Second Chances

Chapter 3

"Yeah. I think it's a good idea. It let's you keep determined and motivated doing your goals. Coach Riko is right." 

Eh? Where's Kuroko? 

Damn, why am I searching for him? 

************ 

The stars are twinkling above me as I walked home by myself. I hummed a random song, eyes glued to the ground because I'm a little bit clumsy and if I don't pay attention, I might trip into something or just stupidly tripping because my feet is entangled. 

Why did you come back in basketball? 

"I don't know. Maybe because I love basketball?" 

I clicked my tongue, eyes rolling as I answer my subconscious's question. I like basketball because I admired the basketball players when I was still young. But when I was in Teiko, I love basketball even more because of Kuroko. 

He's the reason, yeah? 

He makes me the happiest person on earth...but he also makes me the saddest one. What's even more crazier to me is that instead I should hate him, I should blame him, and I should curse him for hurting me so painfully, I wanted to hear his voice, see his blank gaze, see his rare smile and feel his soft and gentle touch..

I stomped my feet angrily on the ground. 

But just as I say that I'm so awfully clumsy, I ended up entangling my foot to another. 

"K-Kyaaa!" 

I close my eyes, waiting for the impact to come hitting at my face, but instead, a pair of gentle yet strong arms hold my waist with a firm grip, keeping me from kissing the floor. 

"Are you okay Mari-chan?" 

Oh, gosh, please no, I wish I'm dead right now. 

Giving up on finding a way to avoid my ex-boyfriend, Kuroko, I slowly and painfully open my eyes, head slowly but surely tilting up to see Kuroko's blank face. With a concern on it. 

"Uhh.."

I nervously wiggle out of Kuroko's hands and stand properly. I gave him a grateful smile while internally, I'm panicking like I'm going to freak out any moment. 

"T-Thank you, Kuroko-kun!" I stated sweetly, but then my smile went bitter. "Anyway, what are you doing here?" 

"I was here the whole time."

I comically sweat-drop before my face started to transform into something reddish that I swear you can't honestly recognize that it's my face. 

"Um..why?" 

Kuroko smile faintly before continuing. "I wanted to make sure that you're safe going back home. I wanted to tell you that I was following you the whole time but I thought it will be fine if I didn't show up." 

"Ehh.."

Heart beating fast...why is he doing this to me? 

"Well, don't worry!" I reassure him, hesitantly giving him a light pat on the shoulder. "I'm okay, so you don't need to. Besides, it's late. You should go back home, Tets- I mean, Kuroko-kun." 

"I wanted to walk you home." 

Crap. There's no reason denying. 

"Are you sure?" I asked him, but seeing his emotionless expression, I finally gave in and sighed. "Alright, thanks." 

Kuroko flashes his soft smile at me. "Thank you, Mari-chan." 

Both of us started walking side by side.