AOKAGA BLOOD BROTHER

Chapter 6

[Hello! I am so sorry I have been absent for quite some time. I am a working girl now, yay! Thus, I'm busy with life and keep forgetting I have OTPs to be taken care TwT Please accept my apology for making all of you wait. Here is the latest chapter! I cannot make quick update but I will definitely finish this series. Thank you so much for supporting this story! Reviews and comments are welcomed ^^]

Kagami rearranged his silver flatware lounged on the table for probably the tenth time already. He was excited yet nervous as well. It was the first time he was going to see Aomine again after a while. The tall redhead reached him on the way home from the hospital the day his streetbasketball rival mailed. It was rare to have Aomine picked up his call in the first ring. He must be waiting for Kagami to call.

Kagami wanted to tell Aomine. It wasn't exactly the other man's business about what he did to Himuro, but since they grew closer by the time they spent together, he had a thought he should tell him. Himuro wouldn't be happy about it. He never really liked Aomine from the first place, let alone having Kagami getting closer to the rude guy. The two always argued most of the time, as Kagami told him how they got into fight many times, shared what had been happened in the couple years Himuro had gone. The raven haired listened patiently while the other bubbly ranted everything when he came for regular check-ups, as though they weren't exactly in a 'fight' at the moment.

The redhead wanted to clear things up and make up with Aomine.

So Kagami prepared himself for tonight. He even wore his best shirt—he wasn't a formal guy on daily basis, but tonight to look good and amuse the other man he treasured dearly. The tall man checked on his watch. It had been thirty minutes. He knew Aomine was always late. Some part of him didn't like that habit, but some other felt that he was late somehow helped Kagami to prepare himself. Though he still didn't know what to say when Aomine showed up.

He came centuries later.

Aomine looked laid back—stunningly gorgeous in his black shirt and a pair of loose fit jeans. Some girls in the room turned their heads to take a good look. Kagami could feel his cheeks burning.

"You came," he said, almost like whispering.

Aomine shrugged. "Here I am."

The man took the seat facing Kagami while the redhead straightened his back.

"So—how are you?" Kagami asked.

"… I'm good."

"T—that's good."

The two of them kept in silence. It felt awkward. They had never been in this kind of situation: sitting face to face in a fancy restaurant, neither arguing about basketball nor porn mags, the lighting so cozy and in some way it seemed romantic, they were the only pair without any women, and the scent of roses filled the air.

"I—"

"What is exactly your relationship with that pretty boy?" Aomine remarked before Kagami was able to talk.

"Pretty boy?" the redhead raised his funny brows. "Oh, you mean Tatsuya."

Whenever the name Tatsuya came out of Kagami's mouth, Aomine went through annoyance inside. Just how close those two that they called each other's first name was supposed to be how close Aomine to Momoi yet he couldn't handle the feeling.

The taller guy slightly nodded.

"He's my brother. You know that."

"But you've been keeping secrets from me." Aomine stared at him. "You spent time with him, did you?"

Right on the bull's-eye, Kagami gulped. He was contradicted inside whether he should tell Aomine or not. He promised Himuro not to tell anything about this to anyone. However he sensed the other way around.

Kagami made up his mind.

He sighed, leaning back to his chair. Aomine said nothing. Both males let the distinct crowd cheered around them.

The former Seirin ace laughed flatly. "You're right," he gave in. "I've been spending my time with Tatsuya, honestly."

Aomine's eyes widened.

Kagami looked at the other male across the table. "So what? You would be mad at me?"

"You—"

"He's important to me. He is my brother. I can leave anything behind when he needs my help, Aomine. While you—" the redhead's voice shaken, "—You're more than I could think of—"

The indigo haired man held his breath as if waiting for Kagami to say something.

"A friend," Kagami breathed heavily. "More than just a friend."

Another silence crept between them. For a moment Aomine was sure it was a kind of confession. Kagami said he thought of him as more than a friend. A rival, of course, they always made the best of each other. But more than a friend—it was something out of blue. What did Aomine think of Kagami? Did he see him as more than a friend or not a friend at all?

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Kuroko called Kagami after he went back from meeting Aomine.

They ended up not talking to each other for the rest of the dinner. They spoke when they need to: to order some food and when paying for dinner. Aomine simply said thank you, which surprised Kagami because he rarely said that. He must be aware of Kagami's small appetite. The taller man didn't say anything about that, he just observed quietly. Kagami wished to not argue about it either so he calmly ate what he could.

"How was the date with Aomine-kun?"

Kagami simpered. "Fine, I guess? We didn't talk much."

Kuroko knew what happened to Kagami. He was considered as his best friend since high school. They went to different university. Kuroko applied for education study in prestigious uni while Kagami miraculously got into uni thanks to his basketball career. He had told the light bluenette the current situation of him and Himuro. Kagami trusted Kuroko that he wouldn't just talk to anyone about what he did. He wanted a friend to know that he went to hospital so often for a reason or more.

"You still need to go out and come to the hoop, Kagami-kun," Kuroko suggested. "We're having street basketball match with Kise-kun and the others next week. Join us. Aomine-kun will see that you're okay."

"Mm—I don't know," Kagami was hesitant. He didn't plan to see Aomine again after this meeting, at least not that quick. But if he didn't show up, the former Touou ace would be more suspicious of him and started to confront him for the second time.

"Well, okay. I guess I can come by."

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Kagami did come that day.

Kise, Midorima, and Murasakibara quickly approached and teased him. Akashi and Kuroko joined them later, surrounding Kagami and laughed with the tall man. Only Aomine stayed on his place, looking from afar. It was better like that. Kagami didn't know how to greet him after that time.

While others were excited by the game they're going to play, Kuroko softly spoke to his light.

"Are you sure you're okay to play?"

Considering Kagami's condition, he didn't want to force him to play against Kiseki no Sedai members. The maroon haired man went to the hospital two days ago for Himuro and he looked paler today.

Kagami breathed out. "I can play one or two game."

Staring from the other side, Aomine dribbled the ball on his hand slowly. His eyes followed wherever Kagami went. Kuroko's former teammate was having a headache. Maybe because he had been clean-eating since he couldn't eat plenty of burgers and cola, he lost quite some energy.

He insisted to play. Kagami shouldn't show anyone he'd been absent from some street basketball games because he rushed to the hospital or had motion sickness due to losing energy.

But Aomine could tell.

His moves turned wobbly and uncertain. Anyone who played with him could see something was wrong.

Kagami was about to jump and made a shot when suddenly his vision became blurry and the ball missed the ring. His body swayed and caused a heavy thud sound on the ground. He passed out.

"KAGAMI!" Aomine—for the first time—screamed louder than ever.

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