Hello all! I am back again and this time I come with the chapter that gave me so much trouble and led to my long break in the first place! Honestly, it was probably because this is a very Midorima and Kagami centric episode, so it was a bit tricky to convince myself to write it in the first place. But it's here, it's out, it's no longer my problem, woohoo!
In any case, thanks to LetTheWorldHonorTheFallen (Oh, yes, this is the Kagami sounds like Aomine episode, but that's not why I think you'll enjoy it so much, heheh) for reviewing, all 78 followers, 59 favorites and 6,903 readers!
Not much else for me to say here, so please enjoy this chapter that caused me so much grief!
Chapter 12: Building Anger
The clock for the second quarter was running down. 45-27, Shutoku. Kise could hear people whispering around him about how the game was already over. He even heard Seiho complaining that they'd be perceived as weak if Seirin lost to Shutoku.
Kise let out a groan.
"Show some spirit, Seirin," he ground out. Kuroko's focus was a glittering marvel in his mind, but Kise could feel the stress weighing the phantom down, making his ice cold focus start to sweat.
"They are, you idiot," Kasamatsu scoffed. "After being shown such a difference in their strength, they're still barely hanging in there. I'd give them props."
Kise let out a quiet sigh. That may be true, but Midorima was still down there, the biggest threat on the court.
As Kise leaned back, his phone fell out of his pocket.
"Next up, Oha-Asa Horoscope!" the recording played once more. "Aquariuses should play it quiet today. Cancers will have a great day. As long as you have your lucky item, Shigaraki raccoon, you have nothing to fear."
Kise sighed, picking his phone back up and stuffing it in his pocket once more.
Midorima, after all, lived his life by that horoscope.
"This is simply the result of our abilities," Nakatani stated as Midorima quietly filed his nails. "It's not bad. It's not good either. The other side hasn't given up yet. Otsubo, play offensively during the second half. Finish them. That's all."
"Yes, sir!" the rest of the team chorused as Midorima glanced over the nails of his left hand.
He turned his hand over so his palm faced him and curled his fingers inward to continue filing them. He refused to glance away from his nails, further down where Aomine, Kuroko and Momoi curled around his fingers.
They weren't here, it didn't matter if their names were printed on his skin, onto his very soul.
Midorima had a goal to meet, an Oath to fulfill, and he would not lose. Not to Kuroko and not to the tools he had chosen for this expenditure.
"Hey, what are you doing?" Takao interrupted Midorima's thoughts, as usual. "You didn't even listen to the coach."
"As you can see, I'm fixing my nails," Midorima stated simply. "My shots depend on my nails."
Midorima was protective of his nails, his fingers in general. Not only were they necessary for his entire livelihood, but they exposed far more than Midorima wanted the world to see. Even if he weren't a basketball player, Midorima still would have taped his fingers.
These names, as foolish as he found them, were his and only his. He would not share them, not even with Takao.
"Ow!" Kimura suddenly cried out, drawing Midorima's eyes up. "I've been wondering about it the whole time, but what's the deal with this raccoon?!" Kimura glared at his kouhai as he demanded for the answer, holding the foot that had rammed into the Shigaraki raccoon as he did so.
"It is my lucky item," Midorima stated plainly.
"What?" Kimura gaped as he picked up the Shigaraki raccoon. "This thing was on the bench all during the first half! It's in the way!"
"Why don't we break it? Let's break it!" Miyaji smiled as he spoke about the threat.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you,"
The entirety of Shutoku's basketball team, including Midorima himself, jumped in fear as they suddenly noticed Kuroko, standing right in front of Midorima.
"Kuroko!" Midorima couldn't stop the gasp that left his lips.
The phantom turned towards Midorima and a small smile, only noticeable to Midorima himself, crossed his lips.
"I have an extra Shigaraki raccoon if you need it, Midorima-kun," Kuroko stated before he turned back to the rest of Shutoku. "But I would rather not use it."
The threat was as clear as the ice Midorima remembered from Kuroko's soul.
For a moment, only a moment, he wished he could still feel it, that protective ice which only harmed their enemies.
But no, Midorima didn't require such things. He would win as long as he followed Oha-Asa. He didn't require such frivolous reassurance as Kuroko's soul, not when they were enemies on this battlefield.
"I do not require your assistance, Kuroko," Midorima gritted his teeth, turning away. His eyes, however, never left the Shigaraki raccoon.
"Perhaps, but you have it, Midorima-kun," Kuroko simply said, before he quietly bowed and left the locker room.
The room was silent, as if he'd never been there in the first place.
Midorima refused to say a word, even as his left middle finger instinctively bent. If he were a weaker man, he would have claimed he could almost feel the reassurance of Kuroko's ice and Kise's sun bleeding through his veins.
But he was not a weaker man and he would not address what just happened.
Kuroko slipped back into Seirin's locker room without anyone the wiser, picking up the video camera and silently watching the footage of Takao.
Kise's amusement flickered like a sunburst in the back of his mind, and Kuroko found himself proud that he had relayed the experience to the copycat. It was well known back in the middle school circuit that the Generation of Miracles stood by each other.
Kuroko didn't plan on letting such a practice go anytime soon. He would protect them all, just as they always protected him.
"Kuroko, what are you doing?" Izuki asked, his voice cutting through Kuroko's probably too sadistic thoughts.
"Someone taped Takao-kun during the first half," Kuroko explained, as if this is what he had been doing the whole time.
"Do you have a plan?" Izuki questioned, curious.
"I don't know," the phantom stated easily.
"You don't know?" the Eagle Eye user gaped at him, still not used to Kuroko's blunt nature.
"I have thought about winning, but I have never wondered if I can win or not," Kuroko elaborated. And he wasn't lying either. Kuroko never wondered if he could win.
He simply knew he could.
"Even if we lose by 100 points, there's a chance a meteor will strike the other team's bench in the last second," Kuroko deadpanned aloud, however. No need to let the rest of his team know where his thoughts had traveled.
Just like Kise, Kuroko had his own mask to wear.
Silence hung over the locker room for an awkward minute.
"You're right," Izuki smiled, breaking the hanging air.
"Yeah," the first years nodded in agreement.
"Don't give me that!" Hyuuga scolded as he pushed himself to his feet. "There isn't going to be a meteor. That's a crazy thought."
"But what if they all get stomach aches?" Tsuchida suggested, as seriously as Kuroko had made his own declaration.
"Don't get carried away. That won't happen either," Hyuuga shut them all down with a strict glare.
"Well, compared to that, a second half comeback is way more realistic," Koganei smiled, putting his hands behind his head in a relaxed manner. Mitsube nodded silently in agreement.
"Let's just keep running and think after the game's over," Hyuuga smiled tiredly. "Let's go!"
"Yeah!" The rest of the team responded as Seirin made their way back to the court.
"Let the third quarter begin!" The announcer declared as the buzzer went off.
"Huh? Kurokocchi's on the bench," Kise noted. He didn't think Kuroko's time had run out. But then again, Takao was still on the court.
Kise could feel Kuroko's focus glittering like a frozen pond in the back of his mind. The copycat already knew the phantom's eyes would not leave the game once until he was allowed back on the court.
"Well, he can't do anything as long as Takao's there," Kasamatsu mused. "But they don't even have a strategy."
No, it was obvious they didn't. But Kise knew that Kuroko would find one.
Midorima surveyed the team before him. None of them were truly worth his full effort with Kuroko on the bench, but that didn't mean he would relax. Midorima did not relax until he had won.
Their eyes aren't all dead yet, but what is this? Midorima thought to himself as he eyed Kagami. This is more than just not giving up. Well, no matter. I will simply crush him.
It was an absolute truth of this day: Midorima would succeed in his endeavors. Oha-Asa was on his side, after all.
The second half started and Takao wasted no time stealing the basketball from Hyuuga, getting it right into Midorima's hands.
The fear from Seirin's bench was thick in the air as Midorima prepared to shoot the ball.
But suddenly, Kagami was in front of the sharpshooter.
This bastard! When did he…no, more importantly…
Midorima threw the ball and it went through the net as perfectly as it always did, viciously cutting his thoughts off as the swish of the net rang out throughout the stadium.
48-27, Shutoku.
In the next play, Seirin managed a somewhat decent strategy, with one of their senpai, Koganei according to their cheers, made a basket.
48-29, Shutoku.
Takao had the ball next and it was all too easy for him to pass it to Midorima.
Kagami was on him, but Midorima paid him no mind. He jumped. The tool jumped up right after him, but he was unable to stop the sharpshooter from throwing the ball.
But that wasn't the end of it.
As if in slow motion, Midorima could only watch as Kagami continued to rise, higher and higher, until-
His finger touched the basketball.
Ridiculous. Is this even possible? He's been getting higher and higher all game. Midorima thought incredulously.
But he knew all about impossible things.
The basketball struck the rim and began to circle it.
Tension hung in the air, so thick that not a sound could be uttered. The stadium was silent.
The ball finally went in after what felt like an eternity of spinning.
Midorima could only stare. His shots hadn't acted like that in a long time. So long that he could hardly remember before this moment what that actually looked like.
Kagami was walking away from Midorima without a single word, and the sharpshooter knew he could not let this lie.
"Oi," he called out. "You. What's your sign?"
"Me?" Kagami questioned. "I'm a Leo."
"With your lucky item, Shigaraki raccoon, you have nothing to fear," Oha-Asa had declared earlier that day. "However, your compatibility with Leo is very poor. Be careful if you run into one."
"That horoscope really is always right," Midorima breathed out. An itch surged under his skin.
Hyuuga managed to score some points for Seirin, leaving Takao with the ball and Kagami on Midorima.
Midorima passed Kagami and Takao took the opportunity, passing the ball to him.
But when the sharpshooter turned, the tool was right there, close enough that Midorima couldn't shoot.
Midorima grit his teeth, keeping his eyes on Kagami, when he saw his chance.
Midorima passed Kagami and Takao screened him.
"It's two on one now!" Takao declared, victorious.
"I'll still stop you!" Kagami swore. "Thanks to all the times you've shown me, I've finally found your weakness!"
Midorima paid him no mind, he just needed to be faster than the tool and then there would be no problems. He crouched and started the necessary movements to shoot.
"The longer the shot, the longer it takes to make the shot!" Kagami shouted and suddenly, there he was, jumping up and reaching, reaching, reaching for the ball as Midorima released it.
And for the briefest of moments, he did.
He touched it again? Impossible! Midorima's heart pounded in his chest and his eyes widened minisculely.
He knew then and there what would happen.
The basketball struck the rim…and began to fall away from the hoop. But before Seirin could take the ball back, Otsubo jumped up and dunked it in.
When Seirin next tried to shoot the ball, Otsubo blocked them. But this resulted in Seirin double teaming him, leaving Takao unable to pass to him.
And so, Takao passed to Midorima instead. Midorima held the ball for a second before he began to make the shot.
He would not let that tool ruin his concentration.
He was the sharpshooter of the Generation of Miracles, the best at scoring three points with every ball he threw.
He would not lose to some ignorant, arrogant child!
"Midorima!" Takao screamed.
But it was too late.
I caught a glimpse of it when he made that last alley-oop against me. Kise thought, projecting his thoughts like a sunbeam to Kuroko as he watched Midorima and Kagami. The strength to stand against the Generation of Miracles, and one of the greatest weapons in basketball. His hidden ability is his innate jumping power!
"An Uncrowned King to be, unaware of what he's doing," Kuroko concurred, his thoughts a delicate, ephemeral frost.
Midorima released the shot-
And Kagami blocked it entirely, sending the ball to the floor.
Midorima was frozen, only half aware as the point guard for Seirin, Izuki, grabbed the ball and made his way to Shutoku's net.
His shot had been blocked…entirely.
The buzzer went off, signaling Seirin had scored.
53-34, Shutoku.
"Takao, give me the ball!" Otsubo ordered suddenly.
"Huh? But Otsubo-san, they're double teaming you-" Takao protested.
"It doesn't matter!" the captain snapped and Takao complied.
With a yell, Otsubo moved to dunk the ball…only for Kagami to block him as well.
And fast! Midorima cursed within his mind, glaring at the tool. How did he close the gap so quickly?
The referee called a foul on Kagami, but it didn't matter. Midorima could see it, now.
For all of the power Kagami was showing, he was also new. He was desperate to win, even if that meant he did everything himself. He didn't have the mastery that the Miracles and the Uncrowned Kings had over their abilities, mastery that allowed them to handle specific aspects of games perfectly.
They all had their talents, but that didn't mean they came for free. Especially not at the beginning.
Midorima could still remember the strain in his arms, his legs and his fingers when he had first realized how far his abilities could stretch.
He would make sure this arrogant tool learned that not even he was without limits.
"Kagami's amazing! With him, we could-" Kawahara started to say.
"Are you sure?" Kuroko interrupted, never looking away from the court.
"Huh?" Kawahara asked, as he, Riko and the others on the bench all turned to stare at Kuroko.
But Kuroko didn't return their gaze, he only stared at Kagami with narrowed eyes. He could feel Kise's concern, like a flickering star, in the back of his mind as Kuroko's anger at his new Light built up.
If he continues like this, I have a bad feeling about what will happen. Kuroko thought, quiet enough that Kise wouldn't pick up on it.
The game continued on, with Kagami blocking all of Shutoku's shots and making basket after basket for Seirin. Until, at last, with one minute and forty-seven seconds left in the third quarter…
The score was 56-47, Shutoku.
A single digit difference between the two.
When Midorima next had the ball, he once again faced off against Kagami. He dribbled the ball as he observed the tool, his breaths coming in fast and hard, reminiscent of Kise after a game against Aomine.
Midorima smirked.
"I acknowledge your strength. However…you will not close the gap any further," Midorima stated the fact as he held the ball in his hands.
"What did you say?" Kagami snarled. He was so very naive.
Midorima didn't answer. Instead, he jumped.
"No you don't!" the oblivious tool cried out before he tried to jump. Tried, and failed, his legs pushed to their limits.
The basketball swished through the hoop as Midorima fell back down to the ground, gravity pulling him as inevitably as it pulled the mighty trees of the forest.
"Sorry, but it's the truth," the sharpshooter declared.
"He's out of gas?" Kise asked, glancing at his senpai.
"Probably," Kasamatsu confirmed. "His body's not strong enough to keep jumping like that. He must have overexerted himself jumping all over the place. On top of that…"
The fact that this was Seirin's second game hung over their heads and even Kise could see Kagami was exhausted, as were the senpai of Seirin.
And Kise knew what happened when a player with a talent like Kagami overexerted themselves. After all, even he could recall days where he pushed himself too far. Akashi had never been happy when any of the Miracles had done that. And Kuroko had done that on the regular, always getting sick after their three-on-three games.
An overexerted player was not a player you wanted on the court, not when that can lead to injuries, Kise knew.
And it was clear that Kagami was too prideful to care, still charging at Shutoku's net and attempting to score, only for Midorima to block him, giving Shutoku the opening they needed for a counter.
Kise resisted the urge to bite his lip, his mother's voice scolding him in his mind for even considering such a thing.
Kuroko's mind was an avalanche just waiting for one final snowflake to send it falling.
This was not going to end well, however it ended, that was something Kise knew well.
The buzzer rang as the clock ran out.
"Third quarter is over," the referee announced.
"Damn it!" Kagami cursed as he and their senpai rested on the bench. Kuroko glared at him, feeling every thought swirl within his mind, unable to choose just one in his anger.
This stupid Light, this stupid, stupid boy!
"Kagami, you're getting too worked up," Izuki scolded. "Pay more attention to your surroundings."
"That's right," Hyuuga agreed. "And that wasn't the right time to go, you should've passed first."
"What good would passing the ball around have done?" Kagami questioned, his voice entirely flat.
"What?" the captain asked, confused.
"I'm the only one who stands a chance against Shutoku," Kagami continued. "We don't need team play now. We need me to score."
Kuroko's mind swirled as the final snowflake hit the avalanche of his anger.
That horrible day, with Aomine's horrible words, rang out once more in his mind, as they have so many times before. But this time, they brought anger instead of pain.
"Hey, what are you saying?" Izuki demanded.
"That's different from being self-centered!" Koganei added.
Kuroko stepped forward without a word, drawing Kagami's eyes to him. And as soon as his eyes landed on Kuroko, the phantom swung.
His fist slammed into this arrogant, childish, prideful asshole's face with all the anger of an avalanche behind it, hard enough to throw Kagami off the bench and down to the floor.
"Kuroko-kun!" Riko gasped in shock. The rest of the team's eyes were wide and they couldn't speak, they were so stunned.
After all, Kuroko wasn't strong by any means. He was weak, a phantom. But he was also a Miracle, one who felt deeply.
And Kagami had just insulted the very thing that Kuroko needed to be a Miracle, to be a shadow, to be a phantom, to be himself.
Kise was a bright sun, giving Kuroko all the strength he needed to knock Kagami down.
"Damn it! Kuroko, you bastard!" Kagami snarled as he pushed himself to his feet and grasped Kuroko's shirt, pulling him so they were nose to nose.
"You can't play basketball by yourself," Kuroko stated firmly.
"As long as we play nice together, you don't care if we lose?" Kagami spat. "There's no point if we don't win!"
"There's no point if you win by yourself," Kuroko countered, soft where Kagami was loud, but no less firm in his convictions. His words seemed to give the new Light pause. "You said you wanted to beat the Generation of Miracles, but you're thinking just like them. Even if we beat Shutoku as a team that can't trust each other, no one will be happy."
"Don't be so naive!" Kagami shouted, shaking Kuroko by his shirt like he was a doll before he punched Kuroko, sending him to the floor. "If we don't win, those are nothing more than nice words!"
"Then what is victory?" Kuroko proposed, remaining on the floor. His posture was open and harmless, unmoving like a statue. "No matter how many more points you have at the end of the game, if you're not happy, that's not victory."
Kuroko could remember those days at Teiko, those days where winning a game no longer meant anything. Where the Miracles had stopped celebrating every win, because it was simply what they did. Where eventually, they had all simply gone their separate ways, and it didn't even feel as if they were bonded anymore. If there was no reason to celebrate, no reason to be happy, no tie that bound a team together, that could not be called victory.
"That's right," Koganei smiled, breaking the tension slightly. "It's not as though we want to lose!"
"We're just saying there's no reason for you to do it all yourself," Izuki added.
"Do you have any objections?" Hyuuga questioned.
"No, but…well…sorry," Kagami stumbled over his apology as Kuroko continued to glare up at him. "Of course I'd rather be happy when we win."
The rest of the team smiled as the tension dissipated at last.
"Now that Kuroko's calmed Kagami down…the situation hasn't changed," Hyuuga stated, glancing over at the scoreboard.
It read 61-47, Shutoku.
"What should we do?" the captain asked.
"Excuse me," Kuroko said as he stood up at last. The avalanche in his mind had calmed, now resembling a new snowfall, with Kise's sun warming it so it sparkled. "There may be one thing we can do." The phantom removed his shirt as he spoke, revealing his uniform. He adjusted his wristbands, always aware of the precious names engraved onto them. "I can only pass the ball, but I can take it up another level."
For the final quarter, it would be a Miracle against a Miracle. Kuroko's phantom and Midorima's sharpshooting, and the end of the first battle of the Oath.
Finally, I can say hasta la vista to this chapter!
The only bright side to this chapter was that the way I write Midorima allows me to call Kagami a tool, and Kuroko punching him at the end. Getting through this was worth it for that.
And even better, the next episode has two very beloved characters showing up for the first time! Ahh, I'm so excited for the next two chapters! Hopefully episode 16 cooperates with me, given it's a game episode.
But that's for me to worry about. I hope you all enjoyed! Bye for now!