♱ 𓍢ִ musa⋆˙⟡

The Winter Cup had finally arrived, and with it, (Reader) made her way to the arena to cheer on her boyfriend.

(Reader) had arranged to meet up with the friends she had made thanks to him—the girlfriends of the other members of the Generation of Miracles. She was so happy to have found a group where she unexpectedly fit in. The little black fluffball she had become thanks to the coat Akashi had bought her, along with the rest of the outfit that completed it, walked surrounded by girls with completely different styles. Beside her was Murasakibara’s girlfriend, enthusiastically telling her about a new recipe she had recently perfected. The tall girl wore a cute baby-blue winter top paired with fitted low-rise flared pants. To (Reader), she looked just like Barbie herself.

Ahead of them walked Kuroko’s and Aomine’s girlfriends, chatting about their boyfriends’ friendship. Behind them were Kise’s and Midorima’s girlfriends. Kise’s girlfriend excitedly talked about a recently discovered dinosaur skeleton while Midorima’s girlfriend listened attentively, occasionally asking questions whenever something sparked her curiosity.

Suddenly, the gyaru turned around, grabbed (Reader)’s hand, and tugged her along.

—(Reader), Rakuzan’s game just started! You have to go cheer for Akashi. He’ll be so happy to see you, —With a smile on her pale face, (Reader) allowed herself to be led toward the stands near the basketball court.

The game was still in the first half, so she didn’t get the chance to greet him until halftime.

—Quick, (Reader)! Akashi has to see you. Call out to him! —By nature, (Reader) was introverted, but being surrounded by those wonderful girls gave her just enough courage to draw a little attention to herself. —Look, do what I do.

Kise’s girlfriend stood up. Across the court, Kise was warming up before his own match.

—Ryota! Rawr! —She shouted the blonde’s name, instantly catching both his attention and that of several nearby spectators before making that silly little dinosaur gesture, which he happily returned without hesitation,—Your turn! Go get him.

She finished greeting her boyfriend before encouraging (Reader) to do the same.

—O-Okay…

A faint blush dusted her cheeks, nervous she might embarrass herself. She held a section of her long, straight black hair in front of her face, hiding behind it just a little.

—Seijuro! —Her voice came out soft and quiet since Akashi was much closer. The redhead immediately turned at the familiar sound of her voice. A pom-pom, he thought the moment he saw her. —Good luck in your game!

As soon as she finished speaking, Akashi rewarded her with one of his warmest smiles along with a small nod.

The rest of Rakuzan’s team turned to look at him.

—She wears even more black outside of school, —Kotaro casually remarked out loud. —She looks like one of those fluffy keychains.

Akashi shot him a brief sideways glance before immediately looking back at (Reader). Summoning another tiny burst of courage, she shyly blew him a kiss. Akashi pretended to catch it in the air before bringing it to his lips.

(Reader)’s face turned bright red.

—How romantic! —Midorima’s girlfriend laughed beside her. —You two are definitely the Two of Cups… Speaking of cards, I still have to read Shin-chan’s fortune later.

—What happened? —Aomine’s girlfriend had just returned after Momoi had sent her to fetch her boyfriend. The artist walked back with two very noticeable marks on her neck.

—That’s what we should be asking you, —Kuroko’s girlfriend replied, pointing at her friend’s neck, earning an immediate deep blush.

—We’re all here giving Kise and Akashi encouragement before their games, but it looks like you gave Aomine some encouragement too, —Murasakibara’s girlfriend teased with a grin. —I made Atsushi some food.

—I gave Kuroko my lucky hair clip, —the gyaru chimed in. When Kuroko had stepped onto the court, he was wearing his girlfriend’s leopard-print heart-shaped hair clip.

Surrounded by her friends, (Reader) smiled to herself. Ever since she had met Akashi, everything in her life had slowly begun to get better.

No one had ever seen her wearing bright colors. Every accessory she owned looked like it had come straight out of a horror movie, and her long, straight black hair gave her an almost ghostly aura. Countless rumors surrounded (Reader)’s name. One claimed she could speak with the dead, another insisted she collected human bones, and the creepiest of all said she performed rituals behind the school. No one knew where those stories had originated, but no one was brave enough to approach her and ask. Before long, the entire school had grown somewhat afraid of her.

The only person who never believed those rumors because he knew what she was really like was Akashi. Somehow, the captain of both the Generation of Miracles and Rakuzan had gradually become interested in (Reader) as he got to know her, until she eventually became his girlfriend. His teammates only vaguely remembered when the change had begun, but Seijuro still treasured every moment of it as one of his most precious memories.

The final bell echoed through the hallways. Many students hurried home while others headed to their clubs or stayed behind to clean. (Reader), however, had a far more important task waiting for her—a mission behind the school. Her footsteps were quiet and short, almost as if she were floating. Every student she passed quickly stepped aside without even looking her in the eye. It had become part of her everyday life.

The area was enclosed by a fence, and nearby stood the gym along with several outdoor water faucets. (Reader) walked over while rummaging through her backpack. Two girls were using one of the faucets when she arrived.

—Good afternoon, —she greeted them with a polite bow, —I’m here now, so you can come out.

She said it as she approached the fence. A chill immediately ran down both girls’ spines. The rumors were true—(Reader) really talked to the dead. The two hurried away without taking their eyes off her, completely convinced they had just witnessed the beginning of a ritual.

—She’s actually crazy! —one of them exclaimed. —We have to warn everyone not to use the faucets near the gym. There must be an old cemetery underneath, that’s why she goes there to talk to ghosts!

—(Reader) is so creepy, —the other agreed.

The girls continued talking without lowering their voices as they passed the gym, where Rakuzan’s basketball team was practicing. Akashi Seijuro happened to be standing near the entrance, catching his breath, when he unintentionally overheard their ridiculous conversation. (Reader)’s name sounded familiar. He had heard many unpleasant rumors about her, but he had never been the kind of person to judge someone based on gossip. Perhaps that was why he let his curiosity guide him toward the faucets.

—Sorry I couldn’t come earlier. I had to go to work this morning, —her voice was calm as she poured cat food from a bag inside her backpack into several plastic containers. The cats, already familiar with her, gathered around without fear, some rubbing their heads affectionately against her.

Akashi silently watched the scene with quiet fondness. That was the moment his true interest began, eventually leading to the relationship they shared now. He took the time to know (Reader), to look beyond the rumors, and to fall in love with the wonderful person she truly was.

At this very moment, Akashi was training with the rest of Rakuzan’s basketball team, although he had separated himself to practice individually. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of a dark silhouette passing by the gym entrance. He would recognize her anywhere. Even in her school uniform, (Reader) somehow managed to make it her own—black thigh-high socks, silver necklaces, rings, delicate lace peeking out beneath her skirt and decorating her hair, along with the white Rakuzan jacket he had lent her himself.

He made one last shot, sinking it cleanly into the basket, before heading toward the entrance to follow her, leaving practice for a moment. His teammates didn’t even bother asking where he was going anymore. It had become a habit for Seijuro to briefly disappear during practice just to see the girl he lovingly called “my wife.”

Akashi was always looking for excuses to see (Reader). He cherished those fleeting moments whenever they crossed paths around school. It was a side of him that only (Reader) knew, and she treasured it dearly. She liked believing that Akashi’s feelings truly belonged to her and only her.

Today was no different from any other day for (Reader), except that she had finally gathered the courage to wear one of Akashi’s jackets—the one he had given her after one of his games. As much as she loved her boyfriend with all her little black heart, she couldn’t help worrying about what people might say about him for dating someone like her. She knew her reputation had been ruined by the rumors, while he was the flawless captain of the Generation of Miracles.

Pushing those thoughts aside, she focused once again on her mission: feeding the stray cat colony behind the school.

—You can come out now, it’s safe, —she called softly toward the bushes behind her. A few cats had already been lingering nearby since (Reader) always arrived at the same time every day. One after another they approached, rubbing against her legs and meowing happily. —You all seem especially energetic today.

(Reader) filled the food bowls first, but just as she reached for the water tray, someone else’s hands moved faster than hers, lifting it to refill it.

—Akashi! —(Reader) jumped in surprise. Normally, he would wait for her after she finished feeding the cats, and only occasionally accompanied her. —You scared me to death.

Her boyfriend simply smiled. Akashi returned with the freshly filled water tray and placed it beside the food. The cats were already accustomed to both of them and continued eating peacefully. For a brief moment, (Reader) allowed herself to admire him, only for her gaze to be captured almost immediately by his mismatched eyes.

—(Reader), —her cheeks instantly flushed as she heard her name leave his lips, —the Winter Cup is getting closer. I was thinking we could go shopping for something nice for you to wear when you come cheer me on.

Naturally, he took one of her long black strands of hair and absentmindedly played with it between his fingers. He knew very well how much she loved fashion and shopping, and Akashi only encouraged that side of her even more.

—I’d love that! I found a gorgeous coat at a Lolita shop on Takeshita Street, —(Reader) truly appreciated how Seijuro always supported her love for fashion. Through little gestures like these, he constantly reminded her that he loved her exactly as she was, regardless of how she dressed. Little by little, (Reader) was learning to accept that someone could genuinely love her.

A mischievous cat stole her attention, pulling it away from Akashi, who responded by sticking his tongue out at the feline.

—Then we’ll go sometime this week, —before standing to return to practice, he gently kissed her cheek. —I’m heading back to training. Shall we walk home together afterward?

—Of course, —she replied with a warm smile, waving happily.

That very afternoon, they agreed through text to go shopping on Wednesday. It was only Monday, but (Reader) was already overflowing with excitement. By the time Wednesday finally arrived, a bright smile adorned her face as she walked through the hallways. Several students instinctively stepped aside.

—She’s in a good mood today… She probably completed some summoning ritual.

—She looks just like that ghost from TV.

—What a terrifyi—, —the student couldn’t finish the sentence because Akashi appeared right behind him. Everyone at Rakuzan knew they were dating, and everyone also knew Akashi wouldn’t tolerate a single disrespectful remark about his beloved girlfriend. —…adorable. Such an adorable smile.

He corrected himself immediately, though Akashi still didn’t look entirely satisfied.

When classes ended, the redhead was already waiting for her at the school entrance. He had received permission to skip practice for the day, something that had been granted without question. (Reader) had quickly gone to feed the cats before hurrying back toward him with a radiant smile.

—Are you ready?—Those simple words only made her even more excited.

—I can’t wait! —Her enthusiasm made Akashi’s heart race. There were moments like these that reminded him exactly why he had fallen in love with her.

The afternoon passed peacefully. Takeshita was filled with adorable little shops that perfectly matched (Reader)’s aesthetic. She found a pair of gloves and black lace stockings that matched a skirt she’d bought some time ago. She also picked out a gray scarf, but the true highlight of the day was the coat Akashi insisted on buying for her, despite her repeatedly telling him she had brought enough money herself.

It was a loose coat that draped from her shoulders to just below her waist, wrapping around her almost like a cape. Soft faux fur trimmed the cuffs, hem, hood, and collar. Hanging from the collar were two long black ribbons decorated with fluffy pom-poms. It was adorable in the most gothic way imaginable.

—You look so cute, —Akashi gently cupped her face in both hands, making her blush the moment they stepped outside the shop. She had decided to wear the coat immediately since the weather had grown chilly and she hadn’t brought a jacket.

—Thank you so much for the coat, —she gathered every bit of courage she had before placing a shy kiss on her boyfriend’s cheek.

—Only the best for my wife.

𖧷 ; Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed it. 🫪♡

Only once had they heard Aomine talk about his girlfriend alongside Satsuki, and the image they had built of her was completely different from reality. They hadn’t expected to meet a short, chubby girl instead of the tall, slim woman with huge boobs Aomine was always talking about. They had also expected someone delicate and elegant, just like the ace himself had once described her.

(Reader) was completely different from what they expected. More than one person compared her to a small, soft, chubby hamster the moment they saw her. She carried a sketchbook in her hands; she had come to do some anatomy studies and, surprisingly, thanks to that, Aomine had actually shown up to one of the team’s practices after so long.

—It’s a pleasure to meet you all, I’m (Reader), —her voice came out quiet and nervous, as if she felt intimidated by them. She gave a polite bow. —I’ll be staying with Momoi, so just pretend I’m not here.

Throughout the rest of practice, they occasionally glanced at Aomine’s girlfriend, earning either a growl or a warning from him telling them to stop staring. (Reader) moved her pencil swiftly across the page, making quick sketches of flexed muscles and different basketball poses. After they finished the third drill, the most curious members of the team, along with Daiki, approached to see what she had drawn.

Carefully, she flipped through the pages one by one, revealing detailed sketches of the players and their anatomy. They were impressed by her skill. Eventually, the drawings became almost entirely focused on Aomine—Aomine dunking, dodging, shooting—beautifully drawn and incredibly detailed.

—Wow, you draw really well… and you draw Aomine a lot, —Imayoshi pointed out.

—Oh, yeah. I really like drawing him. I’ve done it so much that it comes naturally now, —she admitted shyly, earning a playful ruffle of her hair from her boyfriend.

(Reader) continued turning the pages, revealing drawings of pretty girls from school, animals, and random little things, all of them detailed enough to perfectly capture their essence.

—What about you? —Sakurai suddenly asked.

—What about me?

—Why don’t you draw yourself? —(Reader)’s cheeks turned pink. She looked away and quietly closed the sketchbook.

She had nothing to say. She didn’t like drawing herself. She only drew beautiful things and beautiful people, and she didn’t think she was one of them.

When Aomine noticed the sudden discomfort on his girlfriend’s face, he immediately understood why. Letting out a sigh, he stepped in.

—That’s enough. The next question costs money, —The team quickly got the hint and backed off. (Reader)’s fingers tightened around her sketchbook.

—S-sorry! —Sakurai apologized.

Aomine had to return to practice too. For once he had actually shown up, so he couldn’t just stand around watching. Momoi was called away by the coach, leaving (Reader) alone on the bench near several sports bags.

One of them belonged to Daiki. She recognized it immediately from the hamster keychain holding a basketball that she had made for him herself. A pink corner was sticking out from the bag. She knew snooping wasn’t right, but it was her boyfriend’s bag. Surely she could allow herself a little curiosity.

She pulled on it and instantly recognized what it was.

One of those magazines filled with girls wearing barely any clothes and possessing perfect bodies. Immediately, (Reader) felt her stomach turn cold and her heart shrink in her chest. What if he was only with her as a joke?

She didn’t look like that. She didn’t look anything like the girl on the cover.

A gasp beside her pulled her from her thoughts. Sakurai approached, visibly exhausted. The moment he noticed the magazine in her hands, his eyes widened and his face turned bright red.

—(R-Reader), t-that magazine! —He looked mortified. —W-we use those to lure Aomine into watching games, b-but t-today he a-asked to borrow it.

His stuttering made (Reader) let out a soft laugh. He looked delicate and elegant, just like Aomine had once described her.

—I see, it looks like he really likes these, —She had seen him with several magazines before, and they always stirred up the same insecurity.

She hugged the magazine closer to herself. Her expression carried a hint of sadness, though she knew she couldn’t afford to show weakness—especially not there. Sakurai tried to reassure her, but a familiar intimidating presence appeared behind him.

—Practice is over, —That was enough to make Sakurai apologize again, grab his things, and leave.

Aomine sighed.

Carefully taking the magazine from her hands, he rolled it up and lightly tapped her on the head with it.

—Dummy, —(Reader) frowned at him. She felt too miserable to complain. —I’m taking these so I can get rid of them. All of them.

Of course Aomine had noticed the issue these magazines were causing. Sure, he used to like them, back when he was a hormonal teenager who wanted a supermodel. Now that he had actually grown up, (Reader) had everything he could ever want. He loved her personality. He loved her body.

Honestly, he could start an entire religion dedicated to her.

—Even if you never told me, I noticed. Next time something bothers you, tell me directly, —He sat down on the floor in front of her, his long legs stretched out on either side of hers. They were close.

The team, seeing the atmosphere, packed up much faster than usual, doing their best not to disturb them.

(Reader) nervously fidgeted with her hands. Then the dark skin she adored so much appeared before her, his large hands gently cupped her smaller, softer ones.

—Am I going to have to start drawing you myself before you understand how beautiful you are to me? —(Reader)’s entire face turned bright pink.

How could he be so blunt and say things like that?

She quickly shook her head, making Daiki laugh.

—Dummy.

Because of how much bigger he was, Daiki easily cupped her face between both hands and kissed her properly.

—Besides, I like having something to hold onto when we’re—

—Daiki! —(Reader) grabbed his hair and yanked him backward. —Pervert!

➥ BONUS

Once again, nothing seemed capable of convincing Aomine to attend a game. That was until Momoi had a brilliant idea. Without a doubt, she was a genius.

—(Reader)!

The pink-haired girl rushed over carrying several freshly cleaned paintbrushes.

—Want to go shopping with me?

That very afternoon, the two girls went shopping together. The summer collections had just arrived, filled with cute and lightweight clothes perfect for the heat.

Perfect.

—You look adorable in everything!

Momoi called out from outside a fitting room. Finding the perfect outfit for her plan was proving incredibly easy. Aomine wouldn’t stand a chance.

—Are you sure this will work?

(Reader) felt a little embarrassed about what they were doing, but she wanted to help Momoi and maybe see her boyfriend’s reaction too.

—Of course! After this, Daiki’s going to start a fan club dedicated to you. Though he’d be the only member. He’s way too possessive, —Momoi crossed her arms.

—Anyway, let’s keep going. Next stop, my house, —A mischievous laugh escaped her.

Flash.

Flash.

Flash.

One of the Generation of Miracles members had a game coming up. Naturally, Momoi had invited Aomine to watch it with the rest of the team. Naturally, Aomine had skipped out.

As he headed toward the rooftop, he thought about what he’d do after his nap. Maybe visit (Reader), have a snack with her, then go back to sleep while cuddling her.

At the bottom of the staircase leading to his usual spot, something caught his eye.

Photos. Three photos.

Aomine crouched down and picked them up. His face immediately turned red. It was his girlfriend, his beautiful girlfriend.

Wearing outfits that were a little more fitted and stylish than what she usually wore.

The first photo showed her sitting on Momoi’s bed. A short skirt highlighted her thick thighs, while a cute character top hugged her figure. She wore the same jewelry she often wore on dates, only more elaborate. Her expression looked shy, but she was staring directly into the camera.

The second showed her in a short pink dress, puffy and adorable. The accessories were more subtle, but her pose carried noticeably more confidence.

Aomine felt his blood pressure rising. And the last one… Oh, the last one.

She looked confident. Completely confident.

Leaning against one of Momoi’s walls, she was smiling directly at the camera with an expression that left Aomine fighting for his life.

What caught his attention most was the way she looked completely aware of how pretty she was.

What art. What an incredible artist.

—Now! —Everything suddenly went dark around Aomine.

Even then, he refused to let go of the photos. Those things were priceless.

—Momoi! Get me out of here! Momoi!

Aomine was kidnapped and dragged all the way to the game they wanted him to watch. He complained the entire way. Momoi simply told him that if he stayed until the end, he might get even more pictures of his favorite artist.

Naturally, the rest of the team never saw the photos. They only knew they involved Daiki’s adorable girlfriend.

ℬabe💘

< Drink lots of water and eat properly. You’re sleeping over at my house tonight.

Okaaay ^^ >

Momoi felt a little guilty.

She knew Aomine wasn’t going to let (Reader) get much sleep that night.

𖧷 ; Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed it. 🫪♡

There was one thing they didn’t know: (Reader) was a huge fan of cooking and baking, and she was also incredibly kind.

That day, practice had been tougher than usual. Everyone was exhausted, sweaty, and struggling to catch their breath. Murasakibara was standing near the basket talking to Himuro when his beloved girlfriend’s voice made him turn toward the door.

—Atsushi~, —(Reader) sang out as she waved at him. In her other hand, she carried a large sky-blue lunch bag decorated with glittery letters. Murasakibara’s mood instantly improved. He walked over to her, greeting her with a soft “Purin-chin” while checking what she had brought him to recharge. Normally she only brought him food during lunch breaks, but since she knew important matches were coming up and training would be especially harsh, she had decided to bring him even more food. —I brought you lots of delicious food, and some extra cookies for you to share with your team.

The sweetness in (Reader)’s voice and the mention of cookies for the team immediately caught everyone’s attention.

—Cookies? —Fukui’s voice came from the side.

—Yep! I made vanilla, chocolate, and matcha ones. I didn’t know what flavors you all liked, so I went with flavors that most people usually enjoy, —she opened the lunch bag, revealing several pastel-colored containers covered in cute designs. She pulled out a Hello Kitty container and opened it, showing off the delicious cookies inside.

—For us? —Fukui was practically drooling already. They looked incredible. It was hard to believe that (Reader) had baked them herself with those nails and that appearance that made it seem like she’d hate getting her hands dirty.

—Yep, —a bright smile spread across her face.

—No, —Murasakibara grabbed the container and pulled it toward himself. —They’re mine.

—You literally just heard her say they’re for everyone! —the two-meter giant was immediately scolded.

—But they were in the bag she brought for me, —Murasakibara replied as if that simple fact made them entirely his property.

—Because she brought more food for you! The cookies are meant to be shared!

—But she brought them to me, —the team had already started gathering around him in hopes of getting at least one cookie.

—Atsushi, —(Reader) tugged on his sleeve. —Share.

Murasakibara looked down and met his girlfriend’s sweet eyes. He wished (Reader) were a dessert too. She’d probably taste amazing.

—I don’t want to.

—Share, —she insisted again.

He thought about it for a moment and sighed as if he were making a tremendous sacrifice.

—Fine, —he reluctantly handed over the container, earning cheers from his teammates and a reward when (Reader) tugged on the collar of his shirt to make him bend down so she could kiss his cheek.

—I can make you as many as you want, and I’ll let you choose the flavors, —the moment he heard that, Murasakibara stopped being so upset about sharing. After all, he was the one who could eat his girlfriend’s cooking whenever he wanted.

—This is amazing! —Tatsuya’s voice could be heard in the background as he enjoyed one of the cookies. The rest of the team agreed.

—I’m glad you like them. I adjusted the sugar ratio because Atsushi prefers less sweet flavors when he’s tired after practice, —she explained briefly. —It was also my first time making the matcha ones. You have to chill the dough before baking or the butter melts too quickly. I messed up the first batch, but the rest turned out perfectly.

Hearing her talk about baking surprised the team. She always looked far too polished for such a messy hobby.

—Do you cook often?

—Yup! Cooking is basically my whole life, and I’m in the baking club, —while (Reader) talked, Murasakibara continued rummaging through the bag she’d brought him.

—Oh, Purin-chin brought pudding, —the purple-haired giant loved the pudding (Reader) made, which was exactly why he called her that.

—Yep! There’s more at my house. We can go there after you’re done and watch a movie, —Murasakibara’s expression briefly shifted into a smile.

—Sounds good, —he returned his attention to the food and started pulling out containers. There was sponge cake, cupcakes, macarons, and plenty of other treats. There was even homemade lemonade!

Why did Murasakibara get such an amazing girlfriend when they didn’t?

Maybe because he had never judged her by appearances.

𖧷 ; Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed it. 🫪♡

When Kise mentioned that he had a girlfriend, it came as a huge surprise to the team. He had way too many girls chasing after him, though now they understood why he never paid much attention to any of them. After hearing the news, they wanted to meet her, so they told him to invite her to one of their practices.

Big mistake.

Practice went smoothly, and then (Reader), Kise’s girlfriend, showed up. There were a few signs that hinted at what was coming. The different dinosaur keychains hanging from her backpack, her silver T-Rex necklace, her Parasaurolophus hair clip, or the silly greeting she shared with her boyfriend where they would let out a roar and pose with their hands like claws.

“She must really like dinosaurs,” they thought. How naive.

When practice ended, they headed to a café near the school. Moriyama wanted to get to know Kise’s girlfriend a little better, so he started a conversation.

—Is the dinosaur on your hair clip a Stegosaurus? —(Reader) laughed and shook her head.

—Of course not, it’s a Parasaurolophus, —she replied as if the answer was obvious, as though everyone knew as much about dinosaurs as she did.

—Ah… is there a difference? —Moriyama asked. Mistake. Huge mistake.

Kise’s laughter could be heard from nearby. He already knew what was coming. As much as he adored everything that came out of his girlfriend’s mouth, he understood that it could be a bit much for other people. Good thing he had found her before someone else could crush her enthusiasm.

(Reader)’s eyes lit up immediately.

—A huge difference! First of all, Stegosaurus lived during the Late Jurassic, while Parasaurolophus lived millions of years later during the Cretaceous. They’re also completely different families. One is a stegosaurid and the other is a hadrosaur. Their diets, skeletons, and behavior are completely different too.

The team felt like they had just opened Pandora’s box. This wasn’t some silly interest in dinosaurs. She was a walking dinosaur encyclopedia.

Kise could only look at his girlfriend with admiration. He gently rested a hand on her thigh. He loved listening to (Reader) talk about the thing she loved most.

Well, second most.

For a moment, his eyes drifted toward her backpack. The two dinosaur keychains attached to it had been gifts from him. Adding to (Reader)’s dinosaur collection was one of his favorite things to do, especially when he could get matching items for the two of them.

—And this crest right here, —(Reader) pointed at her hair clip, —was probably used to produce sounds. There are studies suggesting they communicated with each other through it.

(Reader) kept going. She had a lot to say about that dinosaur. Kasamatsu glanced at his teammate.

—How long has she been talking? —He didn’t want to sound rude, but this was getting excessive.

—Three minutes and twenty-seven seconds, —one of his teammates answered from beside him.

—You timed it?

—It’s better than hearing another fact about Parasaurolophus, —At this point he had memorized the name just from hearing it so many times.

—Does this happen all the time?

—All the time. But it’s normal, don’t think she can only talk about one thing, —(Reader) might have been a dinosaur nerd, but she was still a normal person with a life outside of that.

The rest of the afternoon was the same. Dinosaurs. Dinosaurs. More dinosaurs.

Everyone looked like they’d been through a brutal workout, while Kise seemed completely fine, just as fascinated as ever by everything his girlfriend had to say.

When they left the café, they stopped so everyone could go their separate ways. Once they had said goodbye, (Reader) quickly moved closer and grabbed Kise’s hand.

She looked happy. Very happy.

—Ryo, —the nickname sounded sweet coming from her, making Kise melt instantly.

—Princess, —he replied just as affectionately, using the nickname she loved so much.

—Do you think I was too annoying? —Kise tilted his head. It was a common question from (Reader). Sometimes they would be having a perfectly normal conversation when she’d suddenly stop everything just to ask if she was being annoying.

—Princess, —he repeated, this time with a fond laugh that sounded more like a sigh, —when are you going to understand that talking about something you love doesn’t bother anyone?

—But I talked too much, —she pouted.

—And I’ve been listening the entire time, —(Reader)’s expression softened. She leaned her head against Kise’s arm, happy that she had found someone who accepted her interest no matter how childish it might seem.

—Meeting you was like finding a perfectly preserved Diplodocus skeleton, —she laughed.

—Huh? Why? —the blond asked, unknowingly giving her fixation free rein once again.

—Because they’re so hard to find! —Her enthusiasm returned instantly, making Kise laugh. He gave her hand a gentle squeeze while thinking about what he wanted to say next.

—I was lucky to find you too, —His gaze dropped, finding (Reader) staring at the ground with the tips of her ears turning red.

—Like finding a unique fossil? —she played with the edge of her sleeve using her free hand.

—Better.

—Like discovering well-preserved dinosaur DNA? —she looked up at him excitedly.

—Does that exist?

—Not yet.

—Then no, not that either, —He shook his head before looking forward again.

—Then what? —(Reader) tugged lightly at his hand, searching for a clearer answer.

—Like finding the prettiest girl in the world. —If she had to compare herself to a dinosaur right now, she’d probably be a Carnotaurus. (Reader) had turned completely red, making Kise laugh before placing a kiss on top of her head.

—Tomorrow we can go back to the claw machines and try for that Velociraptor plushie we couldn’t get the other day.

—Yes! It was way too adorable to be left there all alone. It would be much happier on my bed.

𖧷 ; Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed it. 🫪♡

There was one person Midorima trusted more than Oha Asa’s predictions: his girlfriend. The first time Shutoku’s team learned about her, they thought she was somehow even worse than Midorima Shintaro himself.

She was always covered in crystal necklaces, protective charms, and tiny evil-eye trinkets that jingled with every movement. Her backpack looked like a traveling occult shop, and runes only she could understand were drawn across her hands. But what caught the team’s attention the most was the deck of cards she always carried with her. At first glance, it looked like a strange mix between a Spanish deck and tarot cards. She called them “arcana,” though none of them really understood what she meant by that.

The only thing they were certain of was one thing. That girl was a witch.

And Takao knew it better than anyone. Whenever they had a match, Midorima would disappear for a while before it started, and the team would send Takao to find him, only to discover him in the middle of a tarot reading with (Reader), just like today.

The cards were already laid out. (Reader) had a slight frown on her face, deep in thought. Just as she was about to speak, Takao walked in, interrupting her and earning a sharp look from both of them. A chill ran down his spine. Even though he didn’t believe in that sort of thing, there was something about the aura surrounding the couple, especially Midorima’s girlfriend, that gave him goosebumps.

—S-sorry for interrupting, —he stammered, unsure whether he had interrupted some ritual or something that could bring him bad energy, as (Reader) had once warned him might happen. He swallowed hard. —The match is about to start.

—It’s alright, this won’t take long, —(Reader)’s voice was calm and gentle. She never raised her voice and was always polite. —Now then, Shin-chan.

She had adopted the same nickname Takao used. She loved it the first time she heard it and never stopped using it afterward.

—The Tower, The Chariot, and the Five of Swords have appeared. Something—or someone—is coming to disrupt your team’s balance, —she looked directly into Midorima’s eyes. He was paying complete attention to every word she said. —This is someone completely determined to crush you and turn the game in their favor.

—That’s bad, right? —Takao had moved closer to get a better look at the cards. As much as he hated admitting it, (Reader)’s readings were usually frighteningly accurate.

—Very, —She sighed before looking at her boyfriend with determination.

—Very?!

(Reader) ignored him and quickly shuffled the deck again before drawing more cards.

Judgement. The Sun. A smile appeared on her face.

—But Shin-chan will overcome this challenge. There will be problems, and you’ll have to make important decisions, but I don’t see defeat, —Midorima adjusted his glasses, nodded, and stood up.

—I see.

(Reader) put away her cards and stood beside him. She kissed the tips of her fingers before gently pressing them against her boyfriend’s forehead.

—Be careful, Shin-chan, alright? —Unlike him, (Reader) was openly affectionate in a quiet and relaxed way. She walked past Takao, waving goodbye as she left.

—Do you really think what she said is true? Did you check Oha Asa’s horoscope too?

The two players started walking toward the locker room.

—Of course. Both she and Oha Asa said similar things, but (Reader)’s reading was more detailed.

Today’s lucky item was a wooden horse figurine, and his beloved girlfriend had given him a piece of black tourmaline.

Just as (Reader) had predicted, the match unfolded exactly that way. A player from the opposing team displayed overwhelming skill and dominance, but with the reading in mind, Midorima managed to adapt, making decisions he normally wouldn’t even consider, such as passing the ball.

Takao nearly lost his breath every time he remembered the reading and realized which stage they were currently in.

First came The Tower, with the appearance of that troublesome player. Then The Chariot, with the way the game developed. The Five of Swords appeared when the opposing team tried to crush Shutoku, but obviously failed. Judgement represented Midorima’s decision-making. And finally, The Sun.

They won.

When they left the gym, (Reader) was already there waiting by the entrance with her usual mystical aura.

—Shin-chan, Takao, —She greeted the rest of the team as well, but her attention quickly settled on her boyfriend, —How did it go?

She had obviously watched the match and seen her prediction come true, but she still didn’t fully understand how her readings applied to basketball. She knew almost nothing about the sport.

—Good. As accurate as ever, —(Reader) gave Midorima a gentle smile as she moved to his side and hooked her pinky around his. —I made the right decision and led us to victory.

—I’m glad I interpreted the message correctly, —Midorima didn’t pull his hand away. After saying goodbye to the team, he headed off in a different direction alongside his girlfriend.

—What a pair of horoscope weirdos.

Takao commented to the rest of the team, who could only agree.

— Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed it. ♡🫪

Some wondered how long they had been dating. Others tried to remember whether Kuroko had ever mentioned having a girlfriend. The answers were simple: just by looking at him, there was no way to tell how long they’d been together, and nobody had ever asked.

It also didn’t help that (Reader) attended an all-girls school located far from Seirin.

The team found out some time after the practice match against Kaijō, when (Reader) came to Seirin to pick up her boyfriend.

A presence that was impossible to ignore entered the gym near the end of practice. Hair filled with streaks of her favorite color, makeup more eye-catching than that of any girl they’d ever seen at their school, long nails decorated with tiny sparkling charms, and a modified school uniform accessorized in a way that made it clear she followed her own style.

But… what was someone like her doing in a boys’ basketball team’s gym?

—Tetsuuu, —she dragged out the “u” with obvious impatience,— I don’t want to wait by the entrance anymore, let’s go already.

Had she just called Kuroko by his first name and was looking for him? His teammates immediately turned toward the teal-haired boy, searching for answers.

—Hello, —Kuroko’s voice sounded softer than usual as he grabbed a water bottle and took a drink.

—Hello? —Furihata repeated, tilting his head.— You know her?

—Yes, —everyone waited for him to add something else, but Kuroko fell silent again.

—How do you know her? —Izuki stepped in, raising an eyebrow as he tucked the basketball against his side.

—I’m his girlfriend, —before Kuroko could answer, (Reader) walked over and wrapped herself around one of his arms. A playful smile appeared on her face.— The one and only.

The silence that followed was comparable to that of a cementary. The boys of Seirin were so shocked they could barely process what they’d heard. About five seconds later, a collective “EH?!” echoed through the gym.

—SINCE WHEN DO YOU HAVE A GIRLFRIEND?! —Kagami pointed at him with a frown, as if he’d just been told one of the universe’s greatest secrets.

—One year and seven months, —Kuroko set his bottle aside and wiped away his sweat with a pink towel (Reader) had given him when he’d told her he joined the team.

The gyaru’s smile widened upon hearing him say exactly how long they’d been together and seeing that he was still using the towel she’d given him. Kuroko’s attentiveness in their relationship always melted her heart. He remembered every important date and kept every gift she gave him, no matter how small or silly it was.

—WHY DIDN’T YOU TELL US?! —Hyūga looked completely stunned.

—Because nobody asked me, —they froze. Of course Kuroko would answer that, it was such a simple explanation.

(Reader)’s laughter filled the gym as she pointed at the team with her long nails while clutching her stomach. It was obvious her boyfriend wouldn’t mention his relationship if nobody asked about it.

—HOW DID YOU GET HER TO NOTICE YOU?! —Koganei voiced what everyone else was thinking.

—Idiots! —(Reader) cut in before her adorable boyfriend could answer, sounding mildly offended.— I noticed him first!

The surprise somehow grew even greater. Apparently, they were the ones who had failed to realize how easy it was to notice Kuroko.

—(Reader) went to Teikō with me. She’s friends with Momoi, and one day she started talking to me, —Simple. Brief. Very Kuroko.

Obviously, the story was much deeper than that. (Reader) had worked hard to build a friendship with Kuroko before they eventually started dating. The gyaru stared at him in disbelief at his terrible explanation of their relationship. Good thing she was there to talk about her favorite topic: how she met and won over her boyfriend.

—First of all, I’m (Reader), —she gave a polite bow since all the commotion hadn’t given her the chance to introduce herself properly.— And second, when I was at Teikō, I went to a few basketball games to see the supposedly handsome players everyone talked about, but the only real heartthrob was Tetsu. At first I was attracted to his looks, but after getting to know him, I fell in love with everything about him.

And it was true. It had been love at first sight. The first time she saw him, his hair reminded her of the beach and the ocean breeze she loved so much. His eyes seemed like the cutest thing in the world, and when she spoke to him for the first time, she felt like she didn’t need to hold herself back around him. He never judged her. (Reader) fell for Kuroko almost immediately.

—I started bringing him homemade food during practice, waiting for him after school, asking him out on dates, and I confessed to him when I asked him to teach me basketball. I wrote “Will you be my boyfriend?” on the ball, and he still keeps it in his room along with most of the gifts I’ve given him, —She slung an arm around her boyfriend’s shoulders and stuck her tongue out at his teammates.

Each new piece of information hit the team like a basketball straight to the face.

While they were still trying to figure out how to approach someone they liked, Kuroko had gotten himself a girlfriend years ago. The worst part was that he hadn’t seemed to follow any special plan. He had simply been himself.

And somehow, that had been enough.

—He even kept the first note I gave him on Valentine’s Day! —she pressed herself closer to Kuroko, their cheeks touching.

—The one from two years ago? —Kuroko asked, and his girlfriend nodded.— I kept it because I really liked it.

The team was speechless. The boy who seemed invisible had been seen by someone who was the complete opposite of invisible.

After chatting for a little while longer and after (Reader) became friends with Riko, Kuroko and (Reader) finally left the gym hand in hand.

—Sorry for making you wait. —Her boyfriend’s voice made (Reader) smile from ear to ear. She suddenly kissed his cheek, letting out a cheerful laugh.

—It’s okay, Tetsuu, —she squeezed his hand.— At least now I’ve finally met your team.

Kuroko showed a smile that only (Reader) could bring out of him. He was happy that she had noticed him. And even happier that she loved him so much.

𖧷 ; Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed it. 🫪♡