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]

"I--" It would indeed be hard to assuage him of his guilt. "This wouldn't even be happening if I had been better at hiding my feelings..."

He folds his hands onto his knees, eyes lowered. "It is what it is. I had already resigned myself to this outcome."

[yellowcopycat]

"Me too. We're being very mature about this," Kise said, blowing his nose, then crumpled the napkin and three-pointed it into the nearest trashcan. "I had already resigned myself to it too."

He took a breath. "Okay. Okay. I feel a little better."

[misdirects]

He rolls his eyes a little at the flashy three-pointer, but he does offer a small smile at Kise's declaration.

"Well, there's no sense being immature about this. Perhaps in another life, in another universe, it may have worked out. But it didn't in this one."

[yellowcopycat]

Kise's still working on the whole mature thing, but he does think that, beside the bit of tears at how unfair life is, he's handling this pretty well.

But the showing off is never going to go away.

"Well, now that's out of the way." Move onto other stuff, distract himself, move on so they can get on with their lives. "What did you get up to while I was in the States?"

[misdirects]

He finally takes a moment to sip at his drink before answering.

"Nothing nearly as exciting as you. Studying to prepare for entrance exams.. and lots of street ball." Even if Aomine and Kagami are always willing to join, he feels bad asking when school's in session, so he's taking advantage of summer vacation while he can.

[yellowcopycat]

"I haven't played street ball in forever," Kise said wistfully. "Aominecchi's and my schedules just never seem to line up."

[misdirects]

"I'm sure he'd be happy to, how would he put it... 'kick your ass.'"

He thinks. "We do have to do a joint event for Kagami-kun and Aomine-kun's birthday, so more than likely we'll default to street ball."

[yellowcopycat]

"He can try. I got to play ball with university guys; I picked up more moves."

He remembered the invite. It was from Aomine, and it was 'Be here, or you're a little bitch,' but I didn't know it was going to be a birthday thing. "Did Aominecchi finally pull his head out of his ass and properly ask Kagamicchi out?"

[misdirects]

He tilts his head as he thinks about it. "I think it'll more than likely happen at this get-together. He has seemed antsier than usual."

[yellowcopycat]

"He did the insults to a minimum when he invited me," Kise said. "He only called me a bitch once."

Hmm, that'd be something to see. And it'd be prime teasing Aomine material.

[misdirects]

"A surprising bit of growth from him, then."

He swirls his straw in his drink. "It'll be nice to see them finally accept their feelings. They'll still have some time here before college."

[yellowcopycat]

"I think it was more of a scene of his anxiety about the upcoming event," Kise said.

He can't help but grin. "He's going to bungle it, but Kagamicchi will probably accept so long as it's earnest."

[misdirects]

"I think he would be offended to see you're reading it in that way."

He smiles a little. "I anticipate it'll be a little messy, at a minimum, with some possible yelling, but you're right. Kagami-kun answers earnest with earnest."

[yellowcopycat]

"Considering how often he hits me, he can be offended all he wants."

He shook his head. "They both yell a lot, so that's to be expected."

[misdirects]

"Birds of a feather flock together, right? It'll be an amusing day to be sure."

He stirs the straw. "I did try my best to play cupid, but it seems they were more interested in using me as a buffer."

[yellowcopycat]

"Hard to imagine Aominecchi wanting a buffer. Guess he is growing up."

[misdirects]

"I read it as another manifestation of his antsy-ness. Perhaps he is settled in his decision to do it then, so he's subconsciously avoiding it until the date of."

[yellowcopycat]

"Hmmm.... Yeah, that's more like it." Maybe. Maybe it was both.

It's hard to imagine Aomine growing up that fast. "But if this works, maybe it'll help him pull his head out of his ass."

[misdirects]

"Doubtful, but it would be nice for them to stop being so annoying."

[yellowcopycat]

Kise gave a snort at that. "Oh, Kurokocchi. They're only going to be more annoying."

(Pot meet kettle.)

"Maybe it's a good thing I'll be in Ohio while they're in California. They'll probably alternate between making out and fighting."

[misdirects]

"You're right, actually. But at least you will not be an awkward third wheel."

He hums, sipping at his milkshake. "I wonder, will my time in that role increase or decrease?"

[yellowcopycat]

Living in a different prefecture cut down on third-wheel time.

"I don't know," he said, stirring his tea and making the boba swirl at the bottom. I've never been in that situation. I'm not as friendly with the other models as I am with you guys—there is lots of passive aggression, even from the other boys."

[misdirects]

"That's a shame, since I imagine you must run into the same circles time and time again." The industry can't be that big...

"And as much as I cherish their company, it can be a taxing role to play."

[yellowcopycat]

"Oh, I do, and there's a few I get along with, but not as well as I get along with you guys and my team. We can be a very catty breed. Think of me at my most passive-aggressive, then multiply it by three."

He hummed. "I bet. They're lucky that you put up with them."

[misdirects]

"Hm, sounds like an nightmare to deal with."

He picks at his straw. "I suppose so. But soon, they will only be putting up with each other."