Author's Note: So, the prompt for the second day was pillow - which I used somewhere in the chapter *add sweat drop emoji here*

Hope you'll like the chapter! (Yes, the cute ones are coming.)

2. The Heavy Ball of Guilt

Akashi had always thought the saying 'heavy ball of guilt' was metaphorical but it turned out that along with upsetting his stomach and tightening his chest, this ball also slowed down his limbs.

He felt like he was moving underwater and his thoughts were, in accordance, muddy, watery and fuzzy.

It wasn't the best condition to hold the ball in a Rakuzan basketball practice game. He noticed the hand trying to steal his ball - such a Kuroko move, his stomach clenched - in the last millisecond and pivoted on his heel to do an impromptu ankle break.

Which resulted in two players in a pile of limbs on the floor.

Akashi felt all the eyes on the court on him when Coach Shirogane blew the whistle.

"Sorry," he murmured to his teammates, helping them stand up. They grinned and shook their heads.

"I get that you received a special Valentine's chocolate, Captain," Coach called from the sidelines. Akashi jerked and looked at him, knowing his eyes were widening. "But mind the game!"

Everybody in the hearing distance laughed, including the two teams in another game on the other half of the court, the managers carrying towels and a scattering of people observing the players.

Akashi flushed even as his insides seemed to get colder. How did the news spread so fast? He should have talked to Kuroko first thing in the Sunday morning - or today - said it was a misunderstanding - or something, but -

But -

Akashi loved the idea. He might also get to love Kuroko, right?

Right. He should have thought of it before goading his friend to ask the question.

He was an idiot. That's what he was.

And a coward.

And a stupid dreamer.

He put on a weak smile and said, "let's continue the games."

As things were, he wasn't surprised to see Mibuchi waiting for him after the practice, leaning on the wall in front of the changing room's door.

Akashi looked at his friend, sighed and returned to the empty room. After closing the door behind him, Mibuchi sat on the bench between the lockers.

"Sei-chan," his friend trailed off. And stared.

His teammates started having these pauses after his transformation in the final game. Did they check his eye color?

As annoying as it was, Akashi understood how disconcerting it must be to have someone you knew for six months change their whole demeanor in a moment. So, he waited, resting his shoulders on the lockers and crossing his arms.

Mibuchi cleared his throat. "Sei-chan, you don't look like someone who got a confession from his crush."

Akashi looked at the soulful eyes of his teammate. How much did he trust Mibuchi? On a scale from Haizaki to Kuroko - he was closer to Kuroko, for sure.

Where would Kuroko be after Akashi broke his heart?

Akashi sighed. "Kuroko is my good friend. I didn't know he felt more for me."

"Then why did you accept?"

Akashi looked at his hand with a bitter smile. "The question is: Why did I make him ask?"

Another hesitant interval. Akashi's brow twitched - surely they don't need to see his eyes for the entire conversation. Eventually, Mibuchi said: "This is not a family thing, right? I don't want to overstep."

Akashi looked at his friend blankly. "Kuroko's family is middle-class," he said.

"Yes?" His voice got higher with each letter, encouraging him to reach the end of his thought. It reminded Akashi of his presumptuous tutors from his pre-school years.

"Mine is not," he said with his best Kuroko's signature deadpan imitation. Then, without changing his expression, he settled in to watch Mibuchi stutter for an answer - no wonder Kuroko did it so often -

His insides twisted; would he be able to share these quirky moments with him again?

"I - I meant about - heirs - and stuff?"

Akashi took pity on Mibuchi and shook his head with a sigh; his friend was trying to help him out.

"It is not a problem," Akashi waved the issue away. "The holding's future doesn't depend on my child; my cousins have some already. And my family wouldn't care about my future partner."

Mibuchi nodded and Akashi knew he wouldn't comment on the subject again. Rakuzan was a prestigious school and most of its students lived through enough family politics to be cautious around it.

"Then, Sei-chan," his voice softened, "why did you do it?"

Akashi looked at the ceiling and breathed in the sweat smell that never left this place. The breeze coming from the tiny window to air the room was cold.

Momoi had gifted Kuroko a scarf on his birthday. It was appropriate - maybe except its color.

He wondered how yesterday's scene would have played out if Akashi brought a gift with him. He doubted it would change anything.

"I -" he stopped. Then sighed. He knew his reason - and how it wasn't enough to be Kuroko's boyfriend.

He put his hands to his pockets and fixed his gaze to the stone floor. It has always been difficult to admit his mistakes.

"I like spending time with Kuroko," he murmured, "He is comforting, witty and so observant that his chats are always interesting." He raised his head; Mibuchi was watching him with his long-lashed kind eyes. "I trust him." He stopped his thought about how much of it he deserved before it developed further.

Mibuchi made an affirmative noise.

"When I saw his chocolate, I thought it was a good opportunity to spend more time together. Get to know him better and -" he cleared his throat, "- so on," he trailed off.

"Did you tell him how you feel?"

Akashi shook his head. "Our friends came just when I accepted and we left soon after. I didn't think of staying back or calling the next day in the chaos." And his newfound guilt.

Mibuchi's pursed lips was enough to tell him how much he messed up; they appeared when he had to rephrase the sentences in his mind for polite society. Choosing his words carefully, he said:

"You don't think Kuroko-kun noticed anything?"

Akashi jerked; his elbows ached where they hit the lockers he leaned on. The thud echoed in the silent room.

On top of his inconsiderate behavior towards his emotions, did Akashi also belittle Kuroko's observant nature?

"I mean - of course, my reaction to the chocolate was obvious - and he must have guessed -"his voice waned.

"Sei-chan," Mibuchi pushed his long hair back to look straight at Akashi. He wished to hide inside one of the lockers behind him. "I think you should call Kuroko-kun as soon as possible."

"I - yeah," he whispered, his shoulders dropping. Then remembering his position - Captain and Akashi - he cleared his throat and raised his head. "Thank you for your help."

Mibuchi nodded, his gaze compassionate and gentle. "I met Kuroko-kun for the first time at the finals. His low presence was powerful, yes, but what turned him into a formidable opponent was how he didn't give up." Akashi's lips twitched, thinking of his stubborn friend. "So if he would hold onto this relationship - and Sei-chan wants it too - maybe, with time -"

Akashi straightened. "Are you telling me to lie to him and wait?"

"No, no! Talk to him! Just, in the meantime, decipher your emotions about him?"

"I know my emotions about him," he stated.

"Do you?" Akashi blinked, Mibuchi's smile widened. "I might be misreading the situation but one doesn't agree to a relationship just because chatting together is fun, Sei-chan." He tapped the bench he sat on. "And your reaction is quite -" he threw a cautious look. "Emotional."

Not that I know how this Akashi reacted to stuff, his stiff figure said.

"I guess," Akashi said slowly. "I don't want to lose his friendship."

Relaxing once again, Mibuchi smiled. "Ask him for some time, Sei-chan. Tell him how much you want this relationship to work. The rest will follow!"

"Oh. Okay."

How much did he want this relationship to work?

By the time he ate his dinner, took a shower and looked blankly at his homework for half an hour, he was no closer to finding an answer.

Much closer to a massive headache, though.

With a groan, he threw his head back and spun on his chair.

He yearned for his vision of soft contentment, comforting silences, and quiet trust. However, his partner was faceless until Kuroko's confession.

Akashi was prone to seizing opportunities and Kuroko's chocolate was a huge one - Kuroko slotted to that place just right - while he might not feel like Kuroko did, Akashi respected and trusted his friend - he had the resources to give Kuroko a comfortable life - their personalities and interests aligned -

And what a great disservice it would be to his friend!

He slowed down and then spun the other way.

Kuroko deserved to be with someone who loved him back fiercely and with everything. Not like Akashi was doing now - confused and barely half-hearted.

This was useless! Akashi slapped his desk to stop his spinning. Disregarding his creased homework, he reached for his phone. The more he waited for the inevitable, the more he hurt his friend.

And the more he had to wait for Kuroko to forgive him, a tiny voice whispered. Akashi bit his lip when his chest twinged.

Then - Kuroko answered at the first ring with a "Good evening, Akashi-kun," and - he noticed he hadn't prepared a speech.

"Go - good evening, Kuroko. How are you?"

"I am fine, Akashi-kun, thank you for asking. How are you?"

"I am also fine," he said, halting. "How was your day?"

Was this a normal conversation to have with his - boyfriend?

"The school was okay; the practice crowded and excited. How was yours?"

"Uh - normal?" Akashi scratched his head and then aligned his pencil case to the desk. "Except, our Coach knew about our relationship and announced it to the team."

Kuroko chuckled. "That would be all of the Winter Cup finalists, I believe. Riko-sempai's - our coach's - father is friends with your coach."

"Why would they talk about it?"

Kuroko hummed; it was a soothing sound. "I think Momoi-chan had something to do with it. I don't know what she did but she had a satisfied air about her today."

"Today?" Akashi asked, doodling geometric shapes on the margins of his homework.

"You took it easy at Kyoto, Akashi-kun. Today's practice was louder than Saturday with many friends of our Teiko teammates coming in to express their surprise at our relationship."

"Is it so surprising?" Akashi grumbled.

Kuroko coughed; a suspiciously laughter-like sounding cough. Akashi narrowed his eyes before he remembered his own reaction to the chocolate. In dignified silence, he let the moment pass by.

Ignoring Kuroko's quiet laughter on the other side of the line.

He cleared his throat when it went on long enough, only for Kuroko to hiccup a giggle. Akashi snorted and Kuroko started giggling again.

Just like that, Akashi felt himself relax.

"So," Kuroko said when his fit was over. "Did you decide on what you want to do?"

His hand lurched, drawing a deep line over his doodles. His heart started beating fast. Surely Kuroko didn't mean -?

"Akashi-kun, we both know your reaction wasn't of one who expected a confession."

"Yeah - I - I wasn't -"

"Is this phone call to break up or to explain why you've made me ask in the first place?"

For one millisecond, everything stopped, including his heartbeat, and then - Akashi started laughing. Hysterical laughter that choked him, watered his eyes and broke his voice. He set his phone aside, lest it fell from his jerking fingers. Putting his arms on his desk and then his head to them, he continued laughing even after his stomach hurt.

He didn't know how much time passed until he sniffed one last time and leaned back in his chair, spent. He was smiling.

Akashi grabbed his phone and threw himself on his bed. "It is so refreshing to talk to you, Kuroko!" When his bouncing stopped, he laid on his back and stared at his white ceiling. "How long has it been since we talked like this, without one of our demanding teammates?"

"At least two years, Akashi-kun," Kuroko replied. "In between your shogi games with Midorima-kun and my gatherings with Aomine-kun and Momoi-chan."

"So long," Akashi said, softly. "It feels like if we spent more time together, we would have been closer."

"I think the team survived this long because we had been in seperate places."

Akashi chuckled, "true." He raised his hand, his fingers open and grabbed the air. Then let it fall to the side. "Your confession made me realize how close we could be. How much we suit each other." He closed his eyes and swallowed. "I am sorry that I hurt you. I was unkind and thoughtless but please know it was never my inte -"

"Akashi-kun?"

"Yes?"

"Do you really think we suit each other?"

His heart trumped. He licked his dry lips. "Yes, I do," he whispered.

"Okay," Kuroko said, just as soft.

Akashi turned to his side, pressed the phone to his ear and listened to Kuroko's silent breaths. He reached for one of his pillows and hugged it, messing with his bed covers. It smelt like artificial flowery aromas and was stiff to the touch.

Akashi's sheets at home were softer. Kuroko was at home, right?

He wished he was in Tokyo and could see Kuroko right now. Could discern his expression or just - sit by his side. Show him how sincere he was.

He didn't want to lose Kuroko.

When Kuroko's breaths disappeared over the line, Akashi jumped on his bed and looked at his phone - the call was still connected - Kuroko didn't hang up - and barely caught the end of "Akashi-kun?"

"Yes!" He straightened on the bed. Whatever his friend had decided, Akashi was already feeling lighter - the rest was up to Kuroko. He should have just talked to him instead of waiting for days - this was Kuroko -

"Do you want to go on a date the next weekend?"

Laughter bubbling on his lips, Akashi shouted, "Yes, I do!"