A/N: Hi guys, I'm back – at the moment. Midterms were bugging me, and then it ran over me, and then it took me to a mental hospital and slaughtered me. Well, many other things happened – and I can tell you, that it wasn't a very happy week for me, or my school in general. Long story short, there was a funeral, everyone was crying, bleh.

Anyway.

Looking at the brighter side of things, here is an update! I think my next one would be around Christmas Eve or Christmas. Unfortunately, no, there will not be a Christmas special. But this story is almost over anyway, so I wonder if it matters, really. By story, of course, I mean the first book (this one).

Also, thanks for the immense amount of support, guys! I actually started posting this story on AO3 as well, so if you want to check it out there (although I don't see a reason why to do so since I'm way more active here), then please feel free to do so.

Hm… Maybe in this chapter, a little bit of Kuroko's backstory will be revealed?

Here goes nothing!

Chapter 19

"If I say that I broke you for the sake of your safety, would you believe me?"

"Shogo, stop dilly-dallying around the house and get your ass moving!"

"But mom, it's a –"

"A fucking Saturday, yes, I know, honey. But does that give you a valid excuse to sit your butt around this dirty room the whole weekend? NO! Go make some friends, enjoy puberty! Now, off you go! Don't come back till five, get it?"

"But mom, it's a –"

"Oh, and would you buy some codfish on the way back? I'm thinking about trying out this new recipe I discovered on the internet. Mankind creates such wondrous inventions, don't you agree? Now, have a nice day, sonny~!" His mom threw him her fake cherubic smile, while pushing off the doorway as she dabbed a few bills at him. The door slammed in front of his face, and he heard the lock turn with a definitive 'click'.

Damn it all. Haizaki Shogo was in the worst of moods. He felt like doing absolutely nothing, and desired to do absolutely nothing, and in fact, was doing absolutely nothing until his mom decided to call out on him.

Why does he feel this way, you ask?

That's a good question.

It was a good question that he, himself, didn't feel like answering.

It had been approximately a week ever since he had witnessed Kuroko crying under the rain. And ever since, none of them had dared uttered a single word about it. Maybe it was because both of them were more than willing to avoid that topic. Topic, as in looking at a wide spectrum – the Generation of Miracles, that particular incident, and even basketball. All came as thorns and needles to the girl, and for him.

There wasn't a change or a missing fragment in their relationship, though. They were same as always, walking back home together, drinking milkshakes at Maji Burger, and conversing about stupid, trivial things that nobody else cared about. That was what he hated about it. That was what made him feel so sour. He didn't want the girl to put up a cover about everything. He wanted Kuroko to be… simply Kuroko. She didn't need to pretend like she was happy or fucking whatnot – she just had to be her. Man, she was pretty bad at putting up a cover, too. She'd be better off without one.

"Now, where should I go…" Glancing around the busy streets, Haizaki stuffed his hands in his pockets. Then looking down at his attire, he sighed heavily. He was wearing a 'I love Rainbow Dash' shirt. Curse his brother for being a 'My Little Pony' fan.

Mindlessly strolling around, he passed a high school – he squinted his eyes at the kanji print. It was shiny – a new school, probably. "Sei… Seirin." He read aloud, and then poked his head through the gates. I haven't seen them around two years ago. He thought to himself, as he casually walked past campus. "It's still one… Shit."

Perhaps, he should've concentrated a little on socializing with people other than the female, as he realized that he had nobody to contact with times like these. Kuroko was at home, but her parents returned from their business trip after a very long time, and therefore he had no intentions of bothering their reunion for the next week or so. On his contact list, there were literally less than ten numbers – and that was his parents, his brother, Kuroko, Nijimura, and some random girls that he had yet to delete.

Well, texting wouldn't hurt, right? He clicked on his unused social media app – he had downloaded it ages ago, created an account, but never touched it – even once. He had less than 20 friends – pitiful.

[Haizaki Shogo is now online.]

[Nijimura Shuzou is now online.]

Haizaki: Shuzou

Nijimura: Shogo? It's rare, for you to be online.

Haizaki: Ik

Nijimura: Well, what do you need? I have class in twenty minutes.

Haizaki: Its Saturday tho

Nijimura: Extra classes. Anyway, if you have nothing to ask, then I'll be doing something actually productive rather than conversing with you.

[Haizaki: What do you] Haizaki reconsidered this question. He erased it, and rephrased it.

Haizaki: What do you do when you want to punch someone?

Nijimura: …

Nijimura: Punch them, obviously.

Haizaki: Even when that person is important to somebody else?

Nijimura: But does that person treat the other person likewise? Is the feeling mutual?

Contemplating for quite a while on this, Haizaki typed back his response.

Haizaki: Not really.

Nijimura: Then it doesn't matter. Punch who you want. Not my business, anyway.

Haizaki: Alright. Got it.

For the next minute or so, Nijimura had read his message, but haven't replied. But then, a new answer was displayed on his screen.

Nijimura: I'm planning to return to Japan for the Nationals. I'll be looking forward to seeing all of your improvements and progression in basketball.

It was then that the younger had realized that he hadn't informed the former captain of his departure from the club. But he didn't want to talk about it, either.

Haizaki: Wtv

Nijimura: I'll go now. Have a nice day, Shogo.

[Nijimura Shuzou is now offline.]

Slumping down on a nearby bench, Haizaki stretched out his legs and gazed at the flowing formation of clouds. The organization of fluffs weren't white, but gray – just like his hair color. But then blinding sunlight interrupted his view, and he instinctively shielded his eyes with his right hand, shoving his phone back into his pocket. It's so sickeningly bright… With a cluck of his tongue, he shut his eyelids and let his hand fall beside him. "So sickeningly bright."

"Me?"

An oddly cheery voice chirped, and the gray-haired male snapped his enclosed eyes open. His vision was blurry, the colors blended for the first few seconds – until it transformed into a solitary shape, and then a firm, rigid outline of a human being.

Of course, it was no one other than Kise Ryouta.

"Ryouta." Haizaki grunted, burying his face in his hands. "What are you doing here?"

"Running for another shift at my modeling agency." The blonde flashed a gaudy smile at him, professional seductiveness dripping from his thick tone. "I could ask you the same question, Haizaki-kun." Haizaki did not fail to miss Kise's absence of the respective suffix. Not like he cared – he didn't want to be acknowledged by anyone else, especially Kise.

Standing up, the delinquent-like other merely cracked his neck, attempting to get rid of the uncomfortable stiffness. "I was chased out of my own fucking house." He abridged the explanation, just stating the absolutely necessary details. Kise hummed a little, as he scanned Haizaki head to toe.

"'I love Rainbow Dash' –"

"Shut your crap, Ryouta." He grumbled, hunching his back in desperation of disguising the more than embarrassing logo on his shirt into something else. Kise, however, trailed behind him, skipping as he adjusted the position of his sunglasses. "I thought you had a shift to run?"

The small forward beamed, throwing his arms into the air with much sass. "I have time to spare. And you seem pretty bored, so I can keep you company."

That was pretty true, but Haizaki wasn't in need of the companionship of a rookie model that looked gay with an earring. But judging by the overall aura of the said rookie model, it didn't look like he was planning to leave if ordered, so he instantly gave up on taking any action.

Kise pretty much continued an equally uninteresting prattle session about his exponentially increasing number of fans, as well as how much of a lucrative business this occupation actually proved to be, for a middle schooler, that is. Haizaki pretty much listened with one ear, and let it fly away through the other ear.

That was most definitely why he didn't notice the sudden silence that had befallen on his shoulders, along with Kise's solemn expression as he lowered his cap, not uttering a single word as he merely followed Haizaki through the milling district. "Hey, Haizaki-kun," the addressing of his name didn't really enrapture his attention either. "You are in love with Kurokocchi, aren't you?"

"Yeah, yeah- wait, what?" He spluttered – he wasn't expecting that – at all.

"Sorry, I know that was sudden. And I already know your answer, so I suppose it was quite superfluous of me to question you like that. Nevertheless, I wanted to hear your response. That's all." Kise sent him a challenging glance – almost as if to stimulate his inner violence. The tantalizing expression of the blonde ticked him off. It seemed to be saying: 'you can't do it, can't you? You wouldn't be able to accept it. She wouldn't be able to accept it.'

After an extensive pause, Haizaki said, "Yeah, I do."

Kise's eyes widened a little. Astonishment was evident in his beautiful golden eyes. However, Haizaki didn't feel an ounce of satisfaction or gratification by his reaction – he felt absolutely nothing. This was merely a revelation – his feelings towards the girl were not to be taken as something that was meant to make him feel better – he wanted his love to be used to make her feel better. Not for the sake of gaining unrecognized victory over Kise, or for the sake of his vengeance against Aomine.

"… Why?"

Why? Now that was comical question.

He might've said this before- no, he most definitely have said this before – Kuroko Tetsuya was not the cutest, the smartest, the sexiest, or even the most ideal girl an average boy would want. She was short (shorter than any average girl her age), she had a flat chest (a considerable shame, he had to admit to a certain extent), she was so average to the point where it was phenomenal, and was painfully quiet.

But there were so many wondrous qualities about her that easily countered all those points.

"She's persistent, and a hard worker." To be honest, Haizaki didn't care about such things. He didn't find someone like that essential in his life – sure, he respected people with that kind of personality, but he never wanted someone like that. But Kuroko Tetsuya was different. She was… she was just completely different that way. "She's always manages to remain positive, and that virus spreads to others. She knows how to embrace people for who they are. But to just cut this long explanation," He turned around to face Kise, who had stopped walking some time ago.

"She's my Light. That's all there is to it."

Kise smirked, with a slightly melancholy tint painting his expression. "And? Do you desire to become her shadow?"

"No."

Again, the model's face changed into something that possessed the semblance of puzzlement. Haizaki continued.

"There's no point in that Light-Shadow shit. This isn't rocket science, Ryouta, it's just something people labeled as emotions and is specifically defined as love. Love has to be equal, equally growing and equally sharing. Not one overpowering the other once they get stronger. I can't have it work that way."

"Then what will you do?" Kise asked, "Hurt her, just like the other two did?" No… The blonde lowered the level of his eyes as he faced the cement ground. No… just like… how we did?

The gray-haired middle schooler shrugged. "I'll be her Light too. Simple."

"Hah." Releasing a half-hearted laugh, Kise's lips curled upward. "That's illogical."

"Whatever you say."

"Anyway, Spain was beautiful. The weather was cool, and the roads were wide – very comparable to Japan, I'd say."

Kuroko Tetsuya was listening to her father's story about her parents' business trip to Spain. Last time they had been sent to France, and the one before that they had went to Russia. She loved hearing them recite their experiences, the structures they saw, the food they ate, and all that. Her parents were always occupied with some sort of task, and it was extremely scarce that she ever received such moments to speak with them.

"Oh, right." Her father paused, and slid some postcards, as well as a small envelope that was bounded with a glittery, gold ribbon. "Here are some postcards. I thought you'd like them." She stared at them for a while, blinked, and then reached out hesitantly towards the small, rectangular envelope and the postcards she usually received.

"Thank you." She slowly put on a complacent smile, strained and forced. She could expect what was in the envelope. Her mother entered the living room with a tray of desserts and tea.

Placing the tray on the table, her mother sat down on the floor and sipped her tea. "So Tetsuya, how is school?"

"It's good." She tried to sound as assuring as possible. "I… made some new friends –"

"And your studies?" Her father turned on the television, and switched the channel to the daily news. "I received your report card for your previous semester. Your grades hardly improve, Tetsuya, you need to step up your game."

"Now darling, that's not something to say to our daughter. Such pressure is unnecessary." The older woman defended her daughter, but then soon dropped her guard. "But yes, to a certain extent, I do agree. How about we get you a tutor, Tetsuya?"

Kuroko effortlessly answered without missing a beat. "No need, mother. I can manage by myself."

"But we are suggesting this because we think you can't, Tetsuya." The reporter was muttering something on the screen, and her father's eyes were fixated on it. She found no significance about the woman in the mechanic device, but her father seemed to have reached a conclusion that the reporter was more interesting than her.

"… I'll go back to my room." None of her parents replied to her statement as she walked out with her 'presents'.

Uncoiling the ribbon, she saw exactly what she had expected. There were twenty notes in there, all money. Nothing else. Just money.

They had always been like this. No – that was an inaccurate description. They hadn't been like this, until she got into that accident. They grew distant, they avoided her, they stepped away from her, they never crossed the line as parents of caring for their children, and only made sure that she was safe and living in Japan, receiving acceptable grades as she went to school.

There was nothing else they were particularly concerned about.

She didn't want money. Money was the last thing she wanted. No matter how small, how petty something was – she wanted something other than paper bills. Something other than…

Forget it. She heaved a sigh, as she flopped on her bed, her head facing the ceiling. Unplugging her phone from her charger, she twisted to her left and turned the device on. Then her eyes trailed to the time – it was 7:39. Not too late, not too early.

Biting down on her bottom lip, the teal-haired female tightened her grip on her phone and inhaled a trembling breath that tasted stale and slightly bitter in her mouth.

To: Haizaki Shogo

From: Me

Subject: Untitled

I miss you.

She mentally laughed at her own text. They had literally met two days ago at school. Why did she miss him? She had no valid reason to.

[Send.]

She wasn't expecting an answer. Of course, Haizaki usually kept a vacant schedule during the weekends, but she had to consider the fact that he too, had a life just like she did. He at some point had to be preoccupied with his own issues. He didn't have all the time in the world, to simply care about someone like her all the time.

Was this called 'leeching off'? Was she trying to fulfill this unknown hunger, this emptiness, and this void by taking advantage of Haizaki's gentle concerns? If so, she was a despicable human being.

She fondled with the bed sheets, until her phone beeped.

To: Me

From: Haizaki Shogo

Subject: Untitled

Re: I'll be there in five minutes.

She almost doubted her ability to see. Blinking once, then twice, the girl sat up straight on her bed, trying to process what had just happened. Did he just- she knew it. She should've never sent that message, no matter what. This small emotional turmoil was just so trivial that there was no point in calling Haizaki out at this time during the evening.

And yet- and yet, the next second, she discovered herself dressing hurriedly into her light green hoodie and jeans, grabbing her phone and wallet as she headed towards her front door.

"Tetsuya, honey?" Her mother frowned, "Do you realize what time it is?"

"Yes," she frantically answered, her voice's volume louder than usual. "I'll be back in a few minutes. I'm meeting Sho- I mean, Haizaki-kun."

"Ah." The older woman sounded relieved at that. "Alright, take your time."

Kuroko couldn't help but notice that her father hadn't sent her any words of regards. But she quickly left her house, and rushed downstairs to see the gray-haired male.

Haizaki Shogo was waiting for her under the usual tree they stood around after school. She couldn't suppress a smile when she saw the childish, girly logo of the 'My Little Pony' franchise on his shirt. His brother really loved it. The male smirked when he saw her approaching him. "What, puberty hit you like a truck?" He asked, flicking his finger.

"No, I just genuinely wanted to see you." She realized that this was the truth while saying this. She really did want to see him. Seeing Haizaki provided her a sense of deliverance, freedom, and… serenity. The boy seemed slightly taken aback by this bold declaration of feelings, but soon recomposed himself as he rolled his eyes.

Then the girl caught sight of the slightly swollen fist of the male. "What happened?"

"Oh, this?" Haizaki shrugged, "I got into some stupid brawl. Some shitty dude came up with a gang."

"Are you alright?" Worry was blotched all over her voice, her tone, her expression, her everything. Haizaki saw this, twisted his lips to the right a little, and then huffed.

"I'm not weak. Don't underestimate me like that." He grumbled, waving his swollen hand back and forth in the air to prove that he was totally fine. "It doesn't even hurt, and I'm dead serious. How many times do you think I've gotten into fights?"

Kuroko shook her head in dissent. "Please don't say it as if you're proud of it."

"But I am." Haizaki stressed, emphasizing his point. But then he realized that they were going off-track, and changed the subject. "Anyway, how are your parents? I think the last time I met them in person was like," he counted off the number of months on his fingers, "6 months ago? I literally can't do math."

Her lips automatically parted – and her primary instinct was to tell Haizaki the truth. No, nothing went well. Her father gave her the usual present, and he probably didn't even realize that he was presenting her identical objects every single year. Her mother always acted as if she was on her side, but always supported her father instead. None of them desired to acquire further knowledge about her, or her school life. All they wanted to know was the basics normal parents needed when others questioned them about their child. She wasn't only invisible to the average human eye, but also her parents. That was who she was.

But no, she couldn't say that. So her lips sealed away the words, and the syllables drowned in her throat, air flowing down her windpipe as she forced herself to hold back the sentences. How could she bear the guilt of providing this boy in front of her, who seriously came to her just because she missed him, was willing to listen to her when she rambled, contained more interest than anyone else when it came to her – how could she do that to him? She couldn't – that was it. She couldn't.

"It was fine." Whispering, the lies seeped out of the thin space between her lips. "My father gave me some postcards, and we talked about his trip. They went to Spain this time."

Haizaki nodded. "Heh."

She talked on and on for a while, trying to fake her life to Haizaki. He just heeded every one of her words, holding onto every single detail.

And just like that, he stayed by her side.

[This takes place before Haizaki and Kuroko meet above.]

About time to go home, then. The codfish in his hands, Haizaki outstretched his arms and stifled a yawn. He was exhausted after that paranoid conversation with Kise, and even so after being forced to tag along on his model shift. It was not an experience he wanted to be a part of ever again, was one thing he knew for certain.

He strolled thoughtlessly through the alleys of town, whistling a tune of some theme song that he couldn't remember the title of. The slightly moist, fishy plastic bag was swinging in all directions he could possibly imagine by his right, and his phone was vibrating for quite a while ever since a few minutes ago – Hasaya, his brother, was fussing over the fact that he needed to buy the new gravure magazine that featured Horikichi Mai's special nudes. In which, really, he could care much less about.

It was about then – about then, that the sun began to find it's home near the surface of the ground, blazing orange as the ceiling of the sky transformed into purple, forming a fiery gradient beneath it. It was about then, that the clouds possessed a hint of pinkish orange on them, looking like a fluff of marshmallows. It was about then, that the businessmen and various people started forming in files as they shuffled systematically through the town.

It was also about then, when he spotted something, or rather someone, very unpleasant.

Aomine Daiki, whom was just casually wandering through the streets, had also stopped upon feeling somebody's sharp gaze on his body. The two stared at each other for a while, both holding no specific emotion one could pinpoint. The only deduction that could possibly be made was that the stares were cold, and the two boys had felt absolutely nothing for one another. Not anger, not vengeance, not pity, not anything.

"… What are you doing here?"

"Likewise." Haizaki answered, raising his chin a little. It was not in an attempt to appear intimidating – it was a sign of annoyance. He was terribly aggravated by the sight of Aomine Daiki. The indigo-haired forward just narrowed his brows a little, and then tried to walk past him as if nothing happened.

Haizaki didn't let that scenario play out well.

Grabbing Aomine's shoulder, he squeezed it.

"Funny, isn't it?" The former basketball player sneered, "The last time we met here, you were declaring your love for Kuroko Tetsuya to me."

He could sense the muscles of Aomine tighten dangerously at the mention of her name. "… Does it really matter now?"

His nonchalant attitude, his casual behavior, and his somewhat cocky, reserved personality – every fucking quality about this man pissed Haizaki Shogo off. "Of course it does." He growled, his voice rumbling alongside with the air in the atmosphere.

"Do you know what Tetsuya likes to eat? What she likes to drink? What she likes to do? How she spends time during the weekends? During the weekdays? How much she loathes playing basketball now? How much suffering and agony she had to undergo all because of you toying with her fucking emotions?" Haizaki took one step, then another, pinning Aomine towards the wall as he dropped the plastic bag he was holding to the ground, not even noticing that it had fallen.

Aomine on the other hand, didn't say anything. This only fueled Haizaki's infuriation.

"You had no right to claim her as yours." Haizaki hissed, a flare visible in his eyes as he spoke with venom in his mouth. "You had no right to like her." He paused, then repeated, glowering. He hated Aomine Daiki. He despised him. He loathed him. "You had absolutely no right."

The power forward's expression was unchanging as he turned away from Haizaki.

"I never did."

Haizaki Shogo couldn't even comprehend himself, what had occurred right after Aomine had said that. Maybe he was just holding back, or maybe it was out of natural, animalistic instinct that dwelled in his body. The only fact he could actually state with confidence was that Aomine was sprawled on the ground, his cheek was red, and that Haizaki was panting, not out of exhaustion, but with an overwhelming amount of adrenaline and resentment and detestation.

"You motherfucker." He spat, turning on his heels as he retrieved the plastic bag from the ground. His whole body still trembled with uncontrollable rage running through his veins, hot blood pumping all over his body.

But then, his phone vibrated. It was probably his brother. But he felt inclined to check this one – so he did.

To: Me

From: Kuroko Tetsuya

Subject: Untitled

I miss you.

He didn't know what caused it. All anger diminished from his soul and system, and he was only left with calm and a sense of peace, as well as a steadily beating pulse.

'I'll be there in five minutes.'

A/N: OH MY GOD I WANTED TO WRITE THIS SCENE SO MUCH

… I literally waited 18 chapters to write that one punching scene. God, thank you. This took me like, 11 months.

Anyway, 'Their Light, Their Shadow' has about… three to five more chapters. Please stay tuned, and please leave some commentary! Criticism is well-accepted!

Meiko