Wow I'm so sorry for the delay. I kinda got caught up in a lot of events that happened in life this week so I was left pretty depressed.
But I really enjoyed reading the reviews so thank you very much guys! I wanted to send replies but a lot of them were guesses (which I loved) and I really didn't want to spoil by saying something LOL
So please enjoy, The Camera that Makes you Cry
PS. Okay, I think I went overboard again so this should be between 3-4 chapters long now...if you don't mind DX
I'm sorry!
"What are you doing?" Kuroko Tetsuya asked, blank blue orbs giving his huddled up teammates a quizzical glance.
"I-it's nothing Kuroko so continue training already!" Hyuuga sputtered, words coming out a lot harsher than intended.
Yet, Kuroko didn't miss that innuendo of anxiety. "Hah…" he murmured, clearly unconvinced but deciding that he needed to focus on the development of of his new skills instead, he did so, leaving his estranged teammates to their own devices.
Giving their phantom player a quick glance to see if he was out of earshot, Hyuuga darted back to the group with a low hissing, "Oi, did this break thing or something?" There was no way Kuroko couldn't have something important to him right?
"A-ah! That's right, that has to be it!" Riko nervously laughed.
Immediately, the rest of the gang bobbed their heads up in agreement, refusing to consider the possibility. Despite the phantom player being relatively quiet, he was the one they relied on for so long and was the one who motivated them through the whole process. There was no way someone as secretly passionate as him could be empty.
Yet, Kiyoshi Teppei only redefined his position as the oddball. "Really?" He mused in that fake-oblivious manner Hyuuga always wanted to punch him for.
"Hmm well, Kagami! Come over here!" He called, waving over the red-head who just arrived due to preparing a full course meal for his "honored guest" Alex who was, not at all in any way, intruding in his living space—or so she declared.
"Hah?," a confused Kagami asked, strolling over to the gang.
"Say cheese!" Kiyoshi exclaimed.
"Wha-"
*SNAP*
"Oohhh, Kagami huh? Actually, now that I think about it, he really doesn't talk much about himself at all!" Koganei lauded.
"Oh, now that you mention it…" Izuki murmured when on cue, Hyuuga instantly snatched the photo off the freshly pressed slot, giving in to the temptation once more.
He could only pray that he wouldn't see something strange again and boy, did he see something strange.
In the photo, there was Kagami, double-eyebrows and all while beside him, was an unknown pretty boy with a mole under his eye. They looked as if they were about 10 years old with the pretty boy flashing a victorious smile and Kagami…looking rather petrified, knees bent and quivering—as if he saw another Nigou. Although, at this point, none of the Seirin members could blame the poor boy, after all…there was an unconscious man beside the pretty boy's feet.
Hyuuga sweatdropped. If anything, the man looked perpetually dead.
"Um…Kagami?" He slowly began, waving the photo in front of his ace.
Kagami furrowed his brows, the picture not quite registering before he instantly gaped at the photo. "T-tatsuya!"
"Oh, the guy with Murasakibara at the Streetball tournament," Kiyoshi recalled.
A grim expression formed on Kagami's. "Yeah…" He murmured, staring at it with a solemn knit in his double-eyebrows.
His unusually brooding reaction however, was nevertheless, misunderstood by his sempais. "W-wait but Kagami, d-does this mean you a-actually did something to this guy?!" Furihata Kouki warily asked, pointing to the twitching man in the photo, soul practically flying out.
Kagami raised a brow. "Huh?...Oh WHAT no!" He instantly denied once the implications struck him. "No, that guy was a thief and all we did was catch him!"
"Really? But…that refreshed look on this "Tatsuya's" face…kinda says otherwise…" Izuki slowly noted, his finger pointing at the black-haired boy that seemed disturbingly similar to Riko's "skipping" expression.
Kagami sweatdropped. "Well…Tatsuya was…always a bit…weird in situations like that…like how he was completely fine with tricking the police, easily chasing after thieves with this look of excitement and…"
The whole team cringed. Although Kagami probably didn't intend to have such an effect on them, but, the more he tried to justify this "Tatsuya", the scarier the 10 year old got in the photo. Who the hell was this guy?!
Yet, somewhere along that fluid line of uncharacteristically accurate and long descriptions, they watched as Kagami's anxious expression settled, slowly morphing into a peaceful one, as if he was telling stories out of a fairytale.
"He said…he would be my brother."
Suddenly, there was a pause. Kagami still had his lips parted yet no sound would come. He only stared at the basketball hoop before his expression dampened once more, now a lot darker and pained then before. It was as if those days would never return, as if everything had been shattered…to pieces.
They never saw such a look in his eyes before. Not Bakagami but…the power of the camera wasn't to be underestimated.
Yet, Kiyoshi still managed to stay perfectly calm amidst this. "Oh really? Then why is he over at Yosen now?"
The team flinched. WHAT WAS THIS GUY DOING?!
Kagami stared at him…before his eyes darted away. "Well…it's probably to defeat me and besides…what was between me and him, was probably gone long ago."
Hyuuga wanted to murder the insensitive guy. Why the hell would he ask that?! It made things so awkward!
"Really? That's not how it seems to me because that's a picture out this camera that shows what's most precious to someone." Kiyoshi elucidated, showing the power forward the camera's old and worn-out frame.
"Hah? Seriously?" Kagami squinted, not sure of how much of this he should buy. But…no one ever took a photo of that day…except maybe for the police who nearly tried to take the two boys in for questioning.
"Yup, and this is what's most important to you so, is your brotherhood really gone?"
Kagami widened his eyes. A smirk crept up his lips. "Heh, I don't need to have you tell me that," he scoffed, snatching the photo away.
"Kagami-kun, you're going to keep that?" A voice asked.
Kagami wheeled around, striding away from the gang. "Hah? Of course, it's what's most precious to me right?" He stated…before he froze.
Before they all froze.
WHO JUST SAID THAT?
"UWAHH KUROKO!" Hyuuga jumped back and aghast as their phantom player materialized in the center of their huddled group.
"W-wh-when!?" Riko choked out, unable to form a complete sentence. Shoot, did he just overhear the whole thing?!
"The whole time since everyone seemed to be taking too long to start practice," Kuroko blankly explained.
"T-then the whole camera part too?" Hyuuga anxiously posed.
"Yes. I believe that was why my picture was taken," Kuroko evenly answered. "But on that note, may I see what was taken?" he continued blandly but, the basketball players could not deny that spark in his eyes—that damned sparkling attraction towards things supernatural/mysterious.
The team flinched. Nonono, they could NOT show him his picture, not when it was empty! Besides, now that Kagami's picture was perfectly fine, they couldn't even find an excuse to explain why his picture would be like that!
"W-well um…" Hyuuga began after Riko gave him a forceful hey-you're-the-captain-go-do-something nudge.
Suddenly, Hyuuga cursed his position.
"Oh sure, here you go," a breezy voice replied, causing the captain to whirl around. For god's sake, it was Kiyoshi…AGAIN.
A vein popped. He was definitely going to kill him someday, DEFINITELY.
Yet, killing Kiyoshi was a plan enacted far too late. Kuroko already had the photo in his hands, staring at the image of himself dribbling a ball.
"It's really weird Kuroko, we weren't able to get a picture of what you found precious at all," Kiyoshi scratched his head, causing the team to shoot him a murderous glare.
Yet, they cared far too much about Kuroko's reaction to continue to spare another second on the idiot who just had to do this to them. And Hyuuga knew it was on purpose.
Kuroko stayed silent., sky blue orbs reflecting nothing, as if they truly were empty.
They anxiously stared at the first-year.
"No, it does have what I consider to be precious." He suddenly voiced, filling the rest's vision with powder blue.
"Eh?" Hyuuga blinked once he saw Kuroko's composed expression. "I-I mean really?"
"Yes, because what's most important to me is basketball and I'm dribbling the ball in here."
Hyuuga mentally rejoiced. Yes, nothing bad happened and moreover, FINALLY someone had their precious thing be related to basketball!
The rest shared his sense of relief. "Oh! Is that so! No wonder! We were pretty worried their Kuroko, we thought you were empty or something," Koganei sighed.
"Yeah, geez don't give us such a scare!"
"Hah…yes. I'm sorry," Kuroko deadpanned without a shred of emotion that could've been interpreted as sincerity.
"Exactly! And, unlike the rest of you guys…Kuroko actually cares about basketball so…I'm planning to BEAT that spirit in you guys before our Winter Cup…GOT iT?!" Hyuuga barked, going into to "clutch time".
The first-year trio immediately flinched. Yet, overall, the team felt a lot better now that such a dilemma was off their shoulders as they diverged from their circle and began setting up for individual practice.
Only Kuroko, Kagami, and Kiyoshi were left, the third still holding onto his camera.
"Hmm, your most important thing is basketball?" Kiyoshi suddenly mused.
Kuroko immediately turned over to him, neck craning up to meet the male's eyes.
There was a pause before he spoke.
"…Yes."
Kagami raised a brow. He didn't really understand what just happened but…somehow, momentarily, he felt as if a chill had passed, emanating from his "shadow".
Kiyoshi simply smiled. "Really? Then that's great but…that reminds me. Here, I'll give this to you," he offered, handing the camera to the boy.
Kuroko blinked, looking up as if wanting an explanation.
Kiyoshi's grin never wavered. "Well, this is pretty old and I don't have much of a need for it."
"…Hah," Kuroko replied, not exactly convinced.
The brunette sighed. "Oh, even you're giving me that look now? I'm really not scheming anything. Besdies, you probably have more need for this than I do. How about it? Go take some pictures with it tomorrow. Maybe…you'll notice something interesting?" He advocated with a sagacious smirk.
Kagami furrowed his brows. His sempai was always a bit strange but, what did he mean by that?
Yet, Kuroko seemed to know exactly what the brunette meant. A slight flicker flashed in his eyes. Then, instead of refuting his words, he only silently thanked his senior as Kiyoshi left, going over to Hyuuga who promptly attempted to murder him.
The scene was already strange…but, Kuroko's expression was even more so.
His shock blue hair had covered his eyes, yet because of that, Kuroko's expression appeared to be dark and unbearably unreadable. It was as if his mind was fervently contemplating something he did not intend to let anybody know. Ever.
For the duration of practice, Kagami noticed how Kuroko seemed rather absent-minded. During the practice matches, despite saying that he would do his best to develop his new style, Kuroko's passes were all over the place.
His "light" narrowed his crimson eyes. Something was definitely off.
"Oi, Kuroko, what was wrong with you at practice today?" Kagami demanded as the two strode down the busy streets of Tokyo, leisurely heading to Maji Burger.
Kuroko turned to the transfer student. "Was there something wrong?" He asked blankly.
A vein popped. "Hah? Obviously there was. Your passes were all over the place. Did this have to do with that photo? What's wrong with liking basketball the most?"
Ever so slightly, Kagami caught the wan youth's eyes narrow.
Kuroko abruptly stopped. "You're right. There's nothing wrong with liking basketball the most. In fact, it would be better if it was like that," he murmured as he rummaged through this bag, retrieving the camera inside.
"Huh?"
"Well…I think if it's Kagami-kun, I can say this." Kuroko stated as he handed the camera over to Kagami.
"What's this for?"
"Take a picture of me Kagami-kun," Kuroko ordered as he stepped back, sky blue eyes staring straight at the lenses.
"Huh? I don't see what that's got to do with anything but…sure," he shrugged before clicked the button.
*SNAP*
A photo slipped out.
Kagami pulled it out of the slot and stared. "…Huh? There's no basketball in this one," he blinked…before the truth dawned on him.
He head darted towards Kuroko, as if wanting him to confirm his suspicions.
Kuroko didn't deny it. Taking back the camera, he muttered in a somber tone, "yes, I lied. The basketball at that time was a coincidence. I'm…empty."
His light had his jaw dropped in shock. "Hah?! What are talking about? There's no way you could be empt—"
"Oiiii~ Hey, Kurokocchi, Kagamicchi!" A clearly not atmospherically appropriate tone of joy exclaimed as the two suddenly turned, meeting a blond youth with a single silver earring bounding towards them in an extremely fashionable cardigan and jeans.
"K-kise!" Kagami recognized once the model arrived.
"What are you doing here Kise-kun?" Kuroko asked, neither of the two giving him a proper "hello".
"Well, I had a fashion shoot here today in Tokyo but because of the Winter Cup, I'll be staying in town for a while," Kise explained. "What are you and Kagamicchi doing here? Kurokocchi lived in a more secluded area in Tokyo right?"
"Well, besides the fact that it's disturbing that you know where I live, we're going to Maji Burger together," Kuroko deadpanned, slipping in a snide comment.
Kise flinched. "Eh?! You're so mean Kurokocchi! Don't you remember that we went to your house together once?!"
"…No." Was the youth's immediately reply.
Kise faked heartbreak.
Kagami was starting to get really annoyed.
But, immediately afterwards, the model released a nostalgic smile. "But hmm, Maji Burger huh? We used to go there a lot back in middle school." He mused.
"…Yes, we did." Kuroko evenly replied.
Kise lit up. "Right?! Ah, it was pretty messy, especially how Kurokocchi would always order vanilla shakes and both Aominecchi and Akashicchi would finally be on the same side for once to make you eat more. Then it would always get so noisy that Midorimacchi would start complaining again and accidentally smack Murasakicchi's fries away. Then, then, so many things would happen that we would either be killed by Akashicchi, or we'd get kicked out of the restaurant!" He sighed.
A hint of a smile passed Kuroko's lips. "…That's certainly true."
"Right?! Everything was so messed up!" Kise exclaimed before he stopped, a soft smile forming on his features. "But…even if it was filled with stuff like that, I really loved those days," he smiled, turning to stare at the orange-hazed sky.
The sight of his shimmering golden hair was promtply enhanced by the light of the setting sun, showering him, especially his eyes that were streaked in nostalgia, in a gorgeous golden glow.
Kuroko widened his eyes.
He instantly held up his camera.
"…Kise-kun, please turn around."
"Eh?"
*SNAP*
A photo slipped out.
Kuroko stared at the sight. He smiled.
It definitely was... a camera that could make you cry.
Well that's it for today!
In 2-3 days, I'll definitely have the next chapter up so I hope you enjoyed this so far and LOL sorry guys, a lot of you theorized that Kuroko loved basketball the most and I'm sorry, I didn't plan to but...I kinda ended up using that against you LOLOL /shot/
But please continue guessing because you guys are definitely on the right track, it's just that I'm twisting around possible thoughts a bit LOL
Also, if you can, please leave a review! I'd love to see what you guys think right now (and if you want to kill me or not LOL)