Kuroko woke up with a sneeze. Keeping his eyes closed hoping to get just five more minutes of sleep, he rolled over to his side and fumbled for the warm body he had grown used to having by his side. Not finding it, he absently called out "Nigou…"

In his half awake, half asleep state he remembered with disappointment that the one he was calling was not there. Shivering, he pulled his legs closer and curled up under the sheets as he pulled the comforter closer to his body. Just as he could feel himself drifting back to sleep, the alarm clock on his bedside table rang. Grunting, he forced himself to get up and with eyelids barely open he got out of bed.

It had been three weeks since he came back from America. He considered himself extremely lucky to have found an apartment right away thanks to Akashi's help, so he was able to move in and get settled in no time. Just half an hour after he sent the email to Akashi that he was coming back while waiting for his flight, he was pleasantly surprised to receive a reply. Akashi asked where he was going to stay, so Kuroko wrote back to him that he was originally planning to stay at his parents' house at first, however, he got a job offer from a newly opened private kindergarten in Tokyo just days before his flight, which meant he had to find a place there.

Kagami had offered his Tokyo apartment, since both he and his father were abroad anyway, but Kuroko refused. Kagami had already done so much for him while he was in America. So for the time being, Kuroko had decided to stay at a business hotel until he found an apartment to rent. Akashi then mentioned that there was a vacant unit in the same building where he lives whenever he's in Tokyo on business, and if Kuroko wanted, he could take care of the paperwork for him.

Of course Kuroko refused, not wanting to trouble his former captain especially after not seeing him for so long.

Of course Akashi would have none of it, reminding Kuroko how hard it was to find a place in Tokyo in case he had forgotten something so basic after being abroad for years. Besides, it was no trouble at all. If anything, living there would mean added business for him as it actually belonged to Akashi Group of Companies.

With a sigh then a grateful smile, Kuroko gave in and accepted Akashi's offer.

He stretched and reluctantly dragged his feet to the washroom. Looking at his reflection in the mirror and blankly staring at his fabulously messy bed head, he let out another yawn. The last three weeks have been very busy with finalizing his apartment rental contract- which went smoothly thanks to Akashi's help- as well as unpacking his things and getting his new home ready. Today, he had planned to take it easy and relax, as tomorrow he will officially be a preschool teacher.

-x-

As soon as he stepped out of his apartment, he knew where he wanted to go. There was a bookstore he used to frequent, which happened to be not so far from where he now lives. It was a couple of stops by train, but on a good day like this, would be close enough to just walk. So he decided to put on a decently thick hoodie as it was still relatively cold in the morning.

The bookstore was at the ground floor of an old two-story building, as evidenced by the graffiti and paint chipping off at some parts of the wall. The store itself was small, and had a proportionately tiny entrance. Kuroko laughed at the memory of Kagami always hitting his head against the doorframe back when they were in high school and would always complain to him, and why he had to go to this store of all places.

Kuroko then told him that because it was located on a rather quiet side street off of a busy bigger street, this bookstore was very easy for people to miss. However, it was also thanks to this that the customers here were all regulars, simply because the books that get sold out right away on more popular stores were most likely to still be here. Kuroko was one of them, and to the little bookworm, this place was a castle filled with treasures.

His face lit up into a smile when he arrived and saw that the place was still there. The simple, varnished wooden sign above bearing the store's name and their trademark logo- a flying squirrel, the small glass door that rang the glass wind chimes above it when you came in, the familiar smell of books and all other print materials, and the familiar voice that greeted "Welcome!" were all so nostalgic.

The old man- one of the elderly couple who own and run the store- who was arranging some books at the counter stopped to look at him. For a moment, Kuroko thought he was being stared at until another customer came to the front to pay for his books. He wondered if the he recognized Kuroko, then Kuroko shook his head. It couldn't be. After all, despite the size of the store it had a fair amount of regulars and there was no way he would remember someone like Kuroko who was just as unnoticeable as their shop, especially after having been away for many years.

Kuroko went straight to the detective novels shelves and it was where he remembered it to be. Forty-five minutes later, he had a dozen novels in his arms. And he was only on one shelf. He had to tell himself to stop, or else he would be taking a taxi home because of books that were impossible to carry. With a slight pout on his lips, he made his way to the counter, consoling himself with the thought that it was only walking distance from his place.

As the old man finished ringing in his books- Kuroko took out some bills and handed him the money.

"I was wondering when I saw you come in, it really is you, Mr. Young Detective"

Kuroko looked up with wide eyes, only to see the familiar face with a warm smile.

"Yes, the young man who always came here to buy detective novels after school as soon as new books are out and always left this tiny store with a very happy look on his face. It has been a while, hasn't it?"

Flustered and happy all at the same time, Kuroko let out a little sheepish grin.

"Yes, it has been a while, Mr. Owner. I'm surprised you remember me, the last time I came here was five years ago. I went overseas, and I came back just recently."

"I see. Well, five years isn't a long time if you have been around as long as I have. Actually, I wasn't sure at first, but when I saw you head straight for the detective novel section and came to me with some of the familiar titles, I knew for sure it was you."

"Yes… I wanted to catch up with the volumes I missed while I was gone. And I found some new ones that looked interesting too."

"And you picked out some good ones! Enjoy your books. Come again!"

Excited to read his new novels, Kuroko walked out of the store feeling as if he was up in the clouds. He made a quick stop at Maji Burger to grab his favorite vanilla shake and went straight home. He hurriedly took his shoes off at the entryway, set his vanilla shake down on the bedside table, and jumped to bed. With a bag of new books beside him, he knew exactly how to spend the rest of the day.

-x-

Clank, clank, clank. The sound of his feet landing on metal steps resounded through the moonlit night as he climbed up the rickety stairs in an abandoned building. When he reached the landing, there was a silhouette of a man leaning against the concrete wall. Said man propped himself up and walked towards him.

"You found out. I never doubted you would, Shino…"

As he was coming closer the light of the moon coming in from the broken windows illuminated his face. He had dark skin, short hair, and blue eyes that, from far away, looked almost as if they were black. His cocky grin looked just like…

"Aomine… kun…"

-x-

Kuroko jolted awake when his phone rang. He looked around, confused, until seeing the book on his lap and the empty cup of vanilla shake refreshed him. He then remembered that as soon as he got home he dove straight into one of his new books. At some point he fell asleep, and the dream he just had was from a scene in the novel where the detective, Shino, goes to confront the witness who had been pretending all this time and was actually the one behind all the killings.

He picked up his phone to see who the message was from, grateful to whoever it was that messaged him for waking him up at that point. After all, in the scene that followed, Shino was going to get shot. He hadn't read far enough in the novel to see if Shino lived or not, but Kuroko certainly did not want to get shot even if it was just as Shino nor even if it was just a dream. Especially not by Aomine.

No, a serial killer who looks like Aomine-kun, he corrected himself. The description of the culprit's physical appearance in the novel overlapped with Aomine's. Tanned skin, dark blue eyes, and to make things more interesting, he was Shino's best friend. It did not take long for Kuroko to synch with Shino's emotional conflict, especially when his best friend betrayed his trust.

Kuroko shook his head. He should not let himself get this affected. It was just a novel, after all.

He clicked on the message icon on his phone and opened the first unread text. Upon seeing the name, Kuroko's eyes widened at first, and then his face relaxed into a smile. It was from Akashi.

/Tetsuya.

I am going back to Kyoto tomorrow.

If there's anything else you need, tell me now./

Kuroko did not have to think. He already knew what he wanted to say. He just wondered if he would get the response he was hoping for.

/Akashi-kun.

If you haven't had dinner yet, and if you have time, please let me treat you.

It's thanks for helping me move in.

Let me do at least this much./

A few minutes later, Kuroko's phone rang again. He leapt out of bed and, as he was getting ready, thought of places where he could go for dinner. Someplace both he and Akashi would like.

/Fine.

I'll be at the lobby in half an hour.

Don't be late./

-x-

"I'm quite amazed you found this place. I've been back and forth between here and Kyoto for the past few years and this is the first time I've been here."

Akashi spoke offhandedly as he was going through the menu.

"Yes, their food is really good. And because of the location, it never gets very crowded here. It's more relaxing to eat."

They went to an izakaya that made very good grilled eel. The place was at the basement level of a building located on a quiet street far from the station and busy areas. But just like his favorite bookstore, Kuroko seemed to have a knack for finding places that were very easy to miss. It's not as if they were especially hiding, it's just that one would have to look extra harder to notice they were even there… just like Kuroko himself.

"I'm surprised you picked an izakaya though. Do you drink now, Tetsuya?"

"Not really. Once in a while I get Calpis chuhai, but most of the time I just get iced oolong tea when I come here. But Akashi-kun, they have your favorite sake."

"You remember."

Akashi's tone was gentle. With the fond smile on his face, Kuroko wondered if he was also feeling as nostalgic as he was. Before his accident, Kuroko and his Teikou teammates met up for drinking parties every now and then. Back then, he remembered that there was one particular sake that Akashi liked. But because it was rare, more often than not it would be sold out by the time they ordered.

"Yes, the owner said it also gets sold out really fast here, so I called them earlier today to let him know we're coming and save some for us."

"And you called just in time. We were down to the last one." A baritone voice came from behind him before a bottle of warm sake was placed on the table, then he continued, "Of course, not wanting to make us feel troubled, this young lad kindly said that since it's the last one, if someone were to order before you arrive, we don't have to hold back. Luckily, no one did, so as soon as you two came in, I got it ready for your table right away."

"Thank you", Kuroko nodded to the owner.

"Not at all. Enjoy", he nodded back.

Kuroko heard Akashi chuckle as soon as the owner left.

"Akashi-kun?"

Looking straight into his eyes, Akashi grinned.

"That side of you hasn't changed."

"Hm?" Kuroko looked at him curiously, head tilting to one side.

"Let's eat. I don't think grilled eel would taste as good when it gets cold."

Curious but choosing not to think too deeply into it, Kuroko ate and Akashi leisurely drank his sake. Seeing his satisfied smile, Kuroko felt he did a good job in choosing this place. It made him happy to see the usually uptight Akashi unwind.

When they were done, Kuroko went to pay their bill as promised while Akashi went out ahead of him. As he was walking past wooden tables to the cashier, Kuroko heard voices that sounded familiar from one of the booths. He froze right in front of the cashier when he recognized them.

"Ryo, I keep telling you, you'll be fine. How many times do I have to say it?"

"I'm sorry, Wakamatsu-senpai. I'm really sorry. It's just, whenever I think about it, I get so nervous! What if I mess up?! It's my first day tomorrow at work after all."

"If you stay all panicky like that then of course you'll mess up! Just relax, geez…"

"I'm sorry…"

From the heated voice of one and the constant apologizing of the other, there was no mistake. Kuroko knew for sure those were Wakamatsu and Sakurai of Touou Academy's basketball team. Aomine's former teammates. He wondered who else was there. He wondered… if he was there.

"Um… sir?"

When the cashier's voice nudged him back to reality, Kuroko quickly paid and went outside to where Akashi was waiting.

"Tetsuya, what's wrong? You look pale."

Kuroko wasn't surprised at the question. The way he was feeling inside, there was no way it would not show. More importantly, there was absolutely no way Akashi's eyes would miss it. Not him of all people.

"Sorry, Akashi-kun."

Akashi simply closed his eyes and walked on. Kuroko understood that if he wasn't ready to talk about it, Akashi had no intention to push, and that was something Kuroko was very thankful for. Right now, he just wanted to get home and sleep. And forget.

It was a fifteen-minute walk to the closest station, and another fifty minutes ride back to their apartment building, and in all that time not a single word passed between them. Kuroko fell asleep at one point, something he didn't realize until Akashi shook him awake when they got to their stop. The walk back to their apartment was quiet as well. It wasn't until they got into the elevator when Akashi spoke.

"Which reminds me, have you been to the rooftop?"

"No", Kuroko shook his head.

"Then, as thanks for treating me to dinner, come with me. I have something to show you."

He pushed the rooftop level button which lit up, and with a soft buzz the elevator doors closed. They kept going up for a few minutes until a soft 'ding' signaled they have arrived. The doors opened to a lobby, smaller and different from the one on the ground floor, and right in front of it were glass sliding doors leading to a rooftop garden.

"We don't open it to the residents until late Spring when most of the flowering plants have bloomed, so there won't be anyone else up here. This is where I come when I want some quiet time."

Akashi punched in some numbers on a code lock then Kuroko heard a soft click. When they got close enough to the sliding doors, it automatically opened, giving them access to the garden. There were tiny sprouts on the branches of trees as well as the bushes. Kuroko could easily imagine their fresh green colors must be so vibrant and bright during daytime. They walked past a round marble fountain towards a terrace where a panoramic view of the city's night lights took his breath away.

The thought of almost running into Touou's former members, and just the mere possibility of seeing Aomine again affected him. He knew it would, he just did not expect how much. Even now, his hands were still shaking.

But as they stood there in silence, side by side, and simply looked on until Kuroko lost track of time, his shaking slowly subsided until it was gone. Before long, all he could see was the scenery before him, all he could hear was the sound of the fountain, and all he could feel was the presence of the person beside him.

Just as he had done before, Akashi was, once again, there for Kuroko at a time he felt unsteady.

'I bet Akashi-kun has no idea though', Kuroko thought, as the beginnings of a smile graced his lips.

-x-

TBC