This chapter is dedicated to the Momoisexual Community
POV Midorima
"Thank you," he says, with an unusual blush on his cheeks.
"For what?" I ask, as we sit among our friends at the Ice Cream Palace to celebrate my victory. I have a small bowl of red bean ice cream in front; my stomach hasn't loosen its knots yet and it is all that I can manage.
"For doing this for our future. You were magnificent," he says, and bumps my arm.
"Stop that," I snap more than I mean too because my arm hurts so much. "These are our friends and we are no longer on the court."
He smirks and I welcome his lips on mine, even though everyone watches.
"Kawaii," Kise squeals. "Is my nose bleeding?"
Kasamatsu hits him with a menu and we all go back to normal conversations.
"How is your English?" Akashi asks. "I remember that was your worst subject in middle school."
"My unassisted scores are frighteningly bad," I admit. "I have depended too much on the rolling pencil and Takao's tutoring."
"I can help you practice," Kagami offers. "During our Sunday games, I will only taunt you in English." Kagami shoves another over-full spoonful of his ice cream sundae into his mouth.
"How come I was never invited to your Sunday games?" Kise pouts, and Kasamatsu hits him again. None of us mention Kise's injury.
"Why do you subject yourself to Kise?" I ask Kasamatsu.
"He's my best friend," he shrugs, "and I enjoy hitting him."
"Buy lots of snacks for me," Murasakibara says. He doesn't need snacks, if the monstrosity sitting in front of him is any indication. It is a vat, a veritable tub, of ice cream; it is covered in more toppings then I can name. It is even larger then Kagami's sundae and it turns my stomach.
"If you provide me with cash, I will bring you snacks," I promise.
Murasakibara forks over all the money is his wallet and then borrows more from Akashi.
"I have a basketball card that I would love for you to try and get signed," Hyūga pleads.
"Bring it Sunday, I'll make no promises." I will have to make a list of all the favors; in large and small ways, each one of these men has helped me get where I am today.
"Who's your favorite Knicks player?" Aomine asks.
"I've never watched an NBA game," I admit.
"What? There's no way you're going to MSG having never watched a game. Everybody finish up, we're going to my place to watch some classic games," Aomine says.
Most beg off, after all Akashi, Murasakibara, and Himuro have traveled a long way to get here, and there is only so much time we can stand each other's company. Kasamatsu makes up an excuse to hide the fact that Kise is hurting.
Takao and I, Momoi, Kagami, and Kuroko adjourn to the apartment, which is just a short walk from the Ice Cream Palace. Aomine's place is neater than I expected. As we all remove our shoes, Takao points to the slippers Momoi has waiting for her while the rest of us must make due in our socks.
Most of the living room is overrun with basketball memorabilia. The poster above the couch is a team photo of Tōō's final season with Aomine as the Ace. There are a series of signed basketballs mounted on the shelves above the comically large TV. Basketball magazines are piled in the corner, and all the video games stacked in front of the PS3 are NBA titles.
"The bathroom?" I ask, and Momoi directs me down the hall as Aomine turns on the game.
The bathroom is distinctively feminine even though all the towels are royal blue. A perfume collection decorates one side of the vanity; a brush with pink hairs caught in the bristles sits in a caddy with a hairdryer. Hair ribbons and bows occupy a basket behind the toilet tank. I look like death when I peer into the mirror. I finish my business and wash my hands.
The game that I am supposed to be watching has already begun and, as someone scores, a roar of cheers explodes from the living room. I take a detour into the kitchen where Momoi is arranging snacks.
"I've no talent for food, but I can carry a tray," I offer. With the two of us in the kitchen, food poisoning is a very real fear.
"Me neither, but this is all junk food. Even I can't screw that up."
"It is kind of you to open your home to us," I say.
"It makes me happy that Aomine has friends again. If I had to let everyone we've ever know traipse through the apartment to make him happy, I'd open the door and welcome them all in. Five actual friends is nothing."
"How long have you lived together?"
"Just these last few months. We're planning on getting married this summer." She offers me her hand and upon her finger is a simple blue stone set in gold.
"A blue diamond?" I ask.
"Yes, it was his grandmothers."
"I'm happy for you."
It surprises her that I mean it.
"What about you and Takao? That was surprising to hear."
I slip my necklace out from under my shirt; she picks it up off my chest to get a better look at it. She is the first person beside Takao and me to touch it.
"We're approaching two years, unfortunately I will be in New York on our actual anniversary."
"Two years!"
"When the situation arose, my family invited him to live with us. We have lived together for eighteen months."
"We all heard the rumors about Takao's father, and about how he went to live with your family so he wouldn't have to leave Shūtoku, but I never put any additional meaning to it. We've always assumed you were more straightforward."
"I am incredibly private, after all," I say, pushing my glasses up. She hands me a plate of rice balls and I take it into the living room.
Takao is sprawled over an armchair; Kagami and Aomine share the couch with space between them for Momoi. It takes me a second to realize that the chair pulled up from the kitchen table isn't empty, but is occupied by Kuroko.
I put down the tray and Aomine reaches for a rice ball without taking his eyes off the screen. Takao jumps up and pushes me into the chair. It is soft and I sink down into the padding and I can feel the warmth from Takao's body heat. Once I am settled he pushes my thighs apart and sits between them with his head on my knee.
I am indebted to the hard work of my Andarkness23 for their hard work as my beta reader.