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Shutoku, once again, coincidentally happened to share the same training camp as the arch-enemy they had just faced during the Interhigh, just like last year. Although he was lucky enough not to meet Seirin and Kagami again, Aomine was still a pain in the ass. This fact alone was enough to make Midorima feel like the first two weeks of this summer vacation weren't going to be pleasant at all.
But he didn't think that the problem he was facing now had nothing to do with the feud between two of the three strongest high school basketball clubs in Tokyo.
Once again, Midorima woke up at 05:59 AM. Always 05:59 AM. Never earlier, never later. And always after a horrible nightmare that forced him to immediately turn his head to check if Takao was still beside him. Midorima listened silently to his soft breathing, as well as watching the messy sleeping figure that most of the time would always put their right arm or leg on his body, while the mouth that kept chirping all day long was muttering Pokémon names and drooling.
He didn't get to see that silly look for long before he had to quickly throw off the blanket and run to the bathroom to get rid of the sins he had accidentally committed while sleeping last night.
After sighing heavily, Midorima bit his lip again, silently blaming himself for having to breathe the same air as Aomine these past few days, no, it was because he had allowed himself to be in contact with him since middle school. He wasn't a pervert, he had never thought of such perverted fantasies and he should never have thought of such perverted fantasies, let alone... Letting his subconscious carry out such perverted fantasies. Unacceptable...
Especially when the victim of those illusions is...
--
'Takao' was tied up, his bare, soft body lying face up on the wet grass. The moonlight shone down on his face, illuminating his expression, twisted with panic and fear. His long, narrow almond-shaped eyes were filled with tears, completely lacking the usual cunningness. This was what made Midorima feel that he looked especially vulnerable at the moment.
Countless black hands reached out, groping all over 'Takao's' lustful, pubescent body. They gently caressed his soft, raven-like black hair, all the way down to his decent face that was intoxicated with pleasure. His lips were slightly parted, allowing saliva to flow down his neck and collarbone, both graceful and masculine. The dirty hands groped down to his brown nipples and delicate muscles with tanned skin. They go down to his nave, his semi-erect, medium-sized penis, his slightly arched thighs, and even his feet that were curled up in ecstasy.
Those hands from Nihilation were thoroughly invading every corner of 'Takao's' body.
Seeing that scene, Midorima wanted to scream, but he couldn't make any sound. Only then did he realize that he couldn't open his lips to let even a sound echo through the air. He didn't have a mouth! And it didn't take more than a few seconds for Midorima to realize that he didn't have any arms or legs to run over, to pull 'Takao' away from the nothingness that was drowning him in pleasure, or to stop those filthy creatures.
His body did not exist in this empty nightmare, the only thing he could do, under these unfolding horrors, was to watch in fear.
"Ah... Ah... Ah~ ah... U-um~♡... Aa~" Continuous moans came from 'Takao's mouth. His eyes narrowed further, then suddenly widened with each thrust of his body. Sweat dripped down his forehead, the wet feeling making the jet-black hair hanging down on both sides even longer. His amber pupils - sometimes, due to the change in light, turned into a pair of cold slate blue - rolled upwards in pleasure. His body writhed in ecstasy as the white streams of semen poured down from nothingness. Midorima's eyes widened in horror at this extremely disgusting and filthy sight. But at the same time, a sinister excitement rose from his non-existent body, just like the way those hawk eyes rose from the increasingly spreading arousal fluid in the air - a kind of infectious disease arose...
Midorima opened his eyes, the clock on the opposite wall showed exactly 5:59 AM.
From that day on, this strange curse began to haunt him.
.
Is it because this old inn has some unclean spirits, or is God above punishing him for not trying hard enough?
Or in fact, the dreams were reflecting his subconscious - his desires and thoughts about his partner... That he was really just a disgusting pervert, who one day went mad and had animalistic thoughts about his best friend - thinking of him as nothing more than a tool to satisfy his own sexual fantasies - a little sex doll that was violated and tortured hundreds of times before his eyes.
Last night, Midorima dreamed of 'Takao' - naked - being choked deep down the hot springs. Dozens of octopus tentacles strangled his body, caressing and causing each layer of his flesh to swell. His red hole was spread wide open, completely exposed under the water, blooming like a devil flower. His neck was strangled, white saliva dripping down in streams, while his chest heaved as he tried to maintain his life. Enduring such extreme pain, yet from that lewd mouth, inappropriate moans continued to come out.
"A... A... Ha~ A... A~... H...h-help... Please... Aaa~ please...♡~"
"Why are you asking for my help, but using such lewd sounds..." Midorima swallowed, thinking.
'Takao's' moans became more pitiful as the hot liquid poured into every open pore on his body. The tentacles caressed every corner - even kissing his eye sockets. Then from inside those beautiful silver-blue pupils, thousands of tiny fish eggs poured out, and below, 'Takao's' abnormally swollen belly also began to wiggle, until the young tentacles punctured the lower part of his penis and stretched the crack all the way to his anus - as if trying to create a special vagina for their horrible breeding ritual. Blood, precum and hatchlings poured out from both holes like a flood.
"Haaa~!!! A~ aaa!~... H-help me... Please... G- Aaaa~..."
Did he really want to be helped... Or did he feel pleasure in it, did he like being tortured like that, did he like his flesh suffering pain, did he like being raped so brutally and becoming a cum toilet for strange entities...
No!... Takao... Takao isn't...
Why did such things come to his mind? Midorima wasn't the clueless type, but he absolutely didn't immerse himself in such content - because if he immersed himself in such content, his physical development would slow down just like how Aomine stopped growing taller than him after finishing middle school.
A-and it's not good for his mental health or his brain either!
In a fit of extreme self-loathing for having such thoughts while recalling the cruel dream from last night, Midorima shook his head vigorously, trying to forget them and focus on the novel he was reading - "Me, the Ring and the Glasses" - it was today's lucky item. Suddenly, he noticed a pair of slate blue eyes staring at him with special interest.
"Shin-chan~" Takao chuckled. "What are you reading so 'attentively'?"
Midorima almost jumped at Takao's sudden appearance. When did Kuroko teach him these ghostly moves? He closed the book in panic and stood up, taking a few steps away from Takao. The squatting black-haired boy burst out laughing at his reaction, making Midorima even more embarrassed.
"Takao...!" He growled, fiddling with his glasses to hide his embarrassment.
"Come on, Shin-chan, don't be mad, I was just teasing you." He also stood up, approached and patted Midorima's shoulder. "I was curious to see what Shin-chan was reading alone that can make him half-erected and didn't even notice me coming in, please don't get mad!"
"What?!" Midorima's face turned red like a tomato again. He quickly looked down, and when he saw nothing strange in his crotch, he quickly looked up to glare at Takao, who was trying to hold back his laughter. Seeing him both embarrassed and angry, Takao couldn't take it anymore and burst out laughing.
"Hey, just kidding, just kidding! Why is Shin-chan so cute, believing everything I say... Pffft- Hahahaha... I'm dying, I'm laughing so hard I'm going to die from laughing..."
The laughter mixed with coughing made Midorima even more annoyed. No matter how long he had known him, there were times when he couldn't accept the fact that Takao sometimes treated him like he was nothing more than a joke.
“Shut up, Taka-” He snapped, but before he could finish his sentence, his friend's annoying laughter had disappeared. Now, Takao suddenly straightened up, looking up and staring into his eyes with a strange concern and seriousness.
"... Shin-chan, why are you so pale?... Are you tired? Is there something on your mind? Or are you sick...? I've noticed it for a few days, but lately, outside of practice, you've been making excuses to avoid me even when we sleep in the same room, so I haven't had a chance to ask... Your mood and demeanor are a bit worrying also... At first, I thought it was just because you were upset with your friend Aomine, but..." Takao hesitated, placing his hand on Midorima's forehead. That action suddenly made him feel very annoyed. Midorima didn't like other people worrying about him, but the feeling right now was even harder to describe than "dislike" or "annoyance".
"Hey, your forehead is hot..." Takao muttered.
It was the hand that Takao used to grasp countless tentacles, penises, and filthy demonic hands that emerged from nowhere. The hand was covered in sticky, lustful fluids, just like his entire violated and stained body... From his fingernails, fingertips, to the back of his hand and every line on his palm, they had all been brutally assaulted.
Midorima frowned, shook Takao's hand off, and stepped back. With the coldest and most distant expression, he coughed and replied curtly, "No, I'm fine."
Takao was slightly taken aback by Midorima's attitude. His partner usually kept a reserved and aloof demeanor, but he had never tried so hard to be ruthless. Even though countless questions were arising in his mind, he quickly restored his usual smiling face. "Aishh... Shin-chan is so stubborn. It's fine if you don't want to tell me, but if you're bothered by something, don't try to hide it too much. If there's anything I can help with, I'll definitely help. After all, we'll be in big trouble if our Ace-sama has any problem."
Midorima looked at Takao while his guilt rose.
"... I know."
Why did he do that... The figure in his nightmare... Those things... It wasn't Takao, it wasn't Takao's fault. Not to mention, even if they really happened in real life, it still wouldn't be Takao's fault...
"...in real life?" Midorima held his forehead.
If things like that...
What is he thinking about!? Midorima panicked. Because he was so attentive to his own delusions, he didn't notice that Takao's eyes were glued to his lower body without even trying to hide it.
.
"Ha~ haaa~ a... Aaa!~♡" The sound of moaning and groaning echoed throughout the space, accompanied by painful screams that rang out every now and then. This time, Midorima saw 'Takao's neck, hands, and thighs were all bound by chains. He was writhing on the ground like a beast - or, a bird with both wings cut off - on the school rooftop, where the two of them often came to eat lunch when the weather was nice. His body was pressed tightly against the chain-link net, while his ass was raised high behind. His body constantly endured the violent thrusts from countless black, deformed extraterrestrials. On the ground, his black gakuran was torn to shreds, leaving only a crumpled, blood-stained white shirt draped over his scratches-covered body. His severely mutilated nipples were erect with all that was left under the brown urgo bandage.
Suddenly, from the dark sky, countless eyes appeared. Midorima - in these empty nightmares, there was no body, yet he could still feel them looking at him.
"Shin-chan..." 'Takao' turned his head, his face covered in semen, saliva slowly dripping down his chin. His eyes were dreamy, carrying a seductive feeling that Midorima never imagined he would see from Takao.
"Help me... Shin-chan..."
'Takao's mouth twitched into a bitter smile. Midorima wanted to close his eyes, to stop seeing these illusions, but... His body didn't exist. He couldn't do anything, he couldn't even stop looking down at this scene...
"Shin-chan..." The figure before his eyes kept on murmuring his name, but what could Midorima do? He wanted to scream to make it shut up. The more he thought about it, the louder the pleading voice rang in his ears. The eyes in the sky curved into a crescent shape, tears or some kind of nameless white mucus kept leaking out from the irises with gazes filled with malice, like the way Elation stood from the top of a tall tree looking down at nothingness, to see how the meaning of all things bows before Nihilism.
"You think I'm dirty, don't you, Shin-chan... Shin-chan... Shin-chan... No... Do you like it when I have to endure things like this? Do you really like seeing me treated like this~..."
"Aaa~... A~haa... But... Shin-chan... It hurts... so help me... Please... Ha~♡"
No... Don't say anymore, and don't look at me with that look... I'm not that kind of pervert...
Don't use his body to torture my mind...
"Don't look any deeper."
Midorima was startled to see countless 'Takao' - from his countless degraded dreams before - twisting into one. The spirals of flesh and desire - contrary to the warnings they gave off - were pulling him deeper into the maze of pink and red folds that needed to be torn apart.
"Don't look deeper inside me."
Deep inside, deeper than the fleshy walls or the slippery intestines and twisted entrails, through other organs, you find the diaphragm pumping rhythmically to the rhythm of a four-chambered pump. It’s strange that pop culture has associated the heart with love, when both love and pleasure are neurological responses.
Maybe it was all just the brain's wicked humour, just like the way white goo and red blood filled the gaping chambers of 'Takao' as a ton of eyes sprouted like newborn spiders from the slimy sea foam. Their pupils began to multiply and swell until the white frothy semen was filled with a blinding slate blue light. Those things flickered, danced and whirled around him - something that did not exist in any physical form in this sinful hell.
The nightmare only ended when Midorima opened his eyes before the wall clock, which was showing the 05:59 series of numbers. It was horrible that those things had continued for five days straight, with the level of disgust only increasing...
He tried to steady his breathing, reaching out to put on his glasses with his right hand while looking at Takao in his wrinkled yukata, who was hugging his left shoulder and arm tightly.
“Hmph…” Midorima let out a breath, feeling his uneasiness slowly ease, and he couldn’t stop his lips from curving into a relieved smile.
"..." But suddenly, Midorima's eyes widened in shock when he saw the red scratch on Takao's chest that was exposed from his yukata. The red mark imprinted with five fingers reminded him of the terrifying gazes that grew in the sky, or the multiple eyes that were born on 'Takao's' corpse after that strange orgy... The taboo from the dream he had just experienced surged up, causing his stomach acid to rush straight up his throat, and at the same time, shamefully, Midorima's lower body was reacting violently.
It can't be!
Midorima jerked away from Takao, accidentally pushing him a little roughly. Takao jolted awake, seeing Midorima's frightened face. Before he could even rub his eyes, he anxiously approached his friend, who was shivering in the corner.
"Shin-chan, what's wrong?!"
"Don't! Get away from me..." Just a moment ago, Midorima was still feeling guilty for pushing his sleeping friend awake, but now, his body instinctively pushed Takao away once again, like pushing a disgusting insect away from him.
"Shin-chan...?"
Takao was clearly upset and hurt by his action, but he just sat there, eyes narrowed, looking at Midorima in confusion without saying anything.
'...we will be in big trouble if Ace-sama has any problem.'
Midorima gritted his teeth, quickly turned around, opened the door and ran into the bathroom. He raised his left hand, stared at it, and recalled the feeling of the unconscious action he had performed.
He couldn't be near Takao anymore. He was a sick, lecherous monster. Why would he have such thoughts about his partner? The close friend who had always been by his side...
.
"Shin-chan...?"
The atmosphere in the gym suddenly became so suffocating. It wasn't until the captain and the other team members walked up to him that Midorima finally stopped being stunned and realized the awkward situation he had unintentionally created.
"What's wrong? Is Midorima-senpai not feeling well today?" Kimura picked up the ball from the ground, concernedly looking at Midorima and Takao, who were standing there absentmindedly. Immediately, the brunette Center standing next to him nudged him with his elbow, indicating that they should keep quiet in the current situation.
"..." Suddenly, Takao's stiff face relaxed into a smile. He waved his hand. "I told you, if you're not feeling well these past few days, don't push yourself too hard. Everyone can see that you're clearly lacking sleep, Shin-chan. If you're under too much stress, training won't be effective. I think you should take a little break."
The atmosphere around him gradually calmed down. Normally, Midorima would feel ashamed of himself for being the center of such concern. But right now, all he felt was guilt.
He couldn't even... Receive passes from Takao anymore... His body was reacting on its own, rejecting Takao maliciously, forcing him to avoid Takao... Was it because he didn't trust him anymore? His friend... He wasn't at any fault... He didn't do anything! All he had seen were meaningless, evil nightmares. And yet...
Or is it because... Now, Midorima can no longer consider himself worthy of being someone who can trust his friends...?
Midorima stood in the corner, diligently practicing his three-pointers. Last summer, he never thought he would feel this strange sense of loneliness when practicing alone while his team practiced in groups. Thirty shots that day, there's not a single one missed, even though they were thrown by the same hands that knocked the ball away from him by Takao during the team's coordination practice...
Midorima gritted his teeth in anger. There was no way he could compromise like this! Whatever it was that kept creating these illusions and nightmares to ruin his life, he couldn't let it continue to run wild and affect him any further. If only he had been more decisive and taken action from the start, instead of dragging this situation out for a whole week. But regretting or blaming himself now would only waste more time. He didn't know how to stop them, but running away from Takao or running away from himself definitely wasn't the solution. It was embarrassing, but at least, if he could help him, if Takao could be by his side, then...
After what he had thought, he still dared to look at him? Yes... He would not forgive the nightmares that had happened, nor himself for having dreamed of them. But he still had to let Takao help him. After all, Midorima still considered himself a selfish person, because compared to accepting these depraved fantasies about his partner to continue forever, he was more willing to bother him.
In the end, he is still that type of egocentric.
"Shin-chan." Without letting Midorima look out for him, Takao stayed behind after practice ended, his back pressed against the wall, calling out as soon as the taller one stopped. "Can we talk for a moment?"
"Actually, I was looking for you too." Midorima hurriedly walked to his side.
“Heh, what a coincidence.” Takao smiled. “You have something to tell me too?”
"Yes."
“But can I say first?” Takao crossed his arms behind his head, still smiling innocently. He suddenly turned around, took a few steps away, and stopped.
"The thing is... I know you've been in bad condition for almost a week since the training camp. I thought you were sick or tired. The weather's been harsh this summer. The day I touched your forehead, I felt like you had a slight fever too... I thought you were tired, that's why you were frowning that way, even though it's not like you at all, ah, I mean, it's not like Shin-chan doesn't frown a lot, hehe. But... it can't be that nothing's wrong, because Shin-chan is tsundere, but not that type of person. Something must have happened to you." Pausing for a moment, Takao continued.
"I think it's my fault."
Hearing this, Midorima's eyes widened in panic.
He didn't think Hawk Eye was some kind of magical superpower that allowed people to literally see behind their backs, but Takao had clearly sensed his quiet emotional changes, because he turned his head with a sly smile that he usually wore whenever he caught Midorima's weakness.
"So it's really my fault?"
"I..."
"Shin-chan, I'm not done talking yet."
Takao turned around to face Midorima, but he didn't seem to dare look straight at him, instead he kept his head down guiltily.
"To be honest, I really love you, Shin-chan. It's been about a year, and I can't hide it anymore. I don't think I could ever hide it, because I've been trying to flirt with you every minute since last year's Interhigh. I thought Shin-chan was too dumb to notice. But now I think you knew already. And there are times when I get a little carried away because I can't keep my feelings in my dumb head. I'm sorry for bothering you with my feelings."
While Midorima was still unable to digest the huge amount of information he had heard and remember why he wanted to talk to Takao, the other party took the opportunity to finish his last words.
"I hope we can still be friends, and you don't mind about me anymore."
That was the first time he saw someone as straightforward as Takao, someone who would say what was on his mind - who he respected, what he was upset about, how he felt... It was the first time he said something that he didn't believe in.
Midorima gulped, stepping closer to Takao.
"No, that's what I must tell you."
"I hope we can still be friends after you hear what I said. I'm sorry, Takao."
.
As he opened his mouth to say anything more, Takao came close to him in a series of strange, staggering movements. His silhouette remained in the air, before the world around Midorima blurred and he fell to his knees, collapsing straight onto the ground. When he was able to stand up, only 'Takao's' huge, glaring eye was looking at him through the glass screen of a television program. He didn't know if he was trapped in this electronic box, or if the giant 'Takao' was the one trapped. From that maze-like, deep pupil, he saw many, many other pupils - many 'Takao's', with many TV remotes, and many strange deformities.
"Don't look any deeper."
Takao's hand rose, covering Midorima's eyes. But it was too late, as curiosity urged him to look through the gaps between these fingers, like a small bird struggling desperately in a chained-link net. He suddenly remembered the nightmare of 'Takao' on the school rooftop and cried as those beautiful times were forever tainted by the illusions brought by the filthy night.
The hands that came out from the darkness were now his flesh. Before he could move his body, the surrounding nothingness quickly changed into another illusion. Through a series of gaps, his body began to feel pain. In an instant, he was pushed onto the classroom floor by a 'Takao' whose body was, as usual, much smaller than his own. He couldn't do anything to resist, nor did he want to resist. The chairs kept falling on his head and body, then they broke, and 'Takao' kept throwing them down. A series of broken chair legs were scattered around Midorima, and inside his body, his ribs and cartilage were all shattered, while 'Takao' was crying and laughing at the same time. His friend was also screaming at the top of his lungs in a language he no longer understood. The next second, Midorima felt his head being chopped off his neck, before his vocal cords could vibrate, it was severely sliced out. His glasses were broken, so Midorima couldn't see much of what happened next, except for the red liquid that splashed around his corpse on the subway tracks. 'Takao' continued to stab the huge machete into Midorima's severed chest, following the rhythm of their lower bodies fornicating through the fabric. Blood became lubricant, while their bones and intestines entangled and melted like chocolate. The train rushed towards the two, but the scenery had changed before the collision.
A hot pan of oil smashed into his face in front of many students in the Home Economics class, witnessing a naked 'Takao' writhing and scratching the skin on Midorima's body. He understood that the mannequins around him were just decorations created in this space, but the fear of their indifferent eyes still made his skinless muscles shiver with cold. He was also one of the eyes that could only stand by and do nothing, as horrible things happened to 'Takao'.
"I want to be your friend, forever." The nails that were digging into Midorima's neck suddenly stop.
'Takao' hugged his beheaded head. He stretched out his tongue, slowly licking Midorima's iris with its long, thick lower lashes. The tip of his tongue slid upwards, entering the deep eye socket. The green eyeballs rolled up, revealing more of the white sclera and red veins. Bacteria from the tip of his tongue gradually flowed into the lens. It seemed like 'Takao' was vomiting. White, viscous fluid with swarms of tiny eyes flowed into the skull cavity.
He thought, the hallucinations were driving him crazy.
Now Midorima - with all four limbs intact - was sitting in Takao's bedroom - a place he had never been to before, but felt very familiar. The TV screens protruding from the opposite wall reflected multiple other 'Takaos' who were also holding the television remote just like the Takao who was sitting next to him.
"I like you a lot, and I think you like me too, Shin-chan. But you don't have to answer."
"I was afraid that the worst would happen if you answered, even though I thought I knew the answer. Because we had three years. On the other hand, because we only had three years, I didn't want to hear the best answer either. It turns out I wasn't as honest with myself as I thought."
"A relationship should only have one person who isn't honest with themselves. I shouldn't have done that. I never be like that normally, what's wrong with me..." Takao burst out laughing. They had moved to the arcade in the shopping mall where they had hunted for Midorima's lucky item that day - the mascot with big round eyes.
We did a lot to be close to each other...
"Because I wasn't honest with myself, I did bad things and had to be punished."
He hugged the stuffed sheep mascot tightly in his arms and said with a sad smile.
“… Hawk Eye should at least have some practical use in reality?” But it clearly shouldn’t have this kind of effect! Midorima thought of the ‘Takao’ with the remote. Some of the two’s memories were replayed, with some things he never remembered having existed.
Finally, the 'Takao' who was sitting on the living room sofa put down the television remote, tears rolling down his face as he said, "Even now, I still really like Shin-chan."
Midorima opened the door and walked out of the room. It was true that his phobia still haunted him, because those big eyes were still watching him from everywhere, but he cherished this friendship, and so did Takao, to the point that they were both afraid that if they took the initiative step forward, they would shatter it before they could shatter the other...
"Of course I will come to help you."
Isn't it obvious? Since you've always been by my side, I'll always be by your side in return. Even when we don't dare to face each other...
.
Midorima hugged and pulled Takao's body up from the hot spring. The water pressure made both of them almost lose their breath. They were both naked, pressed against each other and felt their heaving chests against each other. When he hugged and touched Takao like this, Midorima never thought he could do anything to hurt him.
Takao smiled as his hand caressed the green-haired boy's cheek, and Midorima lowered his head slightly, allowing the two of them to share a deep kiss. Takao's tongue boldly attacked his mouth, while Midorima only cooperated and waited to return what he learned from him. The sound of saliva echoed along with Takao's laughter, in the warm, moist space surrounded them.
Both of their hands quickly moved down below. They were both rubbing their crotch against each other's stomachs and thighs. Sticky wetness ran through Midorima's finger bandages. Takao picked up the taller boy's hand with both of his and brought it to his mouth. He lets his tongue out to lick the sticky liquid off it while using his teeth to remove the bandages layer by layer.
On the familiar school rooftop, Midorima lay facing Takao. The wounds from all the chains were still swollen on his body, but at least Takao was free from them.
Their genitals were close to each other's face, in a position that made him blush just thinking about it. The embarrassment, in the end, became the driving force that pushed Midorima to do more daring things, though he was annoyed to realize that he was just a child compared to the skillful Takao, who could use wrist to rub his penis' shaft and play with his testicles, while these lewd fingertips massaging the tip occasionally pinched it and pressed lightly against the leaking urethra.
"Shin-chan, I want to make you feel even better~♡"
Takao smiled and stuck out his tongue in a lewd way, while his forefinger and thumb formed a circle around it. The pleasure made the top of Midorima's head tingle, but the happiness of seeing Takao clumsily grasp his genitals, and accidentally leaving teeth marks while trying to act like he was so used to doing these naughty behaviours was much greater. It was the first time Midorima wanted to laugh so much. He smiled so brightly that he probably looked stupid right now.
Midorima slid his left hand inside Takao. His hand slid through the lower abdomen easily. Was it always this easy? He started moving his whole hand, as if he knew what he was looking for.
Did Takao feel the pain? As Midorima's hand touched the television remote deep in his chest, he wondered...
After the match with Jabberwock, the two of them walked home side by side. Because if they walked, time would pass more slowly, like the time Takao got sick and refused to let him ride the cart. Beside him, his mischievous friend fiddled with the remote as they waited for the final seconds of the green countdown on the traffic light to end.
When the screen turned red, Midorima felt a little reluctant to tell Takao to move. He wanted them to stay longer, he wanted them to miss the chance to cross the street, wait for dozens of more seconds, and then blame all fault on Takao for not paying attention even though he had Hawk Eye.
Finally, he tugged on the other's sleeve, saying nothing, but the black-haired boy didn't react either.
“Sorry, if I pay too much attention to something, my field of view will be reduced.” Takao kept his head down, fiddling with Midorima’s lucky item while answering. He knew his Shin-chan wouldn’t realize that he had no interest in the remote for a long time.
That day, Takao won against Midorima in Rock-Paper-Scissors for the first time, at the last stop before their paths home split toward separate directions.
"The loser will have to escort the winner home."
In the endless darkness, Takao's head grew out of a giant fossilized bird bone. His arms were behind him, chained with his lower thighs in black feathers. Half of his facial skin had loosened and flowed down, revealing a black skull dripping with filthy viscous fluid. His long, narrow eyes slowly opened, letting a slate-blue light illuminate the darkness. From below, a whirlwind swept away the crooked figures in front of him, and they disappeared along with the last of the feathers, after Takao's familiar voice stopped.
"Thank you, Shin-chan."
I don't want to dream another dream.
.
Midorima had slept through most of the ride to the new training site. It seemed like everyone else was asleep. After all, they had left at 5 AM. Outside the window, the sun was already high in the sky, shining through the window glass and illuminating half of his face. Before he straightened up, he reached out to support Takao, who was resting his head on his shoulder, so that his body wouldn’t startle his partner. It was just 6, according to the number displayed on the blue smartphone on his lap.
"Are we there yet, Shin-chan..." Takao stirred slightly. He opened his eyes, yawning and mumbling.
“… Almost there.” Midorima blushed and turned away, whispering. The trees and forest in the distance passed by them from the outside. The loud music and screams from Takao’s fallen earphones made him frown slightly as he looked back. His partner rubbed his eyes, smiling dreamily at Midorima, making the silence even more awkward.
“So, when were you going to tell me?” Takao wrapped both his arms around Midorima's waist, making him suddenly remember that his left hand was still supporting his partner's shoulder.
Midorima cleared his throat to ease his embarrassment, then mumbled.
"What are you talking about... If you have something to tell, go ahead and tell me."
“Don’t be like that…” Takao wriggled. “Don’t you see how hard I tried to make you say it out loud?”
"No I don't!"
"Shin-chan is so mean!" He laughed. "How about... we say it at the same time? I want to hear Shin-chan say it, please, please..."
Looking at him like that, Midorima could only sigh and give in. Takao knew that he had successfully persuaded the bigger, mischievous and slyness filled his narrow eyes that were just now glistening with tears.
You... Midorima gritted his teeth. Their faces turned close to each other. "Count from one to three and then say it out together! One, two, three-" Takao closed his eyes.
"I love you, Takao."
Before he realized he was the only one saying out loud, and saying so loudly that the first-year Center in the seat above him woke up. The brunette boy almost turned back curiously if Tae and Kimura sitting next to him hadn't held his neck. Midorima blushed in anger. He would never trust Takao again... Never again...!
"Wow~♡! Shin-chan loves me so much, how can I return his feelings..." Takao hugged Midorima tightly, not letting the bigger push him away. "Then let's do this, if we don't win the upcoming Winter Cup, Shin-chan will have to get naked and kneel down to confess one more time! I'll give you a proper answer then~"
Midorima pushed his glasses up. His face and ears were covered in red, and his body was so hot that he couldn't even feel angry anymore.
"You idiot. Our team will win, and I'll just say that out one more time."
And you'll be the one who confesses to me naked! Midorima raised his eyebrows while unable to stop his lips from curling up at the bewildered face and faint blush on the smaller boy's cheeks - an expression he never thought he would see from Takao.