Okay, so no ghostly pranks in this one, but next time, kk? ^^ but a lil tiny bit of AkaKuro fluff to hopefully make up for it~ *heart*

"When my mother died, I could still feel her for a long time."

Kise blinked, looking up from his textbook to find Akashi sitting atop the table, staring at him seemingly disinterestedly. The blonde sighed, pushing the book aside. He sat back so that he could look at the redhead without straining his neck.

"Is this where I'm supposed to say I can feel Aomine-cchi, Akashi-cchi?"

The redhead merely looked away, crimson eyes scanning the shelves of books around them. "No, I know you do. That's why you randomly start crying in class sometimes. And even practice."

Kise stilled, staring at his friend. "You think you know everything, don't you?"

He glanced at him from the corner of his eye. "On the contrary. I have no idea what I'm doing right now."

The blonde's brows knitted together as he tried to understand Akashi's words. "What are you trying to do?"

Sighing, the redhead turned back to face Kise directly. "I'm trying to tell you that Daiki is still here. I'm trying to be considerate of your feelings as well, but I'm failing horribly, and I don't like it."

Kise blinked up at him, golden eyes widened to their fullest extent. It wasn't long before tears were streaming down his face once more, his head buried in his hands as he choked on his own sobs.

Akashi sighed before noticing a figure making its way over to them. He looked up to find an old woman, glasses perched atop her nose and scowl in place.

"This is a library, boys. No sitting on the table, and-" She paused, brows crinkling as she took in Kise's appearance. "Er, no crying?"

Akashi hopped off the table, smiling apologetically. "My apologies, ma'am. I'll take care of him."

The woman nodded and walked away slowly, still watching the scene over her shoulder as Akashi helped Kise out of the room.

XXX

It was just before practice began that Midorima confronted Akashi, a grim scowl on his face.

"Akashi, what have you done to Kise?"

The redhead looked up at him for merely a moment before returning his gaze to his untied shoes. "I don't know what you mean, Shintaro."

"Oha Asa said that someone close would make a Gemini cry today. You are the only one that has seen Kise all day, and he's obviously been crying."

A small, inaudible sigh passed through Akashi's lips. "I had a simple talk with him."

"About Aomine?"

The redhead didn't answer, focusing solely on his shoes as he finished tying their laces.

"Akashi, you know I'm not one to question you, or defy you in any way." The green haired boy pushed his glasses up, his matching eyes darkening dangerously. "But if you continue to make Kise cry, I will have to put an end to it."

Akashi looked up at the taller boy with a blank expression. Normally, he would be quick to put Midorima back in his place, but he simply didn't feel like doing so today. He sighed. "Of course you will. I assume if you're talking to me then you're prepared for practice?"

Midorima stared at him in silence for another moment before turning away and heading to the gym. Akashi watched him leave, surprised that Midorima had even spoken up in Kise's defense. Despite the situation, he had to smile at that.

XXX

That evening, Akashi lounged about in his room, Aomine lying beside him whilst Kuroko sat cross-legged on the floor. The dark skinned ghost and redhead were deep in conversation, reminiscing their times with their friends.

"Shintaro's face was priceless when he realized Atsushi had eaten his lucky candy bar."

Aomine laughed heartily, nodding. "Ah, it was great! And that one time I put pink hair dye in Murasakibara's shampoo?"

"He didn't seem fazed at all."

"I know, but he looked hilarious!"

The two boys shared another laugh, unusual for both of them, before Akashi turned his crimson eyes to the floor. His laugh died on his lips as he noticed Kuroko's distant expression.

"Kuroko?"

The bluenette blinked, looking back up to him. "Oh, sorry. I was thinking."

Aomine's brows furrowed as he flipped over onto his stomach, looking down at his new friend. "Oi, don't tell me you're jealous of our stories," he said. "Akashi usually won't shut up about you."

Kuroko smiled softly, but it didn't reach his eyes. He shook his head. "No, that's not it."

Akashi frowned, reaching out to lightly stroke the ghost's cold cheek. "What is it, then, love?"

The bluenette's ghostly cheeks brightened slightly as he looked away. "It's just that… We're close, aren't we, Akashi?"

The redhead blinked. "Of course, Kuroko." He watched as the slightly smaller male flinched at his name, and he suddenly knew where this was going.

"So, why.. Why do you call me Kuroko?"

Akashi smiled, a light laugh on his lips. Kuroko turned his gaze back to him at the sound, worried that Akashi was making fun of him. "I call you Kuroko out of respect. I wasn't sure you wanted me to call you by your given name, Tetsuya."

Kuroko shivered at the sound of his name on Akashi's tongue, his cheeks burning brighter. "O-oh…"

"Oi, get a room!" Aomine groaned.

Akashi laughed softly as a smirk grew onto his lips. "First off, this is my room. And also~ Tetsuya~" His smirk grew with Kuroko's blush. "We should definitely try that sometime. A more intimate interaction, I mean."

"A-Akashi!"

He grinned, reaching a finger out to shush the bluenette. "If I call you Tetsuya, you have to call me Seijuro."

Kuroko's cheeks were now redder than Akashi's hair. "S-Seijuro…"

He smiled. "That's better."