disclaimer: i don't own any of the kurobas characters.

page five; aomine daiki

When Aomine wakes up, he rolls over for a minute before his brain starts to function. What day is it today? What do I have to do today? These questions go around his head over and over again. It takes a whole five minutes for it to be answered. No, I don't have anything to do today. Aomine rolls off bed and and slips on a pair of boxers by the chair. Taking long strides across the uselessly huge room of marbled floors, Aomine reaches the bathroom in a little less than a minute, cleans himself and slips on a piece of tank top and a pair of pants.

"Where's my breakfast?" Aomine asks, slightly annoyed, when he realizes his breakfast isn't brought up to his room.

His butler bows within a fraction of a second, "I'm sorry, Young Master. You told me that you didn't need breakfast today because you had plans in the afternoon."

Aomine raises an eyebrow. Did he have any plans?

...Did he..?

...oh shit.

In realisation that he actually did have something to do today, he grabs a sweater by the couch and tells his servant to prepare the car, fast. It doesn't take more than 10 minutes to reach the location, cursing a little that he's a whole hour late and hoping that he would still be there. Aomine Daiki isn't the kind of guy to ask for dates, at least to girls anyway. Technically, Kuroko Tetsuya is a guy so it wouldn't actually be counted as a date. (...but who cares, mutters the tan boy)

He starts look around the place, realizing that Kuroko isn't the place Aomine told him to wait at. Well, of course he wouldn't be. He starts to jog down the streets while looking into the stores, in hopes to spot a certain patch of sky blue.

"Aomine-kun?"

He jumps out of his seat when he decides to rest after a long 10 minutes of jogging.

"Kuroko?!" He exclaims in surprise.

Kuroko blinks in response, "Were you looking for me?"

No shit, Aomine looks at Kuroko, before realizing his arms are occupied with what seems like a bag of books and a bag of snacks. Noticing Aomine's eyes, the shorter guy explains, "I thought you weren't coming, so I went ahead." Kuroko sits down on the bench Aomine was on just seconds ago, and motions him to sit down.

"Am I really that untrustworthy?" Aomine grumbles, finally flopping next to Kuroko.

"Truthfully, yes." says Kuroko without hesitation.

"Even though I was the one who asked you out?"

"Yes."

"You have no hesitation, have you?"

"No. You were late for over 30 minutes, the most logical conclusion was that you weren't coming. Furthermore, today's a Tuesday. We should be in school, studying."

Aomine raises an eyebrow, "You're one uptight student. It's good to come out once in a while."

"I wouldn't want to miss out any important points being pointed out in class."

"I'm sure you won't. You're a Teiko Private High student for a reason."

Aomine wins round one.

"Come on," he stands up and gestures Kuroko to leave with him, "I'll make up for being late."

Kuroko gives him a skeptical look as Aomine reaches out to take a few plastic bags from his hands. "Have you gone on a date before?" he asks and they start walking down the street together. Kuroko stays quiet for the first few seconds before replying, "Your definition of a date?"

They take the turn to the right.

"A romantic appointment with the opposite gender?"

"No, I haven't."

"I see."

They take another turn to the right.

"A romantic appointment with the same gender?"

"I have."

"I see….wait what?!"

Aomine stops in his tracks. Kuroko looks up at the tanned boy, "Though I wouldn't exactly call it a romantic appointment."

"You haven't been on a date, to conclude."

"If you're talking about what couples would do for a date, then i haven't."

"Is it that embarrassing to admit that you haven't been on a date?"

"The definition of a date varies for everyone."

"What is your definition of a date?"

"It's a date when I consider it a date."

"Is this a date?"

"Should it be?"

Aomine stares at Kuroko, annoyance itching at his throat. "You…! Forget it! Have you eaten?"

As if on cue, Kuroko's stomach grumbles. Aomine laughs and they head to a cafe further down the street. Kuroko is a bit weird, Aomine thinks. He doesn't stick to Aomine like a loyal bitch, nor does he try to flaunt the fact that he's with Aomine to everyone. They entered the small cafe by the street, Aomine raises an eyebrow, "I didn't know there was a cafe like this around here."

"The atmosphere here is really comfortable and the food is good too." Kuroko says with a small smile and hey, he's pretty cute when he smiles. Kuroko orders a plate of salad (seriously?!) while Aomine orders a plate of spaghetti carbonara, potato salad, American sandwich, chocolate milkshake and banana split for desert. Once he had finished placing his orders, the waiter repeats their orders once (Aomine adds another plate of onion rings), Kuroko snickers.

"What's so funny?"

"You remind me of my best friend."

"We'll be close friends then."

"I'd rather not."

Aomine chokes on his water and gives the boy across the table a sharp look.

"It would be very uncomfortable if I had to be judged by strangers every time I hang out with you." Kuroko sips on his iced lemon tea.

Kuroko wins round two. It is then when Aomine realizes that they really are being checked out by everyone.

"You're interesting."

"It's the second time I've heard that this week."

"I wasn't the first? Damn."

"Akashi-kun beat you to it."

Akashi?

Did he say Akashi?

"Did you just say Akashi? As in Akashi Seijuro, Akashi?"

Kuroko nods.

"Didn't know you were friends."

Kuroko doesn't reply and they sit in a comfortable silence for a minute or two before the food comes.

"You eat like a girl."

"Is that a compliment?"

Aomine laughs a little, it is the first time in a while when he's met someone other than the Royalties with such a sharp tongue.

"Tetsuya."

Kuroko looks up, startled.

"Hmm… That doesn't sound nice," Aomine frowns, propping up an elbow to support his chin on the palm of his hand. He notices the tint of pink decorating Kuroko's cheeks and his lips curl up into a small smile. "Tetsu," He says and repeats once more, "Tetsu. I'll call you 'Tetsu' from now on." Aomine feels like he's on the top of the world when he sees Kuroko blush once more while trying to hide his face.

Tetsu.

"Have you dated before?" Aomine asks.

"Are you curious?"

"No, not really."

"I haven't."

"That's a surprise."

Kuroko looks up at Aomine sharply, "You've been asking a lot of questions for the past hour."

"Have I?"

Kuroko takes another sip from his iced lemon tea.

"Aren't you curious about me?" Aomine smirks, amused that Kuroko is finally showing a hint of curiosity in him. He shrugs his shoulders, a gesture to get Kuroko to ask him something.

"Have you dated?" Kuroko asks.

"Are you curious?"

"No, not really."

"I have."

"How many?"

Aomine looks up, "That was straightforward." Kuroko takes another bite from his salad.

"More than I can count," Aomine replies truthfully.

"Are you gay?"

"Gender doesn't really matter to me."

"Anyone who left an impression?"

Aomine doesn't answer. Kuroko isn't sure if he is gonna win round three from the run-and-gun question date, but he decides not to pursue for the answer when he sees Aomine's expression change. His eyebrows crinkle into a frown, and Kuroko only watches him play with the straw of his chocolate milkshake. Kuroko finishes the last of his salad while poking on the last piece of his cherry tomato.

Aomine finishes his meal in silence, Kuroko decides not to disturb him. Before he could say anything, Aomine fishes out a piece of black card from his pocket and hands it over to a passing waiter. Kuroko doesn't say anything either, because it seems like Aomine is too deep in his thoughts.

"One."

The shorter boy looks up.

"There was one."

Kuroko stays silent.

"Do you have anywhere you want to go?" Aomine asks, deliberately changing the topic.

"I'd like to do some grocery shopping," Kuroko says and adjusts the bag of books in his arms.

Aomine fishes the paper bag from Kuroko's arms, "You cook?"

"From time to time."

"Let's go then."

They head to the nearest supermarket together (It's my first time entering a supermarket, says Aomine) and Kuroko feels like he had brought a village boy into the city. He buys a carton of eggs (Why do you need so many eggs, won't they rot away?, Aomine asks), some milk (Milk tastes horrible, Aomine comments), sausages (Why didn't you pick the pack with more sausages in it?), broccoli (Oh god, do you really have you choose the damn broccoli? They look the same!) and a lollipop.

"Why the lollipop?" Aomine asks.

Kuroko stays silent and unwraps the lollipop. He struts towards the nearest recycle bin to throw the wrapper before turning around to face Aomine, who is at least a head taller than him and shoves the candy into the Royalty's mouth. "You're asking too many questions," Kuroko only answers when Aomine gives him a glare. They walk back to their meeting point and the sun starts to set.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" Kuroko mutters.

"Is it?"

He looks up at Aomine, who seems to be deep in thought.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"I'll walk you home."

"Walk me home?"

Kuroko raises an eyebrow. A Royalty doesn't walk home. They get chauffeured home.

"Yes, walk you home. Let's go."

During the walk home, Kuroko finds out that Aomine enjoys basketball and that walking home is actually what he usually does everyday. Aomine also finds out that Kuroko enjoys basketball, only that he suck at it so badly. They laugh over their favourite basketball stars, stopping for a while when Aomine finds a street basketball. I'll just watch you, Kuroko politely declines and watches Aomine play.

The way Aomine plays basketball is like what he would see on the television. A little bit rough and fast, yet precise. Aomine would grin from ear to ear just by having a basketball at the palm of his hands and the way he would shout uselessly out loud in joy whenever he dunks a ball, Kuroko thinks he understands Aomine a little better, though he would want to think twice to be closer to Aomine. He didn't like attention. Aomine Daiki is the definition of being in the center of attention, or so Kuroko thinks.

"If you could be one, which basketball player would you want to be?" Aomine asks, on the way back to Kuroko's house.

"I'll be fine here," Kuroko says and Aomine realizes that they've reached Kuroko's place. The shorter boy bows and thanks Aomine for the day and takes the bag of books and groceries from Aomine's hands. "You sure you don't need my help?" Aomine asks, as he watches Kuroko struggle with the bags in arms. "I'm fine, I'd prefer if… you don't go in."

Aomine helps adjust the bags in Kuroko arms for him to carry it a little better and watches the small boy scurry back into the house.

"Hey!"

Kuroko turns around, his head barely seen from all the things in his arms.

"You haven't answered my question!"

Aomine couldn't see Kuroko's face properly, so he wasn't sure if Kuroko was joking or not. Even so, Aomine thinks it's the best answer he had received all day.

"Aomine Daiki." Kuroko says with (probably) a smile.

Author's Note: I'm sorry, I admit. I've procrastinated to the maximum level. But I'm very thankful for those who still keep up with my fanfiction. Instead of this chapter, I got inspiration for an AoKuro angst actually HAHA Also I've actually got a few comments that were pretty unhappy with the fact that I have opened a poll. I didn't have an intention to change the ending based on the poll, I had clearly stated that I may change the ending. Please do not worry, I have initially opened a poll just to know what the readers would want. Although my updates may take very long, please continue supporting this story in the future. I personally felt that my character development for Aomine went a bit fast, but this is not the end! I promise you Aomine's character will develop further, and I will start to bring the Royalties out slowly one by one into the limelight! (Don't forget Kagami too!) Thank you for reading!