Chapter 1

Kuroko opened his eyes. "The same dream" he said to himself. It's been 10 years since he was adopted into the Akashi family and a lot of things had changed that day. One change that happened was at the age of 9, he realized that he had feeling for his brothers. Feelings that he should not be having. He started to understand what it felt like for those whose feelings were unrequited.

The sunlight glared into his room waking him up from his drowsiness. He got up from his bed and stretched his body and looked at his alarm lock. He still had time but Kuroko got up anyway. He walked to the bathroom but stopped halfway looking at a picture. It was a picture of him with his brothers at his 5th birthday.

Flashback

A few days after Kuroko came to the Akashi family, a blonde haired boy with matching eyes came up to him. "How do you do Kurokocchi?" He said. "I'm Kise Ryouta but you can call me Ryota-nii."

Kuroko blinked "Kurokocchi?" Kise smiled. "I add cchi to the names of all the people I like and who are around my age." Kuroko grimaced. "Could I ask you to stop?" Kise laughed. "Sorry but no" Kuroko sighed.

"Anyway Kurokocchi," Kise said "Since you are new I was thinking you probably wanted to know more about your brothers." Kuroko nodded. "That sounds nice."

Kise smiled. He immediately left the room and came back with his other brothers. "Ryouta, you aren't forcing Tetsuya to agree to one of your stupid ideas are you?" Akashi asked. Kise pouted "How rude. I just thought Kurokocchi would like to know more about us and since we are curious about him this is the perfect opportunity." Akashi raised his eye "I'm surprised you are actually capable of thinking something like that." Kise pouted some more.

Akashi turned to look at Kuroko. "You already know who I am but here is a full detail. I am Akashi Seijurou. I was born on December 20, Sagittarius. My blood type is AB. I like horse riding, shogi, go, international chess and reading. My favorite food is tofu soup and I don't like dogs. By the way, even though we are the same age we've established rankings amongst ourselves. I am no. 1 therefore the oldest."

Kise smiled "~My turn.~" He said in a sing song voice. "I'm Kise Ryouta. I was born on June 18, Gemini. My blood type is A. I like to sing karaoke and acting. My favorite food is Onion Gratin Soup. I don't like earthworms and Unagi. I am no 5 therefore the youngest after you Kurokocchi."

A tan boy with blue hair and matching eyes swung an arm over Kise and gave Kuroko a big smile. "I'm Aomine Daiki. I was born on August 31, Virgo. My blood type is B. I like basketball and teriyaki burgers but I hate bees and goya. I am no 3 therefore the third oldest."

The green haired megane with matching eyes cleared his throat. He was wearing a scarf for some reason. "I am Midorima Shintarou. I was born July 7, Cancer. My blood type is B. I like to play chess or shogi or piano and listen to classical music. My favorite food is red bean soup and I absolutely hate cats and natto. I am the second oldest of the family therefore no 2."

The last brother had purple hair and eyes. He was eating a bag of chips. He noticed everyone was staring at him. "What?" The other brothers sighed. "It's your turn to introduce yourself." Akashi told him. "Ah, Murasakibara Atsushi, October 9, Libra. Blood type is O. I like to eat, go to sweet stores, make pastries and sleep. My favorite food is Nerunerune candy. I hate crows and vegetables. I am no 4.

Akashi turned to look at Kuroko. "Your turn." He said with a smile. Kuroko blinked. "I am Kuroko Tetsuya. I do not know my birthday or blood type..." He was interrupted by Aomine. "Wait...you don't know your birthday?" Kuroko shook his head. "I was raised in an orphanage. So the day I was found became my date of birth. All they knew was that I was from 19XX because I looked barely a few days old."

Everyone was surprised by the info. "What about the hospital?" Midorima asked. "They checked the nearby hospitals but apparently I am not from any of them." Kuroko answered.

Everyone was quite. Kuroko didn't seem to understand why they were quiet so he continued. "I like vanilla milkshakes, observing people and reading. But I don't like cola. In terms of numbers I guess I am no 6?"

Akashi nodded. "Yes you are, therefore you are the youngest." Kise squealed "Finally!" He said "Someone younger than me." Aomine sighed. "You know a family of 6 kids are quite rare these days." Midorima rolled his eyes. "Relax, auntie only wants 6 kids in the family which includes me and Murasakibara."

He turned to Kuroko. "What is the day the orphanage took you in?" Kuroko blinked "January 31st." Midorima nodded. "Since you were only a few days old, you are without a doubt an Aquarius. I will talk to Father and see if he can test what is your blood type. Information like these are important." he said pushing up his glasses. "By the way, your lucky item is a movie." Kuroko blinked. He seems to be doing that a lot. "Lucky item?" Aomine gave an exasperated look. "The megane over here is a big horoscope nut. He listens to Oha-asa everyday and carries their requested lucky items every goddamn day."

Midorima was about argue with Aomine when Kise gave a loud shout. "January 31st!?" he exclaimed "That was a few days ago!" Kuroko nodded. "We need to celebrate!" Kise exclaimed. Kuroko frowned. "It's okay. You don't need to." Akashi shook his head. "No Ryouta is right." he said "We need to celebrate." With that the other brothers quickly went to get the celebrations ready.

During preparation time , Kuroko learned that Akashi is very mature for his age. He was able to give each brother something to do and not a single movement was wasted. Once the Akashi couple came, the party began. They first played tag where Kuroko observed Aomine's athleticism. After that, to calm down and relax they decided to play charades where Kuroko was impressed by Kise's acting ability.

Finally, the birthday cake came. It was vanilla flavoured and made with some help from Murasakibara. Everyone sang Happy Birthday while Midorima provided the tune on his piano. Overall, it was a wonderful day. So when his brother asked him what wanted as a present, Kuroko gave a wide smile-surprising his brothers- and said "Something to commemorate this day." So Ryouka-san said "Let's take a picture." Thus the picture on Kuroko's room came to be. It was the best day of Kuroko's life.

Present Time.

Kuroko tore his eyes away from the picture. It was definitely a wonderful memories and it was memories like these that made him fall in love with his brothers. If someone were to ask him when did he fall in love...he wouldn't have an answer. Is someone ask why did he fall in love...he wouldn't have an answer. If someone asked what made him fall in love...he would say everything. That's all there is to it.

Kuroko freshened up in the washroom. He went to his closet and took out a box. The box had a combination lock. Only Kuroko knows the combination. This box is his special box that had all of his special mementos. One of these is a star shape necklace. It was given to him by Ryouka-san on his 6th birthday.

Flashback

"Tetsuya, could you come here please." Ryouka-san called him. Kuroko was playing with Kise and Aomine. He excused himself and went to see Ryouka-san.

"Yes Mother (A/N Kuroko address Akashi-san and Ryouka-san in the most formal way a japanese person can address their parents)." Ryouka-san put something in Kuroko's hand. It was star shape necklace. "This necklace was given to me by my mother." She said. "I loved it so much I decided that the number of children I have will be based on that necklace. 5 for each point of a star and a 6th one to represent the centre that joins them to form the star." Ryouka-san smiled at Kuroko. "Consider it as a late 6th birthday present and keep it with you."

Even since that day, the necklace has become his treasure. For some reason, wearing it feels like he's the centre of the star Ryouka-san was talking about. It gave him strength to bear these feelings. It gave him strength to believe that even if these feelings would never be reciprocated, as long as he was by their sides...that's all that matters.

But now...Kuroko isn't sure if that's going to help now. Things have changed from back then. His brothers are considered geniuses and like all geniuses they have reached a certain point. The point where society constantly watches you to the point where the thing you once love is no longer fun. But Kuroko is not like his brothers. He is not a genius and so while his brothers flourished Kuroko was left behind. Being left behind the one you love is painful. It is so painful that Kuroko cannot describe it.

After Kuroko got dressed, he went to Kise's room. Kuroko has officially been given the responsibility to wake up Aomine and Kise. Kise and Aomine are night owls rather than morning larks as a result, it is really hard to wake them up. It seemed that only Akashi could do it until Kuroko came into the family. Kuroko at the first try was able to wake up Aomine and Kise just like Akashi. When everyone asked how he did it, Kuroko would give a sneaky smile and say "It's a secret." This made everyone annoyed but Akashi was amused. Thus Kuroko was officially given the responsibility of waking up Aomine and Kise.

Kuroko did not mind the responsibility. It made Kuroko felt closer to Aomine and Kise because they were comfortable with Kuroko looking at their sleeping faces. Considering how private the two of them are about their feelings, Kuroko thought it was great honor.

Kuroko opened Kise's door and his the room. He looked at Kise who was sleeping soundly with one leg and arm wrapped around a body pillow. He looked so cute like a golden retriever puppy. Before he knew it, Kuroko was petting Kise's hair. It was soft and fluffy just like always. "Kise-nii" Kuroko said "It's time to wake up." Kise mumbled something and ducked his head underneath the pillow. Kuroko sighed. Kise did come home at 3 in the morning. Kise's popularity as a model is high as ever so he's been assigned to more and more work. Kuroko looked at the clock in Kise's room. He is still early so Kuroko lets Kise sleep a bit more.

Nearby Kuroko's feet is one of the magazines that is featuring Kise as a model. Kuroko picks up the magazine and goes over the picture. This is the first time Kuroko is looking at Kise's work as a model. Kuroko never looked at Kise's pictures before because he was never interested at these sort of things. Later on when Kuroko realized his feeling, he avoided them even more because seeing Kise looking good in model clothes would not be good for his heart. As he scanned through the pictures, Kise is as handsome as ever but there is something off about the pictures. 'His smile' Kuroko thought 'It's not his real smile.' It ached Kuroko's heart deeply seeing Kise put on a fake smile.

As a young child, Kuroko always thought Kise's smile was like the sun after a terrible thunderstorm or blizzard. It was warm and hopeful. Kise was always gave a true smile whenever he was with Kuroko and his brothers and Kuroko absolutely loved those smiles. But as Kise's talent as a model and basketball player were recognized as a genius, those smiles became more and more fake.

"Why are looking at those pictures?" Before Kuroko knew it, arms were wrapped around his stomach and he was sitting on Kise's lap. Kise brought his lips to Kuroko's ear and whispered "When you look at the real one is right here for you." Kuroko's heart leaped to his throat because of Kise's voice and nearly blushed because he felt Kise's warm breath in his ear. Luckily, he controlled his blush and said "Are those the kind of lines you tell your girlfriend?" Kise gave a teasing smile and rested his chin on Kuroko's shoulder "~Maybe~"

Kuroko frowned "I wonder if I should ask Midorima-nii to give you a medical checkup?" Kise blinked "Why!?" Kuroko-despite his racing heart-gave him a blank look "You woke up early despite coming home so late." Kise pouted "So mean. I can wake up early too you know" Kuroko raised an eyebrow at him. Kise sighed "Fine. I was able to wake up because I had a really soothing dream."

"I see" Kuroko said as he reluctantly pulled Kise's hand out from his stomach and got up from Kise's lap. "Where are you going?" Kise asked. "I have to wake up Aomine-nii." Kuroko said. Kise grabbed Kuroko's hand. "You can stay here a while longer." Kise said with hopeful eyes. Kuroko almost complied to Kise's wish but he shook his head. "Aomine-nii takes a while to get up."

Kise sighed "Fine" and he let go of Kuroko's hand. He muttered something underneath his breath. "Did you say something?" Kuroko asked. "Nothing" Kise said with a fake smile. Kuroko pursed his lips and went to Kise's door. He stopped before he left the room. "You don't have to force yourself to smile if you don't want to." Kuroko left Kise's room with that advice not even noticing the shocked look on Kise's face.

As Kuroko closed the door, he nearly collapsed on the floor. He finally told Kise what he wanted to say ever since he started seeing Kise put on those fake smile last year. With a shaky breath, he steadied himself and headed for Aomine's room.

DONE! Sorry for the slow pace. Hope you guys like this chapter and not very confused with this chapter. Please R&R! The next update will come after I update Watch and React so until then.