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]

Sorry, Kagami, Kuroko did try to protect you.

I don't make a habit of noticing things like that. I'll make sure to pass along the compliments.

[yellowcopycat]

That's because you're demi.

Kise lets out a yawn and hears his dad call for him. gotta go, the uber is here and I have to make sure we don't get lost looking for the door. dad gets lost easily when he's not familiar with the place.

[misdirects]

He does seem like the type to wander... best of luck to you both.

He'll probably spend the rest of the day third-wheeling his lights.

[yellowcopycat]

He also asked Aomine, partly to tease him for the lack of movement on his part to ask Aomine out.

So, if Kuroko's lights are more rambunctious than usual, he's why.

There's not a lot of conversation from his end for the next few days. He floods the group chat with things he thinks the other miracles might like while he's in LA before they head to Texas.

He and his dad go to UCLA while they're in town. He still hasn't gotten a scholarship offer from them, but he will apply anyway. He also tries to start thinking about what he wants to do if basketball doesn't work out beyond university or if he gets a career-ending injury.

[misdirects]

It's a touch more annoying to deal with them than usual, but it's nothing he isn't used to. They just get more chops to the head.

Any moment not spent playing basketball is spent studying in preparation for the national test for university admissions with his fellow-third years. Whenever he's not buried up to his ears in books, Kuroko taps in a reaction emoji on Kise's pictures.

[yellowcopycat]

There are a lot of pictures. Midorima does complain about him flooding the chat a bit, but Kise ignores him.

The next time Kuroko gets a picture just for him, it's when Kise's in Texas, wearing a San Antonio Spurs jersey and beaming at the camera.

[misdirects]

Kuroko even takes his side and scolds Midorima a little. He's still interested, even if he's being grouchy about it.

The colors annoyingly suit you.

But he'll be nice and add a 👍.

[yellowcopycat]

There's something for everyone—shots of basketball courts, a burger for Aomine, a picture of Kise eating the burger. A cupcake place for Murasakibara. A picture of a hospital for Midorima. Both in California and Texas.

To his private DM with Kuroko, he responds.

The perks of being blond 💛. All the colors go with mine. 💛💛.

[misdirects]

Are you sure it's not just your pretty privilege?

Are you having fun? Is it true everything is bigger there?

[yellowcopycat]

That helps 💛

I dunno. Sei said I should I could check that out so long as I just looked =P

Dad and I are still pretty tall compared to a lot of people, but I'm not towering over 80% of the population. I'm still taller than most, but there are more people closer to 6' than not.

[misdirects]

Since this is a text message, I feel obliged to inform you I rolled my eyes.

Wait, surely there is an emoji for this.

🙄

How novel. I suppose it's better for your neck not to constantly look down.

[yellowcopycat]

=P

It's not bad, no. Granted, I'm used to hanging out with athletes, so it's not like my neck's in pain.
You're not as short as you make yourself out to be.

[misdirects]

Not to the average person, you're right. But to all of you, I might as well be.

Even though I grew so much in the last year.

[yellowcopycat]

Sei's not that much taller than you.

Akashi didn't grow as much as Kuroko did, so while Kuroko is still shorter, it's not as much as it was at the start of high school.

Not everyone can be monsters, Kurokocchi. Did I ever tell you I used to want to be shorter? This was back in elementary school.

[misdirects]

Akashi-kun is my one ally.

Well, not his only one. Furihata has always been close in height and kept relative pace with him.

I can't imagine that. Were you tall as a child too?

They hadn't looked that far in his childhood photos when he visited...

[yellowcopycat]

Furihata is nice, but Kise isn't particularly close to him.

Yeah, I was. Dad's family has always been tall.

You know how kids are. You're different in any way you get made fun of until you use it for something cool. Plus, this was when Mihoshi had her stalker and we as a family were pretty cold to everyone.

[misdirects]

Mm, that makes sense...

As much as I complain, it had given me an advantage in misdirection.

[yellowcopycat]

Not getting made fun you mean? Yeah. There were times I wished I was invisible.

But you know what they say, the grass is always greener on the other side.

[misdirects]

It is helpful, but I was left out of quite a few things growing up.

It'd be nice if I could do a dunk someday.

It's still pretty unrealistic at his height.

[yellowcopycat]

Just ride on Kagami's big shoulders, then yo can do it.

Anyway, dunks are fun, but remember it's the shots that are worth more

[misdirects]

I'm sure Kagami-kun would rather not humor me for something so silly.

Midorima-kun would be pleased to hear you say that.

[yellowcopycat]

Probably not. But it's a funny picture. Aominecchi might do it if you look at him the right way.

Eh, don't tell him I said it.

[misdirects]

I prefer not to indulge him.

My lips are zipped.

[yellowcopycat]

Kise's about to type he'll do it for him then. But then he realized what he'd be offering and to whom.

And the idea of Kuroko's pale thighs around his head is a bit too real.

Good. Anyway, I should head to bed. I'll talk to you later!

[misdirects]

Sleep well, try not to wake up too early from jetlag.

He also sends a picture of Nigou sleeping in his little doggy bed.