8th Installment of 'If Kagami Goes to Teikou' (Kagami/GoM; Pg-13)
If Kagami Goes to Teikou
Fandom: Kuroko no Basuke
Rating: T/Pg-13
Genre: Humor/Romance
Pairing: GoM/Kagami or Kagami/Gom
Summary: If Kagami transfers to Teikou when he returns from America, it probably happens this way…
Disclaimer: Kuroko no Basuke © Tadatoshi Fujimaki
Warning: AU, what if skenario, shounen ai, slight oOC-ness, possible mistakes and grammar errors
Eighth Impression: The Generation of Miracle (Part 2)
Members of Generation of Miracle, basketball prodigies, couldn’t believe their eyes when Kagami decided to visit them. Well, Aomine and Akashi had invited him, so it was a given that he stopped by, especially when Akashi himself escorted him to the first string’s gym, but they honestly thought that Kagami was only going to watch them practice at first.
Yet, Akashi had another idea because he wanted to test Kagami’s basketball skills, since Aomine boasted around so much that Kagami’s ability was quite awesome.
“I think he’s on par with us!” the tan ace beamed eagerly. It had been awhile since he felt so pumped up. He recalled the burst of adrenaline when he faced the tall red head at the night street ball one-on-one match.
“I haven’t seen his performance yet, so I don’t know for sure. But looking at his built, it is very likely that Kagami is good at sport,” Midorima nodded in agreement, keeping an eye on Kagami’s toned figure. After all, such built didn’t come from birth. Kagami should at least train his body a bit to be that… fit.
Well, more than anything, Midorima was actually rather perturbed because Aomine had seen the red head play before Midorima; and he was supposed to be Kagami’s classmate.
“Oh, and Kagami-chi is also very nice! He saved me the other day, even though I was practically a stranger to him!” Kise chirped affirmatively, smiling excitedly while nodding vigorously. The taller teen had left quite an impression on Kise’s mind. In any case, Kagami really didn’t know who the blonde was despite Kise’s popularity, and yet Kagami still went and helped him escape from rabid fan-girls.
There were only a few good Samaritans in the world, fewer in Kise Ryouta’s life, what with how many people wanting to take advantage of his famous ‘name’. That’s why; Kise’s naïve personality immediately took a liking on Kagami’s kindness.
“I understand, Kise-chin. His look can really deceive people at first glance (what with his intense and serious face and those funny eyebrows), but he is naturally caring and generous on the inside,” Murasakibara contributed his opinion. Even he was able to comprehended something like that once in awhile, since Kagami actually assisted him to take his candy out of the malfunctioned snack bar while the other students prominently stayed away from him, and even went as far as treating him another box of candy (even if it was for his silence regarding Kagami’s vandalism in kicking the worn out school property, a.k.a. the snack bar).
Kuroko opted to stay unspoken as his teammates and friends poured out their compliments for Kagami. He was also completely on the same board as them, although his reason for being fascinated by the red head was more private. Kagami was the first person (beside his parents) that spotted and addressed Kuroko first before him, even though Kuroko hadn’t known him before.
At some point in life, Kuroko had ever questioned his existence in other people’s eyes because he naturally faded from their perspective and memory if he didn’t remind them that he was there, and yet, for some unfathomable basis, Kagami saw and noticed him there without effort, and even though some days had passed, the tall red head still remembered Kuroko, that he existed. It was… honestly very comforting that there was someone like Kagami in this universe; someone who wouldn’t lose sight of him.
As for Akashi, it was the element of surprise that caught him off guard with Kagami’s unexpected actions. The tall red head betrayed all his normal expectations, and yet what he had shown Akashi so far was something more than he thought he saw through his Emperor Eye. “Like a gap moe,” Akashi stated, and his GoM friends ultimately turned to him while making faces as if he had grown an extra pair of arms on his forehead. “What?” Akashi of course questioned the nature of their odd look, raising his eyebrows slightly, daring them to mock his opinion.
“No… hearing words like ‘moe’ from Akashi-chi is rather…” Kise, being the most reckless and easy going kid he was in the group, never learned to shut his mouth up concerning spilling truth after truth of things that could get himself ‘killed’ by the demonic captain.
Kise, you idiot!-his other friends stared at the blonde in dread.
Akashi only smiled nicely before he threw his infamous scissors at Kise, but it only cut through Kise’s side bang before the sharp edges plunged into a wall. Kise turned very pale, too afraid to move afterwards, his eyes teary as he sobbed while lamenting his lost hair.
Definitely an idiot…!-the others felt sorry for the blond teen, but didn’t make any move to console him either for the fear of being the next target of Akashi’s wrath.
“Ah, that’s dangerous! Where the hell did that come from?” Kagami stared at the red scissors in horror before he turned to Kise, his eyes showing worry. “Kise, you alright?”
Upon hearing the rather concerned tone, Kise’s ears perked before he looked upward and launched himself (once again) at Kagami, hugging him tightly. “Kagami-chi is sooooo nice!” He was immediately back to his bubbly jolly self, earning him instant death glares from his friends for using Kagami’s obliviousness to his advantage.
“O-oi…” Kagami mumbled slowly, kind of looking confused, but he looked adorable like that, so the others didn’t say a thing to Kise even though they wanted nothing but to kick the blonde’s ass for casually building skin-ship with Kagami.
“Let’s cut to the chase, Kagami.” Akashi wouldn’t have that, though, and immediately gained Kagami’s attention back to him while he threw a glare at Kise to back down. Kise relented sulkily, completely knowing that he was at the bottom of the food chain in the GoM family.
“Cut to the chase… of what? I haven’t even seen you guys play other than Dai-” Kagami paused slightly, seeming thoughtful, before “-Aomine,” finishing tentatively.
Aomine dropped his jaw in total disappointment at the use of his family name instead of his given name, while the others smirked smugly. Finally, Kagami decided to be formal as soon as he knew Aomine’s last name.
Since he was a returnee (Midorima supplied), Kagami wasn’t yet used to the culture of using family names instead of the given names to call people. But from thorough scolding by the teachers to discipline him, Kagami apparently tried his best to maintain custom now, even though his forced Keigo was undeniably strange.
It was kind of endearing seeing him stumbling with his words at his attempt to act polite.
“Well, true, but what’s the fun in just seeing?” Akashi asked, teasing the taller red head. “Don’t you want to try us?” another haughty smirk, “Or… you aren’t up for a challenge?” The bait was thrown. According to his assessment, Kagami was quite a simple minded guy, much like Aomine, very easy to rile up. This, Akashi was sure that he was right.
Kagami’s mouth twitched up, slowly forming a feral grin as his eyes were alight with fire. “Bring it on.”
Everyone was struck by the shift of air around Kagami’s body. He looked positively untouched, deadly and dangerous in the most attractive kind of way now that caused them to almost gasp in awe.
Whoa! He can look like that too!-they thought, even Aomine who already saw this side of Kagami on the street ball court the other night. Somehow, Kagami seemed more passionate and raw than that time!
“Alright then, we will see how you live up the rumor,” Akashi’s smirk widened.
Kagami raised his eyebrows slightly, seeming about to ask something, but thinking the better of it and shrugging instead. “What do you want me to do? One on one?”
“No. How about consecutive three-on-one?” Akashi suggested. The others were surprised, including Kagami apparently, because he blinked in bafflement.
“How does that even work?”
“Akashi, isn’t that overboard? It’s just a simple test for him to join, right? There’s no need for us, the GoM, to be his opponents at once,” Midorima tried to pound some senses into their crazy captain’s head.
No matter how splendid Kagami was in one-on-one, even against Aomine, playing against the three GoM at once was suicidal.
“It’s consecutive three-on-one. It is one on one, but his mark changes for the next as soon as he breaches the previous’ defense,” Akashi explained, disregarding Midorima’s protest.
“I don’t mind even though it’s three-on-one. I will beat you all,” Kagami grinned cheekily, looking thrilled, unconsciously grating on the GoM’s nerves that hated losing most with his words.
“That’s very cute, but don’t cry later, cherry head,” Aomine huffed.
“Wait, put me in too! I want to know how great Kagami-chi is!” Kise was pumped up as well, hearing the exigent tone.
“I guess I can see why he has to be taught respect once in awhile,” Midorima revised his statement the moment he saw the audacity. If Kagami was confident that he could take the three of the GoM down, he wouldn’t underestimate his capability.
“I assumed you guys are up for the challenge then,” Akashi looked at Aomine, Kise and Midorima who nodded surely. He glanced at Kagami next. “You’re ready to take the dare?”
“One question,” Kagami didn’t release his powerful crimson eyes from the three opponents in front of him. “I can do anything to get past them, right?”
“As long as it doesn’t break the basketball match rules,” Akashi smirked.
“Alright,” Kagami’s grin widened. “Hey, Kuroko! Can you show me where I can change clothes?” then Kagami waved at Kuroko who thought he was already forgotten, and once again, rendered surprised because Kagami could see and locate him so quickly again.
“Yes,” Kuroko moved, rather dazed. “This way,” he pointed at the locker room and escorted Kagami there.
~A few minutes later~
Kagami was back inside the gym. Kuroko wasn’t with him.
“Where’s Kuroko-chi?” Kise noticed first, confused.
“Err… he needs to refresh himself,” Kagami chuckled slightly, somehow, his cheeks turning a bit pink.
Everyone set their mortified expressions immediately. What the hell happened in there?!
Midorima was sweating bullets while Aomine was opening and closing his mouth, flabbergasted, like a foolish fish out of water. Kise was whimpering. Akashi’s eyebrows were twitching dangerously as Murasakibara crunched his snack harder.
“So, are we playing now?” Kagami lifted an orange ball with a smirk.
This guy…!
Kise, Midorima and Aomine lined in front of the ring. “Come and try me, Kagami-chi!” Kise shouted loudly, feeling extra fired up. It was a chance to get closer to Kagami after all.
“Yosh,” Kagami started dribbling the ball slowly as he seemed to look for any gap in Kise’s defense. Kise lowered his shoulder and bent his knees slightly, spreading his arms wide and watching Kagami’s movement in alert, ready for any move.
For a moment, Kagami only dribbled the ball without moving, but as soon as Kise’s attention was on the ball, kagami ran while dribbling the ball ahead of him.
A frontal drive!-Kise moved forward as well to stop Kagami’s run, but Kagami’s forceful eyes on him didn’t show Kise any sign that he would do any feint. Is he going to charge me?!
Everyone watched vigilantly, hearts thumping harder collectively in anticipation if Kagami would make a charging foul. However, as Kise blinked, Kagami shifted his direction to Kise’s left and BAM!
As in reflex, Kise moved to the right slightly, his body moving on its own accord to avoid the collision. “EH?!” Kise was very surprised.
“Idiot! Why didn’t you stop him?!” Aomine yelled from the end of the line.
“Eh? Eeeeeh?!” Kise was totally perplexed. He didn’t know what just happened. He just… he thought Kagami would hit him and his mind went into a fight or flight response that his body decided to dodge instead of receiving the blow.
“It’s a charging foul, right?” Murasakibara commented.
“No… it’s a bit rough, but that guy shifted to the left slightly before driving in. He saw an opening in Kise’s left side and he would have driven further from Kise’s body if Kise didn’t dodge in time,” Akashi utilized his Emperor Eye to watch everything and he noticed all Kagami’s intention from the slight change in his muscles twitch. “But… what a brazen way to play. As I thought, he’s style is close to Aomine.” Akashi smirked at that.
“Now, I’ll stop you!” Midorima, who was taller than Kagami used his longer limbs as his advantage to obstruct Kagami’s way. Kagami slowed down slightly, glancing right and left, seeming to look for a way to free himself from Midorima’s guard. But unlike Kise, Midorima was better in reading feints. He knew Kagami was bluffing with his eyes, so he stuck his gaze on Kagami’s hand that held the ball while trying to steal it.
Kagami seemed surprised as Midorima reached for the ball, and spread his other arm to hinder Midorima closing him in. He pivoted his left leg to whirl 180 degrees to get past the green haired boy, but Midorima was ready and moved to cut his way once again. However, Kagami apparently still had one trick because when Midorima thought Kagami would move the ball to his left hand, the red head dribbled the ball through Midorima’s legs instead.
“What?!” Midorima didn’t see that coming, and his concentration in impeding Kagami’s move was distracted as Kagami bent and dashed away from Midorima to catch the ball once more.
“Wow~…! What was that just now?” Murasakibara widened his eyes in surprise, his snack forgotten in his hand as he gaped slightly.
“Impressive. No one would have thought to dribble through the defenses’ legs because of the risk in hurting their crotches,” Akashi nodded, impressed.
“Um… Akashi-chi… that reason is a bit…” Kise’s sweat dropped.
“It’s just a joke, Ryouta. Can’t you take a joke?” Are you an idiot?-was left unsaid, but Kise heard it just as clearly as he pouted.
“Then what’s the explanation?” The blond was still curious though, so he wanted to hear it.
“It’s because you can’t control the defenses’ legs movement,” Akashi started. “There’s a high risk of failure in the maneuver. The ball can hit the leg for once, and the moment it’s gone from your grasp, if you can’t move fast enough, the ball will be stolen by the opponent. Unless you have a partner behind the defense, this technique is a reckless movement that will give the opponent’s team a chance to steal a ball from your team. In theory, this technique can’t be used alone, but somehow, Kagami nailed it…” Akashi sighed, pleased at the surprising quality in Kagami’s skill.
“Ooh…” Kise gulped in admiration. “Indeed, Kagami-chi is amazing… his movements are hard to read… ah! He’s like playing street basket!” he suddenly understood and grinned afterwards.
“True. Then he’ll be very compatible playing with Daiki in the team, don’t you think?” Akashi laughed slightly, plotting something wonderful again inside his brilliant brain.
“Err… A-Akashi-chi…?” Kise couldn’t help looking at Akashi’s smirk in trepidation. Seriously, what was his captain planning?
“We meet again, Aomine,” Kagami smirked as he was one-on-one with Aomine again. “This time, I’ll beat you.”
“Try if you can,” Aomine grinned before he moved to grab the ball. Kagami protected the orange ball by dodging Aomine’s hand, but Aomine followed his movement with faster back spin and made another reach. Kagami passed the ball from his right to his left. Now, Aomine reached his own right hand to grab that as well just as Kagami hid the ball behind him. “You’re not going to trick me,” Aomine said.
Kagami’s smile was unnerving. “Think again,” he said before he suddenly jumped and held the ball with two hands, as if he was about to shoot.
“I won’t let you!” Aomine jumped as well in reaction to block and he almost slapped the ball away, but for some reason, Kagami didn’t release the ball from his hand to shoot. Instead, he made a side movement and threw the ball aside. “What?!”
“Kuroko, shoot!”
Aomine and everyone were very surprised when at the end of the unexpected pass was actually Kuroko, standing on the side inside the court with bewildered look on his face as he received the ball and upon hearing Kagami’s shout, the bluenet’s boy moved on impulse to shoot the ball. “Huh?” even Kuroko himself was surprised at what he just did.
“Nice!” Kagami grinned as he landed before suddenly he jumped again to alley-oop the ball with a one-hand dunk as Aomine was still too surprised to follow him after the first landing.
As Kagami landed once again, he shouted in joy. “Yoshaaa! We did it, Kuroko!” He immediately dashed to Kuroko’s direction and then gave him a big hug of appreciation happily.
Kuroko blushed inwardly at the sudden intimate contact while Aomine snapped in shock and immediately protested. “Wait a damn minute! That’s cheating! It’s a one on one battle! You can’t do that in one on one!”
“Huh? But I didn’t break any rule, right, Akashi?” Kagami released the still stunned Kuroko and turned to face Akashi who was still taken aback at the display of marvelous team play. With Kuroko no less. Akashi… no, everyone hadn’t noticed Kuroko’s presence there before Kagami made the pass and shouted at the bluenet to shoot.
“Akashi?” Midorima’s quizzical voice jolted Akashi out of his reverie.
“Oh… right, Kagami didn’t break any rule,” Akashi also realized that. “I did say he could do anything to get past the three consecutive defenses as long as it didn’t break basketball match rules and… passing to a teammate to avoid defense is allowed in any basketball match,” he blinked.
“But… no one expects it to be… Kuro-chin?” Murasakibara blinked several times as he turned to look at the bluenet, still standing unmoving from his spot, looking at his hands, very thunderstruck at the event a moment ago.
“Kuroko-chi? Why did you help him?” Kise asked from his spot beside Akashi.
“Eh? I did not… I mean, it was a spontaneous effect. I just thought I wanted the ball to go in and… I apologize for ruining the test…” Kuroko honestly didn’t know how to explain his action. So he just bowed once, trying to be calm despite the fast pounding of heartbeat in his chest.
Kagami’s pass was amazing. Well, it was unexpected and surprising, but he had confided in Kuroko to shoot the ball in, as if he had total faith that Kuroko would make it. Even though Kuroko knew that he couldn’t shoot, he just… he didn’t want to spoil Kagami’s effort and so without thinking he….
“Aah? Wait a sec! Kuroko didn’t ruin anything!” Kagami suddenly spoke, defending Kuroko by holding him again, surprising Kuroko (and everyone) while looking at the other GoM defiantly. “I mean… I was the one that decided to pass the ball when I saw him in the right spot. When I played with you guys, I forgot that it was supposed to be a test because it was fun. I mean, it would be even more enthralling and exciting to play with everyone, right? So I…” he tried to explain, and the way he flailed his free arm here and there so earnestly made the GoM redden slightly.
So cute…!-of course they couldn’t help thinking like that because Kagami was blushing as well, apparently rather self-conscious and embarrassed.
“I-if it’s not allowed, then, we can redo the test…” Kagami said, staring at them sincerely.
“No. It is a brilliant show of team play and individual play. Kagami-kun does not have to redo anything,” surprisingly, Kuroko was the one who reacted first by grabbing Kagami’s short sleeve, looking upward at Kagami intently, ensuring that the red head had passed with flying color before he turned to face Akashi and the others. “Right?”
It was the first time they saw Kuroko this determined in something other than winning a basketball match.
“U-um,” Kise nodded, instantly agreeing because Kuroko was right. Besides, Kagami indeed didn’t break any rule. And he wanted to be hold like Kuroko!
“Well, it’s unexpected, but we can use those skills in our team,” Midorima approved next, fixing his glasses position nervously. Furthermore, having Kagami in the team would be a nice change in the routine. Maybe he would hold him as well later.
“Agree~ Kaga-chin belongs with us~” Murasakibara smiled contently thinking that having Kagami in the team would give them more time to spend together as well.
“Well, a team play with Kagami will be exciting, indeed…” Aomine said, scratching the back of his head awkwardly. Moreover, they could play one on one everyday to their heart content. That would be awesome. Body contact days and night… Aomine drooled.
“I see, so everyone supports, huh?” Akashi threw them all a small favorable smile. “Well, what do you think, Kagami? Everyone will love to have you in our team. Will you join us to be number one in Japan?” Now Akashi looked at Kagami who looked puzzled.
“Err… huh?” Kagami tilted his head aside slightly. “Who… will join what?”
…
…
…
…
…
…
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEH?!-everyone thought in unison at Kagami’s unpredicted question.
“Kagami… but you… you did realize that you followed the test to join our basketball club, right?” Akashi asked, his smile twitching weirdly as the others were still in total shock, looking at Kagami as if he were some kind of a nut job.
“Eh, I did?” Now Kagami looked surprised as the others fell over comically. “I thought it was some kind of skill challenge because I came from America, the root of basketball, or something…” he laughed, scratching the back of his neck sheepishly.
“Kagami-kun…” Kuroko face palmed.
“He’s a total air head isn’t he…? Even more than me…” Kise commented aridly.
“He’s an idiot, a Bakagami,” Midorima covered his heating face, feeling embarrassed for the tall red head’s behalf.
“But he’s still charming,” Murasakibara still continued eating his lollipop nonchalantly. Well, maybe a little disturbed, but it was still in his ‘normal’ category.
“No wonder he is different from anyone else…” Even Aomine admitted that such level of ignorance was tremendous.
It was the first time Akashi felt like a complete fool, even though Kagami was the one with a smaller brain. He felt like he had been played by the taller red head. “Anyway,” he snapped, glaring at the others to shut up and faced Kagami seriously.
Uh-oh! The captain is angry!-was fleeting on everyone’s (except Kagami) wincing thought, and they stepped back slightly from Akashi and Kagami.
“What’s done is done. You’re still qualified to join. So, will you join our basketball club?” Akashi continued, all business as usual.
Kagami didn’t even make a gesture to contemplate when he said, “Nope.”
“WHY?!” everyone (except Kuroko and Akashi who only widened their eyes in bafflement) shouted in disbelief. Someone had just turned down Akashi’s proposal to join basketball club!
“Well… it’s a personal matter,” Kagami looked down, his expression suddenly turning rather somber. “Surely, basketball is fun, and I love playing basketball more than anything, but… as I thought. I still have a little grudge towards this sport…”
Kagami’s solemn tone piqued the GoM’s interest immediately. “W-what happened…?” Kise voiced the others’ thought in unbearable curiosity.
“Uh… well, basketball… has taken away someone very dear to me,” Kagami looked disheartened now as he rubbed his nose with the back of his hand. “That’s why, I don’t want to join any team yet, let myself heal. Besides, you guys are strong enough even without me in the club, right? I heard about you guys, the Generation of Miracle. Instead of being in the same team, it will be even more exciting to play against you someday,” now Kagami grinned again before he said “See you guys again tomorrow!” and walked out of the gym, leaving a bottomless notion in the GoM’s mind and heart.
The gym fell into uncomfortable silence after Kagami left. Everyone was deep in thought regarding Kagami’s reason not wanting to join them.
“What… what should we do? It seems we have made Kagami-chi sad…” Kise sniffled slightly, breaking the stillness.
No one could answer that, because they thought the same thing… well, except Akashi who immediately commented “A tortured soul…” slowly and quietly with trembling body, while covering his mouth slightly in sympathy.
That’s the problem?!
Everyone could only gawk at Akashi as if he were alien from Mars.
End of Eighth Impression
A/N: Oh man… just after I escape writer’s block, this supposed to be drabbe isn’t a drabble anymore… @_@. I hope readers don’t mind the rather long chapter. But writing everyone’s reaction is a hassle when there are 6 of them at once *T_T* Anyway, so this is the GoM impression of Kagami. Ohoh, and there’s a possible plot in this chapter, don’t you think *grins* Well, but I’ll stick with the rest of the impressions before deciding to form the plot. So, what do you think?
Part 9
Part 7
Fandom: Kuroko no Basuke
Rating: T/Pg-13
Genre: Humor/Romance
Pairing: GoM/Kagami or Kagami/Gom
Summary: If Kagami transfers to Teikou when he returns from America, it probably happens this way…
Disclaimer: Kuroko no Basuke © Tadatoshi Fujimaki
Warning: AU, what if skenario, shounen ai, slight oOC-ness, possible mistakes and grammar errors
Eighth Impression: The Generation of Miracle (Part 2)
Members of Generation of Miracle, basketball prodigies, couldn’t believe their eyes when Kagami decided to visit them. Well, Aomine and Akashi had invited him, so it was a given that he stopped by, especially when Akashi himself escorted him to the first string’s gym, but they honestly thought that Kagami was only going to watch them practice at first.
Yet, Akashi had another idea because he wanted to test Kagami’s basketball skills, since Aomine boasted around so much that Kagami’s ability was quite awesome.
“I think he’s on par with us!” the tan ace beamed eagerly. It had been awhile since he felt so pumped up. He recalled the burst of adrenaline when he faced the tall red head at the night street ball one-on-one match.
“I haven’t seen his performance yet, so I don’t know for sure. But looking at his built, it is very likely that Kagami is good at sport,” Midorima nodded in agreement, keeping an eye on Kagami’s toned figure. After all, such built didn’t come from birth. Kagami should at least train his body a bit to be that… fit.
Well, more than anything, Midorima was actually rather perturbed because Aomine had seen the red head play before Midorima; and he was supposed to be Kagami’s classmate.
“Oh, and Kagami-chi is also very nice! He saved me the other day, even though I was practically a stranger to him!” Kise chirped affirmatively, smiling excitedly while nodding vigorously. The taller teen had left quite an impression on Kise’s mind. In any case, Kagami really didn’t know who the blonde was despite Kise’s popularity, and yet Kagami still went and helped him escape from rabid fan-girls.
There were only a few good Samaritans in the world, fewer in Kise Ryouta’s life, what with how many people wanting to take advantage of his famous ‘name’. That’s why; Kise’s naïve personality immediately took a liking on Kagami’s kindness.
“I understand, Kise-chin. His look can really deceive people at first glance (what with his intense and serious face and those funny eyebrows), but he is naturally caring and generous on the inside,” Murasakibara contributed his opinion. Even he was able to comprehended something like that once in awhile, since Kagami actually assisted him to take his candy out of the malfunctioned snack bar while the other students prominently stayed away from him, and even went as far as treating him another box of candy (even if it was for his silence regarding Kagami’s vandalism in kicking the worn out school property, a.k.a. the snack bar).
Kuroko opted to stay unspoken as his teammates and friends poured out their compliments for Kagami. He was also completely on the same board as them, although his reason for being fascinated by the red head was more private. Kagami was the first person (beside his parents) that spotted and addressed Kuroko first before him, even though Kuroko hadn’t known him before.
At some point in life, Kuroko had ever questioned his existence in other people’s eyes because he naturally faded from their perspective and memory if he didn’t remind them that he was there, and yet, for some unfathomable basis, Kagami saw and noticed him there without effort, and even though some days had passed, the tall red head still remembered Kuroko, that he existed. It was… honestly very comforting that there was someone like Kagami in this universe; someone who wouldn’t lose sight of him.
As for Akashi, it was the element of surprise that caught him off guard with Kagami’s unexpected actions. The tall red head betrayed all his normal expectations, and yet what he had shown Akashi so far was something more than he thought he saw through his Emperor Eye. “Like a gap moe,” Akashi stated, and his GoM friends ultimately turned to him while making faces as if he had grown an extra pair of arms on his forehead. “What?” Akashi of course questioned the nature of their odd look, raising his eyebrows slightly, daring them to mock his opinion.
“No… hearing words like ‘moe’ from Akashi-chi is rather…” Kise, being the most reckless and easy going kid he was in the group, never learned to shut his mouth up concerning spilling truth after truth of things that could get himself ‘killed’ by the demonic captain.
Kise, you idiot!-his other friends stared at the blonde in dread.
Akashi only smiled nicely before he threw his infamous scissors at Kise, but it only cut through Kise’s side bang before the sharp edges plunged into a wall. Kise turned very pale, too afraid to move afterwards, his eyes teary as he sobbed while lamenting his lost hair.
Definitely an idiot…!-the others felt sorry for the blond teen, but didn’t make any move to console him either for the fear of being the next target of Akashi’s wrath.
“Ah, that’s dangerous! Where the hell did that come from?” Kagami stared at the red scissors in horror before he turned to Kise, his eyes showing worry. “Kise, you alright?”
Upon hearing the rather concerned tone, Kise’s ears perked before he looked upward and launched himself (once again) at Kagami, hugging him tightly. “Kagami-chi is sooooo nice!” He was immediately back to his bubbly jolly self, earning him instant death glares from his friends for using Kagami’s obliviousness to his advantage.
“O-oi…” Kagami mumbled slowly, kind of looking confused, but he looked adorable like that, so the others didn’t say a thing to Kise even though they wanted nothing but to kick the blonde’s ass for casually building skin-ship with Kagami.
“Let’s cut to the chase, Kagami.” Akashi wouldn’t have that, though, and immediately gained Kagami’s attention back to him while he threw a glare at Kise to back down. Kise relented sulkily, completely knowing that he was at the bottom of the food chain in the GoM family.
“Cut to the chase… of what? I haven’t even seen you guys play other than Dai-” Kagami paused slightly, seeming thoughtful, before “-Aomine,” finishing tentatively.
Aomine dropped his jaw in total disappointment at the use of his family name instead of his given name, while the others smirked smugly. Finally, Kagami decided to be formal as soon as he knew Aomine’s last name.
Since he was a returnee (Midorima supplied), Kagami wasn’t yet used to the culture of using family names instead of the given names to call people. But from thorough scolding by the teachers to discipline him, Kagami apparently tried his best to maintain custom now, even though his forced Keigo was undeniably strange.
It was kind of endearing seeing him stumbling with his words at his attempt to act polite.
“Well, true, but what’s the fun in just seeing?” Akashi asked, teasing the taller red head. “Don’t you want to try us?” another haughty smirk, “Or… you aren’t up for a challenge?” The bait was thrown. According to his assessment, Kagami was quite a simple minded guy, much like Aomine, very easy to rile up. This, Akashi was sure that he was right.
Kagami’s mouth twitched up, slowly forming a feral grin as his eyes were alight with fire. “Bring it on.”
Everyone was struck by the shift of air around Kagami’s body. He looked positively untouched, deadly and dangerous in the most attractive kind of way now that caused them to almost gasp in awe.
Whoa! He can look like that too!-they thought, even Aomine who already saw this side of Kagami on the street ball court the other night. Somehow, Kagami seemed more passionate and raw than that time!
“Alright then, we will see how you live up the rumor,” Akashi’s smirk widened.
Kagami raised his eyebrows slightly, seeming about to ask something, but thinking the better of it and shrugging instead. “What do you want me to do? One on one?”
“No. How about consecutive three-on-one?” Akashi suggested. The others were surprised, including Kagami apparently, because he blinked in bafflement.
“How does that even work?”
“Akashi, isn’t that overboard? It’s just a simple test for him to join, right? There’s no need for us, the GoM, to be his opponents at once,” Midorima tried to pound some senses into their crazy captain’s head.
No matter how splendid Kagami was in one-on-one, even against Aomine, playing against the three GoM at once was suicidal.
“It’s consecutive three-on-one. It is one on one, but his mark changes for the next as soon as he breaches the previous’ defense,” Akashi explained, disregarding Midorima’s protest.
“I don’t mind even though it’s three-on-one. I will beat you all,” Kagami grinned cheekily, looking thrilled, unconsciously grating on the GoM’s nerves that hated losing most with his words.
“That’s very cute, but don’t cry later, cherry head,” Aomine huffed.
“Wait, put me in too! I want to know how great Kagami-chi is!” Kise was pumped up as well, hearing the exigent tone.
“I guess I can see why he has to be taught respect once in awhile,” Midorima revised his statement the moment he saw the audacity. If Kagami was confident that he could take the three of the GoM down, he wouldn’t underestimate his capability.
“I assumed you guys are up for the challenge then,” Akashi looked at Aomine, Kise and Midorima who nodded surely. He glanced at Kagami next. “You’re ready to take the dare?”
“One question,” Kagami didn’t release his powerful crimson eyes from the three opponents in front of him. “I can do anything to get past them, right?”
“As long as it doesn’t break the basketball match rules,” Akashi smirked.
“Alright,” Kagami’s grin widened. “Hey, Kuroko! Can you show me where I can change clothes?” then Kagami waved at Kuroko who thought he was already forgotten, and once again, rendered surprised because Kagami could see and locate him so quickly again.
“Yes,” Kuroko moved, rather dazed. “This way,” he pointed at the locker room and escorted Kagami there.
~A few minutes later~
Kagami was back inside the gym. Kuroko wasn’t with him.
“Where’s Kuroko-chi?” Kise noticed first, confused.
“Err… he needs to refresh himself,” Kagami chuckled slightly, somehow, his cheeks turning a bit pink.
Everyone set their mortified expressions immediately. What the hell happened in there?!
Midorima was sweating bullets while Aomine was opening and closing his mouth, flabbergasted, like a foolish fish out of water. Kise was whimpering. Akashi’s eyebrows were twitching dangerously as Murasakibara crunched his snack harder.
“So, are we playing now?” Kagami lifted an orange ball with a smirk.
This guy…!
Kise, Midorima and Aomine lined in front of the ring. “Come and try me, Kagami-chi!” Kise shouted loudly, feeling extra fired up. It was a chance to get closer to Kagami after all.
“Yosh,” Kagami started dribbling the ball slowly as he seemed to look for any gap in Kise’s defense. Kise lowered his shoulder and bent his knees slightly, spreading his arms wide and watching Kagami’s movement in alert, ready for any move.
For a moment, Kagami only dribbled the ball without moving, but as soon as Kise’s attention was on the ball, kagami ran while dribbling the ball ahead of him.
A frontal drive!-Kise moved forward as well to stop Kagami’s run, but Kagami’s forceful eyes on him didn’t show Kise any sign that he would do any feint. Is he going to charge me?!
Everyone watched vigilantly, hearts thumping harder collectively in anticipation if Kagami would make a charging foul. However, as Kise blinked, Kagami shifted his direction to Kise’s left and BAM!
As in reflex, Kise moved to the right slightly, his body moving on its own accord to avoid the collision. “EH?!” Kise was very surprised.
“Idiot! Why didn’t you stop him?!” Aomine yelled from the end of the line.
“Eh? Eeeeeh?!” Kise was totally perplexed. He didn’t know what just happened. He just… he thought Kagami would hit him and his mind went into a fight or flight response that his body decided to dodge instead of receiving the blow.
“It’s a charging foul, right?” Murasakibara commented.
“No… it’s a bit rough, but that guy shifted to the left slightly before driving in. He saw an opening in Kise’s left side and he would have driven further from Kise’s body if Kise didn’t dodge in time,” Akashi utilized his Emperor Eye to watch everything and he noticed all Kagami’s intention from the slight change in his muscles twitch. “But… what a brazen way to play. As I thought, he’s style is close to Aomine.” Akashi smirked at that.
“Now, I’ll stop you!” Midorima, who was taller than Kagami used his longer limbs as his advantage to obstruct Kagami’s way. Kagami slowed down slightly, glancing right and left, seeming to look for a way to free himself from Midorima’s guard. But unlike Kise, Midorima was better in reading feints. He knew Kagami was bluffing with his eyes, so he stuck his gaze on Kagami’s hand that held the ball while trying to steal it.
Kagami seemed surprised as Midorima reached for the ball, and spread his other arm to hinder Midorima closing him in. He pivoted his left leg to whirl 180 degrees to get past the green haired boy, but Midorima was ready and moved to cut his way once again. However, Kagami apparently still had one trick because when Midorima thought Kagami would move the ball to his left hand, the red head dribbled the ball through Midorima’s legs instead.
“What?!” Midorima didn’t see that coming, and his concentration in impeding Kagami’s move was distracted as Kagami bent and dashed away from Midorima to catch the ball once more.
“Wow~…! What was that just now?” Murasakibara widened his eyes in surprise, his snack forgotten in his hand as he gaped slightly.
“Impressive. No one would have thought to dribble through the defenses’ legs because of the risk in hurting their crotches,” Akashi nodded, impressed.
“Um… Akashi-chi… that reason is a bit…” Kise’s sweat dropped.
“It’s just a joke, Ryouta. Can’t you take a joke?” Are you an idiot?-was left unsaid, but Kise heard it just as clearly as he pouted.
“Then what’s the explanation?” The blond was still curious though, so he wanted to hear it.
“It’s because you can’t control the defenses’ legs movement,” Akashi started. “There’s a high risk of failure in the maneuver. The ball can hit the leg for once, and the moment it’s gone from your grasp, if you can’t move fast enough, the ball will be stolen by the opponent. Unless you have a partner behind the defense, this technique is a reckless movement that will give the opponent’s team a chance to steal a ball from your team. In theory, this technique can’t be used alone, but somehow, Kagami nailed it…” Akashi sighed, pleased at the surprising quality in Kagami’s skill.
“Ooh…” Kise gulped in admiration. “Indeed, Kagami-chi is amazing… his movements are hard to read… ah! He’s like playing street basket!” he suddenly understood and grinned afterwards.
“True. Then he’ll be very compatible playing with Daiki in the team, don’t you think?” Akashi laughed slightly, plotting something wonderful again inside his brilliant brain.
“Err… A-Akashi-chi…?” Kise couldn’t help looking at Akashi’s smirk in trepidation. Seriously, what was his captain planning?
“We meet again, Aomine,” Kagami smirked as he was one-on-one with Aomine again. “This time, I’ll beat you.”
“Try if you can,” Aomine grinned before he moved to grab the ball. Kagami protected the orange ball by dodging Aomine’s hand, but Aomine followed his movement with faster back spin and made another reach. Kagami passed the ball from his right to his left. Now, Aomine reached his own right hand to grab that as well just as Kagami hid the ball behind him. “You’re not going to trick me,” Aomine said.
Kagami’s smile was unnerving. “Think again,” he said before he suddenly jumped and held the ball with two hands, as if he was about to shoot.
“I won’t let you!” Aomine jumped as well in reaction to block and he almost slapped the ball away, but for some reason, Kagami didn’t release the ball from his hand to shoot. Instead, he made a side movement and threw the ball aside. “What?!”
“Kuroko, shoot!”
Aomine and everyone were very surprised when at the end of the unexpected pass was actually Kuroko, standing on the side inside the court with bewildered look on his face as he received the ball and upon hearing Kagami’s shout, the bluenet’s boy moved on impulse to shoot the ball. “Huh?” even Kuroko himself was surprised at what he just did.
“Nice!” Kagami grinned as he landed before suddenly he jumped again to alley-oop the ball with a one-hand dunk as Aomine was still too surprised to follow him after the first landing.
As Kagami landed once again, he shouted in joy. “Yoshaaa! We did it, Kuroko!” He immediately dashed to Kuroko’s direction and then gave him a big hug of appreciation happily.
Kuroko blushed inwardly at the sudden intimate contact while Aomine snapped in shock and immediately protested. “Wait a damn minute! That’s cheating! It’s a one on one battle! You can’t do that in one on one!”
“Huh? But I didn’t break any rule, right, Akashi?” Kagami released the still stunned Kuroko and turned to face Akashi who was still taken aback at the display of marvelous team play. With Kuroko no less. Akashi… no, everyone hadn’t noticed Kuroko’s presence there before Kagami made the pass and shouted at the bluenet to shoot.
“Akashi?” Midorima’s quizzical voice jolted Akashi out of his reverie.
“Oh… right, Kagami didn’t break any rule,” Akashi also realized that. “I did say he could do anything to get past the three consecutive defenses as long as it didn’t break basketball match rules and… passing to a teammate to avoid defense is allowed in any basketball match,” he blinked.
“But… no one expects it to be… Kuro-chin?” Murasakibara blinked several times as he turned to look at the bluenet, still standing unmoving from his spot, looking at his hands, very thunderstruck at the event a moment ago.
“Kuroko-chi? Why did you help him?” Kise asked from his spot beside Akashi.
“Eh? I did not… I mean, it was a spontaneous effect. I just thought I wanted the ball to go in and… I apologize for ruining the test…” Kuroko honestly didn’t know how to explain his action. So he just bowed once, trying to be calm despite the fast pounding of heartbeat in his chest.
Kagami’s pass was amazing. Well, it was unexpected and surprising, but he had confided in Kuroko to shoot the ball in, as if he had total faith that Kuroko would make it. Even though Kuroko knew that he couldn’t shoot, he just… he didn’t want to spoil Kagami’s effort and so without thinking he….
“Aah? Wait a sec! Kuroko didn’t ruin anything!” Kagami suddenly spoke, defending Kuroko by holding him again, surprising Kuroko (and everyone) while looking at the other GoM defiantly. “I mean… I was the one that decided to pass the ball when I saw him in the right spot. When I played with you guys, I forgot that it was supposed to be a test because it was fun. I mean, it would be even more enthralling and exciting to play with everyone, right? So I…” he tried to explain, and the way he flailed his free arm here and there so earnestly made the GoM redden slightly.
So cute…!-of course they couldn’t help thinking like that because Kagami was blushing as well, apparently rather self-conscious and embarrassed.
“I-if it’s not allowed, then, we can redo the test…” Kagami said, staring at them sincerely.
“No. It is a brilliant show of team play and individual play. Kagami-kun does not have to redo anything,” surprisingly, Kuroko was the one who reacted first by grabbing Kagami’s short sleeve, looking upward at Kagami intently, ensuring that the red head had passed with flying color before he turned to face Akashi and the others. “Right?”
It was the first time they saw Kuroko this determined in something other than winning a basketball match.
“U-um,” Kise nodded, instantly agreeing because Kuroko was right. Besides, Kagami indeed didn’t break any rule. And he wanted to be hold like Kuroko!
“Well, it’s unexpected, but we can use those skills in our team,” Midorima approved next, fixing his glasses position nervously. Furthermore, having Kagami in the team would be a nice change in the routine. Maybe he would hold him as well later.
“Agree~ Kaga-chin belongs with us~” Murasakibara smiled contently thinking that having Kagami in the team would give them more time to spend together as well.
“Well, a team play with Kagami will be exciting, indeed…” Aomine said, scratching the back of his head awkwardly. Moreover, they could play one on one everyday to their heart content. That would be awesome. Body contact days and night… Aomine drooled.
“I see, so everyone supports, huh?” Akashi threw them all a small favorable smile. “Well, what do you think, Kagami? Everyone will love to have you in our team. Will you join us to be number one in Japan?” Now Akashi looked at Kagami who looked puzzled.
“Err… huh?” Kagami tilted his head aside slightly. “Who… will join what?”
…
…
…
…
…
…
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEH?!-everyone thought in unison at Kagami’s unpredicted question.
“Kagami… but you… you did realize that you followed the test to join our basketball club, right?” Akashi asked, his smile twitching weirdly as the others were still in total shock, looking at Kagami as if he were some kind of a nut job.
“Eh, I did?” Now Kagami looked surprised as the others fell over comically. “I thought it was some kind of skill challenge because I came from America, the root of basketball, or something…” he laughed, scratching the back of his neck sheepishly.
“Kagami-kun…” Kuroko face palmed.
“He’s a total air head isn’t he…? Even more than me…” Kise commented aridly.
“He’s an idiot, a Bakagami,” Midorima covered his heating face, feeling embarrassed for the tall red head’s behalf.
“But he’s still charming,” Murasakibara still continued eating his lollipop nonchalantly. Well, maybe a little disturbed, but it was still in his ‘normal’ category.
“No wonder he is different from anyone else…” Even Aomine admitted that such level of ignorance was tremendous.
It was the first time Akashi felt like a complete fool, even though Kagami was the one with a smaller brain. He felt like he had been played by the taller red head. “Anyway,” he snapped, glaring at the others to shut up and faced Kagami seriously.
Uh-oh! The captain is angry!-was fleeting on everyone’s (except Kagami) wincing thought, and they stepped back slightly from Akashi and Kagami.
“What’s done is done. You’re still qualified to join. So, will you join our basketball club?” Akashi continued, all business as usual.
Kagami didn’t even make a gesture to contemplate when he said, “Nope.”
“WHY?!” everyone (except Kuroko and Akashi who only widened their eyes in bafflement) shouted in disbelief. Someone had just turned down Akashi’s proposal to join basketball club!
“Well… it’s a personal matter,” Kagami looked down, his expression suddenly turning rather somber. “Surely, basketball is fun, and I love playing basketball more than anything, but… as I thought. I still have a little grudge towards this sport…”
Kagami’s solemn tone piqued the GoM’s interest immediately. “W-what happened…?” Kise voiced the others’ thought in unbearable curiosity.
“Uh… well, basketball… has taken away someone very dear to me,” Kagami looked disheartened now as he rubbed his nose with the back of his hand. “That’s why, I don’t want to join any team yet, let myself heal. Besides, you guys are strong enough even without me in the club, right? I heard about you guys, the Generation of Miracle. Instead of being in the same team, it will be even more exciting to play against you someday,” now Kagami grinned again before he said “See you guys again tomorrow!” and walked out of the gym, leaving a bottomless notion in the GoM’s mind and heart.
The gym fell into uncomfortable silence after Kagami left. Everyone was deep in thought regarding Kagami’s reason not wanting to join them.
“What… what should we do? It seems we have made Kagami-chi sad…” Kise sniffled slightly, breaking the stillness.
No one could answer that, because they thought the same thing… well, except Akashi who immediately commented “A tortured soul…” slowly and quietly with trembling body, while covering his mouth slightly in sympathy.
That’s the problem?!
Everyone could only gawk at Akashi as if he were alien from Mars.
End of Eighth Impression
A/N: Oh man… just after I escape writer’s block, this supposed to be drabbe isn’t a drabble anymore… @_@. I hope readers don’t mind the rather long chapter. But writing everyone’s reaction is a hassle when there are 6 of them at once *T_T* Anyway, so this is the GoM impression of Kagami. Ohoh, and there’s a possible plot in this chapter, don’t you think *grins* Well, but I’ll stick with the rest of the impressions before deciding to form the plot. So, what do you think?
Part 9
Part 7