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

[M.14]Middle School: Diary Entry Fourteen

"Are you sure you don't want to join, [Name]-senpai?" Momoi asks once more. She's wearing her cutest pout and doe-eyed expression, but the boys surrounding her have you wary.

Akashi, Midorima, Aomine, Murasakibara... All ready to celebrate the new addition to the team. Some didn't seem all too excited about it, one is neutral, and the other is grinning ear-to-ear. You weren't sure if you wanted to handle this exciting lot, especially not when Nijimura was holding some important information from you.

He will bury that information if you didn't act on it now. If it meant skipping on Kuroko's welcome party, then so be it.

You glance at Kuroko, who is animatedly chatting with Aomine. "I really need to go do something. I'll come by another time."

"Travel safely then, [Name]," Akashi replies. The rest state their goodbyes in their usual manner, but it's Kuroko's subtle disappointment that causes your heart to squeeze with grief.

"Another time then."

A bitter smile is all you can give him, "Mhm!"

"All right, let's go," Nijimura sighs as he stands right by your side. When you give him the okay to go, he directs his attention to the other six, "Don't get into too much trouble."

"Don't worry, Nijimura-san. There will be no troubles," Akashi says with the most certain tone.

You give them a small bow before following Nijimura down the street and in the opposite direction of the gang. Their stares remain on your backs until you disappear from sight.

"They're always together," Momoi comments. It's an off-handed comment that no one thinks anything of, except Kuroko, who can't help but feel a surge of pain.

Meanwhile, you're walking as fast as possible to keep up with Nijimura's pace. He's clearly avoiding your pleading looks even though he promised to tell you about his troubles. He already bought himself a few hours; now's the time for him to come clean.

"H-Hey! You're going too fast!" you exclaim after you almost lose him a second time.

He stops and turns on his heel, spinning to face you with an angered expression. "You walk too slow."

"Why are we in a hurry?" you ignore his comment.

His eyes narrow while an internal debate ensues. He has mixed emotions about divulging his truth, but ultimately your bond with him wins over. "My father got hospitalized yesterday."

You weren't expecting something this important to come out and stutter out your response, "W-What happened?"

"It's his heart..." There isn't a clear emotion on his face, having been sealed over with a cold veneer. He's holding himself together as best he can, and he's doing a damn good job of it.

You're a different story though. "What's going to happen to your siblings and mother? Isn't your dad the one providing? H-How are you going to worry about basketball?"

"I don't know," his words come out with an edge to them. "I don't know... I'm still figuring out things."

You lower your gaze onto your shoes. The penny loafers your mother took an hour to shine are still glossy from her love. The small pennies that your father took hours to carefully install are still present. A world without one of them... It sounded lonely.

"I... You need a hug."

Nijimura raises one eyebrow as his upper lip curls into its signature pout. "Huh?"

You raise your arms, "It helps."

He gives you a hesitant look but having felt guilty for some of your troubles, he capitulates into your arms. "This is really dumb."

You giggle and give him a firm embrace. There's a comforting warmth to it even though he isn't hugging you as strongly. It's a light hold on your frame, but it's enough to feel pleasant. It didn't give you the same strong surge of emotions like Kuroko's but it makes you both feel reassured.

Reassured that there will always be someone by your sides, and with that, Nijimura feels that he has enough strength to continue on with basketball.