Chapter 7: My Little Problem

Summary: In which Furihata hides under a bar table.

There is something tickling his cheek.

Furihata, still half-asleep with his eyes closed, frowns and tries to roll away but that 'something' follows him, the touch becoming firmer on his face. Furihata grumbles in complaint, drowsily trying to swat away whatever it is that is bothering him, but all that does is earn him a sharp pinch on his other cheek instead.

"Hnnn-" Furihata whines, almost childishly, pulling the duvet covers over his head to escape from the disturbance. It works, and Furihata sighs in relief as his cheeks are finally left in peace.

It takes a full minute before Furihata notices that someone is chuckling beside him.

"Huh…?" He slowly peeks from beneath the duvet, eyes half-lidded as they try to adjust to the morning light.

"Good morning, Kouki," Akashi Seijuuro greets him from the side of the bed with an amused expression.

"Akashi-kun-!" Furihata's eyes fly wide open, instantaneously awake and he springs up into a sitting position as he quickly realizes where he is. "Um, w-what time is it?"

"A few minutes until eight. Relax, Kouki, you have about an hour until you're meant to meet with your students," Akashi leans closer to inspect Furihata's face with too-wide red orbs, "You're feeling better?"

"Ah- um, yes. Much better, thank you," Furihata nods, self consciously bringing a hand up to check for any drool he may have at the corners of his lips – internally sighing when there thankfully is none.

"Good," Akashi nods, leaning back in his chair.

"How long-" Furihata yawns and rubs at his eyes, "How long have you been sitting there?"

Akashi raises his brows, not replying.

Furihata turns to look at him inquisitively, "Akashi-kun?"

Akashi stands, a serene smile on his lips. "I'll go fetch you a glass of water. It's good to drink right after you wake up."

Furihata watches him go, frowning as he wonders exactly how long Akashi has been watching him. He couldn't have possibly watched over him all night, could he? Oh no, what if Akashi was watching him and he was snoring? That would be embarrassing. But if Akashi hasn't been watching him then where did he sleep? Hopefully not on the chair, Furihata will never get over the guilt if he made Akashi sleep in an uncomfortable chair by stealing his bed. But if not the chair then…

Furihata stares at the space on the bed beside him, but the whole bed was too messy to determine whether or not someone else has been sleeping there. Curious, Furihata picks up the pillow next to him and brings it to his nose, breathing in. The scent of sandalwood and spice and something fresh and uniquely Akashi touches his nose – but then again, the whole bed smells like Akashi so it doesn't really mean that Akashi has slept-

"What are you doing, Kouki?" Akashi blinks at him from the bathroom door, a glass of water in his hand.

"Nothing!" Furihata hurriedly puts the pillow down and smiles sheepishly. He sincere hopes Akashi doesn't think he's some sort of weirdo stalker sniffing around his pillows – which, admittedly, is exactly what Furihata was doing, but it's not like that.

"I see," Akashi nods.

'See'? See what? Furihata is feeling slightly flustered at this point and doesn't really know why. He thought he's over the whole awkward stuttering phase in high school, but apparently not. Something in the way Akashi's intensely red eyes looks at him just brings out the gawky teenager all over again. From the excessively clumsy first meeting, to getting so drunk he had to be carried back to bed, to fainting in the onsen and having to be carried to bed again… Akashi's impression of him must be disastrous.

And it strikes Furihata then that he actually cares a whole lot what Akashi thinks of him. Of course he does. After not meeting someone for so long, all anyone wants is to leave a good impression – but Furihata is slowly recognizing that, maybe, he cares a little more than to be expected. Perhaps it's because Akashi is technically his very first student, and his most memorable one at that; or because Akashi is Akashi with his impressive portfolio of achievements that is impossible to compete with.

Whatever it is, Furihata just doesn't want to- disappoint him, he supposes. Not when Akashi – the perfect, outstanding individual that he is – looks at him the way he does.

Fondly. Appreciatively. Like Furihata is his favourite person in the entire planet. Like no one else can be as special. Which Furihata finds both bizarre and exhilarating at the same time.

Even now, those crimson eyes are looking at him with a depth that makes Furihata's head feel all fuzzy and strange.

"Here, have a drink," Akashi offers him a glass of water.

Their fingers brush when Furihata reaches to take the glass from him, causing both of them to pause. Furihata's eyes flit up to meet Akashi's then, and the sheer intensity of his gaze forces Furihata to look away.

Akashi's fingers linger just a millisecond longer than necessary before he lets go and the fuzzy and strange feeling spreads to Furihata's chest, a lurch behind his sternum.

"T-thank you," Furihata says, and is surprised at how small his voice comes out. He takes a sip of water, keeping his eyes downwards and anywhere but Akashi's face.

Akashi watches him; is staring at him. Furihata doesn't even need to look at him to know. It's almost like he can physically sense Akashi's gaze burning his skin right through him.

"You've always done that," Furihata murmurs quietly, almost to himself.

Akashi tilts his head, "Done what?"

"Stare," Furihata fiddles with his fingers, "Maybe it's just the way Akashi-kun's eyes works, but even when you were little you'd always stare."

Akashi considers this. "Some of my teammates have told me that, too."

"Oh?" Furihata inquires, still not looking up.

"They tell me I stare at people like I'm about to murder them." Akashi says, flatly.

"E-eh?"

"And that it's not very nice."

"W-well, I suppose it wouldn't be-"

"But it's not the same with you."

Furihata does look up, then. "No?"

Akashi's red orbs are dead-set on him, his pupils wider and deeper than Furihata has seen before – bottomless, like looking down into a wine-coloured ocean. "No, it's not the same at all."

Furihata swallows. "H-how so?"

"I don't usually stare. More often it is that I am merely observing, taking in the minor details of a particular subject. It's a common misinterpretation. I am aware my eyes can have that effect. But when I do actually stare, it is with purpose – to intimidate, for example, or to ensure my point gets across." Akashi muses, before letting his gaze fall back on Furihata once again, "You, however, are an exception."

Furihata wants to look away but he can't. Akashi's eyes have him locked, like a butterfly caught in a spider's web, and he is unable to escape.

"I admit I do stare at you, but it is not for those aforementioned reasons."

Then why? Furihata is desperate to know but too afraid to ask.

Akashi smiles, a small quirk of his lips that is both sly and yet manages to be insanely attractive at the same time, "I suppose you can say that my eyes crave you."

Furihata's heart flipped. His brain temporarily short-circuits and he blinks rapidly, not processing the information. "W-wha-?"

"It's been ten years, Kouki," Akashi slowly reaches towards him with one hand, "Ten years and far too long. Is it really so baffling that I have an insatiable need to look at you, to reacquaint my sight to you, to rememorize all the details of you as much as possible?"

Akashi's hand is closing in on his face, now, his fingers opening like a claw – and for one absurd moment Furihata thinks Akashi might clasp his neck and choke him with how intently he is looking at him. But Furihata resists the urge to flinch away. Or, rather, he is trapped and physically cannot move even if he wants to.

"My eyes are starved of your sight and it's your fault," The hand closes in and Akashi pinches Furihata's cheek – a familiar punishment from long ago. "Take responsibility, Kouki."

And all of a sudden Furihata feels just as woozy and lightheaded as he has been in the onsen all over again. Only worse.

Only this time he knows for certain that it is not the heat of the water that is making him breathless.

Furihata Kouki is avoiding him.

Akashi doesn't know why – which is frustrating, because Akashi is practically omniscient and always knows why – but he is sure of it. It's been one whole day after the night Furihata stayed over in his room and Akashi haven't seen the slightest glimpse of Furihata since he left.

It isn't like Furihata is completely shutting him out, either. He still picks up Akashi's calls but only to politely decline Akashi's plans to meet up, giving this excuse and that about him being busy with the students' expedition before quickly excusing himself. Too quickly. Furihata's stuttering is also particularly bad during these phone calls. Too obvious. Does he really think Akashi won't be able to tell?

The issue is that Akashi has no clue what brought on this avoidance. Furihata had seemed fine the morning after the sleepover – more than fine, actually. Akashi had woken him up, just as he promised, and the atmosphere between them was nothing but warm and pleasant; with too-long lingering eye contact at the door that made Akashi want to pull Furihata right back inside and never let him go anywhere out of sight.

And Akashi is positive the look he saw in Furihata's eyes then didn't look like Furihata wanted to leave, either.

So why was he avoiding him now?

"Hm," Akashi taps his index finger impatiently on the breakfast table, ruminating over all the possibilities in his head. He realizes he's over-analyzing, but he cannot stop himself. Akashi hated not knowing. Ever since he was a child it would annoy him to no end whenever someone refused to tell him something or withheld information from him. His father, in particular, is the usual offender.

Furihata, on the other hand, has always been honest. Apart from that one time with the whole leaving for university deal, Furihata never hid anything from him. It was – is – part of why Akashi liked spending so much time with him. For someone who has been raised to be fluent in manipulation, the honesty is like a breath of fresh air.

It is unsurprising, then, that Akashi is not in the best of moods when his favourite brand of fresh air is taken away from him without reason. It bothers him; not only because Akashi cannot figure out what's going on but also because, once again, Furihata is seemingly slipping away from his grasp without warning. And Akashi will be damned if he lets history repeat itself – especially not after ten years of regretting ever letting go of Furihata the first time. The tapping on the table increased in frequency as his mood worsened, his breakfast plate lying untouched before him.

Most of the Generation of Miracles members can sense the storm brooding over their previous Captain from a mile away and kept their distance. Midorima, having been most-exposed to Akashi, senses the danger the moment he enters the restaurant and wisely chooses a table out of Akashi's way – one lucky item and one Takao Kazunari intact, as the shorter boy is stuck to Midorima like a koala to a eucalyptus tree. Which is just as well, because it saves Midorima from having to spend any effort to 'subtly' ensure that Takao is kept safe from the potential eruption.

Kuroko, of course, is observant enough to notice Akashi's sour mood, and makes use of his lack of presence, disappearing away and taking a slightly confused Kagami – plus his massive Mt Everest of a food tray – with him.

Murasakibara, through first-hand experience with Akashi's rage, also takes the hint fairly quickly. He intelligently decides that Midorima is the one to follow in this critical situation and picks a seat on the same table as his green-haired teammate; Himuro by his side and collectively shielded away from Akashi's view with Murasakibara's excessively large frame.

Kise is a little more oblivious than the rest of them and makes the mistake of sitting on the same table as Akashi. Luckily, the blonde pretty-boy is perceptive enough to be able to tell that something is not quite alright with their ex-Captain and has enough sense not to provoke or engage him in conversation.

Unfortunately, in every "most" there is an exception; in this case, one Ace of the Generation of Miracles.

Aomine Daiki is many things – tall, tanned, feral; he's a baseball prodigy already pinned by the NBA to be scouted the second he steps foot out of graduation ceremony – however, reading the atmosphere and self-preservation are regrettably not amongst his more dominant traits.

"Yo, Akashi, what's up with the pissy look? Are you on your period or something?" Aomine casually says, yawning lazily as he seats himself on the same table and starts on his breakfast.

Kise gapes at him, eyes darting rapidly between Aomine and Akashi; whose finger has stopped tapping and is sitting very still. Not a good sign. Aomine fails to notice, being too focused on his food to note how unnervingly silent the restaurant has fallen.

Aomine ignores Kise's little nudges from under the table – it's still too early in the morning and Aomine is honestly starving and, really, they've been pawing at each other all night so Kise can at least wait for Aomine to finish eating to play footsie, damn it. Sure, Kise's hot as hell and Aomine will gladly be all over his sexy blonde ass most occasions, but there's a time and place for everything and right now food is what Aomine's body needs. Priorities.

It doesn't occur to Aomine at all why all of the GoM are staring at him or why everyone is sitting on separate tables. That is, until Kise hushes a panicked "Aominecchi!" at him, elbowing him in the ribcage, and Aomine finally looks up from his breakfast.

"Damn it, Kise, what-" Aomine pauses mid-sentence when he meets Akashi's blood red glare smack-bang straight on.

Akashi is smiling, but it doesn't touch his eyes.

And Aomine shudders, because he recognizes the smile. It's the kind of peaceful, poised smile Akashi does right before he stabs someone in the eyeball with a pair of scissors.

"Care to repeat what you've just said to me?" Akashi says, voice the epitome of serenity. However, the golden glint in his left eye is anything but reassuring. "Daiki?"

Aomine swallows.

Shit.

"Rest in peace, Aomine-kun." Kuroko murmurs solemnly from afar.

Furihata Kouki has a little problem.

Or, more accurately, his problem used to be little – very little, in fact, so little that the problem's head used to only be around Furihata's hip and adorably couldn't reach door bells and had to stand on crates to peek into windows with abnormally large red eyes.

But now, the previously little problem – which didn't use to be a problem at all – has grown. It has grown into this mature, fully-developed manly man of a problem with the smoothest voice and a handsome smile and an addictive scent that makes Furihata's head spin and he has completely no idea what to do with himself.

Because this problem goes by the name of Akashi Seijuuro. The Akashi Seijuuro who is not only impossibly talented, practically a genius, and miles and miles out of his league; but who is also ten years Furihata's junior, and male, and barely legal, and has a bright and shining future ahead of him, and yet he looks at Furihata like he's the freaking sun and it makes Furihata go all jittery and gloopy inside and- and Furihata absolutely cannot have a crushon a child he raised, for heaven's sake.

But he does.

There's no use denying it. Furihata is twenty-eight and has lived long enough and has experienced enough to recognize his feelings for the beginnings of what they are. He is not about to go around fooling himself like some naïve teenage boy. He's done enough of that back in his early years of university and the experience has been a whole load of cringe-worthy awkwardness Furihata would prefer not to repeat, thank you very much.

Still, admitting to the fact doesn't mean that it's any easier to accept. Or that it's any easier to deal with. But as the mature, twenty-eight years old adult that he is, Furihata is determined to manage the situation in a most composed and sensible manner.

"Furihata-sensei?" His co-worker is looking at him with a peculiar expression.

"Yes, Izuki-sensei?"

"Are you playing hide-and-seek with the students?"

"Eh? No, I'm not." Furihata shakes his head, quizzically, "Why do you ask?"

Izuki raises a brow, looking amused, "…because you're a grown man who's hiding under a bar table?"

Ah- right. About that.

It was during breakfast time and Furihata was just about to leave the restaurant when he spotted Akashi walking in. In a moment of panic, Furihata followed the best plan he could've come up with on the spot – that is, obscuring himself under the nearest large object in his vicinity (in this case, the restaurant's bar table); like a child in trouble hiding away from their parents.

So much for composed and sensible.

"Oh- this? Um." He scans the restaurant thoroughly before eventually crawling out from under the table, brushing off his trousers self-consciously. Furihata's smile is sheepish. "Ano… please let's pretend you've never seen me doing that?"

"Sure," Izuki shrugs, "How long have you been sitting there, though?"

Furihata clears his throat, "Uh… a while."

And by "a while" he means at least an hour since he's last seen Akashi. He just wanted to make sure that Akashi was really gone before he even tries to evacuate – because the only thing worse than failing at avoiding Akashi is to be caught right in the act of it. God, just the thought of that makes Furihata want to bury his head in his hands.

"I have a question." Izuki says as they make their way back to the students. "About the whole hiding under the table thing."

Furihata nods uncertainly, "O-okay. Ask away, sensei."

"Was it something to do with Akashi Seijuuro?"

"Eh?!" Furihata trips over his feet, skittering about three and a half steps before managing to save himself from falling flat on his face. "Um, w-why do you ask?"

Izuki looks like he's trying very hard not to laugh. "Because you just fell for him?"

Furihata's heart drops to his ankles. "W-wha-?"

Izuki blinks at him, "It's a joke. Because you tripped. You know, like, you just fell. Literally."

"Oh." Furihata sighs in relief. "I see."

"And also because I ran into him earlier and he asked about you." Izuki shrugs.

"Wha- wait you- he-" Furihata fumbles for words, "W-what did you say?"

"That you're hiding away from him under a table," Izuki grins.

Furihata's jaw actually drops open.

Izuki bursts out laughing, "I'm kidding! I just found you, remember? I told him I haven't seen you all morning."

"Oh." Furihata lets out a deep exhale, "R-right."

Izuki watches him with knowing eyes, "So it is about Akashi Seijuuro. You're avoiding Akashi Seijuuro."

"Can we please not say his name repeatedly?" Furihata glances around himself cautiously.

"Pfft-" Izuki chuckles, "You're acting like he's some sort of dark lord who'll appear on calling. I thought you two were getting along, what with your daily catch up sessions and all. What happened? Did you piss him off or something? I mean it'd be understandable why you're hiding from him if that's the case. He does have a bit of a reputation, y'know, especially when he was younger."

"Oh, no, it's not like that. We didn't fight or anything," Furihata shakes his head, "What happened when he was younger?"

"Rumour has it he gouged out someone's eyeball," Izuki shrugs casually.

"He did-!" Furihata catches himself when he notices the twinkle in Izuki's eyes. He pouts, "Not funny, senpai."

It's particularly un-funny when it's so easily believable. Furihata doesn't doubt for a second that Akashi is capable of executing a perfectly concealed attack. Even less funny, however, is how Furihata still very much has a crush on Akashi despite acknowledging that.

As if Akashi being male, ten years younger, and being his ex-student don't raise enough red flags; now we have a sprinkle of psychopathic tendencies thrown into the mix as well. Furihata feels the urge to bang his head against the wall.

"Sorry, sorry," Izuki laughs, not looking the least bit sorry. "But, jokes aside, why are you avoiding him?"

"That is-" Furihata rolls in his lips. "It's- complicated."

"Uh-huh." Izuki nods slowly, unconvinced. "Alright, I won't pry. I guess it's good we're leaving today then, so you'll find it easier to avoid him. You know, without having to hide under tables and all."

"You're never going to let that go, aren't you?"

"Nope." Izuki grins.

Furihata sighs, "I'm leaving. The students need some checking up before the bus leaves."

"Aw, don't be mad, Furi-sensei."

"I'm not."

And he isn't. Not at Izuki, anyways. If Furihata's mad at anyone he's mad at himself for being so easily swept away. And maybe he's a little mad at Akashi, too, for simply being too goddamn attractive. And charismatic. And charming and enthralling and far too handsome with those peculiar eyes that Furihata can get lost in for days on end and-

"Ouch-!"

"Whoa!"

-and Furihata is getting so bad he's practically daydreaming about Akashi in the middle of the day and bumping into people because of it. This whole crush ordeal is getting out of control and Furihata has to get ahold of himself. Right now.

"Ah- I'm very sorry! I didn't even see you there," Furihata starts apologizing to the boy he bumped into. He bends down to help gather the belongings that fell out of his bag, pausing momentarily to notice that the boy has a rather strange pale shade of blue hair. It's actually almost the exact opposite of Akashi's hair colour, especially when it gets damp and becomes a darker red, like that time when they were in the onsen together and-

-and Furihata seriously has to stop. Thinking about Akashi's hair and Akashi being half-naked next to him in steamy hot springs is not helping.

"It's alright. It's not your fault." The boy shakes his head, his voice quiet. "This happens to me a lot. I'm used to it."

"Eh? Really?" Furihata blinks. Is there such a thing as being used to being ran into?

"Yes," The boy nods, deadpan. "I've been told I lack presence."

"That's- um, that's kinda mean." Even though Furihata has to admit it's true. He didn't even see the boy until right when they collided.

"It's alright. It's useful in my case, at any rate." He says, as he stuffs the last item back into his bag.

Furihata doesn't really understand what he means by that, but he doesn't get a chance to ask when all of a sudden a dark-haired boy comes bouncing their way and slots himself right in between them.

"Kuroko, there you are! You did that disappearing ghost-like thing again so Shin-chan sent me and my Hawk eyes looking for you," The newcomer casually slings an arm around 'Kuroko's' shoulder before turning to look at Furihata. "Oh, hello, is this someone you know?"

"We've just met, Takao-kun. We bumped into each other just now." Kuroko says.

"Ooh, another one already? That's the third time today! Gotta be some sort of record."

"Ah, it's actually my fault. I bumped into him," Furihata lowers his head apologetically, "Again, I'm really sorry. I've always been awfully clumsy."

"Oh, I wouldn't be too worried. It's common for people to walk into Kuroko – clumsy or otherwise," The boy named 'Takao' says, grinning in a way that strangely reminds Furihata of Izuki. "See, he has this cool invisibility thing going on so people don't generally notice him. Unless they're me, of course, because I have special powers."

"I- I see," Furihata cannot help but ask, "Special powers?"

"Yup. Right here, in my eyes." Takao points at his eyes and winks, "Very special. I'm the only one. Right, Kuroko?"

"Yes," Kuroko replies in monotone, "That is, unless Kise-kun can copy it."

It's almost comical the way the two boys contrast. Takao is like a bursting bubble of energy whilst Kuroko's energy is more akin to a wall.

"Ooh, I never thought of that. I'll ask him to try sometime – would be interesting to see if he can actually do it, ne?"

"I would assume that Kise-kun's ability does not extend that far since Takao-kun was likely born with eyes with a wider scope of vision rather than having obtained it as a skill. Kise-kun is limited to copying skills so your eyes would not fall under that category. That being said, Kise-kun has exceeded expectations before."

Furihata doesn't really comprehend what they're talking about but just watching them interact is quite intriguing. Absentmindedly, he wonders how such different personalities came to become friends.

"True, true. The Perfect Copy thing definitely surprised me. You gen of miracles all have your own superpowers, though – it's kind of annoying, honestly." Takao chuckles.

"Mm. From an opponent's perspective, I would agree."

"Shin-chan's powers are especially annoying, heh. Don't get me wrong, Kise's copy-cat thing is cool. And everyone knows all the rave about Aomine – but Shin-chan's three pointers? Ugh. I don't know whether to be awed or disgusted by that level of talent. So unfair."

"Kagami-kun is rather unfair, too." Kuroko nods, "But I personally find the most unfair one to be Akashi-kun."

"Psh, oh yeah, Akashi's insane. In more ways than one."

Furihata, who has been drifting off in his own thoughts until that point, promptly chokes on his own saliva.

The two boys turn to look at him.

"Are you okay?" Kuroko tilts his head, looking mildly concerned.

"Y-yes," Furihata coughs. "Ano, if you don't mind me asking… you mentioned someone named Akashi-kun, so I was just wondering, um- what's his full name?"

How common is the name Akashi? As far as Furihata knows the Akashi group is massive and has many minor families branching out under the main family Furihata is familiar with. Surely, this means there must be other Akashis around. It can't be the same person, right? It'd be too much of a coincidence. A cruel joke.

But the longer Furihata tries to process everything the two boys have said the more likely it seems that it is indeed the one and only Akashi he has been avoiding – what with their conversation about basketball, not to mention their age group seems to be around Akashi's as well. But still, Furihata clings onto the remaining pieces of hope that maybe, just maybe, he might be wrong.

Kuroko looks at him with blank eyes, "Akashi Seijuuro. Why?"

Oh, no.

No, this cannot be happening. Furihata has so far managed to successfully avoid Akashi for one and a half days and that is not a small feat. He is not about to ruin all his efforts right when he's about to leave Kinosaki and be miles and miles away from Akashi and all the inappropriate feelings he induces.

The one time Furihata wishes he's wrong, he's not. Just his luck, really.

"Um- I- I have to go," Furihata begins backing away. If these two are Akashi's friends then it's likely that Akashi himself is somewhere near and Furihata is not willing to take any risks – not when he's so close to making a clean escape without having to explain to Akashi why.

It might make him seem like a coward but it's just easier this way. It's easier to not think about Akashi if he's not around with his hypnotic eyes and voice like brandy.

Truth be told, Furihata hates avoiding Akashi – it's only been over a day and already he misses their conversations, misses the way Akashi listens to his every word and makes him feel like they matter. He hates saying no to Akashi's invitations, hates not being able to learn more about Akashi's life during all the time they've been apart. There is still so much he doesn't know, so much Akashi has yet to tell him. But Furihata has to do it. He has to stop seeing him for a while – at least until he can face Akashi again without his heart threatening to pound right out of his chest.

It's easier to cut off his feelings now before they even have the chance to grow, after all.

Furihata steps back and bumps into something solid.

"Ah-! Sorry, I-" Furihata turns. And freezes on the spot.

And he curses his luck because of course that something solid has to be Akashi Seijuuro in the flesh.

Akashi's composure is calm, but one look at those slightly narrowed crimson eyes staring him down and Furihata knows Akashi is not at all impressed with him at this moment. He remembers. Akashi hasn't changed in the way his eyes gave subtle cues to his mood; and narrowed eyes generally means Furihata is in trouble.

"Running away from something, Kouki?"

Deep trouble, too, if that icy voice is anything to go by.

"A-Akashi-kun," Furihata tries his hardest to keep his tone light. "L-long time no see."

Akashi ignores his attempt at casual conversation completely. "Come with me."

With the command in Akashi's voice, Furihata has no other choice but to meekly nod. "O-okay."

Kuroko and Takao look on with sympathetic eyes as they watch Furihata trailing after Akashi as though he is on an imaginary leash.

When the two of them are out of sight, Takao gives Kuroko a nudge. "Ne, so, Akashi's the reason why you purposefully bumped into that guy?"

Kuroko gives him a blank look, "I don't know what you're talking about, Takao-kun. He bumped into me."

"Nah, I saw you. You were intentionally standing close to him – with your lack of presence you knew he was going to run into you."

"If you're implying that I planned for that person to bump into me because I suspected he's the person Akashi-kun is searching for, and that I knew that Akashi-kun is around the area and would eventually see us, and that I kept our conversation going to buy time until Akashi-kun did – then yes, you are correct, Takao-kun."

Takao whistles, "Shin-chan told me you're manipulative. I didn't really believe it, but now I see where he's coming from."

"I prefer the term 'strategic', actually." Kuroko deadpans. "Someone had to resolve Akashi-kun's brooding mood. There is only so much Aomine-kun can suffer before Akashi-kun decides on another target. Kagami-kun was likely high-risk – he and Aomine-kun share the same kind of reckless idiocy that prevents them from avoiding Akashi-kun's wrath."

"Heh, a job well done, then," Takao snickers, "But y'know you probably handed that poor guy his death sentence, right?"

"Hm." Kuroko blinks, remembering the photo on Akashi's phone. "Somehow, I believe that won't be the case."

A/N: I'm so sorry this took ridiculously long to be updated, but I'm back now and will ideally be updating bi-weekly during summer so I hope you guys haven't forgotten about this story. I made this chapter extra long as a meager compensation for me going AWOL – I know it's frustrating when the author disappears for what seems like forever ._.

Thank you for your continued support – I've posted this fic on AO3 as well and it was really lovely to see you guys commenting on there too. The story will start to pick up it's pace from this point on, and I'm super excited to write the upcoming parts :D