Kuroko awoke the next morning to the very concerned voice of Shiiro. The bluenette slowly blinked himself into consciousness and turned to read the clock beside him. Not even six yet, why was Shiiro even awake?

"Wait," he mumbled, "Repeat everything you just said, very slowly."

"The power bill is due today. As well as our tuition."

"…Fuck!" Kuroko jumped up, hastily pulling out his money box. "Shit, I only have enough to pay the tuitions…"

'And not even mine…'

Shiiro groaned and buried his head in his hands. "What are we going to do?" he muttered.

Kuroko sighed, pushing his insane hair out of his face. "Don't worry about it. I'll figure it out. Why don't you make breakfast? I've got some errands to run."

Shiiro sighed as he stood to his feet and made his way downstairs. He'd learned long ago not to ask Kuroko what he was thinking when he said 'Don't worry about it.'

Meanwhile, Kuroko found a random t-shirt that didn't look too wrinkled and a pair of jeans without too many stains and threw them on as quickly as he could. He half attempted to fix his hair before running down the stairs. After putting on his shoes, he told Shiiro goodbye and sprinted out the door.

Now that he was alone, he could let his guard down and think properly. How was he supposed to come up with enough money to pay the bill and his tuition? Hell he hadn't even paid for his basketball uniform yet. He pulled out his phone, checking the time - 6:03. He had less than twelve hours to get the money.

Kuroko sighed, mumbling curses under his breath as he desperately tried to find a way around his predicament.

Borrow the money from someone? He didn't know anyone. And even so, how would he pay them back afterward?
Get a job? What kind of job would pay that much on the first day?
Steal? …No, he couldn't do that.

"Fuck…."

"Kuroko-cchi?"

The bluenette's eyes widened as he turned to find a concerned Kise staring at him curiously.

"Kuroko-cchi, are you okay?"

Kuroko took a calming breath before putting on an incredibly fake smile. "Of course, Kise. What are you doing out so early?"

The blonde raised his brow skeptically, but chose not to interrupt his performance just yet. "I'm heading to a shoot."

"A shoot..?"

Kise smiled softly. "Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, I'm a part time model as well."

Kuroko's eyes widened slightly. He could certainly see Kise as a model, he just hadn't expected it. "Oh, I see. Well good luck, then-"

"Kuroko-cchi, please tell me what's wrong."

"… It's nothing, Kise. I can handle it."

Kise frowned deeply, shaking his head. "I told you if you ever needed help, you could come to me. I meant it. No matter what it is."

Kuroko looked to the ground, feeling guilty for the pained look in Kise's eyes. Why did he care so much anyway? No, why wasn't Kuroko allowing him to care? They were friends now, after all, weren't they?

He sighed heavily, letting all of his worries come to surface. "I'm running low on cash, and we've got bills to pay today…"

Kise blinked before smiling and rolling his eyes at the smaller boy. "Really, that's all? If you need money, all you have to do is ask, Kuroko-cchi."

"But… I wouldn't be able to pay you back for a long time…"

The blonde shrugged. "I know you're good for your word. I'll tell you what, I'll give you the money you need, and you agree to come over to dinner with me and Daiki-cchi tomorrow night."

Kuroko thought it over before nodding slowly. "Alright, but I will pay you back as soon as I can."

Kise rolled his eyes as he forked out his wallet. "Don't be silly, dinner with you is all I want. Now, how much do you need?"

XXXXX

When Kuroko walked through his door, he was met with two worried faces. He blinked, looking between his brothers. "Eh, what's wrong?"

Kenchi rolled his eyes. "The money, man! Did you get it?"

"Oh, right. Yeah, I already paid it too. We're good for another month."

Both boys sighed in relief, but curiosity prickled at Shiiro's mind. "How did you do it, Tetsuya?"

Kuroko contemplated telling him the truth, but he didn't want them to think they owed anyone anything. Considering that's the way Kuroko had felt almost his entire life, he knew it was hell.

"Don't worry about it, Shiiro. The point is, we're all still in school and we still have power." He forced a smile and ruffled his hair, pulling a pout from the youngest boy.

"Oh, and you're on your own tomorrow night, if you can manage it."

Kenchi raised his brows suggestively. "Oh? Does Tetsuya have plans?"

"Yes, but not like that, you little brat," he answered teasingly.

Kenchi simply poked his tongue out at him before heading over to the fireplace to warm his hands.

Shiiro smiled at them fondly. "We can make it. I'm glad you're getting back into your own life, Tetsuya. You deserve it."

Kuroko smiled down at his brother, his heart clenching in his chest. "Thanks, Shiiro. But if anything goes wrong, you have to call me immediately."

"Of course."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

XXXXX

The next day, Kuroko received a text from an unknown number around noon.

'Kuroko-cchi, are we still on for tonight?'

Confused, he replied, 'Yes, but, how did you get my number?'

'Oh, Akashi-cchi gave it to me~'

He blinked. 'How does Akashi have my number?'

'Ah don't worry about it, Akashi-cchi has everyone's number.'

Somehow that didn't make him feel any better, but he shrugged it off as he received another message.

'I'll send you the address soon!'

Kuroko sighed as he put his phone away and made his way downstairs. Nina caught sight of him immediately and beamed up at him from the kitchen table.

"Tetsuya~ Did you sleep well?"

'No.'

"Yes, I did, thank you."

The little girl smiled as she went back to eating her lunch. Shiiro stood behind the stove, preparing some kind of a meal that Kuroko had never seen before. He concluded that it was probably another self-made recipe for a new dish, as that was one thing that Shiiro often did when left alone to prepare meals.

As Kuroko sat across from Nina at the table, Shiiro set the food before him. "If I tell you what's in it, you won't eat it, but I'm sure you'll like it." With that, he turned and headed upstairs to his room.

Kuroko scrunched his nose up at the food before him, making Nina laugh as she watched him. He hesitantly took a bite. And another, and another. It didn't take long for him to agree with Shiiro. He certainly liked it.

"Shiiro said it was healthy for Tetsuya, because he needs his strength," Nina commented.

Kuroko smiled at her as he continued eating. He had tried his hardest to shield his family from the outside world. Of course, Shiiro and Kenchi had to grow up sometime, and Nina would too, but it was nice knowing that there was still one child in the Kuroko household that was full of life and innocence.

XXXXX

That evening, Kuroko found himself seated at a large table, in a beautiful home. Kise was steadily talking to him and Aomine, but Kuroko couldn't help but gaze at all of the splendor surrounding him. The elegantly modern furniture, the tall, painted ceiling, the intricately detailed paintings that hung on the walls. It was refreshing. Much better than the home he'd grown up in. Though he wasn't complaining.

"Kuroko-cchi?"

"Hm? Oh! Sorry, I was just admiring your home."

Aomine rolled his eyes. "You've been admiring it since you got here," he said through a mouthful of food.

Kise frowned, halfheartedly glaring at the tan boy. "Daiki-cchi, don't talk with your mouth full," he whispered harshly before turning an embarrassed smile to Kuroko.

"Kuroko-cchi, is something on your mind?"

"No, I really just love your home," he said honestly, his eyes shifting around once more.

Kise cocked his head curiously. "What's your home like?"

The bluenette stiffened ever so slightly. What did he have to be embarrassed about, though? So his house wasn't a model's mansion like this, it certainly could've been worse. He laughed softly to himself, "Nothing like this."

Aomine raised a brow. "Tell us, I'm curious too."

"Well, my home is, rather small," he began, trying to find a way to describe it without making it seem more terrible than it was. "It has two stories, with all of the bedrooms upstairs. Weirdly, the only bathroom is also upstairs. It's hot in the summer, and cold in the winter, as we don't have heating or air. But we have a fireplace, so we make due. We don't have a lot of furniture, or decorations. Mostly basic necessities. But, it's a pretty nice place I guess. Not a complete dump."

Kise looked rather thoughtful for a moment. "I'd like to see your home someday, Kuroko-cchi."

Kuroko smiled, "Yeah, maybe you can see it when you see Nina dance."

The blonde returned his smile as he drank his tea, as Aomine looked on in open confusion. He eventually shook it off and turned to Kise.

"Oi, Ryouta, do you have anything to drink?"

Kise sighed, rolling his eyes, "There's beer in the refrigerator."

"Sweet," he said as he stood and left the room.

"Ah, Daiki-cchi! If you're going to get yourself some, you should at least offer us some as well!"

They could hear Aomine's loud, exasperated sigh before he turned and slumped back into the room. "Would the two of you like anything also?"

Kise smiled as if Aomine wasn't glaring holes through his head at that moment. "I'll also take one, thank you. Kuroko-cchi?"

Kuroko blinked as both males' eyes fell on him. "Ehh… Do you have whiskey?"

Kise blinked. "Yes, we do. Dai-"

"I've got it."

The blonde watched as his boyfriend left the room once more, before turning his golden gaze to Kuroko. "Whiskey, hm? Honestly, I didn't peg you for the drinking type at all."

Kuroko shrugged. "I'm not really, but when I do, I prefer whiskey. The smell of beer makes me nauseous."

Kise smiled and nodded. "That's understandable, I suppose. So, tell me more about you, Kuroko-cchi~"

"Uh, well, I don't really know what to tell you. I live a pretty boring life."

"On the contrary, if I do say so myself. If you're singlehandedly taking care of your three siblings whilst still going to school and playing basketball, I'd say your life is far from boring."

Kuroko laughed humorlessly, nodding. "Yeah, perhaps boring wasn't the right word."

Aomine came in then, setting the three drinks before them. Kuroko instantly took his and chugged half of it, as the others watched him with wide eyes.

When he set his glass down, he looked up to find Kise's worried expression, and he laughed sheepishly. "Sorry, I'm just a little nervous."

Aomine grunted. "About what?"

"Being here. It's such a nice home, and you both are such amazing people, and I'm not used to any of this."

Kise smiled at him reassuringly as he took a sip of his own drink. "You can relax, Kuroko-cchi. We're normal people too. You don't have to be so uptight."

Kuroko let out a breath he hadn't known he'd been holding and nodded, his smile genuine for the first time that night.

XXXXX

Once Kuroko had left, Aomine had agreed to help Kise clean up before he also took his leave. As the two were putting things away, Kise stopped and turned to the tan boy.

"Daiki-cchi, I really am worried about him."

Aomine paused in his movements, regarding Kise solemnly. "I know, but if he wants to talk about it, he will, right?"

The blonde sighed, resuming his work. "I suppose you're right…"

'I hope so anyway…'