I have decided. This trial fic will be posted weekly, every Sunday. I really worked on this fic because I'm really amazed on how deep the characters in Kuroko no Basuke can be. It's my my way to show how I'm glad Kuroko no Basuke came into existence. (so deep~!)
Many thanks to those who faved and follow this fiction, especiall, of course, to those who made a review. I'm really happy with that. Let's all keep the fan fiction of KuroBas alive! :)
Disclaimer: Meh...
Chapter 2
[button clicks]
[awkward cough] You do recognize my voice do you? So, next time, can I just skip my name? [clothes rustle, then a whine] Come on… Ok-okay, okay. Geez, can't I make my life a lot easier? [annoyed tongue click] As you've guessed, still Kagami Taiga. Dated August 6, time 09:25. Now it's day three since our investigation began. Still doesn't have any leads about the assailant, though. [sighs] Gathering witnesses takes too much effort… so tiring.
[keyboard typing] The only thing new is the ballistic results partly worked on by Koganei-senpai and Mitobe-senpai. [more keyboard typing] Since Coach Riko and Hyūga-senpai actually thinks Izuki-senpai's idea is possible, they had requested for the test to be ran. [hums] It does show that traces of gunpowder were seen in Reo Mibuchi's clothes. Even though I won't believe it's done that way, I have to accept that it actually happened.
[door blats opens] Kagamicchiiiiiii~!
[surprised yelp] Wha-What are you doing here?! [chair moves] And stop calling me that!
[snickers] I heard of a development so I came here really quick! [short chuckle] Besides, I wanna see Kurokocchi!
[annoyed growl] Then you should have come to him first!
[sniffs] You are so mean, Kagamicchi!
[tapping sound] You should know I'm doing so––
[button clicks]
"––mething here so you should not disturb me." Kagami berated the blond, as he hit the stop button from his recorder. Kagami sighed as he shooed the man from the small room, thinking that he had to redo his recording. He knew that his coach would reject the file if he passed it to her with that kind of content and she'd probably order him to submit another one with a better narrative quality. Heck, he was already at wit's end just trying to speak about the case they tried to piece to an inanimate electronic voice recorder. It was really embarrassing for him. It was difficult to raise a conversation to something that won't answer back!
"Eh… you are doing something? Work perhaps?" The blond just asked nosily, actually sounding doubtful. "But it looked from the outside that you are just mumbling something idiotic!" He shared his observation with a squeaky tone, flailing his hands to gesture his uncertainty about Kagami doing some actual work. Kagami closed the door behind him, sending a snarled look at the other one.
"Even though he appears not to anything does not automatically mean he isn't really doing any," Seirin Detective Agency's Chief Investigator, Hyūga Junpei, butted in the conversation. Kagami Taiga actually looked up at his senpai with slight appreciation. It was not too often that his senpai would remark him something that positive! Kagami almost grinned triumphantly against the blond. When his Hyūga-senpai saw that smug expression covering Kagami's face, which appeared to him as annoying, he quickly continued on with his words. "Well, I can't blame you if you think that way; he does give that kind of impression, despite his scary look."
"Captain!" Kagami wailed at that. "You can really praise me once in a while, you know?" He said to Hyūga-senpai, which earned him a narrowed look from his senior.
"You can always prove to me, Kagami," Hyūg just said, before turning back again at the blond who suddenly invaded their agency. "So, what has Ryōta Kise of theGeneration of Mercenaries to do with Seirin today?" He asked without any hints of subtlety. Despite seeing everyone who was a year younger than he was as a kouhai, Hyūga knew how to regard a junior who had a great standing and fame. Even though he was not really pleased being bothered by a certain Generation in the morning, Seirin's chief detective had more than enough share of experience of dealing with this kind of people. "Does Kaijō Police Department want to request us something?"
"Nothing that much, senpai," Kise answered, not really minding that stiff tone from Seirin's detective. He had discovered from an earlier time that the agency where Kagamicchi worked at did not view members of the Generation of Mercenaries in a friendly manner. Well, it felt good being seen as part of the Generation, but something inside him would want him to be acknowledged through his own skill alone. He had a lot of time to do that, but it wasn't a pressing issue at the moment. "Kasamatsu-senpai, our police chief, is just interested upon your discovery."
Junpei Hyūga only gave him a conceding stare. "It's not really surprising," he just remarked as he approached the table where Riko Aida worked. For some reason, their coach was nowhere to be seen. He picked up a printed copy of the ballistic test forwarded to them by Koganei through email and handed it over to Kise. "I know even Kasamatsu will be concerned about this kind of details." He only added, leaning by the worktable, half-sitting atop it. He continued to observe Kise, as the other male attentively read the piece of information.
"It's amazing," Kise said, not bothering to raise his head to look at Hyūga. "We did not even trouble ourselves trying this test." He folded the paper in half and pocketed it in his black blazer. "This is a very good output." The solemn expression he had while he read the test results slowly faded away, as a less serious one replaced it. He quickly sent a questioning glance at Hyūga. "Where's Kurokocchi, by the way?"
The thoughtful countenance Hyūga had was immediately swapped with a mildly surprised expression. Of course, how could he forget? The police officer from
Kaijō Police Department almost always took the time to visit his previous workmate, Kuroko Tetsuya, whenever he had the chance. With an unconvinced look plastered all over his face, Hyūga only nodded at the statement of Kuroko's name, turned to his back and yelled out. "Kuro––"
"I'm right here." Immediately, a threateningly blank voice interrupted Hyūga, making him yelp with a pitch three to four times higher than his normal tone. Kagami and Kise were obviously sent into shock when Kuroko instantly appeared in front of them, but were lucky not to have made an expression similar to the senpai; Kagami mentally cursed for not recording his senpai's squeal for future use. "Domo," he greeted them after he announced his presence.
"Kuroko," Hyūga then spoke, who appeared to fix his composure, adjusting his spectacles, before he placed a hand on his shoulders, looking at him with an intimidating gaze. "Next time, you should be aware that part of respecting your senpai is by telling them that you're already here, damn you," he told him dangerously. He slid his hand off his shoulders and began to walk away from the trio. "I-I'll be doing something. Kagami, do not slack off." He said, trying to hide his embarrassment from his previous unmanly reaction.
"Hai, Captain," Kagami replied, although a sardonic grin was etched on his face. Clearly, he enjoyed that kind of response from his terrifying senpai. Of course, nobody except probably Hyūga-senpai himself, would not mind if it turned into a gossip of some sorts. At least Kagami was now pacing on with some kind of revenge towards his weird seniors.
"Kagami-kun, you look like a predator that has cornered the prey." Kuroko quickly commented.
"Stop describing me that way!" Kagami was quick to retort.
"Kurokocchi's really good at this!" Kise just said, as he slung an arm over the shorter one's shoulder, pulling Kuroko closer to him, putting his weight against the shorter one. "Just like the good ol' times!" He added, laughing blithely with his 'best friend' at his side.
"Kise-kun, you are heavy." Kuroko in an irked tone, but his flat voice appeared to have not conveyed his discomfort. He forcefully removed Kise's arms from him and made one step away from the blond.
"But we're best buds, right?"
"I apologize, but it did not come to me that way."
"So mean!" Kise moaned in a sharp tone, faking some tears just to show his melancholy about Kuroko being so despicable towards him. However, just seeing that blank expression from Kurokocchi would always pull him back to the situation at hand. He respected Kurokocchi a lot, which was why he haplessly threw himself to the mercy of teal-haired man – both in a comical and a serious way, though. "Kurokocchi," he called out the other one's name. "You know my offer still stands."
Kagami grimaced at that. It hadn't been the first time he saw Kise trying to knit himself closer to Kuroko. During the first time that the blond had come to their agency, he almost pleaded to Kuroko. That offer again, Kagami scoffed inside his head. Is Kuroko truly that amazing for such request? He added in his thoughts. Kise still wore that hopeful expression. He was adamant from the start.
"Kurokocchi, please come with me and let us be teammates again," he said, stating his proposition to Kuroko for the nth time. Kise held that ever-friendly smile, which Kagami could hardly discern if genuine or not. He'd heard of the Generation of Mercenaries from his own detective agency and, apparently, they shared some experiences that molded each individual into who they were right now. Kagami wouldn't stake any prejudice as to how these people behaved, and his guesses weren't the best. Perhaps, in his own way, Kise had ways through that smile of his. Kagami felt discomfited about that. They were both detectives, and there he was being aggravated by the sheer fact that he couldn't bulge against Kise's appearance. Somehow, Kagami felt undermined.
Kuroko seemed to have a strained look layered over his impassive face, although it wasn't that obvious anyway. Kise still gave him an optimistic look, to which Kuroko only thought was pretty normal for the blond to. Pondering just for a few seconds, Kuroko finally shrugged it off and respectfully rejected Kise's offer. "I have told you before, Kise-kun. I really appreciate your kind proposals to me, but I do not think it's for me to accept it."
Kise appeared to have a pained expression at first, but his smile brushed it off away. The blond yet again pretended to be hurt, which silently aggravated Kagami. Kuroko only remained speechless, listening at the blond's disheartened speech.
"You've heard him," Kagami finally intervened, immediately silencing Kise.
"It's because of you, Kagamicchi!" Kise gave a heated look at the redhead. "It's because of you why Kurokocchi's saying these things!" He threw the blame against Kagami.
"W-What?!" Kagami barked in confusion. "Why the hell are you accusing me, of all people?" He asked, visibly annoyed by the farce. He placed his arms across his chest and gave Kise a scrunched stare. "It's obviously Kuroko's decision." He said, turning his direction away from the blond.
"Kise-kun, do you have something in mind?" Kuroko spoke again, pulling the other two out of their charges. The blond, after he sent a growl against Kagami, quickly turned his head to see his previous teammate.
"I'm just going to borrow you for a bit, Kurokocchi," Kise just stated in a normal tone; still pretty high to sound so serious, but enough to express his simple request. "Do you have a minute?" He inquired.
Kuroko threw a curious look at Kagami and then towards Junpei, who seemed to have perked up when Kise invited the other. Hyūga gave him a small nod of approval before he turned back to his paperwork. After Kuroko recognized the permission for him to go, the teal-haired man turned his head again at Kise. "It seems that I can come with you for a moment, Kise-kun."
"That's great!" Kise excitedly said. "I finally have the time to be alone with Kurokocchi!" He added, which brought a visible grimace on Kuroko's thin lips. The blond worded things so weirdly that sometimes it sounded so wrong. Even so, knowing how Kise's personality functioned, Kuroko just waved it off. He just noticed Kise's hand already lay in front of him; the blond smiled at him almost cheekily
"Kise-kun, I want to inform you that I can walk myself."
Kise took a small glance at his side, observing the shorter one beside him. As always, Kuroko tended to keep to himself what he thought about, locking his expression into that eternal deadpan countenance. Even though alone, or together with a few company, Kuroko maintained that straight face. Kise understood the need, though. He was boisterous, but he was one of the few people that had forged a connection with Kuroko. He really wanted to smile at the thought, but Kise was so amazed that this fragile-looking, delicate young man held his pride higher than the clouds, even possibly beyond the sky.
Yet, if that was an effort to cover up for his vulnerabilities, Kise was not sure. Sure, at first glance, Kurokocchi appeared to be physically weak. And it was pretty normal for human beings to shield their weak sides behind their stronger characteristics. As a detective, he had come up with this kind of things before, and he remembered it as 'compensation'. Well, Kise was not sure if Kurokocchi was aware of it; remaining impassive, perfectly sheltering his thoughts and expressions… Kurokocchi did appear to have compensated his weakness by wearing that kind of personality.
The question remained though. Did Kurokocchi choose to be like this because he was truly aware of his situation? If that was the case, then even he had that side which failed to address his inner conflicts. Kurokocchi was afraid of his own defenselessness, and so he covered it up with another wall. Such wall, however, only shied him further away from the sights of some people. Kise sulked at that, nonetheless. He just wanted to remain friends with Kurokocchi.
He hoped that Kurokocchi wasn't merely trying to escape from his feebleness. Even Kise could admit he himself had a flaw. Kurokocchi must understand that.
Nevertheless, he did not notice it when the person he thought about already stopped in front of him. He was only pulled back into his senses when he already bounded against the shorter one. Kise was wide-eyed at first, but, when he realized who he had trudged over, he almost jumped back and quickly muttered an apology. "Kurokocchi!" He shrieked out his name. "I'm really sorry!" He clasped his palms together and bowed down. "I didn't notice you!"
"It's fine, Kise-kun." Kuroko replied. "I just noticed that you were rigidly staring at me. Is there some wrong with my face?" He asked the blond.
Kise would have downrightly laughed at that. It's your face, Kurokocchi! He answered mentally, silently pointing out how stoic his ex-teammate appeared. Seriously, how can Kurokocchi ask that question in such a straight face? He chuckled silently, before his serious rumination occupied his head again. "I was just thinking, that's all," He said to Kuroko, as he clapped the latter on his shoulders, indicating him to resume their walk.
"You are thinking about how is something wrong in my face?" Kuroko assumed, watching Kise's careful expression.
"No," Kise just leered at that. One more from Kurokocchi and he would laugh his guts out. "Silly, Kurokocchi," he teased the shorter one.
The blond wished for a petulant pout from Kuroko, but the latter proved to be so tough in letting his countenance remain inexpressive. He granted a look back at Kuroko when he responded to him.
"If it's about the case you are trying to solve, then I would not pry any further." Kuroko stated.
Kise sighed. This again, he thought. Kurokocchi did appear as a person who disliked poking his nose to other people's situation, but that didn't absolutely mean he wanted for him to remain silent all the time. Also, Kurokocchi's words sounded more like a declaration than a simple reply; he made his statements appear to his ears like a news report. "Well, no… it's not." Kise answered. He hurled a troubled gaze down at Kuroko, his lips tugging into a frown.
"I'm just worried that you are being too hard on yourself, Kurokocchi."
A disinterested gaze. "What do you mean, Kise-kun?" A single blink. A face that remained intact.
It was all that he needed to understand Kurokocchi was trying to beat around the bush again. "Why don't you just return to being a detective again?" Kise asked, doubtful that he would hear a brilliant response from Kuroko. For all the times Kise had probed him about that, Kuroko remained cautious of his answers. Kise could not miss that, of course. If there was some reason for the shorter one's calculated actions, it was because of Kagamicchi.
"Are you keeping an eye over Kagamicchi?" Kise raised his next question. "Kurokocchi, I know you understand you have no need to place yourself on his own assumptions." Kise's curious tone turned persuasive. "You are wasting your time in Seirin. Come with me in Kaijō. We can work out to be better teammates there."
Kuroko inhaled some air before he stopped and faced Kise. The blond felt apprehensive when Kurokocchi did that. He knew something solemn would come out again from his mouth, Kise was so sure. Kuroko was, after all, Kise's mentor when they had their internship back at Teikō; he knew what would happen next if Kurokocchi did some things.
"Kise-kun, I am really regretful to turn down your offer, but I already made a promise with Kagami-kun. Rather, I am interested on how is he going to best the Generation of Mercenaries in his work." Kuroko confessed, shocking Kise for a moment.
The blond recovered slowly, however. Just as he let the surprise washed him for a moment, he renewed his smile and laced his voice with an almost challenging tone. "I acknowledged Kagamicchi's skill even at the first time I saw him. To be honest, he is still far from the Generation in his level. But I am sure you are also aware, Kurokocchi, that he is already in that path, the one where he can achieve the level of a Generation." Kise said ominously. "If he reaches that level, do you think he'll still remain the same?" The blond asked.
"That is why I am here to see, Kise-kun."
"I need to have a pencil," he twirled it in his hand, "and a sharpener on my worktable when I write my report." Izuki protested as he finally let the item fall from his hold, watching it roll atop his desk and down the floor. He stared at it for a few seconds, before he bent down from his seat and picked up the pencil. Koganei, with his mouth clumped shut, which formed that cat-like look, only watched the other in slight interest. Their tables were placed alongside each other, which made them unlikely work neighbors.
"Why is that, Itsuki?" Koganei, always friendly to his co-workers, called the other with his endearing nickname. He made a brief glance at the wall clock, noting it was thirty minutes past noon.
"Like an unsharpened pencil, it's pointless." Izuki held the pencil between him and Koganei. The latter was instantly disgruntled after he processed what just transpired. He quickly felt so vulnerable, being the only target for Izuki's infamous pun streak. He just turned his head away from his dismissively. How he wished Hyūga heard that; their captain might have done something to Izuki for that unwarned joke.
"Hai, hai, Itsuki, I get it." Koganei said lethargically. He could have responded to Itsuki with a little bit enthusiasm even though his lame jokes already went too far, but the scene that happened in the very doors of the agency downed him. He peeked from over his computer's monitor, observing how calmly Coach Riko and Captain Hyūga conversed to a police officer who stopped by the agency. He just frowned when he felt the policeman's antagonism was making him less and less amicable.
"Not again," Izuki just remarked, placing his hands to cover his ears flippantly. Koganei only chuckled at the other one's effort to tone down the gravity of the atmosphere and wished that the policeman just left them in their own devices. "I'm starting to miss Kasamatsu-san already." He added humorously.
"Tell me about it," Koganei responded, as he spun with an attracted look at the people in the doors. Kagami, from nowhere, quickly came over towards Hyūga and Riko who dealt with the highly aggressive police officer. Both he and Izuki gave a curious look to each other on their thoughts of how exactly would Kagami help them in the current situation. They were surprised however, when just after a few seconds Kagami towered over the fiery conversation, the policeman appeared to have shrunk in fear. He gave the detectives of Seirin a bellicose appearance before he marched from the agency's office.
"Smooth," Koganei hooted. "Real smooth, Kagami." He gave his junior a smirk, thankful for his intervention.
"I just don't get it why the police are so annoyed with us from Seirin." Kagami said, trying to cool his head off.
"Don't fret about it too much, Kagami-kun." Riko Aida waived off Kagami's furious remark of the matter, while she passed in front of him. She had returned to the agency some minutes after Kise took Kuroko away. "They have their reasons," she said, a defeated look covering her face. She settled back on her seat, placing her weight and stress against the swivel chair. There were so many annoying people in the world, she thought.
"You know the story, Kagami." Hyūga told him, in a tone that already expressed his senpai's aggravation. Also, Kagami knew it was a sensitive topic for the agency. He would not bring it up this time, now that Hyūga-senpai seemed so edgy by just holding off his own emotions. Kagami was no fool to send himself in the eye of the tempest.
Perhaps it was because of tension around them, since all of them were able to notice Kuroko's arrival in that instant. Kuroko appeared curious as to why everyone's eyes were on him, and courteously gave them a small 'hello.' It was only Coach Riko who regarded Kuroko back as he came in, since Hyūga actually stormed away from the main office area, transferring himself in the empty hallways, while Izuki and Koganei placed their attention back in their current task.
"I don't want to disturb you, so I am going to take my rest inside the quarters." Kuroko told to the others, especially the coach, as he padded inside the main office and retreated to the living quarters deeper inside the agency building.
Kagami half-glared as he watched Kuroko sneaked inside. He beheld him again in suspicion, something he could not miss to do whenever the teal-haired individual took his leave. To him, Kuroko's little excursions made Kagami feel very distrustful of the other's activities, especially if he leaves without escort from Seirin. After all, among all the people who worked in the agency, it was Kagami who had misgivings against Kuroko. Kagami silently followed Kuroko as the shorter one sped inside, gone from the main office.
"Kagami-kun," Kuroko's voice called him out. Kagami watched him with an overwrought expression. Now alone in the hallways, away from the other's sight, the duo finally began a staring contest that held a deeper implication than what could be seen superficially. From how Kuroko stood by the hall, it seemed that he already expected Kagami to tail him.
"Kuroko," Kagami stated the other one's name flatly, approaching him in the process. When he was already toe-to-toe against him, Kagami lifted his right hand placed it atop Kuroko's head. "Have you finally confessed of what you've done?" He asked provokingly.
"I don't understand what you are saying, Kagami-kun." Kuroko answered, as he looked up to meet Kagami's eyes and not bothering to remove the hand that presently ruffled his hair.
"Up until now you deny of the misdeeds you've done," Kagami rattled, slightly squeezing Kuroko's head even more. "What have you told Kise?" He demanded. "Are you still parading your innocence and buy from them their trust?" He said. "Give me a break, Kuroko."
Kuroko just looked at Kagami sharply. Finally, the teal-head cracked from his ever expressionless countenance. However, Kagami was only amused by this.
"I really anticipated that look even from you," Kagami scoffed. "I know that you are hiding a grave secret, Kuroko."
Kuroko's visibly tensed expression actually softened, contrary to what Kagami expected. Slowly, he removed Kagami's hand from his head yet he continued to gaze upon the detective's red orbs. "Kagami-kun, do you understand why I don't accept Kise-kun's offer to return and become a detective once again?" Kuroko posed, although it showed that he did not need a response. "I am going to remain here in Seirin only because I want to see if you can try and prove that accusation you have been hinting towards me."
Kagami was surprised, not because of the strong reply, but of Kuroko's twisted smile, which the shorter one held until he entered his room. The red-haired detective could only gape as he analyzed inside his head what he had just seen.
[button clicks] I knew Kuroko was hiding something. [silence]
[sighs] I'm going to prove them…
[button clicks]
- End of Chapter -
So, do you share Kagami's thought about Kuroko? Is he truly hiding something? Did we just read the "epilogue" in a wrong way? *smirks*
Thank you very much for reading!