Unrequited Love?

[yellowcopycat]

Kaijou and Seirin had just had their first practice match, which was shaping up to be a tradition of sorts. This time, Kaijou had gone to Seirin. The gym was nice, newer then Kaijou's but maybe not as big. 

 

He was breathing heavily, but smiling broadly. It always felt good to play, even if it was just a practice match and they weren't going all out. After all, he wanted to keep some of his new tricks up his sleeves, just like he was sure Kagami and Kuroko were hiding some of their new tricks too. This year's match had ended in a draw. Better than last year's practice match, which had ended in Kaijou's loss by two points.  

 

Just thinking about Kuroko made Kise look over to the Seirin team, focusing in on the smaller boy. 

 

For awhile now Kise had realized that he had feelings for Kuroko. Kise had looked up to Kuroko for awhile, but it wasn't really until after the Winter Cup that Kise realized he was probably in love with Kuroko. 

 

He took a towel that one of the first years offered him. "Thanks," he said absently. He scrubbed at his face, his thoughts racing. He had been thinking about Kuroko a lot lately, and seeing him only brought those thoughts back to the surface, only pushed aside when the game had begun. Now with the game over he couldn't focus. The warm glow in his chest that came whenever he thought about Kuroko was back with a vengeance.

 

The Kaijou team was gathering their things and getting ready to board the bus. He told the first year that he'd be along in a bit and began to head over to the Seirin team. 

 

"Kurokocchi~" he called out. No time like the present, he thought. He didn't know if Kuroko would return his feelings, but he was hopeful. The time Kuroko had cheered him on while he went up against Haizaki stood out in his mind. 

 

"Kurokocchi! You got a minute?"

Comments

[misdirects]

The cherry blossoms are in full bloom as the school year starts anew. Tearful goodbyes were shared with the founders of the Seirin Basketball Club only a couple weeks ago and now it's fully in the hands of new third years. Kuroko is carrying out his first big duty as the team manager by establishing the Kaijou-Seirin practice match, which is starting to become something of a tradition between the two schools.

He's talking over the details with Coach Takeuchi on the sidelines of the gym, but his gaze is repeatedly drawn over to the practice that's starting to slow down. Takeuchi's eyes are instead lingering over the large bandage taped to Kuroko's left cheek as they finalize dates.

[yellowcopycat]

Kise's distracted, trying his damndest not to be, though.

Things are good! He has a boyfriend! Akashi Seijurou and Kise Ryouta are offically boyfriends. Sure there was distance was a bit of problem, but it was only a two trip by train, and Kise was out in Kyoto for the occasional photoshoot.

He did tell his agent to cut back on shoots, so he does have more weekends now.

It's been kinda whirlwind since their big splashy reveal. Kise's dad had framed every photo of Kise, including the kiss he and Akashi had shared, though Kise had gone into his dad's office and took it down and hid it in his bedroom. His dad went in and got it back, and it's been a near daily game between the two of them.

But that wasn't the reason he was distracted. Kuroko was distrating him. To be more accurate, he was distracted by the bandage on Kuroko's face. As soon as the game ended, Kaijou winning against the visiting team by a point, Kise made a bee line to Kuroko.

"What happened?" he asked in lieu of saying hello.

[misdirects]

Kuroko does not expect to be greeted immediately with a question, so he takes a moment to bow at their coach and thank him for his time before answering, "we're just setting up dates for a practice match." He's totally not being deliberately obtuse. Absolutely not.

[yellowcopycat]

"Don't dodge the question, Kurokocchi," Kise snapped. Takeuchi raised an eyebrow at the two teens, shook his head and walked over to the locker room to talk to the team.

"Is those fans again?" he asked. His body is thrumming with anger, and his golden eyes bore down on the bandage.

[misdirects]

He looks annoyed to be snapped at at first, but any of his usual combativeness is immediately drained when he senses Kise's anger.

"It's nothing." Kuroko's non-answer makes it rather obvious his guess is correct.

[yellowcopycat]

"Kurokocchi, don't lie to me," he said, shutting his eyes and pinching the bridge of his nose.

"I'll take care of it," he said after a moment. "I promise. I'll take care of it."

Because he's beyond pissed that his supposed fans are targeting the people he loves most.

He takes a breath, and lets it out. "It's nice to see you otherwise."

[misdirects]

It's not lying if he doesn't think it's that big of a deal!

"It's fine - their anger is just misplaced." At him, unfortunately.

Anyway -- "It's good to see you, too. The rest of Seirin extends their congratulations. Kagami-kun in particular says you two better not let love distract you too much from basketball."

[yellowcopycat]

"They shouldn't be angry at all," Kise said. "It's my life. Even if I were straight, I'd probably never date them."

He took another breath. "Let me go change, and then we go hang out."

[misdirects]

He waves him off with a nod. "I'll wait for you outside."

Kuroko stays as promised by the school gate, paging through a book to pass the time and briefly greeting the infamous twins when they leave. Pink petals rain down with every soft breese that passes as he waits patiently.

[yellowcopycat]

Kise comes out talking with Kikuchi, talking quietly until they came near Kuroko, then Kikuchi nodded at him, and followed the Masaki twins.

"Hey," Kise said, walking over to his friend. Pink petals fell into Kuroko's light blue hair, creating a nice contrast. He smiled and reached up and brushed petals out of Kuroko's hair. "Can you believe we're third years now?"

He had grown in the two years. He was 196cm and 82kg, a seven centimeters and five kilograms difference from where he was when he started high school. He still had room to grow, but he was almost done growing, maybe two more centimeters. (He hoped to get at least one before he turned twenty.)

He was happy with who he was.

[misdirects]

Kuroko had managed to grow a respectable ten centimeters, but it did little to close the gap between him and the others. The effort it took to look up at Kise remains the same, a slight blush gracing his cheeks as he swept the petals away.

"We've come a rather long way, haven't we? We'll need to start on our university applications soon."

[yellowcopycat]

"We have," Kise said wistfully. "Murasakibaracchi is two hundred and thirteen centimeters now. That's seven feet in the other way of measuring height!"

Everyone is taller now. It's crazy. It's amazing. "So, Aominecchi told me that Kagamicchi and him are seeing each other more often. What's Kagamicchi have to say about that?"

[misdirects]

"Don't remind me." He wrinkles his nose. "It hurts my neck to talk to him for too long."

Kuroko tucks his book away into his schoolbag and sighs. "Kagami-kun complains often about Aomine-kun. I'd be surprised if they admitted their true feelings to each other before they flew off to America."

[yellowcopycat]

"Mine too, and I'm only seventeen centimeters shorter. I'm hoping I get another two before I stop growing." Aomine and Midorima were still taller them him too. At least he was taller than his boyfriend.

"I'm still betting they will!" He paused, grinning. "I'm hoping they get it out before we go to the US, that way I won't have to deal with the UST."

[misdirects]

"I would like to humbly request that everyone stop growing." Please, mercy for his poor neck.

"You can take my place as mediator between them." Give him a break!

[yellowcopycat]

"Hey, you could get another centimeter or two as well!"

At the suggestion he blows out a sigh. "If this continues the way it has been, I might just tell Aominecchi to go kiss Kagamicchi. I already told Kagamicchi to suck face with Aominecchi, but obviously he didn't take my advice." He rolled his eyes.

"Though to be fair, we were kinda arguing."

[misdirects]

He doubts it... his height hasn't changed much for half a year now and his diet isn't exactly the most conducive to encourage growth.

"Kagami-kun gets heated often, but cools down quickly. What were you arguing about?"

[yellowcopycat]

Well, one can hope!

"You. It was when those obsessive people got you sent to the infirmary. We were both angry and taking it out on each other. I told him to go suck face with Aominecchi."

[misdirects]

"Oh." Time to change the subject. "Perhaps it's best not to meddle in their love life and focus on your own. You do have one now, after all."

[yellowcopycat]

Yeah, he figured that'd make Kuroko change the subject. Not that he's all that anxious to stay on it.

"I do have one," Kise said. "Akashicchi is an amazing boyfriend. But could we have expected anything else from him?"

[misdirects]

"That's true, he is perfect in everything he does after all."

He turns to look down the road. "Want to grab a popsicle at the konbini?"

[yellowcopycat]

"Well, he wasn't the best kisser," Kise said. "He's really good, but it was obvious he just need some more experince."

Kise did have more experince in that area.

"Sure! You're buying. Since you don't like to be spoiled, and I do."

[misdirects]

"I don't think I need to know the sordid details of your relationship, Kise-kun." He purses his lips and starts down the street, shielding his eyes as a particularly strong breeze rains down petals on them.

And will roll his eyes a bit at that statement. "I suppose this is what I get."

[yellowcopycat]

Kise spat out a petal. "I love cherry blossoms, but when they bloom, it's basically a blizzard."

He grinned at Kuroko, "I need to tell someone! It's either you or Aominecchi, and then he'll make fun of me for not going any further. And yes, it's what you get."

[misdirects]

"Aomine-kun and I are two opposite ends of the spectrum of having no relationship experience, I'm not sure you'll gain anything from using us as sounding boards for your newly blossomed relationship."

Kuroko is picking some petals out of his hair, combing through his bangs and tucking a stray strand behind his ear. He could definitely use a haircut. "At least the flowers make it smell nice everywhere."