Chapter Text
Kuroko's P.O.V
It would be a blatant lie to say that Kuroko didn’t think about Daiki, his Daiki, or what used to be his. It became increasingly difficult to not do so, especially after playing Kise. All the old feelings rushed in, threatening to drown out any sense of rationality. When he played basketball it reversed time, taking him to a now unattainable place, a memory from the past.
Kuroko’s inability to refrain from remembering truly did illustrate his weakness, Midorima should be proud that he was actually admitting it. In truth, Kuroko only had one weakness; one flaw that was fatal to his development, his progression, and that was Daiki.
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It hadn’t surprised him, seeing Momoi again. It surprised him even less that she knew about all his teammates, he would expect nothing less from an analytical specialist such as herself; she had been a vital member of their team in middle school as well.
Kuroko hadn’t heard from any of his ‘friends’ since he left. Due to that, he didn’t know for sure that Momoi had chosen to attend the same school as him. It felt different, talking to Momoi about Daiki then it had with his new teammates. Momoi knew Daiki, almost as much as Kuroko did. It was refreshing, hearing someone else say his name in a way that wasn't praising him, it proved Kuroko wasn’t crazy; he was really friends with Daiki, at some point, regardless of how his mind attempted to erase that time.
“So you really are attending his school Momoi?”
“Mhuh. I meant it when I said I wanted to go to yours though. But you know me, I‘d just go crazy worrying about him the entire time if I had. I guess then we could have at least worried together though. I can tell through your eyes Tetsu, no matter how much you pretend to hate him, you can’t, can you?
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Daiki's P.O.V
‘I shouldn’t have come with Momoi this time. I know I said I wanted to see Seirin, but, I'm just not feelin’ it anymore.’ Daiki was walking around the Seirin campus, pretty much just stalling until Momoi came back. ‘Well, well, well, lookey what I’ve found.'
“Yo, you’re that Taiga Kagami, am I right? Well c’mon, let’s see what you’re made of.” ‘He doesn’t look like anything special, he’s not even that tall. Tetsu seems to be downgrading.’
“Who are you supposed to be? You wanna play but won’t tell me your name, where are your damn manners?”
“I thought this was basketball, not a tea party, give me a break. If you have to know my name it’s Daiki Aomine.”
“You think just cause you're some big name hotshot I’ll automatically say yes to playin’ you?”
“I’m not asking you to say yes to anything, though it’s amusing how you think I would. All I need you to do is shut up and play. It’s like I said, I just wanna see what you're made of. There’s no one better than me anyway, I’m measuring the time it takes until I finally get bored of you.”
“You make all your other Generation of Miracle buddies seem like saints, so how about I take your cocky attitude down a notch!”
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Kuroko's P.O.V
“Doesn't Kagami remind you of someone Tetsu? It sure brought back memories, watching you two play together.”
“Yeah, he does.” ‘I remember being most in sync with Daiki out of everyone on the team. We came to understand each other in ways that shone through on the court. Once our relationship on the court was stable and prosperous, that stability and understanding stretched into our personal lives. We grew closer, more intimate, entering a phase of our relationship that there was no returning from.’
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“Do you know how cute you look right now Tetsu? It’s as if you're begging me for it.”
“Don’t say that Dai, I’m not cute and you know it.”
“I’m not saying you're cute like a girl, like Momoi can be. You’re a different kind of cute. The kind that looks good naked, sprawled out across a bed. And besides, no girl could match that absolutely wrecked face you have right now.”
Kuroko turned his face away from Daiki, it was getting too hot and he was already far too embarrassed being like this in front of his friend. Daiki was being annoyingly gentle, touching Kuroko in ways friends shouldn't, paying close attention to his ears and nipples. It didn't hurt, when Daiki nibbled on the soft of his ear, it made Kuroko's heart pick up.
“If you choose to not look at me Tetsu, I’ll do things that force you to.”
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“I’ll be honest with you Tetsu, I miss watching you and Aomine play together, those were really good times. He doesn’t practice with the team anymore, just himself. He still doesn’t lose either.”
“Do you think he can change? If someone beats him?”
“I mean, y’know, how woul-
“I’m aware of how strong he is, more than anyone else. I won’t have to face him alone though, I promise you, we’re going to beat him.”
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Daiki's P.O.V
“Ughh, this is ridiculous, really now? You’re the same guy who beat Midorima? I don’t know what Tetsu’s thinking anymore. Why would he waste his amazing abilities on the likes of you? Don’t you feel at least a little bit bad about the way you’re holding him back?" Kagami visible stiffened at that, 'Oh, so you think you're special do you? Just because Tetsu chose to come to this ridiculous place? Give you his attention, his strength!?' "He’s a shadow Kagami, the stronger the light, the darker the shadow. Basically, his strength depends entirely on how bright the light shines. Unfortunately for him, you’re barely a flicker.”
Though all of that was true, Daiki never liked the analogy of Tetsu being a shadow. There was no doubt that he used his lack of presence to his advantage, and he always shone brighter when in unison with the Generation of Miracles, specifically Daiki, but it was all wrong. He wasn’t the sun, the others were, they exuded brightness, Kuroko on the other hand, drew in the sun, absorbed it and used its energy to power himself. In reality, he was better than them all, and Daiki missed it, missed him, his smiles, his encouragement, his hands. Now he was touching and smiling at this untalented kid, and it just ticked him off more.’
‘I knew I shouldn’t have come, now I’m in an even worse mood.’ Daiki dropped the ball and walked away from the flicker. Everything was pissing him off more now.