Work Text:
"Tetsu-kun! There's someone at the door!" Momoi shouted from across the room where she was setting the table.
No response. She walked over to Kuroko only to see him staring at his phone again. It was the third time that afternoon.
She sighed and placed a hand on his shoulder. Only then did he actually look at her, a question in his eyes.
"I said there's someone at the door." She repeated.
"Oh, right. I apologize, Momoi-san." Kuroko said.
He shouldn't have let himself get so distracted. It's just... he was waiting for a message since the morning. But Kagami hadn't send anything.
He tried not to think about it too much, blaming it on the different time zones. But that attempt quickly proved to be futile, because they've already figured out a way to keep regular contact with each other. No matter how busy they were, they always made sure to send at least a single text every day.
Their little routine brought Kuroko comfort and reassurance that their relationship wasn't lost. That it was difficult, but it was still there. That they were still shadow and light.
He probably wouldn't be dwelling on it this much if it was just today, but it's been nothing but radio silence for the past two days. And today was the first birthday Kuroko would spend without Kagami there physically. He was prepared for that, but he'd hoped they could video call. Even just a text message would have been enough.
But there was nothing.
Could it be possible that Kagami forgot?
With a sigh, he set his phone on the counter and went to open the door.
"Happy birthday, Kurokocchi!" Kise's arms were around him before he even had time to react. He blinked a few times before awkwardly returning the embrace.
"Thank you, Kise-kun." He said and smiled politely when his friend handed him his gift.
Just as the two of them walked into the living room and Kise went to hug Momoi in greeting, the doorbell rang again. This time, he was met with a familiar, green-haired figure.
"Happy birthday, Kuroko. Thank you for the invitation." said Midorima, his voice as monotone as usual, his presence unintentionally intimidating "Please, accept this." He held out a pen, its striking blue barrel unusually shiny. Kuroko would have been incredibly confused by this kind of gift had it come from anyone other than Midorima.
He accepted the present and gestured for his friend to come inside, to which the taller nodded, adjusting his glasses. Kuroko watched him walk over to the living room and was just about to close the door behind him when suddenly someone shoved their foot in the door frame.
"Oi! That's how you greet me?" Aomine scoffed, offended.
Kuroko bowed slightly "I apologize, Aomine-kun. I didn't see you there."
"Tch" Aomine let out an irritated noise "To think I actually went out of the way to get an actual cool gift for you." He keeps the insulted expression on his face for a moment longer before his lips break into a grin and he chuckles "Happy birthday, Tetsu."
They walked in and found Midorima correcting Momoi about the table arrangements and Kise looking at the pictures lining up the walls.
"Aw, Kurokocchi, you were so cute as a baby!" The blond cooed. Just then, barking sounded from the room across the hall and a moment later Nigou trotted over, as if to check what all the commotion was about, and started to sniff around.
"Ugh, I forgot about that dog of yours." Aomine groaned when Nigou started to sniff his legs.
"Aominecchi! Don't be rude!" Kise scolded.
Kuroko felt a pang in his chest when he remembered who else wasn't initially particularly fond of his dog. He walked over to the counter to set down the gifts he'd received on it, and stared at his phone still laying there for a few moments before giving into the urge to check his messages.
Still nothing.
When the doorbell rang for the third time, he decided he'd just wait by the door for everyone to arrive to avoid being distracted by his phone's looming presence.
This time he was met with a huge basket of sweets to the face, and when he looked up he saw Murasakibara staring at him with the same unamused look as always while munching on a candy bar.
"Be glad I didn't eat it all." was all he said before he practically shoved the basket into Kuroko's hands.
"Thank you, Murasakibara-kun. You can go ahead." He said with a gesture of his head.
Kuroko set down the basket on the floor next to him, found himself alone in the hall again, and his thoughts started to wander.
What if something happened? An accident of some kind? What if Kagami was hurt?
Or, maybe... he got scared of the new status quo of their relationship?
They've admitted it to each other for the first time during what was a late-night video call for Kuroko. Kagami was exhausted after practice, and Kuroko was fighting to stay awake so they could have those few minutes to talk.
He didn't exactly know when the lighthearted conversation about their respective days turned into him spilling his guts about just how crushed and empty he felt when Kagami left, to which the other's expression turned pained, and he admitted he felt the same hollowness, and that it hadn't left him ever since he got on that plane.
They hadn't had the chance to fully talk this out yet, and what exactly did it mean for them, but they both knew their feelings for each other were more than platonic. Something had shifted between them during that final, teary goodbye at the airport...
Maybe he could ask Murasakibara if Himuro knew anything... they were close, and if anyone knew what's going on with Kagami it would be his brother. But if Himuro did know something, that would mean that Kagami was avoiding talking to Kuroko specifically, and that would mean...
Maybe it was better not to know?
"Tetsuya." Akashi greeted him when he opened the door again.
"Akashi-kun." He said politely, and accepted to small, expensive looking box.
Soon after that arrived Riko and Hyuuga, with the former gushing about how her cooking skills have improved and handing him a tupperware container with something very questionable looking inside. Kuroko glanced at Hyuuga, who was subtly signalling him that it would better if he didn't try it. Still, he accepted the container and smiled at his coach.
The rest of the Seirin team arrived a couple minutes later, Koganei apologizing profusely for making them late because he needed to find the perfect gift.
Even Ogiwara could make it, which Kuroko was extremely happy about.
Once all the guest finally gathered, the fesitivities truly began. Momoi made a big deal out of bringing out the cake, and Kuroko blew out the eighteen candles on it. Everyone then once again gave him their wishes.
It was easier to engage in conversation with everyone else after that. Catching up with Ogiwara, listening to Kise excitedly gush about his latest photo shoot, hearing about Akashi winning a chess tournament. Kiyoshi's leg was really getting better, Hyuuga informed them.
They've made plans to play another friendly match soon, and Momoi was especially excited. It was nice to hear that everyone was planning on still pursuing basketball, and that they wanted to stay in touch.
To stay in touch...
Kuroko didn't know if he'd just imagined it, but it seemed like everyone avoided talking about Kagami. And as soon as that thought appeared, the heaviness in his chest returned, and he could no longer resist the urge to check his phone for the umpteenth time that day.
But just as he was about to reach for it, the doorbell rang.
"Are you expecting someone else?" Momoi asked, puzzled.
"I... no." Kuroko replied, equally confused. On his way to the door, he reasoned that it was probably one of his neighbours came to scold them for being too loud.
Nothing could have prepared him for what, or rather, who he'd see standing on his doorstep.
Over 6 feet tall, deep red eyes, hair slightly longer than the last time they had seen each other in person.
"Hey, Kuroko." said Kagami, a beaming smile on his face.
Kuroko just stood there, frozen, still not entirely believing what he was seeing.
"You didn't think I'd miss your birthday, did you?" The taller chuckled.
A tear spilled down the blue-haired boy's cheek, and then everything was a blur.
Kagami stumbled only a little bit when Kuroko threw himself into his arms, and they both shed tears of joy.