Spark | Kuroko no Basuke x OC

Even When All Else Fails

Kuroko blinked at the plump yellow fruit with slight horror. "Okuma-san..."

"We can peel the skin off and it'll taste the same... Probably!"

"Oi! We need him in the game," Kagami said as he chewed, turning around to face the two friends briefly. He was convinced by the way Hyuuga always avoided Riko's food that eating something made by her can't have a positive effect on one's stomach.

Having heard the redhead's indirect insult, Riko stood with an annoyed smile and walked over almost menacingly to pull on his ear.

"You said something, Bakagami?"

"O-OW!"

Tomoko laughed, setting the lemon back down and sat next to Kuroko. Her playfulness sobered down when she saw how quiet the phantom was. Something in his eyes told her that he was holding back his emotions, something she's come to notice that he often did when he's silently staring off to the distance.

"He's good," she commented softly, knowing Kuroko will understand who she was referring to. The way Aomine played was unlike anything she's ever seen; if she didn't know better, she would never have thought he was playing for a high school basketball team.

"I have not seen Aomine's limit since he bloomed..." he said, concern lacing his expression as he looked into her eyes. "He's definitely even stronger now."

Tomoko gave Kuroko a halfhearted grin, "Don't push yourself too hard, Kuroko-kun. Seirin can make it through this!" She had a feeling that Riko was going to have him sit out for a while. Kuroko had played throughout the entire first half, and everyone knew from previous games that his effectiveness wears off with constant use.

"I want to keep playing the second half," he revealed to her, as if he read her thoughts. His eyes shone with determination.

Eh? "But it wouldn't be any good if you continued to wear yourself out..." Tomoko said.

The rest of the team had also heard his comment and turned to face their mirage player with surprise. "It's true that Aomine will be hard without Kuroko... But..." Hyuuga replied, looking at the blue haired teen. "It's best if you rest for a bit."

Kuroko shook his head. "I can—no, I will do it. I will do anything to beat Aomine-kun."

"I"...

The way he only referred to himself greatly bothered Tomoko. She realized that he was starting to act like Kagami during the Shutoku match, and she didn't like it.

"Kur—"

"Kuroko."

Tomoko looked up; Kagami had beat her to it and she witnessed him grabbing a whole lemon and stuffing it into the phantom's mouth. "T-Taiga-chan!" she exclaimed in surprise.

"Just eat those on the bench, you idiot," he barked, a small frown marring his face. "Don't be so hypocritical. You're the one who said you can't play basketball by yourself; so leave it to us!"

At his declaration, a heartfelt look flashed across Kuroko's face.

"We appreciate your enthusiasm, but you can trust us, Kuroko," Hyuuga said.

"You'll only be temporarily out the next quarter," Riko supplied after coming back from her deep thought. She wanted to make sure that Kuroko understood his limits, especially after what happened to Kagami. "Our battle will begin in the fourth quarter! If we need you sooner, Kuroko-kun, then be ready to play at any time."

With the whole team on Kagami's side, Kuroko could only nod.

"And eat some lemons!" she commanded.