IM SO SORRY I FORGOT TO POST THIS CHAPTER HERE!

This was a valentines day update that I posted on AO3 and somehow forgot to upload it here too. In my defense AO3 is a lot more user friendly so I probably uploaded there in a rush and forgot to come here when I had time. Anyways, now you get this chapter along with a little bonus one. Enjoy the double update!

Kuroko is about to rub his eyes tiredly, but he stops himself the moment he remembers all the stuff Momoi and Kise have caked on his face. He sighs as he carefully rests his cheek in his hand. "This wig is getting itchy."

"Sorry Kuro-chin," Murasakibara apologizes. Yet he makes no move to ask for the check so they can leave. Instead, he continues scanning the menu with a cheerful hum despite the fact that they just placed an order with a waiter.

Kuroko has never had a problem with the concept of a 'Couples Café' before, but now that he's in an arrangement with Murasakibara he's started to develop his own dislike of them. Always one to take advantage of a situation, now that he's technically qualified to enter one, Murasakibara had insisted on going since they always have tasty looking specials around Valentine's day. Unfortunately, even if their relationship was romantic, it's hard to find a couples café that would accept same-sex couples.

Which is why Kuroko is in drag.

Murasakibara had no qualms with being the one to crossdress but even with makeup, his build and mannerisms could not be covered up as neatly. It was a bother, but Kuroko was willing to tolerate it since Murasakibara promised to pay for them both, which also complimented their charade of heteronomativity. For the most part, Kuroko is just glad he was able to get away with wearing jeans and borrowing Murasakibara's oversized sweater instead of the dress that Kise conveniently owned in his size. All in all, it's not a bad deal, and it certainly could've been worse.

Thanks to his hyper-vigilance, Murasakibara is able to spot their order the moment their waiter steps out of the kitchen with it. He's a rather plain-faced guy who can't be much older than them, yet Murasakibara is practically salivating at the sight of him. If Kuroko didn't know any better it would be easy to think it was their waiter he was eyeballing.

A large vanilla milkshake with two straws looped into a heart is placed between them; a generous tower of whip cream that's garnished with chocolate shavings and a cherry on top. "Strawberry shortcake and a slice of key lime pie. Which one's for the pretty lady?" he chirps brightly.

"They're both mine." Murasakibara eagerly takes both plates from his hands while Kuroko pulls the milkshake closer to himself.

To his credit, the waiter he recovers from his surprise fairly quickly. "Watching your weight huh? Can I get you two love birds anything else?"

Murasakibara is quick to jump on the offer. "Can we get the..." he takes a moment to squint at the menu with a dubious expression. " Lovely Lover's Tiramisu ? Don't cut it into a heart shape, I want the whole thing boxed up to go. And can I get four Portugues tarts boxed up too please?"

"Uh, I'll see what I can do. Anything else for you miss?" he asks as he finishes writing down the request.

"I'm good thank you," Kuroko responds before using both straws to drink the milkshake.

As pretty as he looks, Kuroko made no effort to change anything else. The waiter is visibly stunned by the masculine tenor he clearly hadn't been expecting. To his credit he isn't rude enough to make any sort of comment, and although a bit wobbly, he does continue to smile charmingly at him.

"I- um- alright! I'll be back with your order." He strides back to the kitchen a little faster than he came.

They've already been served so the worst thing that can happen is that they take their food to-go.

Much like the atmosphere of the café, the milkshake is almost sickeningly sweet, but it's a free milkshake so he's not about to waste it. He's almost annoyed to notice that there are a few heart-shaped brown sprinkles mixed in with the chocolate shaving on his drink. Not that he hates love, or hearts, or even the colour red and its varying shades - but corporations really like to over-do things. Murasakibara is oblivious to it all as he devours his cakes, already half-way through the key lime slice. Other than Halloween, Valentine's Day is one of Murasakibara's favourite holidays due to all of the candy. The only reason it's ranked above Halloween is because the candy is delivered to him rather than gathering it himself.

"Are you having fun?" Kuroko asks almost rhetorically since his partner is practically glowing.

"Mhm, thanks Kuro-chin."

"I'm glad," he says dryly, but without ill-intent as he enjoys his drink. He's skeptical he'll be able to finish all of it on his own, but he's sure as heck going to do his best.

As far as Valentine's Day goes, this is definitely the most interesting one. Before he became friends with Aomine, and everyone else in the first-string, he had never even received a valentine from anyone. Not that he had wanted one for the traditional reasons, but when someone brought a box of Valentine's day treats for the class and he was left forgotten like usual, it still stung to be alone.

This year is a good change, even if he is dressed as a girl.

Momoi brought enough chocolate for the 7 of them to share at lunch - both homemade and store-bought thankfully - and Midorima was kind enough to gather everyone's lucky items. He supposes the roll of toilet paper he was given did turn out to be handy when they attempted to stuff Murasakibara's borrowed bra before they gave up on the idea entirely.

Kuroko would have been more than content if his Valentine adventures ended there, but Murasakibara had almost punched him in the face with his cellphone in his haste to show him an advertisement for this very café. Before Kise and Momoi even got their hands on him and a wig, he had been a little worried that having a 'date' in such a romantically inclined place would make things uncomfortable.

He really should've have known that Murasakibara wouldn't have even paid the atmosphere any mind. Despite the establishment's best effort, it hardly felt any different than grabbing an afterschool snack at Magi Burger when Murasakibara was more absorbed in eating than paying attention to his 'date'.

Just as well, Kuroko was amusing himself with people-watching. It's a bit astonishing that couples really did feed each other, even found it cute when they just smudged things on each other's faces. He had no inclination to wipe Murasakibara's face when he was perfectly capable of it himself, not to mention while he's still eating.

By the time their waiter comes back with the next round (giving Kuroko a wary glance, but still smiling at them both), Murasakibara has finished his pie slice and strawberry shortcake. "Can I get anything else for you two?" he asks politely.

"Just the check please," answers Murasakibara with a bit of a pout as he pulls out his wallet. It's almost certain that if money weren't the limit, he would have ordered at least one more dish.

"We can always come back another time," Kuroko reassures him, as their waiter leaves to get their change. Probably, anyways.

Murasakibara grunts in response, but his expression is less sour as he accepts his money.

Their server bids them farewell as they rise from their seats. "Thank you for coming, have a lovely day!"

Again, Kuroko is mildly exasperated by the overuse of the word 'love' but he's willing to spare a thought of it being a coincidence rather than an intentionally thematic choice. They don't live in the same areas, so Kuroko decides to bid his partner goodbye just outside the café. "Thank you for the meal Murasakibara-kun, happy Valentine's Day. I'll see you at practice on Monday." Kuroko gives him a quick bow, and he's already preparing to go when a box is shoved into his chest. He holds it carefully without thought, but he does frown at the taller boy. "Murasakibara-kun, I'm not carrying your things."

Kuroko is confused when he receives a headshake in response. "It's yours. You didn't get any treats at the café. Kurocchin never eats enough. Portugues tarts are yummy, they have a vanilla custard filling so you should eat them. I don't know if this place makes them right, but they looked good. Thanks for the help Kurocchin, happy Valentine's day."

"Oh. Thank you very much Murasakibara-kun." A smile curls his lips and gratitude warms his heart.

"You have to buy them yourself next time though. Bye." Nonchalant as ever, Murasakibara ambles away without waiting for his response. Kuroko doesn't waste time staring at his back either, heading for the nearest train station to get a ride home. It's now a little harder to understand why so many people get stressed out about finding a date for holidays like this. Clearly all you need are some good friends.

~Bonus~

"Oh my gosh, that milkshake is huge! There's no way Tetsu-kun can finish all that." Momoi hands the binoculars back so Kise can get a good look.

"Oh my god, could you imagine? It would be so cute if Kurokocchi got some whip cream on his little nose," Kise gushes as he stares. Momoi watches him lean a little closer to the window before he frowns, "we should've gone a bit lighter on the blush, he looks flushed." He hands the binoculars back so she can judge for herself.

She hums. "I think it's cute. Like he's all blushy to be on a date," she argues. "God, I wish the streets were a little less crowded. All these people walking by are really blocking the view."

"I told you we should gone to the same café," grumbles Kise.

"That would've just annoyed him. Besides, this is more conspicuous."

When their waitress first seated them, she called them a cute couple. Now she thinks they're a pair of stalkers trying to break up a nice couple across the street. It really wasn't conspicuous. Kuroko noticed them across the street not long after he left for home.