[A/N: If you are confused about the whole timeline because of this chapter, don't worry, because I haven't quite figured out everything yet, so that's okay. Anyways, this will also be on the 21st, but from Akashi's point of view.]

Akashi slipped on a blazer, hung tie around his neck (but didn't actually tie it, because that would just waste time), and didn't even bother with fixing his bedhead. Though it wasn't as bad as Kuroko's, it certainly was a far stretch from his usual cut. He ran to catch the train from Kyoto to Tokyo. Akashi had just called a meeting with the GoM at Seirin. He had said it was an emergency, so everyone should be there.

Akashi was so, so nervous. He hadn't seen Tetsuya in years. Once Akashi had heard those words, "Kurokocchi, Akashicchi! I found Kurokocchi!" Akashi felt a chill on him. Akashi's whole world had turned numb. Akashi couldn't taste his own cooking, he couldn't feel accomplishment when his perfect final exams came in. Because Kuroko was back. It had been devastating for the GoM, when they realized that Kuroko wasn't... anywhere.

[Recap]

They searched high and low, Seirin and a few members from their own teams helping to find the phantom sixth man. Eventually, they gave up. Not even Akashi, with his government resources, could find Kuroko. And if Akashi couldn't do it, then no one could.

That was one of the worst moments that Akashi could ever live through. To sit in a chair at Maji's, waiting for everyone to come. To know what he was going to crush in his friends. To know their reactions. To know that Kuroko was gone. To know... everything that was going to happen. Akashi knew the others well enough to know.

But knowing is different than seeing. It was so much worse. To see the hope die in their eyes. To feel the despair, knowing that Akashi was so damn helpless. He couldn't offer anything that would make them feel better. So he had just sat there in silence. He didn't bother keeping a straight posture. He had stayed in a leaning forward position, he hands clasped together, his elbows on his knees. Akashi couldn't meet their eyes that day. He couldn't make himself watch the light in their eyes die away to nothing.

Kise quit basketball. He said he just needed a breather, that one day, he would be back to stay for good. He left for America and set his eyes on his modeling career, though he never lost touch with his old basketball friends. Aomine kept playing, though he was forever scared. The GoM held a special place in his heart that no one could fill. Since he was the closest with Kuroko, he had taken it the hardest. Aomine fell into a sort of depressed haze. He actually went to practice, on time and everything.

Wakamatsu had been really worried for Aomine, mostly because Aomine went through practice without complaining or uttering a word. Wakamatsu, Sakarai, and Imayoshi went around the other schools to try to ask for help from the GoM to help cheer Aomine up. Even for the GoM, Aomine's sudden obedience was unsettling. Though with the help of Kagami and the GoM, he moved on, even if he would always care for Kuroko in his heart.

Midorima had kept trucking on, though. Midorima mourned at home, but kept up a tight schedule at school and basketball. But somehow, Midorima managed to keep up his social life (or lack thereof). Akashi had marveled at how Midorima had accepted this news so... in stride.

Midorima had told Akashi the day they called off looking for Kuroko, "Kuroko has chosen a new life, without us, for a reason. I can respect his decision, or lack of it. Kuroko knows what he wants. If we, for some reason, have wronged him, then there is no sense in rushing him. He'll come back when he's ready, and from there, all we can do is accept the inevitable. It is wrong to selfishly force our own wishes upon him. Can you do that, Akashi?" Akashi wasn't sure. But Akashi had clung to these words.

Akashi knew that Seirin and Kagami were mourning, that they dearly missed their younger brother. But the refused to let his absence dampen them. They fought on, Kuroko's spirit pushing them forward. Akashi envied them. They were a family. Kuroko had strengthened their bonds.

Murasakibara had skipped practice and school for a week. Akashi let that slide because he knew that Murasakibara was in mourning. Akashi didn't know all the details (and he didn't need to), but Himuro had said that Murasakibara had had lots of crying fits and his mood would shift a lot. Finally, Himuro begged Akashi for help, because the purple giant was just wasting away in his room, and that wasn't good for Murasakibara.

Akashi's direct words to Murasakibara were, "Get going in your life, Atsushi. Tetsuya would be disappointed in you if you could not battle him because your grades were poor or you hadn't been practicing." Akashi had waited for confirmation from Murasakibara before hanging up. Then Akashi had leaned back in his desk chair. He was so stressed.

Akashi had to maintain his school-life with just as much diligence as before. Plus, he was the captain of the basketball team at Rakuzan. If Akashi broke down, who would take care of his team? Akashi sighed. Tried to remind himself that school comes first no matter what.

Plus, as a last resort, Akashi can always count on his teammates. Right?

[End of Recap]

Akashi tried to push away his doubt. He was going to meet Kuroko, and Kuroko would tell them what they did wrong, and how they could fix it. Kuroko was going to tell them, and everyone would make up. Akashi could already imagine the bluenette's disapproving frown.

"Is that train?" Akashi muttered underneath his breath. For all he knew, everyone else was already there. Though that was unlikely. Akashi tapped his foot against the ground impatiently. This was the day to meet Kuroko. Akashi hadn't told the others yet, he wanted Kise and Kuroko to confirm everything first. Akashi couldn't bear to see their eyes die again.

At last, the anxious pressure on his chest forced Akashi to take action. It would take too long to try to rally up the entire station to start working just for him, and nothing would come out of filing a complaint. Then, an idea sparked in his mind. What if he ran all the way from Kyoto to Seirin? After all, if what Kise said was true, if he really found Kuroko, then Akashi would want to spend the whole day with Kuroko, talking about life with their friends.

So running about 297.2 mi (478.9 km) should make up for missing practice, right? And Akashi can always text his team the workout, and Akashi will be able to tell if they're lying about saying they completed it or not. So that's exactly what Akashi did.

[GIANT Time Skip]

Akashi thought he might die from exhaustion. He actually started to doubt his decision. Akashi had taken off his blazer and shirt underneath. Akashi was tempted to also take off his pants, it was so goddamn hot, but Akashi still carried his dignity.

At last, when Akashi's chest felt like it was going to cave in on him, he burst through the doors of the gym. Akashi couldn't breath properly. He dropped his blazer and shirt on the ground, not caring that they were getting dirty. Akashi rested his hands on his knees, hardly able to stand straight. He heard Seirin rushing to him, asking what was wrong. Akashi held up a finger, signaling to them to let him catch his breath.

After a couple minutes, Akashi's heart rate dropped down to a normal pace, and his breathing became less of desperate gasps and more like the breaths of a person who was trying hard not to hyperventilate. While he stood up to face them, Akashi couldn't keep the grin off his face.

"Did you run from Kyoto to Tokyo?" Kagami couldn't keep the question in. Akashi nodded.

"Hai."

"NANI?!?!?!" Everyone yelled. That was expected. Akashi pushed down his laugh.

"I have an urgent-" But Akashi was cut off by the other GoM members coming slamming the door open and rushing in.

"Akashi called an emergency meeting." Midorima explained before Seirin could ask.

"Ah, gomen," Akashi apologized sheepishly, "I guess I was so excited, I guess I forgot to tell you that it isn't a life-or-death emergency. Did I interrupt your studies?" Everyone stared at Akashi. This is basically somewhere along the lines of what was running through everyone's mind: 'He's in such a good mood... What made him feel like this? He's grinning like mad, and he practically admitted a mistake! What's up with the Emperor?'

"A-ah, no." Aomine stuttered, "I was taking a small break." The others nodded with Aomine's statement.

"Good." Akashi nodded, "Now, I have news." Everyone looked at him apprehensively.

"About... Kuroko-kun." Coach said after a solemn silence threatened the group. Akashi nodded, still beaming.

"Last week..." Akashi hesitated. Should he tell them? Would they break again if he was wrong? No, they were stronger than this. "Ryota called me at 12 o'clock in the morning. He said... he found a man named Kuroko Tetsuya in America."

[A/N: Let's just pretend that from Kyoto to Tokyo WON'T take 102 hours walking, m'kay? And I actually looked this up, so the data is accurate.]