This chapter takes place immediately after the 10th, it's written over the manga not the episode that was just out.

Okay… So sorry about taking this long to update, but it was a bit hard to try and manage writing all my thoughts and wrap those in a way that they won't be a mess of words… though you still might come to think they are a mess…

The chapter itself was done two months ago, but I always forget or didn't have that much time to write it down.

I kind of hit the place where you keep thinking 'how should I write it, so the people who read my story would like it?' and I needed some time to come to term that I need to write the story the way I like it not to try to reach some other people's expectations, so the story might not be what you like or expect it to turn out as but this is me and my crazy mind… if you don't like it just stop reading… I am okay with whatever you decide…

*You might want to open wiki on the page about – speak of the devil, I was searching about the English version of a Bulgarian proverb and there is also the Japanese way there… I was wondering which one to use of the three but ended up using the more familiar English version.

Spoiler: By the way as crazy as it might sound I kind of like Haizaki, especially in fanfictions….. so he will be a bit of a bad guy but…. Yeah, so I will end up totally turning him into a good guy, sorry… don't kill me….

Hope you enjoy….

Chapter 11 – Face your heart

"It's been a while, Tetsu." A gentle voice greeted from behind and Kuroko's eyes widened immediately and he slowly turned around, looking stunned at the taller boy before him while his mouth kept on opening and closing repeatedly. "You know 'It's so good to see you!' would be nice to hear right about now… By the way congrats on winning, it was an amazing match to watch." The boy happily stated as he spooned the basket ball in his hand and smiled gently while the blue haired boy's eyes filled with tears as he took notice of the ball and the boy in front of him couldn't stop himself anymore, so he stepped forward, engulfing the smaller boy in a strong, but gentle hug and Tetsuya started trembling in his arms. "When did you manage to turn yourself in a crybaby, Tetsu?" he amusedly teased while gently and calmingly rubbed Tetsuya's back.

"It's nice to see you once again, Ogiwara-kun." Kuroko mumbled as he slowly lifted his trembling hands to hug back the orange haired boy, whose eyes twitched irritated and he took a step back, so he could take a better look at Kuroko's face, which quickly moved to wipe his tear-stained face.

"Hey now, teme! Since when the hell do you go around calling me 'Ogiwara-kun'? Yeah… we haven't seen each other for a while, but I am still the same guy! Don't act like I am a total stranger!" Ogiwara childishly complained and Kuroko couldn't help himself from grinning widely.

'He really hasn't change at all… he is still that carefree Shige I used to know!'

"It's really good to see ya, Shige!" Kuroko happily stated and Shigehiro smiled while ruffling the smaller boy's hair.

"Indeed it is!" Shigehiro said as he nodded towards the vending machine, wordlessly suggesting for them to drink something.

"So you came to watch The Winter Cup?" Kuroko wondered as they sat on a couch in abandoned corridor after buying each other some drink.

"Something like that… I am moving back to Tokyo, so I decided to look around our new house and walked to a small court but while I was playing I heard that there was some big high school match playing close and decided to swing by and take a look. I knew you will be playing this year but I wasn't expecting to end up watching you today, but then again I am really happy I did. You've got some amazing teammates there, Tetsu. They are completely different than Teiko's… Anyway moving back to Tokyo I decided to start playing again, I actually never could completely lose my love for the game and after watching your match today… now I really want to return to the court as quickly as possible." Shige declared excitedly and Tetsu smiled widely.

"It would be very nice to once again play basketball with you, Shige. I'm really happy to know you haven't given up on the game and this way we can finally keep that promise we made all those years back." Tetsuya happily stated and Shigehiro laughed at his eagerness.

"I still haven't decided exactly which school to joint but I am close to choosing Touou, it's really close to my house, but I'm wondering if I will be able to play in there… You know how Aomine is their current ace and I don't think I will be able to handle well playing with anyone of the Generation of Miracles, especially that 'no one can beat me' ass!" Shigehiro wondered dejectedly, while growling out the last part and looking at the ceiling.

"I think that if the two of you manage to play together Touou would jump to a whole different level of powerful. You know how they lost their old captain as he retired to study and though the other teammates aren't bad at all and there are going to have new teammates the next year, I still believe you are one of the best players I have been able to play with, so I am certain you will be a starter in no time and I think that the two of you can make it to a quite good friends and I think you two will be the key card to finally making Touou a team that relies on team-play. You and Aomine are so much alike and truthfully Aomine isn't as bad as you think... Lately I have been spending some time with him and I can tell that he has started to become the old Aomine." Kuroko stated with a wide smile while Shigehiro looked surprised and slightly doubtful at his childhood friend.

"I thought you might tell me something like 'Don't joint Touou!' or 'Why not join Seirin?', but I didn't expect you to tell me I would make good friends with that arrogant ace." Shigehiro murmured and Kuroko smiled widely at him.

"You should know by now that I would be delighted and I would love it, if you actually come to Seirin, but I believe that choice is yours to make and I will be fine with whichever you choose. I am already more than happy hearing you thinking about joining a basketball club. So whichever school you choose, we can always meet and play together from now on. But you better not end up being grumpy when I beat your and your team's asses once we play, cause I don't plan on losing from now on."

"Damn, now I no longer have reason not to joint Touou, so I guess I will have to learn to tolerate that childish brat Aomine!" Shigehiro complained and Kuroko laughed when the glaring figure behind Shigehiro snored and yelled loudly.

"Who are you calling a childish brat, bastard?!"

"Calm down, Dai-kun!" Momoi said as she put her arms around the pissed Touou ace, who was obviously fuming.

"No wonder people keep saying 'Speak of the devil and he shall appear… Well, hello, Aomine Daiki-san!" Shigehiro said politely while smiling and Aomine looked at him doubtfully.

"Who are you? You seem familiar…" Aomine asked and Momoi looked at Shigehiro in wonder as well, but then her eyes widen as she remembered the boy and her eyes quickly filled with regret as they danced from Ogiwara to Kuroko and back around.

"I am Ogiwara Shigehiro, Tetsu's childhood friend and the one you faced back in the championship game when you're still in Teiko." Ogiwara stated as the smile didn't disappear from his face, he had long since decided to let go of the past, so there was no need for hard feelings… he had found out a while back that those feelings only stood on his way and dragged him away from what he really wanted.

On the other hand, while Shigehiro looked strong and unwavering, Aomine took a slight step back and looked regretfully at Kuroko, who shook his head and smiled at Daiki.

"How about we all let go of the past mistakes and be friends?" He said as he looked at the only other occupants of the lonely corridor, which smiled at him.

"So you are joining Touou?" Aomine wondered as he looked at Ogiwara who smiled and scratched his neck while grinning.

"Probably… It's the closest school to my new home, so I am thinking of joining it if that's not a problem."

"I don't see why there should be a problem. Touou just lost some great players, so we would be thankful to welcome a new strong member… especially with opponents like Tetsu, who become monstrously strong with the blink of an eye! So Tetsu, you better not try to steal him to Seirin!" Aomine stated as he glared slightly at the giggling blue haired boy, while Shigehiro busted out laughing together with Momoi.

"So you've gotten the chance to witness his real style… way to brag around and make someone jealous. I've wanted to see it with my own eyes for years now!" Ogiwara complained and Aomine growled out.

"Some parts of me aren't that grateful to have seen it… that bastard kept on beating me mercilessly for hours... driving me in and out of the zone at his own will and non-stopping-ly giving me the feeling of a beat down cat that decided to stay on the way of a damn angry lion!" Aomine complained loudly and Ogiwara and Momoi snickered at the sullen face he was making, while Kuroko glared slightly.

"You do know I am right before you, right? So how about you stop calling me monster and… an angry lion? Really? I thought that nickname was reserved for Akashi-kun already! And by the way, you were the one who didn't stop asking for one more game, so I am not really as merciless as you make me out to be… more like… are you a masochist?" Tetsuya complained, Shigehiro and Satsuki couldn't hold it anymore and laughed out loud while Aomine glared at the three of them.

"Like I wanted to leave with the feeling of being beaten by someone I thought as the weakest player in a match of one-on-one! You weren't even supposed to be able to make a damn point, yet you wiped the floor with me like it was a child's play!" Aomine growled out and his glare quickly moved from the smirking Kuroko to the orange haired boy, that was patting his shoulder in a 'calm down buddy' way.

"And that's why I called you childish!" Ogiwara stated and Daiki's eyes twitched.

"Great! Team up against me!" he grumbled and Kuroko smiled.

"You two are really alike."

"Which is alike?!" both, Shige and Daiki, yelled out and then glared at each other after which looked away.

"Don't worry about them… I'll make sure they create quite a good basketball pair, so you better watch it next time, Tetsu-kun. Touou won't lose another time against Seirin." Momoi stated and Tetsuya smiled.

"Come at us with all you've got, because next time we are off against each other I won't be holding back even the slightest!" He dared and his eyes were shining with excitement, making the other three smile, too.

"Well, before that time comes, how about we go and watch Kise's match. I don't know if you are aware of it, but Kise is off against Haizaki… It will be interesting game to watch." Aomine said as he looked at Kuroko, whose eyes widen slightly and then nodded.

"Let's go and watch it… You are coming as well, right, Shige?" He wondered as he looked at the orange head that grinned at him.

"Well, I don't have anything else to do anyway…" He answered and the four of them made their way to the benches and Tetsuya smiled as he saw his team on the other side, he hoped they would forgive him for abandoning them this time… his eyes did a quick search in trying to find his red headed boyfriend, but when he didn't find him he smiled, guessing that he was still talking with Himuro, but just as he thought that Kagami appeared and though it was far Kuroko could still notice the irritated face that Kagami was making and he wondered what happened to anger him this much… big part of him wanted to go to his boyfriend's side and comfort him, but he decided to hold on to that feeling until the end of the match, because while Ogiwara won't have a problem with being dragged on the other side and get to meet Kuroko's team, Aomine and Momoi probably won't be feeling very comfortable being surrounded by Seirin's players.

Kuroko didn't have much time to continue that line of thoughts as the match started right after.

"So who is that Haizaki guy?" Shige wondered as he looked at Kuroko, who was sitting right next to him on his left while Aomine and Momoi on his right.

"Haizaki was someone who did whatever he liked and was totally out of control, but even still it's true that he was regular member in the first string of Teiko, so there is no question about his strength."

"So he is quite the opponent. Don't get wrong or feel offended, but I don't have much of a liking for Teiko's players… I've got the feeling that I'd be, probably, happy not to have faced him back then." Shige stated as he looked at Haizaki.

"We don't feel offended and you'll find your stating right… Even I don't feel like facing that bastard!" Aomine said as he too looked at Haizaki, but then his eyes skipped to Kise and a little worried glint appeared in his gaze and Kuroko smiled as he took notice of it.

'How blind are you, Aomine-kun… to be blind to your own feelings… No, that's wrong, you are aware of them more than anyone else… you just wish to be wrong, because you can't accept yourself as someone who would fall for someone of the same gender as you, even though you love big boobs and female bodies so much… Damn, playboy! Be a bit more truthful to yourself or you will lose him, baka! How much longer do you think Kise will continue to desperately hold on to those feelings he tries to label as admiration? No, that's different now… probably ever since the Inter-high match Kise finally faced the full content of his feelings and perhaps ever since he has started to deny them and try to forget about their existence in a despaired try to move on pass them. A big part of Kise is still a child like… and he more than any of us probably fears rejection, so he would never come to you wearing his heart out…not anymore than this, so from now on everything is up to you Ahomine! Grew some balls, damn it, you damn playboy! Time flies; don't let yourself be filled with regret one day… But I guess fear is big part of human's psychology… come to think of it I probably would of never started something between me and Kagami… being rejected and left behind is a huge fear…' Kuroko mussed upon as he watched the match, his thoughts shifting him to many different places… to the times he had felt fear, to the times he had spend with Kagami and finally to his resent fear that Kagami and himself might soon hit an invisible wall… they had entered an relationship head on and he couldn't complain, 'cause he knew Taiga is as serious for him as he is, but as much as they are in love with each other soon enough they would reach the more intimate part of their relationship and he was not ready, neither was he confident or eager for it and yet he didn't feel it would be a good idea to deny Taiga…

"Tetsu, are you okay? You are beat red! Do you want to go out and breathe some air?" Shigehiro asked as he looked worriedly at Kuroko and put his hand on the back of the blue haired boy as the fourth quarter of the game started.

"I'm fine… sorry, it's nothing just some stupid things. I will be fine, more importantly I am starting to worry about Kise-kun." Kuroko awkwardly muttered as he looked at the board and at Kise, a worried feeling settling in his guts… he didn't want to see the Blondie lose this game, after all he believed Kise was better player than Haizaki by a lot.

"This is bad… Although his carrier is short, Kise's been acquitting skills just by looking at it once. His stock should be of fair size, but there shouldn't be that many amongst those that can work against Haizaki and moreover, the moment he uses one Haizaki takes it away and makes it unusable. He has been carefully picking amongst those limited options so far, but he is finally started to hit the bottom."Daiki stated as he worriedly looked at the blond player.

"That's not all is it…"Ogiwara wondered as he looked at Kaijou's ace.

"He probably injured himself this summer playing against this baka and then he has more than luckily overworked himself after."Kuroko said but he was interrupted from saying anymore.

"He won't lose!"Aomine stated loudly and somewhat proudly.

Kuroko smiled and then he looked on the other side- seeing Kagami state something loudly while having gotten up from his seat. 'Taiga-kun has perhaps stated something similar to Aomine, but along with a line of rematch between him and Kise… I guess I too want to state that Kise won't lose…"Kuroko thought and got up from the bench he was sitting on.

"I believe in you, Kise-kun!" Tetsuya yelled loudly.

"That's Kuroko's voice… where from?"Kagami wondered and then took notice of the blue haired boy on the other side… sitting next to him was an orange haired guy, Aomine and Momoi, which were staring at him with surprise, but then Kagami's eyes widen when the orange haired boy got up and ruffled Kuroko's hair while laughing.

'Who is that guy?' he wondered but decided that going there was going to be a very bad move, so he sat down and decided that he was going to wait for the Tetsuya.

Down on the court Kise looked wide eyed at the used to be teammate of his and then smiled, the confidence finally returning to him and he was dead set on winning this match, so he could continue forward and finally have his re-match with Seirin.

In the next couple of minutes everyone in the gym were more than surprised as Kise started using moves that only the Generation of Miracles were capable of.

"So Kuroko-kun was right and Kise has learnt to copy not only Aomine's moves, but the moves of all of the Generation of Miracles. He really has a bottomless talent in basketball." Riko said as they were all left amazed at the Blondie's talent.

"That bastard…. He just!" Aomine exclaimed loudly and angrily as he looked, or more like glared, at Haizaki, who couldn't accept losing to Kise and stepped on his already hurting leg, but Ryouta wasn't going to just stay put over a hurting leg, so he off and knocked the ball from Haizaki's hands and just mere seconds later dunk it into the opposite hook, winning the match in Kaijou's favor.

"You guys go on ahead without me…" Aomine said as he parted with the other three, who looked at each other and then at the retrieving back of Touou's ace.

"He won't go and beat that bastard, right?" Shigehiro wondered while Kuroko and Momoi looked at each other

"I can't really say that there is no way he would come to punching Haizaki… I guess it's all up to how Haizaki words his phrases." Kuroko said and then looked at Momoi. "I have to go back to my team." He stated and they quickly bit goodbye with each other with Ogiwara following Kuroko, deciding it wouldn't be bad to meet his childhood friend's new teammates.

"Can we take a slight detour?" Kuroko asked as he looked at the orange head, who smiled and nodded. They soon arrived behind Haizaki, who was on the ground while Aomine had his back towards them and was already leaving to go search for Satsuki.

"Hey, Haizaki-kun. I know you aren't that much of a bad guy, though you might be twisted and have somewhat of a bad personally, but you still aren't that much of a bastard and a big part of you is actually glad that Aomine stopped you, so how about you keep quiet about him punching you. And I would really be glad if one day I get to match with you… but a fair one and with you that doesn't despise the sport… so please move on from what happened back on Teiko and stop trying to look and act as a bastard, you aren't even half that bad. See ya around!" Kuroko said and without waiting for an answer he moved pass Haizaki with Ogiwara on his tail.

"It's you again… back then and now too… I'd be glad to see you win against Akashi, Tetsuya." Haizaki said and Kuroko quickly come to a stop, looking back at Haizaki.

"Thanks, I hope to. And by the way, I don't think that Nijimura-sempai just abandoned you as you believe, it's something that almost no one of Teiko's members knew at that time, but Nijimura-sempai's dad was sick and had gone to America to be treated there, as far as I know Nijimura-sempai and his whole family had to move there as well, so that's why he completely and without a notice disappeared that year. I don't know much about the relationship between you two but I hope you let go of the past and move on… The others might have not noticed but I know you became what you are now immediately after Nijimura-sempai left… you were not this kind of guy at heart, so I hope to meet the real you someday soon... Bye." Kuroko said and then the two of them made their way into the building in search for Seirin, not noticing the slight tear that had fallen from the boy sitting on the ground.

"You are as good a guy as ever, Tetsu. I probably wouldn't have went to talk with that guy." Shige said as he looked at Tetsuya, who shook his head slightly.

"He isn't really that bad, though at school he loved stealing of mine and others' food, I happened to walk by his old neighborhood sometimes and I saw him a couple of times helping old people and once he saved a dog from being beaten by some asshole… compared to then he has really change for the worst but I kind of know he isn't really that bad deep down and there is the part that things could have gone for worse if he was left like that, pissed off at Kise, at Aomine and at pretty much anyone else… I don't want him to do anything else he will come to regret when the anger from the past finally leaves him…" Kuroko explained and Shige smiled at him and then put his arm around the shorter boy's shoulders.

"Told you as good a guy as ever… sometimes you are way too good, Tetsu…"

"Kuroko!" Taiga yelled loudly behind them and the two turned around to come face to face with Seirin.

"Hey, guys. Sorry for disappearing like that. Let me introduce you… This is Ogiwara Shigehiro, I've mentioned him in the past." Kuroko said as he pointed to the orange haired boy who was grinning widely and excitedly while Seirin looked surprised at him.

"Hello!" Ogiwara greeted and then each member of Seirin introduced themselves to him, lightly shaking hands as the last one was Kagami.

"Hi, I am Kagami Taiga. I've heard a lot about you, all of us have and it's nice to finally put a face to the name... So, how about we go out to each and chat some more?" He suggested and everyone agreed and in the next couple of hours Seirin got to find out what kind of a guy Shige was and they could clearly state that they liked the guy.

By the end of the evening they didn't feel like parting ways at all but tomorrow Seirin got a seemingly difficult match ahead, so they needed to rest and soon each one took their own way to going home, some who lived close to one another teaming up.

"It was really nice to get to meet you again, Shige. Call me when you are free… if you feel like it we can practice together." Tetsuya said as he was bidding his goodbye to Shigehiro.

"I'll but for the time being I'll be probably a bit busy with unpacking and transferring, but I will definitely be coming to watch all your left matches." Shigehiro stated excitedly and then looked at the red head that was staying right next to Kuroko.

"It was nice to meet you, Kagami-kun. Take care of this baka on and outside of the court and try to keep him from being reckless." Shige said as he gently smiled and turned around, not giving them any time to say anything.

"He is a good guy." Taiga stated as he smiled at Tetsuya, who smiled at him too and the too made their way home.

Just as Kuroko entered his home, having bid goodbye with Taiga seconds ago, his phone rang and the identification read "Aomine".

"Hello." Kuroko said as he put the phone to his ear.

"Can you meet me at the gym?" Aomine asked on the other side.

"I have a match tomorrow and I don't plan to train right now." Kuroko stated.

"It's just for a couple of minutes, talking only… I need to talk with you." Aomine said and Kuroko's eyes widen at the slight despaired voice on the other side.

"Okay, I will be there in ten." He quickly answered and shut the call.

Not much later he arrived in front of the building to find Aomine already waiting there for him, while looking a bit doubtful and Kuroko quickly took out his key chain and unlocked the door, so they could enter the slightly warmer place.

"Come in." Tetsuya whispered as he opened the door and they soon found themselves seated on the benches of the gym… neither of them breaking the silence for a while, but Kuroko knew it was not his place to start the conversation and maybe Aomine still needed to come in terms with what he wanted to say.

"I have a favor… probably a big one, I want to ask of you…" Aomine started as he looked at his ex-shadow, who looked at his surprised.

"What is it?" Kuroko wondered as Aomine shifted his eyes to the hook.

"Tomorrow can you take Kise seriously? He really is a good guy and I understand you want to hide most of your abilities until your match with Akashi, but can you play seriously against Kise? I don't want him to feel powerless when he finds out you didn't even take his seriously and still easily beat him… I deserved that, but he doesn't. Out of us, Generation of Miracles, Kise is the nicest and most gentle one and I don't want him to be crushed like that. I've already hurt him more than enough… Please don't hurt him, too." Daiki pleaded while trying to look anywhere but at Kuroko who was gently smiling at him.

"Truthfully I was thinking something along the same lines today while watching him play and then there is the part that Kise is strong… a lot stronger than the last time we had a match together, so I don't think he would even give me the choice of hiding my abilities to the end… even if I didn't plan to go seriously at him, he might as well drive us into a corner and force me out. I don't know what tomorrows match will be like, but I know that by the end I will have shown some of the things I am capable of by my choice or not… if the choice was even a little mine it would be at the end, so that I wouldn't end up blowing everything. Don't get me wrong, but it would be really hard on me if Kise decides to copy me." Kuroko said and saw Aomine nod but still not look at him. "So anything else you want to talk about?" Tetsuya asked but Aomine still didn't say anything and after a minute into the silence Kuroko's eyes twitched irritatedly and he was going to say something, but then Daiki turned towards him.

"You are going out with Kagami, aren't you?" He asked with a hollow voice and Kuroko's face turned beet red.

"Where did that come from? Who I am going out with is my own business! Don't you go judging me! Yeah, right, I am gay, so what?" Kuroko loudly stated and moved to get up but then Aomine's hand flew to his wrist, stopping him.

"I didn't mean anything offensive about it… It's more like I need a friend to talk to, who has gone through something similar." Aomine quickly said and Tetsuya looked at him with wide eyes and he quickly set back down.

"I guess this is about Kise…" Kuroko started quietly and Aomine nodded, having shipped his eyes away from Kuroko once again, while Tetsuya smiled and put his hand in Aomine's hair, ruffling it lightly, but Aomine soon pushed his hand off and got up. He moved on the court and lifted a ball of the floor and spoon it in his hands, but then he let it fall and looked at Kuroko, who was still gently smiling at him.

"How did you know you were making the right choice when you started going out with Kagami?"

"There is no way to make sure if the choice would be right or wrong, Aomine-kun. I just followed my heart and I don't think I would ever come to regret it, no matter what happens from now on. Even if in the future I get hurt, I would at least know I've done what I can, but my case was a lot different than yours… Kagami and I jumped into relationship quickly and that scared us both a bit, but our feelings are mutual and that's what's keeping our relationship this strong… I believe the case with you is more like – can you accept the full content of Kise's feelings towards you and answer them equally? Can you forget about those magazines and forget your desire for female bodies? Can you make Kise happy? Do you think you can keep a relationship as he is in Kaijou and you are in Touou, so you won't be able to be together all the time." Kuroko said and tried to keep himself from grinning when he saw Aomine's eyes twitch as he was irritated.

"I thought you were going with one question, not a thousand!" Aomine complained and Kuroko laughed, but quickly sobered up.

"The one question is- can you be serious about him?" Tetsuya asked as he looked at the stiffened figure of Aomine.

"I don't think I can be more serious about anyone else… You are damn good at reading people, so I know you've known it for a while, but I always felt a tug towards him back in our days in Teiko, even when his feelings were still one of admiration I found his body quite attractive and that hasn't changed for such a long time. I spend so much time watching at female bodies, trying to erase the want for him, but even while I watched the magazines I couldn't not think about him, I found myself starring so many times at the magazines he was on the front page even when I was buying female ones. But I couldn't accept myself as an outcast or society, even when I originally didn't play mind to such things… I couldn't label myself gay, because I didn't find any other guy attractive… I know I am not gay, but I am head over heels for him and for a long time I despised that part of myself, but ever since my game against him… ever since I saw his struggle to get up at that time and when his captain lifted him, it didn't even take second for anger to fill me at the idea of someone else touching him so familiarly. Ever since then I have been angry at myself for hurting him at that time, at his sempai for touching him and being his supporting pillar when I couldn't be. I reach the end of my rope of trying to act like I don't care about it, like I don't want his everything for myself. Right now I even hate the part of me that knows he won't be winning tomorrow. He is a great player, but he doesn't stand a chance against you and Kagami together and I know losing against you again will hurt him and I want to lessen his pain somehow… so I don't want him to find out you beat him without even taking him seriously at all, that's why I am here pleading you to take him seriously…" Aomine said as he finally looked at Kuroko and this time his eyes were clear and easily readen, there was hope, fear, hurt, want, love and so many other emotions filling them and Kuroko couldn't stop himself from getting up and putting his hand on his shoulder.

"Why don't you go and be as clear with him as you are with me? Why don't you say those things to him and not to me? Now that you've finally decided to turn your back on the things that stopped you until now, why are you with me and not with him?" Tetsuya wondered and Aomine laughed slightly and then smiled proudly.

"Don't get me wrong… I am done with keeping this down and shutting myself in a core… I won't keep quiet for much longer, that's why I decided on doing this tomorrow after your match. I want to become his supporting pillar for once, I want to give him enough happiness to forget his loss, so I will tell him everything and a lot more tomorrow." Aomine stated and Kuroko smiled widely.

"Don't forget a clear 'I love you' somewhere in the explanation!" Tetsuya teased and Aomine punched him on the head, but without putting any strength behind it.

The two ex-teammates spend a good time after talking about their fears of their relationships or in one's case hopefully soon to be relationship. Though Aomine's biggest fear as of now was Kise no longer answering his feelings and getting a clear rejection, he still didn't have a drop of doubt about explaining everything, stating that if he succumbed to fear now, then Kise will really move pass him by the time he ended up going to him and Kuroko kept on encouraging him by telling him there was no way for Kise to so quickly wipe out all his feelings for Aomine after holding on to them for such a long time.

"By the way, knowing you probably won't hear it from anyone else, thank you for punching Haizaki." Tetsuya thanked as they found themselves in silence in the last minutes of the day and Aomine quickly looked at him surprised.

"How did you find out? Damn, that bastard actually blabbed it out!" Aomine growled out, but Kuroko shook his head.

"I kind of arrived right after you left and asked him not to talk about it and to stop acting like a bastard."

"You've got some guts to actually go to talk to him alone! He didn't end up trying to hit you, right?" Aomine wondered as he looked at the shorter boy.

"No he didn't and I was with Ogiwara-kun at that time, so not alone."

Soon after they parted ways and went home, but it was early in the morning that Kuroko took notice of his broken down shoe, not too far away a red headed basketball ace, which happened to be also his boyfriend, too found his shoe broken.

"I can't believe both of our shoes would break on the same day…" Kagami stated as he and Kuroko wondered around shops in search for shoes.

"That's my line." Tetsuya said and then lifted an eyebrow at his boyfriend that was happily grinning. "What is it?" he wondered.

"This somehow feels like a date!" Kagami happily stated and Kuroko blushed lightly.

"Baka!"

"But really, it's troublesome that I can't find my size anywhere, when you were able to get yours on the first store. Ah, there is one more store there. Let me go ask." Kagami said and quickly walked to the store, Kuroko right behind him but their eyes widen as someone jumped over Kagami as he was climbing the stairs.

"Argh, sorry, sorry! I am in a bit of a hurry. Oh, shoot! I am really sorry!" apologized the stranger as he nodded at Kuroko and left.

"That jersey… and did he just notice you?" Kagami asked surprised as he looked at Kuroko.

"Did you took notice of that now? Lately people have started to notice me a lot more… He is from Rakuzan… I was wondering if misdirection would work on them even the slightest, but that cleared it… today's the last match I will be playing the misdirection style in." Kuroko said as he looked at the exit of the store, the same place the stranger had gone out through.

"They're going to be hard deal, huh?" Kagami wondered and then Kuroko turned to him.

"So did you find a pair?"

"Nope!" Kagami answered dejectedly and Kuroko smiled.

"Okay, then…" He started as he pulled his phone out and Kagami looked surprised at him, making a questioning noise.

"Let's ask Momoi-san." Tetsuya stated.

"Eh?!" Taiga exclaimed as Kuroko put the phone to his ear while quietly whispering to Kagami-"Sorry, but she's really helpful at times like this."

On a train toward the gym were the other members of Seirin.

"Kuroko and Kagami's shoes got broken?! Both of them at the same time… What the heck?" Hyuuga exclaimed loudly.

"Will they make it?" Teppei wondered just as loudly in the mean time.

"Well, they should be fine making it on time. Our match is in the late afternoon anywau." Riko said as she sighed.

"Those two pretty much train like crazy and both go around jumping a lot and putting quite a lot strength in their legs, no wonder their shoes couldn't keep up with them and wear out quickly." Teppei stated.

"And where are Furihata, Kawahara and Fukuda?" Izuki wondered.

"Ohh, I asked them to buy some supplies, so we will meet them on the site, too." Riko said as they arrived on their stop and with people pushing to get out and get in Riko was hardly pushed and almost fell down but was saved by another Rakuzan jersey wearing player, who quickly left, but not before leaving some of them surprised at seeing him.

Not too far away Kuroko and Kagami met with Momoi and, surprisingly, Aomine, who apparently had similar to Kagami's old shoes and the same size at that and after getting his ass handed to him he received them, though the contract was he would get them if he was the one to win, so he started to deny them.

"You're playing Kise, right? I'm gonna murder you put on a sloppy match because you don't have proper shoes. I'll let this match be on hold and it's nice to know I can still beat at least one of you easily!" Aomine growled out as Kagami continued to complain about not wanting to take the shoes as he lost the match.

Kagami growled out, irritated at being so easily beaten but as Kuroko said his name, he tried to let go of the irritated feeling in his guts and looked at the ground.

"…Fine… My bad… I'll take it. But it's just on hold, okay? Don't forget!" He loudly stated the last part and Aomine glared at him.

"Just go! Damn it!" He yelled back but then grumbled quietly. "And can't you let a person feel at least slightly victorious?" as they were leaving but still loudly enough as to be heard.

Soon after Seirin gathered in the locker room to get prepared for their match, while also talking a bit about Rakuzan.

.+-.++-++..-./*-*-+.+*-+-.-+*-

Truthfully I am very sleepy and I don't have enough strength to re-read it to fix mistakes now… I will do that but it would be in couple of days as I am busy in the next days till Wednesday with a lot other things…

I will try to update in the next week or two and end the match between Kaijou and Seirin until then I wish you all nice time and happy moments in real life.

Love ya!