Three weeks went by quickly for Kuroko. The inter-high came and went just as fast. Teiko High School won, of course. The blunette didn't attend any of the games, well... except the final one.

Kuroko was proud of his friends. They fought their hardest and obtained the best reward of all. Victory.

The week Aomine and Kise were training, Kuroko was left alone. He didn't mind, though. He understood that they were busy and he didn't want to be a burden or interrupt their practice. The alone-time gave him peace of mind and some time to himself, anyways.

Akashi hadn't approached him or even acknowledged him the week of the inter-high, so that was a plus. Not to mention, Kuroko didn't have to help out the student council anymore either. Another plus!

Now though, Aomine and Kise were back and as boisterous as ever. The teal-head wasn't bothered, he enjoyed being alone, but hanging out with his friends was always better.

"Wah~ Aominecchi, I'm happy we won the Inter-high but I'm sad I had to miss spending my birthday with Kurokocchi~!" Kise weeps as he grips Kuroko tightly in an embrace. The power forward pinched the bridge of his nose. "Kise, let him go! He can't breathe!" The blunette was thankful for Aomine.

The blonde reluctantly releases the suffocating teen with a huff. "I'm sorry, Kurokocchi! I'm just so sad I couldn't hang out with you for so long! You were left all on your lonesome!"

"It's alright, Kise-kun. You were busy, I understand that. At least your efforts paid off. You guys won the Inter-high!" Kuroko smiled softly as he patted the blonde's head. "I'm proud of you!"

Kise felt tears brimming his eyes as he pulled Kuroko into another hug. "Ah~ Kurokocchi! You are so nice~! I've never been praised by you before~!"

The blunette laughed quietly in response. "How could I not Kise-kun? You guys fought hard, of course I'm proud." Kise just tightened his hold with another wail. Kuroko didn't stop him.

"We're glad you could make it to the game, Tetsu! It was nice having you cheer for us!" Aomine laughed heartily. "Your banner was amazing, too! 'Ever-victorious'! Got a nice ring to it!"

"I wanted to create something that would give you hope if you ever started feeling demoralized," Kuroko explained with a small smile. "I'm glad it helped."

Kise freed the blunette again before letting out a cheerful laugh. "Anything Kurokocchi makes is amazing! Naturally, that banner was stunning!" Kuroko nodded shyly.

"Also, thanks for the help on studyin', Tetsu! Now I can go back to skipping class and napping!" the navy-head exclaimed and he stretched his arms above his head with a yawn. Kise slapped a hand to his forehead.

"Aominecchi! You can't just stop getting good grades now that the inter-high is over! What about the National Sports meet and Winter cup!" the blonde announced. "You have to keep your gpa up if you wanna keep playing basketball!"

Aomine groaned and flopped onto his back. The trio was spending lunch on the roof this afternoon because Aomine didn't want to be bothered by any of the students who kept asking them about the inter-high. The attention was nice, but not nice enough to make him miss his lunch.

"Kise-kun is right, Aomine-kun. You have to keep attending class otherwise you might get kicked off the team, and no one wants that," Kuroko interjected as he took another bite of his bento. "However, you will need to find another tutor."

The tan-teen jolted upright as he gaped toward the blunette. "What?! You don't want to tutor me anymore?! Why?!"

Kuroko sighed, placing his chopsticks down. "Because Aomine-kun is too slow. You need a teacher to help you, now. I can't be your tutor all school year." To the side, Kise barked out a laugh.

"I think Kurokocchi is tired of tutoring you, Aominecchi!" the blonde pointed at Aomine mockingly while holding a hand over his mouth. Aomine narrowed his eyes warningly. "I will kill you if you don't shut up, Kise!"

"Aw~ Is the big baby angwy that he's being called out for being stupid?" Kise teased with a smirk. The ganguro shook with anger. "That's it! Get over here you little shit!"

"Wah~ Kurokocchi help!"

The blunette ignored them as he continued eating quietly.

xXx

"Hey Kise-kun, earlier, did you say something about your birthday?" Kuroko probed as they walked toward the gym together. Kise glanced at the blunette with a beaming grin. "Yeah, it was June 18th! I got to spend it with my family during the week of the Inter-high so don't worry about it! I just wish you could've been there, Kurokocchi~"

The blunette frowned a bit. "I'm sorry I couldn't be there, Kise-kun."

"Nah~ It's alright! There is always next year!" the blonde assured as he leaned an arm around Kuroko's shoulders.

"There ain't nothin' special about this idiot's birthday, anyways," Aomine gruffed from beside the teal-head. "I still can't believe you are older than me. Like the fuck?!"

Kise laughed loudly with a smirk growing on his face. "I'm smarter and way more handsome than Aominecchi! Of course I'm older than you!" the navy-head growled in reply. "What does any of that have to do with being older?!"

"So you admit that I am smarter and more attractive than you~?" the blonde teased before scampering down the hall, evading Aomine's swinging fist. "I never said that, bastard!"

"Aomine-kun, please refrain from hitting Kise-kun. You wouldn't want to accidentally get caught and end up expelled," Kuroko deadpanned as he approached the two morons. "And Kise-kun, don't provoke Aomine-kun with teasing. You know how he gets."

"Yes, Kurokocchi!"

"Whatever..."

"Anyways~ Back on the topic of birthdays! Aominecchi, isn't Midorimacchi's birthday next week?" Kise queried, placing a finger to his chin in thought. The navy-head grunted in response. "How the hell should I know?"

"Aominecchi-!"

"Who is 'Midorimacchi'?" Kuroko cut in. "Is he one of your teammates?"

Kise focused his attention toward the blunette gaily. "Yes! He's mean like Aominecchi, but he is a really good basketball player. He was the guy with green hair that shot those amazing three-pointers!"

Kuroko's eyes widened, dumbfounded. "W-wait, that was him!" The blonde nodded fervently as a reply.

"His name is Midorima Shintarou. He's just some Oha-Asa maniac that is obsessed with horoscopes and 'lucky items' and shit. Not to mention, the guy is a total tsundere. He's a good player but he has a rather lousy personality," Aomine explained before crossing his arms. "I don't like him."

"Just like you, Aominecchi! No wonder you two don't get along~!" Kise exclaimed sardonically, holding in his laughter. "Except Midorimacchi is more sophisticated."

Aomine let out a grueling sneer, the murdering intent becoming evident. How dare Kise compare someone like him to Midorima. "I ain't nothin' like him!" the navy-head roared.

"Whatever you say, Aominecchi~!"

"Why you-!"

"Anyways! What were you saying about Midorima-san's birthday, Kise-kun?" Kuroko intervened, quickly changing the subject. The blonde model clapped his hands together, undoubtedly catching on. "Next week is Midorimacchi's birthday, July 7th!"

The blunette nodded in return with a contemplative expression. "Are you guys doing a celebration for him?" Kuroko has never met this person, but it was amiable to ask, right? It's not like he was expecting an invitation, if there happened to be a party, but he was a curious person.

"I'm not sure, Midorimacchi doesn't seem like the type to enjoy big gatherings," Kise elucidated, throwing a pout on his face. "I want to throw a party but his birthday is on a Wednesday and we have practice!"

Aomine rolled his eyes at that inquiry. "Who cares~ That idiot will probably just spend his birthday thirsting over that stupid Oha-Asa horoscope, anyways!" There was a dismissive hand roll added shortly after.

"What did you say about my Oha-Asa, nanodayo?" Aomine started at the sudden voice. Swiveling his head toward the opposed male, the tan-teen sent him a heated glare. "The hell man?!"

"Ah~ Midorimacchi! Are you heading to practice, too?" Kise announced, exuberantly. Apparently, the trio had gotten increasingly close to the gym unknowingly. Had they been walking that long already?

"Of course, nanodayo. Where else would I be going?" Midorima readjusted his glasses, frown maring his features. "I see the two of you have been too busy socializing to notice what time it is. We shall head to practice at once."

The bespectacled male clasped Kise and Aomine's shoulders, roughly pushing them into the gym. "You two idiots need to be more responsible and attend practice on time," Midorima lectured, ignoring their protests.

"What are you? Our mom?"

"Midorimacchi~ That hurts!"

As the comical trio departed, Kuroko let out a diverted chuckle before leaving back down the hall. The blunette settled with heading back to his class and helping the other students clean up. There wasn't any work at hand, so Kuroko had the next three hours completely to himself. Well, sorta to himself.

He was stuck at the school, which in turn, had it's deprivation, but he was confident that there was work accessible somewhere. Kuroko loathes boredom. He would be damned if he spent the next few hours in sheer tedium.

There was always the option of just leaving Kise and Aomine so he could enjoy the wonders of his comfy bed and apartment. Although he was positive they wouldn't be very happy with being left behind.

Kuroko paused short of the library, catching sight of an all too familiar redhead... again! The Teiko captain was leaning on the wall, flirting with a pretty first-year brunette. Kuroko wasn't surprised in the slightest. Akashi was always the straightforward type. Flirting though... didn't seem to fit Akashi's personality.

Ignoring the duo, Kuroko padded past them, surreptitiously. His lack of presence was quite the advantage when it came to everyone else, but with Akashi, that was a different story. Letting out a line of expletives when he heard the redhead's satirical voice, Kuroko glanced up ruefully.

"It's been quite some time, Chibi-chan. How have you been?" Akashi stalked up to the shorter male with a playful smirk. "I heard you attended our final game. I appreciate the support. It's always nice to know you cheered for me."

Kuroko peered over the president's shoulder, focusing his attention on the neglected female who held a somber expression. "Forgive me, president, but it seems you are busy right now. Please excuse my intrusion. I'll allow you admittance to your previous occupant." Outwardly, the blunette was feigning civility, however, inwardly, he was forcing the sarcasm out of his tone.

Kuroko wasn't sure why Akashi decided to ignore the girl as a means of annoying him instead. The brunette was indeed pretty and appeared rather interested in the redhead. Kuroko had to admit that Akashi was handsome, but he'd never say that aloud, of course.

The student council president was commonly flocked with attention, primarily the opposite gender. Kuroko would see the redhead at lunch every so often, being confessed too. With no regard for their feelings, Akashi always turned them down.

Akashi was greatly admired by both sexes, though. Frequently envied by the male gender for stealing all the female attention away from them. Their pissed expression always induced a chuckle from the blunette.

"Apologies, if you would excuse me. I have some catching up to do with my friend," Akashi's proclamation pulled Kuroko out of his inner turmoil. The blunette felt a sharp tug on his wrists as he was suddenly yanked through the school library doors. Kuroko never got to apologize to the girl. Great, now he feels guilty. All thanks to Akashi, as usual.

"Akashi-kun, please don't pull me so abruptly," Kuroko jerked his hand out of the redhead's grip curtly. "And please refrain from touching me."

Akashi let out an exasperated exhale, setting an irate look upon the blunette. "Does it look like I wanted to touch you? I just used you as an excuse." Kuroko blinked... stunned. Akashi's usual amiable speech seemed like a distant dream. The words spoken just now were blunt and crude. Usually when the redhead insulted him, he always pegged Kuroko with his mature and demeaning tone.

The droll way Kuroko raised his brow, irked Akashi erroneously. "What?"

"N-nothing, it's just that I've never heard such rude talk from someone of such high standard," Kuroko let out a laugh, concluding his reply. Once again... irking the redhead.

"This side of me is reserved for you and you only. I shall not permit you of such high-class allocation," Akashi allowed a terse smirk to light his face. "What? Did you assume someone like you was of the same ideal as me?"

Kuroko snorted, however his face remained blase. "What did I do to annoy you so much? I barely even know you," the blunette blew a stray piece of fringe from out of his face, trudging over to the overlooked shelves.

"Wouldn't you like to know~" Akashi retorted simply.

"Yeah, actually, I would. That's why I asked!" Kuroko exclaimed, smacking his forehead with his selected novel. "As I remember, you were rude to me when we first bumped into each other. You could have, at least, offered to help me up." The redhead averted his gaze pointedly.

"What are you now? A damsel in distress?" The tone was teasing but it certainly pushed the wrong buttons. "Don't call me that, and of course not! It's just common decency-something you obviously don't bear."

"I do," the redhead started, leaning back on the table. "Just not when it comes to people inferior to me. You have done nothing to gain my respect."

Kuroko proffered a strained smile, accompanied with a stiff nod.

'Relax Tetsuya, he is just trying to push your buttons again. Calm... Calm...'

"As I recall, I have helped out the student counsel on multiple occasions, getting things in and done on time without complaint. I believe that should have earned me at least some virtue," the response was tinted peevishly but you couldn't blame the blunette for feeling petulant.

"You have, but that was more a duty than a show of deference."

"I don't see any reason to treat you as some superior if I have gotten nothing but harsh tones and insults. Maybe, you should be the one showing more consideration."

"Talking back again, are we?" Akashi felt his eyes narrowing ever so slightly. Kuroko tended to grate on his nerves, but this was a whole new level. The blunette was naturally a polite person, barring when dealing with Akashi.

"Shouldn't the captain of the basketball team be at practice with his teammates? Not wasting his time arguing with a menial first-year?"

"Not that it's any of your business, but I had student council biz to deal with. I put Shintarou in charge, they won't be expecting me."

Kuroko had to refrain from rolling his eyes petulantly, instead letting out a quiet sigh. "Exactly my point. Why are you still here if there is work to be done?"

"Everything was done by the time I arrived. I was on my way out just now, before I was stopped."

"Shouldn't you have attended practice if there were no tasks?"

"I am the captain, I can practice when and where I want. There is no need to intrude on their schedule today."

The blunette slumped into a seat, idly watching Akashi from his peripheral vision. "I see."

The room became quiet. Deathly silent.

Kuroko had buried his head in a book, promptly ignoring the redhead. Glancing up, Kuroko noticed Akashi seemed to be lost in thought. "You can leave, y'know. There is no reason to stay."

Akashi sent a glare the blunette's way, immediately shutting him up. "Do you always stay after school like this? Waiting for Ryouta?"

"Yes, I usually walk home with him and Aomine-kun after their practice. They are my friends after all."

"You wait all this time doing nothing? Why don't you just go home?"

Kuroko felt a vein pop on the side of his head. "Well, excuse me~ I didn't know you wanted me gone so bad. What? Are you gonna forbid them from being my friend too?"

The retort startled the redhead a bit. "No, that's not what I'm saying. It's just odd to me why you would waste precious time doing nothing when you could use it to become something greater. Why are you undermining all your talent?"

"I don't have talent. There's nothing special about me. You barely know me, I don't think you have any concession to tell me what to do with my life."

Akashi let out a snort before whipping back toward the door. "Do what you want, then." Kuroko raised an eyebrow.

"What was that about?"

xXx

A/N: Hey so- the highschool I have our MC's going to is by American standards... however the breaks are the same as Japanese schools. If there is any confusion or if I'm doing things wrong, let me know LMAO

Thank you for reading! Have a nice day! Don't forget to review!

To be continued...

~Rin