It was never an easy decision, to continue the basketball career, or to follow another path that would mean the rest of his life.

Contrary to popular belief, not every one of the former generation of miracles—included their sixth man—was recruited to further their talents outside the country, even after the spectacular match against Jabbawock that embedded in everybody's memories a couple of years ago. No matter how disheartened they might have felt toward such negligence over their potentials, they knew very well that there're still more of those with skills and the hearts of gold out there. Christ, they had learned the hardest way just to be proved that they were not the ones crowning the mountain top. There's—and always would be—somebody who was stronger enough to climb a higher mountain and clam its zenith to their own. When there's a room or even small crack to the supposed end of the tunnel, the possibility of everything could happen.

Out of the rest of them, Aomine was that someone of beasty potentials. His moves, his flows, and his carefree yet calculated attitude while the ball bouncing from his hand to another were overwhelming. No one could argue that when Aomine played, the full court became his own territory, and not a single person was permitted to trespass what belonged to this man.

Kagami, on the other hand, thought he was lucky. He thought that because Alex had some connection with the authority and pulled some strings so that her pupil could finally pursue his dream. It was unhealthy of him to think like that, of course. And it didn't help either that both of his ears got so red from all that twisting and yelling from his mentor that he was not fucking making any sense. Alex wouldn't go that far just to please her student like that. After all, he was told, that it's because of his playing styles and his crazy jumps that got the sponsor's attention. If Aomine was a wild beast, Kagami was an untamed tiger readily to attack any preys that came his way.

That metaphor made him cringe every time he heard it. It was okay though. Because Kuroko teased him with such knowing smile—-

Uh—Oh,
.

For one, Kise Ryota was a ball of energy. The sunshine with the brightest smile. He was good at everything he laid his eyes and hands on. It was not exaggerating at all that his talents for basketball were surging through the roof. So it was shocking to anyone at all that he was the first one to announce his decision to quit the sport and instead enroll in the aviation school.

Kise was never one to keep secrets, given his running mouth which always gave away all that he tried to hide. However, this time, even Kasamatsu failed to gouge out anything. Kise simply said it's just time he should be focusing on something else aside from basketball. At first, everyone thought because he was depressed that Aomine—and Kagami—decided to chase after his dream in a faraway land and that left him alone with no one he could truly regard as his rivals. But as time passed, Kise seemed just fine and vibrant as ever around the new environment at the campus. So the change of wind has hit Kise first.

That was all they could assume.

They all scattered in different ways. Kise knew that much. He also knew that the rest of them aside from Aomine put behind their basketball gears and sought out their hidden dreams. Murasakibara continued his love for pastries in the hospitality faculty in some college in Akita. Akashi followed his father's footprint in BBA abroad. Surprisingly, Midorima who successfully got in the medical school with an exceptional score, and Kuruko in literature class along with Kise went to the same University in Tokyo. They rarely met, so to say. But Kise made sure that when they did, they would pull out that old, orange ball and head to the court together, like the old days.

Something never changed. Kise was more than pleased to at least think like that. But sometimes, reality just hit hard like a storm came unannounced, destroying everything, leaving mere wreckage behind.

Something has changed, that day when he heard, felt, cried and touched for the first time. He couldn't pretend everything was the same, not any more.

Not any longer. Not with him

That would be the story of another time. But for this moment, Kise decided to stroll in an idle pace with his small luggage along the way to the parking lots where his car was awaited for his return from duty. Kise has just stepped out of the terminal, passing some cafe along the way, that his name suddenly got called. Without even recognizing how familiar that voice was, he turned his head instinctively to the side.

On the tall table seating were two men with equally hard expressions and massive flames. The one on the right wore tanned skin with short navy blue hair. Another guy's skin was lighter. His hair was a tad bit longer, a glimpse of dark red played casually on his hair underneath the light.

These men looked to be at the mid-twenties something—around the same age as his—and were looking at his way so intensely that Kise would have winced and run away had he not seen the resemblance on both their eyes—so livid and alive. He had known two people with such looks from long ago, those two who decided to go so far away and leave what should be oh-so-important things behind. Kise was supposed to be angry and raging and all that because he was the one to witness those heartbreaks and sadness and downfalls first-handedly. But all he could feel right then after seeing the familiar faces of his foes-friends was a mere surprise, followed by relief and utmost happiness. Kise rushed to them and in a span of three seconds, the blonde captain was seated opposite side of Aomine and Kagami.

"Woah, that was fast."

"Aominecchi! Kagamicchi!" Kise beamed so brightly that the sun should be ashamed of its dim light. "When did you come back!? How long will you two be staying!? Have you informed anyone of your arrival!?"

"Oh man, what are you, a machine gun?" Kagami almost forgot how Kise could be so loud and bouncy. Then, he scowled. "And what with that. -cchi thing!? Don't tell me you still add that as a suffix to anyone's names at all?"

Kise pouted. To all ladies, it was adorable. To them though, it's just disgusting for a grown-up man to act like a six-year-old kid. "That was very mean of you, Kagamicchi." He rumbled, eyeing Kagami's face. "Even with the beard, you're still as grumpy as I remember from those years ago."

"What's wrong with growing a beard?" Kagami asked, his hand shot to touch his stubble unknowingly.

Kise sighed. "Once Bakagami, always Bakagami. Seems good that Kagamicchi hasn't changed at all."

Aomine's burst of laugh over-drowned Kagami's low mutter. Kise noticed the crinkles around the former ace's eyes and couldn't help but chuckled along with him.

It has been years since they last saw one another. True that when he found himself free-time and turned on the sports channel on TV, he would often notice either—or sometimes both—of them on the court playing for NBA. Kise was happy to see them living their dreams of course. But on the other hand—

Kise quietly shook his head. It was all in the past, and they were mature enough to let all the bad memories go. So why he still felt insecured and uneasy?

It was due to the long journey, He concluded. He was just tired. Kise tried to believe that.

"You haven't answered my questions."

"Oh right," Aomine scratched his head. He counted on his fingers while saying, "First, we just landed not long ago. Decided to wait for you out here just to see your sorry face. Two, roughly until the winter break ends, and three, nope, the flight was suddenly booked so we haven't told everyone that we're back yet."

Kise nodded, then blinked. "Why waiting for me though?"

Aomine and Kagami exchanged a look before Kagami said, "We just happened to board your flight, Kise. It was equally surprising and horrifying knowing you're the one in that cockpit."

Kise's eyes widened. "You did? Oh, that made sense though" he frowned. "But what did you mean by horrifying? I'm told to be an exceptionally skilled captain, you know?"

"Hardly" They both answered at the same time, Which in turn making them winced.

Kise looked from Aomine to Kagami. "And do you have the place to stay yet? I'm not sure about Kagamicchi but Momocchi said that your parents sold the house and moved to live in the countryside, Aominecchi."

"Yeah, I've been told that too." Aomine sighed, eying Kagami whose face became grimed suddenly. "I bet yours' no difference, huh?"

"My aunt put it up on the lease." Kagami puffed out the air. "Saying I am not going to come back anyway, so why bother keeping it instead of making it useful?" He rolled his eyes at that. "Guess we have to stay in a hotel for now."

"Eak, that would cost us a fucking fortune."

"Better than stray out cold." Kagami fished out his phone and started tabbing on the screen. "I will look at some which offer the affordable price though."

"Can't be helped then." Aomine sighed. He turned to Kise. "Well, Mr. Captain I think it's time to let you go, nice seeing you though." His face softened. "It's been a long time."

Kise stayed quiet. He was contemplating something which he shouldn't have as it would be definitely followed by chaos, but they were his friends too. Even after that, Kise knew it was not their fault, not completely.

So, He spoke up;

"You know what, just come with me." Kise finally said. "I just happen to have a room spacious enough that an addition of two men can just fit right in. Though there's only one guest room, I think it's big enough for you to share."

Kise didn't wait for an answer as he stood and turned to the way leading to the parking area. He was aware that Kagami and Aomine followed after him.

When he was set in the driver seat, and waited for Kagami and Aomine to load his belongings into the trunk of the car, Kise, making sure that no one was looking—softly banged his forehead onto the wheel.

He hoped that this decision would not backfire him, in every way.

Um, Hi. second chapter here. I forgot to put the disclaimer on the first chapter and you may find some errors here and there, but please bare with it, or you can tell me in the comments anytime.

any comments or feedbacks are very welcomed. see you in the next chapter!