(ENG) KUROKO NO BASKET ONESHOTS

MIDORIMA X READER - NEXT TO ME

"Keep it up!"

"It's not over yet!"

"Fight!"

Due to the screams of coaches, players and the audience, the gym is dominated by chaos. Why? It's easy to say: it's the final bits of the match between Shutoku and Rakuzan, and the tension couldn't be higher. The score is 89-90 for the white and light blue team, and Shutoku has less than ten seconds to add the few points that will grant them the chance to play in the Winter Cup Finals. Sitting next to your Shutoku clubmates, with a shaking leg and anxiety through the roof, you drop your notepad when the ball flies from Takao's hands to your boyfriend's. The team's ace, Midorima Shintaro, has just been passed the buck and has just one chance to score. Your teammates are already preparing themselves for the incoming victory:

"Midorima has never missed a shot, he won't miss it now!"

You surely do believe in him, yet you can't feel truly relaxed. The easy pass, the open three-pointer... is it really that easy to win?

"Mi-do-ri-ma! Mi-do-ri-ma! Mi-do-ri-ma!"

The bleachers, full of Shutoku's students, are incredibly excited and cheer for the shooter with all their strength. That ball, filled with your friends' hopes and expectations, is finally released into the air. But...

Sdeng!

The orange sphere hits the rim and is thrown away, crossing the court lines and rolling on the ground. The siren echoes in the gym, but it's the only sound that's heard for a while: suddenly everyone goes silent, their faces displaying the most shocked expressions. Midorima Shintaro, the precision machine, has missed for the first time a three-pointer without being defended.

The referee, still unable to believe his eyes, announces the results and confirms Rakuzan's victory. Takao, Miyaji, Otsubo and Kimura stare at Midorima wide-eyed, while his eyes are pointed to the ground. Your heart fills with sorrow and empathy at such a sight, but when the guys leave the court you try to refrain yourself from showing that sadness.

The Shutoku players silently head to the lockers. Nobody is shedding a tear, as they're still discombobulated because of those final seconds of the match. You quickly high-five all of them and gently hold Midorima's shirt. The boy stops walking, without turning to face you, and the others go past you and to the lockers.

"What, nanodayo?"

"I'm proud of you, Shin-chan. You did a great job."

"Don't say such nonsense just to make me feel better. It doesn't work."

"It isn't nonsense, I really mean that. It doesn't matter if you missed that shot."

"It doesn't matter?! It's the only thing that matters!"

"Listen, Shin-chan, I-"

You suddenly stop as you feel Midorima tighten up at your touch on his hand. He tries to shove you away, which makes him even more suspicious, but you finally manage to see that left hand: his ring finger is so, so swollen.

"Shin-chan!"

"It's nothing."

"It is indeed something!"

"I said: it's nothing!"

"Wait! I know that you don't want to be cared for right now, but let me take a look. Please."

Despite the anger, he accepts your cares. When you look at that swollen, impossible to bend finger, the diagnosis is crystal clear.

"I think it's bagged, Shin-chan... how did that happen?"