Chapter 20 Before That

Kuroko Tetsumi's POV 

 "Yaawwn~! Ohayo Taichi!" I greeted him when we saw him at the entrance of the school. 

Today is the battle between Shutoku and Seirin and I overslept because of what happened last night. I think it over and over until I made up my mind...

"I want to challenge your Empress' Eye, bring it to the court."

Those were the exact words he said, of course, I go pissed and very upset because we haven't seen each other since I got here and this is what he wanted from me, to test my ability. I didn't cry or anything, I just need some time alone.

Looks like Tetsuchi noticed my reaction when I just smiled at him telling him it was nothing. I didn't tell him about last night because surely he will be worried, I want to do this for myself. If he wants to test my patience, so be it.

I won't hold back.

"Yo, did you overslept again?" He asks as we walked towards the entrance gate of our school.

"Coming from you! We even barely make it to the first bell, and look at you! Your eyes!" I said and pointed at his face.

"I-I couldn't sleep!" He defended himself.

As we enter our school, we went to our shoebox to change into indoor shoes, when I opened my shoebox, I saw pink letter inside, "eh?"

"What's up?" Taichi changed his shoes into indoor and came here beside me, he then leaned and looked inside my shoebox too, then he frowned.

"There's a pink letter," I said to myself and looked at the letter, that's odd... why is there a letter inside my shoebox?

"I dunno let's go before the bell rings." I just put the letter inside my bag and quickly change my shoes and we walked again towards our classroom...

"Tetsuchi~ fuyukai desu!!!! You didn't wait for me!!" I whined as I sat on my chair just between Tetsuchi's and Taichi's seats.

"Gomene Testumi-chan, I went to the garden to meet with the person on duty. He explained.

"I see... Ah Tetsuchi you forgot your lunchbox!" I get his packed lunch inside my bag and placed it to Tetsuchi's desk and smiled.

"Arigato, Tetsum--"

"Tetsumi-chan~ are you in here??" we looked at the door and saw coach holding piles of papers.

"Yes?" I came closer to coach and assist her.

"I'm sorry Tetsumi-chan! Can you help me with these? Sensei asked me to bring to the faculty but... You know! Female and all! Teehee!" Said coach childishly.

Are you even a female? I thought to myself and sweatdropped and just nodded at her. 

We went on our way to the faculty when Rikochi spoke.

"so, Tetsumi-chan!" she said, "are you ready for later? they have the member of the generation of the miracles."

I looked at her seriously with determination and confidence, "It's impossible for us to lose because we train them, even they have the generation of miracles or not. we're still gonna win! I have confidence in our team!" I said, Rikochi smiled at me.

"yeah, me too..."

"Eeh... what's with the crowd today?" Furihata-kun said while the three of them looked around the stadium, now that they mentioned it... what's with the crowd?? Even the supporters of Shutoku are here! Σ(O_O )

"Don't worry minna! We can do this! Just stay focus on what's in front of you!" I cheered them and raised my hand and form into a fist, they reluctantly did the same.

"Everyone, huddle!" the players already settled their things and went closer to Rikochi while I double-check everything on the clipboard when I felt my phone vibrated in my jacket, so I took it out and looked at the text message. My eyes widened when I read the person who texted me. It's--

From: Makichi

subj: Stadium~Hello down there~ 

Stay focus on your game okay? Lead them to victory!! Oh, btw Mako, his teamates and I are in the audience because we already finished ours so... Gudluck! ❤ (ɔˆз(ˆ⌣ˆc)

I closed my eyes and lifted my head, then I opened my eyes and landed on the upper right of me. And there...I saw him. He's seriously looking directly at me, I know we're far from each other from the distance we stand but I can tell that he is not happy with what happened last night. 

But I made up my mind. I look beside him, his sister, she was waving her hand at me while smiling. I smiled as well.

"Shin-chan, what are you bringing this time?" My thoughts were interrupted when I heard one familiar voice and looked back to a certain green-headed player with his... global?

"This is my lucky item for the day." He said to his companion.I sweatdropped as I watch him with a guy passed without even noticing me looking at them.

Should I inform this to Oneechan?  I thought to myself, or maybe I go say hi to him.

With that thought, a mischievous smile crept up on my face. Who's being mischievous now? You better be looking!

Before I knew it, some of my teammates were looking at me because I suddenly stood up from the huddle, went over to our bleacher and made my way over to the two. They're almost to their area when I beamed at someone.

"Shinchi~" I squeal just like how onee-chan would do and I tackle him from behind which made him taken by surprise along with his friend who is looking wide eyes. Of course, we didn't fall or something. "Te-Tetsumi?!" He was shocked by my sneaky attack. It's my nickname to Midorima!

"Why are you being touchy? Did you missed me that much?" He turned around but I was still hugging him.

"Pretty much! Are you ready facing us?" I asked him, he looked at my seriously and that is when I stopped hugging him, but I was still holding him.

"As much as possible," he then placed his hands on my shoulders and looked at me directly, my head was tilted because of how tall Shinchi was.

"I want to be fair with this match." He said which I understand completely. I nodded at him and smiled cheerfully.

"My brother told me about it so don't worry, you have my word!" I smiled sheepishly and bumped my head on his front to release his hands from me and waved at him goodbye.

While walking back, I felt this immense feeling that he did not like that one bit but I didn't care about it, who cares. 

I went back to our bleachers and helped Rikochi with everything. As I was busy checking the clipboard I'm holding, I looked at Rikochi when she tapped me on my shoulders, "Tetsumi-chan, could you get the kneepads on my bag? It's for Teppei." She said, I nodded and quickly went back to our locker room.

Afterall, Teppi needs support on his knee...

I was about to open the door to the changing room when I saw a hand grabbed the doorknob I'm holding and pulled it closed, my eyes widened when someone grabbed my shoulders and pinned me on the door.

"Wh-what are yo--" I was about to shout and tried to break free from the person's grip when the person touched my chin and lifted leading me to look at this guy's eyes. Then to my surprise, it's...

"You're a pain in the ass." He spoke, I was taken aback by his sudden appearance when I glared at him.

"What do you want," I said coldly. He took a breathe then leaned closer. I was surprised and was about to push him away when he spoke again.

"First, you didn't say anything last night and ignored my calls, and now you're purposely ticking me off." He said and the next thing that happened is when he hugged me tightly, to my surprise. I struggle to release from him yet he still holds on.

"You know I don't like being ignored." He spoke softly a few inches from our faces. 

From his words, I felt a pang of pain coming from his heart, those words are sensitive for him because I know. I was there when he experiences these misunderstandings that made him the way he is now. Tears formed in my eyes, remembering everything that happened. I was there that day, where he protected me from these people because I was immature back then and I thought everything is just fun and games until I got involved in this group with him and I are the only one there to protect each other.

That was scary, I know because I was so helpless and I watched him beat each of them just to protect me from them. But of course, he's still a human and got beaten up real bad.

And that's the reason why everyone misunderstood us, telling lies that he planned it all, for my money, and other bad influence which is all wrong. But it leads to that. It was sad... everyone turned their backs on him and forced me to be separated from him.

"Tetsumi, why are you crying. I didn't mean to approach you like this." He wiped my tears using his fingers, I closed my eyes only to bring more tears in my eyes as they run down through my cheeks.

"I hate you." I spoke softly, he still wipes my tears away.

"I know." He said.

"If..." He looked at me intently, I did the same. "If you want to test me, then so be it." I told him, we were just staring at each other until I broke it off and left him there. Of course, I took the kneepads from Rikochi's bag and went out still seeing him in front of me leaning on the wall just across the room. We looked at each for a moment before he went his separate ways...

Hi! c: 

I just wanted ya'll know that this story will be coming to an end, probably before New Years.

And now you all know why there's this wall between the two.