"Are you sure about this?" Kagami sounded doubtful, "I mean you've only been here two weeks."
"Yea, I'll be fine on my own, besides no one in the beginner's group likes me." I sighed, reclining deeper into the comfy sofa.
"That's true." Kuroko stated bluntly, just as Kagami protectively wrapped his good arm around Kuroko's shoulders.
"What about you? Are they treating you well?" Kagami's voice was full of concern for his boyfriend. In the two weeks I knew them; I have discovered them to be the loveliest couple I ever met. Kagami went so far as to becoming a receptionist after he broke his arm and couldn't compete for a while – just to be able to see Kuroko every day. Whenever they were together, Kuroko smiled at least three times as much as normally, and Kagami fussed over him like a mother hen.
"Don't worry, Kagami-kun. I'm fine." He smiled, nuzzling into the tall boy's chest.
"If anyone so much as looks at you funny, you come and tell me – I'll set them straight." Kagami replied, in a somewhat threatening tone. I was becoming more and more glad to be on his good side.
"I will, but don't do anything rash. Remember your arm is still healing." Kuroko mumbled back. Kagami kissed his forehead, and then turned to me.
"Kise, flat racing isn't my thing but I can teach you the basics. Of course only if you'd be interested." Kagami offered.
"Wow Kagamicchi! That would be awesome." I beamed at him across the coffee table, "Riding itself is actually more fun than I thought it would be – despite the lack of challenge." I frowned slightly.
"Perhaps you should look for a challenge in the form of a person, and not just a sport." Kuroko suggested. I looked over at him and opened my mouth to speak, then closed it again. The statement threw me so off guard; all I could muster was a weak nod.
"You could be right Tetsu." Kagami smiled at him kindly, "Only who? Give him some time and the guy will be better than me. For now, we'll get you a new horse and get practicing. Lait, though she's been doing a great job keeping up with you until now, isn't suited for high-speed riding." Kagami grinned back at me.
"With Kagami-kun's help, you might even be able to qualify for the upcoming tournament." Kuroko added, causing a smug grin to spread over the latter's face
"I understand. Umm…" I hesitated, not knowing if this was an appropriate request, but Kuroko beckoned me eagerly to continue, "Would it be ok if I chose the horse myself?"
"Of course it would be Kise-kun." Kuroko always spoke in such a soothing, mild voice. He was a complete contrast to Kagami's rough manner.
'A classic example of the 'opposites attract' principle.' I thought, smiling to myself, just as Kasamatsu entered the lavish lounge where we were sitting. He looked like a wreck as he sluggishly made his way over to us.
"Any luck today?" I asked as my friend stood over me with his head bowed. He let out a deep sigh and shook his head no.
"Kasamatsu-kun, what's wrong?" Kuroko asked, sounding concerned.
"It's been over two weeks and I haven't even caught a glimpse of Aomine." Kasamatsu groaned, completely dejected.
"Wait, all this time, you've been looking for Aomine?" Kagami interjected loudly.
"Aha," he breathed, turning to look at the red-head.
"But Aomine-kun is not here." Kuroko stated, calm as ever.
"Yea I figured that much out." Kasamatsu's sadness was gradually turning into anger. He folded his arms across his chest, and exhaled deeply to calm himself down.
"No, what Tetsu meant is that Aomine is never here." Kagami explained, slightly tightening his grip on Kuroko's shoulder, "You have a higher chance of winning the lottery than seeing that guy here."
"What?! Don't fuck with me like that!" Kasamatsu yelped, his legs giving way so that he landed on the sofa beside me with a dull thud.
"Uumm… Y-Yukiocchi, you ok?" I asked, not sure what to do.
"W-what do you mean Aomine-san's never here?" Kasamatsu blurted out in frenzy, "He has to train, and he has to come here." He insisted.
"Kagami-kun, don't scare Kasamatsu-kun," Kuroko said, gently lacing his fingers with the latter's, "The regionals are in two months right?" He inquired of his boyfriend, and Kagami nodded, realization passing over his face.
"You're in luck then, Kasamastu." Kagami grinned at my friend, though it was easy to tell he felt bad for his earlier words, "Whenever there's a tournament ahead, Ao's old man hauls him here to train. If my memory serves right, the prick should be arriving in no less than five weeks."
"You mean to say Aomine doesn't train, apart from when his father forces him to?" I struggled to believe such a revelation. Beside me Kasamatsu gawked at Kagami, his mouth open as though he wanted to speak but couldn't find words.
At that moment, the antique grandfather clock sounded, signaling a full hour. Kagami looked over towards it, and shot up from his seat at though electrocuted.
"Shit, I can't believe it's already three! Tetsu, guys, I need to leave my shift began fifteen minutes ago." Kagami hastily apologized, "I'll see you later." He gave Kuroko a quick peck on the cheek and ran off before either Kasamatsu or I could say anything else.
"Aomine-kun hates horse-riding." Kuroko spoke, unable to meet our eyes, "It wasn't always like that, eight years ago something happened and he…" His voice trailed off, and Kuroko bit his lip, "He just closed down. But that's a topic for a whole other conversation, and one you should have with Aomine-kun himself. Sorry – let's go pick out a horse, okay Kise-kun?"
'How can someone win the nationals three years in a row with next to no practice? This guy is seriously some next level shit. Though what's his problem? He's wasting his talent – I can't imagine how good he would be if he actually practiced like a normal person.' I couldn't wrap my head around this Aomine person anymore. It wasn't just the fact he was improperly good-looking – this new revelation really peaked my interest to the point where I knew I had to meet this guy in person.
Kuroko got up from the couch, and the look he gave us clearly signified that asking any more questions on the topic of Aomine would be futile. I also got out from my seat, ready to leave, when I noticed Kasamatsu staring absent-mindedly at… nothing in particular really.
"You coming?" I asked gingerly.
"Nah, I'll pass." He mumbled, "Sorry. Don't mind me."
"Kasamatsu-kun seemed really sad back there," Kuroko remarked, as the two of us slowly made our way over to the area of grass behind the tracks. I had just finished choosing a horse – it was brilliantly white with a mane that seemed as though it had been dyed in milky tea. Its name was Kumo, cloud, and I thought the name suited him perfectly – the manner with which he moved was so light and profound, he seemed to glide along – just as a cloud would. Kumo's build was that of a typical race horse – tall and slender.
"It's only to be expected – someone he's looked up for a long time is turning out to be a whole different person than Ksamatsucchi expected." I replied, feeling bad for my best friend.
"I understand." Kuroko came to a stop at the edge of the vast area of meadow, "Now Kumo-kun, this is Kise-kun and he'll be your master for some time, okay? Be nice, and I hope the two of you work well together." He spoke kindly, stroking the horse's mane.
"I look forward to working with you, Kumocchi!" I smiled at him, patting him on the head. In response, Kumo slightly lifted his front legs in an alternating motion, as though he was already anticipating the ride.
"Shall we go then, Kise-kun?" Kuroko asked, already sitting on his horse (how did he manage to get up there without me noticing?!), whose name I earlier learnt was Hikari.
"Yea, just give me a moment-" But as I swung my leg to mount the horse, I found I could not get it high enough to be able to pull myself up – it took me four tries and, when I did make it, it was extremely difficult to keep my balance. Kumo seemed to be constantly shifting even though he was standing and I had the impression I was on permanently the edge of falling off him. This was very weird as I never experienced such problems with Lait.
"Kise-kun, you look unsteady." Kuroko stated, eyeing me down as I unsuccessfully tried to steady myself, "Adjust your position of you will fall when Kumo-kun moves."
"Y-yea, one moment I know I did this countless t-times." I stuttered back. But just as I spoke I pulled on Kumo's reins a bit too hard and he began to walk, causing my torso to violently shift forward.
'Shit – what the hell is this horse broken?' I thought to myself as I found that remaining atop Kumo was a thousand times more difficult now that he was moving, albeit slowly. I pulled its reins back so he would stop, but once again I was too forceful and the horse halted too violently – this sudden change in motion was at last enough to send me flying to the ground.
"You're pulling the reins too strong – there's need for as much force with a trained race-horse like Kumo." Kuroko said appearing out of thin air, as Kuroko did, to help me up from my fall from grace.
"Really? Well that's easier said than done. I don't know how-" I began to argue, when suddenly realization washed though me, "I don't know how! Kurokocchi I don't know how!" I cried out, positively elated, shaking Kuroko by his shoulders.
"Then what are you so happy about if you don't know-" Kuroko broke off then smiled his biggest smile yet, as he too realized what this meant.
"But- but this doesn't make sense." I spoke when the first wave of euphoria had passed, "I mean I still copied your movements perfectly – they just didn't work on Kumo. Maybe Kumo is faulty or something." I mused, my happiness turning to confusion.
"Don't blame Kumo for your incompetence." Kuroko responded, somewhat offended, as he began to stroke Kumo's magnificent mane, "We'll go talk with Midorima-kun. He will know."
"How would Midorimacchi know something like that?"
"He just does." Kuroko stated, as if that was the most obvious thing on Earth, "Midorima-kun isn't here at the moment, so for now I could teach you the horseback riding basics again. They might come in handy." Kuroko smiled faintly.
"Hell yeah!" I cheered, "My first real horse-riding lesson! Now I'm really excited – thank you Kurokocchi~!" I grinned, fist-bumping the air.