VII.

When Aomine first lays eyes on Kise Ryouta, he recognises him instantly, but it's nothing special. He arrives just in time to see the runaway basketball slam into the back of a blonde head, slender hands flying up to clutch at the place of impact.

"Sorry, sorry!" he says quickly, one hand raised in apology. When the blonde turns, Aomine gives a smile of recognition. "Hey, you're that famous model, Kise-kun."

It's only due to the constant chatter about some rising-star model attending their school that he even knows the name. In fact, the only reason he figures that it's Kise Ryouta in the first place - even if hadn't seen his face before – is because the other boy is startling handsome. He figures there's no way you're not a model with a face like that. Aomine doesn't dwell on it though and Kise throws the ball back with an irritated, "What's your problem?"

He only thanks him at the time and jogs back to the gym without a second glance back. He doesn't even hear Kise follow.

VIII.

It doesn't take long for Kise to join the basketball team, and even less time for him to join them in the first string. Momoi is the one who brings him to where Aomine is and he's surprised though not disappointed. Kise seems able-bodied and if he's good enough to get into the first string, Aomine has no qualms about the blonde. They even celebrate Kise's rise to the first string together, along with Tetsu, and Murasakibara. Midorima joins them eventually and while Aomine has never been one to read people easily, he finds himself hoping that Kise's having fun all the same.

He's not sure when he stops thinking of Kise as a teammate but as a friend. He figures it must have been somewhere between the first time Kise asks for a one-on-one game with him and the day Kise is the one who is waiting for him and Tetsu at the school gates with an offer for ice-cream at the convenience store. Aomine had thrown his arm around Kise and Tetsu's shoulders then and was pleasantly surprised when the blonde simply returned the gesture with a laugh.

IX.

Kise asks him frequently from there for more one-on-one games; after practice, during practice – whenever either of them are free. Aomine, sweat-drenched from the sun and rigorous training can't find it in him to say no.

Aomine knows about Kise. He's seen what he can do, and he knows that every other sport that Kise has touched bore him something terrible. "They're no challenge," Kise had told him. Aomine punched him in the arm, telling him to get a hold of his ego and Kise had whined, bumping hard into his side in retaliation. They walked home that way together, tripping each other over, half-heartedly shoving Kise in front of a pole and jabbing a sharp elbow into Aomine's side. Their laughter was loud, drawing attention from passer-bys. Kuroko had disappeared along the way to buy a new novel, and Aomine didn't even notice the sun beginning to set.

X.

The three of them – Kuroko, Kise and Aomine - make a point of going home together whenever they can. It's not as often as they'd like; Tetsu sometimes heading home later, Kise heading home earlier for a photo shoot. Aomine doesn't mind much anymore because he's not ever left alone.

XI.

The sky is a dreamy orange the day Kise stops by the basketball courts on the way home. Kuroko had stayed back for extra practice but convinced Aomine to walk Kise to his modelling gig when the blonde said his goodbyes.

"Kise-kun has been walking home alone too often," was Tetsu's excuse and shooed the two of them out of the gym despite both their protests.

Aomine slows his steps to look back over his shoulder where the boy with golden eyes is scrutinizing the court and the setting sun. His expression is unreadable.

"What are you doing, Kise?"

"Aomine-cchi, let's have a one-on-one,"

"You're going to be late,"

"It'll be fine. C'mon, Aomine-cchi, just a quick game," Aomine turns fully then and Kise is already unshouldering his bag and tossing it to the side.

(The darker boy sighs, but Kise can see the grin growing on his face. He smiles back and ignores the sharp flutter of his heart.)

The game lasts much longer than either of them were expecting. Aomine is crowned winner, of course but it doesn't change the fact that both boys are worn out. They lie under the hoop side-by-side, staring up at the sky. It's turned a soupy-red during their game and Aomine listens to Kise's erratic breathing finally slow. He fights the urge to turn his head around, to look at the sculpted profile blessed with both boyish and effeminate charm. They stay there for a long while, inhaling each other's company in silence. Aomine imagines the sound of his friend's heartbeat.

When Kise finally pulls himself up to look at the time on his phone, he's already fifteen minutes late. He gives a loud cry of despair and shoots to his feet. Aomine laughs when he sprints to his bag, hollering apologies over his shoulder.

"Bye, Aomine-cchi!" Kise yells waving franticly as he takes off. "Thanks for the game, I'll see you tomorrow!"

"Yeah," Aomine calls back. He climbs to his feet and watches the boy dashing into the distance. "See 'ya."

XII.

Aomine recalls the game that night, his surprise and awe. Kise was becoming much faster, much tougher to play against. His copy-cat style wasn't one to be treated lightly. He tosses the basketball against the ceiling and catches it absentmindedly, his back propped up against some pillows on his bed. Kise would one day be a force to be reckoned with.