Author's Note: So…it's been a while. My physical and mental health took a toll on me to write this chapter, thus why it took forever to update. I am terribly sorry about the long wait but I do not want to promise constant updates since my mental health is still not doing great. I DO plan on continuing to write for this story but updates like mentioned will not be constant. Anyway, I hope you guys enjoy this chapter! Have a great weekend!


I do not own Kuroko no Basket.


Hair

Chapter 44: First Date (Part 2)


The two teens stared at the harumaki in slight silence as Atsushi was getting hungrier and hungrier as the time went by, so he was eating most of their appetizer for the time being while Emi took in some pieces. Emi was still wary about earlier but so far everything was falling into place and their first date was going along fairly well.

"Are you enjoying the appetizer, Atsushi-san?" Emi asked as she took a break from eating and Atsushi paused for a second at this and he looked over to her, swallowing a huge lump of the food before deciding to answer her.

"Hai, it was a good choice, Emi-chin." He said and she glowed at this, excited that she had made him happy. She picked up another harumaki and swallowed it, enjoying the crispy taste fill her taste buds.

The two continued to eat the appetizer before Emi pulled herself away from it in order to save room for her dinner while Atsushi finished it up for them. Her smile blossomed on her face at how better the second half of their date was going and their new waiter, went and refilled their drinks and removed the now emptied plate of the appetizer.

"Are you ok with this…date, so far, Emi-chin?" Atsushi asked her and she nodded at this, happy with how much work he was committed to have a nice time with her.

"Hai, even though we had a rough start, this is great. I couldn't ask for anything else." She said and he scratched his check at this, a small blush forming on his own features at her comment.

"…Does Emi-chin want to continue our conversation from earlier?" He asked and she blinked at this before she nodded, leaning closer into the table.

"If you don't mind, Atsushi-san! Or we could discuss something else if you want!" She said excitedly and he glanced away for a second before he answered her.

"How about we talk about something else?" He suggested and she still nodded her head at this.

"Sure, what would you like to talk about, Atsushi-san?" She asked and he wasn't really sure as to what to talk to her about but he did have something on his mind since both his coach and team members were curious if he wouldn't mind asking her.

"…Eh, would you be…ok being a manager for the team?" He asked and she blinked at this, silently shocked at his question. She seemed frozen in place before moving away from the table for a second as she began to think at his question.

"…I…would not mind…" She began but began to think about her jobs, knowing that being a manager would impose on her jobs but being involved in a club would be great for when time came to apply to a college, "But I would like to think about it because of my job."

Atsushi nodded at this as he knew that she was busy and did not want to pressure her since it was just a simple suggestion.

"That's fine, Emi-chin. They wanted me to ask you since you know about basketball and make good treats too." He stated and she giggled at this.

"Ok, I will get back to them about it." She said and he also remembered something else they had said to him.

"They also said even if you don't accept it, you can come with to our training camp when the time comes." He said and she looked interested at this, unsure about what he meant. He looked away for a second, embarrassed that he would have explain this to her but ok with telling her.

"…I don't know if your brother or cousin told you but most of the teams go meet up for a training camp near the end of summer. We practice against each other and stuff. There's also a hot springs there but I don't understand why they wanted me to tell you that." He explained and her eyes glowed at the words 'hot springs'.

"A hot springs? They have one at the training camp?" She questioned him while also clapping her hands together and he nodded at this, still confused as to why she looked happy about it, "I've never been to a hot springs before!"

He blinked at this as to why she hasn't but thought about her scars and nodded, remaining silent at this.

"Would they need any help with anything if I were to go to the hot springs?" She asked and he thought about it for a second before remembering what they wanted in return for her staying there.

"Yes, they would like you to help prepare our meals since we would be making it our own." He stated and she nodded at this, excitement coursing through her vines at this.

"I would not mind helping if it means to go to the hot springs, Atsushi-san. Would there be anyone I know that would be going to the training camp?" She continued to discuss with him and he nodded as he knew exactly what teams would be coming.

"Hai, Seirin, Shūtoku, Kaijō, Tōō, and Rakuzan. All their players would be going." He said and her smile did go away for shimmer a little but still remained strong.

"Alright, I would like to go to the training camp, Atsushi-san. Would you mind informing your coach of this next time you see her and I can plan accordingly on getting my hours rearranged?" She asked of him and he nodded at this, happy to help her out. Then without another say, trays of food were placed in front of the teens without a say and they looked up to see their new waiter.

"I apologize for interrupting you. Please, enjoy your food." The waiter said and Emi gave a gracious smile at this, thanking him as he pulled away and left the teens away for their entrees to enjoy. Emi's eyes glowed at the sight of the hot seem rising from the Udon she had ordered and the lovely mixture of shiitake and enoki mushrooms, chicken, and shrimp while Atsushi looked at her carefully, making sure she was alright with her order.

"If you're still hungry, Emi-chin, you can have some of my food." Atsushi offered and she nodded at this as she grabbed her chop sticks, snapping them in half in order for her to enjoy her food. They two continued to enjoy their food and Emi took her time to appreciate the care and taste of her Udon as having something like this was a rare occurrence.

She hadn't had something like this is quite some time.

Her smile continued to make her way across her features before she paused eating and stared at Atsushi as he was eating, not even noticing that she was looking at him.

"Thank you, Atsushi-san." She said and he stopped eating at the sound of her voice not realizing that she had gotten up from her seat and walked next to him. Her short brown hair stroked against the light as she smiled at him and she leaned down to him before pressing her lips against his cheek for a small peak.

He froze at the touch of her lips pressed against his cheek and she pulled away before sitting back down in her chair, continuing to eat the Udon while the giant couldn't figure out what exactly had happened. His brain began to reboot and a blush crossed over his features at what had occurred, not really believing that she had giving a simple kiss on the cheek as a thank you.

She couldn't help but get a smile on her face at how sweet Atsushi was displaying and continued to eat her food in silence.

"How is the food?"

The question of that the waiter brought up caught the two off guard and Emi brushed back a little bit of her hair.

"Very good." Emi responded and Atsushi nodded in similar taste to this while still eating.

"Good, would you two like to have a glance at the dessert menu? Or shall I bring the bill over?" The waiter asked of them and Emi opened her mouth to say she was fine but Atsushi replied back without another say.

"We'll look at the dessert menu." Atsushi told the waiter who nodded at this and left the two teens alone. Emi glanced at Atsushi before he noticed the odd look crossing her features.

"Did you not want dessert, Emi-chin?" He asked and she blinked out of the look she had before she shook her head no.

"It's not that Atsushi-san…I just feel guilty that I will not be paying for some part of meal." She said to tell him and he frowned at this, thinking about her words and how he should react to them.

"…don't worry about it, Emi-chin. I have money." He told her to reassure her and she looked at him as if she questioned the validity of the statement.

"Are you sure? I do not mind contributing, Atsushi-san." She said and he scratched his cheek at her offer still before an idea popped into his head.

"Maybe next time you can buy dessert, Emi-chin to call it even." He said and she blinked at this, eyes wide in surprise then a blush crossed over her features.

Next time?! He wanted to do something like this again?!

"N-next time? You want to do something like this again, Atsushi-san?" She said in shock and he made the realization that he had just asked her out again for another date without realizing it. He too gained a small blush at the notion and nodded, looking away from her sight.

"If you want to, Emi-chin, we can do it again." He said and she couldn't help but a smile pushed onto her features at the glee of being able to continue this relationship.

"Hai, I would like to do this again, Atsushi-san." She said and a small idea popped into her head, "Maybe we could find an Italian place to eat at. I'm sure you could find something to eat, Atsushi-san."

The idea continued in her head and the look of happiness continued to make her way on her features, which Atsushi couldn't help but feel happy about that too.

Maybe she would enjoy deciding what they should do instead of him deciding for the both of them.

"You could plan out our next date then, Emi-chin." Atsushi said and she looked thrilled at that, eyes glowing at the idea that she could plan their date out.

There is so many different choices to do!

She felt like a normal girl going out on a date.

"Ma'am, sir, here is the dessert menu. Please take some time to look over it." The waiter said as he had returned to the couple with the dessert menu and handed it over to them before leaving again. Emi looked over the menu with a small smile on her face at the list of different desserts that they could order.

"Get whatever you want, Emi-chin." Atsushi said and she glanced over her menu at this before responding back to him.

"Would you like to share a dessert, Atsushi-san?" She asked and he felt a lump grew in his throat at how nice she was compared to himself. A blush crossed his cheeks at the comment and he nodded at this while she couldn't help but form a smile on her face at this.

"Well, we should talk about what dessert to choose then." She said and he again nodded, looking down to the menu again. She noted a few foreign desserts, where they were a few she did know and a couple she did not know of.

"The Mount Blanc is not bad nor the Peach or Pear Tart, Atsushi-san." She suggested and he thought about the options and they all sounded good. He didn't even notice but a small amount of drool formed at the corner of his mouth and Emi smiled at this, glad that he was still happy to be enjoying their date even by having food.

"Have the two of you made your decision on a dessert?" The waiter asked, appearing before them unexpectedly and silently, and Emi blinked at his appearance.

"We'll have the Peach Tart, Pear Tart, and the Mount Blanc." Atsushi answered for them and the waiter nodded at this as the two returned their menus to him. The waiter left the two of them alone again and Emi locked gazes with Atsushi, who merely blinked at her staring at him.

His eyes were so interesting as they weren't entirely violet all the time with small swirls of light blue in them.

"Are you alright, Emi-chin?"

The voice of Atsushi brought Emi out of the gaze she was in and she blinked before a soft smile replaced itself on her features.

"I'm fine, Atsushi-san. I was merely admiring your eyes." She responded back and he raised an eyebrow at this, still confused at her answer.

"My eyes?" He questioned back and she nodded before she got up from her sit and moved to it to be directly next to him. She cocked her head up his and responded back.

"Hai, they are very interesting. It seems like they aren't completely violet like I originally thought. I think they have a hint of light blue in them." She commented and he didn't even realize that a light blush was crossing over his cheeks while he thought to himself about how she took notice of small things he wouldn't have normally cared about. He didn't know how to respond to the compliment and she smiled at his slight flustered pose.

"Your Peach Tart, Pear Tart, and Mont Blanc, ma'am and sir." The waiter announced himself again and placed the desserts between the teens, giving the two a smile at this before walking away to let them enjoy it. The two's eyes glowed at the sight of the food and a small amount of salvia formed on his lips at the sight of the sweets.

"Would you like to have the first bite, Atsushi-san?" She asked him and he blinked out of the food gaze, knowing that he should probably let Emi go first or he'll probably eat them all himself.

"You can go first Emi-chin." He suggested and she looked down, grabbing a fork and cutting a piece of the Pear Tart. She balanced it on her fork and took a bite of it, her cheeks lighting up at the sweet taste. Her eased and happy expression made him glad that he hadn't dug in first so he could relish her joy at the tasteful food.

He hadn't even really enjoyed others' expressions of happiness besides himself and his family at some points in his life.

"Ah, Atsushi-san, could we try something?" Emi called him out his thoughts and he blinked before nodding, intrigued at what she had in her mind.

"Sure, what is it, Emi-chin?" He asked her and she held her fork out to him, causing the giant to raise his eyebrows at this. She looked away for a second with a blush crossing over cheeks and she brushed a little bit of hair behind her ear.

"Um…would you mind if we feed each other?" She said in a whisper then whipped her head back up to him and waved her hands back and forth at each other, "If you don't want, that's completely fine, Atsushi-san! I understand if you wouldn't."

He simply looked down to his own fork before offering her his own fork and she couldn't help that her blush was completely covering her entire face.

"If you want to, Emi-chin, I don't mind." He said and she made a small nod at this, a smile coming over her face that he had agreed to do so. She grabbed the fork form him as he took hers and she reached over to the Peach Tart, cutting a piece of it and balancing it on the fork. She glanced back up to the giant before moving the utensil closer to his face, her hand slightly shaking. He leaned down towards it and opened his mouth to let her place the piece of tart in his mouth. He bit down on the piece of food and fork and he took hold of the fork, instead while a pleasant expression appeared on his face at how sweet it was.

"Is it good Atsushi-san?" She asked him and he nodded at this, putting the fork down and shallowed the piece of tart.

"Hai, it's really good, Emi-chin." He said and she then glanced at her fork resting down on the table before he reached over and grabbed it, "What do you want to try, Emi-chin?"

"Eh, well, I've already had some of the Pear Tart so perhaps the Mont Blanc?" She suggested and he nodded at this as he pulled the plate closer to himself, cutting a piece which was slightly larger than what she would cut but did not make comment as she was excited. He moved the fork closer to her mouth and she gulped before she opened her mouth and moved closer. She captured the piece of food in her mouth and bit down on the fork, the chocolate and chestnut taste filled her mouth as she took the fork from his grasp, removing it from her mouth so she could properly enjoy the dessert.

"Do you like it, Emi-chin?" He asked her and she nodded before swallowing the piece of food.

"Hai! It was really good. I'm glad that they had something I'm familiar with." She said and he blinked at this note, realizing that she had some food like that before.

"You've had Mont Blanc before?" He questioned her as she reached over for another slice with her fork and nodded.

"My mamma has made it before in the past for Kenshin to enjoy as dessert. He likes the chestnuts used in it plus the whipped cream is also a plus for him too." She stated and sliced the dessert up, feeding herself the slice. Her cheeks lit up again at the food and glanced back to the giant, eyes now wide in slight curiosity.

"Have you never had Mont Blanc before?" She wondered and he blinked at this, not really sure as he has tried many different desserts before and does not keep a journal of the food has had.

"…I'm not sure, Emi-chin." He responded and she tapped her finger on the table at the comment, thinking about how his answer for a second before moving on to a slightly different train of thought.

"Perhaps, you could write down the desserts you've had, Atsushi-san. Then you can try the one's you haven't had." She suggested and he nodded at this, looking at her in intrigue.

"That's not a bad idea, Emi-chin." He said and she smiled at this, impressed at her own idea, "Could you help me with the list when the time comes to it?"

She glanced up to him and nodded, positive with delight to help him out with that.

"Sure, Atsushi-san. I do not mind." She said and the two continued to eat their desserts with absolute joy flowing through both of them.


It wasn't too long afterwards that they had finished their desserts, that is was time pay the bill and head off to finish their first date. Atsushi licked his lips from finishing the Pear Tart and looked down at the bill, seeing that he would pay it since it was something that a man should do while on a date. He stared at it before putting down some money, knowing that he still would have to tip the waiter.

"Are you all set, Atsushi-san?" Emi asked as she stood up, ready to go head back. He nodded as he placed the money down on the table and stood up, walking side by side with the brunette.

"Hai, we can head out, Emi-chin." He said and she cupped her hands together, merely a few centimeters from him as they left and walked down the street. She brushed her hair back and glanced back up to the giant who remained silent as they continued their way down.

"Um…Atsushi-san," Emi began and the giant glanced down at her as she then offered up her hand to him, a blush crossing over her cheeks. She scratched her cheek as she awaited his response to this and he stared at her hand for a second before slowly placing his hand onto of hers.

"This is what you wanted, Emi-chin?" He asked her and she nodded at this, even though their arm length was not equal Emi didn't mind holding her arm out higher.

Their first date had been successful.

She moved closer to him and he couldn't help but feel his heart race a little at this interaction, not knowing how much he had truly appreciated this.

"Atsushi-san," Emi began as they passed by other people who couldn't help but stare at the giant due to his height, "Would you like me to be the manager for the basketball team?"

He stared at her for a second before shrugging and responded back, "It's your decision. You don't have to do it since you work."

She nodded at his comment while slightly biting at her lip, thinking about how being manger could get some notice on when applying to college.

"…ok." She said then Atsushi got another thought form the idea.

"What would your brother think about it?" He asked and she stopped all together at the comment, making him stop too at her action.

"He probably would not be thrilled with the idea." She said back in simple terms and he remained quiet on that note, "But Teppei-san would want me to push myself to join a club. He would like me to do something like being the manager."

She shook her head before starting to walk again, causing the giant to move again too.

"Is there anywhere else you would like to visit?" Atsushi asked her and she gazed off a little before responding with shaking her head no.

"I'm fine, Atsushi-san." She stated and he stared at her for second, observing her hair and actually noted that it looked shorter than he remembered.

"Emi-chin, did you cut your hair?" He asked and she looked up to him with wide eyes.

"You noticed, Atsushi-san?" She said and he nodded before she played a little with the ends, "It is shorter. It was getting too long."

"Have you cut it shorter than what it is, Emi-chin?" Atsushi asked and she nodded, pulled harder on the ends of her hair.

"Hai, but I think it was shorter than even what I would prefer." She responded and the giant raised an eyebrow at this as when they had first met she had commented that short hair would be safer than longer, "I think it was actually around Teppei-san's length."

"Isn't his hair pretty short?" Atsushi commented back and she simply nodded at this, looking away form his gaze.

Perhaps he should change the topic.

"Emi-chin," He began again and she looked back to him, eyes gleaming with hope that he would change the subject, "Would you like to see a picture of my mother?"

Her eyes grew wide like saucers at the comment and looked at him strangely at such a different topic but interest was still in them.

"Eh? You have a picture of her?" She said and he nodded at this before digging out his phone, flipping it open and began to dig through his photos. Her interest peaked at this and was curious to see what the Murasakibara matriarch looked like from his description and outlook the family had given.

"Hai, I'll find it soon enough." He said and Emi's eyes continued to sparkle at this, wanting to see it. Then without any notice, a flash of violet hair and a smiling face greeted his phone and Emi's eyes grew wide at the sight.

A woman with long amethyst hair flashed at the camera. Her dark blue eyes shined at the camera and her smile reached out across her face, like she knew who had taken the picture with much love. A small gust of wind created her amethyst hair to whip around so elegantly and she bore a simple light blue shirt while the sun behind her shined brightly down upon her.

"She looks beautiful, Atsushi-san." Emi stated in awe and then looked back up him, "You gained much of her beauty."

He stared at her for her comment before he looked down to the phone in his hands.

He hardly believed that.

"I don't think so." He replied back and Emi frowned at this before grabbing his hands, holding them in her much smaller ones.

"Why do you think that?" She asked and he narrowed his eyes at this, thinking that she must be joking.

"Look at me, Emi-chin," He began and gestured to himself, "I'm not anything like her."

Emi narrowed her eyes in defiance and then stood up on her tippy toes before placing her hands on his cheeks.

"Don't let yourself think else wise, Atsushi-san. I think you must be like your mother because you knew her. You gained something, perhaps your kindness from her." Emi said back to him and he remained quiet at this, knowing that she was trying to prove that.

But he knew that he crushed far more people than brought them kindness.

"…We can continue on, Atsushi-san." Emi said and he broke out of his train of thought, seeing that he looked still unsure about her words, "I'm sorry that I brought this up. We can ignore it for the time."

Then the brunette continued on their way back to the apartment complex without much of an interaction between the two.


When the had finally reached the apartment complex, the two teens stopped at the stairway that led up to Emi's apartment. She looked over to the giant from leaning against the staircase and saw that he looked still slightly annoyed.

"Atsushi-san," She said and caught his attention by looking to her, "I understand that I may have crossed the one earlier. I'm sorry that I brought up some memories you did not want to be reminded of."

He blinked at this before he shook his head and looked away for a second, responding back, "It's not your fault Emi-chin. You thought of it as a compliment and I do appreciate it but I wasn't like this long ago."

Suddenly a hand caressed his face and she looked at him with sorrow filled eyes, something else was mixed in there too.

"You at least changed, Atsushi-san. Some people will never accept change. You made the decision and that has made you far wiser and kinder than you were before." She stated and a solemn look crossed over her features, "That is what I admire of you, Atsushi-san. You accepted change. Some people can't bare the thought of change and will do anything in their path to keep it that way."

Those words sounded like it she had dealt with them before and she dropped her hands down, moving away from the railing.

"Good night, Atsushi-san. I will see you tomorrow." She said and started heading up the stairs before stopping and looking back to him, "I really appreciate tonight. I had a wonderful time with you. I look forward to doing something like this again."

Then without another say, she had made it to her apartment, unlocking it and entering inside. The door shut quietly behind her and Atsushi turned his attention back to his own place, thinking that maybe she had lied about tonight.

Maybe she did not enjoy the date because of all the problems they crossed during and after it.

Or he, himself, could be the blame?

He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair at the thought. He would worry about it some other time as he was already for sleep from the night.


Mont blanc=dessert of puréed, sweetened chestnuts topped with a dab of whipped cream. The name comes from Mont Blanc, as it resembles a snow-capped mountain.