The Wager (Kuroko no Basket)

Phase 21: Confess

I gasp for breath as I make it just in time to see the final score of the game. They lost. I sigh. I thought that they could win, but I guess not. It's disappointing to see, but it's probably nothing compared to what Kise feels. 

I head over to the benches and stand behind a certain blond. "Why are you crying, Kise?" I ask.

"Things just haven't been going my way recently," he replies. "We lost the game, I got injured, and you're not here, Kimikocchi... You're off hanging out with other guys already..."

I almost laugh. "Really?" I ask. "I thought that I landed in Tokyo roughly an hour ago."

He seems to freeze for a moment, but then he turns around slowly, his eyes wide. A few tears are still running down his cheeks. "Kimikocchi...?" he asks slowly.

I smile at him and nod in greeting. "Kise."
His whole face seems to light up suddenly and he picks me up and spins me, to my immense embarrassment, before setting me down and embracing me. "Kimikocchi!" he exclaims. He hugs me tightly almost as if to confirm my presence. "You came back," he says.

"D-Don't go getting any strange ideas," I reply. For once, I don't stop him from hugging me though.

"I missed you."

I nod. "Me too," I admit quietly. He still hasn't let go of me yet. "I came to put an end to our wager," I say as calmly as I can manage.

He lets go of me and peers at me curiously. "End our wager?"

"I..." I begin. I feel my cheeks begin to heat up and my heart begins to race. "I mean, if you'll still have me, I'll..." I hesitate again. "I'll go out with you," I somehow manage to choke out. My cheeks flush and my heart pounds so loudly it wouldn't be a surprise to me if he said that he could hear it.

"Even though we didn't win?" he asks. I manage a small nod. Kise grabs me again and wraps me in a warm embrace. "You came back all the way for me?"

My heart is still busy drumming away, but I manage to reply, "I told you already, didn't I? Don't go getting any strange ideas. I might have agreed to..." I look away. "W-Well, you know... but I'm not ready to rely on someone else to that degree just yet." I explain, "So, I pulled strings until I could get myself a reserved seat. That way, if things don't work out... I'll still be able to go back."

"I'm not letting that happen," he replies resolutely.

"Don't be so full of yourself," I reply.

He smirks at me confidently. "Wanna bet on it?"

I return a smirk. "You're on."

He pulls me into a kiss suddenly. I'm too shocked to even realize what he did until it's over. He smiles at me confidently. "I hope that you're ready because you're going to lose this time, Kimikocchi," he replies.

To be honest, I kind of hope that he's right.

____________________________________________________________  

"Welcome back, Tsukino," Kasamatsu greets.

"Hey," I reply.

Moriyama slings an arm around my shoulder. "What? Did you miss me that much, Kimiko? It's only been about a month," he says.

"Absolutely," I begin. His eyes widen "Not," I finish flatly. I fold my arms. "Hurry up and graduate already, won't you?"

He chuckles. "You haven't changed at all."

"Of course not," I reply.

"Moriyama-senpai! Stop hitting on Kimikocchi!" Kise whines as he runs over to us. "She's completely off limits now!"

Kasamatsu hits Kise with a flying kick. "You! Don't make out on the court!" he exclaims angrily.

Moryiama laughs and puts his arm down. "Oh, I see how it is," he says teasingly. He grins. "Let's go out and celebrate then."

I sigh and shake my head. "Go study for your college exams," I reply. I can't help but smile a little as we fall into the usual pattern of friendly bickering and teasing. Geez, I really did end up liking this, huh? I try to stifle a laugh, but I end up laughing anyways. The whole team turns to me and stares with wide eyes.

"I don't think we've ever seen her laugh before..." Moriyama says slowly.

I continue to laugh as I reply, "Ridiculous..." I cover my mouth with my sleeve. "We're a bunch of idiots. You've turned me into a muscle-head like the rest of you."

"Hey, hey, who are you calling idiotic, huh?" someone teases. There's another round of laughter as we continue to head out.

"Alright! Let's celebrate!" Moriyama exclaims.

Kise casually slips his hand into mine as we head outside. I turn to him, but I don't think that I say what he expects me to. "Next year."

"What?" he asks.

"Let's get first place next year," I tell him.

He grins at me and nods. "I'd bet on that."

I laugh.