Of course he'd notice the missing flash drive. Kagami should have noticed it the next time he'd reached into his jacket pocket. And there was only one person he had run into who could've taken it.
Kagami was smart. He would reach a conclusion if he tried.
But Aomine also knew that he was kind of stupid. Instead of drawing conclusions, that hotheaded guy would rather jump to them.
"He underestimates people too much. I heard he even called Akashi-kun short the first time they met! Out of earshot of course."
"Obviously!" Aomine snorted. If that hadn't been the case, Seirin would have disappeared before Kuroko could even notice them, courtesy of Rakuzan financiers and the youngest president they'd ever had.
Kagami should be able to assume Kuroko had taken his flash drive. But would he equate the small Tetsu with legendary hacker Kuro?
Not likely.
"The past Dai-chan wouldn't have, and Kagami definitely resembles him~" Momoi sang out.
Aomine strongly disagreed.
But Momoi was holding his coffee so he held his tongue. Besides, what did his opinion matter around here anyways? He was only her boss.
When Kagami dropped by, Aomine tried to see the clues the way the redhead would.
The flash drive really had belonged to Momoi - confirmed.
Aomine's business just so happened to lie in the realms of "recovery" (mostly money, although he wasn't above taking collateral) - that was obvious. It also meant that they would definitely take action when it came to something of theirs being stolen. Aomine even said as much.
Conclusion: Aomine and Momoi had something to do with the kid who'd most likely stolen (back) the flash drive. It was a safe assumption.
But was that what Kagami would think? ...fuck. As if he knew! It's not as if they were really alike or anything. Only Kuroko and Akashi were good at this kind of thing.
"What would Dai-chan think~? If this didn't have anything to do with Tetsu-kun." Momoi was not helping...well.
Wait.
If he didn't know Tetsu? Tetsu was fucking amazing. Even Akashi had acknowledged his talent.
But if he didn't know about what he could do...
There was no denying it. Aomine wouldn't give him the time of day. He didn't bother with troublesome people, especially those that couldn't take care of themselves. Much as he was loath to admit it, Kagami was probably the same. At the very least, when he'd seen Kuroko, Kagami had probably thought that he was...way too plain. Way too forgettable. And maybe he had forgotten, if just for a bit. But by now, he should also be considered a thief.
From there, it'd be best if Kagami came to the conclusion that Kuroko was some lackey of Aomine's. That would be good.
As Kagami left the office, Aomine couldn't tell what he believed, but he made sure to text Tetsu again anyway.
He's thinking of something, but I can't tell you what yet. Probably ridiculous though.
In a café, Kuroko picked up his vanilla float as his phone lit up with the message, followed by a new one from a certain blond.
