Kagami Taiga x Single Mom! Reader
Kagami finds a little kid attached to his pant leg at the Aquarium, a genius who claims to be no older than two.
Eventually finding his mother, he discovers it's the campus beauty who until now, has been mysteriously detached from others.
⋆☠︎︎𓆪༻⋆⋆༺𓆩☠︎︎𓆪༻⋆⋆༺𓆩☠︎︎𓆪༻⋆⋆༺𓆩☠︎︎𓆪༻⋆
Kagami had never really been interested in anything that wasn't basketball. His grades were average. Studying wasn't really his strongest suit either.
But even a total meathead like him knew about the events that occurred around his school, especially when the main event was smacked beside him in class.
Y/n, a beauty with a background that was mainly unknown to the rest of the school, which was what made her the center of attention for many. She was kind too, never passing off the opportunity to be of service to those around her.
He could remember the one time they talked to each other was when he was having trouble during class. She'd noticed and helped him out, he could have sworn there was angel beside him.
At least for math, since it was a part of Japan's general education which was a requirement to graduate. Otherwise, he'd never see her at all.
She was in the cosmetics department, there, she was known for a different reason.
Kagami had merely been a passerby when he was blocked by a line of boys leading inside said department. Pissed but also curious, he'd looked in through the window only to discover that angel was offering to cut people's hair.
A smiled curled on his lips as he watched her, that smile growing faint when he saw her pull out a razor. He gasped when he looked at her finished customers, heads made into horrific displays with uneven cuts and sloppy fades.
One would expect them to be angry or disappointed, but they were all smiling through tears.
Being so popular with boys, Kagami figured she must have a boyfriend.
"Would you go out with me?"
"Ah no, sorry...", she smiled. "I'm going to be busy after school"
This was the fifth time this week, and it was Tuesday. Kagami sweat dropped, seeing as no matter how many people got turned down, they still took their chance.
While he found her beautiful as well, he didn't really care enough to pursue someone he barely knew anything about. Moreover, he still had to enter the NBA, and before that he had to finish high school.
Right now though, he needed to go to the Aquarium since his master had cancelled a date and decided to give him the unused tickets. Normally, he wouldn't even think about going to a place like this, but he was also curious if Japanese aquariums differed in any way to the ones in America.
He was wading through the sights, bored out of his mind.
Why do people even go here? The last time he was around so many animals was at the Zoo, and even then, he only ever had fun touching the giant cats.
Passing by the shark tank, an employee announces that it was feeding time which made him stop. In the water was a hammerhead circling a whale shark, its white spotted pattern glistening under the overhead lights.
Kagami watched as they dropped in meat, the hammerhead instantly racing to devour it. His eyes stayed on the whale shark, wondering why it wasn't moving.
"It's because it's a filter feeder, you goof", a childish voice interrupted his thoughts. His eyes widened as he looked down to find a kid holding onto his pant leg.
"They aren't carnivorous like the hammerhead shark", he continues, sucking on a half-melted lollipop.
Kagami looked annoyed. "Where's your dad, kid?"
"My name is Yuzuru. And I don't have one."
Kagami gaped, looking around frantically. The kid didn't even seem fazed by his question. He leant down to his level.
He looked doubtful. "I am! I'm just quite smart for my age"
"Did your mom tell you that?" he laughed.
"Of course she did! I'm her masterpiece!" The kid puffed out his chest proudly.
Kagami slumped, running a hand through his hair.
"Well, where is she?"
Yuzuru seemed to realize this as he looked around, turning pale. "Eh? Wh..."
"Where's mommy?!", he cried out, earning the pair looks from strangers.
Kagami was quick to act, lifting the toddler into his arms. He slowed his cry from surprise, looking at the fierce looking man.
"Hush kid. Shut up for a second, okay?" Ignoring the whispers of onlookers, he focused on him. "We'll find her, I promise"
Kagami felt a small pang in his heart as he affirmed his promise, locking pinkies with the little kid.
"You're a nice man", Yuzuru smiled.
He ended up choking on his own spit.
"B-But..." Yuzuru whimpered, looking up at him with shining eyes. "For today, just today please?"
Kagami grunted, unwilling but it was necessary to calm the kid down.
"Okay, so let's see..." Kagami walked over to the aquarium map, mapping out his route towards the nearest help desk.
It was on the other side of the area.
With resign, he began making his way over there. Yuzuru kept shuffling in his grasp though so he had to walk extra slowly so the kid wouldn't fall.
"Daddy look!", Yuzuru laughed happily as the orca jumped out of the water, creating a huge splash that nearly soaked them.
Kagami grumbled under his breath, hastily dodging the incoming water.
He could see other families around them, their smiling faces becoming increasingly known to the little kid. The basketball player looked down at his "son" who was longingly looking at the family.
Ah, why do I even bother? He shook his head.
"Hey kid, whatcha getting distracted for?!", Kagami grinned. Yuzuru looked up at him in confusion.
"Look! The octopus exhibition is next!" He walked away quickly from the crowd of families, hoping to distract the child.
Yuzuru gasped, eyes locking onto the eight-legged animal floating around in the glass tank. "Ooh... Tako-kun (Eng: Octopus-kun)..!" He giggled.
Kagami smiled. "That other one is his friend, Ika-kun (Squid-kun)"
"Yeah! They're best friends!"
Suddenly, the octopus latched onto the squid. Yuzuru tilted his head as the squid stiffened, no longer moving. Kagami's eyes widened as the Octopus began to dismember the animal with its beak, eating it up once it's small enough to fit.
"Uh..!" Yuzuru's disturbed cry made Kagami bolt out of the area. He looked back, realizing it really was an octopus tank. The squid was just its food.
Yuzuru couldn't handle it and began to wail, leaving his caretaker at a loss. That's when the sound of racing footsteps approached.
Kagami didn't even have the chance to react as the two-year-old jumped off of his arms and began running to the figure.
Kagami looked up to find none other than the cosmetic department's mysterious beauty. You hugged the little boy tightly.
"Thank goodness I've found you!" "Mommy!"
Still hugging your son, you look up at Kagami with a bright smile. "Thank you so much for taking care of my boy"
You froze on the spot. "How do you know my name?", you interrogate, voice turning cold.
Kagami was taken aback by your change in demeanor. He wasn't sure how to respond. "Uh... I go to Seirin too"
His response seems to only put you on edge as you mutter excuse after excuse under your breath. He wonders what about him got you so panicked.
"Sorry, I gotta go now" You excuse yourself, turning your heal when Yuzuru protested.
A few minutes later, you're sitting in the food court with your son and Kagami who has just finished explaining to you the events that transpired before your meeting. You sigh, rubbing your temples.
"I apologize for my behavior earlier...", you say, lowering your gaze.
"It's fine, really.", Kagami brushed it off, waving his hand in front of his chest.
"Really?" You blinked up at him, pouting. The sight makes him blush.
"Y-yeah..." He gulped. "But uhh... Is this kid yours?"
This made you stop, biting your lip in hesitation. Kagami notices this and immediately tries to backtrack. "It's okay-"
"He's mine", You quietly admit, daring to look him in the eye. "It was reckless of me yes, but I can only take responsibility now."
You gently shook your head as Yuzuru finished sipping on his mango juice.
You scanned his face for any sign of judgement but found none, much to your shock.
"I guess that's why you never hang out with anyone...", Kagami commented.
"This is probably a big secret, huh?"
"I...i promise I won't tell anyone", he assures, "So... you can trust me"
You grimace which makes him flinch. "Can I?"
"Ooh! Daddy, can I have some Ika Fry?", Yuzuru piped up, incessantly pointing towards the food court. Kagami raised a brow.
"That's probably Tako-kun from a few exhibits ago."
Yuzuru gasped, looking to you in horror.
You kick Kagami under the table, furiously trying to calm this little boy. While you did, Kagami couldn't help but feel the heat on his cheeks increase by the minute.
What a good mom... He thought as Yuzuru hugged you, wiping his tears. He reaches over, ruffling the kid's head.
"There there...", he grumbled. "Come on, I'll buy it for you"
Yuzuru nodded, sniffling. "Okay daddy!"
"Yuzu... don't call the nice man that..."
Yuzuru sulked. "But I want a daddy, mommy!"
You looked at your son with pursed lips. Kagami watched you both, noting that it was like looking at carbon copies of the same person.
"I'm okay with it...", Kagami cleared his throat, avoiding your eyes. "Just for today"
Despite your surprise, you relent. "Fine..."
"Even so! I've never had a dad before..!"
You leaned back in your seat as Kagami lifted the boy with one arm, carrying him over to the seafood stall.
I guess it's not so bad...
When they came back, Yuzuru had been satiated for now as the spoiled boy proclaimed. "I want to go to the photo booth!"
You went around the aquarium some more before the sun had begun to set and it was time to part.
"Mommy! Do the heart with us!"
"Daddy! You need to smile too!"
"Ahh! The amonene is coming closer!"
Luckily, Kagami had agreed never to speak of this again... Though, you each were left with a photo strip containing the temporary family, posed in front of a sheen white background; all with the words: Happy Family stamped across the pictures.
At school, everything seemed to go back to normal for Kagami. He hadn't told as soul as promised, rather, he was unconsciously looking for a girl whom he was 100% sure would ignore him.
Looking back, it must've been creepy of him to so easily agree to play pretend family with a kid. She must've thought he liked her or something.
Though that wouldn't be far-fetched...
He peeked over at the girl beside him, seeing she'd very visibly avoiding any interaction with him. Heck, she was leaning away so much that she was only using half of the desk.
Though he was a bit disappointed by this development, especially when he's just lost a passing school friend, but it was whatever. If he tried anything it would only make her uncomfortable anyway.
So, he kept his distance all the same.
Weeks passed and Kagami had long since forgotten about the ordeal. The only downside was now he had to navigate through math class alone, and his grades were beginning to slip. To avoid getting kicked off the team, he found himself uncharacteristically spending time in the school's library.
Even if it was just him staring at a book for hours on end, he could've sworn he'd grown smarter.
Today, he was nose-deep into a textbook once again. Quite literally. His eyes peeled open as he realized he'd fallen asleep studying.
When he sat up, he stretched his limbs only to find a neatly stacked band of index cards. Shortcuts to Quadratic Expressions.
He flipped to the next card. Sorry, I didn't trust you before.
He blinked, noticing the familiar handwriting. A smile curled on his face.
The next day, he rummaged through the cards again and again, his mind only picking up five formulas at a time. He looked beside him, realizing she was later than usual.
When she did arrive, her hair seemed a bit damp as she plopped into her chair. He waited for her to acknowledge him but she was stubbornly keeping her head down.
"You already said that.."
He nudged her with his elbow. "Can you help me with this? I'm still not sure about these rules"
You eyed his hands that held the flashcards. Snatching them, you finally speak after weeks of silence. "Here.. I'll show you..."
You flipped through to the next card, seeing your own handwriting.
Sorry I didn't trust you before.
Kagami was taken aback by your sudden words.
You threw it in his direction, focusing on the subject in the paper.
"This rule means that..."
He scoffed fondly, listening in.
Time passed and students gathered into the classroom. Somehow, you were able to settle into a comfortable study session that ended only when the teacher began.
Even someone as dense as Kagami could feel the shift in the air, though he wasn't sure why.
As the bell signaled the end of class, Kagami exasperatedly yawned. His head was numbing from the big words that wouldn't register even after hours of pondering.
Noticing this, you chuckled. "Did you understand even a single thing?"
"I'll help you out then", you volunteer.
"When? We don't have other classes together"
Much better... but still, what the fuck?
Kagami could feel the stares on his back as he huddled over you with a blank expression. You were engrossed in the math problems; your mouth was moving yet he couldn't hear anything except for the whispers around you both.
"L/n-san is still at school?"
"Did he threaten her or something?"
The last one made him clench his fist. Obviously not!
He reverted his attention back to you, who seemed all too oblivious to everything around you. Why are you even here? He thought, scratching his cheek.
Shouldn't she be on her way to Yuzuru? What about the baby?
He didn't realize what he had said until you stopped and looked up at him. "Oh, he's with my mom today", you smiled.
"She offered to babysit since she's off work"
He nodded. "I... I see..."
"Y'know, you're good at this." He points down to the cards.
You smile proudly. "As good as my haircuts!"
"..." His silence only made you beam.
"I'm not sure about them honestly." He blurts out before he can stop himself. He is quick to cover his mouth.
Instead of rage though, he was met with a light airy sound.
"Pfft... Of course I know that" She laughed quietly.
"You do?" His jaw dropped.
"Mhm! People just like how I look"
"How could I not?" You grinned. "I'm not stupid"
"Ah...." That was when it clicked.
You furrowed your brows a this. "For what?"
"The aquarium..." He admitted. "It must've been creepy of me to suddenly help out when..."
You smile. "What's important is you meant well. I assumed you were just trying to get into my pants"
He was quick to deny it. "Only bastards do that!..."
"I didn't approach the kid because I liked you..."
"But I get why I seemed that way... I won't approach him so callously"
That's when you see his wallet on the table, a white strip of photopaper peeking out from under the leather. It gleamed as you pulled it out before he could stop you.
You look at him. "You won't approach him?"
"I know what it looks like but I mean it!"
His breath catches in his throat.
⋆☠︎︎𓆪༻⋆⋆༺𓆩☠︎︎𓆪༻⋆⋆༺𓆩☠︎︎𓆪༻⋆⋆༺𓆩☠︎︎𓆪༻⋆
taglist: @broicouldjustbuyyousomekombucha, @millyloves2read
