Disclaimer: I don't own Kuroko no Basuke. If I do, surely it will be filled with lots of yaoi in it!
Warning: Semi AU. Set during Winter Cup. OOC (it happens in this story). There will be a gender bending too in this story, so if you feel bothered by it; I suggest you leave now. Unbeta, so beware of some mistakes and errors the authoress made.
Genre: Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Drama, Romance
Pairings: One-sided KisexFem!Kuroko, Eventual AominexFem!Kuroko
"..." for memories in Italic
'...' thought in Italic
And "..." present time
-Of Unrequited Love-
At some point, you have to realize that some people can stay in your heart but not in your life.
"So, care to tell me again why we're here?" Kasamatsu Yukio, the captain of Kaijou High's basketball team glared at a certain blond teammates of his. The said teammates only smiled sheepishly at the look he was given from his captain as he chuckled nervously as if doing so could pacify the other's anger on him.
"Uhm... because I want to see Kurokocchi?" The blond teen answered, chocolate hazel eyes looked warily at his fuming captain who looked very intimidating at the moment.
"That's why, how many times I have to say it until you understand? Do you realize that your obsession with her is unhealthy?" Kasamatsu snapped as he hit the blond's head hard enough for it to form a small lump.
"Ugh...should you always hit me every time, senpai?" Kise whined out, his hand nursing his poor head.
The raven haired point guard huffed in annoyance, trying to stop himself from hitting the blond again. After all, he still needs the blond for his team; it won't be good if said idiot was being hospitalized just because he can't stop from hitting him. Once he was sure that his blood pressure isn't at the threatening level to burst out from the sheer idiocy of the blond; he regarded Kise with one of his expectant look, waiting for the said model to give him some explanation as to why he had been dragged to accompany him to this particular side of the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium. Even though their team are currently waiting for their match against another school; that doesn't mean they could just roam around the gymnasium leisurely. Especially considering how Kasamatsu prefer to spend his free time preparing for their next match instead of accompanying Kise on his so called Kuroko's hunting.
"I want to see Kurokocchi! Her match should have finished by now! Besides, it's been a while since I had last seen her too," Kise said again, as if the whole answer was an explanation enough for him to drag his captain to the other side of the gymnasium to accompany him.
"What are you? A kid? You're clinging to her like a child who loves clinging to their mother."
The blond said nothing to that statement, though chocolate hazel eyes looked a little downcast at the remark. It's true that his obsession for one of his former teammates was rather unhealthy, but it was the truth anyway; he had learnt to accept it long ago since the first time he realized it. Besides, it's not really an obsession; it's more like an unrequited love for him.
The first time he had met with the light blue haired girl was when Akashi asked the only female member of their team to train him. At that time, he thought it was rather unfair for him to be trained by her especially when it was obvious that Kise was doubting her abilities. After all, despite being a part of the first strings and a regular; never once he had seen her play with the other regulars in their games. Something, which later he found out was because the light blue haired girl had been excused from participating in those matches by Akashi since said redhead wants Kuroko to take rest from those constants matches.
After that, Kise comes to understand the reason why the petite light blue haired girl was a part of the regulars in the all boys' basketball team despite being the opposite gender. It was probably during those times when he started to respect her that he also started to develop some interest in her. At first, it was because he thought that she was rather odd for a girl around her age who usually was far too busy to fawn over cool and hot guys instead of getting all sweaty from some sports. Then it all changed when he came to know her more closely than before.
Those interest which he felt towards her had changed into a small crush before he even realized it. And once he finally noticed those signs; it was already far too late for him to restrain it. Because he had fallen for her, and fall deep he is. He knows that if someone asked him whether he thinks that he had a chance for the expressionless girl's love or not; he would blatantly tell said person that he stands no chance at all. Not when there is already somebody else occupying that special place in her heart.
The lucky person turns out to be their former ace, the rather hot-headed Aomine Daiki. Kise knows how much it had hurt Kuroko when Aomine started to change, especially when the dark blue haired teen had stopped relying on her passes during their game in their third year in middle school back then. Kise could understand if that was one of the reason why Kuroko suddenly disappeared at the end of the game when they received their last trophy in middle school for being the champion again. Although that didn't diminish the hurt he felt at that time at her disappearance. If he has to be honest, the fact that Aomine had easily diminished Kuroko's feelings had upset him too though he admits that there's nothing Kise could do about it. Because at the end of the day, it's not him that Kuroko needs.
And it's not like Kise doesn't has any confidence to win the light blue haired girl's love against Aomine either; but more because he knows that even up until now the one that Kuroko in love with was and still is Aomine Daiki regardless what had happened between them in their past. It's kind of ironic to see how Kise is still pining over a girl who wouldn't look at him in a romantic way, but no matter how many times Kise had tried to move on from the so called phantom player; it all ended up futile. Instead, he would only ended up finding more reasons to love Kuroko more than he already is.
Sometimes, he couldn't stop but wonder if he really is an idiot like just like what Kasamatsu and some of his former teammates had repeatedly called him. After all, despite acknowledging the fact that he had no chance against one Aomine Daiki; Kise still continue to love Kuroko Tetsumi in his own way. Not really caring about the fact that the girl in question doesn't even feel the same way towards him. Really, from all the girls he could fall in love with; Kise just had to choose the one who never could return his feeling back. Talk about irony.
Even now, he could see how much Aomine Daiki means for Kuroko as the light blue haired girl gave the dark blue haired teen a barely noticeable happy smile. For anyone else, that smile of hers would be hard to see but being one of the few who had been watching her and loving her from afar; it was easy for Kise to spot it once he had seen it. After all, those little smiles of hers were one of the things which made him fall for her. Because those expression was something that she rarely shown to others thus making it even more precious to him. How Kise wishes he could be the one who protects her happiness so those smiles would always grace her face.
"Smiling always suit her the best. She looks prettier when she smiles," He muttered under his breath, chocolate hazel eyes watching the girl he loves talking to the dark blue haired ace.
"Huh? You said something?" Kasamatsu, who is currently standing beside him glanced at the blond teen.
"It's nothing. Let's go back, senpai. I think that's enough for today," Kise shook his head lightly while giving his captain a small smile.
"You're not going to approach her and congratulate her? I thought you dragged me all the way here because you want to talk to her," The raven haired point guard, steel blue eyes looked confusedly at his blond teammate.
"No. It's enough that I have seen her. Besides, I don't think that I should congratulate her now. It should be given only when her team manage to finally snatch the champion title away from Rakuzan High."
Kasamatsu said nothing to the reply the blond had given to him. There is no point on saying anything more to his teammate when the blond has such expression on his face. Despite being Kise's teammates for only a short time, Kasamatsu had learnt to understand the blond better than the other. And the look on Kise's face when he said those words was one of bitter acceptance; something that Kasamatsu had only seen when Seirin had defeated Kaijou in the practice game long ago.
The blond teen walked away from there before Kasamatsu realized it. Though, before Kise had completely gone from there; a certain voice called out for the blond small forward; halting Kise's step on his way to return back to their other teammates. The blond model turned his head slightly, chocolate hazel eyes locked with clear blue eyes as the owner of said eyes approached him.
"Kise-kun," Kuroko Tetsumi greeted her former blond teammate politely.
"Ah... Kurokocchi," A smile immediately blossom on Kise's face at the sight of his secret crush.
"Did you come to see the match between me and Aomine-kun's?" The so called phantom player asked bluntly, clear blue eyes staring at the blond across her inquiringly.
"Yep! I did. But I was going to return back to the others now. It's a good game anyway. It has been a long time since I had last seen Aominecchi looking that excited about a single game," The pierced blond smiled goofily while nodding his head.
"Thank you. Kise-kun..." The light blue haired girl nods her head in gratitude at the compliment before she trailed off at the end of her sentences.
"Hm?" Kise tilted his head to the side, staring inquisitively at Kuroko.
Tetsumi shook her head lightly before she gives her former blond teammate a small smile, "Good luck for your next game. I will be waiting."
To say that Kise was bewildered was an understatement. After all, Kise didn't expect to see that kind of expression on Kuroko's face; especially to hear those words coming out from the said girl. But to know that the passive girl had even gone as far as to say those words towards him, only mean that Kuroko is expecting him to face her in their next game. And to know that his secret crush was putting such expectation on him was flattering because it only means that she acknowledges his basketball. Never mind that he won't ever get her love, as long as Kise gets her acknowledgement in something that the both of them hold dear; it was enough for him. After all, basketball was something that Kise won't lose to Aomine regardless the fact that the other was far stronger than him.
For Kise, his passion in basketball won't lose to Aomine because it was the thing that had introduced him to Kuroko Tetsumi. And that in itself was something that won't ever change even when he gets older. Kise nods his head in determination and smiles widely at the smaller teen before he turned and walked away from her. It was rather unfortunate that he missed the look on Kuroko's face when he turned his back on her. Although Kasamatsu was sharp enough not to miss that look on Kuroko's face. The blue haired girl had looked at the blond teen sadly, her usually clear blue eyes had held a flicker of sadness and guilt before it changes back to its usually blank state.
Even though Kasamatsu didn't say anything regarding the event he had just witnessed, Kuroko was aware that the raven haired captain of Kaijou had seen that look on her face. So she turned and face the other, clear blue eyes stared at steel blue eyes solemnly before she bowed her head at the Kaijou's captain. "Please take care of him, Kasamatsu-san. I know that Kise-kun could be a handful sometimes but please look after him."
Kasamatsu stared at the light blue haired girl in front of him in surprise. Truthfully, he didn't expect the other to say this kind of thing towards him. It seems like the light blue haired girl really has a penchant to surprise other people. He smirked at his own thoughts, maybe this girl isn't as oblivious towards Kise's feeling compared to what Kise likes to think. Because even though Kise never says anything about it, Kasamatsu could tell that the blond small forward holds more affection towards the expressionless girl than what he had showed. Really, his teammates were all a handful bunch of kids.
"Sure. It's my job anyway. Just try to see him whenever you have the time, I'm sure he would like to hang-out with you once in a while." Kasamatsu nodded before he waved his hand dismissively. The only indication which showed that he had indeed understood the hidden meaning behind the other's words. Kuroko smiled a little before she bowed once again and walked away from him. Maybe, the one who is more oblivious than the light blue haired girl was Kise. After all, it was obvious that Kuroko Tetsumi had realized the blond's feeling for her even though she couldn't return said feeling towards the blond model.
The light blue haired girl had tried to care for Kise despite being unable to return the model's feeling; Kuroko Tetsumi had given the blond the other type of affection. And even though it's probably not one that the blond small forward wanted, it was enough for Kise for now; at least that was what Kasamatsu thinks. Nonetheless, it's kind of sad to see the blond's unrequited love. Maybe he just have to cheer the blond once in a while by taking him to see the light blue haired girl when they were free from practice. Yeah, that sounds right to cheer the blond up. For now, Kasamatsu just have to make sure the blond can focus on their games today.
Sometimes, the person you are in love with isn't the person you are supposed to be with.
~Fin~
Authoress' Notes: As I reread this story again, I find that there are so many things that needed to be fixed hence I decided to rewrite it all over again with slight changes within it. It had been eight years since the first time I posted this story hence my writing style probably had grown to be quite different too now. Nonetheless, I hope I could still convey the same things which I want to give through this story just like the first time I wrote it. The reason I decided to write a one-shot for this pairing would be because how I love seeing the dynamic between Kise and Kuroko in the canon. And how it made me wonder what if there is something more about it like the possibility that Kise is harboring some sort of crush on Kuroko what's with how hard he is trying to gain Kuroko's attention in canon. I meant I know how much Kise admires Aomine's prowess but I'd like to think that he also watch over Kuroko a lot as well. Anyway, I really hope I managed to write this one well enough.
Truthfully, it's a bit hard for me to write such ending especially considering I for one am not a fan of sad ending no matter how I like to torture myself by reading some stories with sad ending. Though those kind of sad stories usually ended up really well written so I would ended up liking it despite being tortured by its sad ending. Rather than sad ending, I prefer to write a story with happy ending but then again, I am a weakling for a good angst story. Anyway, enough of my ramblings; I kind of happy to know that my first one-shot of Kuroko no Basuke was well-liked. Those reviews in that story of mine really managed to make me smile all night. So I really hope this story can receive the same positive reaction like the other had.
Please give me your review and tell me what do you think of this. Thank you for reading this story anyway. Have a nice day~
