After School (Kuroko no Basket Fanfic)

Open Eyes | Chapter 1 | Furihata

Today was the day. The day in which I opened my heart. The day in which it was destroyed completely. The day I shattered into a million pieces.

Finally, after all my hard work, I had stood in front of the school, standing face to face with the girl of my dreams. There she stood with her golden, flowing locks dancing on her shoulders. Her fair skin seemed to glisten in the sun. I almost lost the courage then and there just seeing how beautiful she was. But I was determined to do this. After all, I had promised up on that rooftop as soon as I joined the basketball team that I would do this if we won. We were finally victorious on the court, but there was one more victory I had to achieve.

With my head bowed, and my eyes closed, I took a deep breath before I declared swiftly, and quite awkwardly: "Akane... I-I'm in love with you!"

I paused for a few moments, but those moments of silence felt like forever in waiting for an answer. When she didn't respond I decided I would follow up. "Will you go out with me?"

Silence. It dragged on way longer than I had expected, and there was nothing I could do other than look up at her in confusion. She placed a dainty hand over her lips, hiding what seemed to be some kind of humorous smile. A chuckle forced itself past her lips, and she shook her hand as an apology. "I'm sorry. Who are you?"

It would have been less painful for her to stab me in the gut right then and there. Then, at least, I wouldn't be able to respond to such a question with such humiliation. "Furihata Kouki... I'm with the basketball team..."

"Oh, right!" She exclaimed. "You guys beat Rakuzan, right?"

I perked up just a little. So at least she knew something about what I had to go through. "Y-Yes! They were really powerful, but somehow we managed to beat them..."

"Wait, you were in that game?"

The blank look she gave me proved that she was serious, and I wanted to be stabbed all over again. Does her brutality know no bounds. "A-A little..."

Honestly, there was nothing about that game I could forget. However, there was one part that remained ingrained in my memory above all the others. During my few minutes of time I was on the court I stood face to face with Akashi, and it was as if I was a puppy whimpering in front of a great lion. The sheer look of power and confidence in his eyes were enough to chill me to the bone. He's way more than scary.

"Oh, I see." Her carefree smile made this all way more painful. "Well, nice to meet you! I gotta go! Later!"

She gave me a wave, and she ran as fast as she could in the opposite direction. "H-Hey! Wait! Akane!" But, again, my calls went unanswered.

I hung my head low in defeat. Somewhere in my heart I knew she wouldn't take my confession seriously, but her completely ignoring my confession hurt worse than her not even knowing me. How can someone look so sweet and innocent and yet be so cruel?

Then again who can blame her? After all, it's not like I'm the star of the team, or anything. In fact, I'm barely even good enough to be considered a newbie. There's nothing extraordinary about me, on or off the court. No wonder she didn't recognize me. No wonder she wouldn't accept me.

I only had myself to blame for getting my hopes up. It's not as if I had a chance, after all. There's no way anyone that beautiful would be interested in someone as plain as me.

And, with that thought in mind, I stood up tall and turned away from the school. Now that school was over, and practice was cancelled, it was time for me to head home and get ready for work. Although, I don't think I'm going to get much work done when my mind's wandering like this. This news, even though I expected it, was souring my entire mood. Hopefully it wouldn't show too much on my face.

Work was hectic. Being a waiter at a local restaurant was about the only job I could get at my age, but if I had known it was going to be as busy, and as stressful, as this, then I probably wouldn't have taken the job. However, with such a small income in my family I have to make this work. I can't afford to get rid of this opportunity.

"Furihata! What are you daydreaming about?!"

My body jolts, and I turn to look at my boss who, clearly, is displeased with me zoning out, even though it's toward the end of my shift. "S-Sorry, sir."

He sighs, looking back down at his log book as he accounts for all of his customers that he served that day. "Just get back to work. It's almost closing time."

I don't know if that was supposed to be comforting, or if that was supposed to make me work harder, but I settled on both. I would work hard cleaning until I could walk out these doors with a relieved smile on my face.

When my shift was over I immediately ran to the back room, throwing off my work clothes, and switching into my casuals. The comfort of that feeling, that feeling like home, was enough to get me out the door without collapsing. With little but a cell phone and my wallet on my person I set for the direction of home.

"Wow, what a crappy day..." I complain to myself. My arms felt like jello now, and my legs were about to completely cave in from exhaustion.

Not only did I get dumped this morning, but I also had to have the most hectic work day that I've had in months? But now the day was over. Now I could get to bed without any hesitation. No more crazy eventful things to worry about.

Then, as I turn the last corner before my house, I collide into a stranger. While, compared to the rest of the day, that simple bump was not very rough it was enough to push me back a few steps, and almost trip, until I could regain my composure. I hold out a hand in apology, just like Akane had done to me just hours before. "I'm really sorry! Are you okay?"

Then, as the person I had bumped into raises their head, I realize I did not bump into a complete stranger after all. He seems just as surprised as I am. "Furihata Kouki..."

"Akashi Seijuro?"