Teiko's basketball

Lunch

Chapter 43:

Lunch

Kuroko was smiling!

"Nae, Tetsu-kun, are you okay?" said Akira.

"Of course I am..."

"You're smiling..."

"I don't understand."

"You should do it more often, Kuroko-kun," said Sora with a laugh, "It suits you, and maybe next time we won't be so surprised."

"Yeah. It's much better than your usual poker face," said Aomine.

"So, what's unusual about today, nanodayo."

Kuroko held out his lunch. "It's my favourite!"

Everyone leaned in.

"Eh... Smells good!"

"Would any of you like to have a bite?" he asked politely. No one had the heart to take some. He just looked too happy.

"Right then, I'm eating!"

"Woah, looks good."

Haizaki had just entered the cafeteria.

"Let me have a bite Tetsu."

Saying so, he took Kuroko's lunch from him. He finished a huge portion of it and handed it back.

"Thanks for the food."

"Tetsu was going to eat that," pointed out Akashi.

"Of course. It was his lunch," said Haizaki licking his fingers.

"He wanted that!" said Aomine, angrily.

"Eh? Aomine, you don't have a bad lunch either..." he said putting his fingers into Aomine's lunch.

"Haizaki! That's gross!" protested Sora.

"Don't act weird!" joined in Akira.

He frowned. "Look at you lot... All ganging up on me. Fine then. See ya." Haizaki gave a mocking wave and left.

Sora couldn't bear to look at Kuroko. "Umm... Kuroko-san... Shall we share?"

"You can have mine too," said Akira, "In fact, everyone can probably contribute."

Everyone nodded encouragingly.

"Thank you very much," said Kuroko with a smile, "But my appetite is a bit poor. This is enough."

"Why don't we pool our lunches?" suggested Sora.

Everyone agreed.

"Sora-chan, I've got my eye on yours," said Akira with a wink.

"Gimme yours and you can have it!"

"May I have your potatoes, nanodayo?"

"Sure Mido-chin. Kuro-chin, have some too."

"Thank you."

"Your rice is cooked well Aomine."

"Want more Akashi?"

------------------------------------------------------------------------

The others were clearing up after lunch. Aomine pulled Kuroko to one side.

"Why didn't you stop him?"

"I don't get you--"

"Haizaki!" said Aomine in an exasperated tone.

"I didn't need to..."

"He took what you wanted!"

"Aomine-kun..." said Kuroko slowly. "He mattered more than my lunch. Something like that... It's not worth fighting for it with your comrades."

For once, Aomine was stumped.

"Tetsu..."