The Art of Perceptibility
Chapter 6: The Other Side
Damn it.
Kuroko gave into the overwhelming urge and dropped his head heavily onto the table repeatedly.
Aomine and Kagami paused in their bickering to look at him in concern.
"Tetsu…?" Aomine asked tentatively.
The head of pale blue hair lifted abruptly and Kuroko whipped around to glare at his two best friends.
Kagami backed away unconsciously, raising his hands in surrender, "W-what's your problem, Kuroko?"
"You two. You're my problem. I told you that this was my first date with Kise-kun. Why would you then go and tag along?!" Kuroko's voice rose with each word and finished in a near shout.
Aomine huffed uncomfortably and turned away to scowl out the window, remaining resolutely silent. The unspoken message that it was up to Kagami to explain was heard loud and clear.
Kagami cleared his throat nervously and defensively crossed his arms across his chest before muttering, "We wanted to make sure the blonde bastard wouldn't try something funny. He's always hanging all over you and…"
The redhead trailed off nervously as a dark aura seemed to surround his shadow. Aomine who had previously been nodding along to Kagami's words froze.
"Does Aomine-kun and Kagami-kun believe that I can't look after myself?" Kuroko asked in a deathly quiet voice. "Is it because they believe that I am…weak?"
"NO!" two voices simultaneously and vehemently denied.
The pale boy continued to glower at them.
"Um…would you look at the time?!" Aomine yelled, glancing at the non-existent watch on his wrist and rising to his feet. "I'm, er, supposed to…shop for…socks! With Satsuki! Don't want to make her wait around, right?"
He chuckled nervously before turning and darting out the door.
"Bastard!" Kagami sputtered, before quickly making his own excuse. Something about the dire need to reorganise his cutlery drawer and escaped out of the café, hot on Aomine's heels.
Kuroko sighed.
What was he going to do now?
The first time Kuroko had seen Kise had stopped him dead in his tracks. His heart seemed to freeze in his chest and there didn't seem to be nearly enough air in the room all of sudden.
The blonde model was beautiful.
He was utter perfection. Tall, lithely muscular form of broad shoulders, narrow hips, and strong legs, honeyed hair that seemed to float with his every movement, bright, mischievous golden eyes that seemed to shine with the light of a thousand suns and rimmed with the longest eyelashes Kuroko had ever seen, full soft-looking lips that were quick to be pulled into a dazzling smile, and that voice.
It could be soft and husky when he was cajoling, sparkling with delight when he was happy, lilting and playful when he was teasing, deep and rich and sending shivers down Kuroko's spine when he was serious. Kuroko found himself treasuring even the whiny, petulant tone Kise took on when he was in a particularly childish mood.
Kuroko hadn't expected for the blonde to return the favour and take notice of him; he had thought that he wouldn't have contact with Kise outside of practice. So surprise was an understatement when he found Kise waiting for him every morning at the school gate without fail, whether it was pouring with rain or hot enough to make even Akashi look like he was wilting. Kise found him every lunch break, chattering his ear off and happily sharing all the best bentos and snacks his fans had given him. After practice, it became the norm for the blonde to plaster himself across Kuroko's shoulders, fighting for his attention with their ace.
At first, Kuroko had thought that his lack of presence was something of a novelty to the model, and that's why he had stuck around. But then Kuroko slowly came to the realisation – with a healthy dash of wonder and awe – that Kise seemed to be aware of him at all times. His suspicious began when he noticed a slight delay in Kise's shocked reactions when Kuroko would sneak up on him. And it was confirmed to the shadow during a tournament's opening ceremony when Kise had effortlessly spotted him across the crowded hall, when he, himself, had trouble finding his teammates, one of whom was easily the tallest in the room.
That realisation had probably been what tipped Kuroko over the edge and sent him tumbling in love with Kise. It was an unprecedented feat, even Kuroko's parents had trouble with keeping track of their son's presence as he had grown older. The thought that he was valued enough to be constantly on someone's mind and attention never failed to kick up his heart rate and send a bubble of warmth to float in his chest and make him glow with happiness.
So Kuroko moved onto another theory. He had rationalised that the model was used to being in the spotlight and for someone to not acknowledge him immediately must have been a bruise to his ego, and Kuroko tried so very to seem unmoved and impassive towards Kise and his antics. Even more so than towards anyone else, because if Kuroko slipped for even an instant, everyone would be able to see the actual depth of his fondness and affection for the blonde.
But as Kuroko got to know Kise better, he came to acknowledge that despite his looks, popularity, intelligence, talents and overwhelmingly charismatic personality, the blonde was, at the core, a humble and genuinely friendly person who thought the best of everyone.
That left only one reason left.
Kise liked him.
The very thought that he might reciprocate his feelings sent Kuroko reeling with shock. Kuroko would freely admit that he was probably above average in the looks department, and he was smart enough, ranking consistently in the top third of his grade. But other than that, what did he have to offer to someone of Kise's calibre? Kuroko had struggled with crippling self-doubt and burning jealousy as he watched hordes of girls, each more pretty than the one before her had confessed to the blonde, only to be politely and kindly rejected.
He continued his seeming indifference and kept waiting for the other shoe to drop, but Kise's devotion had been unwavering. Even during those awful last months at Teiko, Kise had continued to approach Kuroko outside of basketball, trying to valiantly not let their issues on the court spill into their friendship. In the second last week of school Kise had pulled Kuroko aside to ask him to join Kaijo with him. When Kuroko had softly brought up the issue that such a prestigious school wouldn't accept him and his meagre skills, Kise had been angry, demanding that, "Kurokocchi, you better not sell yourself short! You're one of the people I respect and admire the most. No one insults Kurokocchi, not even Kurokocchi himself!"
The blonde had further explained that he had spoken to the principal of Kaijo personally and had arranged for Kuroko's acceptance be part of the requirements of Kise's enrolment.
Kuroko had wanted to burst into tears, hearing that. The heaviness that had weighed him for the past few months lifting slightly.
Kise-kun still cared.
But Kuroko had a plan and was determined to see it through. He had regretfully turned down Kise's offer. At the blonde's disheartened look and blink-and-you'll-miss-it flash of hurt in those soft honey eyes, Kuroko's chest had tightened. More than anything he wanted to retract his words and tell him, 'Yes, I'll follow Kise-kun anywhere, for as long as you want me to.'
However, stubbornness stayed Kuroko's tongue, although he did manage to utter a quiet, "I'm sorry Kise-kun."
Kise had given him a forced smile in return.
Kuroko had hated himself a little then, for causing the other boy pain. He loathed the way the blonde felt it was necessary for him to hide his true feelings. Kuroko resolved then, that on top of making his former teammates acknowledge his basketball, he would conquer this idiotic self-doubt and fear of his and he would make it clear to Kise that his feelings were returned in two-fold.
Kuroko had accomplished the former.
Seirin had won the Winter Cup and his friendship with the members of the Generation of Miracles was back on track, and stronger than ever.
Now, to get it through Kise's thick skull that Kuroko was unequivocally in love with him.