Oretachi no Taiga ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai!

(Our Taiga Can't Be This Cute!)

Chapter 7

Our Taiga and the School Cultural Festival Part I

Meitantei Taiga: Ally of Justice (pt. II)

Kagami woke up at the sight of white ceiling above him. Where was he? The last thing he remembered, he was somewhere near the soccer clubroom… Ah, yes… He got beaten up. Maybe that's why his body hurt so much. It was even hurt to take a breath. Kagami coughed as he felt his throat was dry. He wanted to drink… He wanted to drink something…

"Taiga? You're awake?"

Kagami tried to turn his head. Himuro's face came into view, looking very worried.

"…water…" Kagami said, his voice was barely a whisper. Himuro quickly reached out for the glass next to the bed and helped Kagami to drink.

"Akashi-kun and the rest told me what happened. I quickly rushed here when Kiyoshi called. I have to tell your father…"

"No…" said Kagami. His voice sounded clearer now. "Where am I?"

"School infirmary," Himuro said. "You were out for a few hours, it turns out your wounds aren't life threatening. Bruises, and scraps… And your left eye was a bit swollen…" Himuro said, there was a weird tone in his voice. "A moment I turned my back, you keep getting into trouble…" Himuro sighed. "Let me call the doctor, okay?"

Himuro waited until the doctor done. No further damage. He only needed his rest for now. Neither Kagami nor Himuro said anything, until a soft knock came from the door. Kagami turned to the door and saw five figures stood in the door way. Himuro looked at Kagami, patted his shoulder and mumbled something about telling Kiyoshi that Kagami had woken up. As Himuro walked out of the room, the student council entered. All of them held a solemn look on their face. Akashi and Midorima put on their cold poker face, and Kagami could see the tear stains on Kise's face. For once, Murasakibara didn't munching his snack and Kuroko bit his lower lip in worry.

"How're you feeling, Taiga?" Akashi asked softly as he took a seat next to Kagami.

"I'm fine now…" said Kagami. He didn't dare to look up. He kept his gaze to his lap.

"Please, don't lie, Kagami-kun," Kuroko said. He walked closer and took Kagami's bandaged hand in his.

"I'm not… I'm fine…" said Kagami stubbornly. "Where's Aomine?"

"Somewhere," Midorima mumbled. He sat on Kagami's bed. Midorima sighed. "You got us worried, Kagami," he said softly, very out of character for Midorima's usual tsundere-ness.

"I… I'm sorry…" Kagami whispered. He couldn't look up at the faces of his friends. He messed things up. He knew he should've involved the student councils. Akashi and the others were busy already, and he only burdened them. Kagami knew he had disappointed them, and Kagami didn't want to see the crestfallen looks on their face. "How about Sakurai and Haizaki?"

"Sakurai is okay. Reo and the others from Cooking Club are there for him. As for Haizaki…" Akashi said the name in disgust and hate. "We still haven't done anything to him because Taiga told us not to… But I will see to his punishment. I can't allow violence in the school ground."

Kagami bit his lip. He really had messed up. Instead of helping them, he only caused more trouble. For once, Kagami felt useless. He tried to talk to Haizaki, get him to confess. He thought if he let him being beaten, Haizaki's anger would subdue and he would listen to Kagami and Sakurai. It was stupid really. And yet, when he looked into those stormy grey eyes, he knew Haizaki just feeling lost. Kagami's mother always told him that he had to help anyone in need, no matter if he liked them or not. Kagami might not know Haizaki that well, but after he heard Sakurai's story and saw it with his own eyes, he knew Haizaki needed him.

But Kagami forgot one thing. He caused much trouble for the student councils. He couldn't look into their eyes. Even if Akashi, Kuroko, and Midorima spoke to him in a soft tone, deep inside, they blamed him.

Without realizing it, a single tear had wet his cheek. And the other came after that. In a few minutes, he had become a sobbing mess, whispering apologize to everyone. He felt two pairs of arm hold him in a soft embrace. He looked up and saw Murasakibara had put him in his bear hug.

"Don't cry, Kaga-chin~" he said softly. Kagami could feel Kuroko still hold his hand and squeezed it softly. Kise also latched himself to Kagami's side and bawled like a kid.

"Please don't cry, Kagamicchi…! It's my job to cry, not Kagamicchi's-ssu!" Kise said, his voice was slightly muffled since he buried his face on Kagami's shoulder. Akashi smiled slightly at the scene before him. He knew it was Kagami's bad habit to think about everyone else before him. Even when he got injured, he still worried about Sakurai, Aomine, and that bastard Haizaki.

"It's not your fault, Kagami-kun," said Kuroko as he gently patted Kagami's head. "But please, next time, be more considerate, okay? I know it's good to care about other people, but it's also good if you acted selfishly every once in a while…"

Kagami looked very guilty at Kuroko's words, but seeing everyone's expression, he knew they were worried sick about him.

"I'm really sorry… everyone…" Kagami whispered softly and bowed his head.

"Don't feel sorry, Taiga." Kagami could feel a cold hand cupped his face gently and made him looked up to a certain face of the Student Councils and Host Club president. A soft smile on Akashi's face looked very uncharacteristic, and yet, Kagami could feel the warm feeling inside. "We were just worried when we saw you there… We felt like a failure… No… I felt like a failure because I couldn't protect you."

Kagami's eyes widened when he saw the same expression on everyone's face. Sadness, mixed with guilty, being covered up with a soft smile…

"You are our most precious person, Kagami-kun," Kuroko said as he brought Kagami's bandaged hand to his lips and kissed it softly. "And it hurts us to see you like this…"

Now, Kagami was blushing. Was he that important to them? They really cared about him, and Kagami couldn't help but felt the butterflies in his stomach. They cared about him. They thought of him as their most precious person… Kagami let out a bright smile, and Kise swore (later) the room was getting brighter at Kagami's smile.

"I feel the same too, guys," said Kagami as he wiped the tears from his eyes. They talked for awhile, mostly about Haizaki and Aomine's punishment before Akashi said he had to talk to the Discipline Committee and told Kagami to rest. The rest of them followed him out, saying they still got jobs to do.

Midorima was the last one to close the door before he walked behind the group and smiled sadly.

"I feel the same too, guys."

Midorima sighed.

"But it's not the same, Kagami… Our feelings for you, it's not the same…"

It was only a whisper, but all of them could hear it. Kagami's innocent smile when he said those words… Kagami considered them as his most precious friends. Best friends…

"Damn, we're getting friend-zoned-ssu!" Kise said, depicting everyone's thought.

"As expected, Kagami-kun…" Kuroko commented. "His defense is too good."

They chuckled. Kagami was still Kagami. Always accepting, naïve, oblivious… But that was the qualities that attract people. He had drawn them to him without him realizing it. It was almost scary.

Aomine Daiki walked out of the Discipline Committee room. A week suspension, no weekend passes for a month, written letter of apology, and shortened curfew. Instead of staying awake until 10 during school days, he had to go to his bedroom at 9 o'clock for a month. Akashi had explained to the Discipline Committee about the incident and the cause of it. As for Haizaki, he got worse. Two weeks suspension, revoked weekend passes and such; with the additional punishment from Nijimura Shuzo; the Soccer club captain, from Akashi (personally), and also from Kagami's father (it seemed like Himuro or Kiyoshi decided to tell the man, and Kagami received at least ten calls that day from his father, asking if he should visit him, but Kagami quickly refused his visit).

"Dai-chan? How's the meeting with the Discipline Committee?" Momoi asked when Aomine entered the student councils' room.

"Ah, I got suspended, my weekend passes revoked and all that," he said casually. "How's Kagami?"

"He's alright now. No major injuries except for some cuts and bruises. He was asking about you though."

"Hm? Ah, yeah… Tell him I'm fine," said Aomine.

"Why don't you go and see him?" asked Momoi.

"Have you seen him yourself?" Aomine asked back.

"I have. I just got back from the infirmary. Kiyoshi-senpai and Himuro-senpai will help him to go back to the dorm since the doctor had given him a clear sign," Momoi said. "You should go see him, Dai-chan."

"Maybe later," Aomine said. He walked towards the dorm and sighed. It'll be a week; he would be coped up in the dorm. Aomine groaned. His parents had called, asking about what he had done, why he got suspended. Aomine didn't bother to explain since he could hear his mother called Momoi to ask the same question. He would stay at the dorm, and only the dorm. He couldn't go out, not even to the basketball court and such. Only in meal time he could go to the dining hall, and went back directly to his room.

Two days passed, he still avoiding Kagami. He knew for these past two days, Kagami would go to his room, knock on his door, wanting to talk, but Aomine ignored it. When it was meal time, Aomine always left the moment he saw Kagami, and it made the red head frustrated to his bones.

And Kagami couldn't hold it anymore.

"Aomine…! Open your Goddamn door! We need to talk!" Kagami yelled as he banging on Aomine's door.

Aomine ignored him.

"Aomine!"

Well, if he kept that up, the teacher on duty would tell him to stop because he disturbed the other students.

"Aomine…! Open up…!"

He'd get tired and leave eventually.

"Aomine…!"

Wait, was it just him or Kagami's voice had gotten weaker?

"Aomine… Please…!"

Indeed it was sounded weaker. Were his wounds getting worse or something? And he said 'Please…'

"Ao… mine…"

A violent cough and Aomine knew something wasn't right. He got up from his bed and yanked the door opened. There was Kagami, crouching down in front of his door, looking like he was in pain. Aomine started to panic. What to do? His wounds might be getting worse because all the yelling and banging on the door!

"O-oi… Kagami, are you okay?" Aomine crouched down next to Kagami, checking his condition. He could feel Kagami grabbed his wrist tightly before he looked up at Aomine and smirked at the dark-blue haired teen.

"Gotcha'!" Kagami said in his normal voice.

Before Aomine realized it, Kagami had pushed him into the room and he quickly followed before Aomine realized the situation. Kagami slammed the door shut behind him and turned to Aomine with a determined look on his face.

"We need to talk," Kagami said.

"You… You tricked me!" Aomine shouted as the realization came to him.

"Well, that's the only way to get you to open the door, Idiot!" Kagami shouted back. "You've been avoiding me… You didn't even come to the infirmary… Look, I know you're mad at me because I got you suspended… I came here to apologize."

"Huh?"

Kagami rubbed the back of his neck, looking down at the floor, avoiding Aomine's gaze as he continued.

"W-well… I had caused so much trouble for the student councils… A-and… I got you suspended while you guys were so busy with the upcoming festival and all… Especially you, since you got punished… A-and… I'm sorry…" Kagami mumbled. His face had turned red. He bit his lip nervously.

"DAMN WELL IT'S YOUR FAULT, YOU BAKAGAMI!" Aomine shouted. "Always playing hero like that…! Why the fuck did you let them beat you up like that?! Why the fuck did you not say anything to us? You got us worried sick, you Idiot! And… FUCK! You even protected that bastard who hurt you, DAMMIT!"

"W-well, it's not his fault…" Kagami walked closer, trying to reach for Aomine, but the tanned boy slapped his hand away, making Kagami winched at the sharp pain his wounds had caused.

Aomine stood there, looking guilty as he realized his harsh treatment had caused Kagami more pain. Kagami rubbed his pained wrist softly, still avoiding Aomine's glance. He kept his gaze on the floor, trying to hold down his tears. Aomine was right. It was his fault. He caused trouble for everyone, and even if they brushed it off, Kagami couldn't help but felt guilty. And now, Aomine had hated him too…

"Sit down, Kagami," Aomine said softly as he motioned to his bed.

Kagami obeyed him and sat on Aomine's bed, still holding his hand on his chest to create some protective barrier. The pregnant silence hung in the air. None of them said anything before Aomine sighed and crouched down in front of Kagami, taking the red-head's hurting hand gently. Kagami flinched at the touch, but he felt calm as Aomine rubbed his hand to sooth the pain.

"You've done something stupid, Bakagami," Aomine said quietly.

"I know."

"You should apologize for making us worried."

"I just did."

"Promise you wouldn't do anything reckless again?"

"I can't promise that," Kagami pouted.

"You're so stubborn, y'know?"

"You're arrogant."

"Baka."

"Aho."

Aomine took a deep breath to stop himself from throwing another insult.

"Look, I can't see you hurt like that. Not again," Aomine said softly as he caressed Kagami's bandaged head. There were still dark purple bruises here and there, though the swollen part had reduced, but it still pained him to see him like this. The image of Kagami, crouching on the ground, beaten, bloodied… It tightened his chest. "I care about you, okay? Don't ever try to pull something like that anymore."

Kagami startled at the sudden change of character. The Aomine he knew usually teased him, almost to the point of sexual harassment. He usually so proud, arrogant… Total ass, a jerk… Rude… But this Aomine… Kagami could feel the tanned hands that were still holding his was slightly trembled. He threw a confused look on Aomine. Was this… the real Aomine?

"I'm sorry…" Kagami mumbled.

The dark blue haired boy quickly retrieved his hand and smirked at Kagami.

"But the move you pulled now was very bold, Tiger~" said Aomine. "Barging into my room like that… And you didn't even resist when I told you to sit on my bed…"

"Huh?" now Kagami was really confused.

Before he realized it, Aomine had pushed him into the bed and climbed on top of Kagami. He held down Kagami's hands next the red head, careful to not giving too much pressure on the injured part. Kagami still needed some times to process the situation. Aomine leaned into Kagami, until the gap between their faces was less than a few inches. Kagami could feel Aomine's warm breath on his face.

"You let your guard down, Kagami~" Aomine whispered huskily.

"Wha—" Kagami loast his voice for a few seconds before the realization downed him and his face turned into fifty shades of red. "WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING, AHOMINE?!" Kagami roared and used his legs to kick Aomine off him. Aomine chuckled as Kagami quickly stood up with bright red face, almost put his own hair to shame. "You… YOU STUPID, ARROGANT , PERVERT GANGURO! I changed my mind about you!"

Aomine was laughing maniacally when Kagami stormed out of the room and slammed the door shut. He kept laughing until slowly it turned to small chuckle and died. He looked at his hands. There were still trembling. Aomine groaned as he threw himself to the bed. He had failed once. He had failed to protect Kagami and as the result... It pained him to see those bandages.

"Damn, Bakagami…"

Aomine closed his eyes.

When will you realize?

A/N : Ta-da! That's the second part~! Was that good? Please say it's good... *puppy eyes* Don't forget to leave a review~

And thanks for all the faves, review, follow, PM, and all that~! Especially thanks to kusen-kun who came up with this plot... Thank you very much~ *bow*