Finally UPDTE! Fic: You + Me = ? Chapter 14~! the turning Point! (KagaKuro, AoKise, MuraHimu; Pg-15)

[lunaryu]

You plus Me equals?
Fandom: Kuroko no Basuke
Rating: T/Pg-15
Genre: Humor/Romance
Pairing: Kagami/Kuroko, implied GoM/Kuroko and other side pairings

Summary: In which Kuroko is forced to cross-dress, Kagami becomes an unwilling Prince, and the others crack at the hilarity. GoM is trying to sabotage the event much to their respective partners' chagrin. It's Seirin Cultural Festival and its craziness in one package.
Disclaimer: Kuroko no Basuke and its characters © Tadatoshi Fujimaki. Luna only plays with the characters and no profit is made from this fan fiction.
Warning: shounen ai, slight oOC-ness, language, possible spelling mistakes and grammar errors, craziness of high school boys, bizarreness and insanity, AND beware of suggestive fan-service! *loool*

A/N: Alright, I'm sorry for the very late update. My sister in law was in labor a few days ago and I had to accompany her in the hospital after she gave birth to my second niece. She's extremely CUTE! XD~<3 Also, I got distracted by the other stories plot whenever I tried to type this chapter down... *lol* Anyway, you readers are AWESOME! Thanks for the comment and support until now. Well, please~ ENJOY this new chapter!
Chapter 14: Under the Starry Sky


"Shin-chan, I love you!"

Aomine and Kise cringed, making ridiculous expression, when they accidentally heard the forward, unquestionable love confession from one Takao Kazunari to their ex-Teikou basketball teammate, the Number One Shooter, Midorima Shintarou, as they passed the back of Seirin High main building to get some fresh air.

Kise stopped walking to instantly hide behind the bushes while yanking Aomine's hand down with him so as to conceal their presence from the two love-birds ahead. "The hell are you doing, Kise?!"

At Aomine's nuanced protest, Kise put his index finger in front of his mouth and- "Ssssh! Quiet, Aomine-chi! Read the mood, please! It's Takao-chi and Midorima-chi's moment!" the blond looked upward slightly at Aomine, suddenly feeling his heart thumping faster, somewhat getting excited.

Aomine made another face, aimed at Kise now. "You and your nasty hobby…! Why do you like spying on people business so much?" He huffed, looking mildly annoyed and mostly indolent as he stuck a finger in one of his ears.

"Sheesh, it's not just 'any people', Aomine-chi. It's Midorima-chi!" Kise pouted slightly, defending his good intention.

"Yeah, you said the same thing when Tetsu and Satsuki were on a shopping date before*," Aomine commented dryly, "-and yet you just wanted to satisfy your curiosity, right?" He shook his head at Kise's antics.

"Isn't it normal?" Kise sulked, jutting out his lower lip in defiance at Aomine's accusation. "I mean, Midorima-chi is also one of us. Aren't you a little bit interested about his private life?"

"No way," Aomine grunted, facing another way nonchalantly. "I don't want to know anything about that weirdo even if I'm paid."

"Aomine-chi, that's totally mean! Aren't we family?" Kise started to whine rather loudly now, completely overlooking that they were supposed to be discreet because Midorima and Takao were still there as well with them.

"Kise~!"

Well, too late, because Midorima already spotted them. Kise winced as he heard the green haired teen's eerie voice. Then he slowly turned around while trembling in fear as he noticed Midorima's murderous glare and venomous tone directed solely at him.

Oh, shit!

"Mi-Midorima-chi…! This is not-!" Kise tried to explain while shaking and paling severely.

"DIE!"

"GYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

"Haaah, that idiot…" Aomine only drawled lazily when Kise was shrieking in a lot of pain and horror as Midorima was kicking his ass and beating the shit out of Kise for eavesdropping on his and Takao's very private and sensitive 'conversation', while the Hawk Eye owner were groaning and covering his tomato-red face in embarrassment.

~Kagami x Kuroko~

"Midorima-chi is so very cruel…" Kise was still sobbing and sniffling while dragging his haggard body as Aomine and he walked away from Midorima and Takao. Luckily, Midorima didn't have a heart to murder the blond. Well, Takao talked the Oha Asa freak out of it with a lot of playful promises of something naughtily great.

Of course, Midorima immediately changed his mark to Takao and furiously ran after the running away and laughing boy for embarrassing him further. Aomine was sure that Takao already had the bespectacled weirdo dance around his little fingers by now.

Who would have thought that Midorima has the hots for that Hawk Eye?-certainly, neither Aomine nor Kise expected such development, especially right after they officially let go of their ex-Phantom Sixth Player to be together with that Seirin's red haired bastard.

"I still can't believe I saw such offending scene. My eyes were cooked for sure…" Aomine sighed, feeling rather scarred for life for the second time today (after the haunted house fiasco) when Takao started to sweet talk Midorima and the guy blushed like a virginal maiden.

Aomine thought his own brain was fried at the surfacing idea that the green haired boy could look cute as well. His eyes officially needed checking up. He still kind of believed that Midorima was asexual after all.

"B-but… I kind of understand, I mean… Midorima-chi and Takao-chi always looks very compatible in court," Kise commented slowly.

"And getting along in court means dating? Are you out of your mind? Then all of basketball players in the same situation will perform a gay orgy," Aomine scoffed. Kise was always so naïve, but this was going too far even for him.

"Sheesh, Aomine-chi, I don't mean it like that!" Kise puffed out his cheeks like a five year old, huffing in exasperation. "Aside from getting along in court, Takao-chi always has the patience to deal with Midorima-chi's selfishness off the court as well. Don't you see how Midorima-chi practically makes Takao-chi escort him everywhere using that rear-car bicycle all the time? Even the best friend won't do something like that. He's not a lackey after all. Takao-chi must like Midorima-chi very much for going so far only to please him!" he exclaimed surely, apparently totally convinced with the idea. Now he looked upward at the cloudless blue sky with a happy grin adorning his face.

"You think so?" Aomine took a moment to think about it as well. His mind couldn't help agreeing Kise's opinion. Though, like hell if he would admit that out loud.

"Yep, I think Takao-chi suits Midorima-chi very much," Kise faced Aomine once again, beaming in confidence.

"Does this theory apply to anyone else?" Aomine was suddenly curious. Surely, there were Kagami and Kuroko who fitted the category, but he wondered if there were others.

"Hmm… let's see…" Kise scrunched up his face, seeming to think deeply. A few seconds passed, and a pleased, content, small smile bloomed on Kise's beautiful face. "Well… I can make myself an example as well…"

Aomine felt an abrupt pinprick in his heart. Something was wrong. Why was Kise showing such gentle expression? Who was he thinking when he issued such heartfelt confession?

An image of a certain dark haired, blue eyed senior entered his mind, freezing his movement. The way Kise always smiled and clung to Kasamatsu before he graduated from Kaijou (even until now) gripped at Aomine's chest, as if squeezing it excruciatingly hard. He stopped walking, reaching up to cover his mouth in a sudden realization.

Why did Aomine feel this sudden sinking feeling when he thought that Kise might like Kasamatsu like that? Even when he saw with his own naked eyes that Kuroko completely smitten with Kagami, it didn't affect him this much, only sparking his possessive streak as Kuroko's former light… but, why did he experience this gush of fear when it was about Kise going away to be together with someone else, to some places Aomine couldn't reach?

Aomine's hand instinctively moved on its own accord as it suddenly grabbed Kise's wrist, halting the blonde's steps as well. Kise turned around slightly to face Aomine with puzzlement in his warm honey colored eyes. "Aomine-chi?"

Aomine couldn't speak for a moment, not knowing what to articulate. His mind was a jumbled mess and he didn't know why he felt this urgency to say something… anything, before Kise seriously walked away from him for good. "Last summer… during our Inter High basketball match, you said something about giving up on admiring and chasing after me."

Kise widened his eyes slightly before he quickly looked away. "E-eh? Wha-what is it, Aomine-chi, suddenly bringing up that embarrassing moment…?" His cheeks turned a bit rosy, and he looked rigid and uncomfortable, but Aomine wasn't discouraged to continue. He needed to know.

"Were you… seriously giving up on me?" Aomine asked earnestly, his eyes boring deeply into Kise's evading orbs.

Kise was quiet for a moment, still not looking at Aomine, before he glanced back at him. "W-why did you ask such thing, Aomine-chi?" he gave Aomine a tentative smile. "I already copied Aomine-chi and the others' styles perfectly even though it's only for five minutes. There's no point in talking more about-"

"Kise," Aomine cut his ramble and Kise flinched slightly. "Don't answer my question with another question," he continued, not releasing his serious gaze from Kise's wavering one.

"Aomine-chi…" Kise seemed hesitant and rather bewildered at Aomine's insistence, so he elaborated some explanation for the blond.

"I know I can be dense most of the time. I sure as hell didn't realize the meaning of your words at that time because there was only the basketball match inside my head. But I've been thinking since then… I've been mulling over your words carefully and it just occurred to me now… that I don't like the idea of you giving up on me," Aomine tightened the grip on Kise's wrist at this unexpected declaration that came from his own mouth.

Hell, even Aomine didn't know he could be so thick. The spike-like feeling that bothered him like a thorn in his side all along after he heard Kise's subtle confession at that time… it was because of this.

Aomine didn't want Kise to stop admiring him. He wished for Kise to keep chasing after him, never giving up on him.

"Aomine-chi…!" Kise gaped at Aomine in surprise, no. That was an understatement. He looked positively stunned. "What… what are you talking about?" there was something in Kise's bright eyes that stared unblinkingly at his own sapphire ones; something that resembled hope.

"I let Tetsu give up on me because there was nothing I could do about it. But you… you're different. I've been waiting until this moment where you can catch up, so… don't give up on me." For once, Aomine wanted to be honest with his words and feelings, because if he couldn't be, an idiot like Kise would never understand.

"Ao…mine-chi…" Kise's topaz orbs glazed slightly as Aomine kept his gaze fixed deeply and somberly on them. He also pulled the blond to position his body as close as possible to Aomine's, while he leaned into Kise slowly, gradually.

Alright, maybe Aomine was the fool here. He honestly didn't know what he was doing. What Kise said last summer… what he meant with his admission, maybe he read too much into it and it was all in his head because Aomine was a delusional dimwitted guy.

But even so, Aomine could careless at this moment, because he only wanted Kise to know how he felt about the Kaijou's ace. "Kise… to you, I…!"

"Oi, Kise!"

Sadly, the intense, moving, poignant moment was instantly broken by the sudden call of the blonde's name, surprising both Aomine and Kise as the tan ace spotted someone running to their direction.

Kise turned his head around slightly as well in reaction and his expression brightened tenfold as the blond saw that person. "Kasamatsu-senpai!"

The way the air around Kise turned sparkly… the way his eyes lit up with all glittery flowers seeming to sprout around him… they were hints, powerful enough for Aomine to realize that he might have been too late this time. It was so clear in his enlarged eyes when he witnessed the scene unfold under his nose, that Kise really did like this older person romantically.

Aomine couldn't help gradually loosening his clutch from Kise's wrist before letting it go completely, his hand losing its strength and falling down lifelessly on his side, along with his heart that seemed about to plummet as well at the sight.

That's right-Aomine thought silently and regretfully. That smile isn't reserved for me anymore….

#

"You…! Don't just go and disappear on me like that, idiot!" Kasamatsu barked while punching Kise on the back angrily as the blond yelped out a painful, frantic apology.

"I'm sorry, Senpai. I had to look for fresh air after suffocating in that changing room…" Kise made an excuse while making a thrown out puppy expression, and Kasamatsu instantly remembered why he was looking for the blond in the first place.

"Aaaah! That's right! How the hell did you end up on that play?! You have a LOT of things to explain, mister!" Kasamatsu exclaimed loudly while eyeing the younger boy with narrowed eyes irately.

"It wasn't my fault! I swear! Akashi-chi suddenly ordered us to go on stage! We didn't have a choice or he would make us pay! We even didn't prepare for anything like that! Sheesh… imagine how hard it was for us, please…!" Kise cried now, acting spoiled and faking tears just because Kasamatsu was weak against it (despite his refusal to admit it) and would eventually fell into his ploy and coddle him in the end.

Kasamatsu harrumphed. "Anyway, it's time to go. You finished what you came here for, right?" he asked, glaring expectantly at the blond boy who suddenly became very quiet. "Kise?"

Kasamatsu stared at him more attentively to read him better, but what he found caused Kasamatsu to raise his eyebrows high, especially when he noticed Kise's face more clearly. For some reason, Kise's cheeks were colored in dark shade of red and his expression… he looked very troubled, like he was about to cry, yet it wasn't from sadness or anger.

"What's with that face?" Kasamatsu wondered out loud and all of a sudden, Kise dropped himself to squat down and cover his steaming face with the both of his hands, hiding his apparently very mortified expression from Kasamatsu, or from the world in general, ultimately surprising him. "O-oi? What's wrong?"

Kasamatsu hated it very much when he sounded like he was worried about Kise's well being, but he just couldn't help it. Even though he was no longer in Kaijou, Kise would remain his 'pain in the ass' junior for a life time. Moreover, Kise apparently wasn't able to answer Kasamatsu's question coherently because all Kasamatsu heard from the muffled response was something along the line of 'Aomine-chi' and 'unforeseen' and 'so cool'.

Kasamatsu sighed deeply in resignation. Sheesh, the Miracles and their enigmatic conduct…!-though, he couldn't help noticing that Aomine who had been with Kise earlier was nowhere in sight now. Huh? I thought they were talking about something important just now….

"What… what should I do, Senpai?"

Kise's quivering voice brought Kasamatsu's attention back to the still crouching blonde who was still hugging his knees with both arms now and hiding his lower face behind them.

Seeing the flustered look, Kasamatsu couldn't help letting out another long suffering sigh as he ruffled Kise's soft golden hair. "What happened?" He was still in standing position, so he couldn't exactly observe Kise's face clearly, but the blonde's color seemed like turning into a boiled lobster's at this point.

Kasamatsu wondered why Kise hadn't hyperventilated yet, because that was the usual pattern.

"I-I… decided once that I'd give up on Aomine-chi, but… now I'm not sure I want to anymore…" Kise drowned his face once again on his arms and knees, flushing darker.

His crush hits the top notch, huh?

It wasn't a secret that Kise had a man-crush on Aomine for the longest time. Even the Kaijou's peers knew about it since the first time the blond shared stories about his days at Teikou with the amazing ace of Generation of Miracle.

However, apparently it wasn't a simple man-crush anymore now. Kise's feeling had developed during those years of him chasing after the tan ace, into a full blown romantic attraction. Kasamatsu wasn't against the same-sex relationship, but he wasn't sure what to say to the blond about his obvious desire for the tan ace's affection if Kise asked a love-advice from him.

Sadly, Kasamatsu's romantic relationship, or by any means, the lack there of, as much as painful it was to admit, wouldn't help Kise in the slightest with his problem. Still, Kasamatsu was wise enough to grab the situation by looking at the facts. By the look of what happened between the blond and the tan ace before Kasamatsu interrupted them earlier, it seemed that the tan ace had said something that caused the blond to break down right now.

Kasamatsu decided to go with a question that had been nagging him instead. "Then why didn't you say that to him before he walked away?"

Kise snapped out of embarrassment right away in reaction to the question and made a 'CRAP!' expression before he stood up and bowed at Kasamatsu while thanking him for the advice and immediately ran away before Kasamatsu could even respond to him.

That rude bastard…!

"That's it! You're going home ALONE!" Kasamatsu yelled at the fleeing blonde while giving him a raised fist, before he huffed in irritation and turned to leave the premise. Kasamatsu was so going home.

Screw Kise and his antics!

~Kagami x Kuroko~

"Atsushi, until when are you going to stay and eat here?" Himuro was in the verge of snapping the last string of patience even though he was still smiling sweetly at the oversized child, because Murasakibara hadn't moved from his seat since they sat there hours ago at all, still dutifully (and keenly) eating the snacks purchased in class 3C Cosplay Cafe.

"But… they are all very delicious…" Murasakibara sighed in bliss with a dreamy look on his face. "I really don't wanna leave. This is heaven…."

Some female customers giggled as they ogled at Murasakibara and heard his words. Apparently, he really caught attention because of his extreme height and unusual hair color, added with that adorable look on his face and Himuro as his companion… they were the practically manekineko** for the class now, stealing the real mascot job to attract customers.

"Wow, they sure are standing out…" one of Seirin's members that Himuro identified as Koganei Shinji, the actual class mascot that chose not to wear his cat-maid costume anymore (well, only the dress, but he put back on the ears, the tail and the bell), commented with a corn size of sweat sliding down his cheek. His taller companion, Mitobe (from what Himuro recalled his name was), that constantly brought Murasakibara's order to Himuro's table, nodded mutely beside Koganei.

It's not like I want us to attract too much attention!-Himuro replied inwardly, but pretended not to notice their gazes. Surely, the foods and the snacks here are amazingly good, but this is another level of gluttonous act even for Atsushi-he grimly continued his train of thought while watching Murasakibara intently.

Murasakibara was big enough as it was. If he ate too many sweets without moving his body around, he would get fat and that was a sight Himuro refused to see.

"Alright, we can buy some to go. There are a lot of classes we have to visit," Himuro replied the purple haired boy tenderly, persuading him to stand by pulling at his arm lightly.

"Eeeh? But I haven't tried the special parfait…" Murasakibara pouted slightly, giving Himuro a little kitten's look despite his giant body size.

Himuro's heart went 'kyuuuuun' at the sight, making him flush a little. He hated that Murasakibara could always use the same trick over and over to get what he wanted from Himuro because it always worked every time. Himuro couldn't help sighing slightly before he turned to face Koganei who seemed to perk at his 'calling' look.

"What can I do for you-nya?" the brunet gave him a cute smile.

"One special parfait for him, but-!" Himuro glanced at Murasakibara's beaming look warningly. "This is the last order and we have to move. We still have to catch a train back to Akita, Atsushi."

"Eh? But we can always stay the night here, Muro-chin," Murasakibara said slowly, looking at Himuro who raised his eyebrows, wondering what Murasakibara meant. "It's Friday. We don't have to rush back to Akita since we have day off tomorrow. I can rent a room in a hotel and we can sleep together." He smiled innocently.

Himuro's face exploded in strawberry color, burning in embarrassment at the implication and innuendo of what Murasakibara suggested they do by sleeping together. "W-what are you-?!" even the ever so collected Himuro would sputter in bewilderment when he was faced with such offer.

"I want to spend more time with Muro-chin, eating together, bathing and sleeping at night together," Murasakibara spoke ingenuously, apparently not seeing anything weird with what he was saying. Himuro could only cover his scorching face with his palms, trying to hide his shame at imagining those 'things' that would entail such intention if Murasakibara was mature enough to even think about it.

Alas, that wasn't the case at all.

This is so embarrassing! He doesn't mean anything 'like that' even though he's speaking so provocatively!-Himuro had to get his brain out of the gutter before he died out of shame. He decided that he was too self-conscious about this matter and was surprised that Koganei was still eyeing them with a knowing smile.

"One special parfait for couple coming!" the cat eared boy chuckled and retreated to get the order and Himuro could only flush some more for being so obvious with his expression and uncomfortable gesture.

Ah, this is that drama's fault! I get to see Atsushi's mature look in the play, so I start to imagine stuff that shouldn't have resurfaced at all!

Of course, Himuro's dilemma still continued in steady pace towards the peak of the hill before it would tumble and crash down at one point later.

~Kagami x Kuroko~

"Sheesh, Dai-chan can be such a pain," Momoi frowned as she looked around the area.

"F-forgive me, but he-… he's probably still resting somewhere," Sakurai smiled ruefully at her, seeming to try to soothe her.

"Yes, but he should at least have a decency to pick his damn phone when he's called! I want to congratulate Tetsu-kun in person! But Dai-chan has to go missing after the play that we have to look for him now! He was the one who wanted to come here in the first place and now he ditched us!" she was pissed off beyond belief. Aomine always did things like this. He should at least think about how he inconvenienced the others.

"But Momoi-san always relents in the end, right? I-I'm sorry for not helping, but you're so nice to always look after him," Sakurai complimented her. She really didn't understand why he slipped an apology there, though. Well, she appreciated his endeavor in praising her effort in taking care of their handful ace, though.

"It's not by choice…" Momoi still sulked. It wasn't completely true, by the way. She could always turn a blind-eye on Aomine's escapades, but she just didn't have a heart to let him be. "I myself always wonder why I have to be responsible for that pompous jerk all the time… I must be secretly masochist," she let out a long suffering sigh.

Mother hen or not, if she didn't get rid of Aomine soon enough, she wouldn't be able to get a boyfriend. She didn't want to be Aomine's mother for the rest of her youthful life, damn it!

"T-that's not true!" Sakurai cried out suddenly, surprising Momoi by his raised volume. "I-I'm sorry, but I think Momoi-san is a wonderful person! You're… you're an amazing girl who can care for people from the bottom of your heart even though you know it won't be easy. If I could do something about it, I'd like to help you out too, but-… ah, I'm sorry for speaking too much! Waah, what am I saying!" he then gradually turned red like a steaming furnace before ending his babble by covering his face, looking very much embarrassed.

Momoi was honestly rather amazed. She had never paid attention before because she was too preoccupied in taking care of Aomine and Touou basketball team in general. She also never looked beyond Sakurai's basketball ability that was very important for her team, but now that she interacted with the nervous teen in personal level, she could really feel that he was a really good guy. Sadly, he had low self-esteem that wasn't her type, but he could be a remarkable friend.

Momoi couldn't help chuckling at Sakurai's antics as the taller boy flushed some more while muttering 'sorry for acting stupid' lowly, but she wouldn't have that. "What are you apologizing for, Sakurai-kun? You're so nice for cheering me up," she giggled again, slapping Sakurai's back playfully. "Thank you."

A small happy smile bloomed on Sakurai's face. "You're welcome," he said before he noticed something and blinked. "Huh?"

"What?" Momoi raised her eyebrow, following his line of sight and found Aomine eating like crazy in yakisoba stand near the entrance of the building. "Aaaah, Dai-chan!" she instantly shouted, calling his name, but Aomine didn't seem to hear as he was still furiously stuffing the fried-noodles into his mouth.

Momoi's sweat dropped at the funny and yet scary view. "What is he doing? Is he that hungry?"

"Ah… I'm sorry, but he looks more like stress-eating rather than hungry…" Sakurai commented timidly, a bead of sweat rolling down his cheek as well.

"Dai-chan and stress eating?" Momoi made a disgruntled face. Stress and Aomine couldn't be in one sentence. After all, she had never seen Aomine like that. He would sulk and pull out and avoid people when he had problem, never once did he do something as uncharacteristic as stress-eating. "Mukkun I understand, but Dai-chan…?" It was plainly impossible.

"Maybe someone breaks his heart. I heard people would eat to bury the void after they lost their love," Sakurai seemed thoughtful before he looked up in realization and "I'm sorry! I've said too much unnecessary assumption!" he profusely apologized again even though Momoi was silent only because he could have been right.

Aomine had never had love problem before after all. Well, there was that thing with Kuroko, but he insisted that there was nothing between them, and he didn't seem to lie because Momoi would know. It was always complicated between those two, but this was different. Maybe it wasn't Kuroko this time.

Momoi felt a headache coming. "Sakurai-kun… will you do me a favor to talk to Dai-chan?" Momoi turned to face Sakurai by making use of her teary eyes to make the taller boy feel obliged to grant her wish, no matter how unreasonable it was.

Sakurai seemed about to go into a full blown panic attack with a string of apology at the impossibility, but Momoi added her pleading look with helpless gesture that could even get her to meet the Emperor of Japan if she wanted to. "Please?"

Sakurai could only stare at her in disbelief before he finally nodded in resignation. "I'm sorry… but I only can do my best here…" the brunet seemed very much pressured, but he still steeled his heart and went to greet Aomine in the distance.

"Yosh, now I'll go looking for Tetsu-kun!" Momoi hummed, turning around to walk away. It was a first step to dump Aomine to someone else's care. Sakurai was probably too timid to control Aomine, but if he showed him those little cute smiles, even Aomine would think twice before making him cry.

~Kagami x Kuroko~

"Whoa…" Kagami looked at the ceiling of their decorated class in awe. "This is amazing. How the hell our class had time to put these things together in the haze of our lessons and drama preparation?"

"To put it simply, it is muscles strength mixed with careful planning and genius thinking." Kuroko's voice emerged beside him, though Kagami knew he was with Kuroko all this time, he still could feel surprised hearing his words so suddenly. Kuroko was too silent all this time after all.

"You're giving too much credit for our class' thinkers," Kagami retorted, looking at Kuroko in mock surprise. Why did muscles strength only get one portion while careful planning and genius thinking got the rest?

"Obviously because they carefully planned where to put what in order to zap our class into such beautiful planetarium," Kuroko nodded, replying monotonously.

"Still, without the muscles effort, it would only stay as 'planning', right?" Kagami argued.

"I did say it was the mix of strength and brain, though," Kuroko looked at Kagami's eyes, knowing completely that he had won the argument as Kagami scowled at him.

"Alright, you win," Kagami sighed. "But still… our class went all out for this, huh?" He stared upward at the sparkling little lamps that were aranged in a way which mimicked various stars constellations. He only recognized some group of stars that was included in zodiac signs, but for Kagami, Ursa Major was the most prominent so far.

"Sadly, they don't include Andromeda. And that is the biggest one too…" Kuroko let out a small smile, seeming to be enjoying the view as well.

"They probably don't have any room for such big stars constellation," Kagami glanced at Kuroko slightly, no longer looking at those twinkling lamps in the dark curtain that resembled midnight sky as he paid more mindful attention to Kuroko's small physique.

Seriously, Kagami had thought a lot about how he felt for Kuroko after they spoke with Kiyoshi and Hyuuga earlier. He realized that he and Kuroko couldn't avoid the issue between them any longer. Surely, Kagami knew he was attracted to Kuroko, and by the look of it, Kuroko probably felt the same way about him.

However, Kagami also still wasn't sure if this would be the right choice. They still had two years in high school. Even though the entire school apparently thought they were already together, would it be really okay to entertain the idea and make it true? How would society look at them afterwards? It wasn't that Kagami would care so much how they thought about him, but what if this hurt Kuroko as well?

Moreover, being a couple meant Kagami and Kuroko would have to face challenges as lovers… what if Kagami got overly possessive and restrained Kuroko's freedom and in avertedly caused him pain? What if Kuroko came to hate him because he couldn't be sensitive enough towards his feelings and needs? Kagami was well known for his dense personality, if by some chance he acted too tactless for Kuroko's preference…!

God! All these uncertainties are killing me!-Kagami scratched his head curtly in frustration. He was still full of doubt. He couldn't help imagine that taking that huge leap to make clear of his and Kuroko's status was still too big for him. Even though he was usually reckless in about almost everything, he just didn't want to risk his 'relationship' with Kuroko for some unknown things that he wasn't familiar with.

Kuroko must have thought that Kagami was a lousy coward. Heck, Kagami himself thought like that. For one, even though he knew that he and Kuroko would hit it off perfectly, he wasn't sure of what laid after that.

"I'll protect her for the rest of my life."

Even though he could say it so confidently in the Doll Princess play, Kagami couldn't help feeling like a hypocrite for not being able to be optimistic about those words in real life. Could he really protect Kuroko with his almost non-existence experience?

"Kagami-kun?"

Kagami blinked once as he heard the call and by the time he realized it, he found a pair of aquamarine colored eyes staring at him with a glint of query inside them. Kagami couldn't help gazing at those orbs deeply, apparently making Kuroko wonder.

"You have been quiet for some time now," Kuroko spoke slowly, his moving lips capturing Kagami's attention right away.

Kagami had kissed those small plump lips before… such beautiful pink color… and they were very soft as well. The girls applied some lip balm on Kuroko before, along with the lipstick. The rich red color of the lipstick was wiped clean, but it still left Kuroko's natural soft color.

"…-not like you for being so… Kagami-kun?"

It fascinated Kagami a little… okay, a lot, that he couldn't really catch what Kuroko was saying because his mind was too preoccupied by how attractive Kuroko was. He was aware that Kuroko was bemused of his silent treatment, but since he was still mulling over various kinds of things in his mind, he couldn't really do anything but keep quiet.

Now, Kagami couldn't have been wrong. He knew best this attraction he felt for Kuroko… was not an attraction he felt for a simple crush anymore. Because at that moment, he couldn't help feeling that there was nothing he would want more other than to kiss him and make Kuroko his and his alone.

"Kuroko," finally after much consideration (and because he was a single minded idiot), Kagami decided to be a man and went with his gut.

Because Kuroko is worth it.

"Yes?" Kuroko still kept his unwavering gaze at Kagami's crimson eyes.

"Let's date." Kagami said it with so much conviction that his will power could muster. It was unromantic at all, he knew, but Kagami wouldn't have any other way to ask for such life-changing request; because it was intense and much more serious than any feeling he had ever felt for anyone or anything other than basketball.

Kuroko widened his eyes for a moment, seemingly surprised, before his expression softened and a small delighted smile bloomed like a heavenly flower. "Let's," he agreed and Kagami couldn't help his heart fluttering in happiness and joy at the acceptance.

Kagami reached his rather shaky hand to touch Kuroko's supple cheek and leaned down his face, slowly lowering his gaze sexily before giving Kuroko a light kiss on the lips. Kuroko gradually closed his eyes as well, reaching his hands up to rest on Kagami's chest, apparently relishing in the wonderful moment as much as he could. They were completely aware that they couldn't say the 'L' word yet, but… this would be enough for now.

Kagami moved his other hand and sneaked on Kuroko's waist, pulling his body closer, while he opened his mouth to lick at Kuroko's bottom lip, causing the shorter boy to audibly gasp and clench his fingers tighter on Kagami's uniform.

Seeing it as a permission to go further, Kagami slowly dipped his tongue inside Kuroko's mouth, tasting the teal haired boy for the first time. Even though they had kissed several times now, this was their first shared deep kiss, and Kagami wanted to make this experience good and special for both of them.

Kagami wasn't hurried and certainly wasn't rushed as he appreciated Kuroko's flavor, sweet and delicious like vanilla, mixed with something that was unique and one of a kind. He didn't want to scare Kuroko, so he coaxed Kuroko to follow his example bit by bit, until Kuroko shyly stirred his tongue as well, meeting Kagami's in the middle of his adventure inside his virgin cavern.

Their tongues danced together in languid motion. It was slow, hot and arousing; and Kagami had to shift his hand behind Kuroko's neck to angle their position, so he could get a better access to deepen their kiss more prominently; and thus they could savor each other's natural essences even more. The kiss was so passionate it left them completely breathless.

Kagami didn't know how long it was going on, but when he finally released the kiss, it was only due to the dire need of oxygen. They gasped in a lungful of air, hard breaths mingling together and foreheads resting on each other's. Kagami still felt his lips tingle from the kiss and butterflies in his stomach keep flapping their wings and his temperature considerably heat up. He must have been blushing. Although he was self-conscious for acting like a fucking girl, he didn't feel too bad because he could see Kuroko's cheeks colored as well.

"Kuroko…" in the middle of his panting, Kagami called Kuroko who was still rather winded.

"Yes…?" the teal haired boy's voice was low and husky, and Kagami really wanted to make him moan with such sexy voice. But, he had a more important thing to do after all.

"Stay with me," Kagami asked deeply.

"Yes," and Kuroko answered full-heartedly.

They stayed holding each other like that for some time, and even though there was lack of words between them to convey how they felt towards each other, their joined hand and fingers, 'their skin-to-skin connection' under the starry sky of class 2B planetarium spoke volume, at least loud enough for them that at that very moment Kuroko was the most important person in Kagami's life and vice-versa.

End of Chapter 14

Tbc…

Additional Note:

*Referring to the bonus pages on a certain chapter in Krobasu manga (I forgot what chapter), but there was a time when Kuroko and Momoi went on a date (according to Momoi, Kise and Aomine, when they were actually just shopping for supply), and Kise and Aomine followed them (on Kise's insistence).

**Maneki-neko: cat figurine that's superstitiously believed to have power to bring customers into a shop.

A/N: Alright~ this time is for the serious stuffs! After much consideration, I decided this chapter to be the turning point for our mind characters, and of course for the supporting characters. Also, I finally gave some screen time for Sakurai and Momoi too *lol*. Next chapter will be even more complicated for the supporting characters (AoKise and MuraHimu) and I will probably put some more AkaFuri (because there are a lot of requests for this pair for some reason). I'm still not sure how to fit in Sakurai here, but I guess he'll have his moment as well later XD. So, what do you guys think? Feed back is definitely my muse to write~ ^_^

Chapter 15

Chapter 13