Note: Although this kills all my dreams, back during Teiko, Akashi called ppl by their LAST NAMES so bear with me on the flashbacks kay? DX

The whistling greens of summer spread across the city as a warm and soothing wind pushed past the windows of the basketball club room, ruffling a tuft of scarlet hair.

"Huh, summer's here again isn't it Midorima." Akashi mused, staring across the table with a Shogi board placed upon it, into the viridian eyes of a bespectacled male, looking unamused by the placement of the pieces.

With a huff, he moved a piece 2 spaces forward, causing Akashi to smirk.

"Hmph, by summer, you mean the National Championship don't you?" Midorima sighed.

Akashi nodded. "Of course. Remember how I said I was looking for a 6th man that can change the flow of the game at will? We have that now. Kuroko is perfect. Isn't it time to show that to the world?" He smiled, tilting his head towards that peaceful summer sky.

To Midorima's disturbance, he seemed rather proud but, conversely, that was just like him.

With Kuroko, victory would be ascertained.

However, as the two continued to play in silence, Midorima never realized something was wrong. Although it was a lie to say he didn't play to win, that wasn't the sole reason he played. When did victory become their sole doctrine?

When did it, being only a tiny speck back then, force its way through the crannies of their subconscious, proving the saying, "the beginning of the end comes slow."?.

It wasn't considered back then.

"Outei."

It was checkmate...in less than 15 minutes.

Midorima immediately scowled at the board.

"Midorima. You're slightly off your game today. Usually, you'd lose to me in 20 minutes." Akashi averaged, only earning a glare from the male.

Eventually however, Midorima released a gruff sigh, his way of declaring resignation. "Then I'll take that as a sign to leave early." He excused, turning behind him to pack his things when he suddenly noticed a camera sitting at the shelf across from him.

A camera? No one was allowed to leave any personal belongings in the clubroom.

Deciding that it was best be taken to the Lost and Found, Midorima strode over to it, picking up its antique frame.

"Did someone leave this here?" He murmured aloud.

"Ah right. Sorry Midorima, that's mine." The red-head suddenly explained from behind him before a wan hand reached for the camera, taking it from Midorima's hands.

Midorima frowned. The camera looked like an antique.

"Why would you suddenly have something like this?" He automatically questioned yet, at this point, Akashi was no longer surprised by his bluntness.

"Well, it's true that it's old but...it's a Kodak A13-Flash," he explained, as if it was supposed to make perfect sense.

Surprisingly...it did—to Midorima at least.

Slight astonishment tinted the taller male's eyes. He had heard about that camera before albeit, from watching the Oha-asa horoscope where there was a super rare lucky item for Cancer last month: the Kodak camera with the "ability to make you cry".

Was it this?

Akashi nodded, reading his mind. "Yes. I won this at an auction this week. Don't you think it's interesting? A camera that can make you cry?" He voiced with bemusement.

Midorima frowned. "And I suppose you wanted to test it on me." He scowled, cutting straight to the chase.

As per usual, he wasn't given the right to decline.

SNAP!

A warm photo slipped out of the slot.

Akashi smoothly took it out, lifting it for him to see before pausing...as if in thought.

It was a photo them at the arcade, something they did not too long ago when Midorima just had to go and get a stuffy from their crane game.

It was also the first time Kuroko helped him get what he wanted. It was just like Midorima to treasure something like that.

Akashi smiled...before it was promptly snatched away from him and tossed into the trash.

He lifted a brow. "Oh? Was it alright for you to not look at it?"

Midorima merely scoffed at the comment. "And risk feeling unnecessarily flustered over what was contained within?" He countered.

Akashi smirked. "Ignorance is bliss hmm? But, I suppose in that case, I should compensate for that." He murmured before he tossed the camera at Midorima who, though bewildered by his actions, still easily caught it.

"Midorima. Would you care to take a picture?"

SNAP!

It was from there that Midorima should've noticed something was wrong.

In the photo, was a picture of Akashi, arms crossed in his Teiko jersey, releasing a small sigh as he watched the rest of his teammates.

It surprised him with how simple Akashi's "important thing" turned out to be yet, what should've really surprised him was Akashi's reaction to it.

His expression was flat. Eyes cold and steeled.

In a forced voice, he released an impassive, "hmm."

It had been 2 years since then.

Perhaps Akashi had foreseen it all.

Barging into a purposefully left open door, Midorima located his former captain, at ease in a swivel chair by a desk with a camera and a photograph in hand.

"...Shintarou." Akashi began, as if he was expecting him. "You told me that Tetsuya's photo was empty correct?"

Midorima narrowed his eyes. He didn't have Aomine's ridiculous instincts but even he couldn't but feel unease. "That's right." He slowly returned, wary.

He had every right to be.

Instantly, a smile flashed across Akashi's lips, a happy and content one as the red-head suddenly upturned his head towards his former vice-captain and in one abrupt movement, flung the picture at the teen.

Of course, being paper, it merely softly fluttered down.

Midorima caught it before it did.

He widened his eyes at what he saw.

"Then Tetsuya was wrong." He heard Akashi comment fleetingly.

Midorima's expression grew grim.

It was simply a picture of Akashi.

There was nothing else.

'The one that's empty...is me."

Midorima...couldn't say he completely did not saw this coming. Somewhere, deeply rooted within his subconsciousness was the sight of Akashi on that day, the day when he first saw the picture from the camera.

He wasn't happy.

Yet, judging by Akashi's smiling visage right now, the vice-captain knew that he was content—no matter how twisted it may have seemed.

That was perfectly fine for Akashi.

Akashi Seijuro was different.

What he wanted and what the rest of the world wanted may not have been congruent but that, was what made him himself.

Midorima always knew that and, though he never said it, always respected him for that.

Yet, Akashi wasn't always so different. Midorima still remembered when they first met back during 1st year. He was kind, more considerate, and though he still retained his curiosity from then, now, it was sometimes malicious, verging on cruel despite never causing any actual harm.

Still, the people around Akashi didn't know how long that would last.

Midorima didn't either.

However, despite feeling a vast gap between Akashi and himself, Midorima noticed he couldn't feel any closer—to the boy from all those summers ago.

He sighed.

"So? Are you saying you're beyond human interaction now?" Midorima scoffed.

Akashi raised a brow, as if Midorima asked something absurd. "No. It's simply stating what I wanted to confirm all those years ago." He smirked. "I had forgotten all about that camera until Tetsuya brought it around but...you were curious weren't you Shintarou? About my expression back then."

Midorima frowned. Was that why Akashi left the door open? For that?

No.

He left it open to end everything.

"...It's highly likely that Rakuzan will face Shuutoku first." Midorima began, now comprehending.

Akashi nodded. "Yes. And, Rakuzan will win."

Midorima scowled. "Don't start acting like you know everything again Akashi. Nothing has been decided yet!" He defended although, it didn't sound like he was defending Shuutoku in the least. It was as if, he was defending his beliefs...of Akashi.

The red-head didn't bat an eye. "I do know. After all, for me, victory is preordained. Rakuzan will win."

The viridian-eyed male grew dark, permanent scowl beginning to almost twist in pain.

It wasn't because that Shuutoku might lose.

It was Akashi's behavior, what he truly meant to say.

"It seems you understand don't you Shintarou?"

Midorima was silent.

Akashi continued anyways. "Human interaction comes from the necessity of others and where does this necessity stem from? Weakness. Weakness breeds sympathy, empathy, and many things that are the foundation of human interaction."

"..."

"Out of all of you, due to our positions, you were the closest to me Shintarou. I suspect the same can be said for you."

"...Hmph."

"And in turn, that day, I showed you a weakness, stemming from a photo that proved what I treasured most wasn't winning but...rather, human interaction. Weakness."

...Since when did Akashi become so fixated on the Teiko doctrine again?

Winning is everything.

When did that cause him to change?

"So I'm ending it here. From this picture, that is no longer the case. Do you understand what this means?" Akashi asked, voice icy and distant.

"...You want me to be your enemy."

The two had once come across a book of psychological matters, about how interaction was built through necessity of the other.

However, once that necessity is gone, that was when relationships begin to crumble. It happened all the time in the jungle and ironically, in the business world.

It was happening right now.

The empty photo was proof that the gap was gone.

It was proof, that Akashi planned to end his bonds.

He was now an enemy.

"That's right Shintarou. So fight me, with all you've got and entertain me for a bit. I want you...to be my enemy."

"...You still talk as if you're all the way up there don't you?" Midorima finally released.

The red-head's expression was as cold as ever. "I don't believe you're one to talk."

Midorima smiled. "Hmph. True but, even so, I'm ready to drag you down Akashi. You'll be wrong." He challenged, not even slightly intimidated as he noticed how his toy frog was kindly placed on the table by the door.

Akashi looked surprised, before that content smile settled on his lips once more. "No Shintarou, that won't ever happen."

"We'll see."

Midorima Shintarou had left.

A heavy silence settled back in the room as Akashi removed himself from the swivel chair and strode towards the window as a gorgeous yet haunting dusk fell on the land.

"No Shintarou. You won't. After all, you're not Tetsuya." The youth muttered.

Unlike the others, from the beginning, Akashi Seijuro knew of what was precious.

Yet, he wasn't happy with that and, despite knowing it, crushed those days himself with a heavy hand.

He didn't seem to regret it.

Akashi Seijuro didn't seem to regret anything. Ever.

However, there was one action that was contradictory to everything so far.

Why did he go to such lengths to hide that truth from Kuroko?

Why did he, make it seem as if everything was perfectly fine?

Because Kuroko Tetsuya was important.

He always had been.

If Akashi had let him see the truth behind the photo, Kuroko wouldn't have found himself, found the courage to accept himself.

But, why was that important?

Simply because...it was interesting.

Ryouta had changed, back to that naive and passionate youth he was before. Shintarou as well. Daiki...although his disinterest in basketball was the same, Akashi was certain Kuroko could do something to change that and, the same could be said for Atsushi's case.

Their team had always centered around Kuroko Tetsuya.

Despite being a "shadow" no, perhaps because he was a shadow, Kuroko was crucial to the team, crucial to their lives.

So Akashi wanted to see if Kuroko could change something within him.

Only Kuroko Tetsuya could.

But, that thought was only one out of curiosity.

Besides, he was sure Rakuzan would defeat Seirin and...he was never wrong.

Yet, perhaps that was what Kuroko Tetsuya was there to change.

Akashi parted his lips. Hmm, perhaps curiosity stemmed deeper within him than he thought.

He smirked.

It was hard to tell who was the puppeteer behind this all now.

Nevertheless, he still planned to play his part, perfectly.

"I'll be waiting...Tetsuya."

I hope you guys enjoyed this "short" story!

Again, I want to thank you guys for sticking around and giving me so much support! I grinned every single time I saw a review!

I hope to see you guys again!

-Infinite Skye.