Don't own it.
Chapter 3: The Second Tale – Kuroko Tetsuya
It all began with a lie. Since the end of his Teikou career, Tetsuya's head had been filled with thoughts of vengeance, and his heart with sorting out his dreams from his defeats. Even if he hadn't liked every single one of them, he had trusted his teammates to play the game for the right reasons...or at least to enjoy it. Yet every single one of them had betrayed him, and so he ran away.
It was with nothing left but a highly developed skill and a wavering sense of purpose that Tetsuya then met Kagami-kun. He was obviously quite good - on Kise-kun's level, or thereabouts. And there were flashes of brilliance that showed he would only get better. Best of all he was unknown, and Tetsuya would bet anything that Kagami-kun didn't know about the Generation of Miracles. He had followed him into Maji Burger that night to discover he was correct, and not only that, but that Kagami-kun was an idiot. An idiot and a returnee who had spent almost half of his life in America - this would prove easier than he'd thought.
Tetsuya would show his old teammates that he hadn't been wrong - basketball was not about their ruthless victory-oriented mindset He would show them that that his playing style was superior. And Kagami-kun would be his means of doing it. I'll make you number one in Japan, he had told him later. With that lie, he had decided his own fate.
…
Everything had started off according to plan, and he'd be lying if he said he hadn't enjoyed himself. Seirin was a more well-rounded team than he had remembered, and with enough personality to amuse him. He particularly liked the Coach and Captain, especially when they goaded each other on (although not when it ended in the team running laps). Winding up Kagami-kun was ridiculously easy, with the immediate payoff of blushes and stutters and loud exclamations (he took particular pleasure in Kagami-kun's expression the day after he had written down his determination in chalk across the schoolyard. He had never seen someone go purple before, and he doubted he would again.) That it was akin to teasing Aomine-kun in the first two years of middle school was something he tried not to think about, and when he did, forced himself to think of something else.
In general, he was impressed with the team's determination, and although it wasn't enough to chase away the shadows in his heart it was enough to make him smile. Then had come the practice match against Kaijou, with Kise-kun's annoying simpering and Kagami-kun's brash destruction of public school property. When the rusted hoop had come down under the force of Kagami-kun's dunk, Tetsuya had suspected that they would win - but he knew he was a sucker for declarative, macho acts, and had deferred judgement until the last twenty seconds, when it all came down to him and the layup he would never, ever make.
Just as he had expected (hoped) Kagami-kun had slammed the ball in, carrying them to victory when alone, Tetsuya would have fallen. Truthfully, Tetsuya hadn't been surprised. He had counted on Kagami-kun and knew he would make the shot. What he hadn't counted on was the flush of warmth in his chest when Kagami-kun had landed - graceful and powerful as a grecian god - and smiled widely at him. His light had sought him out first - as if the victory was anything other than a blatant manipulation of his skills and strength - and even though he tried to remind himself of past betrayals (Aomine-kun, Aomine-kun, Aomine-kun…) he couldn't help but smile back. Here, then, was the first upheaval - playing with Kagami-kun made him happy.
He should have realized then that his plan would only end in failure. Every practice was a confirmation of it - playing with Kagami-kun was like playing with Aomine-kun at his happiest, and something more besides: Kagami-kun was naturally a team player, even when his skills were leagues above the rest. Yet it was not just on the court. Antisocial as he could be, Kagami-kun was not mean or proud in the slightest - and what came across as arrogance was an idiot's confidence, and his standoffishness was simply the awkwardness of knowing himself to be a foreigner in his home country. Although Tetsuya's ruthless plans still held himself back from outright befriending Kagami-kun (Don't smirk, Midorima-kun. I didn't smirk at your story) he could feel that resolve crumbling, and he caught himself considering what a friend might do for his light: eat lunch with him, poke him and wake him up when he fell asleep in class, tease him mercilessly outside of practice, help him with his (abysmal) grades… Tetsuya began to bargain with himself, wondering if it would endanger his scheme if he opened up just a little bit to Kagami-kun. The man was such an idiot, he would never even realize what was happening, right? Likewise, Tetsuya could never let another idiot hurt him again. Besides, the end goal would not change...in the end, he would still win. This way, he would simply enjoy it a little more.
Tetsuya struggled with this indecision all throughout the Interhigh Tournament, until Aomine-kun and his new team soundly defeated them. At the time there was no room in him for anything other than Aomine-kun's mocking laugh, and the monstrousness of his playing style. He had only gotten stronger, so much so that it made Tetsuya look as if he were standing still. The past victories against Shuutoku and Kaijou meant nothing, now. Aomine-kun was king, victor, champion. Tetsuya was nothing in comparison. And Kagami-kun…? Kagami-kun had waited until they were the last two in the locker room before denouncing him. I guess cooperation can't stand up to their skills, he had said, and Tetsuya knew what he really meant. What were lights and shadows when faced with the sun? All Kagami-kun could do was to become a sun, himself, and there was nothing Tetsuya could do to change his mind.
Tetsuya lay in bed that night wondering why his heart was lodged in his throat and the back of his eyes were still stinging. He told himself that it was just the pain of losing, and of seeing Aomine-kun again. It had nothing to do with the sound of Kagami-kun's disappointment, echoing inside his skull until he thought he'd go mad.
Yet whereas Tetsuya was an excellent liar to everyone else, he couldn't lie to himself. Somehow, against all his plans, he had grown to genuinely like Kagami-kun. The basketball idiot's honest enthusiasm had made him hope for a happier ending, and he found that it was impossible to let it go. Just how had he come to believe in Kagami-kun? He had only ever been a pawn in his plan! Besides, the power forward was an idiot. Idiot, idiot, idiot. Simple and foolish and by no means truly Japanese but somehow he had gotten under Tetsuya's skin so that he actually regretted their breaking apart. It was no use reassuring himself that he only mourned the vehicle of revenge, as that fantasy had been done in weeks ago during the everyday grind of Seirin's practice. He liked his team, and he liked Kagami-kun. It was as simple as that. And just when he realized that he wanted to be Kagami-kun's light for real, the opportunity was beyond his reach forever.
...
Kiyoshi-senpai came, and Tetsuya saw his way to atone. He would give up his starting spot, and give the team a fighting chance. But when he broached the subject with the Coach, he was turned down and chastised - Didn't he know how hard Kagami was working for the both of them? He'd never give up faith in you, Kuroko. So don't let him down now!
Hope lanced through him like a blade, cutting away all his fear, all his doubt. He barely remembered leaving the Coach, and ran like an idiot (idiocy was catching, this was undeniable proof) to the court where they met. There was no room for thought or for planning, there was just the need to find Kagami-kun. His light. Who was still his light, even after they had lost; he had never given up on him - it was only Tetsuya who had failed, never Kagami-kun, and maybe maybe maybe he would still want him to be his shadow…
Why did you pick me? Kagami-kun had asked after their impromptu match, dripping with sweat yet radiating energy, even when Tetsuya was ready to drop. What else could he say? He confessed his lie and for a moment felt Kagami-kun drifting away - for all his talk of expecting such a story, or knowing it the whole time, he had felt the connection between them weakening, and he suspected that if he didn't come clean now, he would lose it all. So he opened his mouth and out it came - how Kagami-kun had always believed in him, and through that trust, had remade him. (Of course not with those words, exactly. Otherwise even the idiot would get it, and the last thing he needed Kagami-kun to know was exactly how much power he held over him. To admit that Kagami-kun's faith had re-written his perception of self and how his partnership had grown to mean everything to him in such a short span of time was far too indicative of stronger feelings, and Tetsuya only realized how deeply those feelings ran when Kagami-kun held out his fist for him to pound. Ahh, he had thought. So that's how it is.)
Somehow, it had worked. They had walked home together, bond reaffirmed and stronger than ever. Tetsuya felt as if he were floating. The weight of all his plans and manipulations were gone now, and he was fighting for honest reasons. He also knew that this light would never leave him, and that together, they would only become stronger. Of course, as soon as he reached the safety of his room he acknowledged the real reason he felt as if he were flying. He was in love with Kagami-kun. His light was rough, clueless, and did he ever mention that he was an idiot, but he was also kind, straightforward, and had a belief in Tetsuya that (apparently) couldn't be shaken. And that was that. He was in love. He, who had never given love a second thought, who had lived and breathed basketball, had somehow fallen for the biggest basketball idiot of them all.
His plan was utterly undone. Yet somehow, it just didn't feel like losing.
…
After that, everything changed for the better. He no longer trailed after Kagami-kun, he now walked at his side. They weren't just partners, they were friends, even if neither of them would admit it (it was one of the many things he liked about his light, after all, that maidenly bashfulness so at odds with his brusque, Americanized way of speaking) and he was able to implement all those things he had considered leading up the Interhigh Tournament. There was now another aspect to the pleasure in teasing Kagami-kun; in finding out everything he could do to make him lose his cool - watching the color creep over his cheeks and the tension in his muscled body made something swoop in Tetsuya's stomach, and his own eyes uncharacteristically bright. Had Aomine-kun or Momoi-san seen him at those unguarded moments perhaps his secret would have been discovered, but as it was Tetsuya was careful to present that side of himself only to Kagami-kun. He was the only one whom he wanted to see it, after all.
And it wasn't as if Kagami-kun was bothered by it, or anything. That, or he was the most stoic being alive. The returnee had no real temper, oddly enough; all bluster and absolutely no bite. Unlike in the very beginning of their partnership, no matter what he did Tetsuya was forgiven in minutes, and Kagami-kun never took offense. He simply shook his head, muttered something in English, and moved on. As time passed, he loosened up enough to flick Tetsuya's forehead, or muss his hair in retaliation. That, or he'd punish him by buying him burgers at Maji Burger, and forcing him to eat all two of them...although that could also attributed to Kagami-kun's secret mothering instincts, in which he tried to grumpily feed and care for everyone that wandered into his life. (I already warned you about the smirking, Midorima-kun. Do you or do you not eat over at Kagami-kun's apartment on a weekly basis? That is what I thought).
The point was that the more he got to know him, the more he realized Kagami-kun was perfect. Not only could the man cook, clean, hold his temper, and shared Tetsuya's driving passion for basketball, he was also easy to manipulate, accepting to a fault, and utterly adorable. That, and he was physically very, very attractive. Now it made sense that Tetsuya had never been attracted to Momoi-san, who was by all accounts a beautiful woman. Clearly, she just didn't do it for him. His tastes ran more to the hulking athlete, with crimson hair and broad shoulders and thick eyebrows… It was fortunate that at his core, Tetsuya was a monogamous man, otherwise realizing where his interests lay while surrounded by ripped teenage boys might have been disastrous. As it was, Kagami-kun left space for no one else within his heart. (Kagami-kun would clearly have to take responsibility, as soon as Tetsuya could determine whether he was straight or not.)
So Tetsuya made a new plan, and it encompassed getting close enough to Kagami-kun to either cure himself of his infatuation, or to gauge whether he had the slightest chance of a happy ending. Still, he was in control. And Kagami-kun would never find out, unless Tetsuya deemed it acceptable.
…
Everything went according to Tetsuya's (new) plan until the summer training camp. It was then that Tetsuya discovered that through the heat, sweat, and the ever-present imminence of physical collapse, he desired Kagami-kun. It was extremely distracting, to say the least. He had never before in his life thought sweat was sexy - yet now that it was running down Kagami-kun's neck in rivulets, he wanted nothing more than to kiss them back into his partner's hairline. He would then proceed to lick the man silly, tongue crossing his shoulders, trailing down his well-defined chest and abs, lingering at his hips...inevitably, his mental projections always ended at what lay between his thighs, and the thought of that made Tetsuya's mind go a little fuzzy. He never allowed himself to reflect on that unless he was absolutely alone, or at night when the lights were out, and no one could then see if the thought of licking Kagami-kun there made him inappropriately excited.
(Stop squirming, Midorima-kun. I warned you about this…)
Keeping his mind out of the gutter became nearly impossible during that week of training, when he and his light were practically inseparable. It didn't help that Kagami-kun apparently saw no reason to hang out with anyone other than Tetsuya when they were off the court. Disregarding practice sessions and the time when Coach corralled him into carrying groceries for the team, Kagami-kun was either by himself or with his shadow. Even when the team was bonding in the hot springs, he elected to leave early, after he had brushed Hyuuga-senpai's back to pulp. (That could be attributed to Kagami-kun's shyness, however. His 'American Education' had made him squeamish about bathing in public, and even when everyone else was starkers, he chose to modestly hide the object of Tetsuya's lust with a towel. This was probably for the best, as otherwise Tetsuya would have tackled him. That, and he found the modesty extremely adorable).
Yet Kagami-kun was fine with Tetsuya using the bathroom while he showered, and that was heartening -
(He probably didn't know you were there.
Yes he did, Midorima-kun. We held a conversation. Now shut up and drink your shiruko.)
As he was saying. That they were close enough to share a bathroom was heartening, but it was also a test to Tetsuya's fortitude. Kagami-kun touched him carelessly, ruffling his bedhead into some semblance of normalcy, placing his toothbrush firmly in his hand, and he even resorted to picking Tetsuya up and moving him when he had dozed off directly in front of the door. (He made no excuses, his physical condition was weak. He had woken up quickly enough, however, at the feel of large hands wrapping around his ribcage, picking him up gently, not even faltering under his weight. All the while Kagami-kun had scolded him, but all Tetsuya could focus on was the heat of Kagami-kun's hands and the synchronicity of his weightless body and heart). Welcome as these innocent actions were, they also stoked the embers of his lust. Each time their eyes met in the mirror, mouths ringed by toothpaste foam, Tetsuya wanted to spit out his toothbrush and drag Kagami-kun down to the floor. Every time, he held himself back. And every time, he wondered what would bring him to the breaking point.
Tetsuya waxed poetic as he lay awake the last night of camp, listening to the heavy breathing of his sleeping light next to him. Love, he realized, is a hunger. It is a fever that settles in the blood, bringing on dark delusions and bitter truths. It is the sweetness of poison, lifting the heart before it drops it to shatter against the floor. It is a caged animal within the breast, batting against the bars of his ribcage, screaming against its captivity.
Kagami-kun is that animal, he knows that as well. He is raw and primal, powerful and joyous, an excess of life and exuberance that Tetsuya will never know. It is exhilarating merely to stand beside him, siphoning off what little power he can use...and giving him what little he can, in return. Yet what could Tetsuya offer him, besides friendship and his abilities as his shadow? How could he possibly entice the tiger to feast?
Tetsuya doesn't know, so he merely closes in his eyes in the dark, and wants.
...
Months passed, along with their first Winter Cup. Holidays, exams, outings and practice games regiment their lives, and about the time of their second Interhigh tournament, Tetsuya realized that he had competition. He had long been slightly jealous of Kagami-kun's relationship with Himuro-san, but it was obvious that Kagami-kun considered the shooting guard as a brother, and with his own friendship with Aomine-kun reinstated, it would be hypocritical of him to protest at their closeness. Still, when the older boy called Kagami-kun every night for a week - during their Maji Burger and extra practice time/study time, no less - Tetsuya knew. Himuro-san wanted him. The two had separated when they were boys, but now they were men: it made sense that Himuro-san, who knew even better than Tetsuya how angelic Kagami-kun could be would fall for him, if his adolescent feelings for him hadn't been part of the problem in the first place. Judging by how happy Kagami-kun seemed every time Himuro-san called, the shooting guard had a chance as long as he could overcome the stigma of being an older brother.
That entire week, Tetsuya weighed his options. He could swallow his seething jealousy and do nothing, and potentially allow Himuro-san to win what he wanted so badly. This would require trusting in Kagami-kun to not fall for his immensely attractive (older brother) friend, or to prepare for impending sainthood, as watching the man he loved be with another would require nothing less. Or, he could modify his own plans, and act on his own feelings for the power forward. (It would be simple - misdirection was his art, after all, and he'd been thinking about this for a long, long time. There were so many delicious possibilities: offering to give Kagami-kun a massage and taking advantage of his relaxed state to run his hands over every inch of his body; stepping into his shower stall in the locker rooms after practice and proceeding to clean him with his tongue; slipping under the table at Maji Burger in order to enjoy something slightly different than his customary vanilla milkshake.)
Yet he was self-aware enough to know if he was forced to see Kagami-kun's happy smile when Himuro-san called one more time, he would lose it and likely put himself out of the running. So he distanced himself, taking a few days away from Kagami-kun so that he could make a decision. It was a dangerous plan, but he knew that snapping would be worse - this way, even if he lost Kagami-kun to Yousen's shooting guard, they would still be best friends.
He was about twenty minutes away from choosing to seduce Kagami-kun when his partner surprised him yet again, however. Practice had barely ended on the third day he'd distanced himself when Kagami-kun had looked directly at him, eyebrows furrowed in concern, and flat out asked. Why haven't you been doing extra practice at night with me? Have I done something wrong? Are you mad at me? And then, after Kiyoshi-senpai's eyebrows had risen halfway to his hairline, I can't practice our special plays by myself!
It was the most adorable moment of his life. If it hadn't been for Kiyoshi-senpai's wide-eyed interest and Izuki-senpai's terrible puns, Tetsuya would have jumped him right then and there. As it was, the presence of their team gave him room and necessity to think up an acceptable excuse for his distance. I am not mad in the slightest. I merely wanted to give you time with your brother, Kagami-kun. I know how much you value him, after all.
Kagami-kun had watched him carefully before he responded, ignoring the levity of their teammates. I value you too, knucklehead - (Tetsuya wasn't quite sure of what a 'knucklehead' was, but he assumed it was something American and endearing, judging by the tone of voice when Kagami-kun called him such) -you're my partner, after all. I'll… I'll tell him to tone it down. It is getting a bit much…
Here was an unlooked for victory, one that deterred his rival while preserving the status quo. There was also that sweet hesitance in Kagami-kun's concern - and in how he'd noticed Tetsuya's absence, perhaps even missed him. There were undertones of regret in the heady rush of victory, however. He'd been so close to committing himself, and to be pulled back from the brink of such a momentous decision was hard to take. What if that instance had been the beginning of something wonderful? Logically, Tetsuya knew that probably wasn't the case. There was a very small chance of Kagami-kun returning his feelings, and even less so with a corresponding voracity. Still, from time to time his heart throbbed, and he kicked himself for not extending the moment. It would have been easy to let a little of his jealousy out, and claim later it was just a new way of teasing Kagami-kun. He could have spelled out his possessiveness, before whisking it away under the guise of a joke. Yet he hadn't, and likely would never get another chance.
Yet he had been proven wrong one week ago when The Incident had occurred, and Tetsuya's hopes had come crashing down as surely as had his plastic cup. It had taken Kagami-kun an interminably long amount of time to shove Himuro-san off his lap, and had done nothing but fume ineffectually afterwards. Clearly, Tetsuya had been right all along about Himuro-san. Just as clearly, Kagami-kun hadn't hated it. With time and proper persuasion, he could probably be induced to like it. Unless Himuro-san met with an unfortunate and completely unexpected accident, he would likely win it all.
More than he hated Himuro-san, however, Tetsuya hated himself. Why had he not taken the plunge? It could have been he who had taken Kagami-kun's first (man) kiss! It could have been he who would be coaxing Kagami-kun, step by delicious step into a forbidden relationship! Now all he could do was watch as his love was taken away by a sinfully attractive man, who - according to Kagami-kun - seemed cool on the surface by actually burned hot like the sun. Such a man would fit Kagami-kun, and with painful clarity Tetsuya could see the rings round their necks adorning their fingers, instead.
...
He knew he was handling this badly. He hadn't even spoken to Kagami-kun since the party two days ago. Yet he couldn't bring himself to talk to him, knowing that all he could say would destroy their partnership. So he held himself back, ignoring the calls and texts that did not come. And Kagami-kun's studied ignorance of him hurt almost as much as remembering the kiss. For all he knew, Kagami-kun was too busy discovering the joys of the flesh with Himuro-san to even notice Tetsuya had pulled a vanishing act. If that were the case, Kagami-kun was the biggest idiot that Tetsuya had ever met in his life, and he should simply walk him off. He should tell himself that he would undoubtedly find someone better - someone less of an idiot, at any rate - that would love him back. Someone that would walk and talk with him, read books with him...flush adorably when teased; share his pursuits; cook atrociously well; harbor secret, domestic nurturing instincts; speak English when distracted; ruffle his hair when he wanted to show affection; maintain a crippling fear of dogs even though his best friend brought his over all the time in an effort to rid him of his fear, and - god help him, all thoughts lead back to Kagami-kun. How could he get over him when his only downfalls were his idiocy (and even that was endearing) and that he didn't love him back?
Kagami-kun was an idiot. Yet Tetsuya was even more so. And if it began with a lie, he would end it with one: he was over Kagami-kun. And he would never want him again.
…
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Midorima set his cup down firmly, frowning severely. "That...was not what I expected."
Kuroko rested his forehead on his hands, eschewing good posture in order to hide his face. 'I warned you. Not everyone can be as romantic as you, Midorima-kun. And not everyone has watched the object of their desire commit improprieties with another man. At least you never saw Takao-kun with a girl." He swirled the dregs of his tea within the cup. "At least Takao-kun likes women."
The shooting guard could not reply. It was true - Kuroko's tale contained more heartbreak than his own, although he suspected it also held more potential for success. Midorima could never admit his feelings to Takao, knowing him to be straight. But Kagami-kun's ambiguity and the recent circumstances opened up an opportunity for Kuroko...as long as he would take it. "I will be honest with you, Kuroko. I think you have given up too soon. As far as I can tell, Kagami and Himuro-san have years of disconnect to work through, whereas you do not. And if Kagami...enjoyed Himuro-san's attention, there is a decent chance he would enjoy yours as well. Besides, you have as good as admitted that you have no intention of forgetting Kagami. Isn't it better to at least try?"
The passing guard toyed with his napkin, lips pressed in a firm line. "So what would you have me do? He won't talk to me!"
"I believe you've already outlined a list of...seductive techniques. You described them in excruciating detail in a public venue with minimal embarrassment. Simply implement one of them. But perhaps he is not speaking to you because you are not speaking to him. Your expression was rather severe after it happened, and perhaps he is worried that you dislike him now. He is certainly not the only one who suspects this."
Kuroko raised his head of his hands, and surprise softened his impassive features. "What are you saying? People are talking about my reaction?"
Midorima scoffed. "If you count Kise as people. He sent a few frantic texts the other day, asking if I knew anything about your and Kagami's spat. I ignored him, of course, but if he knows...well. Momoi probably does as well, and by extension, Aomine. Would either of them have mentioned it to Kagami?"
The blood drained from Kuroko's face. He could see it clearly: even if Aomine had kept his mouth shut and not made some charged comment about lighting up for the wrong person, Momoi would not have. She would have torn into Kagami for undermining their partnership, even if she wouldn't allow herself to realize what Kuroko's desolation implied. No wonder Kagami had avoided him - with his awkwardness, he wouldn't have had the slightest idea of how to go about fixing something that hadn't been his fault in the first place. Kuroko sighed. He really was an idiot. Even if Kagami did have feelings for Himuro, he wouldn't have thrown away their partnership so easily. Kuroko wouldn't have fallen in love with him if he hadn't trusted him enough to cherish at least that! "It is likely all three of them would have mentioned it. Perhaps you are right - in that respect. I should at least let him know that I am not angry with him, and that I may have overreacted."
Midorima took a sip of his shiruko. "And in regards to your feelings?"
"If Takao-kun was sexually inclined to return your feelings, would you tell him?"
"Our situations differ, Kuroko. You have a chance. I do not."
Fighting down the tiny bloom of hope took more effort than Kuroko had expected. He steepled his fingers, inspecting the interlocked arches as he considered this. In the third worst scenario, Kagami was straight. Even were that so, it was likely that he wouldn't overly mind Kuroko's feelings, seeing as how he'd been half-raised by Alexandra the Kissing Monster and had forgiven Himuro by the party's end. In the second worst scenario, he'd turn him down as he would rather be with Himuro. In the worst scenario...well. If something so small as a confession shook their partnership, perhaps their bond had never been as strong as he had thought. "I will consider it, Midorima-kun." He took a deep breath and considered plunging a fork into his eye before continuing, "And...thank you. For meeting with me. Somehow - inexplicably - I feel perhaps the smallest amount better after our talk. Perhaps."
"Rude to the last, Kuroko. Yet the same holds true for me. This was beneficial, I believe. And it certainly has given me something to think about."
Kuroko made a face, but let Midorima's smirk pass without further comment. "I think I should call Kagami-kun now, just to clear up the misunderstanding. I will let you know how it goes. If anything changes with Takao-kun, feel free to alert me."
Midorima's eyebrows rose at Kuroko's largesse. "Certainly. Ah, and before I forget - Takao will likely be hosting a get together at his home next week when his parents and sister are their family in Osaka for a few days. I'm sure he will invite most, if not all of Seirin, so I'm not precipitate in inviting you and Kagami to attend. And as far as I can tell, he had not planned on inviting Yousen. Take it any way you'd like. Still, I hope the both of you might attend. It may be an uncomfortable evening, otherwise."
Kuroko nodded knowingly. "He's inviting Kise-kun, isn't he."
"Of course. Although I believe he's planning on inviting their ex-captain, as well as our own senpai, so there is a large chance he will be kicked and pineapple'd. That is something to look forward to, at any rate."
"Indeed. I will take my leave now. I will contact you soon, Midorima-kun."
Midorima watched him go, as well as he was able. He made sure to watch the cafe door swing closed before removing his cell phone from his pocket. A streak of light blue glimpsed through the window outside confirmed Kuroko had indeed left, and Midorima typed in a long-memorized number.
After three rings, it connected. "Hey, Shin-chan! What's up?"
Midorima swallowed. "Takao. I need a favor…"
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Kuroko's word of the day: idiot.
...
I haven't read the series in a long time, so forgive me if I make some continuity mistakes. I am striving for accuracy, but I'm also afraid if I re-read the pertinent chapters, I'll accidentally copy the dialogue word for word. So please forgive my paraphrasing, and my mistakes! (And my sins. But that goes without saying.)
...
I also left out Nigou again. Whoops.