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

Chapter 11

The woman in the photo…

Is my mother.

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Nee, Tetsu-kun… are you really you?

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Midorima's P.O.V

"Oi Akashi!" I yell out my childhood friend's name as soon as I walk into the noisy classroom with some idiot's in tow.

I hadn't been worried about Kuroko. I just so happened to listen to the blue haired ganguro and the annoying model's conversation as they wouldn't leave me alone.
They said something about hoping the tealnette was ok and ended up telling me what happened last night.
I don't care if he was hurt badly but I don't want to be distracted today so I want to hear everything from Akashi.

I found him in his usual seat, where he had already opened everything needed for the lessons, but unlike usual, not that I see how he usually is, he looked… distracted, as if in a daze.
"Oi!" I had the courage to slam my hand on his desk, effectively snapping him out of his stupor as he turned to look at me.

"What is it, Shintarou?" His eyes glinted dangerously, as he was, clearly, not happy, making me hesitate a little. I take a gulp before talking.
"Kise and Ahomine say that Kuroko had an accident last night. Not that I care or anything, I'm just asking to confirm it since these morons spurt nonsense all the time."
A long minute passes before his cold mismatched eyes blink and he crosses his arms over his chest.
"Yes, it is true. Haizaki went too far last night." He says looking ahead. "Tetsuya also refuses help. He says he doesn't need it."

"But we'll still help him," Kise decided to pipe in. "Right Akashi-chi?"
A nod was his response. Akashi looked at the three of us with murderous eyes. "Of course Ryota, Tetsuya isn't on his right state of mind to decide for himself right now."
"Akashi-" The bell rung, signaling the start of classes today and cutting whatever bull Ahomine had to say.

"Get to your classes. We'll discuss this later."
While the two idiots took their leave (running like crazy), I sat in my seat beside Akashi.
"You're planning something already, aren't you?" Truthfully, it was more of a statement than a question.
"Of course." Was the only answer I got before the teacher got in.

The classes passed and it was at last lunch time. Akashi and I met up with the others rather quickly (the morons appeared in thin air) and were set on a 'phantom hunt' as Murasakibara so gracefully named it.
As the morons headed off into different directions, I stayed with Akashi. I really want to avoid getting affected by those guys' stupidness.
"Where to Akashi?" I ask. He seems a little annoyed, I think because of those idiots.
"The library. Tetsuya is most likely there." I nod and follow after the red head. The library seems like the best guess, Kuroko is a bookworm after all.

And the library was the right guess too. We found Kuroko on the farthest corner reading some mystery book, which is a big suprise that we managed to notice him, but really not since this is Akashi we're talking about.
"Tetsuya." Akashi said, gaining the tealnette's attention.
"A-Akashi-kun?!" Kuroko really doesn't look that happy to see us. "What are you-"
He was cut off though, by Akashi who asked- ahem, demanded that he come with us, while I left before hand to text the others to meet us at the cafeteria.

"Akashi-kun!!! Please let go of me!" The phantom's cries were ignored though as Akashi approached me, dragging the poor boy by his left wrist.
"Did you tell them, Shintarou?" He asked me as we now moved in a steady pace.
"I did." I confirmed and glanced over at Kuroko who in turn looked over at me.
Oh no.
"Midorima-kun?"
Damn it!
"Please help me! I don't want to eat lunch right now. I just want to read!" He squirmed and struggled against Akashi's firm hold in futile atempts.
"No one is forcing you to eat Tetsuya. We just simply want to talk." Akashi answered in my place.
"As if! We can also talk later Akashi-kun, if you're in such a hurry it must mean trouble for me."

"True, so-" The red headed devil abruptly stopped, eyes fixed on Kuroko, rather, on something on Kuroko.
"Akashi, what's-" He pulls Kuroko closer and grabbes his right wrist, which made the teen wince.

I was… speechless...
His wrist was bandaged, with some red liquid- BLOOD- staining the cloth in some places.
It was barely noticable to be honest, but you could notice it if you paid attention.

Before the phantom could react, the young captain started unbandaging it and revealing his wrist- his sliced wrist.
"K-Kuroko you-"
"How could you?" Akashi's hold on his wrist got a little tighter and his eyes bore into Kuroko's hidden expression.
His bangs fell on his face, hiding whatever emotion he was feeling at the moment.
Akashi frowned at his lack of response, but didn't pry further. "We will return to this topic later." He said, holding back a sigh. "For now, let's go. The others are waiting."

And so, no more questions were asked on the matter.
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The little 'meeting' we had with Kuroko turned out to be a mess.
A lot of questions were thrown his way and a lot were dodged.
Most of our questions weren't answered and the phantom ended up yelling at us and leaving the place. Most importantly, he didn't even eat anything.

Akashi seemed content though for some reason.
"Why are you making that creepy smile, Akashi?" I asked when we were walking home.
"Hm, oh I just got some information I needed that's all, Shintarou." He answered.
"Information?" The mood turned serious for some reason.
"Yes. There was something… suspicious- no, merely, a weird relavation I found out in Tetsuya's home." I did not miss how his eyes sharpened at the 'weird relavation' or the pressure put on the word 'home'. "I told someone to do a little background research and I got all the information I wanted. Plus, Tetsuya's outbursts helped today."

"How is that, nanodayo? And I assume you'll let us in on this little relavation of yours?"
A chuckle was my reply.
"Patience Shintarou, I'll tell you once I get to the bottom of this."

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Please don't, Akashi-kun.

Well this feels like one of my best chapter's yet.
Enjoy!