The Art of Perceptibility

Chapter 3: Comfort

Kise stared unseeingly out into the distance.

Aomine had grown exponentially stronger since middle school. It was hard to believe that it had been less than a year ago that he was teammates with that monster. Kise sighed, closing his eyes and willing himself to relax in the final minutes of half time. He savoured the tingling sensation of the summer breeze drying off the perspiration on his face.

A moment later a very different tingle ran down his spine.

Kuroko.

So he had come after all.

Kise scoffed internally. "Of course Kuroko had come, Aomine was playing," he told himself, stomping down hard on the scrap of hope that had bloomed in his chest. The model steadied himself before turning to the smaller boy with wide eyes.

"Kurokocchi!"

He hadn't expected two pairs of identical powder blue eyes to stare back at him. The slight jolt of surprise was genuine this time.

"What's with the dog?"

"I kept him in my bag while I was watching, so I thought I would let him get some fresh air during the break."

Kise bent down, alternating his gaze between the cute little husky to the equally (if not more) cute teenager holding him. He held back a snicker, "There's plenty I could say about that."

Kise paused, gnawing on his lip. He knew he wasn't going to like the answer but he pushed on, "So, what is Kurokocchi doing here?"

"We were training nearby until yesterday, so we decided to come watch the Inter-High together."

His heart sank.

Affecting a teasing smile, he withdrew from Kuroko and leant back against the railing, "So you didn't come to cheer me on."

It wasn't a question. But regardless, the reply came swiftly.

"No."

Kise felt his heart give a sharp squeeze, "So mean~!"

It was a game Kise often played to distract himself from his heartache. He would voice his inner thoughts faithfully but twist his tone and expression just enough so the meaning would be misconstrued by the shadow. He continued on in a lilting voice, "By the way…between Aominecchi and me, who do you think will win?"

The blonde was surprised that the answer wasn't immediate. Instead the phantom player was looking at him in consideration before replying softly, "I don't know."

"What?" Kise cocked his head and looked over at his friend in question.

Kuroko returned his gaze squarely, "As long as you don't give up, anything could happen, and I don't think either of you will give up."

Kise's breath caught in his throat. During their Teiko years, he had made it his personal mission to become adept in reading not only Kuroko's micro-expressions but also the important but unspoken words the shadow often omitted in their conversation. He thought he knew what Kuroko was really trying to tell him.

"Don't give up. I believe in you."

The Seirin player continued, "So, I don't think it would be strange if either of you won."

Kise hummed happily, "I'll go do my best, then."

A sharp yap caught his attention. Kuroko looked startled.

Kise shifted uncomfortably, "Huh? What?"

"Nothing. I just thought you would say, 'I'll definitely win!'"

Kise huffed a slightly self-deprecating laugh. He was so tired. He was exhausted of putting on the chirpy, cheerful front that everyone had come to expect from him. In that moment, he just wanted Kuroko to see him, the real Kise. Dropping all pretence, he answered seriously. "Of course that's what I'm trying to do, but honestly, I don't know either. In middle school, it was natural for us to win, but…" Kise trailed off.

At least it had been natural for Aomine to win. Whether it be official matches, their one-on-one challenges, or a certain blunette's affections, Aomine had always come out on top as the victor. Kise felt the familiar bitterness rising in his chest.

"I feel better now not knowing if I'll win."

But he did know. He had known it in Teiko, known it during the Seirin and Tōō match, and he knew it now.

He wouldn't win.

Kise could happily strangle Aomine. That bastard had destroyed Kuroko.

The blonde had seen how devastated Seirin's loss had been for the pale boy and while he respected basketball too much to ever suggest for anyone to go easy on their opponent, it had been completely unnecessary for Aomine to crush their ex-teammate's spirit and will in that manner.

Midorima's words had been redundant. Kise knew exactly how much damage had been dealt to Kuroko's psyche, seeing his basketball rendered useless in the face of the raw talent of Aomine.

His blood seemed to froth angrily within him. He wanted to hurt Aomine.

Kise's jaw tightened, as he tried to regain control of his emotions. Kuroko would be furious if he acted impulsively, even if it was in his defence.

So instead of hunting down Aomine and bashing his stupid face in like he really, really wanted to, Kise waited quietly by the exit exclusively used by the players. He nodded to the defeated figures that made up Seirin's team as they trailed out and even clapped Kagami briefly on the back in support when the red head passed him.

He hadn't expected Kagami to pause and turn a thoughtful gaze on him before nodding in apparent satisfaction, "Look after him." The red head scrubbed at his red-rimmed eyes roughly, "God knows we can't right now."

It was another twenty minutes before the phantom player appeared at the doorway. He looked exhausted and drained. Kise wordlessly took Kuroko's sports bag from him and with a gentle hand at his back, steered him towards a quiet café that he knew from personal experience offered a private and soothing environment.

Kise pushed a vanilla milkshake in front of Kuroko and leant back to sip at his coffee. He sat patiently with the other boy, silently offering his company and support.

Not a single word passed between the two in the following hours.

The silence was finally broken as they walked towards the train station.

"Thank you, Kise-kun."

The blonde started, not expecting the depth of gratitude and fondness in Kuroko's voice. He smiled fondly down at Kuroko and gently ruffled his hair, "Anytime, Kurokocchi."

Kuroko offered him a barely there smile. It was more than enough to send Kise's heart thundering, threatening to pound straight through his ribs and transforming the model's smile into a blinding beam. Kuroko blinked at him for a few moments before looking away. Kise could have sworn that there was the tiniest flush to the other boy's cheeks. His train of thought was derailed when Kuroko turned back to him, this time determination shining in his eyes.

"Next time, I'm going to win. I will make Aomine-kun acknowledge my basketball."

The wattage of Kise's grin fell and then immediately returned, albeit dimmer and a little forced. Even now, Aomine was in the forefront of Kuroko's mind.

"Of course you will, Kurokocchi!"

Kaijo lost.

Even though Kise had half-expected it, he still couldn't stop the hot tears from escaping. Despite the way Aomine had sneered, he couldn't regret his decision of passing the ball in that crucial moment. Kuroko had taught him the importance of believing in your teammates, and Kise refused to abandon that.

It was comforting to know that his team grieved with him, that they held no grudge or dissatisfaction with his performance. Rather, they had all given him watery smiles and praised him. Even Kasamatsu-senpai.

Still, it was a relief when the locker room had emptied and Kise could finally sob in frustrated disappointment. He had played harder than he had ever had in his life and yet it wasn't enough. The model couldn't help but think – when it came down to it – he wasn't enough.

Kise rose shakily to his feet, trying to ward off the insecurities that threatened to overwhelm him.

He was stunned to find Kuroko waiting outside the door.

"K-kuroko…cchi?"

The other teenager flashed a soft, comforting smile at him.

"Come on, Kise-kun."