A/N: I don't even know what to tell you guys anymore. It's been more than a year I guess. I'm going to graduate next year so yay. Haha!


The red and yellow colors in the sky tell Kuroko that it's already getting late. Sitting on the pavement just right outside of the school building, Kuroko waits patiently. He checks his phone and confirms the time to be 5:50 in the evening. He peeks over to his right and sees one of his cute students, Rio, sigh underneath her folded arms resting on her bended knees.

He smiles to himself and says, "Don't worry, Rio-chan. I'm sure your mom's going to come real soon. She's working very hard for you, you know."

The little girl turns her golden eyes to him and faintly smiles, "Thank you, sensei… I know she is."

He pats her silky golden locks and tries to continue the conversation.

"Tell sensei what's bothering you, Rio-chan," he says cautiously with kindness.

"Sensei, you said that mom's working hard, right?" Kuroko nods at this, to which the little girl continues, "And Rio knows that… but sometimes… I just wish she had another job."

Speaking of which, Kuroko had no idea what Rio's mother's job is. All he's sure of is that it's a very important and demanding job, and somehow it's a family business-kind of work. On another note, where was the father in all this? Kuroko's never seen him come for Rio ever since he started at the play school. Kuroko vanquishes the straying thoughts and tunes back to Rio.

"I wish she was just like Rika-chan's or Yui-chan's mom. They stay at home and work around the house, and then pick Rika and Yui up after school," Rio whispers sadly, almost embarrassed at her jealousy. Kuroko strokes her hair again. She's a very mature girl for her age.

"Well I guess she could be," Kuroko replies. Rio's eyes sparkle a little at him, finding solace in his empathy. "But," Kuroko continues, "Isn't Rio-chan's mom cooler than Rika-chan's or Yui-chan's mom?"

"Cooler?" Rio asks, puzzled.

"Don't tell Rika-chan or Yui-chan that, but," Rio nods furiously, assuring him and anticipating her sensei's words, "don't you think it's cool that Rio-chan's mom is already working outside but still cooks and cleans the house by herself?"

"Mm?" Rio tilts her head to the side, sidetracked from the point. Kuroko senses Rio's confusion and clarifies his thoughts to her.

"I mean, sure, Rika-chan and Yui-chan's moms' work is also important. They clean the house, cook for the family and do various things like shopping and going to the grocery for food, right? Same with Rio-chan's mom, only that she does more than that, right?"

Rio nods as she starts to understand Kuroko's thoughts.

"You see, Rio-chan, sometimes, we do things we don't like but we have to because we need to. Same for Rio-chan's mom. For one thing, she might not like leaving you alone like this, but she has to because she's working for Rio-chan's future."

"I-I see," Rio says as she shies away from Kuroko. "I already knew those things, but I guess when sensei says those kinds of things, I feel happy."

Kuroko smiles at her. He faintly hears panting noises a few meters away and spots a familiar looking woman.

"Look, Rio-chan, it's your mom," Kuroko happily says despite his monotonous voice, and takes Rio's hand to stand up. Rio runs to her mom and hugs her tightly.

"Mommy you're late!"

Kuroko could sense the little girl almost crying.

"I'm sorry, Rio!" the lady says as she picks up the little girl and kisses her. "It's just that your uncle just came and we needed to settle him at a hotel."

"Uncle's here already!?" Rio shouts with excitement, totally forgetting her mom's tardiness. It's better that way I guess, Kuroko thinks to himself. Rio's mom turns to Kuroko, puts Rio down, and bows apologetically at him.

"Sensei, I'm so sorry for being late, it's just that a relative-"

"Ah, it's okay, madam!" Kuroko bows with embarrassment. Really, these reverse embarrassment situations… "It was no trouble at all! Rio's a really good girl and really fun to talk to, so it really was nothing."

Rio's mom sighs. "T-Thank you then, sensei."

Kuroko looks at the happy little Rio and says his goodbyes. "Tomorrow again, Rio-chan," he says with a wave. Rio nods and says goodbye as well.

The mother, child and teacher begin to part ways until Rio's mom suddenly remembers something.

"Ah, sensei!"

Kuroko turns around at attention and waits for the mother's words.

"Starting tomorrow, Rio's uncle will be picking her up. He looks a lot like me so you'll recognize him at first glance, but…" Rio's mom strays, "Just for safety, he might look suspicious. So please take care of the both of them." She bows curtly.

"Ah, no problem," Kuroko bows as well, "I'll be in his care then."

"Well, farewell," Rio's mom says.

"Goodbye," Kuroko replies with a bow.

A few hours later, Rio finds herself around the dining table with her mom, waiting for another person.

"Isn't uncle a bit late?" Rio whimpers, her eyes watering at the food laid before her.

"It's hard being a model, after all... and a pilot at that… I just hope his fans weren't able to locate him yet," Rio's mom replies, sighing at the mere thought of her words.

"Being uncle's manager must be hard," Rio says, trying to sympathize with her mom. Her conversation with Kuroko had Rio thinking a lot about her mother's work after all.

"It is, it is… but what can I do, he's family after all."

DING!

"Ah! That must be him!" Rio announces and runs to the door. She opens the blockade and finds a familiar, charming man before her. "Uncle Ryo!" The man takes the little girl in his arms and they both embrace each other tightly.

"Ahhhh, it's been a while, Ricchan!"

Rio pulls away and pouts at him, saying, "It's Rio!"

"Ricchan is Ricchan, after all," Kise grins widely at the cute little girl and plants a kiss on her forehead.

"Anyway!" Rio says as she wiggles her way out and down on the floor, "Come on! The food's waiting!" Rio grabs Kise's hand and brings him to the dining table.

"Ah, sorry I'm late, sis," he says as he props himself down on a chair.

"No problem. You weren't followed, right?"

"Ouch. You miss me that much, huh? But anyway, yeah, I wasn't. The driver and I double checked."

"That's good," Rio's mom sighs with relief. "Remember, tomorrow you're going to pick Rio-chan up from play school, okay?"

"Ugh, do I have to?" Kise says with boredom. He had other plans on mind. He wasn't brought back to Japan for any mere reason after all. It was all to fulfill his and his friends' promise to find him.

"You have to!" Rio butts in. "I've already told Riko-sensei's boyfriend that you would!"

Rio's eyes become teary. Kise wipes away the tear forming on the left side of Rio's eye.

"And mom already told Kuroko-sensei too!" the little girl adds, to which Kise's senses come to a halt.

"Kuroko-sensei," he repeats after her, "huh."

When he was brought back to Japan under orders, Kise had no idea where to find or locate his (their) precious Kuroko. He was kept away from Japan for a long time, and only just recently did he and his friends begin to move. Lucky Aomine and Momoi were sent a few days ahead of him and the two had yet to inform the rest of the group of any recent activity yet. But now... now, Kise will be able to finally see him again.

"Yeah! Kuroko-sensei! He's really nice and very sweet… he waited with me this afternoon and we talked a lot!" Rio brags.

"We need to repay that sensei's kindness," Rio's mom says.

"Mm," Kise lets out as a smile forms on his face. "If that's the case, I'll be happy to pick you up tomorrow and thank this sensei properly!"

Rio wasn't sure but seeing her uncle smile like that was kind of fishy, even for him.


A/N: I feel like I was rushing for the next chapter! Haha! Oh, me and my excited feels!