Chapter Text
Midorima Shintarou was an interesting person, in Akashi's opinion.
They first met in the classroom, being in the same class. His first impression was a bit.. unusual, as there was a big cuckoo clock on the greenhead's table. Akashi was intrigued by this eccentricity, but didn't give it much thought.
They meet again in the basketball club. When Midorima showed his shooting skill, Akashi knew immediately he would be part of the team. The high arc of the balls, making them hard to be blocked, Teikou would be an idiot to not put him immediately on the first string. And he did, along with Akashi himself and two other first years.
It didn't take long for Akashi and Midorima to get closer. They have similar interests and constantly got the top two scores in their classes. Whenever they needed a partner they went to each other, both in class and club practice.
Midorima gave off a sense of unapproachability, with his ‘lucky items’ that got weirder each day and the fact that he never smiled. Akashi would even say that the basketball team were the only friends he had, and even then he rarely hung out with them outside of school, always giving an excuse of having something else to do.
Midorima was also a very private person, rarely talking about himself, and whenever they had a group project he never offered his house to do them. Well, Akashi also never did so they usually go to the library.
But then, one day, on a Saturday at 8 am.
Akashi was just reading a book leisurely when his phone rang, showing Midorima as the caller. “Akashi, you are a Sagittarius, correct?” was the first thing he heard when he picked.
He blinked in confusion. “That's right. Why?”
Midorima just hummed instead of answering, “For our history project, we should do it today at my house.” He said it like it was not a suggestion.
Akashi raised an eyebrow at that. How curious. If he had to guess, it must have something to do with his 'Oha Asa’ obsession. Midorima usually used that tone of his when his luck was involved, and the fact that he asked if he's a Sagittarius.
The silence that followed in wait for his response was tense. He could feel Midorima was nervous on the other side of the phone.
“Alright.” Since Midorima took his luck very seriously, Akashi would be a bad friend if he denied it, would he?
Midorima sounded relieved when they discussed the time.
Akashi stared at the house in front of him when he arrived at 10. He would assume that Midorima came from a rich family, seeing that some of his lucky items were not on the cheap side, but the modest house did fit Midorima more than an extravagant one.
He rang the bell below the nameplate and it took less than a minute for the door to open, revealing Midorima.
“Akashi, come in.” Midorima hastily said, giving Akashi space.
“Pardon the intrusion.” Akashi walked in, taking off his shoes and following Midorima inside. He was surprised, however, to see another boy their age talking to a green haired woman, presumably Midorima's mother.
The boy noticed them the moment they came in and smiled in greeting “Heya! You must be Shin-chan's new friend!”
Shin-chan? Akashi raised her eyebrows. What a very familiar way of calling the uptight greenhead.
The aforementioned ‘Shin-chan’ cleared his throat, his face turning red, and walked past the boy and the woman “We will be in the living room.”
“Whaaat?? You're not even gonna introduce us to each other? Rude, Shin-chan!” The boy pouted and turned to the woman “See, Fuku-san, Shin-chan must think I'm too embarrassing to his cool new friends!”
Midorima Fuku just giggled gently at the boy, “I'm sure that's not it, Kazunari-kun.” she said while patting the boy before turning to Akashi. “Nice to meet you, I'm Shintarou's mother. This is Takao Kazunari, Shintarou's friend. What's your name?”
“I'm Akashi Seijuurou, pleasure to meet you.” Akashi bowed. “I'm sorry for intruding, seeing that you had a guest.”
“No, no, it's fine! Don't worry about me!” Takao laughed, waving his hand “Shin-chan never invited any friends except me so I'm happy more than anything! Just imagine I'm not here!”
“Well, then, excuse me.” Akashi bowed one more time before walking to the living room where Midorima was waiting impatiently, evident by his fidgeting on the green and orange yarn bracelet on his left wrist.
“I apologize for them.” Midorima said when Akashi sat down in front of him across the table.
“They seem lovely.” Akashi said in response.
He did wonder, however. He must admit he was surprised to know that Midorima actually had a friend. A pretty close one, in fact, with how familiar Takao was with his mother. It felt rude to think so, but the greenhead never gave any hint about it.
Then there's Takao himself. He didn't seem like the type of person Midorima would be friends with. In fact, he probably would avoid him instead. So how did that happen?
Midorima must've been not as embarrassed of his friend as shown, because why would he invite Akashi over knowing that his friend was here?
They started working on their project without any more unnecessary talking. Akashi could still hear a faint conversation from the kitchen, but it didn't bother him. And it didn't seem to bother Midorima as well, probably used to it. There was a moment where Midorima's mother came by to serve them tea and snacks but overall they worked in peace.
It was around 1 pm when the woman stopped by to call for them for lunch. “You don't have any allergies, do you, Akashi-kun?” She asked Akashi when they're tidying the table.
“I don't, Midorima-san.”
The dining table was already covered in plates when they arrived. Takao probably helped with the cooking as he was wearing an apron, humming while he put another plate on the table. The food looked really delicious, Akashi thanked any divine being out there for the fact that Midorima didn't seem to inherit his inability to cook from his mother.
Akashi looked at the five chairs around the table and couldn't help but think about whether Midorima only had his mother or his other family members were away. Then, Takao suddenly told him “Ah, Shin-chan's dad is working at the hospital currently and his little sister is out playing with her friends.”
Interesting, it must've either shown on his face or Takao was very good at reading people. The latter seemed more plausible when Akashi thought about it, seeing as he's friends with Midorima.
They all sat around the table, the other three clearly had their assigned seat. So the fifth one was Takao's, how often he had to be eating at the Midorima residence to have his own seat. “Thanks for the food.” They all said before eating.
The sound of cutlery was the only thing filling the silence for a few moments before Midorima's mother asked “So, Akashi-kun, how is Shintarou at school?” Takao looked towards Akashi with a curious glint in his eyes.
“He's good company, but we never really talk to each other. We only ever really talk about classes and basketball practice.”
“Whaat… Shin-chan, what happened to ‘be more sociable in middleschool'?” Takao sent a stare at Midorima who just scoffed.
“I never promised that.”
“You did! When I was crying over how you will be a loner for the whole three years cause I won't be there!”
“That never happened, don't spread lies!”
“There they go again.” Midorima's mother sighed with fondness. When she saw Akashi staring at the bickering duo she smiled “Shintarou and Kazunari had been friends since they were 6. It is mostly Kazunari pulling Shintarou out of his shell, so we were concerned Shintarou wouldn't have any friends when they got into different schools. Thank you for being his friend.”
If Midorima was that lively with his friend, then can he and the basketball team even be called his friends? Akashi mused. Midorima was mostly quiet around them, and occasionally showed annoyance when the other two did something he didn't like. But then here he was, actively in a banter with the black haired boy, both having a smile on their face, even if Midorima's on the smaller side.
Perhaps Akashi got a bit jealous looking at the two. He himself rarely had any friends because of his status, so his camaraderie with Midorima was something he cherished.
They had little conversations here and there until they finished eating. Midorima moved to help his mother clean the table and wash the dishes so Akashi went back to the living room. He was arranging the papers when someone sat down beside him. He looked at who it was and was not surprised that it was Takao.
“Yo.” Takao grinned at him.
“Hello.” Akashi nodded to him.
“You should loosen up a bit, you know.” Takao leaned his head on his hand, “You're quite tense.”
“Did I?” Akashi raised an eyebrow. The boy's eyes must be quite sharp.
“Are you uncomfortable near Shin-chan? Did he do or say something? He might look mean but he's a softie, really.”
“It's not that, I..” Akashi stopped. Was he really about to blurt out his feelings to a boy he just met? But when he saw the sincerity in Takao's eyes he did confess. “I'm not sure he thinks of me as his friend, he only invited me here for the project and because he needs a Sagittarius.”
“Sagittarius?” Takao blinked a few times before bursting out laughing. “Did he say that? Hahahaha!!!”
Akashi stared in confusion. Is it really that funny?
Takao calmed himself slowly, still letting out a few giggles as he explained “Listen, Akashi, one thing you should know about Shin-chan is that he's a huge tsundere. You have to really dig deep between his lines.”
The black haired boy let out a final huff. “Shin-chan's mother is a Sagittarius.”
“..Huh?”
“If he really needs a Sagittarius, his mother is right here. He just used the excuse of you being a Sagittarius to invite you over.” Takao leaned closer as if telling a big secret “Even then, he wouldn't invite just anyone. The fact that you're here means he at least trusts you. He also talked about you, you know?”
“He did?” Akashi subconsciously leaned forward also.
“Yup. He really enjoys spending time with you, because you have similar interests with him. Just give it time, he'll warm up to you eventually.”
Perhaps Akashi could understand why Midorima was struck by Takao, the boy just seemed to know what to say. He's a good friend, and Akashi would not like to see them fall apart.
“What are you two talking about?” Midorima's voice cut through Akashi's thoughts. He looked behind him to see the greenhead had an expression that showed.. irritation? Or maybe.. jealousy?
“I’m telling your friend all of your embarrassing moments, of course!” Takao beamed.
“What nonsense are you spouting?” Midorima sat next to Takao, their shoulders bumping to each other, and put his hand behind the other boy, inches from actually touching him.
Ah, that's how it is. Akashi smiled to himself. He feigned looking at his phone and hummed.
“I apologize for leaving so soon, but my father is waiting for me to get home. We can continue our project some other time.” He packed up his things and stood up. “Thank you once again for the hospitality.”
“Already?” Takao questioned.
“I'll escort you to the front door.” Midorima stood up as well.
Akashi bid farewell to Midorima's mother before taking his leave. However before he was out of earshot, he heard snippets of conversation between Takao and Midorima.
“I think you scared him off.”
“Hmph, Akashi is not one to be easily afraid. He must be busy.”
“Seriously, what's up with the glare, then?”
“..Nothing.”
“Are you serious right now? You're the one saying that Scorpio is in 12th place and that I should stay near Sagittarius but avoid Gemini, that's why I'm at your house instead.”
It was unfair to compare himself to the black haired boy from the beginning as Takao was clearly in a very special place in Midorima's heart. Akashi would root for them.