Summary: Kuroko wasn't expecting a relationship out of his confession - Akashi wasn't expecting the confession to begin with. They both wanted this relationship to work - none of them were ready for it.

Disclaimer: The Kuroko no Basket manga is the property of its creator, Tadatoshi Fujimaki. The other Kuroko no Basket media is property of their authorised owners. These stories are created by the author. All original settings, characters, etc., remain the property of the author.

Author's Note: This is my story for 2020 Valantine's Day Challenge. As with all week events, this will be a seven chapter story. The first prompt was chocolate.

Hope you'll like it.

Would You be My Valentine?

A Kuroko no Basket fanfiction

by Galliechan

© Copyright 2020

The Confession Chocolate

Akashi took in his friends laughing and bickering with each other in Kagami's small living room with a smile on his face. It would have been just like their first year of middle school if not for the Seirin team throwing him nervous glances in between their horrendous jokes and loud mayhem.

Of course, this gathering was Kuroko's accomplishment. His sort of miracle. Akashi didn't know how he earned it but he was thankful for his friendship with Kuroko.

Whose kindness was such that he gave them early Valentine's chocolates on his birthday.

One by one, he called his friends to the kitchen to give them a small bag of chocolates along with some heartfelt words, if their soft smiles and misty eyes when they returned was anything to go by. After the Seirin team, who ate their chocolates with the glee of receiving them before his middle school teammates, Kuroko opened the kitchen door and called Kise in.

With a cry of "Kurokocchi!", Kise danced to the kitchen, his voice already wavering.

Akashi searched for a clean spot to lean his elbow on the coffee table, covered in snack wrappings, dirty plates, and the half-eaten birthday cake. He knew he would be the last one, not because he was more or less important than anyone but - it was how things were. Akashi got used to it.

When Kise's joyful shout reached them even through the closed kitchen door, Akashi met Murasakibara's disgruntled eyes. Midorima was eying his lucky item of the day at the side but it was no gift material.

They should have expected Kuroko's kindness. They thought to spend a day together like old times was a nice idea - and that coming from another city might be a gift upon itself - but only Momoi had prepared an actual birthday present for Kuroko. While all the people at Tokyo could give something else later, or just some chocolates at the actual Valentine's, Akashi and Murasakibara didn't have the chance. Their train was early tomorrow morning.

Akashi gave a helpless shrug and Murasakibara bit into his snack with petulant determination.

"I will buy him lots of snacks for White day," he muttered.

"That we should do," Akashi answered. "And maybe meet and play again?"

"You do that! I want to join the game too!" Kagami called from one of the sofas.

"It is agreed then," Momoi clapped her hands. "I will arrange it!"

"Whatever it is-tssu, I want to join too!" Kise shouted as he returned with an identical bag of chocolates in his hand and a silly grin. Aomine grunted a reply, which irritated his self-claimed rivals and Momoi, resulting in another series of squabbles.

Mollified and chuckling at his friends' antics, Akashi went back to waiting his turn. Just one month ago he would have condescended these people, as none of them served for his goals or victories. He had arranged all his social interactions to ensure his dominance over people or to gather useful information about them.

Must be the reason he felt like he relaxed for the first time in years. Akashi wasn't after anything at this moment.

What a peculiar feeling.

It would be a good idea to have a similar gathering with his Rakuzan teammates; he might enjoy it.

And would give his teammates the means to get to know this Akashi.

He gave a wry smile; even now he couldn't do anything without a proper rationale. The other Akashi's basis was his personality of course, and ingrained into it from a young age was the habit of having a solid future plan.

It was dark outside when Kuroko called him. Although the conversations continued with their vigor, people started to glance at their watches; after his turn, they would congratulate Kuroko altogether one last time and leave.

Akashi was already looking forward to the White Day.

As Kuroko closed the door behind him, Akashi took in the messy kitchen that cooked for and then sated the hunger of more than a dozen teenagers.

"Thank you for coming today, Akashi-kun."

"Thank you for inviting me, Kuroko. Today was the most enjoyable day I had in a while."

"I am glad," Kuroko gave one of the largest smiles Akashi has seen on him. Today, Kuroko looked like his expressive self before he met misdirection. It suited him.

With a smile of his own, Akashi waited for his friend's speech. He was curious about it - even Midorima and Murasakibara had suspiciously bright eyes when they returned to the living room.

After several heartbeats of silence, Kuroko chuckled instead. "Akashi-kun wants his chocolate, I take it?"

Akashi felt his face warming up - he must have had an expectant expression. He cleared his throat to cool down but when he faced Kuroko again -

They giggled together.

How long has it been since he shared a moment like this with Kuroko?

"I've had time to raise my expectations," Akashi said, "no pressure though."

Kuroko puffed out a laugh. "No pressure, indeed."

Akashi only grinned in response, which earned him a snort and a fond head shaking from his friend.

"There is a reason you are the last one, Akashi-kun," he said as he walked around the table towards his bag next to the refrigerator. "And before the chocolate, I have to ask a favor."

"What is it?" Akashi said without hesitation this question always brought him. As much as he disliked favors, he knew Kuroko wouldn't be after any unfair advantage. In contrast, it would be something like:

"I am about to do something crazy so, promise me you'll stay my friend after it."

Akashi smiled - dear, honest Kuroko. "I am honored to be your friend. Know that you are and will always be one of my most cherished friends." He watched with satisfaction as Kuroko's cheeks reddened. With a grin, he added, "your crazy can't be worse than mine."

Kuroko coughed to hide his smile behind his hand. "It is yet to be seen." Then, as slow as he could get, he crouched next to his bag. After glancing around as if making sure the dirty dishes and the oily scent in the air weren't spying on him, he plunged his hand into the depths of his bag. Akashi heard him touch some sort of a package but Kuroko stayed at his spot with a deer in the headlights look.

Akashi leaned forward to see the package. Everybody got identical chocolates, why was Kuroko -

"Are you stalling?"

His friend gave a wry grin. "Kind of."

"Why?"

"Overthinking."

Akashi looked at the bag, wishing his Emperor Eye could work as an x-ray, then at his friend, who was biting his lip. He narrowed his eyes when Kuroko moved the bag behind him before standing up.

"I don't understand why -"

Kuroko extended the chocolate to Akashi with the speed of one of his kai passes.

Akashi trailed off.

It wasn't in a bag like others, was the first thing he noticed. This one was in a square box with a transparent cover to show what was inside.

It was - heart-shaped. Like - a homemade-heart - with lumpy parts. And on it was uneven words that said - To: Akashi-kun. From: Kuroko.

The rest of his observations got lost in the white noise ringing in his ears. Also, did he sway?

"Akashi-kun, do you want to sit down?"

Feeling like underwater, Akashi unstuck his eyes from the chocolate. Kuroko wore a worried expression and had moved closer to him.

When? How? Their three and a half-year long friendship flashed before his eyes. Kuroko has always been…Kuroko. Akashi didn't notice his behavior change towards him.

"Akashi-kun?"

Akashi opened his eyes, not sure when he closed them and - shook his head. Kuroko had asked a question, right?

He stiffened - was it The Question? - but his muscles groaned because - he was frozen solid already. He took in a shaky breath and looked around.

The yellow light of the kitchen, pink and blue cake frost remains in cups and the not-so-delicious mixture of greasy and sweet scents in the air. His friends' loud noises coming from the living room along with the quiet but fast breathing of his friend next to him.

His skin tingled where Kuroko looked at him. Akashi opened his mouth, his mind still quite blank -

"There was no question," Kuroko blurted, "so you don't need to answer."

"But - I -" Akashi dared to glance at the chocolate. "Isn't it -"

"A confession chocolate? Yes. A question chocolate? No."

Akashi blinked. Then blinked again, feeling like a rebooting computer.

"What?"

Kuroko pursed his lips. "This is an informative chocolate. I just wanted you to know."

"Sorry, I just -" He shook his head and took a deep breath. He wrinkled his nose at the heavy smell but started to feel like himself. "I never thought -"

"It is alright, Akashi-kun."

"I don't understand," he said, hating the pleading tone in his voice but - he understood Kuroko's favor now.

"Akashi-kun has always been special for me. In time, I figured out what it meant."

"Even when I was -?"

"Quite rude and success-oriented? Yes, it is a part of Akashi-kun."

As with all the times his personality split was voiced out loud, Akashi silenced. He wished he had accepted Kuroko's offer to sit down so they wouldn't be so - face to face.

On another note, he couldn't imagine someone better suited for this moment than kind and quiet Kuroko. It has always been easy to be around him.

From the corner of his eye, he saw Kuroko fidget - with another skipped beat, he remembered that he hadn't accepted the chocolate. He raised his head to look at his friend just as Kuroko extended the chocolate again with a shy smile and light blush.

Akashi had never seen his friend with such a look. He felt himself warming up as well.

"I - thank you," he said as he took the chocolate with both hands like receiving the most precious gift ever. A breakable and delicious gift.

"I just wanted Akashi-kun to know my feelings," he said, looking into Akashi's eyes even when his blush intensified. He was Kuroko, after all. "Thank you for accepting them."

He opened his mouth for a witless reply like 'thank you for feeling them' as was his norm in this conversation but - he was stuck on his last thought.

He was Kuroko, after all.

Calm, quiet Kuroko with his love of basketball, odd sense of humor and comfortable presence. Akashi trusted him like he did no one else.

A scene flashed in his mind where they sat side by side on a sofa, reading books. Kuroko raised his head and smiled: Soft, kind and content. Akashi, transparent under his eyes but feeling stronger instead of vulnerable for it, smiled back and touched his hand. For one tranquil moment, they gazed at each other. Then, together, they returned to their books.

Akashi yearned for it. And Kuroko suited it, right?

Right?

His mouth dry and heart beating fast, he said, "You really won't ask the question?"

Kuroko's eyes widened.

What was he doing? He never thought of Kuroko in a romantic light before! His stomach clenched.

"Akashi-kun, would you be my boyfriend?"

A sudden coldness spread from his chest and it felt like his insides were quivering. He opened his mouth but no sound came.

He was going to break Kuroko's heart! He had to stop - he didn't feel -

But, he wanted the easy companionship of Kuroko. He wanted to share more of these moments with him.

He wanted his vision. With Kuroko.

"Yes," he heard himself say. As if it was his other personality that moved his body.

But he knew he was in control. When Kuroko took a sharp breath and then softened with the loveliest smile Akashi saw on his friend, he hugged his chocolate to his chest.

Kuroko's boyfriend. He was Kuroko's boyfriend from now on.

His lips twitched into a hesitant smile. It would be okay, right?

"Thank you," Kuroko said.

"I am honored," he murmured.

Kuroko's smile widened - Akashi didn't think it was possible -

They jumped when someone knocked on the door.

"Kurokocchi? Akashicchi? Are you ok?" Kise said, poking his head in.

"Ye - yes, Kise-kun, we are fine. If you could give us a moment, we are coming."

But Kise's eyes were already on the chocolate Akashi pressed to his chest. In a rush, Akashi remembered where he was - the narrow kitchen of Kagami's house - and who was beyond it - more than a dozen of their friends.

He heard Kuroko's resigned murmur of "I should have thought of a bag." Akashi took a step back with a wry grin; Kise followed him, eyes only on the chocolate.

"That chocolate is different from ours," Kise announced. "Why did Akashicchi get a special one - wait. Wait, wait, wait! Is that a confession chocolate!"

Akashi took another step back to get his chocolate away from Kise's grabby hands - then froze when he touched Kuroko. He turned sideways to protect it when Kise made another attempt - and met Kuroko's blue eyes -

"We decided to be boyfriends," Kuroko said, loud and clear. Akashi's hands clenched around his chocolate.

Then he faced their wide-eyed and open-mouthed friends. When they managed to react, the resulting noise must have reached to the furthest parts of the neighborhood.

Akashi wasn't sure he was looking forward to the White Day anymore.