[[ So this was a little late. I was distracted by my school project so I didn't manage to find the time to update it much. Judging from the length of this chapter, I guess I won't be consistent in how long each chapter will be since it's based on the Manga chapter and how much headcanon and backstory I can fit in inside with the chapter.
This chapter wasn't much I suppose. The things that I initially wanted to include didn't seem to fit in with this chapter so I wasn't able to use it and I had to think up something new to write instead. This ended up with even lesser dialogue without my notice.
I guess I really just suck in writing dialogues and my pacing for things might be bad. I'm still trying to see if I can change my writing style though… ]]
The game was a fast paced one, at least that was what it would seem like to the crowd. Midorima knew better than that, Akashi was just watching for the time being. Hence why he started it off quickly. With his knowledge of Akashi's personality, Midorima knew that they had to start it off first. It would be much different once Akashi started playing seriously.
His flashback of playing with Akashi had him frowning with displeasure. Whether or not it was something Akashi did intentionally, Midorima recalled how Akashi only played more seriously after a while. Maybe it was to grasp the opponent's strategy, Midorima would have used that strategy too if Akashi was someone he could afford to.
Right now all he could do was to play while trying to get what Akashi's team is trying to do. That would not be easy since Takao who was marking Akashi seemed to be having a little difficulty. Midorima was not surprised with the kind of aura Akashi always give off that hints to people that he was not someone simple. It was like a precaution a person would have to judge that the person in front of you is dangerous.
Takao could not believe his luck when he learnt that he was being made to mark Akashi. Of all the people from Rakuzan, it had to be the most scariest one, the captain of the Kiseki No Sedai must be someone strong. Especially if he had someone like Midorima listening to him without much protest. He was interested to see Akashi in person before since the Kiseki No Sedai members were all strange and their captain should be the strangest of them all.
Back then when the coach informed him that he was assigned to mark Akashi, Midorima was staring at his Shogi piece for reasons unknown. The expression Midorima had bothered him for some reason and that had urged him to mess with him while he spoke about doing his best marking Akashi. Midorima had protested about being afraid of Akashi and Takao blinked at Midorima's expression. It seemed different from usual and the tone he used was one he could not place his finger on.
That reminded him that Midorima had been acting stranger than usual when he first came in and it was like his mind was elsewhere when he stared at the Shogi piece in his hand. What was so special about it? Was it not an ordinary Shogi piece? Midorima never paid that much attention towards his lucky item before, much less look at it with a conflicted expression. The facial expression he had before they left for the first quarter especially.
Takao groaned that his brain just had to pick this time to think about the job he was assigned to. Not to mention that he could still feel that cold piercing stare that he saw earlier and he was still clueless as to how he had offended him when he did not even say a word to him. It was like Aashi had something against him.
The aura he felt from Akashi was something that should not be from someone that was the same age as him. But it should not be that surprising if he recalled that Akashi was Midorima's ex-captain. Takao shook his head and forced himself to focus on the match instead of his thoyghts. His eyes widened when Akashi brushed past him.
He was fast, even though he reacted, he had failed to stop Akashi's pass. Thanks to that, their score was even now. Takao was puzzled though. Akashi's skills were good along with a good wide field vision but it was not at a level where he would have much difficulty to stop him. This was the Kiseki No Sedai's captain, should he not be someone more fearsome? Or was he putting too much thought into it?
"…" Midorima could tell that Takao was puzzled over Akashi but he ignored it. There was no point why he had to say something to him about it and he was slightly annoyed by Akashi currently. Was he not taking this seriously?
Things were going according to what he planned; Shutoku was strong, compared to the other teams they played against especially. That was given when they had one of his ex-teammates with them, the one whose intellect is second to his too. Midorima had improved; the first deciding shot showed that. Akashi understood why his other shots were normal three-pointers too. Midorima was saving his strength to deal with him if he started playing seriously. The key word was if. Shutoku was pretty good but compared to his team, they were miles apart.
Midorima was never happy whenever he gave it his all only to have Akashi play with him half-heartedly. But it was not like he was holding it back, he just had no reason to be serious. He could already see Midorima's expression in his mind over what he did in the first quarter. Akashi shifted his attention towards his coach, he could think more about this later.
Not that he did not know what the coach would say, there was no reason to change their original plan anyway and all the small details that they lacked earlier would all be covered by Akashi when they play later. Chances of Shutoku changing their game plan was slim but not completely impossible. He looked forward to see what else Midorima would do in the next quarter.
Midorima fingered the Shogi piece in his hand lightly, he knew what Akashi was doing. This was just like the Shogi match they had all the time, except that Akashi was taking longer than usual. Was he underestimating them that he did not put that much effort in his strategy? It was not unusual for them to use Shogi as a form of strategy, especially in Akashi's case when he really liked the game and he was good in it too. He could still remember the expression that Akashi would have on his face too.
Especially the smile that Akashi had on his face when he learnt that Midorima played Shogi. It was the first time that he saw a natural pleased smile on Akashi's face. He had blinked and at that smile, wondering who the person in front of him because it was so un-Akashi like. Subconsciously, he smiled slightly as he glanced at the Shogi piece before his mind directed towards how the outcome of the game ended up the same every time and the smile disappeared.
Takao had caught the smile and it only made him more curious about it and if he recalled correctly, Midorima's interaction with Akashi was a little strange. Midorima seemed even more stoic and serious along with something he could not place his finger on. When their coach mentioned about Akashi treating the match like a game of Shogi, he noticed Midorima's expression growing unreadable as he stared at the Shogi piece he had again. There was also a rarely seen genuine smile on Midorima's lips earlier too. Did Akashi have something to do with why Midorima kept staring at his lucky item? "Is there something between your ex-captain and you?" Takao could not help but ask.
"What are you trying to imply, Takao?" Midorima's tone was cold, like he had just stepped on a land mine. Asking about Akashi had earned him the silent treatment when he had asked Midorima about Akashi the day before the match.
There appeared to be something about Akashi that was different to Midorima and Takao knew he had to find out about it himself. "Not trying to imply anything, Shin-chan. It's just that you talk a lot more to him than the rest." Like they have some sort of private history between them that other people could not intrude on. Midorima was less talkative towards Kuroko and he had seen what Midorima replies to one of his ex-teammate's mail.
He was standing near Midorima when the both of them were talking earlier and if he had not spoke up, they might not even know he was there. Now that his train of thought reached there, it was right after that that Akashi started staring at him. For intruding on their circle maybe.
"I have no clue what you're talking about." Midorima answered in a deadpan tone. Despite Midorima's answer, Takao felt like teasing him as usual. "It's like you two are a couple that hasn't established a name to their relationship yet."
Much to his astonishment, Midorima actually turned away from him and he had the distinctly feeling that Midorima's face was slightly flushed. "There's nothing going on between Akashi and me." His tone was a little uncertain and Midorima's hand tightened around the Shogi piece and e could hear a scowl escaping from Midorima's lips. "Absolutely nothing."
He repeated more to himself than Takao. Akashi's words from before mocked him when his mind repeated it to him. "Shintaro. You like me don't you?" Midorima was still unwilling to think that he might like such an egotistical guy. Besides his ego and personality, he did not think that guys appealed to him. Not that he actually thought much about relationships, his attention had always been on studies and basketball. Midorima did know that he liked older people better, those that are matured in their thinking.
Akashi might seem mature, but there was a childish side of him that was unknown to most people. Midorima did not think much about how he knew about that side about Akashi and whether or not that it was a side that Akashi did not show to most people. His thoughts were distracted when his coach spoke up.
It was true that Akashi was just scouting in the first quarter and now would be the best time for him to make his move like his coach thought. Midorima was slightly surprised when his coach got it correct that Akashi was treating this like a game of Shogi when people rarely understood what he was trying to do. The first move had to be made by them again, otherwise the outcome would be unfavourable.
Midorima spoke up once he caught sight of Akashi again. Maybe Takao was right, he does talk to Akashi more than the rest. The excuse he was giving himself was that it was only because Akashi was underestimating them currently. It was mostly the truth too since he was still mad that Akashi had not even played seriously yet.
"Don't look down on us, Akashi. Scouting for the whole first quarter? You seem to be taking it pretty easy so far." With Akashi's intellect, there was no way he needed to spend one whole quarter for that. He was obviously not taking it seriously. "Don't tell me you believe you can win without even using your 'eyes'?" That better not be the case since it would even anger him even further.
Akashi was smiling as he responded to his words. Because it was something he was waiting Midorima to say when he spotted Midorima approaching him. Midorima's personality just never changes and Akashi knew what to predict from being with him for so long. "I'm not looking down on you at all. In fact, I'm cautious as ever. I can't be revealing my trump card that easily."
Midorima's team maybe but he would never look down on Midorima. He respected his ex-teammates on a level that he would not look down on any of them if they happened to play against each other and Midorima was definitely no exception. Besides, did Midorima believe that he would show his ace that quickly? Shutoku was not that strong for him to do that so soon.
"However, at this rate, the game might end without me even to." Shutoku's level of skills were something his team could face easily, maybe except for Midorima maybe. The rest were all not that strong or impressive to Akashi, their level of strength were not up to par to theirs.
He watched wordlessly as Midorima narrowed his eyes and glowered at him. "What did you say?" Midorima was seriously pissed off, Akashi knew that. But there was no reason for him to say anything further. Midorima would get what he mean when the match proceeds. The difference between the strength of their team.
Midorima was fuming. Talking to Akashi had always been infuriating but today was just worse than usual. He could tell that Akashi meant every word he said and that meant he really did see that his team was of no threat to his if he did not have to play for real. Midorima turned away from him, he would be sure to prove him wrong later.
Was this part of Akashi's plan? He was being guarded by two players, did that mean that they only saw him as a threat and not the others? Midorima scowled anyway, this meant that his play would be restricted and it would not be easy for the ball to be passed to him.
Their defence was good, he had to compliment them on that. But this was something they had predicted might happen and he was not the only scorer in the team. If Rakuzan underestimated the rest of his team, they would see that Shutoku was not that weak. His teammates would definitely prove that.
The crowd seemed to finally realise that he was not the only good player from Shutoku. This was one of the Kings even before he joined, had the crowd forgot about that? The players from Shutoku had to be good if they kept their title until now. The two-handed dunk from his captain was good, although Midorima still felt that three-pointers are still better.
As usual, his gaze was more than enough to warn someone before he even said much. Akashi rather liked that since it required lesser effort for him to get his point across and people to feel intimidated more from that. Even though Shutoku was not that strong, Akashi still did not want to see his teammates messing around.
His warning got across quickly and if he continued messing around, Akashi would just have him switched if he refused to listen to him. It was simple as that. He had no need of people who refuses to listen to him or follow his orders. Besides, if Hayama played seriously it would be hard for them to steal the ball from him.
In a way, he would show Midorima what he meant about him not even having to use his ace to win the match. This would show Midorima the level difference between the skills from their team. Seeing that Midorima had noticed Hayama's dribble, Akashi chose that time to explain what he said earlier. It was much better to get his point across when there was a live example because Midorima would be stubborn enough not to acknowledge that otherwise.
"About what I said before, if it was hard to understand, let me clarify it for you." That one sentence was enough to catch Midorima's attention away from Hayama, not that Midorima was near enough to do anything against Hayama anyway so it was not to distract him. Akashi would not resort to petty tricks like that when he did not even need them to win.
Midorima might dislike it for him to say it in such a straightforward manner and think that he was being cocky again but all that was the truth. He was simply telling the truth and there was nothing wrong with how he phrased it. "There's no need for me to get my hands dirty. That's all it is." His gaze might be intimidating to most people and yet the effect it had on Midorima was nothing as usual.
Akashi's words had Midorima louring. That brought back the displeasing memory from when they first started playing Shogi together. "You're not taking me seriously." He had hissed after they had been playing for ten minutes. Akashi had merely smiled as a response. "There's no need for me to play seriously." The remark caused an obvious disgruntled look from Midorima.
He had to try to push Akashi into a corner and force him to play him more seriously. Since then, Akashi only played slightly more seriously against him. He was certain that Akashi was still not playing him for real, even more in this game. His skill in basketball was different than Shogi, this time he would make him taste defeat and ensure that he got Akashi to play him seriously.
Akashi knew that expression. It was one that Midorima showed him often when he played against him while holding back. This time was different; it was not that he did not want to play seriously but that there really was no need for him to. By the look of things, there was no reason for him to play even.
'Unless Shintaro has another ace hidden.' He thought to himself. Knowing Midorima's character, he would try to push him to play more seriously for sure. One of the thing that Midorima hated was being underestimated and his opponent not playing him for real. This was Midorimahe might really do have another trick up his sleeve. Out of everyone from the Kiseki No Sedai, he was the one that Akashi believes could do that.
'Show me what you have. I'll show you that it's futile against me.' Akashi was still looking forward to see what Midorima would do in this situation even if he already knew the outcome of this match. Because there was no way Midorima would ever give up so easily.
[[ A/N: Well, this wasn't really what I had in mind but this chapter made it hard for me to slip in much headcanon and past scenes and I didn't have the time to write it much so it's shorter than what I would prefer. Hopefully, by the time the next chapter comes out I will be able to write something longer and include more explanation about Midorima and Akashi. ]]