Author's Notes: The poem is The Fly from William Blake. I don't know if it has some deeper meaning - sorry if it has.

I wasn't planning on a longer chapter but when these two start talking, I can't stop them!

(I really wish I had more time to edit these chapters. Publishing the same day I write stresses me. Sorry for any mistakes.)

4 - I'm glad I met you

Akashi was talking about the latest app crush user report with Midorima - while ignoring how the phone had a background image of himself and Aomine's associated laughter - when Murasakibara called from his work table.

"It is nap time."

Snacking was one thing but if Murasakibara dared to nap in work hou -

"We can continue after your break, Akashi," Midorima said, walking back to his desk.

Oh.

"There is no need, everyday -"

"Kurokocchi arrived, he has a book today."

"It is middle of the day, not even lunch break -"

"We know you stay late to make up for it."

"Are you trying to get rid of me -?"

"Akashi," Aomine put his phone and the book he brought for Kuroko to his hands before shoving him to the door. "Don't make him wait."

Then he closed the door.

Akashi blinked.

Conspiracy. His co-workers were planning something against him.

"Today's numbers?" he heard from inside.

"15."

"24."

"50."

"How can anyone laugh fifty times in two hours, idiot, Tetsu isn't a clown!"

Akashi ignored his soulmate's laughter in his head as he ran downstairs.

"Little Fly,

Thy summer's play

My thoughtless hand

Has brushed away."

Kuroko raised his head from the book on his lap. "William Blake." His eyes were dancing. "Akashi-kun said he loved poetry and I was curious about his interpretation of this one."

"Oh, someone thoughtless brushed away the fly."

"So elaborate."

Akashi laughed. Then took his favourite seat nowadays.

He even learned to take a spot where afternoon sun warmed up the concrete.

"I would have preferred to hear a love poem from Kuroko."

"You have your soulmate for it."

"I recalculated my chances - reduced it to twenty years. So -"

"Oh, what changed it?"

"You can't believe how many spam accounts were following me. Also I wrote an algori -"

"No wonder Akashi-kun had so many followers."

"Hey! I worked hard to gain those followers."

Kuroko raised his hand and tilted his head, "should I take a pose from this angle," he tilted his head to the other side, "or this angle?"

Akashi grinned. "Which one is better?"

"Akashi-kun has a symmetrical face." Kuroko paused. "So he should plucker his lips -"

"As I was saying," he raised his voice, "I also wrote an algorithm that found if an account sent more than one photo. Now I only need to look at these photos for twenty years to find my soulmate."

"Twenty years? Nothing."

"Kuroko is sarcastic today. More than usual."

"I can feel Akashi-kun building his base for another ridiculous request."

He cleared his throat. "So, I want to hear a love poem from Kuroko."

"No."

"Would you make me wait twenty years without one?"

"It would make the one from your soulmate more precious."

"It will already be precious."

"Why, thank you."

"So you don't need mine."

"I will tweet about it."

"You can't threaten me, I don't use social media."

"I wasn't threatening."

Kuroko paused.

Akashi loved these pauses. Whatever came next never stopped to surprise him. Never stopped to be interesting.

Especially with the way Kuroko's eyes shone.

"Roses are red,

Violets are blue,

His soulmate would be lucky,

If Akashi-kun learned when to shut up."

Kuroko was the only person to dare him with one eyebrow. "Will Akashi-kun tweet my poem?"

"It doesn't rhyme!"

Kuroko laughed. Then jumped forward to Akashi's phone.

"I can do it myself."

Akashi jumped back. "You don't know how to use this phone." Kuroko followed him. Akashi jumped back again.

Then fell to the lower step.

Kuroko was still following him.

"Everything at your fingertips, with one touch." Akashi winced at his quote. "Was Akashi-kun lying?"

Akashi stood on the lowest step and looked at Kuroko. He had crouched on their usual seat, ready to jump at Akashi.

He was smiling. His eyes were brighter than his smile.

Akashi put his hand over his heart. "I would never lie to my customers."

"You might as well call this phone telepathic," he continued quoting.

"Well, my phone is telepathic with me, not Kuroko, who doesn't even have a smart phone."

Kuroko jumped.

Akashi ran towards his building.

If his soulmate asked him for his most embarrassing moments (when he found the person within these twenty years), getting scolded by Kuroko's co-workers for laughing loud and not to wake the children up would be one of them.

He tried to mollify himself that it must be more embarrassing for Kuroko.

—

Working at lunch break was relaxing. And efficient.

Must be because of the silent office.

Especially these days where the whole office was eating outside to meet Kuroko.

The one who managed to befriend Akashi.

"The one to befriend them all, shall wear this ring."

Akashi shook his head not to lose his concentration but it was too late. He smiled at his soulmate's antics in his head.

He wondered if his real life soulmate would be like his imaginary one.

"Akashicci!" he heard the distant call.

He walked to the windows. Kise was waving at him while the rest of them were eating their lunches on the kindergarten's steps. Surrounding Kuroko.

It showed how hungry they were for interesting company in this small neighbourhood.

"Can you come down for a minute," Aomine called.

Akashi nodded, already calculating how much time he had to add to his evening shift.

By the time he went down, Aomine had moved to the highest step, Kuroko was next to him with quite a blank expression and the rest moved aside to watch the scene.

Aomine was holding a wrapped long sandwich (Murasakibara's?) from one end, and his expression was too serious for his ridiculous pose.

"Come closer, Akashi."

Ordering him aroun -?

"Please humour him, Akashi-kun."

This had better be something good. He climbed to his usual step. At least Kuroko was includ -

"I, Aomine Daiki," he touched the sandwich to Akashi's shoulder, Akashi stilled, "bestow my title of 'Kuroko Tetsuya's best friend'," the other shoulder, "to Akashi Seijuro." The sandwich touched his head, "Do you accept?"

Akashi blinked.

"You don't ask a knight if he accepts the title, Aomine-kun," Kuroko muttered.

"Then, you can take him," Aomine held Kuroko from his arms and pushed towards Akashi.

"I'm not a bride," Kuroko gritted his teeth.

Akashi wondered what had happened to his life.

It was vibrant.

"I accept thee," Akashi said.

Kuroko groaned.

—

"He is late," Kise said next to the window.

"The day of the best friend ceremony. How cruel, Tetsu."

"He must have a logical reason, nanodayo."

"Kuro-chin is there," he pointed somewhere down the street.

Akashi left the office, feeling restless. (He reminded himself that for his crazy phone project, he needed an equally crazy team.)

He had just sat on his usual spot when Kuroko arrived with a shopping bag.

"I knew these were Akashi-kun's work hours but I didn't know he worked in his lunch time to compensate for it." He emptied his shopping bag in front of him. "And then forget to eat."

Akashi looked at seven different flavours of bread, then at Kuroko.

"I didn't know what you liked."

"So you decided to buy all."

"I thought Akashi-kun would have rare tastes."

"That didn't sound like a compliment."

Kuroko gave his most innocent smile.

Akashi laughed.

"I'm glad I met you."

"Yeah, when I bring you food."

"Aren't you my best friend now? It is in your job description."

"Akashi-kun is my best friend, I don't remember Midorima-san giving his title to me."

"It wasn't his to begin with."

"So I don't even know the person."

"I don't have that person." Kuroko frowned, "I don't have one. Didn't. A best friend."

Akashi focused on the breads. There were weird flavo -

"Must be his eloquence."

"Hey!"

"Or his ordering around."

Akashi threw a bread at Kuroko.

It was pink.

(Strawberry flavoured?)

"Where did you find these anyway?"

Kuroko huffed but went along with his subject change with good nature. "The corner store. They have curious products. Got acquainted with some anime too."

"You like anime?"

"The owner's son does."

Akashi hummed and chose a civilised looking bread. Took a bite.

"So, yeah, you are also my best friend."

Took another bite.

"I'm glad I met you too, Akashi-kun."

Kuroko's smile was more vibrant than anything else.