Chapter Text
Midorima Shintarou is not the kind of man that lets his emotions get the better of him.
When his three-pointers make it (which of course they do), he doesn't let his mouth slip into a wide grin.
When he wins a particularly difficult match, he won't jump around like an uncivilized beast along with the rest of his teammates, tugging their sweaty bodies close in celabration.
When his team looses a game, he doesn't scrunch up his face, trying in vain to stop the clear, salty tears from falling.
When his teammate collapses at the Middle School Graduation ceremony and is taken away in an ambulance, to never be seen again, why on Earth would he let himself loose sleep over it? It's not like the boy mattered. He was usefull when they were young, weak and imperfect.
However, given enough time and failing organs are be improved, or better yet replaced, to allow the whole system to function on a higher level.
In some cases, the body learns to cope with a section missing, how to function perfetly fine with a substitute. Its unfortunate, but the strength of Teiko is more then enough to compensate for a missing limb.
Wait a minute. Kuroko nver had the importaince of a limb, at least not at the end of their time in Middle School.
He was prehaps a finger at best: the pinky. Easily forgotten, not much use.
But still missing.
Midorima likes to think that he doesn't care for his team.
However, it's quite the opposite.
He truely cares deeply for his comrades.
They're like a family. If he had the choose between friends and Oha Asa, the choice is a no-brainer.
(Friends, obviously)
Not that he'd ever let them know, how could he do such an embarrassing thing?
And despite openly stating his dislike and desire not to interact with a certain tealnette, even now, nine years on, nights are still spent agonizing over the boy.
Where is he now?
Is he having fun?
Does he eat well?
Did he make lots of new friends?
Are they treating him well?
Is Kuroko even alive?
He knew (guessed) that the few people who got close to the boy were worried but between Aomine's narcissistic personality and Akashi's icy indifference Midorima found broaching the subject harder than hacking into Fort Knox. Not that he ever tried. That was Akashi in collage after taking a class on coding.
On the other hand Kise, the tactless idiot, is always chattering on and on and on about Kuroko, finding every way in the four corners of the Earth to bring the missing phantom into every day, monotonous conversations.
Of course, it wasn't just Kise. Murasakibara was prone to daydreaming (normaly about the snacks he was prepareing to consume) and often forgot himself; setting out one too many plates at their semi-monthy meet-ups or buying and extra cake (or two) are just a few of his bad habits he's picked up over the years. Not that he was complaing about havng more for himself, but on occasion, Murasakibara found eating alone, well, lonely.
Shut up, dumb brain!
Mdsorima scolded while reaching up from under his duvet covers to poke rather violently at his face where his glasses should have been. Graduating first is all his classes (second in the ones he and Akashi shared) would make you think that he was smart but apparently he find it very easy to forget that you don't wear glasses to bed, you stupid idiot. Nanodayo.
Making an odd half-disgruntled, half-annoyed noise, he sat up and swept a hand over the wooden stand that stood resoutely next to his king-sized bed.
Grasping the offending glasses he slipped them over thin, bright-green eyes and slid out of bed with an quite, warbling screech. Shoving his feet unceremoniously into fluffy, bright pink bunny slippers (courtesy of last week's lucky item) Midorima scuttled over to his desk with heavy, sleep deprived steps.
Hitting random keys and absentmindedly glancing at recent files kept the Doctor from the reason his mind refused to shut up and rest, but only for a short while.
After all, procrastination can only stall time, not stop its flow entirely and it's just as well because he really should stop stalling and --
A quiet vwoosh sounded, deafaning in the confines of Midorima's empty bedroom.
Bloodshot eyes drifted over the too bright screen. He breifly contemplated turning the brightness down but it seemed like too much effort and the sun would be up shortly so there isnt much point in doing so.
What made that noi--Oh!
Thought Midorima, triumph quickly curdling into reluctaince as the blinkng cursor hovered over the small letter-shaped symbol of his e-mail folder. His fnger remainted suspended over the left click, aprehensive about the e-mail's content. After all it is...
He squited at the digital clock in the screen's corner.
...4:42 in the morning.
Huffing out tired breath, Midorima opened the e-mail sent to him.
From: [email protected]
Subject: Invatation
Dr.Midorima,
I, on behalf of the team working at Serin, would like to invite you to an upcoming conference regarding the latest in organ-replacement technogoy. This will include details on how the mechanics work, how to fit them to the human body, our plans for the future, as well as giving yo the chance to meet some of the subjects that have had sucsessful organ/limb replcements with our technology
Yours sincerly,
Mayuzumi Chihiro, Head of Research and Development at Serin International
Ps. On the more informal side, this invatation was a request from one of our subjects, my cousin. He moved shortly after middle school ended.
The next few days became ones of hell for Midorima.
On top of his usual tsundere nature the man was plauged by fatiuge and his mind seemed content in joining the clouds. Never anchoring its self to reality to safely treat patients.
It was after being forced to take sick leave (prehaps staying on the clock for 72 hours straights wasn't the best of ideas) that Midorima decided to do something about the infomation eroding away at his consciousness.
Pulling out a vivian cell phone he scrolled through to the one contact he never thought he was going to use.
Steeling his nerves, he composed a reply to the scientist:
From: [email protected]
Dr.Mayuzumi Chihro,
I would be honoured to attend the upcoming conference. As for the person you mentioned, I am unsure as to who you mean. Lots of people I knew in middle school have moved away and I've not seen them in the many years that have passed.
Yours sincerly,
Dr. Shintarou Midorima
Sometimes, Midorima really hated humanity, other times it's foolishness can be rather comical.