Chapter 8 "Vanilla Ice Cream"
Seirin went to buy ice cream after Kuroko and Kagami joined them. Everyone got their ice cream and left the stand except Kuroko who was still trying to order. The ice cream man hadn't saw him and new customers were keep coming.
"2 vanilla ice creams." someone ordered then after got the ice creams, handed one of them to Kuroko.
"Thank y-" Kuroko couldn't finish his sentence.
"Tetsu."
"Aomine-kun." Kuroko was looking at him seriously.
"Now, don't look give me that look."
Aomine's noticeably brown skin was darker than the others. He had navy blue hair that was quite short. His hair parted on his left side and he had dark blue eyes. Aomine was very tall and muscular. He was wearing a light woolen shirt, a black hoodie and a dark body warmer.
"Seriously Tetsu, every time you look at me like that, gives me chills." he frowned.
"Sorry, I was surprised."
"..."
"..."
"You still like the vanilla ice cream, right, Tetsu?"
"Yes, thank you."
They stared at each other.
"You got taller, Aomine-kun." Kuroko said after a while.
"You too, Tetsu."
"Only 2 cm."
"I can still tell by looking. So.. how are you?"
"Fine.. You?"
"Ehh.. I'm bored. All I wanted was an opponent I could go all out against. I wished for a tight game in which you couldn't tell if you'll win or lose."
"This year. My team will beat you, Aomine-kun."
Aomine started to laugh loudly. Then he brushed away his tears from his eyes.
"Thanks for that, Tetsu. I hadn't laughed that hard for a long time."
"I wasn't joking."
"Tetsu, the only one who can beat me is me."
"I found.. a new light. He will beat you."
"A new light..? After me?" Aomine's smile faded away.
"Yes."
"Tetsu, y'know that I've never stopped lo-"
"THERE HE IS! KUROKOO~!" Shinji shouted as he was waving at him. The team was walking towards to them.
"We thought we lost you. Again." Teppei said smiling.
"Oi! Don't go wherever ya want without telling me." Kagami frowned but then smiled and ruffled Tetsuya's hair.
"You.." Teppei said. The team turned to him. He was looking at Aomine.
"YOU!" everybody shouted except Taiga.
"Ugh.. So much noise~" Aomine said.
"Do ya guys know each other?" Kagami asked and got a hit to his head strongly from Riko;
"DIDN'T I TELL YOU TO STUDY THE 'GENERATION OF MIRACLES'?!"
"It was too long to read!" he answered and Riko hit him again;
"AT LEAST LOOK AT THE PHOTOS!" then continued calmer;
"He was Teiko Middle School Basketball Team's ace player, Daiki Aomine."
"Are ya Daiki Aomine?" Kagami asked.
"Yo." Daiki waved carelessly.
"I'm Taiga Kagami. You'd better remember this name cause I'm the one who'll beat ya." Kagami said, dead serious.
Daiki started laughing;
"Tetsu, your friend's funny. Is this the one ya told me about? Your new Light?"
"Yes."
"I can see why ya chose him but it's useless. The only one who can beat me is me." he smirked.
"Don't be an idiot." Kagami said. Everyone got shocked by his reply. Aomine raised one of his eyebrows;
"Huh?"
"'The only one who can beat me is me.' 'S bullshit. Everyone lose one time. Life's all about challenges. There's no point in living if there's no one strong to play with. It's better if I can't win. But I've decided! I'll take all of ya guys down and become the number one in Japan!"
"Are YOU going to take me down?"
"I'm not alone. Seirin will take ya down!"
Aomine smirked at him;
"You've no idea how many times I get these kinda talks in one day. So, fine. Don't just speak but when the time comes, show me in basketball."
"Did you know.. I already took down Ryota Kise and Shintaro Midorima."
Aomine narrowed his eyes;
"So that was you? Sorry, I was only half-listening their whining. It ain't matter tho."
"You bastard!" Taiga muttered under his breath.
Aomine looked over Kuroko again.
"Tetsu, I mi-.." he stopped in mid-sentence, "Nevermind.. Later, Tetsu." he waved carelessly when he turned his back and started to walk away. Kuroko didn't reply and only looked at him from his back.
"'Tetsu', huh? So you were close?" Kagami couldn't help but asking while they were walking from the group's behind, ice creams in their hands.
"Yes." was all Kuroko said.
"How close? Was he your best friend or something?" Taiga laughed. Kuroko stopped and looked at the sky;
"Yes. You can say that."
"Serious?! You and THAT guy?!" Kagami said loudly, he was surprised.
"He was not like that before. He was.. the best person I have ever known."
"What happened?"
"He started to winning and forgot how to have fun in basketball. And that changed lots of things." he answered then continued to walking.
Kagami knew he wasn't going to say more.
'Oh you're dying to know.' voice inside Kagami said.
To Be Continued~