Looking for a Miracle | Kuroko no Basket

21. Halcyon

Looking for a Miracle
Chapter Twenty-One
Halcyon

Birthdays were strange. Even though I was a year older, I didn't feel any older today than I was yesterday.

If I didn't have the party later on, it would've been easy to believe this was just a normal day. But instead I spent the morning making final preparations so everything was smooth sailing when everyone else arrived.

About ten minutes after I finished preparations and was dressed in my new skirt and blouse - courtesy of my parents - the doorbell rang. I skipped to it and threw it opening, grinning when I was met with a chorus of happy birthday. It must have been organised between everyone to arrive at the same time, since there was no other way all six of them turned up at the same time by coincidence.

I was greeted with hugs and smiles all around and, when everyone was settled I said, "I have Mario Kart set up, if anyone's interested?"

Everyone agreed, and we made our way to the lounge and grabbed controls. First Sei, Kise, Aomine, and I would play, and we'd rotate through everyone else.

I was quick to select Daisy, my favourite character. Aomine and Kise entered a heated debate over who got to be Mario - before Sei swooped in and grabbed him while the other two were preoccupied. When they finally realised Mario had been claimed Kise settled on Luigi on and Aomine chose Bowser.

Three races of screaming and fierce competition later, it was time to switch. I laughed as I handed my control to Momoi - unsurprisingly, Sei had grasped the controls quickly and won every race. I was terrible at video games to begin with, so I didn't mind.

Momoi, Midorima, Kuroko and Murasakibara went next, and went through the process of choosing their characters.

"You're picking Rosalina, Midorima?" I asked, surprised. I wouldn't have picked Rosalina as his first choice of character.

Midorima was unfazed. "My lucky item today is a star." He pointed at the little star hovering by Rosalina's head. "This character should ensure my victory."

Kise and I caught each other's eyes and we both burst out laughing. Behind us, I could hear Aomine losing it, and Momoi giggled.

"Midorin, you're a lost cause," Momoi chuckled.

Midorima ended up dead last in every race.

*          *          *

It was probably a good thing that my parents announced food when they did, otherwise I think we all would've been at each other's throats.

Perhaps Mario Kart wasn't the best game for five, highly competitive boys to partake in - races had turned into screaming feats, curses made against others who hit them with weapons and revenges promised with dying breaths.

Especially when it came to the Rainbow Road course, which Kise insisted on picking every single time. We'd ended up threatening to never let him choose another race if he picked Rainbow Road one more time.

The table was filled with pizzas and sushi, and rice and chicken. As everyone gathered around the food I grinned and grabbed the paper crowns I'd bought especially for the occasion, and told everyone they had to wear it.

Momoi, Kuroko, and Kise were willing, Aomine agreed after some persuasion from Momoi, and we eventually made Murasakibara and Midorima

I pouted. "You have to wear it, Sei."

"It's ridiculous."

"Everyone else is wearing it!" I glared at him, then jammed the crown on his head, where the pink clashed horribly with his hair. I beaned. "There. It looks good on you."