Aomine mentions in passing one day over lunch with Kagami, Tetsu and Kise that he's never been under a kotatsu before. He doesn't think it's that weird, he's just never seen the need for it, is all. His parents hadn't gotten one for their house, and when he'd moved out he'd had better things to spend his money on. This seems very normal to him, so he's a bit confused by everyone's reactions.

"Are you for real, dude?!" Kagami is disbelieving through his mouthful of burger. Tetsu hands Aomine a napkin silently, and he wipes his face. Kagami gives him an apologetic look, swallows. "I mean," he continues, "I grew up in the States and even I've used a kotatsu once!"

"It is quite surprising," Tetsu agrees.

"Why is this such a big fucking deal," Aomine says before Kise can chime in, rolling his eyes. "It doesn't really matter. Hey, Tetsu, you were gonna tell me about the new coach at your college club?"

The subject is dropped, and Aomine doesn't think about it until later when he's at Kise's apartment and looking at a comforter masquerading as a table.

"There's a heater under there," Kise says brightly, "and it's really nice in winter! Like now!"

"Okay," Aomine says dubiously. "You didn't have to get it out just for me."

"Well, no, but— I like kotatsu, they're nice to share with people." Kise fidgets. Aomine's about to just head off to the bedroom when suddenly he gets it.

He goes over to the table, lifts the edge of the comforter. "Hurry the fuck up," he says, when Kise doesn't move, "the heat's getting out."

Kise fair launches himself under the kotatsu, sprawling out on the floor. His feet peek out the other end because he's so tall, and Aomine's glad they didn't take their socks off because he's even taller than Kise. He lies down too, pokes at Kise until they're spooning. The warmth is, actually, really fucking nice, and he says so.

"Told you." Aomine can hear Kise's smile. He bites Kise's ear in retaliation.

"Not my fault my parents were too practical to get one," Aomine says, shoving his cold fingers up Kise's shirt just to hear him yelp. Kise rolls over to face him, opening his mouth to complain. Aomine doesn't particularly want to hear it, so he covers Kise's mouth with his own.

They don't do anything but lie in each other's arms after that, even when it gets a little too hot to be really comfortable. It's soft, and quiet, and Aomine will always remember this moment as a perfect bubble of happiness.