A/N: I'm back from my hiatus!
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That familiar feeling has returned to Kuroko as his chest began to feel heavy from pure shock and distress. It was a feeling that he didn't want anyone to experience, but there she is, making the rest of the miracles feel it. Making their oath seem meaningless. Making Rakuzan's victory meaningless.
"What was she doing? Why was she doing this? This wasn't what we intended at all..." he thought.
"Hey, are you okay?" Kagami asked as the rest of his team turned to him in concern.
"I'm... I'm just lost..."
Akashi stood in place and continued to stare at the hoop that took the shot with wide eyes. It truly brought him down so low, he couldn't find the mental strength to pick up his feet before crashing down. Mabuchi had to help him off the court eventually after the teams bowed to each other.
"Toro...." Rindou grumbled as Teiko went towards the benches. The shooter stared at her before continuing to pack his stuff up.
"That was a fun game! They were strong!" Nishimori exclaimed.
"It was extremely tiring too, but I'm satisfied with our performance," Tooru replied.
After they all went to the locker rooms, Rindou and Deatoro isolated themselves in the hallways.
"What you just did... I'll get the blame for," she sighed and leaned against the wall while facing him.
His eyes were dark as it was shadowed by his overgrown hair that was drenched in sweat. He peered down at her with a neutral frown.
"I know the plan was open-ended, but what drove you to do that, exactly?" She asked, preparing to decode his response.
"Stick to your intentions; the reason you went through all of this," he stated as her eyes widened in surprise. "Why is it that you don't know what you truly want?"
"What I truly want? I know what I want, Deatoro. I'm also aware that you've been trying to read me this entire time, but I'll tell you that you're mistaken," she glared at him.
He slightly lifted his head and raised a brow, "you're in denial." He continued, "the reason you're doing this is to bring them closer together by putting yourself in this position; however, it's starting to make you feel uncomfortable, right?"
"Uncomfortable...?" She repeated.
"...that you are the problem that they overcame together. That you're forever painted as the villain who may not be forgiven. That, in the end, you've been removed from their picture."
"You left the plan open-ended because you wanted a slight chance where you get to appease them, because you know that they're strong and we'll naturally face defeat; which is why you didn't promise us a victory--"
"Alright... fine, fine, enough," she waved her hands to surrender. Staring at him with a troubled look, she averted her gaze, "I didn't commit to the role because... I couldn't come to terms with it..."
"It's good that we talked in private, or the others will see how hypocritical you're being," he stated before walking away as Rindou's eyes followed him out.
She stayed out in the hallway before running footsteps were coming towards her direction. She felt the wall vibrate as a hand slammed into it near her figure, accompanied by heavy panting.
"What is it now?" She grumbled before turning around to see Akashi.
"Why..." he caught his breath, "why did you have to come back?!" He yelled.
"So you just wanted me to disappear without closure, huh..." she closed her eyes in disapproval.
"I see, you weren't finished with me the first time. You wanted to bring me so low that you humiliated my entire team. You wanted to destroy the oath without actually winning so I'm forced to carry that burden. You want to take everything from me, is that it?"
"No," she replied. "Plus, why do I have to take responsibility for what the players do. Get mad at Deatoro, it was his idea."
"I will not...listen to your words!" Akashi yelled as tears streamed down his eyes in fury. "It doesn't matter if it was your idea, you're still here! That game was unbearable, it felt like you were tormenting me the entire time!"
Everything went silent as a ringing sound filled Rindou's ears upon seeing him cry in front of her. "Something urges me to tell him that I worked hard for this and took this seriously. Something also tells me that he doesn't need to hear it."
"I can't believe I caused him to be like this. So say it."
"Will it stop the pain to talk to him? To have an honest conversation with him? So just say it."
"We can speak calmly, closely, eye to eye. My chest feels so tight... so tell him what you want!"
"Say it! Tell him!"
"G-Get a grip!!" She screamed at him. "Anything can happen in a basketball game so just accept it!! I can't believe I went all this way just to see you pathetically act like this affects the oath! A victory is a victory, isn't it?! You said it yourself!"
"Enough... don't do this to me Kaeri," he dropped his posture in defeat as he stared at the ground.
"I didn't end up telling him..."
"I shouldn't have come here. I shouldn't have tried," she replied before leaving him.
The second generation left their locker room and prepared to go back home before they were met with the rest of the miracles, who seemed to be waiting for them.
"You guys have done it..." Aomine growled as he stood in their way.
"Are you guys proud of what you did back there?" Midorima asked.
"Yes, we're satisfied with the results," Sudou replied."We didn't have much room to complain anyway, we're practically in a strange position with being a junior high team."
"I can't believe you don't realize how badly she has manipulated all of you to come here and do that," Kise stated.
"Actually, we knew exactly what we were getting into. Whatever mishap happened between all of you don't matter much to us. This was a nice experience," Ryuuji replied. "Don't turn us into victims just because you need someone to blame now."
"Oh, you're definitely part of the problem," Aomine threateningly stormed up to the group. "I don't who all of you think you are, but just know that this fight isn't over. It was an oath that you just stepped on--"
"Piss off about the oath!!" Ryuuji yelled. "Anything can happen in a basketball game so take it or go home! Quit thinking that this entire tournament was set up for your little ego-exercise 'cause other teams exist too, you know!! So I have a piece of advice for you.... grow the hell up!"
The miracles stared at him, taken by surprise before he stormed away sluggishly.
"Why was he so worked up?" Tooru asked.
"We did have to watch them screw around with their opponents last year," Sudou replied in disappointment.
"Bringing up the past isn't helping your case here. Are you saying that this was revenge for what happened?" Midorima questioned.
"Well, that, I'm not exactly sure," Sudou suspiciously stared at Deatoro. "Either way, I can't believe you guys are confronting us like this because you had high expectations for your oath. Did you forget to consider the dozens of other teams here?"
"How is that so bad?!" Aomine asked in desperation. "We're not here to talk to you about bullshit, okay?! It's your fucking coach!! It's FUCKING RINDOU!"
"Okay, then talk to her!" Nishimori replied.
"It's not that easy!! How am I supposed to casually talk to someone as awfully difficult and confusing as her! She came all this way to see us fail and ruin what we have! Am I supposed to just walk up to her and ask for a word?!"
"Like you said, it's Rindou. It's just her. She's practically harmless, yet you're making her out to be some mastermind villian that she's not," Sudou said.
"Have a bit of sympathy, she's caused us trouble in the past. You wouldn't know," Midorima explained.
"I can imagine; she's an unlikeable, bitter soul. Nothing else. But perhaps you should just use this opportunity to talk to her. The lack of closure of this situation is simply frustrating on both parts."
"What is there to solve?" Aomine asked, "I don't exactly know what the issue is. All I know is that it's painful, and it's coming from her. The issue won't go away if I just talk about my feelings."
"It's a difficult situation, but you guys have a point. We shouldn't have approached you like this," Midorima said, pushing up his glasses. "We were mistaken, you're not the problem after all."
"So are we actually going to do this?" Murasakibara asked, "as in talk to Rindou?"
"I encourage it. The pain might go away if you all discuss the problem and get some closure," Tooru said.
"However, what happened back there..." Momoi started, "was similar to what everyone did to Meiko last year. I think that was the revenge-- but does that mean that Tetsu-kun is part of it?!"
"He would never be on her side," Kise replied.
"But Kuro-chin and Rindou never had beef," Murasakibara added.
"Stop trying to guess her intentions," Deatoro said. "I won't give too much away, but she's not who she makes herself out to be."
"HOLY SHIT, DEATORO SAID SOMETHING NORMAL! RYUU IS MISSING OUT!" Nishimori yelled.
"Wow-- but what you just said was giving away a lot, Deatoro-san," Tooru said. "I know it's difficult, but it has to happen."
"And if she asks, this conversation never happened," Sudou said before walking straight passed the miracles with the rest following behind.
After a long day, everyone returned to their respected teams. Silence filled the airs around Rakuzan as their fierce captain hasn't lifted his head off the ground. Kuroko scurried through the sports center to find Rindou, only to run into Momoi who had the same intentions.
"Momoi-san?"
"Tetsu-kun, are you looking for her too? She's nowhere near the locker rooms."
"She left??"
"I think so!" Momoi let out a long groan, "What is with today?!"