Disclaimer: Kuroko no Basuke is written and illustrated by Tadatoshi Fujimaki, published by Shueisha. Nothing belongs to me, but my fanfics and OCs are mine.

Note to self: This chapter was updated on February 15, 2016.

Author's Note: This story is not proofread and this story will slowly update. It's because I do rather want to use my time to translate Chinese animation series. Because I'm not Chinese, it takes me longer to translate.

However, it feels wonderful that people still follow and favorite this story. xD I sometimes wonder, why are they still interested?

Chapter 2

Jogging, Seki had an urgent look on her face. Behind her was Midorima, who demanded, "Seki, about what Fukui mentioned earlier!"

They just exited Takao's room in the hospital, and headed off to who knows where. Seki ignored Midorima and waved without looking back. "I have things to do," she told him. "Go back and keep Takao company, you."

"Seki!" he continued to call, getting annoyed. He kept on going after her, walking pass the other people nearby.

Feeling guilty, she slowed down. Clueless, Midorima did the same. Suddenly, she made a U-turn and headed back where they came from. Midorima grew a vein on his head, but he didn't mind much. Because just now, the look in her irritating eyes changed. She seemed... as if she was scared.

In the room where Takao was in, he was still sitting up in the same spot and blinked when the couple returned. Takao already noticed Seki's mood and put up a comforting smile. "Ready to tell us?" he asked. Whatever it was, he had a hunch it might have something to do with Maki and the others girls yesterday.

Seki sighed softly and heard Midorima closing the door. With the three of them alone in the room, she listened to the faint voices outside. 'Did Fukui seriously want me to tell these guys?' she stared at the ground, standing very still. 'Especially the Boss.'

As difficult it was, Midorima tried to assure her, "It's safe here. Tell us."

For a second, Seki winced at the thought of Yamauchi's dead body. She didn't wish for the same to happen to these two guys either. But then she recalled Kise, who was still alive. Perhaps they would be fine too. Yet, this was not guaranteed. "Okay, um," she cleared her throat.

While she was taking a deep breath, Takao slowly questioned, "What... did Fukui-chan want you to tell us?" He wanted to be sure Seki was embracing whatever was going to be said.

"It..." she fixed her glasses over and over. She avoided eye contact, but soon met Takao's eyes. Midorima stood next to her, waiting patiently. "It was easier to tell Kise about this before Yamauchi died..."

"And you're worried about letting us know now?" Takao inquired, his expression becoming as serious as Midorima's. And what did Yamauchi have to do with this?

Seki nodded and gathered up her courage. "Alright," she whispered to herself. Getting herself together, she made sure to face both of the guys in the quiet atmosphere. "The girls you two met yesterday... Maki, that girl with the silver hair, and possibly the others. They're a part of a group called Blades."

Midorima raised his hand to Takao, who was about to interrupt.

She continued, taking out her phone at the same time, "Then there's a group called the Bullets. I'm a part of that. As well as Fukui, Koizumi, Tomimura, Sakai, Moto, and... Yamauchi."

She checked her phone, a report about yesterday's incident that was given by her Boss. Takao raised an eyebrow at her and the phone. Reviewing a text message, she closed it and looked at Midorima. He, himself, was ready what may come out of her mouth.

"The Boss of the Bullets is allowing us to tell you guys. The reason being that you're already involved with the Blades yesterday. Because of that, the Boss of the Blades sent a threat to my Boss."

~o~o~

At Tomimura's house, everyone finished their short breakfast and the one who was cleaning up was Kuroko and Tomimura. She was rinsing the dishes and he was drying them. In the living room, Momoi was trying to make sure Kagami and Aomine don't randomly bicker out of nowhere, but she wanted to be amused and observed them while they chatted.

When the job of rinsing was over, Tomimura took a cloth to ready and dry them. But then she flinched and realized Kuroko was still here. He was holding out his hand for the plate in her hands. "Oh, right," she remembered, handing it to him. He smiled and gladly did his part. "...Kuroko, you're so strange."

He looked at her, drying the last plate gently. "Am I?" he asked.

Nodding, she told him, "You're like a ghost. It scares me a little."

He focused on the plate again without a word. Tomimura dried her hands and set the cloth to the side. "Don't be," he smiled to himself. She lightly chuckled and nodded again.

When he was done, he went to the living room while Tomimura watched him. Momoi greeted him right away, "Thanks for the work, Tetsu-kun!"

"Yeah, unlike someone here," Kagami grumbled.

Aomine knew that was hinted at him and snarled, "Whatever."

Making an dry expression, Tomimura shook her head at Kagami and Aomine, who had nothing to do but talk back to each other. It didn't seem harmful, but still childish. She leaned back against the counter and looked a tad distant. '...I wonder if the other girls got that text message from Boss,' she thought to herself.

Apparently, their Boss said to reveal the Game to Midorima and Takao. The Boss of the Blades threatened if those two leaked any information about the Game, then the friends of the Bullets would be dragged with them. Even the whole city itself. Due to the fact that the Silver Blade encountered them, the guys mind as well learn about the whole thing.

This confused Tomimura, as probably the other girls too. She didn't understand why Midorima and Takao have to learn more about this. Pondering about it made her a little scared. 'Boss even declared they're going to speed up the next round,' she stared nowhere with this thought.

Even though she had her own reason for joining in the first place, it started to feel as if the Game was truly wrong. Yes, at this point it was.

There was a knock on the door, bringing Tomimura's thoughts into a halt. Kuroko had gone to do the honor and see who it was. The moment Tomimura reached to the living room, it was Sakai at the door.

"Hello!" the blonde waved high up in the air. "Eh? This is everyone? No Kise-kun and Moto-chan?"

Kuroko closed the door and people were now in the same room. Tomimura blinked, "Why are you here, Sakai?"

Seated on the ground, Kagami and Aomine looked their way as Momoi waved. "Good morning, Sakai-chan," Momoi smiled first.

Sakai grinned, "Morning to you too, Momo-chan!" Then she quickly looked around, but snickered and rushed to sit between Aomine and Kagami. "Okay, since the big change was announced, I have to know now!"

Kuroko approached closer, joining them on the floor, circling around the coffee table. Tomimura stood where she was at and queried, "What do you mean by that?" Was Sakai going to reveal the Game to these people too? Hope not. It wasn't in the Boss's message.

The blonde turned in her seat, facing Kuroko who was sitting beside Momoi. "It's about Nakano-chan," she boldly stated. Now Tomimura eagerly joined them, sitting between Aomine and Momoi. The mention of Nakano's name rarely came out in the open before. It must mean something.

Blinking a couple of times, Kuroko stared back at Sakai, who calmly breathed. Momoi was the one to question, "You know Nakano, Sakai-chan?"

Nodding twice, Sakai gestured to Kuroko. "Please, show it to Tomi-chan, Kuro-kun," she requested.

It appeared like Kuroko had no idea what she was talking about. Aomine spoke just when Kuroko reached into his pocket. "Give what?" Aomine rudely eyed the blonde. Kuroko handed a metal piece out, displaying it on the table. "Oh," Aomine now stared at the object.

Kagami leaned in. "Are... those words on it?" he asked, noticing a sentence that was cut off of some sort.

Right away, Tomimura recognized the handwriting. As if it was urgent, which it was, she immediately asked, "Kuroko, where did you find this?"

He blinked. And Momoi turned to her, "Hayato told us to keep it safe. What is this, Tomimura-chan? Do you know what this means?" She had always wondered about because Hayato never told them anything. Whatever it was, it couldn't be good.

"Hayato?" Sakai squinted her eyes, dismissing Momoi's question first. "Who's Hayato?"

"What this, seriously?" Kagami pointed to the metal piece, looking around at the girls.

Aomine picked it up and looked at it, wondering what it was too. "I see some rust," he noted with an blank expression. Sakai took it from him and placed it back on the table.

"Okay, first of all," Tomimura directed her voice to Kuroko. "Someone named Hayato gave you this? Where?"

Finally being able to talk, he answered, "Back home, Tokyo. It was only four days ago."

Momoi nodded as Sakai and Tomimura were shock about the short amount of time. "I was there too," Momoi soon briefed. "We don't know who Hayato is, but he entrusted Kuroko with this. He said he would come back after a month to retrieve it."

"Hayato...?" Sakai rubbed her chin. She begun to feel she heard a name like that before. Not really a common name, but she definitely heard it somewhere. Or from someone.

Kagami now gave Momoi a concerned look, "Why would this Hayato give it to Kuroko? How did you two even meet him?"

Both Kuroko and Momoi glanced at each other. They can't possibly mention Hayato had wanted Momoi to come with him and that he punched Kuroko before. This would only distract them from Nakano.

Catching their faces, Aomine demanded with an light glare, "You better tell us what exactly happened, Tetsu." Tomimura and Sakai were even directly staring at Kuroko as well.

Still puzzled, Kagami asked, "And who's Nakano? What's going on?! Does it have something to do with the Game?" These words slipped out from nowhere. Even his eyes widened. Sakai and Tomimura fell silent. They fixed their eyes at Kagami, thinking where he heard about it. Kagami nervously swallowed his saliva. Since he already brought it up, he told in a low voice, "I... Yeah, I know about it. ...And how Yamauchi died."

"Oh, Kagami-kun," Sakai's eyes saddened. She patted on his shoulder and he avoided her gaze. At the back of her mind, Rinki demanded how he even learned about the truth of Yamauchi's death. Sakai wasn't concerned of that, however. "Then... this means you guys should know too." Sakai now gave Tomimura a concerned face. "Should we, Tomi-chan?"

Momoi was the only one who was unaware of what they were talking about. From one another, she instantly knew they were hiding secrets. "What is it that we should know about?" Momoi asked, clasping her hands together on her lap. "Tomimura-chan? Sakai-chan? Don't leave me in the shadows, everyone."

Silently, Tomimura observed at the others. Aomine and Kuroko looked like they knew a little about the Game, given the serious look on their faces. Bearing in mind about the Boss's recent message, Tomimura sent a nod to Sakai. "Tell them, Sakai," Tomimura considerably approved. The blonde almost trembled at the decision. They both knew Nakano's case was never to bring up. "I mean... it looks like Nakano left a message here... written on this piece of metal that belonged to one of her twin guns."

"Guns?" Momoi stopped breathing. Just how deep was this talk become? Was this why Hayato did not want to involve her and Kuroko of? It was slowly coming together now. And yet, Momoi understood this was just the beginning. There was more, she just know it. "Come to think of it, Hayato said he went through the trouble in finding this."

Tomimura, next to the pink head, asked, "I know we're not getting on track where this conversation is going... but who's Hayato?" Momoi shrugged. Over to Kuroko, he shrugged too.

"Oh!" Sakai shouted, nearly jumping up from the ground.

"What?" Kagami raised his voice a little, hoping it was something significant. He hoped with all his might that it wasn't something like she left the water running at home.

Sakai covered her mouth, nervously lowering her eyes. "Hayato, right?" she confirmed it with herself. "Muyoku Hayato?"

"Do you know him?" Kuroko questioned. His face was showing more interest at this point.

She shook her head, "No, but... an old friend of mine... and Nakano-chan's..." Lifting up her chin, she firmly said, "Her name was Kato Hanako. Along with Nakano-chan, she was one of the first three Bullets when the Game was first created six years ago."

Slightly shocked, Tomimura was surprised to learn about this. Not once did anyone made a reference from the very beginning of the Game. "And what does Kato Hanako have to do with...?" Tomimura hoped her friend would continue.

"Kato-chan," Sakai's voice nearly broke. "Well... she mentioned her best friend was Hayato. That's all I can remember. I never seen him before either."

Aomine made a weird face, "So, what? You shouted just because of that?"

"And there's another thing I should say," Sakai ignored the blue head. She tried to sit more comfortably, but she just couldn't. "The Silver Blade was the one who killed Kato-chan, who must be Hayato's best friend."

"Killed?" Momoi slightly backed away. She was even more horrified now. Guns and killing. Just who are these girls? And what kind of game did they mean earlier?

Eagerly, Kagami urged, "How did the Game came to be, Sakai? Why did it even exist?"

Kuroko directly looked to Sakai, who was unsure. "I don't know how and why there's such a Game," she replied ruefully.

"Then what, you thought it was fun?" Aomine glared. "Why would you, Moto, and the others even think about playing that so-called Game? Are you girls out of your minds?"

Sakai glared right back, "That's none of your business, Ao-kun."

"Don't call me that."

"Kuroko!" Tomimura raised her voice over them, desiring to get back to the topic at hand. "So, all you know is Hayato gave you this. Nothing more?"

The Phantom Man nodded firmly, "Yes."

Quickly, Momoi added, "We also think Kasamatsu-kun have something to do with this."

"Really?" Kagami's eyes popped at her. "Why do you say that?"

"Yukio is his given name, Kagamin," Momoi reminded, looking pass Kuroko to the redhead. "What else could it be?" Kagami blinked, nodding at what she said. He would have never thought of that since he doesn't even know Kasamatsu's given name.

Sakai gave Aomine one last glare before saying to Tomimura, "I think it's Kasamatsu too. Should we give him a call then? Who has his number?"

"Kise, duh," Aomine rolled his eyes. He still wanted to know why these girls joined the Game in the first place. Crazy, little girls must be extremely stupid. "I'll give Kise a call right now."

"Wait," Tomimura told him. The bluehead still took out his phone and held it closely. "...We can't involve more people like Kasamatsu-senpai. We don't even have any idea if he actually knows anything. Nakano would have never told him too."

Momoi nodded, "There's another thing too." She gently reached for the metal piece and showed, "There's another part to this sentence. We must find the other piece to complete it."

"True..." Kuroko stared at Nakano's handwriting. He could tell she must have been in a hurry to write, but was still carefully written. Was she prepared what may have had happened to her? And then leave this message?

"We don't have the other piece though," Sakai countered Momoi's statement.

"Yeah, just call Kise," Aomine agreed.

Sakai gave him a thumps up.

"No, we can't," Tomimura narrowed her eyes at the two, who now sided with each other. "Don't forget, Boss didn't want us to talk about Nakano." Sakai now seemed convinced about it and sat quietly. "I don't know if it's true that the Boss have spies 'everywhere', but if we're going to ask Kise and Kasamatsu..."

"Let's do it secretly then," Kagami shrugged. Quickly, he added, "Let's go and find Kise now, if you girls worry that your BOSS will overhear your talk on the phone."

Momoi and Tomimura thought about it whereas Kuroko nodded. "That's a good idea," he said. "This way, we won't alert the enemy."

"Enemy?" Aomine peered at him.

"It's an expression," Kuroko defended his choice of words.

Sakai reached out to Momoi, who had the metal. The pinkhead handed it to her and Sakai decided without a thought, "I'll hold onto this then. Is that fine, Kuro-kun?" It probably would be safer if it was with her. Because if it was in the hands of Kuroko, who knows what could occur?

"But Sakai-san," Kuroko's eyes showed concern. "Moments ago, you and Tomimura-san noted Nakano must never to discussed." She was taken back, he was right. He raised out his palm and suggested, "It's best if I continue to keep it, do you not think so?"

Kagami blinked, "Kuroko's right about that. I mean, no one is going to notice him anyway."

"Ah, true," Aomine nodded rather confidently.

"Well..." the blonde lowered her eyes. Tomimura gazed to her friend and Sakai smiled at Kuroko. "Alright, keep it safe, Kuro-kun. Thank you." The object then was returned to him.

During their exchange, Momoi had quick thought. She remarked out loud, "Why can't you girls talk about Nakano openly?" They turned their attention to her, who was rubbing her chin. "Did she do something wrong that your Boss said not to talk about her?"

"We don't know," Sakai replied, feeling herself getting a headache. "Our Boss's face was pale when he told us to keep it a secret. I mean, I still don't know what happened to her."

Kuroko looked over to Tomimura, who added, "The only fact is that she was killed outside the Game. It must have had something to do with the Blades and their ruthless Boss."

Now was the good time. Aomine pointed to Tomimura and then at Sakai. "I am still demanding an answer about the Game," he narrowed his eyes. Momoi pouted at him. The least he could do was ask nicely. After all, this wasn't a light topic. "What kind of Bosses would make you girls, who all agreed to be a part of, kill the heck of each other?"

Sakai stood up, fixing her hair behind her. "Tomi-chan can explain," she pushed the question aside. "I have to go somewhere else right now."

"Eh?" Kagami's eyes widened at her. "You're leaving already?"

Covering up the guilt for leaving them hanging, she grinned, "I'm a busy girl who got things to tend to." Winking over to Tomimura, she encouraged, "Fill them very little detail, Tomi-chan! I leave it to you!" At the same time she was exiting the room, she took out her phone and dialed away. 'I'm worried about Liú Wěi and the others too,' she hurried with that thought.

Tomimura frowned as the blonde rushed out the door. Sighing, feeling Aomine and Kagami's eyes gluing to her, she leaned over to the table in front of her. "...Okay then," she closed one of her eyes. She could no longer keep the secret in the dark. They were sincerely curious. Not only that, they were worried too since they knew all of the girls. Tomimura sighed yet again, "Where to begin...?"

Kagami tensed up, but was determined to learn more. The others stared at Tomimura as closely as possible and her face went dry.

"Let's see..." she slowly watched at one to another. "How did you guys hear about this?"

Aomine quickly answered, "From Moto's brother."

She raised her head a little. "...Oma?" He nodded, looking rather unsure. She frowned and rubbed her face. "That must have been a bad experience. He has hated Moto for a while now."

Momoi glanced to Aomine oddly, but only gaze onto Tomimura. Aomine shrugged, "I could have taken him."

Sitting up straight, Tomimura looked to Momoi next to her. "What about you?" she inquired. "How did you hear about the Game?"

"Just now," she answered with an upside down smile. She really felt left out.

Nodding lightly, Tomimura turned her eyes to Kuroko. "Kagami-kun and Kise-kun," he told her. "Yesterday, actually. Back at Yamauchi-san's place."

Becoming more concerned, Tomimura gave Kagami a frown. He gulped and rubbed the back of his head. "And you, Kagami? Who told you?" She could not think of anyone else who could have told him. There was no way her friends would even tell the truth about Yamauchi either. They all were clearly aware that it would only hurt him.

He lowered his eyes for a moment, but stared back at her. "I think her name was... Honda," he tried to recall at the back of his mind. Everyone raised an eyebrow to the unfamiliar name. "When she told me... it was back when Yamauchi died."

"Honda?" Momoi blinked.

Kagami found himself hard to breathe. Being reminded of that day, the time when he heard about Yamauchi's death through the phone was still carved in his heart. "Honda's a Blade," he also remembered.

"A Blade?" Tomimura's eyes widened, completely surprised. "You were in contact with a girl of the Blades, Kagami?"

"What does 'Blade' mean here?" Aomine was quick to ask once again. "Kise did say something about Bullets and Blades when we were at Yama-something's house. Like, guns and knives, right?"

"And that the Game takes place every year," Kuroko faced Tomimura.

For a few seconds, Tomimura gave them all a strange look. Judging by what she was hearing, what was the point in filling them in? Shaking her head, she said, "I assume Kise told you guys everything. Let's stop going over this crap."

"But," Aomine nearly slammed the table with his fist.

"For most people," Tomimura spoke loudly. "I'd imagine that you guys wouldn't even try to talk about it."

"Why wouldn't we?" Aomine started to glare.

She glared right back, "Really, you're all concerned about us?"

"Of course!" Momoi daringly raised her voice. In turn, Tomimura flinched at her sudden tone. "We're friends! We should be asking why, you, Tomimura-chan, would even come out and tell us. This just means we're friends. And I know for certain, that you want us to save you and the other girls."

Tomimura blinked and denied, "That's not true."

"Yes, it is," Momoi pouted.

"We're not asking to be saved," Tomimura narrowed her eyes. Before Momoi could respond, Tomimura told her, "Not me anyway."

Hurt, Momoi's mouth was just left ajar.

"Then you must be out of your mind!" Aomine yelled with an irritated scowl.

"Aomine-kun," Kuroko called, hoping to calm him down with a few more words.

Tomimura gritted her teeth and stood up, returning the fierce look at Aomine. "Sure, I'm out of my mind," she said, calmly however. "So what if Momoi said is half true for some of the girls. I don't know. But there's nothing you guys can do to save anyone in this Game. Face the facts. We voluntarily signed up for this and there's no turning back."

Feeling the atmosphere getting worst, Kuroko observed Aomine first. He looked like he was going to expression more anger than concern. At Momoi and Kagami, they both looked dejected. Kuroko narrowed his own eyes and stood up. Everybody looked at him, who directly leveled his eyes with Tomimura.

"It's okay to turn back," Kuroko assured. Tomimura softened her glare, but didn't take in his words. "It's okay, Tomimura. You should have more faith in yourself. And in us."

Momoi smiled almost sadly at the hands on her lap and Aomine noted her expression. "Satsuki is fond of you girls, don't you get it?" Aomine said, looking the other way. "You shouldn't say anything like you don't want to be saved."

While Momoi simply shifted her body, Tomimura took a step back. "...I think we're done here," Tomimura still disregarded them. This was how she felt and she was not going to apologize. "Excuse me, I'm going to go out for a stroll."

Just as she started to walk around them, Kagami muttered as his eyes lowered, "If I had the chance, I would have tried to save Yamauchi." Tomimura paused at the front door and didn't raise her hand to touch the knob. Her eyes only grew cold, staring at nowhere. Kagami held back tears and said no more. There was no need to say any more. Yamauchi was already gone.

Tomimura slightly looked over her shoulder. They all were still seated, becoming silent. "...Kagami, I admit the Game is wrong now," she told him. He still had an emotional look in his eyes. She didn't want to say it, however he needed to know. "But I never regretted my decision. Not once. My hands are already stained. And I'm not turning back."

As she opened the door, Kuroko raised his head and watched her walk out steadily. Kuroko could tell she meant it. There was not even the slight hesitation. When the door closed without her locking it, Kuroko turned his view to the others. "...I think she wants to die," he naturally commented.

"What?" Aomine's mouth dropped at him.

"I didn't mean it so casually," Kuroko lowered his own eyes. Their mood was affecting him and he didn't know what to do to help them or the girls. "It's just that... what else could it be? Tomimura means everything she says. It sounds... too suicidal."

The room was quiet. There was nothing more to exchange.

Kagami closed his eyes and took a deep breath. 'There has to be something we can do,' he hoped. He didn't know what, though. He only understood there had to be at least one way to save Yamauchi's friends. Two, at least.

For a little while, Aomine had noticed Momoi's head was still down. So, he fully turned to her to console her. Just then, he realized she was texting and sent it. "Satsuki, who were you messaging?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. For her to do that at such a time, was it important?

Momoi smiled a little, her heart still racing from Tomimura's words. She never answered Aomine and sat quietly, using her head to think about all of this. 'Hayato never wanted us to get involved,' she processed her thoughts. 'But we already are.'

She was very certain they could do something supportive. No matter what Tomimura said, Momoi refused to believe her. Not as long as Tomimura had people she truly cared about.

~o~o~

Back at the hospital, Midorima had sat down on a chair with a sweat coming down his face. Takao was shocked out of his mind, sitting on the bed with the blankets over his legs. Seki, who had told them everything, was standing in the middle of the room. She simply addressed to how the Game took place every year. Blades and Bullets, girls who kill each other for the fun of it. How their deaths were covered up through the two Bosses' connections. Things like that sort.

"Seki-chan," Takao tried to find his voice. She eyed him and he staring at his hand on his leg. "...Don't tell me you find it fun to kill."

She was afraid to answer. But this was a part of her and she shouldn't hide it. "Well," she pushed up her pink glasses. "I simply wanted to shoulder the burden of taking a life. It makes me feel different from everyone."

"Being a murderer doesn't make you any different from other scumbags," Midorima harshly remarked with a low tone.

Smiling to herself, she was sorry to hear that. "If you guys think of me as a murderer, then that's fine," she shrugged. "We don't have to be friends. Just don't get too nosy about the Game from here."

As her footsteps were heard, Takao quickly looked up, "Seki."

"I'm leaving," she said, heading toward the door. "I have to go and take care of things today. I hope your family comes and visit you, Takao. See you. "

Even now, Takao was at loss of words. He merely watched her go until she closed the door on them. He then turned his gaze to the greenhead, who had leaned forward with his elbows on his legs. "Shin-chan..." he quietly called, wanting someone to talk to.

Though, it was very obvious. Midorima was not going to talk like this. The dead look in his eyes... He seemed mad. There were even confusion and concern in those green eyes. So, Takao waited patiently as they both were drowned in their own train of thoughts. They even pictured the possible danger in the near future for these girls. It worried them more than Seki ever would.

~o~o~

In the heat, Akashi was tending to the horses at the large stable, which was located further behind the small mansion. He was brushing a golden-brown horse's back and later giving it water. The workers were also around and could do nothing but let Akashi work with them.

While he was working, he kept noticing the scar on his left forearm. It was done by Ginmori, the day when she suddenly came to attack his father in the house. He kept remembering it now because his friends, the Uncrowned Kings, were prying about it. This was during the time when he invited Katsuo to meet them and train up his basketball skills.

Unlike Kuroko and the others, they never asked about Akashi's scar. They either never saw it or just never thought too much about it.

'Father did not want me to ask about Ginmori,' Akashi recalled, heading outside to find the water hose.

These pass few hours, Akashi begun to decide to ask him this time. The only reason Akashi did not ask before was because his father wanted to know about the girls he had been with. Thus, if Akashi told his father about the Game, then he will find out about why Ginmori barged into their residence.

He trusted his father will not tell a soul about the Game. That was the kind of man he was. Normally.

"Young Master," a maid called. Akashi stopped walking, nearly where the water hose was at. He made a slight turn as the maid with brown hair approached him with his phone. "You received a text message," she bowed forward.

Having already washed his hands, he gently took it from her. He opened it up and viewed it. "From Satsuki?" he blinked. She would only call or text when it was important. He wondered what happened and clicked to read what she wrote.

Knowing you, Akashi-kun, I am sure that you have heard of the Game. Please talk some sense into Tomimura-chan. That was all Momoi wrote.

He stared at it for some time as the maid assumed he would return the phone and go back to work. However, he closed it and put it in his pocket. He glanced to the maid, "I'm heading to Kanagawa." He rather go there and to call anyone regarding the message.

"Eh?" the maid stood where she was, confused.

As if it was urgent, Akashi rushed himself. "What happened?" he asked himself. And how did Momoi come to learn about the Game?

Upon entering through the back door of the mansion, Akashi made his way through the halls to get to the stairs. He caught a glimpse of his father in one of his study rooms and paused.

"Is something the matter, Seijuurou?" his father, Ichirou, noticed him from his chair.

Akashi evened his breathing from walking fast a minute ago and turned back. He stepped into the room and saw there was no one else around. "Father," he begun, walking further into the room.

With the book in hand, Ichirou brought it down on the desk. Seeing how serious his son was appearing, he watched his son simply taking the seat across from him. "Yes?" Ichirou asked.

"I want to know more about that woman," Akashi went straight to the point. "The intruder who entered our house and tried to kill you."

"Oh?" Ichirou now closed his book. Akashi was sitting up straight, giving all of his attention to his father. "Then that means you're going to tell me what was wrong with those girls you have been with recently?" Ichirou inquired, rather interested himself. It was a matter he had been nervous all this time, especially for his son.

"Her name is Ginmori, if I'm not mistaken," Akashi said.

"Her real name is Akimori Aimi, Seijuurou," his father specified. Akashi did not blink once and let him continue. As Ichirou leaned back on his chair, his fingers intertwined with each other in front of him. "Your turn."

Akashi raised an eyebrow at him. "You are not going to tell me more?"

His father nodded. "I trust you will not tell lies," he said. "However... let us call it 'upfront payment' as an insurance." Akashi was quiet for a few seconds and Ichirou shrugged. "You were the one to ask me first. And all I ask for, right now, is who those girls really are. A couple of words is acceptable. Then we can exchange more information. ...That is, if you are extremely curious about Aimi."

Even with the slightest curiosity he had, Akashi was not certain which part about the girls he should tell first. Perhaps making is simple would be best. Choosing what he say, he kept his eye contact with his father. "They play a 'Game' that takes other people's lives."

Before reacting, Ichirou was observing his son's expression. For such a grave issue, Akashi was rather too calm about it. His eyes never once wavered since he entered the room. Ichirou then nodded, "I see. It sounds disturbing. Have you reported it to the police?"

"I can't," Akashi answered. His father sat uncomfortably, ready to discuss further of such topic. "If I gave them away, who knows what their futures will hold for them?"

Finally, Ichirou saw a spark of emotion. Akashi truly was thinking of these girls from the bottom of his heart. "Even so, taking lives is against morals. You know that, Seijuurou."

"I do, Father," he said, his eyes slightly glowing. "Yet, if you think of it this way: the girls may have wanted to do this themselves. There is no one to blame for killing each other. I do not believe they are at fault."

Ichirou frowned from what he was hearing. "Tell me you're not supporting them on this," he hoped. Akashi shook his head 'no'. "That is good to know, at the very least," his father sighed with relief.

"I have told you more than enough," Akashi switched the topic. "Tell me why Ginmori was aiming to take your life, Father."

This time, it was Ichirou's turn to think where he should begin. There was a chuckle and uncertainties on his face. "It's only fair," he murmured to himself. Akashi finally blinked and was patient. Formally, Ichirou straightened himself up and gave his son a 'fatherly' expression. "Seijuurou... how would you feel if I told you that you have a half-sister?"

Akashi's eyes slightly widened at his question. Or was it a statement? He had forgotten already as he kept asking himself, 'Half-sister?'

Was his father saying that Ginmori was his half-sister? That woman with silver hair? That woman who left a scar on his forearm? That woman... who tried to kill his father? Ginmori was a complicated person. Just how was his father going to explain everything that happened up until now?

Thanks for reading!