hearing this, he smirked. It seemed even the students in this school were all the same. The usual part of society which was amazed when something new came into their daily lives, but then again, that was normal.
But sometimes... in every life story, there needs to be something new, to change the events ahead.
"You must be Kagami Taiga-kun?" The red-haired man looked in his forties, and it was completely obvious that he wasn't a student.
"Uh... yeah, I am." The tall student said, easily towering above the old man. Hearing this, the said old man told the new student to follow him.
As he walked through the several corridors and the several students crowded outside their classrooms, he couldn't help but notice they were greeting the old man respectfully, therefore hunching he must have been a teacher or... the headmaster.
He had always had this habit of observing everyone's hair colour, for that was his only guide to searching for a certain someone.
And well, he did find his hair colour slightly weird, but he was born with it after all, no use in dyeing it now, right?
Brown... black... brown, more black and wait... Blue?
He turned around to see two other freshman students standing in front of the class listings. One tanned and one pale, one with dark blue hair and one with teal hair.
Wait... teal?
"You'd better do more than that to beat me!" The orange-haired kid said confidently dribbling the ball and avoiding the other boy's rather slow steal, then running and shooting it into the hoop.
"I still have to work harder... Ogiwara-kun." The two decided to stop playing, much to the disappointment of a certain spectator. He just marvelled at the two other boys about his age, seeming to be in their own happy world while they were playing basketball.
The said spectator, Kagami Taiga, did no longer need to think to approach these two boys. However, thinking again, he never really did good in making friends did he?
He watched as the two boys sat on a nearby bench and started talking, he sneakily crawled to the back of the bench and listened, only to be hit on the cheek by an arm, therefore resulting to him losing his balance and himself falling hard onto the floor, then he shouted out loud, much to the two boys' surprise.
"Uh... sorry?" The more lively one named Ogiwara said apologetically and immediately stood up from his seat and offered to help Kagami back up... whereas he refused out of pride.
Getting up, his attention then turned to the other boy, who was still blankly staring at him without any evidence of expression, those round eyes of his did not wander and met his.
"...What are you staring at?" Kagami asked on the spur of the moment, as if finding the "staring contest" really weird.
"Umm... do you want to play basketball with us?" Unsurprisingly, his voice was as blank as his face, and at this Kagami Taiga couldn't help but feel slightly sleepy, at least... until basketball was mentioned.
"Why should I?"
"Well... you have been watching us for quite a while now, it's rude to merely stare..." Kagami Taiga changed his mind, this guy was not only weird... but really weird.
How could he say that when he started the staring contest?
He'd might as well let it slip, and true enough, he failed to realize he had been standing there like an idiot for a long time now.
"I guess I have no choice... I guess, I'll try."
"So... what's your name?" Ogiwara Shigehiro asked.
"Taiga... Kagami Taiga."
"Nice to meet you, Taiga-kun, forgive this friend of mine, he may look really gloomy, but truth be told, he's really interesting!" Ogiwara Shigehiro put his arm over the teal-haired boy, which somehow seemed heavy, for the other boy seemed to have a hard time with it.
"Yeah... that's something we can both agree on." He mused in agreement.
"Nice to meet you, Kagami-kun, I'm Kuroko Tetsuya, let's get along from now on." The boy named Kuroko Tetsuya did a low bow, which seemed a bit too polite for comfort.
"...Are all people in Japan like this?" Kagami Taiga asked out of curiosity and perhaps... stupidity. He had lived in America for the most of his life due to his parent's work. He and his family just came to visit Japan due to his parent's work, they're about to return to America soon. He had however wondered what Japan would be like if all the guys were like Kuroko Tetsuya.
Wait... is that good or bad?
He never had that much experience with this type of guy, living in America's noisy environment made him used to louds kids who would go wild all day. "Nope, he's just one of a kind!"
One of a kind... huh.
He was liking this guy more and more, and he felt pumped up. He had played basketball in America with his friend Himuro Tatsuya and some other American kids, and ever since he had arrived in Japan three days ago, he had missed the sport awfully. It's not like he had anybody to play with in Japan, considering the time he wasn't around, he never really had a friendship in Japan which lasted more than one week.
"But wait... there's three of us so.. a two-on-one isn't really fair right?" Kagami had realized, and at this, the other two decided to come up with something.
"Then... Kuroko-kun's mine! You'll just have to try to beat us alone!" exclaimed Ogiwara.
"Why you- That's pretty unfair, you must be a veteran already, being all 'you can't beat me' and all." Kagami pointed out from what he had seen earlier. "Kuroko's mine! You'd better give him over!"
Most of the day passed when they somehow debated on who should have Kuroko, but Kuroko concluded that they should just have a one-on-one, which Ogiwara Shigehiro did not approve of, saying he would miss the fun.
"It's not like that, Ogiwara-kun, we need to give Kagami-kun a chance, we can't have it all to ourselves."
It was the first time Kagami Taiga had heard such words, the first time he had encountered a player who gave others the chance to hold the ball... to feel the ball.
"...You sure about that, Kuroko?"
"Yes, it's alright. I want everyone to have fun, of course Kagami-kun is not an exception. You're my friend now after all..."
"Wait... I'm... your friend?" Kagami Taiga incredulously said, as if surprised.
"Yes, is there something wrong with that, Kagami-kun?" The blunette responded, as if questioning Kagami Taiga's actual view on the word "friend".
"Nah... in fact, I'm glad you consider me as a friend." He smirked out of happiness, and at this, Ogiwara Shigehiro was impressed on how Kuroko easily opened up to Kagami, which only happened to a few select people.
Friend...
The time they had together was short yet memorable, shortly after that, he had returned to America. He had returned to Japan due to certain circumstances, and to add to that, he had set out to find a certain special person...
That person who had brightened up his world even if it was just for a while, that person who inspired him to become the person he was now...
"Who'd you staring at, bastard?"
It only took those words to bring him back to reality, there was no more reminiscing of memories. There was only the present, the reality.
The way those words were said were definitely different from how those words were said from years ago.
"Well... you have been watching us for quite a while now, it's rude to merely stare..."
They still echoed clearly in his mind, and he would definitely knew if it was him who said it.
"...Kuroko?"
The two had exchanged gazes, and as if they were in their own world, no words were spoken, as if the look in their eyes understood everything.
"Kagami...-kun? The shorter boy had let out, and Kagami Taiga couldn't help but think that he hadn't changed. His blank voice, his almost complete lack of emotion, those warm eyes that just stared at you as if you were the only one within those round orbs.
"You remember me? It's me, that brainless basketball bastard who you used to play with, back when we were kids."
He was already crossing his fingers, he couldn't blame the boy if he had forgotten him though. They were only together for three days, and those were nothing but one among several memories, it wouldn't be weird if they were buried in time.
But nevertheless, he remembered, and he'll bring them back if he has to.
"Oi, Tetsu, you know this guy? The tanned one asked, and after a while of consideration, the pale blunette shook his head, much to Kagami's shock.
He knew he wasn't mistaken, he knew that Kuroko had just called his name in front of him, it couldn't have been by chance.
"Kagami Taiga, we have matters to discuss. Follow me, don't be distracted." The headmaster said, and he reluctantly walked away.
Damn... now I'm confused. Mindfucked.
"So... Yeah, Tetsu, what's the Miracle Class like?" Aomine did know the basic stuff, for he had enough experience with Kuroko's harem to know what they were like.
If you were thinking of one word to describe the Miracle Class, it'd be... eccentric. It perhaps shows the diversity between youths today, how different they all were... and surprisingly, how they were somehow the similar to each other in an almost unnoticeable way.
Like how they all liked Kuroko Tetsuya...
"I'm sure Aomine-kun will be alright, after all he is Aomine-kun."
"I'm not sure if that's supposed to be a compliment... or not. Wait, this isn't what we're supposed to talk about!" He always had this habit of changing the topic without him knowing, this guy named Kuroko Tetsuya.
"What are we supposed to talk about then?" Kuroko put on an innocent clueless face, and Aomine couldn't help but sigh, he thought the guy would know what he wanted to say.
"What is that guy from earlier to you? It was a lie that you didn't know him right? It's perfectly obvious..."
"...Aomine-kun... you're surprisingly observant."
"Humph, of course! I always was, for I'm frickin' awesome!" He proudly referred to himself, resulting to him getting another reminder from Kuroko not to be that proud of himself... in a good way of course.
"So... yeah, he looked really shocked to see you, any idea why?" Hearing this, Kuroko started delving into past memories' territory, Aomine noticed this and immediately shook it off.
"Ah."
"Don't 'ah' me, idiot! So? Your answer?" Aomine did not forget to realize that his mentor had this habit to delve into reminiscing mode, therefore immediately bringing him back to the present.
"Kagami-kun and I didn't spend much time together, he had gone back to America three days directly after we had met. He was a rather good basketball player..." Kuroko mentioned, and Aomine started to seem interested.
And when Kuroko said someone was good at something, then that meant business.
"So... that still doesn't explain why he seemed so surprised. I mean, he could have just greeted you normally, instead he went all staring contest with you and you two went all sweet-looking."
Aomine did not get to add the words he had meant to say... like how he was jealous and he just had to butt in.
"I don't know, I don't really know Kagami-kun that well to know. I do know one thing though..."
"What is it, Tetsu?" Aomine was crossing his fingers, and he needed to hear Kuroko's answer, there were two practical reasons.
First was that he didn't like to be left a cliffhanger, simply speaking, he did not like questions to be left unanswered. And secondly...
This person might actually have something to do with Kuroko Tetsuya's love life, he just had to know.
Just when he was in the lead (at least that's how he looked at it), someone had to enter their life again and ruin everything. Oh how butt hurt he was.
"...The decision that I told Kagami-kun I didn't know him was for his own good, and for everyone's own good." Kuroko responded, and Aomine just ended up more confused. Normally, a person would be even more persistent when that happened.
"Why?" Suddenly, Kuroko stopped in his tracks, much to Aomine's surprise. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that they were in front of the Miracle Class, and what Kuroko was about to say might just be a bit too precious to be said in front of others. What surprised Aomine more however, was that Kuroko was entrusting him with all of this.
"Because... Akashi-kun and the others were there, if they had found out I knew Kagami-kun... It would not only cause me trouble, but Kagami-kun as well."
Aomine knew where this was going, he knew very well of the other Miracle students, who were also madly in love with his mentor. Yes, also. So he knew very well that if they found out Kuroko knew this Kagami whatever guy, he would end up in the same position Aomine was not so long ago... and he was speaking from personal experience, that was scary enough to wimp someone out of their pants.
And by same position, he didn't know that his words were the actual truth, as simple as that.
For Kagami Taiga was planned to be Kuroko Tetsuya's new student in training, which Aomine didn't know, even Kuroko didn't know. No one was informed, for the information was only confided by the headmaster to Kagami Taiga, the person involved.
One thing was for sure, it was one major plot twist in Aomine and Kuroko's life story together, so big a twist that... it might just get harder to get a happy peaceful ending.
Not that there was a choice from the start, for he still had the other contestants to worry about, he didn't need more problems in his life.
And there was one big one that just bugged him... how could he manage to convince Kuroko Tetsuya that he was better than the rest?
"Uh... can you please repeat that, headmaster-jii-san?" Kagami Taiga's eyes had widened at the man's words, who was directly front of him, and he didn't look like he was joking. Seriously.
"I trust you remember that there were some qualification tests which were not related to any school activity, but related to personal thinking, yes?" The look in Aomine Daichi's eyes looked so creepy it made Kagami shiver, as if something "good" were to happen.
"Uh... yeah, so what does that have to do with that weird stuff you said earlier? About me being gay or something..."
"Precisely that, you passed the test. You are certified and classified into the gay class of society, Kagami Taiga. And believe me, that is a good thing here in Teiko Middle School."
"Excuse me what-?!" Kagami Taiga gaped at the older man, flabbergasted. How on Earth did gay become a good thing? Was this world upside down or something? Was he even alive or was this just a nightmare?
"You see, we are well aware of the difficulty of the recent adolescent generation to adapt and socialize, especially if they are set apart by their differences from others. However, here in Teiko, we attempt to use these so-called differences to its fullest, and let you socialize with your other... kin."
"So... basically, this 'gayness' I have is something that'll make my life... better?" Kagami Taiga didn't know, he just felt this was all so weird. He hadn't heard about this anywhere, okay, he changed his mind.
This school was too different, a bit too different for his liking.
"Yes, if that's how you comfortably view it. However, there is one problem at hand, something that gets in the way." The headmaster smiled as if knowing something Kagami didn't, which just somehow angered him and wanted to punch the older man in the face.
No you idiot, mind your manners. Keep it in... Keep it in...
"So... what is it? Please get to the fu- I mean, straight to the point already..."
"Your grades are rather below average, no... you are practically the worst student in your year, judging from the academic standard test."
"So... Is there by any chance... a rule that says low grades are a good thing?" Kagami chuckled awkwardly. Okay, his happiness and awkwardness just flipped 180 degrees to the bad side.
"Of course not, however, there is a solution to almost every problem here in Teiko High, rest assured. Just for a moment, you stay here." He ordered, and like it was just instinct, he froze on his seat. The headmaster got out and he was left alone.
What development did I just get into?
"Kuroko Tetsuya, please proceed to the headmaster's office as soon as possible. I repeat, Kuroko Tetsuya, please proceed to the headmaster's office as soon as possible."
Several faces turned to the blunette, who was called for. The blunette had let out a sigh, and he had quickly shut the door behind him, refusing to hear his fellow Miracle students' complaints on how he had to leave class again.
He needed to catch up on his grades, or he'll be provoked of his privileges, and for him, that was a big problem.
Well, not only to him, but also to the others who really wanted him in their lives.
He wondered what it was for this time, he had enough weird things in life already, what more did he need to deal with?
He just said... Kuroko right now didn't he?
Kagami knew he had unmistakably heard the name Kuroko Tetsuya, but wait, he was alone at the headmasters office now, right? Was this a set-up or something?
"Umm..." Someone pried the door open, and for a moment, Kagami Taiga somehow panicked.
"O-Oh, Kuroko, what a coincidence, what'd ya' doing here?" He stuttered, and he was shot a blank face from Kuroko just like the old times. He felt slightly relieved and took a deep breath, he felt a bit more calm now but...
"I should be asking you that, Kagami-kun, what are you doing here? You didn't do anything to the headmaster, did you?" Kuroko asked suspiciously, as if accusing Kagami of killing someone or something.
"Let me explain to the two of you, Kuroko-kun, Kagami-kun." The headmaster gave Kuroko a gentle pat on the shoulder, which made Kuroko lose his balance, almost falling on Kagami Taiga, but of course the headmaster didn't let that happen.
He didn't need more developments like that happening in his office. Ever.
"Aomine-san... thank you for that, I appreciate it."
"Oh, don't mention it. After all, I did that for Daiki to su- your safety I mean. We wouldn't want the two of you to get hurt on your first day meeting each other, do we?"
First time... It wasn't the first time, maybe it could be the last (judging he could die at any moment), but definitely not the first.
"Kuroko-kun, from now on, Kagami Taiga-kun will be replacing my son as your student. He falls below standards, but when... tamed enough, he can manage in this school. I don't mean any harm, we don't want him to go the wrong way... no?" The headmaster questionably asked, expecting a positive answer. At this, Kuroko reluctantly nodded and without noticing, had let out an exasperated sigh.
"Yes headmaster... I'll do what I can." He didn't seem very eager, maybe because he was the student- but still, that means there's a chance Kuroko remembers him, right?
Maybe god was giving him a second chance, maybe his life wasn't so bad as he had thought after all.
But well, there's this saying that if someone's lucky, another one's unlucky.
I wonder who's unlucky this time?
"Ah, Aomine-kun..." Kuroko greeted his student directly after he had got out of hell, simply speaking, the headmaster's office. Aomine found it weird how Kuroko didn't ask if he had heard anything, or why he was eavesdropping in the middle of the corridor anyway. No, that much was obvious.
He found it weird how Kuroko Tetsuya didn't ask him how he felt about this.
"Tetsu... Damn, what were you doing in old geezer's office? You couldn't have beaten someone up like I did... or wait, did you?"
"No... Please don't put me in the same level as you Aomine-kun..." Aomine was somehow offended, how his mentor failed to see his awesomeness... in having the highest record for getting into the headmaster's office for at least 10 times a month.
"Aomine-kun, I'm sorry but you'll have to study by yourself from now on... I'm afraid I won't be able to help you as much as I could before."
Aomine just stood there, stood still without uttering a word, for a moment he had forgotten to breath. He knew this would eventually happen, but he didn't expect it to happen now. He wasn't prepared, just when he had finally grown to somehow like studying, just when he had grown to love his mentor- in a romantic way... and yet this happens.
It was just so fucked up, it seemed like it was planned from the start.
Just when he had done so well in the pretests... He wasn't sure if now was the right time to mention his reward.
It was something he so deeply wanted, he could basically imagine the sensation so clearly he was so tempted to do it without his mentor's permission.
"Tetsu... you remember our promise? You know, about how if I do well in the pre-tests, you'll have to give me something I ask for?"
"Yes, I do... and I'm sure Aomine-kun had worked hard for the sake of that." Kuroko smiled, and not so surprisingly, he was completely right.
"Tetsu..."
He just felt so wild, so free of everything restricting him. It was his only chance, no one was around at all, they were finally alone, cutting classes didn't really hurt, he was after all, now part of the Miracle Class, attendance didn't affect your grade that much, cutting classes wasn't a big deal. He could finally try without those Miracles pestering and interfering. He could finally get to express his feelings properly.
It all happened in an instant, the way Aomine's lips touched Kuroko's. It was short yet really memorable.
For it was Aomine Daiki's first kiss with Kuroko Tetsuya.
A faint blush was visible at Kuroko's face, he obviously did not expect that. He mouthed out Aomine's name and Aomine, well, he just couldn't believe he just did that.
And... so did another spectator.
"Cr-cr-crap!"
"...Shit, there was another person?" Aomine gaped, and face to face, before him and Kuroko stood...
Kagami Taiga.
"Kagami...kun?"
"Damn, I shouldn't have interrupted. I was just passing by, ahahaha... I did NOT see that, promise." He chuckled awkwardly in denial, and Aomine shot him an incredulous, suspicious eye, and so did Kuroko.
"Kagami-kun, you came from the headmaster's office just like I did..."
"Crap," Kagami cussed. "What was seen, cannot be unseen!" Or at least, so they say.
"Damn... must be my unlucky day. First of all, I get separated from Tetsu, next you appear into his life and go all 'Kuroko' over and over again and tattle about stuff that he probably doesn't even remember. Well that's all in the past, what matters is now! And I'm going to win, uh- whatever your name is, I don't care." Aomine let out with an exasperated groan of anger.
"Woah, woah, chill. I don't have any intention on competing with you, I just came here to greet and say hi." Kagami was evidently trying to calm Aomine down, but in the end, Kuroko forced them to go into a truce.
"Kagami-kun, you couldn't have possibly come home to Japan, not to mention from America, just to greet me and say hi..." Kagami cursed for his –ahem- friend being rather observant as before, he's always been the unpredictable yet predicts others type of guy.
"Well... I came to see you, and that's a valid enough of a reason. Why does not matter, what matters is the hardwork and resolve within it."
"Kagami-kun, do you really think... I would accept an answer like that?" Kuroko sighed, he was confused, he needed to know more. He always had to be the one left out in the conversation, left out in what was happening.
"Well, what if I tell you I have feelings for you?"
There, he had said it, now he was going to look all gay again. He had kept in mind that Akashi Seiji had said that being gay was good here, but he really didn't know, for from what he saw, that guy had really twisted logic.
"Uh... Sorry but Tetsu already has enough trouble in his lovelife. In case you want to know, he has four really creepy-"
"And why are you answering for him? I'm not asking you, uh- ganguro!" Kagami randomly fired back. "Is love not enough for a valid reason? The longing to see someone again? Well?"
The longing... to see someone again... The feeling of love...
Aomine was starting to realize... that this Kagami Taiga guy and he might be even more similar than he had thought.
And that was nothing good, that just meant harder competition in the same mannerisms. He had to fight his way through, somehow, he had to find the exit to this maze full of obstacles and dead ends.
And first, he has to outsmart this Kagami Taiga guy, but how?
He needed to find the answer, he had worked hard to have gone this far, that he can guarantee. He did not have any intention to let some new guy take Kuroko from him just like that.
"Well, well, just when I was headed to the restroom, look who we have here."
"W-wait..." Aomine's eyes widened when he heard that voice, as cunning as usual.
"Akashi-kun...? It's not what it looks like, it's-"
"Mmm... Well, that must have been enjoyable. Am I not right, Daiki?" Akashi had triumphantly made Aomine feel fear this time, Aomine knew he was too carried away this time, too careless.
He cursed under his breath, it was just too much of a coincidence.
He always wondered if what was happening had already been set out for them a long time ago, before they even knew. Maybe it was, he just had to change the written fate, to turn it to his side, to his advantage.
He had to rewrite it all, he had to somehow make Kuroko Tetsuya fall for him, even if it was against the odds, against the already written destiny.
"You choose your own destiny."
No matter how trivial or minor it may be, a single change, a single mistake could change everything.
Several eyes watched that day, the day Kuroko Tetsuya's life was to turn into a rather unexpected turn. No more complaints were heard after that moment, for they remained unsaid. It left mixed reactions, some of sadness, some of anger, and some of jealousy.
But either way... it was all the same.
"Only one can win in the end, now..."
Aomine Daichi accurately hit the bull's eye, he always had this habit of doing it when no one was around and classes were going on, out of boredom anyway.
He had overheard the fiery competition outside, and he felt rather proud of the results of his actions... along with Akashi Seiji's actions. Just a bit more, and the vision he had dreamed of was to be born. The abundant competition between people of great potential, and to think the Miracle project did this well, he had to praise Akashi Seiji for that. When people are controlled by emotions, they can sometimes be unlike themselves, and a certain feeling is triggered, that alone is sufficient enough to bring out a person's frustration, anger and so on.
"Now that you are controlled by desire... What will you do now, my son?"
I'm deeply sorry if that did not interest you... The last part was a complete mess in my mind -3- ... As for the flashback and Kagami's background story well, I just modified Ogiwara and Kuroko's past a bit, like how they used to play in a basketball court when they were kids, only Kagami was there for only a short while. As you all know, he lives in America by this time.
Well, next chapter will have more GoMKuro moments to make up for all of this :) I'm quite excited for the next chapter, especially after I just downloaded the whole of KuroBas Cup (The file was somehow big...), but it was worth it! Even the voice actors acknowledge the couples in an indirect way! *nods*
Well then, see you next update! :D
-BerryBliss