"Really? We'll take a break?! Yosh!"
The seirin basketball team cheered after their coach announced that they could cancel their basketball practice and take a day off.
"Yes, but we have to visit Kuroko-kun" Riko immediately said before they could make their own plans.
"That's a good idea, coach!" The three freshman agreed without any hesitation
"We also have to give him some flowers" Kiyoshi suggested wearing a goofy smile "What is he a girl?!" Hyuuga shouted before Riko smacked him with a clipboard she's holding
"You're too loud, moron" she reprimanded
"Let's go, the earlier the better, right Mitobe?" Koganei said while Mitobe gave a thumbs up and a nod as an answer
"How about let's just bring Kuroko-kun a fruits?" One of the freshmen, Furihata said
"It's settled then, let's buy fruits and let's visit Kur- what's wrong Kagami-kun?" Riko asked the redhead since he noticed that he didn't say a word ever since they started the discussion
"Ah, eh? Oh, I was just thinking if it's possible to buy a vanilla milkshake in Maji for Kuroko"
"That's a good idea Kagami-kun!" Riko beamed but immediately realized something "... but it's unhealthy for him" she said with a sad and disappointed face
"Nevermind that let's just buy a fruits and visit Kuroko!" Hyuuga said
"Domo*cough m-minna-san, it's been a *cough* cough long time" Kuroko said with a little difficulty
The seirin just continued to stand in front of him, looking at him with mixed emotions. It just been a month since they last visited him and yet they didn't expect him to look like this... he looked... different. Kuroko who noticed the look of their faces smiled slightly.
"Oi Kuroko it's been a while! We bought you some fruits!" Kagami cheerfully said, breaking their stupor
"A-ah, sorry for not visiting you for a long time" Riko said putting the fruits on the table
"It okay coach, I'm sorry for being a trouble"
"Mmm mmm, not at all Kuroko-kun, not at all" Kiyoshi butted in as he shook his head
"Ah Kuroko-kun do you want me to peel an apple for you?" Koganei offered
"Please do"
"Oi kōhai! Why are you lying there! You should start practicing basketball again and stop making your senpais and everyone else worry!" Hyuuga reprimanded Kuroko
"Maa~ maa~ Hyuuga don't be so hard to our kohai, you're scaring them" Kiyoshi jokingly said
"Senpai, I'm *cough not *cough scared, although Kagami-kun might be"Kuroko retorted with a deadpanned face
"O-oi, Kuroko, y-you bastard!" Kagami said.
Laughter erupted into Kuroko's hospital room. They talk about many things, telling jokes, teasing one another until night.
"Excuse me, visiting hours is almost over" the nurse announced
"Eh? Really?" Kiyoshi said feeling disappointed
"Kuroko-kun get well soon, we'll be waiting for you!" The freshman cheered encouraging Kuroko before going out
"I'll be heading now Kuroko-kun. Get well very soon I want to see your passes again" Furihata said while grinning widely. Kuroko replied with a small smile
"Hear that kouh-"
"Hyuuga!" Riko said before their captain starts to reprimand Kuroko.
"We'll be leaving now, and Mitobe said that he's looking forward visiting you again" Koganei and Mitobe took their leave next
Izuki opened his mouth to say something "-"
"Izuki! No puns!" All of them said, Izuki sulked for a second before laughing with them
"All of you are such a bully! Mah, Kuroko-kun we'll visit again" he gave him a peace sign
"Ah Kuroko-kun get well soon and..." Riko said as her aura became scary "...your training menu is tripled"
"H-hai, coach" Kuroko said trembling a little
"Ah, Kuroko make sure you eat healthy food!" Kiyoshi lectured
"Are you nuts, he's in the hospital" Hyuuga said
"You better prepare yourself, Kuroko-kun. You have a lot things to catch up."
"Well then we'll take our leave." Riko said while waving her hand
"Ja, see you soon"
"Thank you for visiting" Kuroko softly said, suddenly feeling tired
"No problem, kohai!" Hyuuga joked
"I'll be back Kuroko." Kagami gloomily said
"Hai" he looked at Kagami's back. He knew that the whole seirin team is just trying their best not to cry in front of him. They were laughing but he could see the sadness in their eyes. He smiled sadly to himself. The feeling of guilt and sadness waved through him
"Gomenasai, minna"
"A-are~? W-what's this *hic why are w-we *hic crying?" Riko asked while wiping the tears that managed to escape her eyes.
When the senpais left the room they were surprised to see the whole team sitting outside the hospital with a sad, gloomy aura surrounding them
"No*hic w-we can't *hic c-cry" Koganei cried loudly
Hyuuga just stood on the corner while clenching his teeth trying his best not to cry.
"I-i *hic w-why him?! *hic I d-don't *hic understand a-at *hic all!"
They cried loudly unable to hold themselves any longer.
"I know something like this would happen" a voice said
"K-kaga *hic mi!" They all said in unison
"K-kuroko didn't want you t-to be worried, s-so stop, you a-all look pa-"
"Kagami-kun" Furihata called
"What? I'm speaking!"
"Y-you're also crying"
"A-ah?" He said as he touched his own face, true enough he was crying
"N-no I'm not'' he defended
"You're telling us not to cry but you're crying, bakagami" Riko teased
"And here I thought Kagami, looked like an adult for a second" Kiyoshi added
"Bakagami is bakagami afterall"
"O-oi! Cut it out!" They laugh out loud feeling a little relieved after crying
"Y-yeah, we shouldn't cry" Izuki said
"Let's go home everyone.."
"... we still have training after all" they shuddered when they heard the word training "H-hai!"
"Ah Kuroko-san can I say something to you in private?" The doctor said making Tetsuo wary of the 'audience'
"S-sure"
They walk inside the doctor's office. The doctor sighed deeply before bringing out the news
"We're running out of time Kuroko-san"
"W-what do you mean?"
The doctor brought out the results of the recent tests that Tetsuya took.
"Here" he gave it to Tetsuo, who relucantly accepted it
"This is the old test result and this is the new one"
"The virus had already damaged some parts of the lungs and it's still continuing to damage it. His continuously coughing and when his heart stopped, that's the proof. I'm still looking for a cure but..." he look at Tetsuo before continuing
"Kuroko-san I hate to be blunt...," "But his condition is not improving, it just keeps getting worst"
"Wh-!"
"I-impossible..."
"T-that's n-not"
Tetsuo was speechless, he didn't know what to do and what to say. He felt numb and he felt cold after the doctor brought out the news -
Tetsuya looked at the sky outside. A tear managed to escape in his eye. He closed his eyes and lift the corner of his lips then whispered sadly
"Why?"
A/N: i know, iknow i'm late but as a compensate i'll update soon because i'm already halfway into finishing it!
BlueBird Sama, thank you for being the 100th reviewer! As a reward i'll give you this *virtual hug*
And yay i can't believe this story got many reviews! I thank minna from the bottom of my heart ! ^_^
have a good day, minna!
P.s. the ending of the knb manga makes me sad and happy at the same time.