Hello minna-san~ Here is the fourth chapter :) Ah I'm sorry that once again I should make change, for the song lyrics, I decided to add the romaji parts as well, so the image where the character was singing the song can be imagined easily :) Happy reading minna~ Feel free to review ;-P
Disclaimer :
I do not own Kuroko no Basuke. All characters except the OCs belong to Fujimaki Tadatoshi-sensei. I do not own the songs too. Maybe OOC. Sorry for bad grammars.
Chapter 4 :
Kuroko crouched down, as she watching Nigou having his breakfast. A faint smile lingered on her lips, while she was stroking Nigou's fur, "Be a good boy, okay? I'm heading to school now. Ittekimasu," then she proceed to stand up, left her house. She walked to the nearest station, still holding her favorite book in hand. She found her low presence were useful in this time. She managed to slip through the crowd and got a seat in the train. As the train began to leave the station, so did her mind, recalled some memories from yesterday.
"…offered Seirin Management a short term of collaboration with our best talents. Specifically, we are interested in the new talent you have just debuted not a long time ago, the one who were featuring in Kagami Taiga's new digital single. I think it is a worth deal, having work together with another experienced singer for a debutant like him."
Then she recalled the time when she talked to 'him'.
"Well, it's up to you, Kuroko. Indeed, it's a good chance for you, to bring up to the next level. After all, you are the one who had chosen this path. If you don't want to be a professional singer, then why did you choose to join Seirin back then?"
"It's because you were the one who told me that there are many ways to reach the top in this entertainment industry."
He chuckled, "Well yeah, that's true that I'm the one who have said it, but I only gave you an advice, and you didn't have to follow it anyway. Since you have chosen this, I hope you will give your all. I believe it will lead you to your dream eventually, somehow, someday. Now, sleep tight, then make a right decision, okay?"
Kuroko let out a heavy breath, as her mind wandering off to the first time she met Riko.
"My name is Aida Riko, I am from Seirin Management. I have paid attention to you for some past days. I often see you around this park, you had a cute face and a slender figure. Those are potential assets to be an actress, you know?"
And now her mind began to wandering to the time when she joined Seirin Entertainment.
"Riko-san, I agree to join this entertainment. I have been thinking all the time, why did you change your offer to me from an actress to a singer, and I've came up to my decision. Let me join Seirin Entertainment as a singer, Riko-san."
Kuroko had to admit it. It was her decision on the first place, to join Seirin as a singer. Maybe that time I had my mind was not in a clear state, sighed Kuroko. Singing was not her passion, the only thing she always obsessed with was acting, and being a famous actress was the dream she had been looking up to since young age. And on top of that, she had made a promise, to be on the same stage as 'him'. But, now she ended up as a singer, and she was given a chance, by Akashi Seijuurou from Teikou Management. She wondered how the fate would bring her to her dream, and how would the people see him later. Speaking of which, what would Okaasan and Otousan say to me, if they knew that I had made a debut as a singer, thought Kuroko as she arrived on the school's gate.
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Kuroko and Kagami now sat beside each other, ready for an interview. The one who interviewed them was Yamada Naoki-san, from Rockin' Up Monthly Magazine, a magazine which you could say as a bible for those who love pop and rock music. Kuroko and Kagami had a little surprise, since Yamada-san was far from they had thought before. He had a moderate style in fashion, by coming up with a plain polo shirt along with grey trousers, and a black leather jacket draped over his shoulders. His hair styled to the left, boosted up his neat image, despite the fact that he was a reporter from a music magazine. Kuroko and Kagami had thought in unison that Yamada-san would be the one with the rock-and-roll style, but they all were wrong.
"Good afternoon, Kagami Taiga-kun and Kuroya-kun. I'm Yamada Naoki from Rockin' Up Monthly Magazine. It's nice to meet you two, and I'm counting on you two," he said politely, receiving nods and words 'I'm counting on you too' from two younger boys in front of him, "I believe that you two have had his photo session earlier with us, as to be featured on the magazine's cover. So let's start up with the image that you would like to have in your new album, Kagami-kun. What image you wanted for this second album, and what's the difference from the first album?"
Earlier before the interview began, Riko surprisingly asked the staff from Rockin' Up Monthly Magazine to change the theme of the photo session. She let Kuroko to join the photo session, of course without showing her face to the camera. Kagami, with a simple black shirt and jeans pants, was looking down with his left hand on top of a basketball. The light shone bright behind him, enveloped his figure, while he was smiling warmly. His red-black hair was styled naturally, and the light had accentuated more to his shining bright red hair, made him looked flawless. And there was a hand, with slender fingers and pale skin tone, holding the basketball from the bottom. It was Kuroko's hand, obviously. That left all the people on the room were in awe, wondering how could Kagami make that kind of expression.
Kagami cleared his throat, "Ah, well, for the second album we want to make it different from the first one. In this album we coming up as a duet, bring out the theme 'to reach the dream together'. The songs lyrics say it all, though. Usually, I come up with that cool and wild image, like you always say on the media. But this time, I have found a partner, with whom together will eventually reach our dreams, as the top singers in Japan."
"I see, now the theme is 'together with my partner', huh? That's awesome, Kagami-kun. Considering that nowadays many people seem to do everything by their owns, your songs will change those thoughts by telling people that it is not wrong to have more faith on your partner, even that will be a strong power to reach the goal, right?"
Kagami scratched his cheek, "I'm not expecting to make such a drastical change on people, though. It's just my expression of feelings, since the songs were made by me and Kuroya."
"Really? Sugoi, tell us more about it!" said Yamada enthusiastically.
Kagami glanced to Kuroko before he took a deep breath, that was why he hated interview doings, such a long explanation. Well, he would make it short, "Yeah, for the second album, I composed the songs along with Kuroya. I came up with the idea, then Kuroya wrote the lyrics, and with the help from other staff, we made it into the full songs."
"Wow, that's great, Kagami-kun, now for Kuroya-kun here, I believe that this is your first debut. Congratulation for that! Having Kagami-kun as a partner sure a great advantage for you, since you can learn many things from him as a more experienced singer. Tell us what have you learned from him so far and what's your feelings about your first debut!"
Kuroko twitched. Hell she was so nervous with this, "Yeah, thank you. It's no doubt that I'm so nervous just by thinking to my first debut. I'm happy, to make a debut along with a famous rock star such as Kagami-kun. I should thank Aida Riko-san, Aida Kagetora-san, and every one in Seirin Management to let me sing with Kagami-kun. As for what I have learned from him so far, it's…"
Kuroko looked at Kagami beside her, who gave her a confused look, "…that how much Kagami-kun love to sing, has affected me to give my all."
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The interview had ended, and after every one had exchanged 'thanks for the good work', Kagami suddenly grabbed Kuroko's hand and dragged him. Kuroko, feeling that the grip on her hand were too tight, tried to stop Kagami, "It hurts, Kagami-kun, let go of my hand!" Kuroko raised her voice, but to no avail. Kagami still had the tight grip on her wrist, as now they had been out of the magazine's office building.
"Kagami-kun, please stop. Where do you want to go?" Kuroko asked as she tried to snapped Kagami's hand from her. But again, Kagami was too strong for her. Looks like I had to use it, Kuroko thought. She inhaled the air deeply, then she opened the mouth.
"STOP IT, KAGAMI-KUN!"
All people around suddenly turned their attention to the teal blue haired teen upon hearing a loud, baritone voice. Kagami stopped on his track, he turned his head and found a pair of furious eyes was glaring at him, "Was that your voice, Kuroya?"
The said teen still glared at him. It's obvious then whose voice it was, "Heh, I don't know that you can make such a loud voice."
"I have said to you, stop it Kagami-kun," Kuroko snapped Kagami's hand off of her wrist, "honestly, where do you want to go, Kagami-kun? What's wrong with you?"
Kagami planted a mocked smile on his lips, "You said what's wrong? That's my line, damn you!" He took a step forward, towered in front of Kuroko.
"It's me that supposed to ask you, what the hell was wrong with you, Kuroya? What's your point by saying 'how much Kagami-kun love to sing, has affected me to give my all' huh? I don't get it at all! You said that you had affected by me, yet I have never seen you singing with any expression on your face! Is that what you called 'had been affected by my singing'?"
Kuroko just kept her mouth shut, which made Kagami was more desperate, "Listen Kuroya! I don't know what is your reason to join Seirin Management, but if you don't have any passion in singing, you better quit this. Stop joking around, this is not a job for someone who don't even love to sing in the first place."
"I don't intend to make fun of this, Kagami-kun. But, let me tell you, actually, I joined Seirin not to aim for being a professional singer. It was the first time when someone had said to me that I had such a good voice, which I never realized until now."
"Then, I have made it clear for you, just quit, Kuroya."
"No, I haven't finished my explanation, Kagami-kun. At first I didn't know, what was I doing actually. But it's true when we were practicing together, I kind of know how much you love singing. Still, I can't get my mind clear, whether it's good or not to keep on with this path. Because this is the only way to achieve my dream, after all."
"Oi, Kuroya, if you don't want to quit, then give it your best! It's too late for you to withdraw from this industry. Don't you know that you have a talent in singing and writing the song lyrics? It is not something that every one possesses. Perhaps, this is the path that is destined for you."
Kagami, feeling guilty after dragged Kuroko all the way there, then patted Kuroko's head, "About earlier, I'm sorry, but I want you to come with me" Kagami said, then proceed to walk ahead of Kuroko.
Kuroko just walked behind Kagami, silence befall between those two. After they had walked for 15 minutes, finally Kagami stopped. There was a café in front of them, "This is a café where indie bands have live performances every day. The owner is an acquaintance of mine. Come with me," said Kagami, looked at Kuroko from his shoulder. Kuroko just followed Kagami. That was the first time she went to a café to watch some indie's live performance. There were two parts inside the building, half was used as a café, where people could sit and enjoy their meals, while half of it was used as stage and hall where the audience could enjoy the live performance. Kagami greeted a man with a scary look on his face. A dragon tattoo on his arm made him scarier.
"Yo Rei, long time no see!" Kagami put his arm around the bald man's shoulder.
"Oh, it's you Taiga. Congratz for your new digital single, man! Well, you sure give off those celebrity aura now, geez!" said the man called Rei, laughing upon Kagami's arrival.
"Shut up, you old man! What the heck is celebrity aura!" Kagami laughed, then diverting his gaze to the stage. There was a random indie band, performing their song on the stage, "sure it's a long time since the last time I had my live performance here."
"That sure years ago, Taiga! You haven't joined Seirin Management at that time!"
"Brings back memories," Kagami chuckled. Then as if he just remembered something, he went to Kuroko, "Oi, you just wait here, okay? I need to do something. Just enjoy the live music, okay?"
Kuroko only nodded. Since she didn't know what to do, she chose to keep silent and wait for Kagami. She then observed the people around her. This crowd, loud voice, and passionate live performance were strange for her. She couldn't take her eyes off of the stage, immersed to the joy crowd.
"Thank you for watching our performance! Thanks for your support, guys!"
Kuroko found herself clapping her hands along with the other audience. What's this feeling?
The indie band's personnel started to retreat from the stage. Then, a red-black haired boy came to the stage. Kuroko's eyes widened, as people began whispering and some girls squealing. Kagami-kun! What are you doing there?
Kagami pull the microphone, "I'm sorry for suddenly intrude tonight's show, guys! But I feel like to recall some memories, back then when I still had my live performance in this place. Thank you for Rei, for allowing me to sing in this stage tonight."
A loud screams broke out from the audience. Kuroko shivered, never she expected that Kagami-kun was this popular.
Some boys went up to the stage, got into their respective position. Kuroko now completely in shock, after realized that those guys were Koganei, Furihata, and Tsuchida! Why are they doing here? As Kagami nodded his head, the music started to flow, and it hit Kuroko. It's their song!
Tatoeba ore ga hitori dattara
Doko made yareta? Doko made yuketa darou?
Attouteki na chikara no mae de
Nasusube mo naku tachitsukusu no ka?
* For example, if I was alone
How far could I get to? How far could I get to go?
In front of an overwhelming strength
Would I stand still at my wit's end? *
Kuroko, unconsciously, raised her hand to cover her mouth. This song even hasn't released yet! What is he thinking?
Shoumei shitai ima wa mada muri demo itsuka
Jibun no sonzai subete wo kakete
* I want to prove something, it might be impossible for now, but it will be possible one day
I will risk my entire existence *
Why did he go that far for me?
(I SHOUT!) Motto ooki na (YOU SHOUT!) chikara ni nare!
(WE SHOUT!) Tayoru dake janaku mazu wa
(LET'S SHOUT!) Hitori zutsu ga (BIG SHOUT!) chikara ni nare!
(KEEP SHOUT!) Sara naru shinka wo chikai atte
Yume no saki e tamerawazu ni
* (I SHOUT!) Become (YOU SHOUT!) a bigger power!
(WE SHOUT!) Not just relying, first,
(LET'S SHOUT!) Every single one of us (BIG SHOUT!) should become a power!
(KEEP SHOUT!) Vow to evolve even further
Don't hesitate until we reach our dreams *
…
Kagami raised his fist towards Kuroko when the song ended. Kuroko just saw at him hesitantly, then he raised his right hand to make a match fist. Then a warm smiled appeared in Kagami's face, the same smile as she saw on the photo session with Rockin' Up Magazine. After mumbled 'thank you', Kagami jumped off from the stage, storming onto the direction where Kuroko stood. Right in front of Kuroko, still panted heavily after singing, once again Kagami raised his fist, "I don't know what your reason is when you joined Seirin, but I believe that you also love to sing deep down in your heart. Remember when we made this song? Let me say it once again, let's work together! Be my partner and I will bring you to that place, to be the acknowledged singers in Japan!"
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Kagami glanced to the door of practice room. He didn't come again today. Riko had said two days ago that Kuroya was not feeling well, thus he couldn't practice. Fortunately, there were no schedule for both teens yet, so Kagami just went to the office for practicing. Speaking of which, after what he had done that night, Riko was mad like hell at him. No wonder, after he had recklessly made a live performance without Riko's consent, let alone that song haven't released yet. But now he started to think of Kuroya again.
Kuroya. Back then, why I suddenly felt the urge to pat his head?
Kagami looked at his palm. It's soft, his teal blue locks felt so soft on my palm. Arrrrrrgh, why did I do it back then, Kagami shook his head off desperately. Where were you now? Have you decided about Akashi's offer?
He went to Kagetora's office. He should go to see Kuroya. He wanted to ask Kuroya's address from Riko, though he might receive Riko's wrath once again. After all, Riko still hadn't calmed down yet. But, he dared to give it a try and opened Kagetora's office.
And there Kuroya stood in front of Kagetora and Riko.
"Wha- Kuroya!" Kagami was surprised when he found Kuroya there.
"Yes, Kagami-kun. I have made my decision. I want to be your partner, and I will accept Akashi-kun's offer. I will not hesitant again to walk down this path."
Okay, in this story, instead of Kuroko made a promise to Kagami to make him the number 1 in Japan, it was Kagami who made a promise to Kuroko. Sorry for the earlier chapters up to this one, there is still no fluff yet with Kiseki no Sedai. But, I promised there will be soon, as Kuroko agreed to have a collaboration with them. Keep supporting this story, minna :)