Entry#4:

Heartbreak

It was already 2 am, and Kuroko couldn't sleep. He badly wanted to, but he can't, all because of some g*d*mn fanfic about Akashi's old man being the ultimate bastard of a father who doesn't give a sh*t about his son. He felt so bad and so powerless about Akashi's predicament. But there was nothing he could do about it: he was just 14, a middle-schooler, and a nobody.

He felt like crying again.

There was probably nothing he could do, except to support Akashi from the shadows like the shadow he always considered himself to be. Aomine may be his Light, but right now, Akashi needed him more than Aomine. And so, he promised himself that starting that day, he would support Akashi in any way he can.

Winter Cup was over and graduation was right around the corner. Midorima and Akashi were at a family restaurant, discussing about turning over their basketball positions to their juniors. When they were done, Midorima started packing his notes. It was then that Akashi asked him something.

"It's almost Kuroko's birthday, right?" the redhead asked.

"Yes, why?" he asked, though he eyed the doors longingly.

"This past year, Kuroko's been a little... too attentive to me lately," Akashi said.

"Now that you mentioned it..." Midorima paused, thinking back, "... he's been following you constantly, giving you snacks, towels and sports drink after practice, and everyday bentou filled with hard boiled eggs."

"He also insists on doing my classroom duties even if we're not in the same class," Akashi added.

"Really? Maybe he's just grateful to you or something," he said. He didn't have the time to be having this kind of conversation with Akashi, and he wanted to end it quickly. But it seems that Akashi had other plans.

"I don't think so. I mean, he is, but I don't think it's just that. I think that... well, I don't want to sound vain, but I think that he... likes me," Akashi said the last part in a whisper.

"Huh? What's wrong with that?" He didn't find anything wrong with it. Akashi was well-liked by the entire student body after all.

"In a romantic sense, Midorima. I think Kuroko likes me."

Midorima suddenly choked on nothing. "What?!"

"Quiet, Midorima. Well, you've never been sharp about these things. I don't think you also know that Momoi-san likes Kuroko?"

"She does?!"

"See? You're a little slow when it comes to these stuff."

That got Midorima thinking. He thought back about the other guys in the club, and how they interacted with each other. "... Does that mean Kise... to Aomine...? " He couldn't finish it. Just thinking about it made him a little sick.

"... I think Kise is more into Kuroko," Akashi remarked.

"I see... Anyway, is that all you want to tell me?" he asked politely, though he was getting a bit impatient. He wanted to go home and watch Fa*ry Ta*l. He admired the heroine's magic for being able to summon the zodiac, and he secretly wanted those keys.

"I think that I should reject him," Akashi said, ignorant of Midorima's restlessness.

"Huh? Did he confess to you?"

"No. But graduation is almost here. It might give him funny ideas to confess. I don't want to hurt his feelings, so I want to subtly reject him subtly he does."

"Well, that's the best way, I think." He really doesn't know about these stuff, so he'll just let Akashi do what he thinks is best. Besides, he badly needed to get home.

It was around his 15th birthday that Kuroko noticed that Akashi was acting strange. His captain started showing interest in girls, often asking him about his opinion. Of course, it shouldn't have been strange, Akashi was a normal and healthy male after all. But there was one time he caught Akashi reading one of Aomine's gravure magazines, and he thought that it was very 'not like Akashi.'

He thought that, perhaps, the stress from his strict household was finally affecting Akashi. And so, he tried to answer all his questions, and even did some internet research about it. With how strict Akashi's father was, chances were most of the sites not related to academics were blocked, and Akashi could be totally ignorant about dating and stuff that involved girls.

Then one day, Akashi told him that he might be interested in a girl. Kuroko was a little worried at first, because Akashi was from a prestigious family and he might be taken advantage of. But in the end, he told him that he'll root for him.

But there were just some misgivings that he couldn't shake off. He tried to follow Akashi, wanting to learn more about the girl he's interested in. He wanted to make sure that the girl was right for Akashi.

In the end, he never found out about the girl, and Akashi wouldn't tell him either. And more often than not, there was this worried frown on his captain's face.

Kuroko didn't like it. There was only a few days left before the graduation day, and he wanted Akashi to have the best middle school memory. So he decided to play cupid. He encouraged Akashi write a love letter, even giving him some examples he made. He bought chocolates and flowers and gave them to Akashi to give them to the girl (because he thinks Akashi can't buy them with his father breathing down his neck). And on graduation day, he even asked if Akashi wanted him to deliver his second button to that girl, though Akashi insisted that there was no need for it.

In the end, Kuroko wasn't sure if Akashi won the girl he liked. But Akashi was smiling by the end of the graduation ceremony, so it was all fine for him.

Akashi and his father were finally on their way to Kyoto riding the bullet train. His father had taken a week off from work just to stay with him in Kyoto, if only for a little while. Akashi had told him that it was unnecessary, but his father insisted, so he had no choice but to give in.

"I thought you wanted to study near Tokyo so you won't be separated from your friends?" his father asked from the seat across him.

Akashi sighed. That was his plan at first, but he decided that he needed to distance himself from Kuroko. The last few months were especially hard for him. When he tried to show Kuroko that he was only interested in girls, Kuroko wasn't fazed by it at all. He even gave him tips about how to court a girl, which included buying her a vanilla milkshake (that was very suspicious). So, he told a little lie to Kuroko about being interested in a girl. He hoped that Kuroko would distance himself... but no! Kuroko started stalking him out of jealousy! It only got worse afterwards. Kuroko gave him love letters, chocolates, and even flowers, all under the guise of 'a present for your girl.' The last one was a close call. Kuroko almost got his second button!

He gave another sigh. In the end, he didn't think he have persuaded Kuroko to give up on him, but he hoped that the distance will make it easier for Kuroko to move on.

"Love hurts, doesn't it?" Akashi asked no one in particular.

"It does," his father answered. The older Akashi was silently contemplating about his son for a while. He noticed the dark rings under his son's eyes, and the slightly melancholic expression on his face. Now he understood why his son changed his mind.

"... Do you want a hug?" the older Akashi offered.

"No thanks," the younger one plainly replied.

The older Akashi thought that his son had really grown up if getting hugs would embarrass him. Somehow, it made him a little sad. So he just squeezed his son's shoulder in a comforting gesture. " You're still young. There are still plenty of opportunities in the future."

Akashi just sighed. His father was right. What Kuroko was experiencing was just young love. He'll be able to get over it, given time.

But right now, Kuroko must be hurting. Kuroko tried his best to make him return his feelings, but in the end, he just can't. But despite everything, he still considered Kuroko a good friend, and it pains him to be the cause of Kuroko's misery. He must really feel heartbroken right now. He wanted to call him, but trying to comfort the teal-head himself would only make the matters worse. So he decided to call Kise and ask him to give Kuroko a lot of hugs. He knows that Kuroko would need it.

OMAKE

"Hello?"

"Ah, hello Midorima-kun. This is Kuroko. I called to ask about Akashi-kun. Is he going to live with his father in Kyoto?"

"I don't think so. Their company's main branch is here in Tokyo. He said it'll just be him and a few servants."

"Ah, that's good to hear."

"... Kuroko, are you alright?"

"Hm? Yes, I am. Why?"

"... Nothing. I-it's okay to cry sometimes. It's not a weakness to cry!"

"What are you trying to say, Midorima-kun?"

"N-nothing! Bye!"

"..."

.

PBJane: ... And in the end, Akashi's father thought that the reason why Akashi wanted to transfer to Kyoto was because of a heartbreak. Anyway, I wanted to do a Himuro and Murasakibara or a Takao and Midorima, but it seems that I'm still stuck with Kuroko and Akashi bunnies running inside my head. And I'm soooo dead. I'm not supposed to be writing anything right now. OTL