Just a Fairytale [Kuroko Tetsuya x Reader x Nijimura Shuzo]{KnB}

[M.10]Middle School: Diary Entry Ten

The following day you resume your afternoon routine, rolling a cart full of basketballs into the gym with a skip to your step and a whistle that follows no beat in particular. You don't notice the lithe steps that follow you until that person clears their throat.

"WAH!" you screech as your body collapses to the floor. You're breathing heavily, heart beating a mile a minute. When your eyes land on Akashi, you feel a bit of relief though it does nothing to quell your unreasonable fear. "W-What--?"

"I apologize for frightening you," Akashi coolly replies, eyes slightly widened with concern.

He offers you his hand, but you shake your head. "I... got it."

His smile remains as he retracts his hand. There's a knowing glint in his eyes as if he's aware of your fears, yet he doesn't utter a word about them. "Do you have a minute to speak?"

"What do you need?" Your eyes wander around in search of someone else, anyone else to occupy the gym.

"...We can speak outside if you'd like, or wait for Nijimura."

You take a deep breath and try to reason with yourself. 'It's just Akashi Seijuro. He's not the type of guy who will attack me.' You say that to yourself over and over again. "I can talk here."

"Right. I was wondering if you can begin accommodating a new member to the first string," he begins.

"A new member? We already finished try-outs though."

"We discovered a talent within our strings, specifically the third string," he explains. "I wanted to speak to Nijimura and the assistant coach about it, but I'd feel more comfortable going forward knowing that you were fine with it."

"I suppose. It shouldn't be too hard. I just need to add an extra order to the uniforms," you nod your head.

"..."

"Or not?"

He sighs, "I have confidence that he'll measure up."

"I see." You're confused by his statement's lack of substance, but relief consumes you when you see the rest of the first string members enter the gym.

Nijimura is the first to spot you two from the distance, but it is Akashi who is first to approach him. You watch as his expression goes from apprehensive to scowling. He doesn't seem too pleased about hearing Akashi's plans for a new member but there's a level of trust between them that causes him to relent.

"I'm glad Tetsu is getting his chance," Aomine comments to Momoi, which steals your breath. You whip your head around, feet guiding you towards them. "He's been working hard."

"You know Kuroko?"

Aomine gives you a look of surprise before responding. "You know, Tetsu?"

"Kuroko Tetsuya, right?"

"Yeah."

"Yeah!"

You're both in shock, and it's Momoi that snaps you both out of your reverie. "Akashi has taken an interest in him. He might become a new member soon."

"That's great!" you gush. "He's been working really hard!"

"Exactly!" Aomine adds in. There's a boyish excitement to his response, elating you greatly that someone else was happy for your friend.

"Kuroko is really amazing. He's funny and smart. He's a really good--"

"Oi, I didn't you were dating someone." Your excited face drops upon hearing Haizaki's voice. "Even though you're a quiet one, you're off cheating on our captain."

"Cut it out, Haizaki," Aomine scoffs. He doesn't seem too keen on the boy's teasing, having more interest in talking about his friend.

"What? I just wanna know what kind of girl our sweet manager is," he sneers. He returns to you, his smirk growing at your reaction.

Your body is wracked with anxiety the closer he gets to your form. You already had a heart attack minutes before with Akashi; your body clearly wasn't ready to endure another one so soon.

When his fingers reach out to grab the hem of your jacket, your nerves get the better of you and a lone tear slips down your cheeks. It halts Haizaki's teasing ministrations, giving Aomine time to land a firm punch on the boy's cheek.

"EH!" Momoi gasps as Haizaki drops to the floor. "DAI-CHAN!"

You step backwards to assess the situation, your body shaking under duress. The gym's occupants now have their attention focused on you, and it's then that Nijimura comes rushing in, scowl in tow and hands balled up. It doesn't take much for him to comprehend what happened, and he immediately tugs Haizaki out of the gym.

"Come here, you little shit," he growls.

There's a scream of pain in the distance, causing you to flinch. However, it doesn't appear to affect anyone else as Momoi resumes to chastising her childhood friend. "Dai-chan, when I said that we had to protect senpai, I didn't mean it like that," she groans. "Honestly! You're jeopardizing your position."

He shrugs, "I did the first thing that came to mind... Besides, none of the coaches are here yet."

"That was incredibly stupid," Midorima joins the conversation as he fixes his glasses. "Using your dominant hand like that."

Murasakibara treads over with weak interest. "Ne, did you really have to do that? We need all of our energy for practice today..."

Aomine waves his arm around like it's no big deal. "I actually feel more pumped."

Akashi also swings by but with no words of repercussion for Aomine. "Are you all right, [Name]?"

You don't answer as you glance around them with swirls in your optics. 'How are they acting so normal?! He just punched a guy?! A-And no one cares!'

It was a fact: boys were really scary.