Back In Shape (Midorima x Kuroko)

After Shuutoku lost in their match with Rakuzan, the whole Shuutoku basketball team is again at the starting point. They already accepted that they lost against Rakuzan but except for a certain green-haired shooting guard.

In Shuutoku, everybody already left but inside their gym, Takao smirked, sighing when he saw their shooting guard and also one of the Generation of Miracles, Midorima Shintarou who is still busy practicing his shots.

"Dammit." He cursed when the ball didn't went in.

He run towards the other side of the court near the ring while dribbling before shooting it.

"DAMMIT." He cursed again before running to try again.

Takao sighed and decided to leave Midorima alone. Meanwhile, Kuroko and Kagami just went out of Maji Burger and they were both shocked when they saw Takao waiting outside.

"Yo, Tet-chan! Do you have a minute?" Takao asked, smiling.

Kuroko looked at Kagami with his famous blank face. "I'm sorry, Kagami-kun but I think you will walking home by yourself for today."

"Okay. See 'ya at school!" Kagami smiled, waving at Kuroko who also waved back.

"So, Takao-kun." Kuroko started, looking back at Takao. "What do we need to talk?"

"It's about Shin-chan." Takao said with a solemn face.

Kuroko's still wearing his blank face but you can see it in his eyes that he is worried for his ex-teammate. "Midorima-kun? What happened to him?"

***

Back inside Shuutoku's gym, Midorima is still busy at with his practice that he didn't noticed that a certain light blue haired guy is watching him. Kuroko is so fascinated how serious and handsome Midorima was while practicing, how he breathe, how the sweat slowly dripped from his forehead to his temple and to his neck.

"Good evening, Midorima-kun." Kuroko greeted which startled Midorima causing him to drop the ball.

"Kuroko?! What are you doing here, scaring me-nanodayo?!" Midorima exclaimed, completely shocked.

Kuroko blushed slightly. "Nothing. Takao-kun told me that you are here, practicing so I..."

"So you what?"

"I have to talk to you." Kuroko said, seriously and straightforwardly.

***

There is an awkward silence surrounding Midorima and Kuroko while they're walking home together.

"So..." Midorima started, "What do you want to talk about?"

"How are you, Midorima-kun?"

"Huh?" Midorima asked with a raised brow.

"I'm asking you how are you?" Kuroko repeated, solemnly.

"Oh! I'm fine-nanodayo."

"Takao-kun told me that you've been practicing none stop lately." Kuroko said but he didn't heard Midorima denied what he said.

"So what-nanodayo?" Midorima asked, slightly irritated.

"I'm worried about you, Midorima-kun." Kuroko said, still with his blank face.

"I already said I'm fine, Kuroko." Midorima said, irritated.

"But I know you're not." Kuroko stopped.

He placed both of his hands on Midorima's arm, forcing him to face Kuroko. Midorima shoved Kuroko's hands away before glaring at him.

"How many times do I have to repeat myself?! I'm fine!" Midorima explained, angrily.

"Midorima-kun, please tell me what's wrong."

"WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO TELL YOU?! THAT I'M STILL SAD THAT I LOST TO AKASHI?! THAT I'M PRACTICING REALLY HARD JUST TO LOST AKASHI?! THAT I'M STARTING TO HATE MYSELF BECAUSE I DIDN'T WIN AGAINST AKASHI-!!" Midorima stopped when he felt Kuroko hugged him.

He looked down at Kuroko and saw Kuroko with his blank face but he did saw in Kuroko's eyes that he is sad. He felt Kuroko's warm hands on his cheeks, wiping something off.

"Please don't cry, Midorima-kun." Kuroko said, still wiping Midorima's cheeks.

"Me? Crying?" Midorima asked himself until he felt something wet dripped on his cheeks. Yes. He is crying.

Midorima stopped when he heard what Kuroko just said, "I believe in you, Midorima-kun."

Midorima calmed down when he felt Kuroko hugged him tighter. He gulped before he hesitatingly hugged Kuroko back. Kuroko inhaled Midorima's scent then he remembered what he and Takao talked about earlier.

"Midorima-kun? What happened to him?"

"Actually, he's practicing really hard lately. So I hope you can help him back in shape?" Takao asked.

"What do you mean 'back in shape'?" Kuroko asked, wondering.

"He's pressuring himself so much that it's affecting his practice." Takao explained, seriously.

"Why does it have to me? You know what attitude Midorima-kun have when it comes to me." Kuroko asked, curiously.

"It has to be you!" Takao said, straightforwardly.

"I'm sorry but I have to reject your favor." Kuroko said politely before bowing.

Kuroko already decided to leave but stopped when Takao shouted. "He needs you, Kuroko!"

Kuroko looked at Takao, shocked then Takao continued. "You love him, right? You love Shin-chan?" Kuroko's eyes widened before blushed madly.

Kuroko closed his eyes before hugging Midorima tighter with his face on Midorima's shoulder, inhaling his scent.

***

Shuutoku's basketball team is busy practicing when the gym's door opened. All of the members were shocked when a light blue haired guy entered the gym.

"Good afternoon, Tet-chan!" Takao greeted Kuroko, smiling before running towards him.

"Good afternood, Takao-kun." Kuroko greeted back, bowing politely.

"Good that you're here!" Takao sighed, placing his arm around Kuroko's shoulder.

"Shin-chan is being mean to me again, Tet-chan! Will you talk to him for me?" Takao asked, pouting cutely while rubbing his the back of his head which Midorima hit earlier because he broke Midorima's lucky item, again.

Kuroko's eyes widened when a ball send flying beside his face, in Takao's direction and hitting Takao's face. Kuroko looked at the person who hit Takao in the face and saw Midorima glaring at Takao.

"ITAI!!!!! WHAT IS THAT FOR?!?!" Takao asked, holding the place where the ball hit him.

"Get away from Kuroko and get back to practice, Bakao!" Midorima scowled at Takao.

"See? He's starting to get possessive of you." Takao whispered at Kuroko, grinning which caused Kuroko to blush madly.

"What did you said to Kuroko, Bakao?!" Midorima scowled again.

"Nothing, Shin-chan! Just tell him that you love him!" Takao teased, smiling widely which caused Kuroko and Midorima to blush.

While Takao is laughing, another ball came flying but luckily, Takao dodged it. Kuroko and the other members of the basketball team was amazed when Midorima ran trying to catch Takao. When they ran outside, they're eyes widened when they heard Takao screamed.

"ITAAAAIIIIII!!!!!"