Title: Everyday Incidents
Happy holidays everyone!
Special thanks to:
haiku101, Dhea30, Rane Kurodo, Awesome Sauce, SilverSapphire34523, Malica15, Dark elfy and Ern Estine 13624 for your encouraging reviews~!
There is a link on my profile of a picture of how I imagine the GoM to look like as girls.
Enjoy!
~oOo~
The last weeks before graduation passed by quicker than Nijimura expected. All around him his fellow third years happily chatted about high schools and teams and girls. As exciting graduating to high school is, Nijimura couldn't help but feel somber. As much as a relief it was that he could concentrate on his ailing father and helping his siblings pack for their move, he felt slight worry build in the pit of his stomach.
He'd retired from the team, hell he wasn't even the captain anymore when he left, he left it in Akashi's more than capable hands. But he worried. Despite having nothing to do with the team anymore, he still found himself listening to whatever tidbit information he heard from conversations. He was slightly disturbed.
The first was that Haizaki had quit the team suddenly.
Nijimura had still been around at the time, but it literally happened seamlessly overnight and neither Akashi nor Haizaki gave an explanation beyond "I/She was bored."
Aomine hadn't come to practice for a long time.
Momoi's time was divided between giving the captain usable data and fruitlessly trying to get Aomine to come to practice.
Training tactics had shifted to being solely individualistic, Akashi increased practice difficulty for those not on the regulars. The regulars were given free rein to do what they pleased.
While still diligent, Midorima isolated herself from her teammates. She never left the little corner of the gym she's claimed as her own.
Kuroko practiced every day despite the fact that she wasn't required to come anymore. What was the point, when she hadn't played in games for a while? Kuroko was also the only one who stayed after practice, not that anyone noticed.
Kise took more jobs, and when not working spent her time chatting with her fans. Maybe she'd bounce the ball for bit before leaving. If Aominecchi wasn't there then what reason did she have to practice?
Murasakibara had been gone from practice almost as long as Aomine, she only came when she was too lazy to go home right away and needed a warm napping spot.
And while Nijimura would never tolerate such blatant behavior, like everyone else, he couldn't complain.
Teiko was winning, as long as the team won it didn't matter what the players did as long as they won.
Once upon a time Nijimura might have believed that.
But he's watched the growth of a talented group of players. He's seen them play with nothing but joy and healthy rivalry between them. He's watched as they refined their individual plays to a fine point, watched them befriend a small girl with virtually no skill to call her own but her ability to blend in. He's seen them combine their play into one steady machine of teamwork, the pure joy that came with winning as a team.
He's watched as Teiko greedily molded all that into a weapon.
Aomine was the first to fall victim. And like a domino effect, the others followed and by that point there wasn't much that Nijimura could do. He was sure that Akashi could handle it, but he's heard of nothing short of the red haired girl caving into her own problems.
The school was winning; he'd retired and was a short time away from leaving the country all together.
All he could do was have faith that they would be able to pull themselves together and remember the joy of playing as a team before they became too jaded by their high pedestals.
~.~
Graduation day and the last day he would spend in this country.
He cordially accepted his diploma, shakes hands and glances quickly at the crowd.
He doesn't miss them.
All seven of them are in the middle, Akashi right in the middle; she's flanked by both Murasakibara and Midorima. Momoi sits in between Aomine and Kise, Kuroko sits at the edge of the row right next to Aomine. Haizaki's silver hair gives away her position in the very back row.
Nijimura frowns, something is off. They sit somewhat stiffly and straight. Akashi's eyes are colder than he remembers, and her eyes have changed in hue (when the hell did that happen?). Midorima is almost scowling, Murasakibara looks like she wants to leave, Momoi seems almost happy but a gleam in his eyes looks as if he's expecting one of them to leave. Kise's attention is on the stage but her eyes snap every other second to her phone. Aomine has her arms crossed and is the only one slumped in her chair, Kuroko, while sitting next to them doesn't look like she's with them, almost like she just sat there and the others gravitated there. Haizaki looked like she consciously tried to put as much distance between her and her ex-teammates, he doesn't see her spare them a glance.
He hasn't seen them in weeks (he's been busy with arranging his move to America), and already he doesn't feel like he knows them. He's watched them arm in arm, seen Aomine fall asleep with Kise and Kuroko on either side of her. Watched as Midorima lightly lectured Murasakibara about the importance of keeping her hair presentable at least while Momoi fluttered between them all with nothing but food and a smile on his face. He's seen the warm way Akashi has regarded them, no less than her sisters and brother. He's even seen the miracle of Haizaki reluctantly allowing Kise brush her hair.
By the time the ceremony is over all of them are gone.
Nijimura boards the plane the next morning and all he can think about is the ice blooming in their eyes.
~oOo~
*Italics = English
"Hey Murasakibara want to see some interesting pictures of Tatsuya?" Alex grinned wickedly, plopping herself on the couch next to the center. Maybe he should have thought twice before allowing Atsushi to come with him to Tokyo for the weekend.
Behind him Kagami snickered something about it being his turn to be humiliated.
Atsushi glanced at him and an uncharacteristic mischievousness gleamed in her violet orbs. "Okay." Alex eagerly flipped open the photo album, "He's ten here, cute isn't he? He decided to dress up as a fluffy kitten for Halloween…"
In the kitchen Kagami snorted and Himuro decided that he needed a shower desperately. He made sure to grab Kagami's towel when he went.
Hopefully Atsushi would get board of whatever Alex tells her.
~.~
Unfortunately when Himuro emerged from the shower Alex and Atsushi were perched at the kitchen table and were still pouring over the damn photo album.
Both women turned at his entrance.
Atsushi lazily smirked, "Muro-chin makes a cute cupid~" Satisfied that the male's usually cool façade was ruined with the embarrassed reddening of his cheeks. Ha. Take that Muro-chin, who's flustered now? She was very pleased that she'd insisted on coming to Tokyo. Even if she did have to deal with Kagami.
"It was a $50 bet. Where's Taiga?" Himuro said instead.
Alex snickered, "Something about getting Kuroko a birthday present-Oh look at this one, he's showing Taiga how to dance the waltz while wearing their little suits." Atsushi actually giggled.
"Atsushi aren't you tired of looking at old photos? We can go to the store and get groceries for dinner." Himuro tried. Murasakibara shook her head, "No thanks," she pointed to a few plastic bags on the kitchen counter, "Kagami took care of it before he left."
Of course he did. "Aren't you running out of snacks?"
Murasakibara pouted slightly and looked mournfully at her dwindling supply. "Fine, I need more snacks." Himuro nodded eagerly, "Make sure you get a coat it's windy outside." He waited until the center went to the living room.
"What are you trying to do?" He rounded on Alex, the woman only snickered. "I'm just showing you off so that she knows what she's getting into."
"'Showing me off'? It looks like your just showing her embarrassing pictures of me."
Alex rolled her eyes, "Well duh. I'll have you know she thinks you were cute. Besides showing embarrassing pictures of you and Taiga is my job."
"Muro-chin hurry up."
"Coming."
When both teens left the apartment she sighed, "They grow up so fast."
~.~
"Hey Muro-chin." Atsushi calls suddenly, stalling the filling of her basket.
"Yes?"
She stares at him for a few seconds before her lips tilt into a small teasing smile, "I didn't know you and Kagami were married. Kuro-chin will be sad." She snickered silently at the delicate dust of red on his ears, ignoring his hurried explanation that he and Taiga were just little kids and hadn't known what they were doing.
When he noticed that Murasakibara was no longer listening to him anymore Himuro swore that he was going to follow Taiga's example and never bring Atsushi near Alex again. He'd find other ways to hear Atsushi's cute laugh without humiliating himself.
~oOo~
Midorima cringed at the little thing. Small, yellow demon eyes, claws at the end of each paw, scraggy gray fur.
"Aww Shin-chan isn't he so cute?" And the thing was currently being cuddled in the arms of her idiot teammate who didn't realize the danger of carrying such a dangerous creature.
The kitten meowed.
And Midorima resisted the urge to swat the thing with her bag.
"Put it back, it may have diseases and its mother is probably around here somewhere."
Takao raised an eyebrow, "C'mon Shin-chan, live a little! It's a kitten; you can't seriously say it isn't cute."
"It's a filthy beast waiting to turn on you."
"You got scratched once Shin-chan."
"Once was enough, and how do you know about that?"
"Kuroko told me."
"Of course she did."
The cat started squirming and Takao placed it gently on the ground. The little thing looked between them before settling its gaze on Midorima and started patting over to her. Midorima froze as the beast rubbed itself innocently against her leg.
"See he likes you!" Takao said laughing as the girl stiffened.
Midorima scowled, "It's going to attack me! Make it move!" Predictably, Takao ignored her, "You like her don't you boy? You've got good taste in women too." He cooed to the kitten, rubbing its back gently.
Midorima stiffened further, "Takao I mean it, make it move!" She hissed, then jumped away with a yelp when the cat began to paw at her skirt. Except that when she jumped back she lost her footing and before Midorima could catch herself Takao shoot up and grabbed her arms to pull her towards him.
Except he overestimated the amount of force and Midorima ended falling on top of him. Midorima ended up on top of Takao, her arms trapped in-between them, while Takao's arms were wound around her back and waist. Both teens had closed their eyes on impact.
Midorima finally opened her eyes and saw wide steel blue, stands of dark hair tickled her cheeks, a dust of pink decorated his ears. His face looked soft and strong at the same time and she couldn't of anything other than handsome. She could feel the muscles of his arms wound around her back and waist, the barely dry feeling of his lips-
Their lips.
With a strangled yelp she pulls away, "Ex-excuse m-me…s-sorry…Ar-are you al-alright?" she manages to choke out, scrambling to her feet. Takao pulling himself up the second he has a chance, "Y-yeah I'm good! Are you oka-y you fell pretty hard."
"I-im fine."
Takao scratched the back of his head, "Good to hear, let's get you home yeah?" Midorima complied quietly and sat primly in the rickshaw. Neither uttered a single word, the rest of the ride to Midorima's house silent.
~.~
On his way back home Takao stopped and smiled slightly at the sight of the scraggly kitten perched on a low the stone wall. He went over and picked it up, holding it up to his eyes.
"I don't care what Shin-chan says, you're my lucky cat forever."
Who would have though her fear of cats would lead to this? I totally didn't plan that.
Anyone excited for the KnB Extra Game March chapter?!
Until next time~