Chapter Text
If a normal person thinks of Kuroko Tetsuya, a plain guy and someone painfully average at everything is painted in their mind, given they remember him in the first place. Kuroko shrugs and lets their perception of him alone. His friends would fight him, gently in a rough manner since they love the pass specialist, because he’s the complete opposite of plain. The phantom sixth man is an enigma who is more mischievous than his deceiving white lily appearance does to the average joe. He’s clearly anything but that (per his biased friends). Even the esteemed Akashi Seijuuro upholds how interesting the phantom sixth man is in any situation. Exceeding expectations and being stubbornly loyal to a fault, the heir of the Akashi conglomerate is on the brink of giving up his hesitations to not marr—date! Dating first before marriage, damn it! Ahem, to date Kuroko Tetsuya of Seirin High. A father like Akashi Maosomi will make anyone understand why Akashi Seijuurou is holding himself back from dating his person of interest. So, for this notorious redhead, Seirin’s 11 is lightyears away from mediocre.
Oh, if only the Rakuzan captain knew how he prefers being an ordinary high school boy with his stoic reputation than to be found… as a hopeless romantic.
Kagami Taiga once said Kuroko Tetsuya bears no scent and this gives the pass specialist a thought; he is a fog. People, even his friends, have been breathing the calm air he exudes. The very oxygen made of mystery and enigma he always been around them. Let them inhale what they are all used to from him—fog.
Stirring them clear from his hidden maiden heart and fantasies.
Kuroko Tetsuya remembers the day his eyes began to adapt a Ghibli movie filter or how he simply romanticized his life vividly. Even now, he waits for the day he will be with his oh so one true love.
Romantic letters accompanied by wonderfully thought-out flowers are part of a tale that he’s been told countlessly and yet, he has never grown tired hearing it from his grandmother. Kuroko sometimes gazes dreamily at his grandmother’s drawer, where heartfelt compositions were penned by his grandparents are hidden. The baby blue haired male believes this to be responsible for igniting the first spark of interest that raged on and then aided by a fuel made from his grandmother’s passionate anecdotes. The fire burns to this day; he yearns for a love like theirs, hoping it comes any day now.
“Blame your grandfather,” the young Kuroko would hear from his grandmother, tone fond yet exasperated when she hears his pouting about waiting for his own love to enter his life already.
So, his heart does, and it blames his amazing grandfather and their romance.
A gentle man, his late grandfather was; he became part of the reason young Tetsuya would feel his cheeks heat up whenever he’d hear their tender love stories recited like the events just happened yesterday. Kuroko would wonder why his heart would thump softly whenever he saw how truly gentle his grandmother was loved by her late husband. He didn’t know the answer for years, but now, the sight and smell of blooming flora whisper to his ears about a romance he longs to experience for himself.
It’s a pain to be lovelorn.
To top it off, his sharp observational skills make him long for the love of his life more and more. Although, the wee little pricks his heart goes through every day is much more preferable than the day he found out that Ogiwara is as straight as a board. It took two months for him to heal from his very first heartbreak without even confessing, since he thought it’s a waste to risk their friendship. Worse, the whole Teikō-Meikō match roughened them up too. He can't ruin something so precious again.
But still…
The phantom sixth man dislikes being a bystander to all these sweet couples when he’s still single. Like, where’s the respect for his pining heart?
The Seirin basketball team possesses the love triangle between their coach, captain, and center. There is also Tsuchida-senpai being cared for by his girlfriend which is sweet until Kuroko wants to sulk in the corner instead of witnessing their affection. Hell, even Furihata got himself a girlfriend! Good for his friend in achieving his goal, but how about him!?
Seirin’s 11 can’t even avert his attention from the unfolding chapters of a romantic story wherein he merely plays a side character because it’s not only happening in Seirin. It’s not only in his own school wherein he has to survive from the Cupid’s blatant favoritism, but also suck it up and remain deadpanned in the presence of his middle school friends who are all already getting their love story written. Right. In. Front. Of. Him.
Midorima would always wipe Takao’s sweat while lecturing the hawk-eyed player after an arranged practice game between their teams; Murasakibara would be listening to Himuro easily whenever and wherever; Aomine would always tease Kise just to get satisfying reactions from the model.
One would think Kuroko has Kagami for support as his fellow ‘single as a pringle’ guy, but nooo, it couldn’t be that easy. Kuroko’s hope is unfortunately crushed when he sees a budding relationship rooting from the sudden closeness of Kagami with his former manager. Turns out, Seirin’s ten has been teaching Momoi to cook for months. Months.
“Betrayal,” he whispers to the wind when he finds out.
Come on!
Kuroko cried in his room, frustrated, when all those couples (not everyone is a ‘couple’ but he knows they’re already on that road) were with him in Maji Burger. The disrespect to his vanilla milkshake and heart. How rude.
“Cupid is so dumb,” He mumbles to his wet pillow. Everyone but him? Wow.
What can he do when he feels lonely? At the very least, he can wish for someone, a lover to call his own, to hold him. So, as a lost romantic with imagination being forever a free service, Kuroko decides to make his own scenarios between him and his current crush.
“Tetsuya, you look exquisite wearing the yukata.”
And there it is. The annoying tingle on his cheeks. He has a love-hate relationship with being able to perfectly hear Akashi Seijuuro’s voice in his head for these stories (fantasies).
“Can we hold hands, Akashi-kun?”
Akashi smiles softly before pulling Tetsuya by the waist closer to him. Their distance is obviously shortened, but the sight of his lover with an amused brow raise makes Kuroko stare.
“What did we agree on?” The red head leans in, stopping a breath away from the younger’s ear. “Ask again, Tetsuya.”
Cursing how velvety it sounds even in his fantasy; Kuroko is overcome by the urge to cover his obvious blushing face. However, since he’s determined to see it through, he fights against it.
“Can we hold hands,”
“Seijuuro…” A slip of tongue.
Upon realizing it, Kuroko silently screams into his pillow for saying the name out loud. He feels so foolish, but his heart is beating, and it feels like sunshine is healing his body all over after being single again another day. Daydreaming truly does make everything better for this hopeless romantic.
“A training camp in Kyoto?!” The reactions of almost everyone in the Seirin gym makes Riko smile. Despite the obvious dread from the players, she keeps her joyful expression.
“Yeah,” exclaimed Riko, “All the teams from the Generation of Miracles will be practicing together—isn’t it exciting?!”
While everyone discusses the matter at hand, the phantom sixth man is having a dilemma—how can he survive three problems in that camp for a week? First, he’ll see the old and new couples. Second, he’ll have to be something other than a fool in love with Akashi—who is present and not just his lover from his daydreams. Third, training together is something he is sure would be reminding him of his time at Teiko under the reign of his previous captain.
“Where will we be staying?”
“Most likely where Akashi-kun deems best.” Kuroko butts in, earning several yelps near him.
“Correct. So, be sure to be respectful, okay?” Riko-senpai turns to Kagami with a rather eerie smile, “Okay?”
“Yes, ma’am...” The ace answered while his teammates snickered.
“Good! Now, back to practice, boys!”
Kiseki no Sedai
Kise: everyone!!!!~~~~ im so excited to train with you all again!!!!! ✧˖°(ɲ˃ ˈ̫̮ ˂ɳ)°˖✧
Momoi: Me too, Ki-chan! (っˆᗜˆ)っ
Momoi: Tetsu-kun, I’ll prepare you a bento! @Kuroko ꒰ › ⸝⸝⸝ ‹ ꒱
Akashi: No need, Momoi. The inn will provide sufficient meals catered to our training so you can focus on our progress as well.
Aomine: thank god cuz who knows wats gon happen to tetsu
Aomine: or worse, us lmao
Momoi: I’M TELLING AUNTIE YOU’RE A PERVERT! (ʘ言ʘ╬)
Aomine: OI! I WAS JOKING WOMAN!!!!!!!!
Midorima: Are there nearby stores outside, @Akashi ?
Akashi: Yes, but you must get permission from your coach first when you go out the premises. There is a souvenir shop inside as well.
Kagami: hUH? why'd he needta go out???
Kuroko: To purchase his lucky item of the day, Kagami-kun.
Kagami: he really demoted to dat stuff, huh??
Kuroko: *devoted @Kagami
Aomine: wAT AN IDIOT LMAO U SUCK BAKAGAMI wwwwwww
Kagami: SHUTUP AHOMINE, UR NOT BETTER THAN ME ANYWAY
Kuroko: Aomine-kun, that’s not nice. Kagami-kun can at least do English.
Kagami: DROP DA ‘AT LEAST’ KUROKO
Kagami: speakin abt eng, how the f does akashi not have an accent
Akashi: Is that so?
Midorima: Akashi has been learning various languages at a young age.
Kagami: wow datz cool
Kagami: anw
Kagami: wanna see a video of kuroko speak in eng?
Momoi: YES PLEASE KAGAMIN ༼ つ ◕◡◕ ༽つ
Kise: YES (2) (੭ु´･ω･`)੭ु⁾⁾
Murasakibara: are are? kuro-chin can?
Aomine: SEND IT ALREADY BAKAGAMI
Kagami: AM LOOKIN FOR IT SHUTUP
Midorima: Kuroko has been awfully quiet.
Kuroko: Kagami-kun if you send it, I’ll ignite pass kai you to the gut.
Midorima: It can’t be that bad, Kuroko.
Kagami sent a video which if played shows an oblivious Kuroko reading English sentences meant for flirting with an obvious horrible attempt of Kagami holding back his laughter behind the shaky camera.
Kagami: oh shit
Kuroko: ...
Momoi: TETSU-KUN IS SO CUTE! I LOVE HIM SO MUCH!!! (๑˃́ꇴ˂̀๑)
Kise: KUROKOCCHI STOP STEALING MY HEART WHEN ITS ALRERADY WITH YOU TTTTT <3
Momoi: I CALLED DIBS ALREADY, KI-CHAN!
Kise: MOMOCCHI YOU CANT HOG HIM ALL TO YOURSELF˚‧º·(˚ ˃̣̣̥⌓˂̣̣̥ )‧º·˚
Murasakibara: bravoooooo, kuro-chin amaziiiing
Aomine: oh cmon its can't be that bad tetsu
Aomine: I TAKE IT BACK WWWWWW
Midorima: Do all of you even know what he was saying?
Akashi: Those were interesting pick-up lines to hear from you, Kuroko.
Kuroko: Akashi-kun, are pets allowed in the inn?
Akashi: Yes, why?
Kuroko: Thank you, Akashi-kun.
Kagami: DON’T BRING DAT DOG KUROKO
Kuroko: @Kise @Aomine @Kagami
Kuroko: The three of you are dead to me.
Kise: HOW ABOUT THE OTHERS!??!?Σ (꒪◊꒪ ))))
Aomine: ITS BAKAGAMI’S FAULT TF
Kise: THAT’S RIGHT!!!!!!!!!! d(●ω●
Kagami: TRAITORS! OI KUROKO WTH
Kise: WHY ISNT MOMOCCHI INCLUDED ( ；∀；)
Momoi: >:P
Kuroko: Good night @Momoi @Midorima @Murasakibara @Akashi
Kuroko sets his phone on silent and exhales, Kagami just had to embarrass him tonight out of all days in a year. Maybe it's time to look for a new light, the American has been pushing his buttons. But oh, this was that big red button people should never push. And Kuroko Tetsuya isn't one to annoy (Aomine Daiki shivers from certain memories). The phantom sixth man stares at his screen with a mind running plans for revenge concerning a certain Seirin ace when the (his) world comes to a halt. Why is Akashi Seijuuro calling him?!
And out of instinct, mixed with a giddy feeling his heart is dancing to the beat, he answers the call.
“Akashi-kun?”
“Kuroko,” The owner of said name shivers and barely keeps himself in check. “Are you okay?”
“Yes, Akashi-kun. It’s Kagami-kun who needs to worry.”
Then, he hears a laugh. Kuroko wants to slam his head on the futon now because that laugh is absolutely unfair. How can a freaking chuckle sound so handsome and how he needs it to be repeated in his ear until he’s deaf?!
“Were you aware those were pickup lines?”
“I did not until Kagami-kun told me the following day. He will be now suffering for sharing it to you all.”
“Personally, I found it adorable.”
…Eh?
“I’m telling the truth, Kuroko.” Kuroko realized right there and then he said that out loud. “It’s not every day one hears you say such romantic lines.”
“Akashi-kun is teasing me.” Stay blunt, Kuroko, stay b l u n t.
“And if I am?” Oh dear god, Seirin’s 11 feels his cheeks turn red from mischief laced in the tone which is stringing his already smitten heart along.
“I applaud Akashi-kun’s improvement in making jokes.” Kuroko tells himself he is safe. No waver in his voice, just a good ‘ol phantom sixth man who's been trained for years to keep his emotions at bay. Y e s.
“Why, thank you, Kuroko. I hope to give you a standing ovation when your flirting skills bloom.”
“You’re very supportive, Akashi-kun. I’ll be sure not to let you down.”
“I doubt you could even do that physically, Kuroko.”
Logic flies out of Kuroko's head upon saying the next words, “Then you can stay on top of me.”
It took a second for him to internally register what he said, another for him to understand what the hell he just said to his crush, and the third second to recover. “I’ll be going now, Akashi-kun. Good night.”
His finger quickly ended the call. Now, he wishes his finger was fast as his sense of dignity before saying such words to his crush seconds ago. It wasn't even a good comeback! He curses himself silently, the heat of his cheeks boiling, being such an embarrassment sight to his ancestors at this point. It goes without saying he is getting into a tizz how he’ll ever face Akashi for a week now!?
“I was right,” Kuroko mumbles, “Cupid is so dumb.”
Now, in his room alone, he’s left there feeling stupid.
Thank you very much, deity of love.
OMAKE/EXTRA:
Akashi stares at his phone screen, a minute has already passed. The sound of soft laughter fills the room as lips are unable to keep any emotion down from that unexpected sentence.
“Well, what do you know?" The red head amused of yet again another discovery, "He can flirt.”
As always, Kuroko Tetsuya exceeds his expectations.
Then, a smirk graces his face when his thoughts about Kuroko are now acting like those in the bodies of space, he pinpoints the reason for it is obviously from the interesting conversation. Yet a part of him is well-aware Kuroko never truly left his mind.