A/N: Hi.

Disclaimer: Kuroko no Basuke doesn't belong to me!

CHAPTER 10

Still at Maji Burger…

Aomine Daiki ran his fingers though his dark blue hair, unsure if he should be feeling amused or shocked at the strange situation he was in. This was unexpected. Midorima's 'girl' being a guy was unexpected. Heck, Midorima having someone in love with him was unexpected! He always thought that the green-haired shooting guard was too stiff and cold to attract anyone, much less a guy!

Wait... Did that mean that Midorima was a homo?

Aomine clutched his body protectively, trying to remember if Midorima had acted strangely or pervertedly whenever they were in the showers after their basketball practice.

Okay, maybe I'm thinking too much... Calm down, it's not like he had attacked and raped me or something. Not that I'll let him rape me. If anyone was doing the raping, it would be Aomine himself!

Woah I'm thinking too much! Go away, rape thoughts!

Aomine took a deep breath to cool himself down.

Not knowing what to make of the situation, he reclined in his chair and let Kise take over the conversation.

"Ehehehe," Kise chuckled awkwardly, ruffled by Aomine's previous actions. Aomine snickered and took a long sip from his drink, his eyes still focused on Takao, assessing him.

"So as I was saying, Takaocchi likes Midorimacchi! So I lent him the flirting guide Kurokocchi gave me last time. Is it helping you, Takaocchi?"

The conversation was interrupted by loud and abrupt coughing from Aomine as he spewed out his drink. He hacked and clutched his throat in pain, moisture pooling at his eyes as Kise thumped his back frantically.

"Aominecchi! Don't die!" Kise continued thumping on Aomine's back.

"Stop stop stop!"

Aomine couldn't take the hammering on his back and pushed Kise's hands away. He shot an incredulous glance at Kise before speaking to Takao:

"As dumb as Kise is to lend you the book, I'm sure you are smart enough to discern that it obviously doesn't work."

The response from the two was startling.

"Eh? It doesn't?"

Takao and Kise echoed in unison, their faces showing their puzzlement as they turned towards a horrified Aomine.

Aomine wanted to bash his head on the table. Actually, bashing the heads of the two idiots together was a better idea; perhaps they could add some IQ to the emptiness in their heads. This was... totally idiotic! He never would have thought that someone else could stand on the equal level of Kise's stupidity. He slumped forward in his seat in exasperation, feeling at a loss at what to do.

Takao looked thoughtful.

"No wonder Shin-chan didn't fall for it! But then how did it work for you, Kise?" he directed his question at the blonde.

"Eh... I don't know... I just followed the book... Hahaha perhaps I was lucky!" Kise scratched his head and laughed.

Aomine doubted that Kise knew the extent of the effect of his looks on people (boys included). He sighed as he watched Kise attempt to figure out why did the guide work for him. Kise was definitely hopeless. On the other hand...

He glanced at Takao again. He didn't know him that well, but Aomine felt that there was hope for the guy. Takao didn't have the dumb blonde look after all... And speaking of dumb blondes, Aomine had better intervene before Kise destroyed whatever chance of a relationship between the two. But first, he had to know something.

"Why Midorima? I mean, sure, he looks good, but you should know that he is not the kind who would be involved in a relationship, much less a romantic one. Surely, there are better fish in the ocean, even if you are a hom-," at Takao's insulted look, he changed his words, "Er... I mean... bat for the other team."

At least Aomine looked slightly sheepish at his slip-up, or Takao would find it hard to not dislike him. The earlier spectacle did not impress him one bit.

Who gropes someone at their first meeting? Takao thought dryly, opening his mouth to reply:

"I can't tell you the why exactly...I don't really know myself... I know Shin-chan is not the kind of person that people will like but there's just something about him... that attracts me... And Shin-chan's really nice inside, he is just shy and too busy being a tsundere to show his nice side! So please don't think badly of Shin-chan!"

Saying that, Takao's head bowed down as he attempted to hide his growing blush.

From Takao's reaction, Aomine could tell that Takao really liked his 'Shin-chan'. Deciding to tease the point guard a little more, he asked:

"Hows your plan then? Have you two done it yet? Was it good?" He smirked at the red which crept into Takao's face, ignoring the indignant "Aominecchi!" from a flustered Kise.

Takao looked contemplative for a moment before he sighed.

Looks like it's not going well.

"I guess I made some progress, Shin-chan lets me hug him now!" He beamed at the impressed pair opposite him and continued, "But nothing much has changed... I don't know if Shin-chan is truly aware of my feelings or not."

Despite what Takao thought, Aomine was proud of him. Persuading the unfriendly Midorima to allow hugs was not an easy feat but he had managed to do so. He had some respect for him now. Also, judging from his character, Takao would be a suitable partner for Midorima. He supposed Midorima was lucky to be able to find a person who would accept him, his weird horoscope habits and all.

All right, he decided that he would play cupid for them! This would be interesting to watch. And he was bored and free anyway so being a little busybody wouldn't hurt. Several ideas crept into his mind, some not exactly decent but Aomine knew the best way for the two to get together.

"Do you know why nothing has progressed? It's because you two are not close enough. You two need to bond more and I have just the thing for you!"

He reached into his bag and pulled out a stack of DVDs, holding them up to Takao.

"Basketball training videos! You and Midorima can practise the moves shown in these with each other. This would definitely help you two and a great time is assured!" The triumphant grin on Aomine's face showed his pride in his idea.

"Aominecchi! I thought you found basketball practice a waste of time? Why would you have such videos?"

Damn, why did Kise had to be so perceptive at the the wrong moment? Aomine pointedly ignored the blonde and pushed the DVDs into Takao's hands.

Takao's face lit up and he nodded his head in excitement. Of course! It was so simple, why didn't he think of it before? The one thing he and Shin-chan had in common, a love for basketball, would definitely bring them closer together! He clasped the DVDs tightly, feeling grateful to Aomine for this valuable piece of advice.

Perhaps this would be the breakthrough in their relationship!

A/N: A little slow-paced here but it'll pick up later~ Do review!