People who enjoy life are winners!

Midorima Shintarou                                                                     Takao Kazunari

“I think we’ll need a bigger house since soon you’ll be collecting lucky items for three people,” he joked, fingers brushing into moss-green hair.

“Takao…” He whispered as he placed a hand on the other’s stomach “I’m…truly happy”

Takao placed his hand on top of Midorima’s. “I’m glad. I really want to share this and everything else in my life with you, you know?” He hummed to himself, already having spent hours imagining the future. “Does Oha Asa tell you if it’s a girl or a boy?”

sharp eyes picked up right away on the small tremor in his partner’s hands. “I figured now would be as good a time as any to stock up,” he said, trying to keep his voice casual. It was still too early to tell what Midorima thought about them having a child. Takao swallowed thickly before attempting a smile and a nod. Midorima was a responsible guy. There was no way the Miracle would leave him to take care of their child alone, said a reasonable voice in his head. 

“You are…pregnant…” He whispered right before standing up and wrapping his arms around the other, being careful not to hug him tight enough to hurt their unborn child. He could feel some tears in his eyes but he was still reluctant to let them go.

“I think we’ll need a bigger house since soon you’ll be collecting lucky items for three people,” he joked, fingers brushing into moss-green hair.

Nevertheless, he played along “Kids under the age of 2 if I’m not mistaken…Babies…” He whispered as his hands started to shake “T-Takao…Why did you give me baby food? Why…What are you trying to…?” He took the blindfold off of his head and instantly reached for his glasses. Once he had them back on, he stared at his lover “Is this…What I think it is?”

sharp eyes picked up right away on the small tremor in his partner’s hands. “I figured now would be as good a time as any to stock up,” he said, trying to keep his voice casual. It was still too early to tell what Midorima thought about them having a child. Takao swallowed thickly before attempting a smile and a nod. Midorima was a responsible guy. There was no way the Miracle would leave him to take care of their child alone, said a reasonable voice in his head. 

“That’s probably because it has vegetables in it, Shin-chan. Vegetables are healthy right? People eat them to grow big and strong. Especially for…” he prompted, trying to give the shooting guard another hint. 

He frowned under the blindfold as he heard his lover’s words. He was either hiding something or trying to mock him since Takao knew just how much Midorima liked and prefered vegetables over any type of junk food “Kids?” He instantly replied before offering the jar back to the other “Are you trying to tell me that this is kids’ food? What’s next, Takao?”

The hawk placed the glasses safely on the counter. “The first one’s easy!” he chirped, by means of encouragement. He leaned over to peck the unsuspecting Midorima. “Now, guess!” They were already this far into the game, why not carry it all the way through?

He felt his cheeks heating up at that peck before he sighed. He then picked whatever was on the counter and carefully brought it close to himself. After slowly tasting it he frowned “Takao what is this? It’s soft…and why does it taste like vegetables?”

“That’s probably because it has vegetables in it, Shin-chan. Vegetables are healthy right? People eat them to grow big and strong. Especially for...” he prompted, trying to give the shooting guard another hint. 

He gently removed his glasses and softly placed them on his lover’s palm, knowing that despite his playfullness, the other would take care of them “Let’s just be over quickly with this” He whispered as he sat still to let his beloved do what he pleased. 

The hawk placed the glasses safely on the counter. “The first one’s easy!” he chirped, by means of encouragement. He leaned over to peck the unsuspecting Midorima. “Now, guess!” They were already this far into the game, why not carry it all the way through?

Takao turned his gaze back up to Midorima’s face. The plain uncertainty and fear he could see on his lover’s face, fell on him like an avalanche. He smiled warmly to reassure the ace. “That’s amazing, Shin-chan. You’re amazing.” Takao’s arms shifted up to pull him down for a soft kiss. 

The moment Takao smiled warmly at him, Shintarou felt like everything in the world would be just fine “T-This is nothing amazing! J-Just basic biology” He whispered after kissing the other back just as soflty. His cheeks were pink. It really was simply amazing “S-Should I assume t-that you are happy about my p-pregnancy?”

“Don’t be silly. I’m over the moon! Do you think it’ll be a girl? A boy? Twins?” He quickly ushered Midorima over to the sofa, eager to protect his lover and baby. The hawk quickly threw together the cushions, making a veritable nest for the taller man and even went so far as to lower him as gingerly as possible, being needlessly fussy. “Do you need anything? Pickles? Ice cream?” Uh... what other weird cravings did moms have? Takao remained standing, as he thought hard, ready to hop to at the first sign of necessity. His thumb absentmindedly stroked Midorima’s knuckles.

Of course Takao hadn’t missed that extra gesture of the hand fluttering towards his stomach. But he wrote it off as a reflex because of the topic. “Hmmmm. I dunno. I already have one baby to take care of.” He had asked first! So it was only fair if he got some hints first. He wasn’t gonna let Midorima squeak by so easily.

“”I-I’m not a baby, Bakao!” He exclaimed as he placed his own hands on the other’s shoulders. He then sighed and tilted his head to look at the ground “But…You…You will have one b-baby to take care of”

Takao turned his gaze back up to Midorima’s face. The plain uncertainty and fear he could see on his lover’s face, fell on him like an avalanche. He smiled warmly to reassure the ace. “That’s amazing, Shin-chan. You’re amazing.” Takao’s arms shifted up to pull him down for a soft kiss. 

“What?! Of course I don’t have a child from a one night stand! Bakao!” He quickly reacted as he placed his hadn on his belly. He hadn’t even realized that he had done that, it was simply comforting “Stop teasing, you idiot! I…That’s…Takao…Do you want a baby or not?”

Of course Takao hadn’t missed that extra gesture of the hand fluttering towards his stomach. But he wrote it off as a reflex because of the topic. “Hmmmm. I dunno. I already have one baby to take care of.” He had asked first! So it was only fair if he got some hints first. He wasn’t gonna let Midorima squeak by so easily.

“A taste test thing?” He asked as he folded his arms across his chest “Why would you want to do something like this? Is this one of your pranks?”

”Man proposes, god disposes. Shouldn’t you do your best to train your taste buds? Let’s not waste the food. I promise they all taste good and it’ll be fun.” He smiled pleasantly up at Midorima, opened a palm up to take his glasses. His other hand holding out a scarf as a blindfold.  

“Why are you asking? Do you want to have a baby?”

The point guard grinned infectiously at the cashier. “I’ll have two double cheeseburgers and a Sprite. My boyfriend’s going to pay for it!” he announced, pointing both index fingers at the shooting guard.

He quickly unwrapped the burger and bit down into the bun and meat patty, enjoying the flavors washing over his tongue. “It wouldn’t be embarrassing if it was true,” he reasoned. The phrase came out around a full mouth, as if he didn’t want Midorima to understand him. Or rather, he was unsure if he wanted the shooting guard to understand him. Takao wasn’t fearless. He wanted to avoid rejection as much as the next person. He was just lucky in the fact that he could normally say the things he wanted under the guise of a joke and then squirm his way out of any responsibility if the response was unfavorable.

The hawk quickly steered Midorima to the seat reserved for the guest of honor, grinning nonstop. At least he had the common decency not to mention the tears from earlier. 

“You were the one who prepared all this, right Takao?” He asked, knowing full well his best friend had followed him.

“Maybe it was a bad idea? You went through the whole day in a funky mood,” he began teasing. Sometimes the point guard just couldn’t help himself, but he’d give it a little more effort since today was a special day. “Sorry we made you feel like we forgot your birthday.” 

When the duo arrived at the game center, they were met by the rest of their team jumping out and yelling surprise, each with present in their hands.

The hawk quickly steered Midorima to the seat reserved for the guest of honor, grinning nonstop. At least he had the common decency not to mention the tears from earlier. 

The hawk returned the glasses, hooking the temples behind his ace’s ears. “Ah, yeah. It’s actually kinda hard for me, since I get so distracted looking at things, ya know?” There had to be a downside to his hawk eyes. And he supposed it made him a bit scatterbrained. “Anyway, let’s go to the arcade, huh? You can win some prizes by shooting hoops. Maybe you can find tomorrow’s lucky item.” 

He didn’t even say anything when the other dried his tears or placed his glasses back on his face. No more tears were falling either, but he was still feeling rather sad “You still have to make sure to remember important things” Midorima whispered before he started walking towards the arcade, knowing the other would follow him. 

When the duo arrived at the game center, they were met by the rest of their team jumping out and yelling surprise, each with present in their hands.

“Mmmmmmm.” Takao drew out the syllable, sharp eyes scanning the entire menu. “Why don’t you order for me, Shin-chan?” he suggested, throwing Midorima a glowing smile that rivaled the Christmas lights outside. 

It felt nice to be the one to do the teasing once in a while. 

The point guard grinned infectiously at the cashier. “I’ll have two double cheeseburgers and a Sprite. My boyfriend’s going to pay for it!” he announced, pointing both index fingers at the shooting guard.