AU where Kagami moved to America for his high school life rather than his middle school life. Miracles went to Teiko, and then different high schools, but never met Kagami in middle or high school. Past plays a big role in this story.

Names of high schools (Seirin, Touou, Shuutoku etc.) have been made into place/district names and will be introduced in chapters.

This is gonna be a long one, given by the length of the first chapter, so buckle up and I hope you enjoy the ride!

Prologue

Clack.

The wooden piece made a satisfying sound as it hit the hollow board beneath. A gentle breeze stirred the paper lantern hanging from the open door, fluttering its coloured arms in a wayward dance. The air was pleasantly cool and the sun shed golden warmth against the straw mat where they sat.

Clack.

"That was quick move. Are you sure you thought that one out?"

Mismatched eyes met an equable green gaze.

"Are you really asking me that question, Shintarou?"

"What if I wasn't talking about our game?"

His opponent stiffened slightly, hardly anything, but it was enough to put the man on edge. Something definitely wasn't right. It was never truly right, but this time, he could feel it in the air. He could feel it in the other's gaze.

Something was off.

"It's just…I think you are acting more rashly than usual. You usually think things out so well."

His opponent's posture relaxed, and he leaned back. "Look at the board. What do you see?"

The emerald-eyed man looked down at the shogi board, his fast mind tracking all possible moves. He could see it fairly clearly. All combinations led to one thing – his defeat.

He should've known. He had never beaten this man, and it didn't seem as though that was changing anytime soon.

Clack.

He pushed his glasses up his nose. "Sometimes I wonder…if the moves I make are my own. I feel as though I, your opponent, am another piece on some bigger board. My own will is merely an illusion."

"You are catching on, Midorima Shintarou," the other man smiled softly, but it never reached his eyes. "Should I just say checkmate and be done with it? I am a bit busy. There are things I have planned."

"Your plans are going to destroy Tokyo, Akashi," Midorima gritted out, and the pieces clattered as his hands hit the table. "Destroy everything, and you know she wouldn't be proud of you-"

"Silence," Akashi's eyes flashed, and Midorima felt his stomach clench. "Remember your place. You are the kindling, and the spark is about to arrive. Destroy Tokyo? That's the point," Akashi said matter-of-factly while rearranging his pieces. "Tokyo will burn, and a new, reformed city will rise from the ashes." He turned his face to the window. "Now leave. I will call for you when I need you."

Hands fisted at his side and nails digging into flesh, Midorima stalked out of the room with his heart hammering in his chest. Akashi mumbled behind him, eyes staring at something only his coloured gaze could see. Midorima's mouth went dry at the words.

"Tokyo will burn. And everything will burn with it."

Chapter One: Calm

Ring ring ring. Ring ring ring. Ring ring ring.

The covers shuffled as a head of red hair slowly peeked out from under them, and an arm snaked to shut the incessant noise coming from the phone by instinctively switching it to silent. Crimson eyes blinked blearily at the time, squinting against the morning light that shone through the open blinds.

Nine-thirty.

The redhead groaned. Why were the blinds open in the first place? He always closed them before going to bed. It was so cold. And uncomfortable. The pounding pain in his head wasn't helping. He shivered, rolling over and pressing his face into something soft. It smelt like something nostalgic, comforting, but he was too tired to think. He relaxed when an arm draped over him and pulled him closer into the warmth.

He stayed like that for a few blissful seconds, slowly slipping back into sleep, when his brain caught up with his thoughts.

An arm.

Not his.

He screamed, instinctively rolling and reaching for the firearm that was always kept under his pillow. Except it wasn't there, and the second he moved, agony lanced through his head and he stumbled, falling on his bare ass onto the carpeted floor.

His bare ass.

He was naked.

As he tried to get his breathing under control, the other life form in the bed began moving. The man bit his tongue as the pile of sheets rose and slowly fell away to reveal tanned skin and a head of midnight blue hair. He only knew one man who looked like that.

"A-Aomine?!" his voice came out a lot higher pitched than he would've liked to admit. He felt light-headed, blood rushing to his face and hands gripping the carpet under him.

The man named Aomine groaned, running a hand through his hair and down his face. "Fucking neighbours screaming…it must be like fucking five in the morning…" he muttered seemingly to himself as he looked over. He froze. The two stared at each other, definitely not missing their states of undress.

"Kagami…" he rasped. "W-why are you naked…? In my apartment?"

Kagami belatedly realised his eyes had been travelling southward, over Aomine's very nicely sculpted abs and down…when Aomine spoke. He snapped them up to meet the confused blue gaze. "I don't fucking know!" he choked out. "And this is my apartment, dumbass!"

Aomine slowly looked around him. "Oh yeah." Then he looked back and shamelessly stared at Kagami's crotch. Kagami's face coloured like his hair when he realised Aomine was holding back a smile of appreciation, and still very much looking…there.

He got to his feet and turned around, snatching up bits of clothing here and there. It didn't feel like they had done anything, and there weren't any…liquids on the sheets or on his body. No random condom or lube packets either so he thanked his lucky stars that his fiercely guarded purity hadn't been breached. Especially by Aomine fucking Daiki.

So why was he feeling disappointed?

Kagami shook his head and stalked to the bathroom, deciding he needed to clean himself up thoroughly. Maybe down a few aspirins. He was definitely hungover, and the migraine was stopping him from sorting out this mess. He could deal with it later. Hopefully the bastard would be gone by the time he was out and they could forget this had happened.

"Hey, what's that scar on your ass?"

Kagami squeaked and slammed the door shut behind the laughing idiot. He cranked the shower to let a stream of hot water wash over him, and tried not to think of the man that was in his bed.

Yeah, like that was gonna work.

Kagami sighed, letting the water cascade over his hair. How did this even happen?

20 hours earlier…

A pair of muddied shoes walked up the small stones steps that lead to a small apartment on the outskirts of Tokyo. The man walking in them sighed, rolling his shoulders as he rang the bell. There was a shuffling sound, and a short man in his mid-forties opened the door, bags under his eyes and salt-and-pepper hair in disarray.

"What do you want?"

The visitor parted his coat to flash his badge. "Detective Kagami Taiga, Homicide. I'm here to ask you a few questions about the death of your secretary."

The man's eyes widened and he stepped inside and behind the door. "Y-yes, of course. She was such a sweet girl. Please come in."

"I'm terribly sorry for your loss-" Kagami made to step inside, head down as he wiped his boots on the mat, but carefully honed instincts had him see a flash in the corner of his eye. He ducked just as a ceramic vase clipped the side of his head, sending pain shooting down his spine. He collapsed to his knees as the perpetrator kicked him in the stomach.

"I loved her, but she said she would never love me back! She said she had someone else! If I couldn't have her, no one could!" he screamed and ran out of the door.

Kagami groaned against the pain, staggering to his feet and moving forward just as the running culprit in front of him tripped and fell face-first into the mud. The clicking sound of handcuffs seemed brittle in the morning air. His eyes flitted to the blue-haired man responsible for the arrest.

"You have the right to remain silent…yada yada, charged for murder and assaulting an officer of the law…Kagami-kun, I can't lift this piece of trash by myself," his partner sighed, then glanced over at him. "Are you ok?" he asked when he saw the blood on Kagami's head.

Kagami grimaced as he brought a hand to his temple and it came off red. "Just nicked me. Good job though, Kuroko. Your invisibility really helps to catch these running bastards."

"It's not invisibility, it's just a lack of presence," Kuroko explained as the two of them hauled the man into their car. "You're just so bright, Kagami-kun, that next to you nobody notices me. I like it that way," he added with a small smile. "I'll drive. That injury looks nasty, let's take you to the hospital."

"You crazy, Kuroko? We got a murderer in the back." Kagami buckled himself into the passenger seat. "It's not as bad as it looks. Let's go to the station first."

Kuroko shrugged, and started up the engine. He had gotten a call from their chief when Kagami had left the car. The surprise waiting for them at the stationhouse…he wasn't sure if his partner would take it the good way, or the bad.

"Another case closed, huh? Good job, Kagami! You're doing great for a rookie. Kuroko too."

"Thanks, Hyuuga-senpai," Kagami muttered, pressing the icepack to his head. The cut was a small one, but he could feel a bump forming. That was the first case he had solved the entire month. It wasn't that he couldn't close cases – he was well-known for being extremely efficient – but crime rates were at an all-time low. Not that Tokyo was like New York crime-wise, and he was also glad people weren't being killed. Most of the crimes had been crimes of passion or committed by amateurs. No gang activity, no organised crime. But it wasn't just murder. Drug and weapons smuggling, blackmail, cybercrime, everything seemed to have dropped. It was a strange feeling, this tranquillity. Kagami didn't know whether he should relax or be more vigilant.

Speaking of drugs smuggling, he wondered how that guy was doing. They hadn't met up in some time, and that guy hadn't contacted him much. Not that he cared, that guy was a pain in the ass.

The sound of heels clicking against wood brought his attention to the woman in a dress suit and short brown hair that had come to stand in front of all of them. Their chief, Superintendent Aida Riko. Kuroko had informed her of the arrest, and she glanced at Kagami's icepack before sending him a nod. She seemed uneasy.

"Well, team…I've already informed a few of you of the changes that will be happening in the next few days. I hope you all cooperate and behave well in regards to this joint operation."

A few murmurs rippled across the room and Kagami's eyes widened. A joint operation?

"With Narcotics," a voice whispered in his ear, nearly sending Kagami through the roof.

"Damn it, Kuroko, don't do that…wait, did you say Narcotics?" the redhead shook his head in horror. He could feel his heart climb into his throat. Narcotics. Those bastards and their drug busts and their undercover cops and that damn detective who always got on his nerves. That damn detective who made him feel so flustered, so easily. "No, no, no, no, no. Not Narcotics. Anything but Narcotics. That bastard is in Narcotics!"

"Who're you calling a bastard, Bakagami?"

Kagami swallowed as the familiarly husky voice slid down his spine. Occupied with complaining to Kuroko, he had missed his chief introducing the Narcotics team that would be joining them. Now, a few familiar faces congregated around Riko, staring at him.

That damn bastard was smiling.

"Enough, you two," Riko snapped before Kagami could open his mouth. "Have your lovers' quarrel some other time. What I'm about to tell you is extremely important," she ignored Kagami's spluttering and Aomine's indignant huff. "The reason we are having this joint operation is because Narcotics and Homicide are Tokyo's most successful divisions, and one team from each division is to undertake this operation. Homicide from the Seirin district, and Narcotics from the Touou district. This also gives us jurisdiction over the entire Tokyo area to conduct our investigation, as this operation is separate from regular duties. It is very important, and although it's going to seem like a waste of time to some of you, it is definitely part of your job to do as you are told. Understood?"

No one dared to not nod their heads at her authoritative tone.

"Yes, I know this is a big thing to drop on you all on a Friday afternoon, but now Imayoshi-san is going to explain why we are doing this in the first place," she stepped aside to let a bespectacled man take her place. He was smiling, but it gave Kagami the shivers.

"Thank you. And thank you, Seirin, for your cooperation," his voice was slightly nasally and very even. Kagami could imagine this man telling a drug dealer he was going to jail for the rest of his life like he was talking about the weather. "The reason this operation is happening is because the criminal world is too quiet. Organised crime has dropped significantly, and our confidential informants and undercover cops have gone silent. Now, I know you're probably thinking that if it's quiet, why should we investigate? We have our reasons. And although the investigations may move slowly, the results will prove to be surprising and hopefully useful. Narcotics is so lazy at the moment I think they believe they are on holiday," his eyes flashed with a flicker of irritation. "So, it will be good to exercise these muscles again, and learn some team work while we are at it. Improve interdivision relationships and the like."

"Of course, you will all be changing partners," Riko interjected. She began listing off names, and Kagami stiffened when she arrived at his. "Kagami, Aomine…"

"But Kuroko is my partner!" he blurted. Aomine snorted.

Riko sent him an unamused glare. "Kuroko, Sakurai. Sorry, Kagami-kun, but these are orders."

"Ah, but that's pretty bad, right?" a man with almond shaped eyes and straight black hair piped up. "They're already partners, so they can't be partners. Otherwise they'll have to break up being partners."

"Izuki's right," the man who at beside him added. "Since they're boyfriends, how can they be partners at work? Isn't that against the rules?"

"Izuki-senpai, Koga-senpai, please stop saying such things!" Kagami could feel his cheeks heating up, and his stomach roiling.

"Oh, is that why you don't want to be partners with me, baby?" Aomine leered, his dark eyes twinkling in delight. "Because you have the hots for me, and you wanna jump me?"

"Don't think so highly of yourself, Ahomine," Kagami snarled.

Riko clapped her hands. "They never disclosed their relationship, so of course they aren't in one. They were partnered up because we believe they would work well together. Probably," she tacked on with a twitch of her lips. "Anyway, go spend time with your partners. Get to know each other. You've got the rest of the day off unless you have open cases, or are notified otherwise." With that, she and Imayoshi walked back to her office and closed the door behind them.

All team members exchanged glances.

A gruff faced blond crossed his arms. "We've seen the way you guys look at each other. You're obsessed with each other since our Academy days. If you aren't banging, you obviously want to."

Even Aomine had the decency to look slightly embarrassed at that statement. "Wakamatsu, watch your tongue, you bastard." He looked down when Kuroko tugged at his sleeve.

"Why don't I know about this? If you dare hurt Kagami-kun, I'll shoot both your knees."

"I kind of need those to play basketball, Tetsu," Aomine rubbed the back of his head. "You guys are getting so fired up."

"We aren't in a relationship!" Kagami yelled, jumping to his feet. The throbbing in his head returned and he swayed off-balance. Thankfully, he fell against a convenient wall of muscle and he looked up into a pair of worried navy eyes.

Wakamatsu rolled his eyes. "Please keep PDA to a minimum in the workplace."

Aomine pushed Kagami off and mumbled under his breath, but Kagami was still shocked at the expression Aomine had shown. There was no way the other had been worried about him. Right? Right. Kagami lowered himself into his chair, watching Aomine warily.

The two weren't even friends really. They had met in the police academy, along with Kuroko and a few of the division members, although Kuroko and Aomine had apparently attended the same middle school. Kagami realised they shared the same love of basketball, and they were both perfect rivals. Aomine was an arrogant bastard, but that's what made it fun. Things happened, they sort of bonded, but that was it. They got together sometimes for one-on-ones, Kagami had reluctantly cooked for him occasionally, but they hadn't seen each other for months.

No thanks to Aomine brushing off his texts with a "Too busy. Txt later." What "busy"? Imayoshi had clearly said they weren't on any serious assignments. The bastard was probably just ignoring him.

Not…not that Kagami cared if he was being ignored. He had better things to do than follow Aomine like a puppy.

Puppies were evil.

And his teasing teammates didn't help. Kagami had no idea where the rumours of their non-existent relationship had started. So what if he enjoyed playing sports with the guy, or maybe respected him? He was 100% asshole. A handsome, sexy asshole but an asshole nonetheless. And Kagami didn't have time for romance. Food, basketball and his job were all he needed.

Okay, so maybe there had been some time where Kagami may have thought he might have possibly maybe developed a crush on the jackass. But that had been years ago, and Kagami knew that although Aomine could get touchy-feely, there was nothing deeper there. He didn't even know if Aomine swung that way. The guy seemed to love staring at big breasted women, much to Kagami's chagrin. No decency. The idiot.

"Done checking me out?" Aomine scoffed, but his voice sounded strangely tired. Kagami was about to ask him if he was feeling okay, but Aomine's words finally processed.

Kagami picked up the icepack and shouldered his way past. "I'm leaving."

He needed a drink, and knew exactly where to get it.

And only a shadow saw the forlorn look in Aomine's eyes, the surreptitious glance at his mobile before he left the precinct as well.

Riko closed the door to her office and motioned for Imayoshi to sit down. The shutters were drawn for their private chat. "So, I honestly don't know if this collaboration idea of yours is very smart or very stupid."

Imayoshi leaned back. "It's true, if we don't work well together, it'll go quite badly. But now we have access to each other's data and casefiles, and we can combine our expertise. If what we fear is true, we'll find out sooner or later."

Riko stared at him straight in his squinty eyes, something very few people could do. "I hope for once that this is just a wild goose chase, and that our fears are just speculation. It'll be nice to have a quiet world where nothing happens."

"You and I both know the world will never be that way. And where's the fun in that anyway?" the man sighed. "It was actually Aomine's idea."

"What?"

"Joint operation. He brought it up in conversation one day, and the idea stuck," Imayoshi shrugged. "I was surprised to say the least. Aomine was never a team player. That's one of the reasons he was sent to Narco. Wasn't too happy being separated from his Homicide buddies," he grinned dryly. "Maybe that's why he proposed the partnership. Should I be worried about Kagami's behaviour?"

Riko was taken aback by the news. "Aomine did? Strange." She parted the blinds slightly and peered out. "The team just teases Kagami because he gets riled up easily. He's a good kid. Shouldn't be a problem. It's Aomine I'm worried about."

Imayoshi frowned slightly. "It's unlike me to say this but…I am too. He's been a bit distracted lately."

"Something wrong?"

Imayoshi shrugged. "If it is, we'll just have to find out the hard way."

"That bastard…" Kagami slammed a fist against the counter while he downed another glass. "He's such a bastard. He's the fucking king of bastards."

"Mm-hmm," the man in front of him hummed noncommittally, skilfully pouring out a cocktail before handing it to one of the amused patrons. "How many does that make, Taiga?"

Kagami glanced at his glass. "Dunno, but its empty, and I want it full. Tatsuya?"

"Yes?" the bartender – Himuro Tatsuya – sighed.

"Why is it empty?"

He silently filled it with diluted vodka. Kagami needed to vent and relax, and although Himuro knew his friend couldn't handle alcohol very well, it kept him somewhat sedated until he could just fall asleep and Himuro could call a taxi and send him back to his apartment only a few blocks away.

"That guy…I don't understand him. It's like hot and cold with him. He doesn't meet up with me for months, and now suddenly we're partners? When I saw him again, it really hit me, Tatsuya. How much I had missed him. Playing with him. When we play basketball, it's like the whole world is filled with such bright colours," Kagami leaned against the counter, a dreamy look in his glazed eyes. "But he's such an asshole. I don't even know what he thinks of me. Am I just a waste of time for him? A game?"

"I doubt he has enough spare time to waste. I'm sure he spends time with you because he enjoys your company," Himuro shrugged, smiling softly at Kagami's almost lovesick whining.

"We're partners now. Not sex partners, work partners. Don't mix the two Tatsuuuuya," Kagami drawled with a strong shake of his head. "Also, never put sex and Aomine in the same sentence. That's a crime, I know it."

"I never said anything like that, Taiga."

Kagami ignored his friend. "I swear Chief just thinks this is some fucking game. I have to spend so much time with that fucking asshole," Kagami chugged the drink, then coughed, before asking for another. "And he's so distracting. Everyone keeps teasing me, but I can't help it. Nobody asked him to be so hot and sexy. And why does he have to wear those tight jackets all the time? Like please. And his husky voice should be illegal. I can't handle being around him."

"Maybe your work will be like basketball. You'll be so focused you'll forget about your crush."

"I'm not crushing!"

Himuro opened his mouth to dispute, but paused. His eyes flitted to the side as another man heavily sat down beside Kagami.

"Fuck, give me the strongest thing you have." The voice was deep, and slurred. This guy must've gone bar hopping. He had dark blue hair that fell over a tanned face, cheeks slightly flushed because of his intoxication. "I need to forget about today, and the past few days, because fuck is this shit tiring. I want to stop thinking."

Himuro gave him diluted vodka too, but Kagami, thinking it was for him, reached out the same time the new guy did. Their hands touched and they looked up at each other.

Kagami's jaw dropped. "Aomine?"

"Fuck, why you of all people?" Aomine groaned.

"Excuse me, but that should be my line!" Kagami spat.

"Whatever," the taller man sighed, and kept drinking. Kagami was surprised at the lack of fight, so he shrugged and continued drinking too.

"So you're Aomine? Taiga's talked about you a lot," Himuro smirked. Kagami shot him a glare but Aomine raised a brow.

"Taiga? You know Kagami?"

Kagami supressed the irrational shiver he felt at Aomine saying his first name. "He's a childhood friend. I live close by so I drop by here often."

"That reminds me, Taiga," Himuro leaned towards him. "I've gotten a new offer for a job. This giant of a man came over one day and ordered drinks just for the complementary snacks," he snorted, "But he said that my bartending was good and he was looking to hire for the opening of his new club." Himuro grinned. "It's apparently VIPs only, so you might need your badge to get in."

Kagami was about to reply when he felt a hand at the back of his collar, jerking him backwards. Aomine stared daggers at Himuro, although the effect was weakened by his glassy eyes and flushed cheeks.

"You're too close," he growled at Himuro. The bartender raised his eyebrows, a smile twitching his lips. He knew exactly what was going on. These two dunderheads were as thick as they got.

Kagami slapped his hand away. "Don't talk to my brother like that!"

"Brother? You mean your boyfriend, right?"

Kagami's nose scrunched up. "Fuck off! It's nothing like that!"

"Oh yeah? Then prove it."

"Fucking how?"

Aomine tilted his head, lips pulling into a smirk and eyes darkening. "Kiss me."

Himuro stopped wiping the glass his was holding, and nearly dropped it when a blushing Kagami leaned forward to accept the challenge. "Okay, boys!" he yelled, stopping the both of them in their tracks. "We don't want any shows in the bar. Take it outside. Or to your apartment. Please."

Aomine seemed to have realised what he had said, and he looked down at his feet. "I live far from here. It's gonna cost me so much money, and I spent it all on booze."

Kagami was still blushing, whether from the alcohol or Aomine's earlier words, Himuro wasn't sure. "I'll pay for your taxi and you can owe me."

Aomine scowled but begrudgingly agreed and the two of them stumbled out, supporting each other by the shoulders. Himuro just rolled his eyes.

"Ah, fuck, I only have enough until my apartment," Kagami muttered as he paid the driver. Aomine grumbled until Kagami continued: "Guess you can crash at my place until tomorrow morning."

"For serious?" Aomine grinned, but he was already halfway up the stairs. Kagami sighed and followed. He was still drunk, he could feel it, and so was Aomine. He didn't want the bastard to walk home and get run over or something.

As they reached his front door, Kagami fumbled with the keys and stumbled inside, flicking on the lights. He turned to face Aomine as he closed the door behind him. "Tatsuya and I aren't like that."

"Huh?" Aomine blinked at him, those stunning blue eyes slightly unfocused. Kagami's drunk brain felt slightly empowered. Aomine was in his house. Which meant Kagami could do anything he wanted, right? Right. Yeah.

"You're the one who asked, remember." Kagami stepped forward, grabbing Aomine's shoulders. Before his brain had a chance to see reason, he kissed him. It was wet and sloppy, a drunk kiss, but Aomine didn't hesitate. He grabbed Kagami's waist and slammed him against the wall, deepening the kiss and adding tongue. Kagami moaned into his mouth, hands fisting in his hair. He'd always wanted to know how Aomine tasted like. Vodka and spirits. He felt like he could get drunk just off Aomine. He started rutting against him, and Aomine's hands snaked under his jacket and shirt to scrape his nails down Kagami's back. Kagami's head was hurting really badly, but kissing Aomine felt so good. Kagami gasped.

"Bedroom," Aomine mumbled against him, nipping his lips and moving down to suck on his neck. Kagami staggered to his room, Aomine following with his hands in Kagami's shirt. The two of them fell onto the bed, removing clothes and shoes and socks and underwear while they kissed. Something sharp jabbed into Kagami's stomach. His extra firearm. He absently tossed it to the floor and re-joined his lips with Aomine's. Kagami had never gone all the way with someone, despite being in his mid-twenties. His parents had always been old-fashioned, and he'd wanted it to be special and with someone special. He'd gotten close, but never all the way.

Losing his virginity by drunk sex with drunk Aomine? Didn't get better than that.

However, as soon as the two were naked, they realised just how soft the sheets were, how comfy the mattress was. And just how tired they were. Kagami groaned in pleasure as his head rested against the pillow, lips sore from fervent kissing. "Hey, Aomine, let's have sex tomorrow. I just wanna sleep."

Aomine murmured acceptance, draping an arm over Kagami's torso and nibbling at his shoulder. "Yeah, let's so that. Sleep then sex. Good plan…" he hummed, and soft breathing followed suit. Kagami smiled to himself, feeling slumber creep over him. As he peered at Aomine's peaceful and beautiful sleeping form beside him, a small flare of panic sparked in his stomach just before he dozed off.

He liked Aomine Daiki.

Aomine fucking Daiki.

He was so fucked.

This is the first time I'm attempting a serious story. There will be humor, of course, but the plot is meant to be heavy. Chapters will be long, so look forward to those! Gentle constructive criticism is welcome with open arms. I write because I love it, and if you can help me improve, I'll be very grateful. I'm definitely going to have Chapter 2 up by Kagami's birthday, if not earlier (cuz uni is a bitch).

Thank you for reading!