Hey Mom, it's me again,

I can't believe it's already June 22nd.

Are you excited for summer? Do you

and Dad have any special plans?

I wish I could be there. I want to surf.

I don't think the beaches in Kiseki have

good waves like back at home.

Oh well. Love you, Taiga.

That morning, Kagami had awoken to something he hadn't encountered in quite some time: a very, very, very itchy neck. "Tch, it's that time already, huh?" he sighed and climbed out of bed. Walking over his bedroom vanity - yes, he had purchased one of those - he took a look at himself in the mirror. He was instantly able to see the culprit to his itch: his hair was completely overgrown! "Geez...my hair really has gotten long, hasn't it?" Without a clue as to how to deal with this matter, Kagami did the one thing that he knew best... He went and asked Tom Nook for help.

After remodeling, Tom Nook was now the proud owner of a small convenience store called Nook 'n' Go. Every time Kagami stopped in the tiny shop, he could see a glint of pride sparkling in the raccoon's eyes. Today was no different. "Kagami!" Tom Nook said in amiable greeting. "How are you this fine summer day, ho, ho?"

"Not so good," Kagami answered honestly. "My neck is super itchy. I think I need to get a hair cut. That's why I came to see you."

"Hmm? Do I look like a barber to you, ho, ho?" Tom Nook questioned amusedly.

"No, no," Kagami said, correcting his prior statement by adding, "I didn't come here for that. I came here to ask you if you knew where I could go to get it cut. I don't think I've ever seen either a hair salon or a barber shop in Kiseki Village..."

"That's because we don't have one."

Shocked, Kagami made a noise that was a cross between a gasp and the word "what". "How is that possible? Don't you guys ever need hair-oh..."

Nodding, Tom Nook said, "I'm guessing by your cut-off sentence that you've come to realize it before I even had to speak. Us furry creatures don't typically need to get cuts or trims like you humans do. Midorima and Himuro don't even have fur! Although, I do know that Kise travels out of town every few weeks or so for a spa day of grooming and pampering, but other than him, we all just rough it and brush our own fur, ho, ho."

Scratching the back of his neck, which then led to more scratching, Kagami sighed, "Well, thanks anyway. I guess I'll have to be like you guys and rough it."

"Now that I think about it..." Tom Nook hummed, "I don't think that will be necessary."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"Well, if I recall correctly, there was a time that my nephew, Timmy, had a snarl in his fur."

Not understanding what Tom Nook was getting at, Kagami provoked him to go on. "Yeah, and?"

"Ho, ho, he paid a quick visit to the only person in our town who owns a pair of scissors."

"...And who would that be?"

"Welcome to my home, Taiga."

Swallowing back a gulp, Kagami no longer felt the itch on his neck, but rather, it had been replaced by goosebumps. If he would have had the choice, he would have turned back and ran for home. But his hair...it was just too long for him to be comfortable in this heat - and it was only the first day of summer!

"Th-thank you for having me...Akashi."

With his tail swaying back and forth in a pentameter type of fashion, Akashi smiled and ushered Kagami inside. "It's my pleasure. Now, to make things clear, you're here for a haircut, correct?"

Stepping through the low-set doorway, Kagami asked, "Wait, how did you know that?"

"Tom gave me a call to let me know you were coming. That's why I've already prepared everything." Using his tail, Akashi pointed towards his amateur set up. Off in the corner of his dwelling sat a chair with a towel draped over the back. Also, from what Kagami could see, there was a silver-plated tray placed on top of a cherrywood bureau with, you guessed it, a pair of scissors laying right in the middle of it. "Go ahead. Have a seat."

Complying, Kagami walked across the room and sat down. "Are you sure you know how to do this?" he asked. "I mean, cutting hair is a little different than getting a snarl out of a raccoon's tail..."

Running the pads of his paw over the scissor blades, Akashi smiled and inquired, "Do you question my skill? Do you not trust me, Taiga?"

'Yes and yes. I question your skill and I very much do not trust you.'

"No, that's not it, it's just-"

"Then, there's no problem, is there?" Akashi interrupted. Taking the scissors into his grasp, he opened the blades and held them before his heterochromatic eyes. "Allow me to do you this favor, Taiga. Free of charge."

Kagami had a very bad feeling in the pit of his stomach, the same kind of feeling you get after you drink spoiled milk or eat an expired potato chip. "Just don't...please don't cut it too, too short, alright?"

"Yes, of course," Akashi affirmed, running his claws through Kagami's hair to get a feeling of how thick it was. "Now, sit back and relax."

Kagami sat back, but there was absolutely no way that he was relaxed.

After a few minutes of silent snipping and snapping, a thought had dawned on him. "Say, Akashi...?"

"Yes?" Akashi responded in question.

"Do you know anything about someone named Kuroko?"

"Of course. He and I are rather close, actually. I guess you could call it a bond between felines. What makes you ask?"

"Well, he won the Fishing Tournament last month, so...wait, what?" Kagami started. "Kuroko is a cat, too?"

"Indeed, he is. However, he and I are nothing alike."

This statement confused Kagami. "Didn't you just say that you two were close?"

"Just because two people are opposites," Akashi breathed, "doesn't mean that they won't be attracted towards one another. I find Kuroko to be pleasantly charming."

"Charming...? Like Kise?"

"No, no, nothing like Kise. That pup is nothing but a headache after a candy rush."

"...'choo!"

"Hey, Kise, you're not catching a cold, are ya?" Aomine snarled. "I don't want you getting your germs on me."

"How mean-ssu!" Kise whined. "Someone's probably just talking about me!"

"Eh...I wonder who."

"Mmn, mmn. Me, too."

"Then..." Kagami urged, "couldn't you at least tell me what he's like?"

"I've already given you one favor today; I don't plan on giving you a second," Akashi replied, setting his scissors down onto the tray. "And speaking of which, I've just finished."

"D-did you really? How does it look?"

"See for yourself. The mirror is right over there."

Getting up in such a hurry that he had almost knocked the chair over, Kagami made his way toward the mirror. His heart was pounding and pumping every step of the way. 'Please...please let my hair look okay...'

When his reflection had finally come into view, Kagami gasped and shouted, "Oh my God!"

"Please don't use such language under my roof," Akashi hissed. "It's distasteful."

"I-I'm sorry, but it's just...I just...you just..." It was apparent that Kagami was having a little bit of trouble speaking his mind.

"Blabbering like that is also repulsive."

Kagami took in a deep, deep breath and let it out slowly. "It's great," he finally said. "It's probably the best hair cut I've ever gotten."

Not only had Kagami's hair been trimmed to perfection, but it had also been styled quite nicely, as well; better than anything he could ever do on his own. His bangs had been shaped, his top hairs delicately snipped, and the back of his neck felt relief with hair no longer tickling and itching him. Was Akashi a god?

"Had you expected anything less of me?" Akashi purred.

"No..." It was a lie, but Kagami just went along with it anyways.

"Good," Akashi smiled, but it didn't last for long at all. Something about his demeanor had changed, forcing Kagami to feel very off-put. Meeting with the feline's red and yellow gaze, Kagami swallowed when Akashi had added, "Because if you had, I must say that I find it very rude, Taiga."

"I-I didn't! I didn't!" Kagami stated defensively. "You're very talented with scissors! Very, very talented!"

"I know," Akashi agreed, regaining a sense of normalcy, albeit arrogant, about him. "You can take your leave now, Taiga. There are a few things I had planned today, and I'm sure you've got your share of errands, too. Besides, cutting your hair was not something that I had in mind, and it's already thrown me off of my schedule."

Bowing his head in gratitude, Kagami said, "Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to do a favor for me. I will never forget the kindness you have expressed."

"I'm glad to hear that, Taiga," Akashi grinned, "because I won't let you forget it, either."

Hi there! Chappy here! :D

I finally got to write a chapter with more of Akashi! I hope you've enjoyed it!

Thank you for taking the time to read! (:

- Chappy