Time (kuroko no basket fan-fic)

Chapter 10

Chapter 10

After the game had started, none of them had scored even though 2 minutes had already passed. They just kept on blocking each other.

Kuroko got the ball and passed it to Kagami so he could make an Alley hop. It looked as if it would go in, but in the last second Midorima slapped the ball and takao took the ball, while exclaiming, "I knew you could do it Shin-chan."
Kimiko couldn't help but laugh at the nickname Midorima got from the boy with the hawk eyes. She really thought Midorima's friendship with Takao was cute and she was happy that he had got such a good friend.

As expected Shutoku was the first to score, which put pressure on Seirin.
As the first scorer, Midorima made a three pointer and before it even made the goal, he turned around and walked away towards the hoop he had to defend. Everyone could see the confidence in his posture and eyes and how he could just walk away without seeing if his shot would make it. Kimiko was rather proud of him and remembered a certain Teiko day.

~ flashback ~

Midorima was practicing three pointers and as you may know his skill at that time wasn't even near what it is now. At that time he still had problems with scoring without missing.

Kimiko was just passing the gym, she looked through the door to find Midorima practicing three pointers. She walked in and suddenly felt a ball rolling to her feet, lightly touching her shoe. The gym was full of basketballs everywhere. Everyone could see the effort and hard work he had shed. No one would be able to criticise him at all. Not with the effort he had shed.

Kimiko took the round ball that had brought her dearest and most precious friends much joy and happiness. She smiled a sweet and grateful smile at the ball and walked over to Midorima.

"Hmmmm. Having troubles?" Midorima turned his head a little and saw Kimiko's lips turn up in a sweet and honest smile.

"I just haven't achieved my wish yet. It's a little frustrating. I want to be able to shoot three pointers from everywhere and with accurate precision so I won't miss.

"I see. Well it all comes down to hard work and luck to achieve success. So work hard even if others don't. It pays off. I'm sure you will be able to do it, I have faith in you." After she had told him these encouraging words, she raised her arms and shot the ball in her hands. Miraculously the ball went in.

A very shocked Midorima turned around ready to ask questions but found no one besides him. He noticed that Kimiko was near the door which would mean that after she had shot the ball, she had walked away with utmost confidence.

"How-how did you do it?"

Kimiko turned half around and said with a encouraging smile, "Luck. It was pure luck." And then she turned around and walked out leaving Midorima alone to practice.

Since that day Kimiko would sometimes stay after practice to accompany Midorima. They would not talk to each other. That might sound totally tedious and dull, but for the two of them the other's presence was enough. While Midorima was practicing, Kimiko was sitting on the bench reading.

Suddenly one day, Kimiko stopped coming regularly. And after some time she quit Teiko.

~ Flashback end ~

After Midorima had scored, Seirin made a quick comeback and in Kimiko's opinion all thanks to Kuroko. Kuroko shot the ball to the opposite end of the court where Kagami stood ready to smash it in.

Kasamatsu was talking about how Kuroko's pass shut down Midorima's shots. Kimiko couldn't help laughing at this and said, "It isn't that easy."

"What do you mean, Kimikocchi?" Both Kise and Kasamatsu was curious to hear her answer but the only thing she would say was, "you'll see. But I shall give you a hint: number 10."

After she had told them this piece of information, did Shutoku's coach yell, "Kimura and Takao change marks."

Takao, who was wearing the shirt with the number 10 on his back, could clearly sense Kuroko's presence with his hawk eyes.

After Kagami made an one-man Alley hop the score was 13-16 in Shutoku's favor. To Seirin and everybody else's shock, Midorima shot the ball and said, "I told you, my shooting range isn't that short. It's the entire court." After he had said those words, the ball went in. He shot from the other end of the court.

"So he did achieve his goal" mused Kimiko to herself. Well she did have absolutely confidence that he could do it. She was happy for him, but on the other side, she was a little nervous for Kuroko.

~•~

Kimiko, Kise and Kasamatsu was eating Okonomi yaki. After the game ended with Seirin's victory, the three if them walked to a nearby restaurant to eat dinner.

"Kimikocchi, you should eat some more! It isn't healthy to eat so little!"

"I'm not hungry."

"Oi that's a lie" came a reply from Kasamatsu with his spoon in hand ready to eat.

"You got me. I'm on a diet! If I eat to much I shall get fat, you know." She finished her sentence with a pout and shortly after a light laugh.

Kise and Kasamatsu thought it was very weird. Kimiko didn't need to go on a diet, she had a perfect form. She wasn't fat at all. Since they were both basketball idiots (even through one was a model) and didn't have much experience with girls they just dismissed it as girls getting paranoia, and wasn't it common for girls to go on diets?

They didn't question her diet any further to her relief. Kimiko quickly averted their attention to the team coming through the door, "See Seirin came here too."

Since there wasn't many vacant seats left, Kuroko and Kagami joined their table. It was quite the ridiculous table.

"So... Why are we sitting together?" Asked Kise. Before the two from Seirin could answer, he asked another question, "Kagamicchi, why were you covered in mud?"

Kagami got really irritated at Kise from asking such a question. Besides, if he ever told them the story, it was guaranteed that the other would fall of their chairs from laughter. In the end, he decided to come up with a lie and said, "I fell. Don't mention it. Besides don't call me kagamicchi!"

After Kagami had exclaimed these words, the door opened and Midorima and Takao from Shutoku came in through the door.

"Excuse me, do you have room for two people?" After Takao had said that sentence, did he notice Seirin and Kaijo. The three teams looked at each other and felt very shocked that they would all meet at the same restaurant. Fate was at work.

"What are you doing here?! Where are the others?" Hyuga yelled the question they all wanted to ask.

Takao was the quickest to answer and said with a cheerful voice, "Haha you see, while Shin-chan was crying, we lost sight of the senpais"

Midorima quickly interrupted the embarrassing story told by Takao with an "hey!" But to no avail because Takao kept talking, "we figured we might as well get something to eat!"

In a hurry to get rid of the sight of his former opponent, Midorima said while opening the door and stepping outside in the rain, "we are going somewhere else to eat"

As if fate was making mischief, the weather suddenly got worser and the wind stronger. Because of the sudden weather change, Midorima and Takao was forced back to the restaurant soaking wet.

"Ne Shintarou and Takao come join our table" yelled Kimiko in a very soothing and sweet voice immediately catching Midorima's attention.

Takao's brain, like Fate, immediately though of doing mischief and said, "oh! Aren't you Kasamatsu from Kaijo! I have read about you! You are a famous point guard! I would love to hear your stories as a fellow point guard! Do you mind if we join you? Let's talk over here." As he said those words very quickly, he dragged away a confused Kasamatsu.

To everyone's entertainment Kise, Kuroko, Kagami, Midorima and Kimiko was now sitting together at a table. The atmosphere was beyond ridiculous.

Everyone at that table excluding Kimiko and Kuroko, who had a passive expression, was wearing a frown or openly displaying their discontent.

Kuroko broke the thick ice by suggesting they all began to order food, whereas Kise said, "I'm already pretty full, so I'm fine with what we have."

Midorima who didn't have any problems with insulting people (except a few people), voiced out his inner thought and said with a huff, "I'm surprised you could eat that ****"

"Why would you say that?! That's so mean, Midorimacchi!" Kise obviously got offended by Midorima's snippy comment. Kise quickly calmed down. He understood why Midorima would be in a bad mood and decided to say some "encouraging" words.

"Hey Midorimacchi, I know losing sucks but they say: yesterday's enemies are today's friends". This remark wasn't the most successfully remark in "History of Successfully Remarks To Handle All Situations". On to other end it only made Midorima more grumpy and irritated and he bit back, "I just lost to him!"

The last remark made Kise shrink back a little at his failed attempt. Midorima looked at him with critically eyes and bit back, "I can't believe you would just sit with them. You already lost to them." Disbelief was evident in his voice.

Kise just smiled and sat in a very model like position and said, "well, I'll get my revenge at Inter-High. That's for sure" after his declaration of war, he said further, "I won't lose next time."

When he had uttered those words, everyone could feel and see the seriousness in his eyes. You could clearly see the electric sparks flying between Kise and Kagami, who smiled a confident smile and said, "bring it on!"

After staying silent for most of the time, Kimiko said, "This will be interesting. But Ryouta, are you positive that they can advance so far to play against Kaijo?" Everyone turned to look at the magenta haired girl to find her lips curved into a sly smirk.

Even through she got a nasty glare from Seirin, that didn't stop her from continuing, "Their next opponent is Daiki. Even through someone really need to beat his ego, that doesn't change the fact that he is incredible strong. Ah ah why did he change, he was so cute when he was so happy about basket." At first Seirin listened with interest but as she went on, they found it very weird that she finished her comment with a sigh. Wasn't she supposed to insult them further? Wasn't she supposed to deal their ego a final blow?

Takao was stupidly playing with food even though his mother must surely have taught him to never play with food, because karma was bound to get back at you, and surely it did. The food landed on Midorima's green head. Maybe the discussion would have continued if the food didn't interrupt or maybe it wouldn't, who can say. Midorima got really angry and grabbed a pleading Takao. Even though he pleaded like crazy, it was to no avail, because after they stepped outside he got beat to a pulp.

Midorima came inside to grab Takao and his bag. He decided to say some paring words, "there are two members of the Generation of Miracles here in Tokyo. Myself and a man named Aomine Daiki. You will play against him soon. He is just like you."

Kagami was shocked for a second and returned, "I don't really understand, but he is strong right?"

At hearing this comment Kimiko couldn't help but to laugh aloud, which made the others look strangely at her.

"He isn't just strong. He is really strong. If you're not prepared and in your best condition, then you will be crushed." They could all detect the slight mocking and seriousness despite her happy smile on her face.

"He's strong... But I dislike his style of basket." Even through Kuroko said it in dead seriousness, Kimiko couldn't help but add a teasing remark, "But you did like it in Teiko."

Kuroko and Kimiko had a little stare down, whereas the other two from the Generation of Miracles, Midorima and Kise just looked uneasy at the two of them. In that moment the four of them belonged to a closed space only existing for them. Everyone else didn't understand their gazes, what they through and what they felt. They began to feel uneasy.
Kimiko was the first to look away. The tension subsided and Midorima saw his chance to place his money and go.

With a very rare smile, Kuroko said, "Midorima-kun, let's play basket again another time."

Without turning around, Midorima said in a very serious tone, "of course we will. Next time, I shall win." And out he walked.

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Thank you for reading this story of mine. If you have time and feel like it then please comment about what you think.