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It wasn’t unusual for the opponent teams to get friendly with each other. Even though the goal was to win a game, the boys still had a friendly tone after a game. Especially after how last season got a bit too heated. But it was one interaction that stood out the most.
It happened during a practice game between Seirin and Razukan.
Furihata has started to play more for Seirin, as the team’s point guard. Ever since the InterHigh tournament, he had worked on his basketball skills even more. His hard work did eventually pay off. Many of the teams had players with strong and intense personalities. It didn’t take a long time before a game would become intense. And Furihata was the perfect person to slow down the game’s pace if Seirin needed it.
Furihata backtracked a little as he tried to keep an overview of the court. He was too focused on keeping an eye, that one foot was misplaced and he lost his balance.
Luckily, Akashi Seijuro caught him before he fell too far. Akashi gave a small smile, letting his hands linger on the other boy’s back.
“Be careful, Furihata,”
“Ah!” Furihata was quick to get back on his feet. “Thanks, Akashi,”
Furihata moved away to give space to the other teen, as his attention returned back to court. He didn’t notice the red haired teen still staring at him, nor a certain blue haired teen who was observing the moment from the other side of the court.
The game continued until the coach blew the whistle, and all the boys stopped simultaneously.
Furihata hunched over slightly, panting a bit too hard than he wished. He felt a towel on his head as he tried to catch his breath. He looked up to, only to find himself locking eyes with Razukan’s point guard.
“Here,” Akashi gave another small, gentle smile as he held out a water bottle.
“T-Thank you, Akashi!”
“You’ve improved a lot since last time,” Akashi complimented. “Well done,”
Furihata was too busy wiping the sweat off his face and neck to notice the weird glances he got from both the teams. Usually, he was the one to observe his surroundings, but the game had taken too much mental energy for Furihata to care about his surroundings.
“Hehe, thanks again man,” Furihata grinned. “I guess my hard work is finally paying off,”
It hadn’t been long since Furihata meet Akashi. His first impression wasn’t good, but after Kuroko’s birthday party, his fear had disappeared. He realized Akashi wasn’t that bad. He wasn’t that different from the rest of the Generation of Miracles. They all had a weird past, and they had unique hair colours. But in the end, they were teenagers like him.
Furihata finally looked around, and saw his teammates started to pack. He didn’t notice Akashi was about to say something.
“Thanks for the towel and water!” Furihata shoved the bottle in Akashi’s hand and then slowly retreated. “I’ll wash up the towel and give you next time have a game or something. See you around!” He turned around and dashed to his teammates, leaving a slightly blushing red haired teenager.
He wants to see me around.
The second time Akashi interacted with Furihata in public, Kuroko knew something was going on.
The Generation of Miracles had made a deal to meet up once every month. It was a day Kuroko often looked forward to. Sometimes other teammates would join the group, making it less intimate and more casual. Often they would play a couple of rounds of basketball together.
In last meet-up, things had gotten a bit heated. Kagami had joined a game and things started intense. Part of Kuroko got a bit annoyed, since he wished they could hang out causally too. Which is why he brought Furihata to this game. He was got at slowing down the pace.
Scratch that, it was an excuse. Kuroko did want to confirm something.
“Hello Furihata,” Akashi spoke gently, a soft smile plastered on his face.
“Akashi!” Furihata beamed. “It’s been a while,”
Before the two teens could interact more, Kise cut in to give his hello’s. Soon, the rest joined to greet the Seirin’s trio. Kuroko was too focused to observe Akashi reaction, whose gaze was locked on the brown haired boy. He noticed Akashi’s fingers fidgeting, as if he was itching to do something.
Kuroko felt eyes on him, his eyes darted around to see Takao staring at him with a confused look. Kuroko gaze moved back to Akashi, Furihata and then back to Takao, who followed his gaze, seeing how Akashi staring at Furihata who was too busy talking to the other teens.
Something clicked in his mind and a smirk formed. Kuroko and Takao locked gaze once again.
Soon, the group started to play a round of basketball game.
Kuroko and Takao made sure to put Furihata and Akashi on opposite teams. Takao was a bit confused why they would be split, but he followed Kuroko’s plan for now. It seemed like Momoi and Midoriya caught on that something was going on, but didn’t say anything.
“You better not be fall down during the game, Chihuahua!” Aomine teased.
“I wo-won’t!” Blush appeared on Furihata’s cheeks as he walked close to Akashi on the field. Snickers and chuckle broke around, which deepened the blush. Akashi couldn’t help but smile fondly at the look.
Cute.
“Leave him alone, idiot,” Kagami came to rescue. And soon the two teens started to argue.
The game went on, and Takao realised why Kuroko wanted Akashi and Furihata to be on the opposite team. Even if Furihata was strategically placed there to limit Akashi’s movement, the red haired teen made sure to be gentle around Furihata.
Takao wasn’t the only one to notice, but no one dared to comment.
No rough movements were made around Furihata. There was a couple of times Akashi dribbled the ball a little too fast and Furihata almost lost his footing, Akashi would then quickly passed the ball as if it was part of his plan, and catch the brown haired teen before he fell.
Furihata would lean into his touch as he mumbled thanks. Each time, Akashi felt his heart beat faster and faster.
The third time it happened, Furihata slapped him playfully at his shoulder and said; “You’re like my Prince Charming,”
A small blush blossomed on Akashi’s cheeks.
The game returned back again. Furihata, whose skill was being good at observing, didn’t notice how the red haired boy beside him was getting affected by his presence. Once the game finished, Akashi complimented Furihata again.
“It means a lot hearing it from you, Akashi,” Furihata said shyly, rubbing the back of his neck.
“Well, I only speaking the truth,” Akashi spoke firmly, his gaze never leaving the other boy. He notice the faint tint of blush, how his eyes would dart around whenever he got nervous.
“Are you joining us for Maji Burger?” Akashi tried to not sound too excited. Ever since Kuroko texted that he would bring not only Kagami, but also Furihata, Akashi had been counting down the days until the reunion. He didn’t imagine he would see Furihata so soon, and he hoped their time together would last long.
“Ah, yes!” Furihata confirmed, he became quiet for a second before continuing. “Only if it’s ok with all of you,”
“Yes, of course, it would be lovely if you could join us,” Akashi reassured quickly, he fidget with his fingers. “We don’t see eachother often, so it’s always good to spend some time with you,”
Furihata blinked a couple out of times, before breaking out in a smile. “Seriously? Geez, it’s nice to know that I’m not the only one that feels the same!”
Thud.
A warm feeling blossomed inside of Akashi, he felt his heart beating so fast that it would jump out.
“It’s good to know that you feel the same too,” Akashi clasped his hands together. His gaze never left the other teen’s figure.
“Maybe we can exchange numbers, so we can keep in contact?” Furihata asked.
“That would be great,” Akashi said, hoping once again that he didn’t sound too excited.
Keep calm. Keep calm. Keep calm.
“Well, let’s pack up quickly and exchange our numbers!” Furihata clapped at Akashi’s back, his touch lingering for couple of seconds as the boys turned around to walk where rest of their teammates was.
“Is it just me or is Furihata a bit too comfortable around Akashi?” Kagami commented, as the two other teens were walking towards them.
“Yeah, I’m surprised he isn’t shivering like crazy anymore,” Aomine joined the conversation.
“Hey, why don’t Akashi know any memes?” Furihata asked the group. “He doesn’t understand any of reference to internet jokes,”
“Because he’s an old man,” Aomine explained.
Akashi glared in return. “I’m not an old man,”
“You are,” Kuroko and Momoi confimred.
“I’m not,”
“With all due of respect,” Midorima fixed his glasses. “You are,”
The rest snickered at the interaction, while Akashi glared at the rest of his old teammates.
“It’s nothing bad about being an old man, Akashicchi,” Kise chipped in. “Everyone’s different,”
Akashi was ready to attack his old teammates who enjoyed teasing him, until he heard a pleasant sound. Furihata Kouki was laughing beside him, he tried to keep it hidden behind his mouth but the sound still escaped.
“I guess there is something Mr. I’m-Always-Right isn’t right at,” Furihata joked.
For one second, everyone except Akashi and Furihata held their breaths as they waited for Akashi’s reaction. Even Murasakibara stopped snacking.
The chihuahua is braver than he seems Aomine thought.
“I guess so,” Akashi said, smiling.
He’s not going to murder him? The rest thought.
“Don’t worry, Akashi,” Furihata spoke after controlling his laughter, bumping into his should as support. “I’ll teach you everything about memes so you can prove them wrong!”
“Then I’m looking forward for the lessons, Furihata-sensei,”
“Don’t back out when it gets too hard!” Furihata teases.
“Never,”
The two teens ended up in their own bubble, as they grabbed their items and made their way to Maji Burgers, not noticing the others.
The rest stood in silence, shocked at the interaction in front of them.
“Ok, what the fuck was that?!” Kagami was the first one to break the silence.
Bonus 1:
“I think Akashi-kun have a crush on Furihata-kun,”
“That’s so cute!” Momoi squealed.
“Furihata needs to be put in a witness protection program, ASAP!” Kagami freaked out.
“We need for help Akashichii out with his crush!
“Hell no!” Kagami shouted, but it didn’t seem like the rest would listen to him.
“But how?” Midorima continued the conversation. “Akashi lives in Kyoto while Furihata lives here. The distance is too great,”
“How about we fix a joined training camp?” Takao suggested.
“Oo, that’s smart!” Kise yelled.
“Agree, we’ll try and put them together as much as possible,”
“Then we got a plan?” Momomi said.
Everyone agreed on the plan, ignoring a certain red haired teen.
“Hello, does no one care about what Furihata thinks?”
Bonus 2:
The whistle blew during a game between Seirin and Razukan, indicating that it was time for break.
Furihata was trying to catch his breath. He walked up to Akashi, leaning his head into the red haired teen’s chest. Akashi gently patted his shoulder as he was watching the scoreboard.
It lasted a couple of seconds, before Furihata looked up. Akash’s gaze locked with his, the Razukan player placed his hand on Furihata’s cheeks, stroking it softly. They both smiled at each other, a silent encouragement, feeling like the only people in the room, not noticing the shock around them.
The ball went inside the hoop, Furihata’s eyes widened as it happened.
I scored.
“Furihata!” The Seirin team cheered at the action, along with the crowd. Furihata looked around him, seeing his teammates running up to him in celebration. But it was only one person he wanted.
“Sei!” Furihata escaped him teammates, as he ran and jumped at the red haired teen, who caught him in a hug.
“Congratulations, Kouki,” Akashi whispered into his ear, as Furihata buried his head into the other teen’s neck.
Once again, both team was left in shock by the action, and this time the crowd joined.
“Aren’t they in opposite teams?”
“I guess the teams are friends,”
“Is this normal?”
“Man, stop flirting and get a room!” Aomine shouted from the crowd.