Summary: A short story on the recording processes of the official character songs of the cast from Kuroko no Basuke.

A/N: It's the last day of 2013! I hope everyone had a good time this year, and may 2014 be even more wonderful. :)

Disclaimer: I do not own Kuroko no Basuke, the characters, or the character songs.

Chapter 14: Netsu no Kakera

It seems like he has cooled down. Akashi watched with observant eyes. "Alright, you can record your second song now, Daiki."

Aomine replied with another grunt, heading towards the mike without any complains. Closing his eyes, Aomine reminisced as he sang.

Flashback (in Aomine's P.O.V.)

"Aomine-kun, -pfft- vandalism of property is not good."

I felt my cheeks heat up -Dammit! Someone saw me- but I was more shocked then surprised when I saw who it was.

"Te-Tetsu…" He was facing the side with a hand covering his mouth. My eye twitched at his still-shaking shoulders while trying to ignore it. "What are you doing here? Didn't you go to your team?"

His expression returned to neutral as he turned towards me, his eyes showing a little hint of confusion. "I merely came here to get some drinks."

"I… see…" What was I expecting..?

"… Aomine-kun, is there something wrong?"

I was slightly taken aback by his question. "H-huh? Why are you asking that?"

Tetsu's expression changed to one of thought (not that anyone else would be able to tell). "Well, Aomine seems to be in a bad mood. That and there must be a reason as to why Akashi-kun would ask you to come out."

He sure can read me; as usual. I grunted before realizing something. "How did you know Akashi sent me out? I could have been on the phone all this time."

His eyes held a knowing look. "I noticed that Momoi-san had brought Aomine-kun's bottle with her. If it was a drink Aomine-kun wanted, you would have asked Momoi-san for it instead of coming all the way here, spending money to buy one. Also, if the conversation over the phone had taken so long, Aomine-kun would be hurrying back to the recording room as Akashi-kun does not appreciate our absence."

I gawked at his explanation for a second before catching myself, chuckling as I breathe out, "you haven't changed, Tetsu." He showed a small smile that disappeared so quickly I would have doubted my own eyes.

"So Aomine-kun, what is the problem?" I watched as he approached the vending machine I just kicked, popping in some change and pressing the button for pocari.

"It's nothing big…" There's no way I can say it…

"Is that so…" The drink popped out for him; I can feel my eye twitching.

There was an awkward silence as Tetsu repeated the process for a few more times, each time pressing for a different drink. The back of my mind grew more and more annoyed at the vending machine with each drink that my past shadow successfully purchase.

… 'past shadow…'

I mentally shook that thought away, before re-focusing on Tetsu, who was arranging many drinks to be held properly. "HOW MANY DRINKS DO YOU NEED?"

"Eh?" He turned to me with a seemingly blank expression. "I was buying for my seniors as well."

I huffed at his reply. Tetsu turned back to arrange the drinks together on the wooden bench beside the vending machine. "… Do you need help carrying those back?"

"No, it's fine. I can handle this." He paused, taking a pocari from the pile and handing it to me. "Aomine-kun's change was still in machine earlier. I hope you don't mind that I chose the drink without consulting you."

"Ah." I stared at his blue hair as he managed to carry the drinks steadily. "Thanks."

He stared back at me. "No problem." His eyes are always so captivating, that shade of blue so different from my own.

Netsu no Kakera by Aomine Daiki (C.V. Suwabe Junichi)

Romaji

Koboredashita netsu no kakera chuu ni chitta zanzou

Hikari no naka e to kieteiku

Oikakeru hodo dare to mo tooku naru
Hirogaru kyori wa kasokudo wo tsukete
Ase ga hiku you ni hieteiku kokoro de
Nani wo kanjite mo munashii kodoku de shika nai

Akiremeta no wa ore datta no ka
Dare yori mo jiyuu de dakedo doko ni mo ikezu

Koboreteiku netsu no kakera chuu ni chitta zanzou
Tada muchuu de subete datta ano hibi wa modoranai
Tsuyosugiru hikari no naka de me wo aketa mama
Fui ni shisen wo oyogasete wa nani ka wo sagasu kedo
Kieta rinkaku wa mou kage hitosu nokottenai

English

The after image of overflowing fragments of heat left scattering in midair
Disappearing together within the light

Trying to catch up to me, anyone is far away from that
The increasing distance between us is accelerating
The amount I sweat is decreasing, my heart is growing cold
No matter what I feel, there's nothing but an unavoidable loneliness

Was the one that gave up me?
I'm more free than anyone, but I can go anywhere

The after image of the fragments of heat overflow as it scatters in midair
The days that I can never return to are everything to me In my dreams
My eyes remain open within the light that become too strong
Unexpectedly, my gaze will look gaze over people while I'm searching for a rival
My disappeared silhouette has not left behind its shadow

I could only watch his retreating back as Tetsu headed off to a different corridor. Before he turned the corner, he turned back towards me. "Aomine-kun."

I raised an eyebrow despite my confusing feelings. "Yeah?"

A gentle smile formed on his face, the one I've seen so many times before. "We will definitely win against you next time." He continued on without waiting for my reply.

"Hah." A smirk formed on my face out of habit, "The only one who can beat me is me."

I'll be waiting…

End of Flashback (Normal P.O.V.)

Dai-chan… Momoi had a brief gentle smile as she listened to the song and tucked it to a special place in her mind.

Aomine's song ended, and he walked to where the others were nonchalantly, having sorted out his emotions (kind of).

His 'audiences', as he thought, was giving him praises similar to what they said to everyone else instead of teasing him. That was how they used to work; they all had mutual understanding.

"Dai-chan! That was great! See? You can do it if you try!" Aomine replied a half-hearted 'shut up' to his childhood friend.

"Hmph" Midorima pushed up his spectacles. "That wasn't bad." It was followed by cheers of agreement from Takao.

"Mine-chin sugoi~" Murasakibara managed to say that before eating yet another maiubo.

"You get a passing mark for that." Akashi had a half-smile and half-smirk on his face as he said that jokingly.

"Hm." There was a slight pause before he raised his eyebrow. "So, who's next?"

To be continued…

ANNNDDDD THAT'S IT! Yay, I managed another chapter for welcoming 2014!

How was that, everyone? You got to see the conversation Aomine had with Kuroko this chapter! Was it good? I honestly haven't thought of what they did together until I was typing this chapter.

I suppose this chapter is kinda all emotional-ish? Ha-ha! I like it; didn't think I was capable of writing something somewhat serious.

Anyway, please review! It works as motivation for me. :)

Once again, have a wonderful new year!