If someone asked Aomine to choose between a cup of coffee or tea, he'd refuse both and take soda or beer instead.
This time, however, that someone was his best friend, Kuroko Tetsuya, who he had befriended since middle school and once had become his shadow. Despite his effeminate look, Kuroko had some tricks up his sleeve to achieve one-sided agreement even in a heated argument.
And in this case, his former shadow had requested him to come over to his workplace, and his soft tone had brooked no argument, much to Aomine's dismay. Aomine had decided to pay him a visit after his shift has ended.
That's how he caught himself in this predicament; he was staring at two cups of black coffee on the cocoa-coloured table and yes, Kagami Taiga who he hadn't seen for years now was sitting across the table with a frown on his face.
Kagami, who Aomine had acknowledged as the last member of the Generation of Miracles, now appeared taller (although Aomine was taller still), his black-crimson layered hair and eyebrows were weird as ever, and beneath his t-shirt, his muscular frame was obvious.
"You're gonna make your face uglier, Bakagami," he started.
"Better than your face still," replied Kagami with an eye roll.
"You're bragging. Kagami's bragging! Funny!"
"I learned that from you, bastard."
"Another yet childish bickering," said Kuroko suddenly, sliding into a chair next to Kagami's. His remark silenced them both. Kuroko flashed a small smile. "How are you, Kagami-kun?"
Kagami reclined on the chair. "Nothing awesome. Still in training programme. My lieutenant is planning to pull me into his team next month. How did you—"
"Pfft, training," Aomine cut in. He rested his chin in his cupped hand, bored.
"Aomine-kun," Kuroko warned him before turning back to Kagami. "Congratulations, by the way," he gave Kagami a pat on his shoulder.
"How did you get my number?" asked Kagami. "I thought I haven't contacted anyone after I returned from LA."
"I got it from Himuro-san. I keep in touch with him because I need Murasakibara-kun's help with the cake recipes. Himuro-san informed me you've returned from LA last year, but I was so busy with my business and another important event I had no time to contact you at all."
"Busy?" Kagami lifted a brow.
"With his wedding," Aomine drummed his fingers on the table, casual as ever like he was walking about weather. He certainly didn't expect to see a very shocked look on Kagami's face; his crimson eyes wide and his mouth hanging open that Aomine had to hold back himself from reaching forward and snapping it close.
"You're married?!" Kagami bolted in surprise.
"No, Kagami-kun. At least not yet. I'm getting married — Aomine-kun, look what you've done," said Kuroko on a resigned sigh.
"Getting married?! To whom?" asked Kagami.
"To Satsuki," answered Aomine cynically. "Everyone knows it."
"Even Tatsuya?"
Aomine temporarily blinked clueless at the name. "Uh, I don't know who that guy is, but probably yeah. Everyone knows about their wedding."
"But you didn't tell me!" shouted Kagami, addressing this to his former shadow.
"Like what I've told you, I was very busy," Kuroko gave a light squeeze on Kagami's arm to calm him down. He briefly shot Aomine a glare.
"I didn't know texting me something like 'hey, me and Momoi-san are now dating and we're gonna get married soon' is a time-consuming process."
"Now you sound like an overprotective girlfriend," Aomine commented, although the wicked smirk on his face hadn't left. "How about I buy you some tampons?"
Kuroko ignored the comment. "It wasn't my intention to forget to tell you. It slipped from my mind. It's still better than a day before my wedding, isn't it?"
Kagami gave Kuroko a look, considering this.
"Please sit down, Kagami-kun," wheedled Kuroko with a pat on the wooden chair. "I promise you won't miss any details again."
"Fine," Kagami grumbled and sat again. "I'll hold you to that."
"Bakagami is pouting~" Aomine pointed out with an intention to rile him up again. It was so amusing to see Kagami turning red and gritting his teeth in anger.
"Aomine-kun," Kuroko warned again, this time firmer.
"How's Momoi doing?" asked Kagami.
"Doing great. Now she's working from home as an interior designer. She designed this coffee house," Kuroko supplied, proud evident in his voice as he glanced around the coffee house.
Amazement lit in Kagami's eyes, mirroring his former shadow as well. "She did a great job. This place is awesome. I kinda like it."
Aomine peeked at his rival, watching the sparkles in Kagami's eyes that could have brightened up all of Tokyo like the stars in the black skies and quickly concealed the warm sensation in his stomach with an eye roll. "You should've seen Satsuki's face when she was designing this place. Like a witch on her period."
"Still worth it, I think," said Kagami. "Nothing is simple in this world. Kuroko, is she going to plan your wedding?"
"Satsuki-san will decide on our wedding theme. I'll do the planning with a little help from Kise-kun. Murasakibara-kun has offered himself to bake our wedding cake. I haven't heard anything from Akashi-kun and Midorima-kun, though."
"Wait a second. Speaking of which," Aomine held up his hand, brows knitted together into a frown. "I don't remember the wedding date."
"Actually, Aomine-kun, we haven't decided the exact date but the next spring sounds great to us," Kuroko suggested.
"So you have about a year to plan everything," said Kagami after he'd mentally calculated everything.
"Yes. That's why I decided to tell everything to Kagami-kun today."
There was a hint that Kuroko hadn't finished his words. Aomine and Kagami waited for him, their eyes locked on him anxiously. A slow love song filled in the air and another tinkle of bells was heard. Kuroko returned their gaze with a blank look.
Kuroko opened his mouth. Closed it. "We haven't decided whether to choose Aomine-kun or Kagami-kun as my best man."