[Kuroko's Basketball] The First Promise

As long as we love each other, the passionate youth like a dream will burn—it will never end.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++ There was a spring of cheers and shouts behind him. Heizi heard the heart-piercing roar of the substitutes, and the applause from the audience had a tacit rhythm that made the wooden floor vibrate.

Wiping the sweat off his cheeks, Heizi ran over to fist bump Aomine.The expression of the latter was still used to the calmness after a big victory. He didn't look at Heizi's face, but just punched him and squatted down to re-tie the slightly loose shoelaces.

"Thank you, Aomine-kun."

Heizi smiled, looking down at Aomine's dark blue hair that was somewhat sweaty.

These few games were unexpectedly easy, much easier than he thought.I don't know if it's because the aura of the Generation of Miracles is too strong, or its own strength is very different. In the face of Dongda's strict defense and sharp offense, the opponent's defense has long been unsystematic, and the offense has no routine.

Qingfeng responded, stood up and patted the hem of his trousers.He glanced at Kuroko, and said calmly, "I heard that Akashi will practice more this weekend?"

Heizi was stunned for a moment, then nodded:

"That's right, Akashi-kun said that next week's opponent will be difficult."

Qingfeng sneered, his eyes were indifferent:

"Didn't he say the same thing last week?"

Heizi was startled again, then said:

"But it is still necessary to participate in the extra training on weekends."

"I'm not going."

Qingfeng turned his neck, his tone was a little impatient.He raised his hand and shunned the bangs on his forehead to the back of his head, frowning slightly: "It's better to play a few one-on-one games with Huang Lai."

"but……"

Heizi didn't expect Qingfeng to say this at all.In his memory, Qingfeng has not said for a long time that he would not come to participate in training. From the beginning of his freshman year, Qingfeng's enthusiasm for basketball was unprecedentedly high. Although he looked a little lazy, he took social activities and training seriously.

For a moment, he thought he was in Diguang now.

"Bye, let's go."

Qingfeng grabbed the coat next to him and put it on his shoulders, and walked towards the door.He waved his hand to Heizi with his back.

The last look he gave Heizi was very clear:

——There is no need to chase.

Heizi watched Qingfeng's back disappear at the entrance of the passage, and a second before he disappeared, he was still looking forward to, looking forward to Qingfeng's turning back before disappearing, but he didn't, not even once.

The spectators left the arena one after another, and soon the previously noisy stadium was empty.Heizi stood in the middle of the field, his fingertips felt cold.

——He slowly, slowly, realized a kind of loneliness and inexplicable panic.

In the next few days, whether it was normal social activities or extra training on weekends, Qingfeng did not appear.

Because of an eye injury, Heizi's training ended half an hour earlier than other teammates.Taking a towel to wipe his sweaty cheeks and neck, Heizi sat on the lounge chair and was about to pack up and go back to the dormitory. He and Kise made an appointment to study advanced math together in the evening.

While unscrewing the water bottle to drink, Midorima next to him sat down.

Heizi tilted his head politely to say hello:

"Good evening, Mr. Lujian, thank you for your hard work."

He handed over the towel, and Green thanked him indirectly, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and began to pack his things.Heizi was slightly stunned watching his movements, and said, "Mr. Lujian...are you leaving already?"

He remembered that Midorima had only been here for less than half an hour.

"Ah."

Midorima stuffed the piggy bank in his hand into his backpack without looking up:

"Shouldn't come to training this month."

Heizi opened his eyes wide in surprise:

"...Is there something wrong?"

"The professor organized a medical research team, and there are seven papers to be submitted this month. It takes a lot of time to get it done. I don't have time to come and play basketball."

"But... isn't there still a game? Will Mr. Lujian still participate in the league?"

"No. Study is the main thing, basketball is just a hobby. Even without me, you can still win."

"...So did you ask for leave with Akashi-kun?"

"Well. He didn't come today, and I have already sent him a text message."

"I see. By the way... why didn't Akashi-kun come today?"

"Haven't you heard? There is an event in the University Basketball Federation recently, and he went to Waseda University as a basketball exchange student. It is said that a student from Waseda will come to fill his position tomorrow."

"……how long?"

"One month."

Heizi watched Midorima pick up his bag and leave, his throat felt a little stiff, and he didn't speak for a while.But before he could speak, Ziyuan, who was practicing blocking shots, came over to drink water and find something to eat.

"Zi Yuan-kun has worked hard."

Heizi handed over a bottle of water and smiled.

"Ah—it's not hard~ Little Heizai has worked hard too!"

As Murasakibara spoke, he took off the rubber band on his wrist and tied up his long damp hair.He shook his hair, picked up the bag, and picked up the water that Heizi handed over.

Looking at Ziyuan in this posture, Heizi was a little stunned again:

"Ziyuan-kun... are you leaving too?"

"Huh? Yes——Little Chizai won't come this month, and if Xiao Chizai doesn't come, I won't come~"

Ziyuan smiled, raised his head and stroked Heizi's hair:

"Although there is little Heizai here - but everyone is not here, I still find it very boring. Don't come here for little Heizai. Let's play together again when little Chizai comes back!"

Heizi opened his mouth, but he didn't say a word for a long time.

Speaking of which... I haven't seen Kise's shadow all night.

Heizi stared at the clean floor, his body stiffened.He didn't know how long he kept sitting in this position. He didn't raise his head until he felt a pain in his neck. Seeing that the time agreed with Kise was approaching, he picked up the backpack next to him and walked out of the deserted area with heavy steps. basketball court.

When Heizi's hand touched the cold doorknob, he subconsciously clenched it tightly. He felt that the harder he clenched, the warmer the doorknob would be. In this way, he had the illusion that the lights in the room were on, and the yellow The goose-yellow figure of Mase also swayed in the room.

With a sigh of relief, Heizi comforted himself that he was thinking too much, Huang Lai had never broken an appointment with him, and... never will in the future.

When he turned the doorknob, the darkness caused him to take half a step back in an instant.

That was... what was it like?

Heizi himself couldn't tell, he rushed into the room almost without pausing, fumbled for the light switch by the door, and didn't gradually return his beating heart until the room was filled with light.

On the table in the middle of the room was a note pressed by the alarm clock. Heizi pursed his lips, put down his backpack and walked over, picked it up and looked at it.

I'm sorry, Xiao Heizi TAT will have a week of announcements and fan meetings starting today, I can't go to social activities, and the tutoring will be missed by the next week.

Sorry little blackie! !I will definitely help you make up lessons next week! !sorry Sorry! !

凉太

I'm sorry, there is also a Q version of Xiao Kise who bows with his hands together.

Heizi looked at Huang Lai's handwriting, and it was different from Huang Lai's neat handwriting in his memory. The few lines of words and drawings on the note were very scribbled.

Holding the piece of paper, he felt the coolness spread from his fingertips, and soon covered his whole body.

The pattering rain outside the house hit the window sill, and the rain was slanted by the wind and floated into the house through the screen window.Heizi walked over and closed the window, the raindrops falling on the back of his hands were icy cold.

He looked at his pale cheeks on the glass, and lowered his head for a while.

He didn't feel sad, and he still didn't know how to describe that feeling.

—He just felt empty.The whole heart was hollowed out.

University is not like junior high school, nor is it like high school.This indicates that they are going to be adults and they are going to step into the society.They couldn't be as naive as they were in Teiko, as if they could play basketball and stay together for the rest of their lives.

Sooner or later, everyone will go their separate ways.

Midorima will give full play to his advantages in the medical field, and he may become an excellent doctor after graduation.Kise is already a famous model. I heard that a company recently invited him to participate in a program. If the ratings are high, there is a good chance that a film producer will invite him to participate in a very popular movie. His future is bright. Guangming, even if it goes without saying that everyone understands that Kise likes his current status very much.Akashi has also participated in many Go games on behalf of the school, and has won considerable prize money. Kuroko can also feel that Akashi is paying a lot of attention to Go and equestrian from time to time. He can feel Akashi's enthusiasm for basketball. But this passion exists on an equal footing with Go and equestrianism.

——Then, what about Aomine?He remembered that Aomine said that he would not give up playing basketball, and he still enjoyed the feeling of defeating the strong, but Kuroko knew that there were not many people in Japan who could interest Aomine, not to mention that Vulcan had left.Qingfeng is gradually returning to the state he used to be in the Emperor Guang period. He has not been stimulated by the strong for too long.

Everyone is busy with their own affairs, they are not alienating Heizi deliberately, but drifting away unconsciously.

this is the truth.

They are about to enter society.

Everyone has their own way to go.Playing basketball is not the only thing they pursue in their lives.

——Then, is it true that the day of graduation is the moment of separation?

Heizi sat by the bed, looking at the ball jersey hanging on the wall.He kept watching absent-mindedly, thinking silently how long he could wear this glorious jersey and run on the court.

He now has a strong urge, he wants to punch Qingfeng once.

Even just once, he wanted to bump fists with him.

Heizi lowered his head and covered his right eye with trembling hands. He felt his eyelashes trembling and tickling in his palms.

Suddenly thought of something, he went to look in his bag for the talisman that Lvjian gave him during the summer festival, he remembered that he tied it on the belt of his schoolbag, but why is it gone?Heizi took out the books and clothes, turned the schoolbag upside down, opened the drawer and searched frantically.

No, no, nowhere.

Why not?

Why can't I find it?

After rummaging through all three layers of cabinets, Heizi was so tired that he sat on the floor.He looked at the messy ground he had made for a long time until tears fell down his face.

The existence of light, he could not find it.He couldn't touch the shadow of light.

Everyone, what is the difference between the future and the former Teiguang and the former Seirin?

"—Little Heizi? Little Heizi? Are you alright?"

When Heizi woke up, Huang Lai was sitting on the head of his bed with a cup of warm water, bending over to touch his forehead, with eager eyes.

Weiwei was stunned for half a second, Heizi blinked his blurry eyes, he felt his eyelashes were wet.Sitting up on the bed, Huang Lai who was next to him hurriedly supported Heizi, and passed the hot water in his hand: "Did Heizi have a nightmare? Or is he not feeling well? I heard you talking in your sleep just now, scared kill me..."

Seeing that Heizi kept silently drinking warm water with his head down, Huang Lai swallowed back the phrase "I heard your low cry".

"It's okay, it was just a dream."

Heizi replied flatly, without any expression.

At four o'clock in the morning, Heizi woke up from what could be called a nightmare, and remained insomnia until dawn.

Huang Lai lay back on her bed and did not fall back asleep.

The next day, both of them went to class with dark circles under their eyes.

When Akashi accompanied Kuroko to practice dribbling, Kuroko's attention didn't seem to be on the basketball in Akashi's hand. During a quick dribble in Akashi's left and right dribbles, Kuroko was dazed for half a second and regained his senses. When he wanted to save the ball, it was over. When he was chasing and intercepting, he tripped over the extra basketball on the ground. Akashi next to him quickly threw the basketball away. Stabilize people.

"……Feel sorry."

After regaining his composure, Heizi apologized in a low voice.

"Go and rest."

Akashi's voice was still flat, and he tapped the rest chair next to him with his chin:

"Go and drink some water, today's practice is over."

Heizi was startled slightly, and said:

"But I just practiced ten minutes..."

"—Whatever is left behind today will be doubled tomorrow."

Heizi responded in a low voice, watched Akashi bend over to pack the basketball, and said again:

"... Akashi-kun."

Akashi who threw his hand into the basket next to him raised his eyes and looked at him:

"Ok?"

"...Akashi-kun, will you continue to play next year and the year after? Will you continue to play after graduation?"

Akashi's expression didn't change at all, although Kuroko's two questions were a little sudden.After a long while, he threw the last ball into the car basket, without looking at Heizi again, he turned and walked towards the coach chair, his voice was as flat as ever: "—as a strong man, I have no reason to give up basketball before you give up it .”

Looking at Akashi's back, Kuroko suddenly felt that the flat shoulders and straight back seemed to be a great peace of mind.

Sitting back on the rest chair, Heizi wiped the sweat from his hair roots with his wrist guard, and caught a glimpse of the delicate amulet hanging on his backpack from the corner of his eye.The green room next to him happened to come over to pick up the ball.Heizi looked at him and greeted him softly. After receiving Lujian's response, Heizi said again: "Mr. Lujian... are medical students usually very busy?"

Midorima picked it up and pushed the glasses:

"Well, what happened?"

Heizi smiled and said:

"It's nothing... That is to say, do you have a lot of scientific research to do in your major? There are also papers... Will you be unable to participate in social activities when you are busy?"

Midorima looked at him with a strange expression, and said bluntly:

"——The lucky thing for Cancer is to play basketball. This is the same. The destiny is like this, and doing one's best is one's duty."

Heizi couldn't help laughing, and was about to say something more, when the door over there was knocked open.Kise rushed in while stuffing a small mirror into the backpack: "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhestest time to call the manager -"

"There's no need to explain. Ryota, triple your training volume today."

"Woo—listen to me, little Akashi! I was scolded by the manager for half an hour for rejecting that meeting——Little Akashi, why do you still have the heart to give me extra practice!"

"You can choose not to participate in the training and continue to your meeting."

"No, little Akashi, you clearly know that I would rather practice more and come to the club..."

"Go get the soft mat over there and do two hundred sit-ups. Don, help Ryota stretch her legs."

"HI—I see, little red boy—"

"Woo...Little Akashi, you are too cruel..."

Huang Lai walked towards Ziyuan with tears in his eyes, and when he passed by Heizi, he rushed over and said, "That's right! Xiao Heizi, don't forget that we will make up lessons together at 08:30!"

Heizi nodded with a smile and said softly:

"it is good."

"Woo... Now the biggest motivation for the whole day is to be alone with Xiao Heizi to make up lessons..."

"Ryota, quadruple the amount of training."

"Wait, little Akashi—what's wrong with me!"

Heizi couldn't help laughing out loud as he watched Huang Lai walk over to move the cushion without saying a word.He likes Kise like this.

Seeing that the members in the field started their warm-up activities, Heizi rested his chin and watched quietly, but his heart was still empty.

——Aomine-kun, you didn’t come.

Heizi raised the corners of his lips, smiled bitterly, and his heart twitched.He felt that dream was very real, and Qingfeng in the dream was also very real, so real that he only dared to recall the outline of the dream, but dared not close his eyes to think about every detail.Whether it's that person's indifferent gaze that he hadn't seen for a long time, or the back view that never looked back when he left.

Even the fist bump is cold.Even in a dream, he could feel it, it was cold.

Heizi felt that his body was shaking again, and a burst of cold came up from his back, making him shiver uncontrollably.

In the next second, a bottle of scalding hot cocoa was pressed against his cheek.

Heizi trembled all over, and quickly looked up.

"Yo. What is a man thinking here?"

Qingfeng greeted him with a smile, stuffed the hot cocoa into Heizi's hand, and sat down on the chair next to him.Spreading his hands lazily on the back of the chair, Qingfeng yawned.

Heizi fixed his eyes on Qingfeng from the moment he saw him and never moved away. It took a long time before he came back to his senses: "...Mr. Qingfeng, why did you come so late?"

"Huh? It's nothing, I just accidentally fell asleep in class. It's not the first time I'm late, so it doesn't matter."

Hearing Qingfeng's words, Heizi's eyes dimmed slightly.He lowered his head and clenched the cup of hot cocoa tightly, feeling that no matter how tightly he clenched his hand, it wouldn't get hot.

"Aomine-kun... do you think social life is boring?"

"Huh? It's okay."

Qingfeng scratched his head, lazily replied without saying a word:

"I feel uncomfortable if I don't participate in social activities. Speaking of the university that I will meet in the league next week, have you heard from Akashi? The players in that university are quite weak."

Heizi spoke cautiously:

"……so?"

"No reason. Although the strength is quite weak, but I heard that the cooperation ability is very strong."

Qingfeng's eyes suddenly became sharper, and his words were not lazy before:

"—You can't underestimate it."

Heizi looked at Qingfeng's side face, and after a few seconds, he burst out laughing suddenly.

"...Hey, why are you laughing all of a sudden!"

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry...it's just, I'm very happy."

Heizi lowered his head, raised his right hand and rubbed his sore right eye socket, smiling all the time:

"Really...very, very happy."

Playing basketball has a beginning and an end.Forever also has an end.He doesn't expect everyone to play basketball with him for a lifetime.

But at least, he can guarantee that everyone now has the same feeling whether they say it out loud or keep it in their hearts.

——Yes, we love basketball very much.

As long as we love each other, the passionate youth like a dream will burn—it will never end.

Youth will move forward with dreams.

From forever to forever.

Because everyone loves basketball together.