perfectly imperfect (baby, that’s love)
for @exuberant-imperfection, hope you like it~ thanks for claiming!
It's all we know, all we know, the hurricane
Falling slow, falling slow in the pouring rain
Watch it go, watch it go, we stay the same
And I don't know, I don't know how it can change
It wasn't jealousy that was burning is Daiki's chest when he first saw the pathetic light of hope in Kagami Taiga's eyes. It wasn't anger either, not really. It was worse than that.
And not in Kagami exactly. Not in Tetsu's choice either, no.
Because no matter how hard he tried to blame others – called them weak, talentless, cowards – it was his own skill that made the difference in their abilities stand out. That was what he couldn't stand, even more so when Tetsu's pick for his replacement was so ordinary. Not a challenge. Not... anything.
"You really should've thought more about this," Daiki told him the first time they faced each other in an official match. "He's not good enough for you."
He's not a match for me, his mouth was saying instead. He could tell that Tetsu knew the truth, though. It was right there, in his determined gaze: bold, heated, relentless.
They stood before Daiki, challenged him, and lost. And then came back again, even more clear-eyed and focused, burning with that young flame of desperation that Daiki had long since forgotten the burn of.
In the midst of the after-match confusion, aching from head to toe, with sweat soaking through his tshirt and running down his temples, Daiki caught Tetsu's eye again.
"Do you see him now?" Tetsu seemed to be asking.
Daiki turned to Kagami, but inevitably his gaze shifted back to Tetsu – to his smile when he, too, was looking at Kagami. Chest tight, Daiki couldn't tear his eyes away from the joy, the affection, the unbridled happiness that shone on Tetsu's face when Kagami grinned down at him victoriously.
Ah, Daiki thought, now I do.
