Chapter 03

The Couple that got the Third Place

Midorima Shintarou x Takao Kazunari

A/N: So, this is it… Let's see some MidoTaka action! =D

Apart from studying horoscopes and lucky items, Midorima's hobby was to join contests. He couldn't get enough of it as long as competition was mentioned. No matter how less-dignifying the contests were, he still joined for recognition, of course.

But today was very different. Being on a vacation with the other competing teams in the Winter Cup was quite larger than life, as Midorima said. But for now, he remained silent and just gave it all up to Oha-Asa.

The group reached the said destination, which was the location of the Seirin team. The other members of the GoM were done unloading their things while the green-haired three-point shooter of Shuutoku was in deep thought.

"Mido-chin, aren't you coming with us?" Murasakibara asked the green-haired boy while eating his favorite candy.

"I will. Just wait for me inside the venue." Midorima replied rather plainly but politely as it should be. Murasakibara just nodded and went inside the venue with other GoM members.

'Stupid Takao! He said he'll be here in 5 minutes!' Midorima face-palmed mentally. Wait, why was he waiting for that little black-haired boy who always annoyed him and gave him that stressful time?

"Shin-chan! I'm here!" the black-haired boy suddenly tangled his arm around Midorima's shoulders. The latter flinched in annoyance and looked really pissed off.

"Takao! How many times do I have to tell you don't put your arms around me!" Midorima growled at Takao for being such an easy-going person. Ughh… This gave him a headache.

"But Shin-chan?" Takao pouted and he earned a chop in the head from Midorima.

"Stop making that face! You bastard!" Midorima growled again. "You said you'll be here in less than 5 minutes?! Why are you so late?!" the green-haired boy continued his ranting.

"Sorry Shin-chan… I was on my way to get a package from a store… Did I make you worry then?" Takao bowed many times and Midorima was blushing hard. Oh crap, now this?

"N-not at all! That's not what I felt…" Midorima stuttered while looking away from Takao. The black-haired boy then smirked secretly as the two of them entered the venue.

The party hall was ready, yes it was. The stage, the tables, the banners…everything. The teams' members took their respective seats. Seirin's table was in front, Touou's table was at the right of Seirin's and Kaijou's at the left. Yosen's was at the back of Touou's and Shuutoku's at the left of Yosen's. Rakuzan's table was at the back part. And at the middle, the table for the Generation of Miracles could be seen.

"Okay! Good morning fellow basketball teams! The Seirin team is glad to have all of you here! Let's do a roll call first. Where is the Seirin team?" Riko was the MC and she took the opportunity. Seirin players shouted happily at the mention of their team. Next to be called was Touou, followed by Kaijou, Yosen, Shuutoku, and Rakuzan.

After the introduction, the teams engaged themselves into the games prepared by the Seirin Team. And when all winners were tallied, Riko announced the overall winner for the contests.

"And the 3rd place goes to…Shuutoku!" Riko announced as the said team cheered loudly. Midorima could only smile at that. He hates losing to contests, but it's worth it since he played games with his former teammates. Takao entangled his arm around Midorima which made the green-haired boy chop him angrily on the head. The other Shuutoku players chuckled at that.

"The 2nd place…Touou!" Riko announced as Aomine began lifting Kise and swaying him around as the blonde's cheeks grew extremely red. Kagami and Kuroko could only smile at the sight.

"So, they're on, too eh?" Kagami asked to himself rather than to Kuroko. The pale blue-haired nodded at that.

"Alright! And our 1st placer, the overall winner is…" and a drum roll was heard as Riko took a deep breath and announced the winner. "Seirin!" Riko shouted and she saw Akashi murmuring something from afar. The crowd clapped loudly as Kagami and Kuroko went to the stage and received the trophy.

After that tiresome party, the teams went back to their respective huts. Aomine and Kise were in the second room of the hot springs. As usual, they're making love again. Kagami and Kuroko sat side by side as they watched the couple doing their nasty games.

And here comes Midorima and Takao…

"Shin-chan, wanna go to the hot springs?" Takao asked and the green-haired boy quickly rejected the idea.

"I wanna sleep now. No time for that." Midorima said grumpily as he laid himself down to his bed and covered his face with a pillow. Takao felt hopeless and sad because of that.

"O-okay… I'll just go outside then… Goodnight Shin-chan." Takao said warmly and left the room that he and Midorima shared.

'Stupid Takao…' Midorima uttered under his breath. He felt his face warm up at Takao's greeting as he unconsciously curved his lips into a smile.

As Takao went inside the hot springs, he quickly covered his mouth, abstaining to shout. Looking at how perverted Aomine and Kise looked, he made his way to Kagami and Kuroko's place instead.

"Geez… Couldn't Aomine and Kise get a room? They're really getting the springs dirty…" Takao started the conversation with the couple.

"That's them… You know how aggressive that idiot Ahomine is." Kagami rolled his eyes at what he said. Kuroko stabbed him at the side afterwards. The redhead yelped in pain as Takao sweatdropped.

"Kagami-kun can be embarrassing sometimes." Kuroko said plainly without making eye contact with the redhead and smiled a little.

"Shut up!" Kagami could only mutter. Takao chuckled a bit at that.

"I worry about Shin-chan." Takao began feeling sad.

"What are you talking about Takao-kun?" Kuroko managed to ask. Kagami looked at the black-haired boy intently.

"It's just that… I want Shin-chan to be happy. But I feel rather sad if he's not going to be mine." Takao raised his knees to his chest and sat quietly beside the two. Kuroko felt pity for Takao.

"I see Takao-kun. Midorima-kun can be stubborn most of the time. But he has a heart for everything." Kuroko said which lightened Takao's mood a bit.

"I know… But I just couldn't get his heart." Takao said sadly. Suddenly;

"Take it from me… Why not try to be aggressive sometimes?" a voice came from the back which made Takao flinch and jump a little. He knew that voice…

"Midorima-kun?" Kuroko said with his usual poker face.

"A-ano! Shin-chan…" Takao was freaking nervous at the moment. Midorima was staring at him intensely.

"You want me? Then be aggressive. That's the one I like in a person." Midorima pushed his glasses up to the bridge of his nose and grinned. Takao never saw that smile from Midorima even once.

"Shin-chan…" Takao's eyes widened in surprise at what Midorima said. It pierced him with joy as the green-haired boy turned away in awkwardness.

"Midorima-kun can be awkwardly offending sometimes." Kuroko spoke up to ease the tension between the two boys in front of him.

"Shut up Kuroko!" Midorima growled and looked away from Takao. The black-haired boy then approached him and set him up in a light kiss. Midorima flinched at the kiss, but he gave up and returned it. It was soft; Midorima's lips were soft unlike Takao's chapped ones. However, it complemented each other in a way that both of them were unaware.

"How is that, Shin-chan?" Takao asked then smiled at Midorima, who in turn was blushing hard at the sudden act of love they displayed.

"I think I w-want m-more…" Midorima suddenly replied and Takao gave him one more kiss. And as sure as they were, it won't be the last they could make. What a joyous night indeed.

A/N: Aww! That was nice of Shin-chan to convince Takao. Anyways, wait for MuraHimu on the next chapter! =)