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It was around 7 pm, and the sky outside was pitch black. Practice had long since ended, but Midorima was still diligently practicing his three-point shots alone. He had gotten the highest score on the recent school test, which was why he was able to stay this late to practice.
"Woosh!"
"Shin-chan? Is that you?"
A familiar voice is calling him. Midorima doesn't need Hawkeye or even a turn to know that the person who had called him was Takao. Pushing up his glasses with one hand, he simply hummed in response, quickly got into action, and then shot another perfect three-pointer.
"The practice today had ended hours ago... Shin-chan is so stubborn." Takao had just finished bathing, his slightly long black hair hanging down on both sides of his forehead, giving his appearance a softer and wetter feeling than usual. He also had changed back into his black male school uniform and was already carrying his school bag on his shoulder. Slowly walking closer, Takao took off his bag and plopped down on the bench. "You've shot countless balls today, and after the team practice, we even tried out some new techniques, yet you're still practicing. Well, as expected of the former vice-captain of the Generation of Miracles, what a monster..."
"Stop talking like that, what do you mean?" Midorima glanced at Takao with a bit of annoyance. In return, the black-haired boy just laughed and brushed his hands off.
“Don’t be mad, I didn’t mean anything… maybe today I was a little…” He turned his head to the side, his movements clearly showing reluctance, but Midorima accidentally overlooked this, as he was too focused on the next extremely high and accurate three-pointer.
"Forget it. Are you thirsty, Shin-chan? Here, I just ran to the vending machine to buy you some red bean soup." Takao smiled, slowly taking out a can of red bean soup and a bottle of mineral water from his bag. Midorima paused, reservedly looking at his favorite brand of red bean soup and the bottle of mineral water he usually bought, then raised his head again, but still hesitating to face Takao - for no reason at all.
"Why?"
“Why what?” He tilted his head, suppressing a laugh at his taller friend's 'obviously embarrassed' expression.
"Why do you keep acting so overly 'buddy-buddy' and following me around? We've only known each other for half a year, I don't remember when we became this close except for being in the same class and participating in the same club."
Takao's smile faded at Midorima's cold attitude. He lowered his head slightly, sighed softly for a short moment, then looked up again with his usual mischievous smile. "Shin-chan is so mean, I ride you to school every day, we used to eat together, sleep together, even take baths together, I can count all the moles on your body, and now you dare to say such heartless words? I hate you so much, Shin-chan!" Takao drawled out the end of the sentence, and deliberately exaggerated the hurt expression that made him frown in disgust, scolded in a low voice, "Shut up, Takao!".
He angrily returned to his throwing position, not caring about that stupid dork anymore. Seeing him like that, Takao couldn't help but laugh out loud.
After laughing to his heart's content, the black-haired boy gently walked over to Midorima's side, waiting for another perfect throw to be completed before bringing the can of red bean soup close to his cheek. "I know you're looking forward to the rematch between our school and Seirin, but overtraining isn't good either. At least take a break to drink some water."
Midorima's eyebrows relaxed involuntarily. He slowly reached out to take the soup can from Takao. There was a brief, very brief moment when Midorima felt his slender fingers touch and seemingly swallow Takao's smaller hand, and then the warmth spread from his palm to his ear. He looked away while mumbling a thank you. Midorima wondered if Takao was aware of that brief moment, but the naughty curve of his almond-shaped eyes made him immediately forget that unnecessary concern.
The two of them sat with their backs against the wall, slightly closer to each other. Midorima took a few sips of mineral water while still holding the soup can in his right hand - it wasn't good to drink sweet red bean soup right after practice, even if it was his favorite drink. He was lost in thought about something else, and then he suddenly noticed Takao staring at him with a strangely gentle smile.
“What’s wrong…? Is there something on my face?” Midorima asked, but he shook his head before he could finish his sentence.
"What we were talking about just now... Why... Answer my question first." Takao bowed his head and gulped.
"Shin-chan... do you think you sometimes unintentionally push people away too much?"
Midorima froze for a long time, his mind filled with strange emotions and questions. He was clearly not prepared enough to deal with such a delicate situation. It took him a while before he cleared his throat and coughed to hide the awkwardness between them.
"Hmph, idiot. When did I push others away? It's simply my way of keeping a minimum distance in communication and normal behavior with people so as not to be impolite in certain situations. I assumed it's normal for an idiot like you to not understand..." Towards the end of his sentence, his voice became softer and softer, to the point of having to pretend to push up his glasses - an action he often did when he wanted to hide his shyness.
“Shin-chan is so mean…” Takao looked up at him. Normally, he would smile when he said that, but it is strange that his face looks somewhat sad now.
"Really, don't you feel like you're too cold sometimes...?"
“No, and I don’t care if that’s your impression of me.” Midorima replied, looking down at Takao for a moment, lost in thought, then continued. “I don’t care if you hate me because of it-”
Midorima's eyes widened as he saw the smaller black-haired boy suddenly lean closer to him. Their shoulders were touching, and right now, Takao's smaller body could be in his arms at any moment. It took Midorima a moment to regain his composure and act normally. He pushed Takao away slightly, frowning and scolding. "Too close, what are you doing..."
"That's cold... But there's no way I could hate you, ever." There was something about Takao's teasing tone that scared Midorima. He doesn't want him to look at him now, forcing their eyes to lock onto each other.
At this moment, he felt Takao's silver-blue eyes filled with a warm amber color.
"Shin-chan, have you... ever heard of something called 'Love Premonition'?"
Takao is looking through his soul at the moment, but Midorima knew his gaze was still wandering around the room in a daze, and he pouted unconsciously. "What nonsense are you going to yap about now?"
"I don't believe in love at first sight, but if it's a predestined feeling of love that happens instantly when we're fated to meet again, then yes." Midorima heard Takao's voice, even though he didn't think his lips were moving to let the sound come out. The feeling made Midorima a little embarrassed, because he felt like a voyeur peeking at someone from outside the bedroom window.
"I've told you too much about myself... I think these feelings are overflowing from me, and it's all Shin-chan's fault, because Shin-chan is such a stubborn idiot..."
'Hey... I don't want to be called an idiot by someone who got perfect score in English grammar but almost failed half of the other subjects!' Midorima gritted his teeth, but no matter how angry he was, he couldn't bring himself to interrupt in the middle of this moment.
"Do you remember? I told you that when we were in middle school, you beat me and I was so frustrated that I practiced like crazy just to have a chance to beat you in high school. At that moment, you probably changed me forever, gave me a feeling that I never thought I could have. I think I've always had 'temperance' or something. I got along with everyone, and I enjoyed life around me, having fun every day. Until your perfect three-pointer appeared. Those high, far-reaching shots that I didn't think anyone could touch. I was so scared that I couldn't look anymore, I turned around and ran away like a cowardly child, even though I could clearly see how they went through the hoop perfectly even without looking directly. When the game was over, we had to shake hands, well, Shin-chan forgot about it, you definitely don't remember a loser like me, but when we shook hands, I looked into your eyes and saw it a thousand times more. That premonition, even though I don't have the 'Emperor's Eye' to see any future, well, I haven't upgraded my VIP purchases to that extent..."
Takao's voice was shaking, to the point where he had to try and squeeze in a stupid joke to cover up the lump in his throat. Why did he have to do that, wasn't he always...
But Midorima couldn't say anything. He couldn't open his mouth, he could only silently listen as Takao continued speaking.
"At that time, for the first time, I felt so confused. I was angry, upset, I hated you, 'I hate you, Midorima Shintarou' - I swore that I would get revenge, and I practiced like crazy and studied hard to get into Shutoku - I mean, i had tried to study hard once in my life, haha... At the same time, I cried continuously because of this strange feeling of admiration for you. I can't name it, it's like the feeling of a gachikoi for some unfortunate idol, well, Shin-chan is stupid so you wouldn't understand... How about it, it's the way Miyaji-san loves his Miyu-Miyu, but it's many times worse and not quite like that... Ugh, I don't dare say anything bad about Miyaji-san's feelings for his Miyu-Miyu!... I don't know, how can I tell you... Because I don't understand either, I don't understand how I felt. Do I hate you? Or is it I want to see your defeated appearance? Or am I crazy in my admiration for you and you're many times more perfect than the Black Luster Soldier? I can't tell my feelings anymore, but I want to see you again. I want to face you again, I want us to have a rematch, I would be so happy if I could compete with you, and then my tears fell from that wish..."
"We did meet again. Not in the way I imagined. Maybe fate was playing a joke on me because I've messed around with life too much... until now, I still wish I won't ever have to take the university entrance exam, just finish high school, then marry a rich wife and live comfortably at home...? Well, that's what I think. I saw you in front of the club, on the first day of school, and we were in the same class... ironic, right? Why do you believe in fate, Shin-chan... I hated it so much, we became teammates, at that time I didn't want to hate you anymore, and I just wanted you to see me, wanted you to acknowledge me. I laughed so much that I started crying again, because the more I looked at you, the more certain that premonition was right."
It's that feeling when you meet someone and you know you're going to love them. You may not love them right away, but love will come eventually.
"Because even though you're a genius, you're as hardworking as anyone... so I..."
Midorima felt his eyes blurring... Before him was a beautiful April day, when the cherry blossoms filled the blue sky. He had come early because he wanted to settle in before the entrance ceremony began, but also because he wanted to see the practice room of the club he would be joining for the next three years. That morning, he had seen jet-black hair and a pair of long, narrow, almond-shaped eyes as cold as an autumn cloud lost in the spring sky. That person had silently looked at him with many complex expressions and emotions he couldn't understand, even though at the time he had thought it was some kind of unintentional surprise - maybe not even directed at him - and tried to turn his head away, because he didn't think he knew them...
But a strange feeling slowly rose in his heart, that he wanted to know what it was, that he wanted to see that person again because he wanted to know why they made those expressions...
"How do you know my name?"
"It's rare for basketball players not to know your name!"
He wanted to know, even though the person might have been a frivolous man, ironically enough. Because a frivolous man could also be the one who would try to pass him for a buzzer-beater in the last three seconds—even if they didn’t make it… Then, many spectacularly accurate passes, so that he would have to respect him. He wanted to know about his teammate, about his best friend who had always cared so much about him.
...
"Shin-chan...! Ah, I'm sorry, I acted weird today, sorry for scaring you." Takao panicked when he saw tears streaming down Midorima's expressionless face for no reason. He immediately felt extremely guilty and quickly moved back to his original position, causing Midorima's left shoulder to suddenly feel a strange emptiness that he didn't like at all. He fell into deep thought when he saw Takao's lips finally move when his voice rang out. Midorima broke his daze by shaking his head slightly to deny the lingering feeling in the depths of his heart.
"Takao..." Midorima called out in a low voice.
"I'm sorry, don't be angry..."
"I can accept the fact you have feelings for me, but jumping into my head when I need private space to think and confessing nonstop is a sign of manic behaviour."
“… What the heck are you yapping about now Shin-chan?” Takao looked at him with wide eyes in confusion, but then his expression relaxed into a happy smile when he saw Midorima’s cheeks turn pink along with his red eyes, and the glasses boy’s mouth was also curved up foolishly - it was brighter than any smile he had ever seen…
"... Pfft!... Your way of confessing is quite unique, isn't it?"
"Shut up, Takao, you're the one who confessed to me first."
"Ah... I guess so... Well, Shin-chan, if you say so."
Midorima leaned forward, pulling Takao close to him, his eyelashes fluttering slightly as the black haired boy slowly removed his glasses, his hands - much smaller than his - gently pressed against his cheeks, then the lips came close, placing light kisses on each spot where tears had rolled down.