7

Somehow, they managed to haul the scratching and hissing Riko into the room at the back of the lab and lock her inside. An hour later, she emerged, a little sheepish, but much calmer. They, in the meantime, had brewed tea—one hundred percent guaranteed to lower stress levels and induce serenity!—and set it out on the table.

"Sorry for losing it," Riko said apologetically. "It's just that I didn't expect Kiyoshi to be taken away so suddenly, and it could have meant that they had found us all out. That would have been a big, big problem and probably the end of all of us."

"Found you out?"

Riko sighed and mulled over her tea. "About a half hour before Kiyoshi was taken away, we received an anonymous text from an untraceable source telling us to hide our computers, data, plans, and inventions. We thought it might have been a prank or something… but just to be sure, we started putting things away into the room we have in the back. And then not too long afterwards, there was a knock on the door and the police were here… They barged in and took Kiyoshi with them on their way out. We don't know why or where they took him, and I was just worried…"

"He hasn't popped any of the beads on the bracelet though, has he?" Aomine asked.

"What beads?" Midorima inquired. Takao and Kise mirrored his cluelessness.

Izuki raised a questioning eyebrow, and Kuroko said, "They are friends of ours. I think we can trust them."

"We don't know who to trust," Riko muttered darkly. Behind her Mitobe made a gesture.

"But we have to completely trust those who we have," Koganei said. "That's what Mitobe's saying, anyways."

Riko sighed. "Koganei, you can fill those three in then. Kuroko, we're trusting your judgment. If you're wrong and we're all assassinated tomorrow, rest assured that my spirit will haunt you in the underworld."

Kuroko blinked.

"To answer your question, Aomine, you're right; Kiyoshi didn't raise any alarm for the past hour."

"Then it shouldn't be a big problem, right?"

"You don't get it!" Riko barked. "Even while you're Kiyoshi's roommate, you can't tell? He's the type of idiot who'll just take what comes at him and not let anyone know so that he doesn't make people worry! They could be pulling his fingers off or breaking his nose this very moment, and he still wouldn't send out a distress call if it meant being able to keep us safe! Damn you, Kiyoshi!"

"C-Calm down, I'm sure he's not being—"

"We can't be sure of anything! God, why did Hyuuga have to run away at such a moment?" Riko gnashed her teeth. "Is Hanamiya still on vacation?"

"Yeah."

Riko stood from the couch and kicked over a cup on the ground. "Mitobe, get everything back up and running. Koganei, when you're done teaching the children, you help him. Izuki, you come with me and reinforce all the coding around our base information. And Murasakibara-kun, if I could ask you to help…"

"Sounds interesting," Murasakibara said very simply, getting up from his position on the floor.

"And finally, Kuroko, Aomine… I have a really big favor to ask of you and your friends," Riko said, clasping her hands together in a way that sent shivers down their spines, like she was saying refuse if you dare. "I want you to go to this address," she said, shoving a slip of paper into Kuroko's hands, "and don't come back here until you get that idiot to come with you, understand me?"

She gave Koganei five minutes to explain everything it had taken Kiyoshi an entire evening to cover. And then, without further explanation, Riko tossed the group of five out of the room and into the hallway. With a scowl, Aomine picked himself up off the floor and rearranged his crutches.

"What does she think she's doing, ordering a cripple around like that…" he grumbled.

"You're not a cripple," Kuroko said. "You're convalescent patient."

"Shut it," Aomine crabbed. Kise laughed with a that's Kurokocchi for you!

Midorima took the paper from Kuroko and peered at it through his glasses. "Hyuuga Junpei… do you know who this man is?"

Aomine shrugged. "I've heard Kiyoshi mention him a few times, but it seems like a pretty taboo word around the others. Maybe a deserter?"

"Or a lost love," Takao snickered. The door swung open for the sole purpose of Riko nailing Takao with a broken plate covered with the remnants of the Great Mold.

"Or someone they really depend on," Kuroko said quietly. "We should get going, then."

"Hey, wait a second, when did we agree to run their errands for them?"

Kuroko turned and looked at Aomine. "Do you not want to?"

Aomine shifted uncomfortably. "Well, it's not that, but… This is probably a problem bigger than all of us."

"Wow, is Aomine scared?" Takao teased.

"No!" Aomine snapped. "I'm on crutches, remember! I can barely walk! What happens if people start chasing us, huh? Are you going to leave me behind as a diversion or something!?"

"Though he is an idiot, he has a point," Midorima said, frowning. "Whatever problem has just begun is probably a result of being associated with CloudLines. If we accept this task, we will be henceforth embroiled in whatever messy work these people are conducting. If worst comes to worst, we'll be hunted by the government and labeled as traitors. It could be dangerous."

Somehow, their gazes were all drawn to Kuroko, who looked like Christmas had come early. His face, though still outwardly passive, was absolutely shining with anticipation. It was slightly disturbing to see on a boy who was usually so unreadable.

"But isn't that exciting?" Kuroko said, his monotone voice tinged with the faintest traces of excitement. "It sounds like something straight from a novel, don't you think? And we're the main characters. Us against the rest of the world. Or something like that," he said, withdrawing himself. His eyes flicked from face a little uncertainly.

"You really say the cheesiest stuff," Aomine grumbled after a prolonged silence.

Kise grinned and slung an arm over Kuroko's shoulders. "Well, when you say it like that, I'm definitely in! Adventure is my middle name!"

"It's not like I'm interested or anything… but if it means that we can return quickly and get answers to our questions regarding our visions…" Midorima said with a huff, quick to kick Takao when he started snickering about such a tsundere.

Kuroko seemed a little astonished at their reactions, as if he had been expecting them to reject him and his enthusiasm outright. He struggled out of Kise's grip and said, "I'm sorry for getting carried away… I know getting involved is dangerous, so if you don't want to—ouch!"

Kise slapped Kuroko on the back, sending him stumbling forward before he could finish his sentence. "Hey, hey, we're not going to let you hog the spotlight to yourself. And besides," he said, his grin turning a little wry. "You really think we're going to leave you alone?"

He chuckled at the expression on Kuroko's face. Seeing him about to open his mouth to say something Aomine cut in, glaring at Kuroko right in the eyes.

"Not a chance. So shut up, and let's get going."


They had to pass by the reception area to leave the hospital this time, since Aomine was still technically a patient and couldn't leave without notice. The man at the desk jumped from his chair as if electrocuted and waved them over violently.

"You! Yes, you three! I thought I would never see you guys again! And you, Aomine-san! You, too, I have something for you as well!"

He rummaged beneath the desk before producing four packages and thrusting them at them. As if piranhas were nibbling on his behind, he explained to them very hurriedly and with a red face that he had been put in charge of tracking them down and delivering their mail, which had never rerouted when they left the hospital, but because of some issues—my girlfriend – uh, never mind—he had been unable to.

"Something came for you from the Akashi company, and you must read that first or I will lose my job!"

And four very sweaty letters were pushed into their faces. Kuroko wondered what it was about the Akashi company that made everybody harbor their own doubts and fears. Imayoshi who speculated the Akashi company was drowning the hospital in debt; now this receptionist who was terrified he would lose his job…

The Akashi heir who was in the hospital at this very moment.

His mind wandered to the mysteriously familiar redhead he had seen in the hospital ward even as his fingers moved to tear open the beige-colored envelope. What an outdated manner of sending a letter. Kuroko hadn't received one once, ever, in his lifetime. He trod along in the footsteps of the others who had gone ahead and pored over the letter, which turned out to be a very fancy invitation.

The Akashi Company cordially invites you to:

{ Celebration of Sight }

An event hosted by Akashi Company for all those gifted with artificial sight in celebration of the final operation conducted for the last blind victim of the Teikou Tremor.

The event will be opened by a small speech prepared by Akashi Ouka, president of Akashi Company, followed by a light dinner.

Akashi Building – 34th floor – September 20 – 7:00 p.m.

Please bring this invitation with you and show it to the receptionist on the first floor.

We hope that you will join us.

"Kuroko Tetsuya! Isn't that Kuroko Tetsuya over there?"

Kuroko looked up, a little startled to see they had already reached the parking garage where a straggle of taxi pods were lined up. There was a man about nine feet away who was waving at him. Kuroko blinked, then realized that it was the surgeon from the week before, who had done the eye operation on him.

"Imayoshi-san," he said, bowing respectfully. "I didn't expect to see you here."

Imayoshi laughed cordially, waving a hand. "I didn't expect to see you so soon. If I were you, I would have run far from the hospital and never turned back."

Somehow, Kuroko felt as if those words were loaded with more meaning than they appeared to.

"You're just leaving, then? Are these friends of yours? They look vaguely familiar," Imayoshi said, pulling on a neutral smile.

"Aside from Takao-san, they all underwent an operation for artificial eyes," Kuroko supplied quietly. Imayoshi's smile widened.

What was that strange smile supposed to mean?

"Ah… yes. I must have seen their files at one point or another, even if I hadn't been their surgeon."

Kuroko could see Aomine openly glaring at Imayoshi. He couldn't exactly blame him; Imayoshi was not acting entirely composed, as if something were eating him from the inside. His left foot was tapping against the pavement, and his arms were crossed loosely over his chest.

He wondered if it had anything to do with Kiyoshi.

Quietly, Kuroko slipped up his sleeve, exposing the bracelet on his wrist. It might have been his imagination, but a glint snapped in Imayoshi's eyes. The next moment, however, he knew it had been no trick of the light. Imayoshi's hand moved to push up his glasses, and in that instant, Kuroko saw the beaded ring on his finger.

Judging by the sharp intakes of breath beside him, so had the rest.

"I hear that the Akashi Company sent out invitations to everyone who'd received an artificial eye from them," Imayoshi said abruptly. "Is it true?"

Kuroko nodded, holding it out for Imayoshi to inspect. The smile turned acrid.

"September 20. That's today, isn't it? I wouldn't miss it if I were you. There are so many interesting things going on in that company that it would be worth building a network with them."

His hand traced around the edge of the letter as if searching for something, but finding nothing, it retracted.

"I hear they treat their guests very well. You might even get some free products. Be sure to show up well dressed. That place, if you're not properly prepared, has the propensity for making its visitors feel… rather small."

With a cheerful wave, Imayoshi was on his way, leaving them feeling more than a little apprehensive.

Kise slipped a payment card into a slot on two driverless taxi pods. The doors popped open after taking the credit, and they separated naturally. But they didn't speak a word until they reached the address Riko had written on the card.

If there were microphones in the rooms of the hospital, who was to say there weren't any in the government-owned vehicles?

Imayoshi had been trying to tell them something. Imayoshi, the surgeon associated with CloudLines, was telling them to, at all costs, attend the dinner but, above all else, to be on guard against Akashi Corporations. There are so many interesting things going on, he had said. And if they weren't properly prepared

Kuroko turned his eyes to the window, out of which he could, even from this distance, see the Akashi Building. It was impossible to miss, with its halo of ruby-red windows glistening at its spire that rose high above the buildings and, on overcast days, far beyond the clouds.

Kuroko had made up his mind and told Kise so when he asked. Kise only laughed and said he had expected as much.

They walked up the steps leading up to the house belonging to the name on the card and rang the doorbell. The owner was not there—or at least nobody answered the door. They hung around for another ten minutes, chatting idly, until the clock finally read 5:00 p.m.

They missed the shadow at the window when they retraced their steps down the staircase to the pod.

"So, I guess we'll meet at Akashi building at 7:00 p.m., then, won't we?" Kise said lightly. "I told Murasakibaracchi the situation, and he said he wanted to tag along. I guess Takaocchi can't come, though, since it's admission by invitation."

"I'll just be twiddling my thumbs in the apartment, brooding over all the information that's been thrown at me today," Takao said with a grin.

"Your brains could do with a little mental exercise," Midorima quipped. Takao shoved him.

"I'll get back to the hospital and pick up the giant," Aomine said. He boarded a pod by himself. "I'll see you all there."

The other four piled into the remaining vehicle.

One hour and fifty-five minutes until 7:00 p.m.


Writing is hard. Christ. Revamped this chapter like crazy. Fuck. So frustrating how words don't come out like they used to. Even while I've been rewriting the other chapters, the edits came out more and more scarce, and I'm still dissatisfied with how the chapters are.

I'd really like to thank everyone who's been supporting this story over the past year. It's really why I picked this up again. Unknown, JetBlackOblivion, Guest, XxsopoxX, I'M DYING—the anon reviewers I couldn't reach: Thank you. Screaming Fool, thank you. I hope you haven't abandoned this story even though it seemed as if I had abandoned it.