Hello! This is super late kagakuro (firefighter x pre school) fic! This is for @aesterismo. You know who this is from! Thank you for waiting! Sorry for the trouble!
Taiga has a problem.
For the first time in his life, it doesn’t involve his job and how dangerous it is. Or his dad telling him to visit him once in a while in America. Or Alex calling him about Tatsuya ignoring her. Or Tatsuya calling him about how he’s not ignoring Alex. Or how about he has no time to play basketball since being a fireman requires a lot of that time.
No, his problem is embodied with blue hair and pale skin.
Kuroko Tetsuya.
Even the name sounds beautiful.
Kuroko is what people would call “Taiga’s crush”. That title came from his senpai on the job. Kiyoshi-san knows Taiga’s feelings and has been supportive of him from the start. It’s been two years now.
Anyway. Kuroko Tetsuya. He’s Taiga’s neighbour and Kuroko has captured Taiga’s heart when he made him hard, boiled eggs with cute little designs that his students did for Taiga. For Taiga, it was a huge gesture when all he ever did was come to the school and explain to Kuroko’s students what is being a fireman all about. But, it apparently had a huge impact on them and it made Taiga emotional. Kuroko smiled at him softly, then and Taiga thinks he saw an angel right there and then.
Everything else is history.
Taiga has a problem. And it’s his growing feelings for Kuroko Tetsuya.
*
When he comes home that day, he sees Kuroko sitting on the stairs. He’s frowning and looking down.
It’s usually hard for Taiga to spot Kuroko since he has a weak presence. The amount of times Kuroko managed to surprised him as a prank is unbelievable. So, it’s a bit weird for him to see Kuroko easily. It’s probably because he looks sad, and the whole atmosphere comes along with it.
“Kuroko.” He calls. “You okay?”
Kuroko looks up and it wasn’t even a second later that he started running towards Taiga and tightly embraces him in a hug.
“O-oi!” Taiga exclaims but wraps his arms around Kuroko nevertheless. “What’s wrong? What happened?”
Kuroko just whimpers as a response and hugs him tightly. It’s not weird for them to have… skinship. It’s what one of the things Taiga treasures about their friendship – where they can just gravitate and touch each other without it being malice. Taiga really likes Kuroko’s hands.
But, this is different. Kuroko is desperately clinging to Taiga and keeps tightening his hold every few seconds.
“One of your students?” Taiga asks.
It takes a moment but Kuroko nods.
“Can you tell me what happened?”
Kuroko nods again and lets go of Taiga. Taiga grabs Kuroko’s hand and pulls him back to where he was sitting before and sits with him. Taiga doesn’t let go of Kuroko’s hand.
“Tell me.” Taiga says softly.
“You know, Kagami-kun, being a teacher has its perks.” Kuroko starts. “You’ll meet and see kids every day and teach them new things. Whatever you teach them now will make a huge impact when they grow up and that’s beautiful to me.” Kuroko squeezes Taiga’s hand. “But… you know… sometimes… there’s just things that even a teacher like me has to learn.” Kuroko starts to look like he’s about to cry. “One of my students is being abused by his parents.”
Taiga’s eyes widen.
“I asked my students to draw what they’re afraid of. Monsters in their head so I can tell them that it’s not real and they shouldn’t be scared.” Kuroko looks at Taiga. “But how could I tell a 5-year-old boy to not be afraid of his own parents? He drew them on his paper, Kagami-kun. His parents are his monsters.”
Taiga gently places Kuroko’s head on his chest and rubs his back. There’s nothing else Kuroko should say. However, he can feel a hot, wet sensation in his chest and he just knows Kuroko is crying.
“It’s okay.”
Kuroko replies by hugging Taiga, as tightly as he can.
*
It has been a week after that incident and Taiga still can’t help but worry over Kuroko.
After that, Kuroko’s presence came back from being weak and has pulled multiple pranks on Kagami. He smiles at Kagami, too. Like his sudden emotional outburst over his student didn’t happen. Taiga wants to ask about it, though but he’s afraid it will upset Kuroko. So, he’ll wait and respect Kuroko’s decision. If he wants to tell Taiga, he will.
And he tells Kiyoshi so. (Except for the student part. He thinks it’s rude to tell someone else story and it’s a kid. A little boy. This is all Taiga can do for him.)
“Your crush on him is cute.” Kiyoshi teases.
“Kiyoshi-senpai,” Taiga says, his face burning. “You need to stop.”
They’re walking home together since they live in the same complex. As soon as they reach their building, a worried Riko greets them.
“Just got home?” She asks.
“Yeah.” Kiyoshi answers. “Something wrong? You look worried.”
Riko sighs. “I’m waiting for the people who’ll fix Kuroko’s room. A bathtub came crashing from above him. I mean, I’m glad – wait, Kagami!”
Taiga doesn’t even think twice. He just runs and runs until he reaches Kuroko’s room and forces his way in.
“Kuroko?!”
A small, and hesitant voice replies. “Kagami…kun?”
“Kuroko!” Taiga sees him, sitting in the couch, looking paler than usual. He’s also wearing a bathrobe and holding a cup of coffee. Taiga immediately runs to him. He kneels down. “You okay?”
“Yeah… just.” Kuroko knits his eyebrows together. “I was taking a shower when it happened so I was stuck for a while. But, I’m okay now.”
Hyuuga clears his throat and it catches Taiga’s attention that they’re not the only people in the room. “The problem is where Kuroko is going to stay.” Hyuuga butts in. He blushes at the realisation. “The damage can be paid. This building is insured. But, there’s no available room for him.”
“Kagami, we’re also here, okay?” A familiar voice says. Taiga looks around and realised its Koganei with Mitobe. The tenants from above him. “You didn’t even notice you almost bumped into me when you came here.”
Taiga flushes more deep red than he was few minutes ago. “S-sorry.”
“Stop teasing him, Koga.” Kiyoshi’s voice rings in his ear. He smiles at Taiga. “Riko is still waiting for the people who are going to fix Kuroko’s room.”
“Why are you telling me?!”
Hyuuga sighs. “The problem is still here!” He exclaims. “He still needs a place to stay.”
Taiga blinks. Kuroko can stay with him, right? Taiga did think of the pros and the cons but his growing worry over his best friend weighs every single bad con he can think of. “I suggest my house.” Taiga says.
Hyuuga looks up and narrows his eyes. “Why do I feel like a parent who knows something is behind that suggestion?”
“Don’t be kill joy, Hyuuga. Kagami suggested something good here.” Kiyoshi looks at Kuroko. “What about you, Kuroko? You up for it?”
“I was about to ask Kagami-kun if I can stay with him regardless. But, I guess that’s no longer necessary.”
“I still feel uneasy about this.” Hyuuga murmurs.
“That’s good, that’s good!” Koganei excitedly says. “Don’t worry, Kuroko. The floor above Kagami is pretty strong. Right, Kagami?”
Kuroko smiles and asks why. Taiga wants to stop him since he knows exactly what’s going to come.
“Kagami hears us go at it every night. I’m sure he can explain.”
Taiga groans. Hyuuga face palm. Mitobe just looks apologetic.
Kuroko just nods and drinks his coffee. What an awkward situation.
*
“You hear Koganei-san and Mitobe-san every night?” Kuroko asks, teasing tone obvious in his voice.
Taiga blushes. He does, though. When he was still a newer tenant, it bothered him. And he even almost told Hyuuga about it but since he usually comes home tired, and there’s a power of earphones, he didn’t bother.
“Why do I need to tell you that?” Taiga murmurs. He opens his apartment door and comes in. He watches Kuroko do the same. He closes the door, and tells Kuroko to feel at home. “You have been in my house a lot of times, yeah?” Taiga asks. Kuroko nods. “You can get anything from the fridge since I shop for groceries every three days. You don’t have to worry about anything.”
Taiga breathes a sigh of relief before going to his room. He beckons Kuroko to come with him. “Just glad you’re safe.”
They enter his room. He just notices Kuroko is still wearing a bathrobe.
“Want me to lend you a shirt?” He asks.
Kuroko nods. “That would be great, Kagami-kun.”
“‘Kay.” He says, in english and opens his closet. “You’re sleeping in the bed, I’m going to sleep on the futon.”
“But, I’m a guest…”
Taiga finds the white shirt which a bit tight for him and gives it to Kuroko. “Yeah. A guest who was in danger today. Just for tonight… you can relax on the bed.”
Kuroko takes the shirt. “Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it.”
He leaves Kuroko in the room to go to the kitchen. As Taiga reaches it, though, he blows a hard breath and holds his chest. Holy shit. Holy freaking sh– Kuroko is in his room! He’s wearing Taiga’s shirt and sleeping on his bed! The realisation is enough to make him blush. Ah, Christ. For someone who fights fire as a job, he could be embarrassing.
He cooks dinner. Something about soup is good for tonight. Taiga doesn’t notice Kuroko at all.
“Kagami-kun.”
Taiga jumps higher than he intended to. “Kuro–” he looks at the owner of the voice just to be bombarded with Kuroko wearing his shirt, that looks too oversized on Kuroko. Taiga can feel himself sweat.
“Kagami-kun, your shirt is too big on me.”
“I can see that.” Taiga knits his eyebrows together. “Okay, enough. Go to the dining table and set everything up. I’m almost done.”
“Okay.”
Later that night, when they’re laying down in their bed, Kuroko silently tells him about his student.
“He was taken away from his parents and even though it was like that, he still didn’t want to leave them.”
Taiga doesn’t say anything. He lets Kuroko continue.
“He just really loves his parents.”
“Someday, he’ll understand why it happened. I don’t know the kid, personally but when I was there, he was very curious. Asking questions after questions. He’s smart, he will understand.”
“I know, Kagami-kun.” Kuroko looks at him. “Thank you.”
Kagami grins. “Yeah. Go to sleep now, okay?”
They do.
*
Taiga comes home one day holding a dog in his arms.
He doesn’t like dogs. At all. But, this is a complicated situation. Kiyoshi is beside him, making cute faces while walking towards their respective rooms.
“Kagami-kun, Kiyoshi-san.” Kuroko’s voice rings in his ear. Unlike Kiyoshi, though, he wasn’t surprised.
“Kuroko!” Kiyoshi exclaims. “You surprised me!”
Kuroko bows his head apologetically. “Sorry.” He looks at Taiga. “You have a dog?”
“Uh. Yeah. Kagami said he’ll find a new owner for it. So he might take care of it for the time being.”
“You hate dogs.” Kuroko says, a matter of fact.
“He does.” Kiyoshi replies. “It’s special situation, though. Just ask Kagami.” With that, Kiyoshi takes his leave and walks on his own to get to his apartment.
“Something the matter, Kagami-kun?” Kuroko asks. “You look sad.”
Taiga tightens his hold on the puppy, who barks happily in reply. “We couldn’t save them.” Taiga says. The owners, they couldn’t save them. Just an old couple who was trapped in their room and the only thing they could reach out was the dog. Kagami saved the dog. But the others couldn’t save the couple. It was a sad atmosphere after that. Kuroko reads between the lines.
“Kagami-kun…”
“It was my job, you know, to save them in the fire but…” Kagami almost bursts out into tears. “I’m weak.” He says.
“No, Kagami-kun. That’s not your fault.” Kuroko says. He grabs Taiga by the shoulder and walks to his apartment. Kuroko takes the dog away from him and lets it settle in the couch. The dog whines, but lays down anyway. He grabs Taiga again and they enter the bathroom.
“Have a warm bath, and I’ll try to make something in the kitchen.”
“Kuro–”
“Relax yourself.” Kuroko smiles. “Okay?”
Taiga nods. Kuroko smiles at him, and leaves as soon as he opens the warm faucet. Taiga takes off his clothes and dips in. He stays there, maybe for half an hour. Trying not to think about that couple who they couldn’t save. His co-worker said they heard them exclaim, “Just save the dog.”
He felt his heart clenches.
He gets out the bath and slips in some pyjamas he left the night before and leaves the bathroom.
In the dining room, there are… eggs.
“Um.”
Hard boiled eggs.
“We’re going to design them.” Kuroko says behind him. He jumps, but he’s not as surprised as before.
“Design?”
“Remember when the kids made you stuff like this?” Kuroko asks. “You were happy. So, I thought, we should do it today.”
Taiga’s eyes soften and he smiles gently. “You didn’t have to.”
“But I want to.” Kuroko tells him firmly. “Come on, let’s do this.”
It takes them an hour to finish their designs. By that time, the dog is already whining and it’s 2 am.
“We should head to bed.” Taiga reminds Kuroko.
Kuroko smiles at him. “Yeah. You go first, okay? I’ll just clean this.”
“I’ll help–”
“No, no.” Kuroko says. “You go to bed. I’ll come, okay?”
Taiga looks at him for a moment and sighs. “Okay.”
The next morning, Kuroko already went to school, it seems like and he left a note with the eggs they made that night.
‘Go get them.’
Taiga smiles.
*
Three weeks later, Kuroko’s room is already fixed. Hyuuga excitedly tells both of them but Kuroko doesn’t bat an eyelash.
“I don’t wish to leave this room unless Kagami-kun tells me to.”
Everyone gapes at Kuroko.
“What?” Taiga asks.
Truthfully, he feels sad that Kuroko’s room is fixed since he got used to the month and a half that they had lived together. He didn’t know Kuroko felt the same but he didn’t expect for Kuroko to say it like that!
“I was hoping to move in with you completely.” Kuroko tells him. “I really wanted to tell you with just the two of us but I’m not brave enough.”
“And you’re brave enough now?!”
As if in cue, everyone in the room coughs. Kuroko blushes at the realisation.
“I think they’re confessing.” Koganei not-so whispers against Mitobe and Mitobe just smiles.
“Why do I feel like taking Kuroko away from Kagami?!” Hyuuga exclaims.
“Now, now, Hyuuga-kun. Don’t make any drastic decisions that can affect their love, or I will make sure you will suffer.” Riko’s smile at Hyuuga but her smile doesn’t reach her eyes.
“But… a preschool teacher and a firefighter. Isn’t that a big cliche?”
Taiga knits his eyebrows together. “You were here, Tsucchida-san?”
“So rude!”
Everyone laughs in the room but Taiga feels his hand being wrapped with another. He looks at Kuroko and Kuroko looks back. They stare at each other for a moment and smile gently.
In a room full of people, Taiga can only see Tetsuya.
kojihgf this is Hard but i think i have my top 6 (although they arent in any particular order bc i can’t do that to myself. swampert is the Ultimate tho)
Favorite anime: i’m just gonna list the not-as-well-known ones (b/c lol picking favs did you mean an opportunity to try and expand the tiny fandom of these series...): wandering son, princess tutu, and toward the terra
Favorite game: ghost trick, ... it’s not out yet but overwatch, 仙剑奇侠传 series (specifically 5 prequel b/c FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCKUUFAOIWHREKJ)
Favorite manga: fuck i will give up my firstborn for so many mangas out there but uhhh i’m currently following haikyuu, shokugeki no souma, and yamada and the 7 witches?
Last song you listened to: Milk by f(x)
First language: chinese
uhm i taggg @aesterismo @lieuw @duvallon @hiruma-devil @puddingbottles (don’t feel obligated to do this fwiw)
aesterismo replied to your post “10 favorite characters”:
!!! i hadnt known your favorites for ll or hq!! or chihayafuru but its nice to know them now ^v^ i'll give this meme a try once i get home from work tonight!
ahaha yeah for ll and hq (and chihayafuru too, now that i think about it) there are sooooo many characters that i love... it’s hard for me to pick faves qq. i’m looking forward to yours! (*ﾟ▽ﾟ)ﾉ
aesterismo replied to your photoset “Oh yeah my cousin was taking pics of me too afterwards haha~”
CINDYYYYYYYYYYYYY YOURE SO COO L W TF IM SO HAPPY FOR YOU❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ (++ just a bit envious i cant dye mine until next weekend bc i still have sch oo o o l oTL-------)
fCKK FDSJNFBHDSJBF KEIIIIII DAWHHHHH FDFKJS //////// THANK YOUUU AHHHH THO IDK IF “COOL” IS THE RIGHT WORD I WOULD USE HAHA =////=
