I never thought I would return to thank you...

Chapter 3

Damn it Tetsuya!

I will find out what's going on!

Just wait...

-------------

Akashichi?

Kurokochi?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kuroko's POV.

How? How did he find out?

Why did he even notice?
... why would he even care?...

Some phantom I turned out to be, I can't even hide my pain anymore!
Maybe, maybe I should quit.

Haizaki is getting harder to deal with. He really did it that morning, I was late for practice. Now I have to think of how to deal with Akashi-kun too. Just the thought of it gives me a migraine.
But it was to be expected anyways, it is Akashi-kun after all, but never so soon.

"Kurokochi~!!!" I didn't even have time to comperhand that as air left my body once I collided with the ground, the force over me squishing me underneath.
"K-Ki-Kise-kun! Ah, you-you're crushing me!!!" I have to stop zoning out like that. Kise-kun might crush me for real other-wise.
"Ah, sorry sorry Kurokochi!" The annoying blonde gets up, allowing me to finally breathe again. He, wisely, held out his hand for me to take, which i gratefully took.
"Nee, Kurokochi, you heading to the gym?"
"Yes I am." Unfortunately.
His eyes sparkle with stars in them and his shining teeth almost blind me.
"Great! I'm heading there too! Let's go together Kurokochi~~!!!" I want to ask 'why?' but I know I can't because that'd be rude.
"Why not Kise-kun?" I gave him a light smile, but instantly regreted it as he squealed and trapped me into his bone-crushing hugs.
"K-Kise-kun! C-choking m-e!!
"Gah! Sorry Kurokochi~!"

The walk to gym was short but I have a bad feeling. Aside from Akashi-kun, there seems something's wrong with Kise-kun as well. He feels strange, like he's trying so hard to understand something- Could it be he knows something?!

Not paying attention, I bumped with someone.
An "Oof!" Sound escaped me as I hit the ground. Hard.
"Oi! Look where you're- Tetsu?!" Aomine-kun?!
"Aomine-kun?! Sorry I didn't see where I was going." He lazily scratched the back of his head and even more lazily rolled his eyes.
"Yea whatever, just watch it next time." I stood there awkwardly in between Kise-kun and Aomine-kun for a few minutes till something felt wrong, no off.

"Aomine-kun? What are you doing here?" Akashi-kun was nowhere to be seen as well.
"Oh that," he yawned and crossed his arms behind his head. "Akashi called me here. Said there was something important to discuss or whatever."
"I see." Is he really going to make his move?
"Nee, nee, there must be something really important if Akashichi called all of us here. Right Kurokochi?" I can't help but eye the annoying blonde next to me. His tone is wrong. His eyes are also wrong. Just as I'd reply to his question, Midorima-kun called for everyone's attention and informed us that Akashi-kun was busy and wouldn't be attending practice today.
"Important my ass! He's not even here himself!" Aomine-kun's voice complained and I can't help but agree.
What are you planning, Akashi-kun?

"Whatever. I'm outta here." I watched my friend (am I even allowed to call him that anymore?) try to leave but was stopped by Midorima-kun who took him and Murasakibara-kun, who was about to leave as well, aside and discussed something with them.
"Kurokochi~! Let's practice together, ok?" Kise-kun suggested.
"Ok. Let's." I say and pick up a basket ball.
"Mind if we join?" A lazy voice called behind me and before I could react, a tanned hand took my basket ball from behind. I turned to see Aomine-kun shoot it.
"What are you doing here, Aomine-kun? Murasakibara-kun?" The shot made it and two pairs of eyes landed on me.
"I told ya," Aomine-kun said taking another basket ball, "Akashi called me."
"Same here~." Murasakibara-kun added taking a bite from his mauibo.
"I know that, but I thought you were leaving."
"I'm here already aren't I. Since I am I might as well stay for a bit." He said taking his gaze off me.
Liar.

"Everyone split in two teams. We're having a match." The coach yelled and blew his whistle.
Everyone did as they were told and soon I found myself facing Haizaki's goons, their smiles sending shivers down my spine.
Taking shaky breaths every now and then, I tried my usual, but it wasn't long till they decided to toy around with me.
It was halfway through the game when one of them brutally crushed my foot. As expected, it went unnoticed. From then, they became more brutal.

But of course, it wouldn't be only like that. The game's about to end and everyone's trying their best to win, except those two. One of them finally got the ball and passed it towards the other who dribbled it for a few. Then in a blink of an eye I felt the air leave my body as I crashed hard onto the ground.
Shouts passed by me, concerned voices surrounded me but I couldn't hear anything but the sound of my heart dancing in my throat. I'm pretty sure I'm bleeding.
"...tsu!"

"TETSU! OI TETSU!" Aomine-kun?
"Aomi-" coughs escape my mouth repeatedly, not letting me talk.
"Aomine, move!" Midorima-kun took Aomine-kun's place and started checking on me. Kise-kun as well took a place beside me. Why were they so worried about?
"Oi, what was that?!" Aomine-kun's voice boomed all over the place.
"What was what? It was his own fault for just standing there! I didn't even see him!!" I wonder if any of those two are insane to backtalk Aomine-kun when he's like that.
"Why you little-I'LL KILL YOU!!!" Kise-kun got up and along with Murasakibara-kun tried to keep Aomine-kun from killing anyone.
I willed myself to come down and tried to get up and help, but Midorima-kun wouldn't let me.
"Kuroko! Stay down! You're bleeding!"
"I'm fine Midorima-kun, let me get up!" I finally break free from him and try to stand on my shaky two feet.
"Aomine-kun." I know I'll fall down if I try to walk, so calling out to my tanned friend and hoping he hears me is my only option. Taking a deep breath, I try it one more time. "AOMINE-KUN!"
It worked this time as he-and everyone else- is now looking at me.

"Aomine-kun it was my fault."
"Are you fu-"
"I DIDN'T REACT FAST ENOUGH!" This time, my voice boomed over the place. "It was an accident."
...
I expected the whispers. I did. But I didn't expect a forced ironic laugh. Especially from someone who wasn't supposed to be there.

"Akashi-kun?!" He walked towards me with a smile on his face, but eyes screaming death. There isn't any doubt; he's angry. Mad even. Anyone could tell by the way he didn't even hear me.
"An accident you say, hm, Tetsuya?" Bending a little to my eye level, the red haired captain locked his gaze into my eyes, quieting- no, crushing whatever lie I said before, taking away my ability to talk or move and silently pleading for the truth that would never come. "Tell me, when could this accident have started, hm? When they purposfully hit you with the basket ball?"He straightens up again and starts walking towards the two devil assistants. "When they secretly elbowed you?" He stops infront of the them and his smile widens more. "Or when they not so secretly 'stepped' on your foot?"

"Akashi-kun, you've been here all along?" You planned this didn't you?
"Why, I've only been here since the beggining of the match." Of course I did. "I finished everything I needed to do and decided to come see how everyone was doing. And then I was faced with this 'accident' of yours.
"So then gentlemen, will anyone volnuteer to tell me who put you up to this because I'm sure, airheads like you could never even notice him in the first place." He stared down at the two, who werr probably insane because they just as confidently stared back.
I don't like this. I knew there was something going on here and I played along.
But this has to stop. Before someone looses his eyes, or worse, his head.

"Akashi-kun?"
"Yes, Tetsuya?" He turns to look at me, knowing smile on his face. Waiting for the truth of course.
"Can we talk?" But he's about to be very dissapointed, I have another card up my sleeve.
"Of course." He followed me to my bag, where, with unnoticable trembling hands, I pulled out the sheet that'd end my life, figuratively that is, and handed it to him.

My heart felt heavy as I waited for his reaction and the yelling about to start. His eyes widden and his hands tremble and grip the sheet harder, almost to the point of tearing it. He quickly reads the rest of it before looking at me with betrayal.
Can I break down right here and now?

"Tetsuya?"
Of course not.
I have to be strong.

"What is this?!"
I have to be strong.

"The truth."
For all of us.

"I'm quitting basketball."