Art class was the bane of Midorima Shintarou's existence.

He could tolerate many things. And many people. Even insufferable people like Takao, who never shut up, or Murasakibara who was lazy and ridiculous. He could deal with grueling workouts that brought most others to their knees, or other subjects like physics that left most of his classmates pulling out their hair. But art was another thing entirely.

Part of his problem was the creative aspect. Midorima could think outside the box when he needed to. If there was a problem that needed a solution he could be creative in finding a way. And in music, he could compose his own songs for the piano that won approval even from his strict instructor. But he could not just sit down and draw, or paint, or sculpt something themed around one of those ridiculous topics his flighty hippie of an art instructor loved throwing at them, topics like, "Evanescing" or "Saturation."

Honestly, he couldn't draw, paint, or sculpt to begin with, and his attempt at making a collage had gotten him extremely low marks, that Midorima thought had just as much to do with the quality of his work as his inability to portray "Justice in Media" through cut out magazine photographs. So, as Midorima frowned at the project sheet before him, that gave him a list of options for how to complete his art class's final project, he realized that the only option that he had any hope of obtaining passing marks with, was making an art survey.

Though how he was going to be able to do that with a concept like "Story of Emotions," Midorima did not know.

He ground his teeth and snuck a glance at Takao. His teammate, Midorima was not surprised at all to see, was smiling, like he hadn't a care in the world. Like he wasn't worried at all about this project, which would count for half of their grade this term.

Honestly, he probably wasn't. Ozeki Sensei adored Takao and the nonsense he spouted. He had BS'ed his way into getting the highest marks in the class, though Midorima would admit that he did have some skill in painting with an air brush. But only half of your grade in this class came from your actual artwork, and the other half came from explaining it to their teacher. That was what Takao really excelled in, and Midorima found himself a little bit resentful of his friend for that sometimes.

Like now. Because as much as he hated to admit it, Midorima was going to need help with this project if he wanted his grade point average to remain the highest in his year when this term was over. And he was both lucky and unlucky that the best person to help him with this was his best friend.

Lucky, because he knew that Takao would be more than willing to help him, even though he could easily work solo and get an excellent score. Essentially, Takao would be carrying Midorima through this, though Midorima thought that was only fair, considering how Takao was only passing Algebra and History because of Midorima's tutoring. But he was unlucky because Takao was going to know perfectly well just how badly Midorima needed help, and was going to rub his face in it.

With a sigh, Midorima decided that he might as well get this over with. He cleared his throat to get Takao's attention, then nearly cringed when Takao immediately turned knowing eyes on him.

"Sup, Shin-chan?" he asked with a wide smirk.

"It has occurred to me that it is the team's best interest to keep an eye on you and make sure you don't get off track with this project," Midorima said stiffly. "Therefore, we'll be working together on this."

"Oh? You trust me so little, Shin-chan?" Takao elbowed him lightly in the ribs. Midorima batted at his arm to knock it away. "You're not worried that I'll drag you down with my horrible attention span? What if I get really far off track and drag you off the track with me? We'll be like a derailed train! And we'll both fail and have to sit on the bench. Is that really in the best interest of the team, Shin-chan?"

"That is what I'm joining with you to prevent," Midorima said, trying to hide how annoyed he was.

"So you're worried about me, is that it?" Takao asked hopefully.

"I'm worried for the team. It will be inconvenience for everyone if our new captain is benched for poor academics," lied Midorima.

"Well, worry not. I just remembered that I've got the highest grade in the class so far," said Takao, flashing him a dazzling smile. "I think I'll be alright on this project."

"I – you – what I mean to say is . . ." Midorima gritted his teeth.

"Of course, if we're talking about someone who needs help to keep their grade up . . . well wouldn't that be you, Shin-chan?" asked Takao devilishly.

"Don't be ridiculous. I don't need your help," Midorima said as convincingly as he could. But he was not convincing enough, apparently.

"Oh, you don't, do you?" Takao raised both his eyebrows.

"No. I don't. Like I said, I'm doing this for the best interest of the team."

Takao stared at Midorima with that horrible mischievous look in his eyes, and for a second, Midorima thought Takao was going to call his bluff again, and force him to confess that the reason he wanted to work with him was because he really needed his help badly.

But then Takao took the conversation down another route, one which Midorima honestly wasn't sure if it was better or worse.

"Liar. You just want to work with me because you want to spend more time with me."

"Don't be an imbecile."

"It's alright, Shin-chan," Takao teased. "You can admit it. Don't be shy."

"I'm not being shy you fool."

"You love me! Admit it!"

"Shut up and stop causing a scene!"

"Pfft, people are barely giving us weird glances. They're used to you being weird by now."

Midorima spluttered in outrage. "They don't stare at us because I'm weird, it's because of you!"

"Uh huh. Sure," Takao said unconvincingly.

Midorima was saved from having to respond to that by the ringing of the bell. Takao lost interest in tormenting Midorima, in favor of getting packed up and getting to practice as quickly as possible. Once he would have been content to get there simply on time, but since the third years all retired, and Takao was named the new team captain, he'd gotten a bit more responsible. He was smart enough to know that he had to be, if he wanted the second years who'd been on the bench all season and were a bit resentful of him and Midorima to follow him and accept him as their new leader.

"I've got an idea for what I want to do, and I'm ninety-percent sure that it's better than your idea if you even have one," said Takao as they made their way through the crowded hall. "So we'll be using my idea. You got time to discuss it after practice? Maybe over burgers or ramen?"

"We're going to do an art survey," Takao announced around a mouthful of French fries. "An art survey of The Shadow's works."

"Who?" asked Midorima, looking at the mass in Takao's mouth distastefully.

Takao, thankfully, swallowed before speaking again. "The Shadow, Shin-chan! The Shadow!"

"I don't know who that is."

"Araugh! We've been over this before! Don't you remember?" asked Takao. "I showed you his comeback piece last summer! It was his first piece of street art in like a year, and I was the first person in all of Tokyo to find it!"

Something stirred in Midorima's memory at this prompt. "Street art? You mean that weird graffiti you were all worked up about?"

"Yes! That street art!" Takao brightened. "You do remember."

Midorima stared at Takao hard. "You do realize that this project is worth half of our grade this term, don't you?"

"Uh, yeah. What's your point?"

"You want to make an art survey of graffiti? And you expect us to get a good grade off it?" Midorima demanded.

"Yes, I do expect us to get a good grade off it," said Takao, "Because The Shadow's art is freaking awesome. And because it lends itself perfectly to the theme that we have to go by. I've never known another collection of art to fit this topic better than The Shadow's art."

"You must be joking."

Takao gave him a look that surprised Midorima. One that meant he was actually starting to get a little bit annoyed, for real, not just in jest. "I'm not joking. Why do you think I'm joking?"

"Because what you're talking about is nothing more than glorified graffiti, Takao! It's not art, it's vandalism –"

"You say that like those are mutually exclusive," said Takao, his eyes narrowing just a fraction, but enough for Midorima to realize Takao was prepared to fight about this.

"Alright. It might be considered art, but it is also vandalism," said Midorima. "It's not something that should be encouraged or venerated."

"I disagree," said Takao. "Even though I don't know what venerated means. Art is all about thinking outside the box and pushing boundaries to express your creativity."

"Which doesn't mean it's alright to deface public property."

"Except that I think it is," argued Takao. "Because it's not like he's hurting anyone or anything. On the contrary, his art actually helps people."

"Like who?" challenged Midorima, not believing this for a second.

He was surprised when Takao's eyes grew even colder.

"Like me."

Midorima stared at his friend for several seconds, searching for something to say. He needed to back away from this issue, he realized. He hadn't realized Takao felt so strongly about this, or why, but pushing this issue any further would be a mistake. He didn't care as much about being right as he did about not pushing away his friend right now, and not just because he didn't want to end up working on this project alone.

Takao seemed to read his thoughts, or at least his expression, as Midorima was floundering for something to say. Then, with the same consideration he usually used during the rare occasions where things got tense between the two of them, he let Midorima off the hook, offering what was akin to an olive branch.

"You know how when you're feeling down sometimes, you'll hear a sad song and like identify with it? And maybe it doesn't make you feel any better right then, but at the same time, you don't want to feel better? Because something crappy happened and you need to feel bad for awhile before you feel better? But at the same time, knowing someone else felt the way you're feeling now makes you feel like you're not so alone?" Takao said, not quite looking at Midorima. "Well, art can be like that too."

"I see," said Midorima, even though he actually didn't.

"No you don't." Takao saw right through him.

"You're right," Midorima confessed. "I don't. But . . . maybe I will see. Since your ideas, thus far, have produced reasonably adequate results in that class, I'll trust that you know what you're doing now. We can do this project your way."

And maybe Takao's smile was a little strained, but Midorima could tell that he was genuinely pleased. He was always happy to get his own way when dealing with Midorima.

"Well," he said, wadding up his burger wrapper and stuffing it into his empty fry carton, "Let's get started."

Important Announcement!

This fic is part of a collaboration I'm doing with the talented artist yellowoctopus333, who is doing a digital painting of every piece of street art that is mentioned in this fic. We've been working together, planning out each picture for this story, and it's because of her that this fic is being written. It's a story that I've been wanting to tell for like a year, but I never thought that I would actually be able to do it, because the artwork mentioned in this fic is such an important part of the story, and I can't draw or paint. But then Yellowoctopus333 painted the RimFire emblem from my fic "RimFire," and gave me permission to use it as cover art for that fic, and we got to talking, and everything came together so well that I'm still amazed.

So make sure you check out the illustrations that go with this fic on DeviantArt. There are links to them in my profile. Yellowoctopus333 has currently posted two of the pictures, and I've written microfics about what was going on with Kuroko when he painted each one. The microfics are being posted exclusively alongside those pictures, so that's the only place you'll be able to read them. So please make sure you check them out!