Chapter Summary: Aomine and Kuroko helped each other, and in turn validate their own gnawing fears.
Chp 6
People usually label Aomine as a mere basketball head with no imagination, but in reality he has a fairly active mind. On a good day, he could fantasized about a hundred different things. For example, just now he just imagined how it feels to wear the NBA championship ring, and wondered if Kuroko would be in the same team as his when they indeed achieve that goal.
Even with an imagination as active as his, never once in his life have he imagined missing one of Kuroko's passes. To him, the very notion doesn't even exist. Catching his passes are as natural as breathing to him. And yet, in the final seconds of their intense match, he failed to do just that.
At first he was grinning as he watch Kuroko wind up for an ignite pass. 'Silly Tetsu.' He thought with a twisted sense of satisfaction. 'We both know that always catch his passes." However, the ball past his fingers and landed on Kagami's palm. Time seemed to slow down, and a sense of dread took over his heart as he caught Kagami smirking, goading him as if saying 'Kuroko only passes to me now.'
Then, as the buzzer sounded off, Kagami ferociously dunks the ball and ended the game with a one-point lead.
The frantic energy that filled Aomine's limbs dissipated like smoke, it's dense presence just whiffled away with blow from the whistle. He felt restless and numb, but when he looked down onto his hands, they were as still as picture in a photograph. Why wasn't he reacting at all? Somebody just beaten him at his game. Why is he numb? Is this what defeat feels like?
"Aomine." He heard the faint call of his captain. "It's time to line up."
He nodded and fell in line with the rest of his team, his lips saying the obligatory thanks but his mind was still stuck on that last few second of the game. As if he was in a hazy dream, he moved along with his team, still in disbelief over that inhuman jump and amazing pass.
"Oi," He looked up to see Kagami jogging towards him. "That was a good game." The redhead said, his eyes showed no sign of pity or gloating, just mutual respect and admiration for the man that he just fought.
"Yeah." Aomine grunted, accepting the handshake. 'Ah, his hand is quite large.' He noted randomly.
Kuroko approached the two with a certain twinkle in his eyes, offering his own tiny fist to Aomine. "Lets play again Daiki-kun." He said with a childlike smile on his face.
Aomine's shaken heart became still at those gentle words. Kuroko always said that after every practice back in Teiko. How nostalgic. "Yeah, lets." He said, bumping the hand that he wished he could hold and turning away to join his thwarted team.
He looked over to his crying senpai's and disappointed teammates. He wanted to say something, an apology maybe, but the words just wont leave his lips. His captain saw the struggle brewing on his face. "It's okay Aomine-kun, you tried you best." He said with no hint of anger or malice. The rest of the team turned to him and echoed his sentiment, each of them looking up at him with respect.
For some reason their words of consolation angered him more than it gave him relief. Why are they not angry at him? They all know that he could've run faster if he had come to practice, but nobody is saying the obvious. Nobody is blaming him. This is insane.
"I'm going to wash my face." He muttered with his head hang low, unable to face his teammates. He ignored request to stay and run out of the building. The sky was clear with no hints of snow, but the air still chilled him to his bone. His eyes caught sight of a communal sink.
"That was… interesting."
Aomine put his head futher into the stream of water, hoping to drown out whatever speech Akashi has in store for him. To his surprise, the redhead waited until he came up for air. "Go away Akashi. I'm not in the mood." He said tiredly, shaking his head like a dog and limping away from his former captain.
Akashi put his hand behind his back and leaned against the sink, silently watching Aomine vigorously rubbed his face dry. It was as if the blue haired man wanted to wipe away the memory of his previous game. Unsettled by Akashi's persistent stare, Aomine finally turned to him and snapped "Whaddaya want?!".
Akashi's pensive eyes narrowed. With an impish nimbleness, he jumped onto the sink so he can look down on Aomine. After one last smile, he forcefully smashed Aomine's face down onto the countertop. "You forget Daiki, you don't talk to me like that." He murmured sadistically, grinding Aomine's face into the cool surface. "Especially after that pathetic performance. You don't even deserve to look at me."
In any other situation, Aomine would've retaliated with enough force to break every countertop in the bathroom, but Akashi's words quickly smothered what little spirit he had left in him. He just silently pulled away and wobbled to a nearby bench, propping hand on his knees and covering his face to hide his shame. "I know." He answered pitifully. "Sorry."
Akashi jumped down and stood right in front of Aomine with his hand in his jacket pocket. "Well as long as you know. I expect you to have yourself together by the next tournament. If you can't improve, then I suggest you go on with yesterday's threat and quit basketball." He said, sharply. After giving the man one last look, he bid his farewell and left Aomine to lick his wounded pride.
Two days after Touou's defeat. 7 am, a nearby park.
Aomine stood in the empty basketball park and began shooting balls lifelessly, counting off as each of the spheres entered the basket with a perfect snap. That last game may have ignited the passion he had for basketball, but Akashi's words were more than enough splash of reality to smoother his delusional fervor. He fought hard, but it wasn't enough. He ignored his training and left all his games to chance, relying on his so called 'talent' to carry his weight. His body couldn't keep up with his potential. He could've jumped higher, ran faster, dribbled harder, but he didn't because he was too busy skipping practice and ignoring his training menu.
After losing this season's tournament, his club had been put on hiatus until winter break is over. With the gym locked and his members scattered, Aomine is left with nothing but his sneakers and old ball to begin training again.
At first his determination carried him through the cold winter morning drills, but as the sun began to rise, an unknown sense of uncertainty gnawed at his mind. Basketball was all that he had. It gave him a seat in a prestigious school, it brought him friends despite his terrible personality, and it gives him confidence when he had nothing to depend on. Basketball is his life, and he never imagined a day where he could fall behind and become a bad player.
"If you can't improve, then I suggest you go on with yesterday's threat and quit basketball."
As terrible as Akashi's words are, Aomine knew that he is right. He had no future as a casual third-rate basketball player. He was recruited as an exceptional case and his coaches would want to see the result in the games. His school wouldn't keep him as he wouldn't be able to keep up with the rigorous academics on his own. He needed those easier classes paper classes that his school gives to athletes. If he continues on this way, he'll ended up being expelled.
"Dammit!" He shouted, throwing the ball onto the backboard. He reached for his phone and unconsciously dialed Kuroko's number, quickly stopping himself before he hit the call button.
"No." He stopped himself. "I should really stop relying on Tetsu so much. A man who can't solve his own problem isn't a man at all." He slapped himself back into reality and stood up with renewed vigor. He knows just the thing to cheer himself up "Okay! Lets stop moping around and buy new shoes!" Aomine shouted, already feeling better with the thought of new kicks on his feet.
Later that day. 11 am, Shinjuku shopping district.
The smell of new rubber and leather permeate the specialty store, instantly bringing a smile onto his face. Not even Akashi could take away this pleasure from him. Aomine happily trudged through a group of kids and their mini Jordans, making a beeline towards the back end of the store where they keep the good stuff.
"Ah Amonine-kun, back again?" The old shop owner called out cheerfully to him. Aomine gave him a sheepish smile.
"I'm here to see the red one again!" He said.
"Oh yes I know, the question is will you finally buy it this time." The old man teased.
"Ah don't worry gramps, I have the money right here!" Aomine grinned and pulled out his wads of sloppily crumpled cash. The old man laughed and slapped his knees. This kid has been going into his store for years, each time arriving with a sad look on his face. He would trudge along to the back of the store and stare at the limited edition shoe, and after an hour or so, he'll skip out of the store with a smile on his face. The routine looks so sacred to him that the old man wouldn't think he'd see the day that Aomine would finally purchase the shoe.
The blue haired man grinned when he saw his desired target. There it is. The limited mid 2000 special edition Red Jordans. He could feel himself salivating with the thought of finally putting it on. He reached out for it hastily, eager to defile the virgin leather with his trembling fingers.
"Oh my bad-" Aomine jerked his hand away when it knocked against a cotumer'.
"Sorry!" The man exclaimed and backed away. The two nodded politely to each other and walked away, trying to lose each other so they can each claim the hallowed shoes in peace.
The two meet again in front of the display, still unaware of each other's presence. As they reached for their prize, a tuff of blue hair bumped against their chest and snatched the shoe off the rack.
"The fuck-" Aomine cursed under his breath when his fingers found only iron railings.
"My shoe!" Kagami wailed mournfully, dropping onto his knees upon discovering an empty shoe display.
"Oh, it's you." Aomine grumbled at the sight of the redhead. His appearance does improve his mood at all. Kagami returned his scowl with a curse on his own, earning a nice karate chop from his shorter companion.
"Kagami-kun, you shouldn't curse at people like that." Kuroko chastised the ace like an angry mother would to her petulant child. "Hello there Daiki-kun." He greeted Aomine quietly, sneaking him a small smile that turned the darker teen into an adorable shade of red.
"…Tetsu." Aomine returned the greeting bashfully. 'Aomine is so adorable.' Kuroko thought happily at his shy reply.
Noticing the two sharing an intimate moment, Kagami quickly broke the tension and grabbed Kuroko's head in a playful chokehold. "Oi, gimme that." He snatched the red kicks by the laces. "I'mma go and pay for these alright."
"Now wait just a second." Aomine pulled Kagami by his collar. "I had my eyes on those shoes for years now. You're not just gonna waltz in and take them for me!"
"Wha-" Kagami shot him an incredulous look. "I have a game tomorrow and my shoe just flopped out!"
"Well my condolences to your shoe, but you're not taking my Jordans."
"You idiot. This shoe haven't been sold so it couldn't been yours!"
Kurorko listened as the cumbersome exchange derailed into an argument that's reminiscent of his time in elementary school. 'The two have the mental age of a ten year old.' Kuroko thought to himself. With the two engrossed in calling each other poo poo head, it didn't take much for Kuroko to snatch the shoe off Aomine's hands and swiped Kagami's credit card from his wallet.
"I'll be taking this." He said, setting the shoe on the counter and flashing Kagami's black American express card.
"Eh? But those two wanted the shoe… " The shop owner mentioned to the two rowdy men, but he couldn't help buy eye the glinting black card thata Kuroko had in his hand.
"Oh please don't mind those two." Kuroko smiled and slid the card towards him. That was enough convincing for the shop owner. He swiped the card through the machine and bagged the shoe. "Thank you for shopping at your store!" The owner said cheerily.
Kuroko smirked at the sight of two disappointed faces. Kagami looked like he's going to die while Aomine resembled a corpse in a mortuary. "If you want this shoes then follow me to the court." Kuroko declared. "If you don't want it, then I'll sell it online and buy myself a milkshake machine."
A nearby park
"… I can't believe you stole my credit card…"
"… I can't believe you stole my air Jordans..."
"I wanted a limited edition Puru-Puding cup, but you don't hear me whine about it like you two." Kuroko just sipped on his vanilla shake and ignored the barrage of complaints and anguished moans. "Eat up boys." He threw them a bag full of Maji burgers. "You'll need some energy if you're going to compete for a hundred points."
" A hundred points? For a shoe? Hell no!" Kagami shouted through a mouthful of burgers. "You bought it with my card, that means that shoe is mine!"
"This is so unfair." Aomine scowl, wolfing down his first burger obediently. "I was finally going to buy that shoe and you used your misdirection on me. Now you're going to make me play for it?" he threw his burger wrapper into a trashcan a few feet away. The crumpled aluminum hit the rim and fell lifelessly onto the ground.
"Heh, losing your touch?" Kagami grinned happily. Remarks like these usually ricocheted off him harmlessly, but today it hit him in his freshly wounded pride.
"How about you go fuck yourself." He said coldly and walked away.
Kuroko and Kagami stared at each other in confusion. Kagami had said worse things and Aomine never reacted like this. "What?" Kagami asked defensively at Kuroko's persistent stare. "Oh suddenly I'm the bad guy here?"
"Just… eat your burgers." Kuroko grabbed the bag of shoes and chased after Aomine. "Daiki!" he called after Aomine's retreating back.
"Huh…" Kagami mumbled, feeling a little bit abandoned as he watched Kuroko desperately called after Aomine's back. He's always like that, running after people who treat him like shit. 'No wonder he didn't say yes to me, I'm just way too nice.' He thought to himself, throwing his own crumpled up wrapper and also ended up missing the trashcan completely. "…Dammit."
Aomine stopped walking and sighed after he heard Kuroko's voice began to wane into a desperate gasp. 'His stamina is still as shitty as ever.' He thought. Kuroko bend down and rested his hand on his knees, gasping as if he was just in a 4-K marathon. "Geez Tetsu." Aomine relented, digging around his bag for a water bottle out of pity.
"You walk *gasp* so fast." He pointed to his feet. "Short legs-*wheeze* can't keep up."
How can Kuroko make him feel guilty when he was the who is angry at him? "Ugh, you didn't have to chase after me. Idiot." Aomine grumbled, bending down to lift Kuroko's chin and wipe his sweaty face with his own shirt. The blue haired teen crinkled his nose at the gesture. He hated being treated like a little kid. "So cute." Aomine thought to himself, unable to take his eyes off of him.
"Here!" Kuroko thrust the brown paper bag into his hands. "You look like you really wanted the shoe."
Aomine narrowed his eyes at the proffered bag, all feelings of affection for Kuroko suddenly dissipating instantly. "I don't need any charity, especially not from him."
Kuroko titled his head in confusion. "Who said you'll be getting this for free?. Come back with me and win the shoe fair and square. Cmon, I know you like a good fight." He took Aomine's hand and began walking back, humming happily at the thought of the two battling it out on the court. Aomine would enjoy it so much. For years he had always wanted to have a rival, now Kuroko can give it to him.
Aomine laugh in disbelief at the shorter boy's flippant attitude. It was as if he didn't consider his feelings at all. "Fucking hell. You want me to fight for the shoe too?" he whipped his hand free of Kuroko's gentle grasp. "I've had my eyes on those shoes for years. It's mine! Now you're telling me I have to compete with some stranger over something that's mine?"
"… but you didn't buy it, did you? That's why it's still up for sale." Kuroko said, confused at Aomine's sudden outburst.
"Yeah, yeah." He pushed Kuroko aside, grabbing his wallet and began fiddling for his train pass. "I should've bought it years ago. It's my fault that I missed my chance. There, happy? Now go on an give the damn shoe to the idiot. We both know that you bought it for him." Aomine cursed out loud, angry that he failed the simple act of swiping a train card and at the situation that his in.
Kuroko frowned at Aomine's uncharacteristic outburst. Something tells him that Aomine isn't talking about the shoe anymore. "Daiki…" he reached for his hands again, this time pulling him away firmly. "Just because someone else has their eyes on something that you want, it doesn't mean that you should back down." Kuroko said with as much as sincerity as he could. "Come back with me and play. There is always a chance."
Aomine stopped at those words, his heart fluttering excitedly with the prospect of victory. 'No. You'll lose again.' He quietly told himself. It's never good to dream too high, he always gets disappointed. And so he gave Kuroko a sad smirk, muttered his gratitude, and walked towards the station with his shoulder slumped down.
Kuroko witnessed the unthinkable unfolded right before his eyes; Aomine just pass up the chance to win a game.
"Daiki!" Kuroko chased after the man again, persistently running after him. "Why are you like this? You've never backed down from a challenge before. " He asked breathlessly, grabbing onto the back of Aomine's shirt to hold him in place. "Daiki!"
The feeling of Kuroko's small hand on his back was enough to stop him dead in his tracks. "Are you afraid that you're going to lose to Kagami?" Kuroko asked quietly, knowing full well that they're not talking about the shoe anymore. "Or… or do you just don't want it anymore?"
Aomine peeked over his shoulder; realizing just how small Kuroko looks with him towering in front of him. He turned around and leaned down to kiss him, unable to hold back the waves of desire that's been washing over him daily. "I want it." Aomine sighed into the kiss, leaning his forehead against Kuroko's. "I still want it…" he repeated it again. 'How could I not want you?' Aomine thought, sighing over and over as their innocent kisses deepened into something lewd.
Before it's to late to stop himself, Aomine pulled away, rubbing Kuroko's cherry red lips to clean the evidence of their heated passion. "I'm going to win, just you watch." He said with a familiar arrogant smirk, grabbing the paper bag and started to walk back to the basketball court. It was silly of him to be bothered by Akashi's words like that. Weather it's a pair of overpriced shoes or the affection of a certain blue haired boy, he shouldn't just give up without even trying. 'Even if I suck, I still have a chance.' Aomine grinned, finally realizing the confidence that he thought he lost.
It's been hours and the two men doesn't seem to show any sign of slowing down. The score is tied at ninety-eight, and the atmosphere is as fierce as ever. Aomine have the ball in his hand, lazily dribbling it as he sized his opponent down. Kagami had his legs spread in a perfect defensive position; ready to take on whatever move Aomine could give him. With a triumphant smirk, Aomine attacked.
The two jumped and slid past each other through a series of movement too fast for the untrained eyes. Kuroko watched with his mouth ajar, enraptured by the battle that's going on before him. With Aomine's every move, Kagami is always just second behind behind. They almost looked like they're dancing.
To Kuroko, their sweat drenched bodies and bloodthirsty glares are beautiful beyond words. However, like all beautiful things in life, it ended just as quickly as it began.
Aomine punched the air in triumph, ending their hour-long battle with a meteor dunk over Kagami's head. "Damn it." The redhead cursed with a happy smile on his face.
"No need to curse. I'll give you my old shoe as a consolation prize instead." Aomine gave him a grin of his own, fully understanding the giddiness that they're feeling. Just seconds ago each one of their movements felt electric. When they move together, every one of their powerful moves are answered with an equally powerful counter. It's exhilarating. Who knew having a rival could be this fun?
"You're still as bad as the last time I played you." Aomine sneered, unable to wipe the shit-eating grin off his face. Even after insulting his opponent he still offered his hand to help him up.
"What the hell are you talking about? I won our last game!" Kagami reached up to accept the helping hand.
"We both know I did you a favor and let you win back then."
"Oh how nice. Maybe you can do me another favor and suck my dick, jerkface."
"Get bent, shitbrains."
"AHOmine."
"BAKAgami."
The two bickered and fought like they always do, but Kuroko noticed that there was a certain intimacy that they never had before. 'Ah, it must be nice to have a rival.' Kuroko thought wistfully, suddenly feeling a pang of envy that he haven't felt in years.
After three years in Teiko, Kuroko thought that he gotten over feeling jealous over talented prodigies, but seeing Kagami and Aomine battle each other brought up some of his own insecurities. With the business of the winter cup and the hectic confessions from the two, Kuroko forgot that as a basketball player, he is considered below average. This brought up a little fear that he has inside of him; that one day Kagami and Aomine would step onto the world stage and leave their shadows alone.
Kuroko knows that he is arguably the best supporting player in Japan, but with his skill level, that is all that he will ever amount to. It takes all that he had in him to keep up with Kagami and Aomine, and Kuroko knows that if he doesn't improve, they will eventually leave him behind. That fear had never realer than today.
All of his interactions with the two men had always been through basketball. His admiration for them and their respect for him all grew from training and playing basketball. The few quality time that they had are always spent around basketball. Forget playing on a professional level, can he even keep their affection for him if he can't even keep up with them in a simple game of street pickup? "Haaaa…"Kuroko sighed anxiously, suddenly gripped by a sudden spell of nervousness.
Aomine noticed Kuroko curling himself into a ball, completely ignoring their loud bickering. 'How odd.' Aomine thought 'He's usually already scolding us right now'. He jogged to the boy and seated himself in front of him, purposely showing off the bright red air Jordan that he won with a big grin plastered on his face.
"Oi, stop looking so gloomy. I finally won the shoes like you wanted." Aomine nudged the boy playfully. Kuroko gave him a small smile and sighed, looking out into the distance. Like a puppy that's been put out for the night, Aomine shuffled away and pouted. Kagami saw the whole thing unfolded and laughed at him
"Haha! Isn't it obvious? He didn't want you to win." Kagami teased him. "Right? Kuroko? You rather have me win, right? Right? Right?"
Kuroko eyes scanned Kagami from his head to his toe, taking in his tall muscled body that's clearly made to play basketball. He sighed again. "Not really. I kinda expected you to lose Kagami-kun." Kuroko said lifelessly.
Kuroko has always been blunt and emotionless, but that somber reply really made Kagami worried. "What's up? You don't sound like yourself." He grabbed Kuroko's head and patted his cheeks. That gesture usually cheered him up, but other than his reddened cheeks, the expression on the boy's face stayed the same.
Kuroko felt the intense stare from the two and finally relented. "Sorry, I didn't mean to be such a downer its just…" He sighed again for the umpteenth time. "You guys were so cool out there that I got a little bit jealous. I mean, I know that I'm a good passer and all, but I don't even know how to shoot properly, much less do amazing things like Kagami's meteor dunks. Hell, I don't even know when I can shoot like Aomine." Kuroko shook his head in disappointment. "It all just feel so hopeless."
At first Kagami just stared at Kuroko blankly, but as the words register in his head, a pair of pink blush bloomed on his cheeks. With his confidence renewed and his spirit on an all time high, Aomine grinned and gave Kuroko a devilish look. This is his chance.
"I can teach you how to shoot. Hell, I'll even teach you my signature super-duper-awesome-technique that never miss!" Aomine pulled him up from his slump and passed him a ball.
"Really?" Kuroko asked uncertainly. Aomine chuckled in amusement; still surprised that Kuroko is still suspicious of him after all that they went through.
"Yeah, now shut up and listen. Spread your legs, bend your knees, put up your hand like this…" He moved behind Kuroko and took his hand into his. "And just shoot." They threw the ball together, interlocking limbs moving as one, and manages to grave the edge of the hoop. "Aww, one more." Aomine said excitedly, taking his place behind Kuroko and assuming the same position.
"Oh come on." Kagami groaned when Aomine manages to move even closer to Kuroko. He ran over to the two and slapped the ball out of the air. "You're obviously trying to feel him up!" He pointed at Aomine. "And you need to go over your basics before you start going around copying Aomine's impossible shots."
"Hey!" Aomine exclaimed indignantly at the accusation.
Kuroko considered Kagami's uncharacteristically logical argument. "Hmm, I guess you're right Kagami-kun. I really can't even put up a proper lay up. I mean I dribble well, but I just can be aggressive in side the three point zone. I guess I never learn how."
"I'll teach you!" Kagami exclaimed excitedly. "I'll even teach you how to dunk!"
"… That's impossible Kagami-kun, I'm too short."
"That's okay! I'll carry you in the air to make up for your height!"
"You idiot." Aomine slapped Kagami with a towel and steal the ball from him. "Kuroko needs to learn how to shoot."
"No, he needs to learn how to drive into the paint!"
"Shoot!
"Drive!"
"Shoot!"
"Drive!"
"No more…" Kuroko leaned against a tree a dry heaved from out of sheer exhaustion. The session with the two bright him back flashbacks of Teiko's brutal trainings.
Kagami and Aomine snickered at his condition like two superior beings laughing on a measly peasant, but Kuroko didn't have the energy to tell them off. The two had him running on fumes. Each hardheaded 'coach' of his insisted on teaching him different styles at the same time, and despite the obvious complication, Kuroko managed to land a few dozen hoops. The problem is, neither of them understand that Kuroko is just a normal person.
"Seriously, lets stop for today." Kuroko insisted when Kagami tried to pull him back onto the court.
"Eh? It's only four o'clock…" Aomine said in disappointment. He wanted to spend more time with Kuroko, but at his current stamina rate, Kuroko wouldn't be able to keep up anyways. "It's all your fault for forcing him to run around when he could just stand still and shoot." he elbowed Kagami squarely on the ribs.
"Owie… Wait, did you say it's four already?" Kagami ran off to grab his bag and phone. "Damn! There's an egg sale in my grocery store! I have to grab a crate of eggs for this week's supplies!" With no further explanation, he ran out of the court with his train pass snug inbetween his teeth, leaving Kuroko and Aomine Alone in the court.
"… who the fuck buys eggs by the crate?" Aomine asked at Kagami's indecorously statement.
"A monster with a bottomless pit for a stomach." Kuroko muttered, shivering as he remembered how Kagami once served him a mountain of scrambled eggs for breakfast.
"What was that?"
"Oh it's nothing." Kuroko waved him off, the memory of the Mt. Scrambled-Egg still giving him nightmare. "So I guess we should call it a day then?"
Aomine scratched his head, suddenly feeling awkward now that it's just the two of them together. "Well I thought we should spend more time practicing your shoots… unless you're uncomfortable with just us two! In that case I guess we can call it a day, but not because I'm uncomfortable with you-"
Kuroko giggled as eh watch Aomine become tongue-tied as he stumbled over his words in order to make him feel comfortable. It reminded him of a simpler times where they were just friends that put each other first. "No I'm not uncomfortable." He answered, laughing again as Aomine's face visibly brightened up at his answer.
And so the two of them just lazed around and threw some basket, all the while chatting about some nonsensical things that popped into their minds. In the short hours that they spent with each other, it felt like they've finally caught up with each other.
Neither of them mentioned the kiss that they shared earlier. Aomine wanted to take things deeper, but he's afraid of breaking this comfortable impasse that they're stuck in. Some would call it cowardice, but Aomine wouldn't mind being called a coward it meant he could spend everyday with Kuroko like this. After all, he doesn't have the right to demand a relationship with Kuroko, not after he treated him so coldly in their last year together.
"Oh wow the sun is setting already." Kuroko exclaimed happily, enjoying the sight of orange stained Tokyo scenery. "Ah! It's so pretty..."
"Yeah." Aomine sighed, his gazed fixed firmly onto Kuroko. "Beautiful."
"Ahh, should we end this now?" Kuroko turned to him and smiled. This is what he wanted for so long, a gentle companionship from a friend that he lost. He thought he burned that bridge long ago, but after spending some time along with Aomine he realized, a relationship like their would last centuries and transcend even through time.
"Yeah… I guess you're right." Aomine said, completely satisfied with the time that they spent together.
The two gathered their things and walked out together in a comfortable silence, no worthless conversation impeding their enjoyment of each other's company. 'I want this to happen everyday.' Aomine thought desperately, watching Kuroko's happy smile from the corner of his eyes. 'I want to play with him and then walk home everyday.'
They reached a fork on the road, each one leading to a different path to their homes. "Ah this is nostalgic." Kuroko giggled, delighted that they're able to so the things that they used to do together. "I'll see you tomorrow?" Kuroko asked tentatively, hoping that Aomine would still be willing to coach him.
Aomine nodded vigorously. "Definitely." He answered, secretly thanking the gods that his wish came true. "Oh and Tetsu?" He called out to Kuroko. "I won't give up on your either Tetsu." He said firmly, his eyes burning with passion and determination.
Kuroko grinned back at him. "I know you wont." He said, walking away with a smile. Everything is just going great with him. His team is winning, Aomine became his friend again, and he's learning to be a better player. He couldn't ask for anything more.
But of course, when contentment comes, there is always that little whisper of desire that tempted him to want more. Today, temptation came in the form of his red haired ace.
"Kuroko!" Kagami called when he caught sight of him, running towards the boy with a wooden crate labeled 'Fresh eggs, on sale 50% off'.
"Wow you really did buy a crate of eggs." Kuroko chuckled in disbelief, making the redhead laugh bashfully. "Why are you here Kagami-kun? I thought your house is on the other side of the city?"
"It is. I tried calling you but my battery ran out." He rummaged through his bag and trusted a small cup towards Kuroko. "Here! You told me you've been craving for this right?"
In his hand was an impossibly yellow cup with the famous Puru-Puding logo stamped around it. "I saw it when I was buying my eggs and I suddenly thought of you." Kagami said, trying to play it off as cool as he can.
"Whoa! Puru-Puding!" Kuroko exclaimed happily. "Thank you Kagami-kun, I never pegged you as the considerate type!"
"… just shut up and eat the damn Pudding." Kagami blushed.
They walked together until they saw a bench in the garden of a solitary temple. "Shall we stop here for a while?" Kuroko nodded his head towards the bench, his eyes already flashing with excitement over the pudding.
"Yeah, I-I guess I can hang out just for a bit." Kagami stammered, suddenly feeling nervous with the prospect of being Alone with Kuroko.
And so the two sat together in silence. Kuroko was too preoccupied by the dessert to make conversation with Kagami, but the redhead didn't mind. Just watching him hum in happiness over a bite of caramel pudding was enough distraction on it's own.
'Ah, I must really love him.' Kagami thought. Only an idiot would smile around randomly at someone eating.
"Kuroko." Kagami said quietly, unable to hold himself back. "I need to tell you something." Kuroko finished the last bite of his pudding and raised an eyebrow in question.
"I know I'm not as strong as Aomine yet, and I know that I'm stupid and have nothing in my head except for basketball…"
"Haha, we all know this Kagami-kun, what are you trying so say." Kuroko laughed, amused by Kagami's sudden seriousness.
"Shut up, I'm trying to be serious here!" Kagami snickered. He couldn't help but smile when he see Kuroko smile like that. He composed himself and took a deep breath, drawing in courage to say what he wanted to say. "I saying that… even if I'm stupid and silly and isn't as strong as Aomine yet, I still want you to choose me."
"Huh?" Kuroko bewildered by the sudden turn in the conversation.
"Playing with Aomine really made me realize that without you, I'm lacking as a basketball player. It made me think that there's probably a million other people better than me in every single way." Kagami said it simply with no hint of self-depreciation whatsoever. "Even so, I still love you. I'll beat a million people and be the best, so when the time comes, I want you to choose me, okay?"
"Kagami… I-"
"No. You don't have to say anything!" Kagami flustered about, the embarrassment from his speech suddenly setting in. "You said you'll give me your answer after we win, right?"
"… Right." Kuroko said weakly, befuddled by the intense declaration of love that Kagami just given him. The redhead saw Kuroko's cute confused face and took advantage of the moment. He leaned down and pressed his lips, giving Kuroko an innocent kiss that's short enough to leave them both wanting more, but enough to sate the hungry beast inside of him.
"Ok!" Kagami exclaimed, clearly fired up by the kiss. "Lets win our next game tomorrow!"
"… Right." Kuroko answered, still dazed from the sequence of event that just happened. Kagami grinned and bade him farewell, leaving Kuroko alone with only the empty cup of pudding to accompany him.
With solitude to fill his ears, his brain filled with a million of unanswered question. The temple bells rings to signify the end of the day, and for once, the constant dull ringing distracted him enough to hear his own thoughts.
Out of his own volition Kuroko began walking towards the temple that he passed but never visited before. He realized how he is lucky to have such good friends that care for him enough to help him train and buy him food, but when the line between brotherly love and romance blurred, he's not sure that he's able to hold himself back.
He knows that he's being cruel and indecisive by dragging them both along as 'friends' when their feelings are clear, but who should he choose? Should be go with the determined old friend that he always loved or with the light that brought him joy and affection?
"-so when the time comes, I want you to choose me, okay?"
"I won't give up on your either Tetsu."
To be loved by such wonderful people is akin to him as siting under a sword of Damocles. Choosing one would inadvertently hurt the other, ending the precious relationships that he held so dear in his heart
He should know better and just stayed friends, but what choice was there for him to make. Kuroko turned to the altar of the temple, paying for guidance and wisdom. A sliver of divine inspiration stuck him. After throwing in a few coins as an offering, he clapped his hand together and began to pray.
"Dear gods above, or Buddha, or some spirit animal that guard this temple." Kuroko started, trying to decipher the deity that he's praying to. "I don't care about money, grades, or even about winning the championship. I only care about Kagami and Daiki. So please grant me the strength to be selfless enough to not choose any of them. I love them both, and if it means that I have to give up on love to avoid hurting them, so be it."
He said his covenant with the gods out loud, steeling his resolve for whatever situation that may come his way.
He started walking away but something else gnawed at his conscience. Kuroko ran back to the altar and clapped one more time, this time throwing in an even bigger offering.
"On second thought I do care about the championship. So I pray for strength to crush Akashi and grind his bones to dust. If I win I will come back with my whole team and give the rest of your club funds as offering." He said, finding no qualms in offering bribes to the gods above for a win against Akashi.
After his second prayer Kuroko's heart felt as light as a feather. Pining away lovers doesn't suit him. He has a championship to win. He'll think about what to do with Aomine and Kagami after he Crush Akashi. Whatever comes after, he'll be sure to deal with it as best as he could.
TBC
Next Chapter: The winter cup is won, and Kuroko still avoided answering Aomine's and Kagami's questions. Realizing that they wont get a straight answer from Kuroko, Kagami and Aomine devised a secret plan together.