A/N: Had some free time on my hands. Amazing.


Everything was almost perfect that day.

Kuroko had woken up that morning to the sweet aroma of fresh blended coffee made by the masterful hands of his roommate. At that moment, he felt everything – the world, the universe – revolve with no hint of worry or fear. Even before Kuroko could run over to their tiny dining room slash kitchen, Kagami had noticed his awakening and handed him a cup of the hot liquid in his bed. Kuroko thanked him and they chatted a few minutes before finally separating to do their own routines.

What a way to start the morning.

Before heading out to work, Kagami offered to walk him to the play school. Feeling especially happy despite his nonchalant face, Kuroko accepted. They walked around town a little and even took the long way to the play school. They took quick stops at stores whenever something caught their eyes. For one instance, Kagami went in a small convenience store and bought Kuroko a booklet that he had been nagging about for weeks. Kuroko was surprised, but nonetheless very grateful to the man for even remembering.

"It would be sad if Kagami-kun had a girlfriend now," Kuroko jested.

Kagami couldn't help but reply with a blush and a shy whisper, "S-Stupid! I'm giving you that so that you wouldn't talk about it anymore… Be thankful."

Kuroko laughed at him and repeated that he was indeed thankful.

As soon as the two arrived at the play school, Kagami stops in for a while and greets his former senpai. After eating a few snacks offered by Junpei, Kagami bids the teachers and children farewell.

"Are you coming by this afternoon?" Kuroko asks him.

"Sure!"

And the day progressed on normally.

Still, Kuroko had a slight premonition how his very good day might just end very badly. After all, all good things come to an end. He buzzes those thoughts away immediately. He didn't want to jinx it; he didn't want to attract the negative forces as well.

It was bye-bye time again and the children are slowly being taken away. It was still early so there were still a lot more kids hanging around.

"Mm?" Kuroko turns as someone tugs on his teacher's apron. He looks down to see a cute little girl smiling at him. He picks her up and smiles back. "Yes, Rio-chan?"

"Kuroko-sensei! Listen, will ya?" the little girl giggles with a young child's high. The sensei gestures his ear to her, signaling that he was indeed listening. "My uncle's going to pick me up today and he wanted to talk with you. He said he'll take us to a cute café right over the corner a few streets from here!"

"Talk with me?" Kuroko asks her, curious. "What about?"

"I dunno…" she puts a finger on her chin and wildly guesses, "Adult stuff maybe?"

Kuroko drops an imaginary sweat. Maybe he shouldn't be asking her.

"Well, that's fine by me," he replies. "But I'll have to make a quick call to Kagami-kun."

"Mm'kay!"

Kuroko puts the little girl down and pats her on the head. He walks on to the back side of the small building and grabs his phone in the pocket side of his apron. He quickly speeds dial Kagami's number as he passes by Junpei who asks him if anything was up. As the call was still ringing, Kuroko smiles and shakes his head at him, telling him that everything was fine. Junpei nods and tends to the children.

"Hello? Kuroko?"

"Ah, Kagami-kun."

"What's up?"

"It seems that I can't come home with you today. Rio-chan suddenly made an appointment with me, rather, her uncle did."

"What? Do you know this guy?"

"Mm… Not really. It's just, I remember Rio-chan's mom telling me to welcome him, and all. Apparently he's a little… suspicious, as she puts it… but, well, it seems like he wants to talk to me."

"Suspicious? Isn't he shady then?"

"Who knows," Kuroko whispers as he faintly hears Rio chiming giddily in the background. "Looks like he's arrived."

"Well, if you think you're in trouble, call me up immediately, okay?"

Kuroko multitasks as he removes his apron, grabs his small bag filled with some essentials and returns back to the room where everyone was, all the while responding to Kagami, saying, "I don't think I'll be getting into trouble. But if anything happens, you call me, Kagami-kun."

When Rio suddenly grabs a hold on the hem of Kuroko's pants and points at someone, Kuroko's eyes that trail to where the finger points suddenly seem to fail him.

"Yeah, right. If I need anything," Kagami scoffs on the other line. "But honestly, call me if…"

"I need to go, Kagami-kun."

CLICK.

"Hey!" Kagami screams at the inanimate object.

"Rejected, huh?" a man in a yellow fireman's suit asks him with a big pat on the back.

Kagami scowls, "I wasn't!"

His perfect day was gone in that instant.

"Sensei! This is my uncle, Ryouta-jiichan!" Rio says with glee and pride.

Kuroko can't remember the last time he had heard that name. Well, occasionally he does. The man standing in front of him has his name everywhere – on the billboards, newspaper, television, radio, internet and what other media device there was… even in the word of mouth he was popular. Kuroko tries his very best every day to avoid hearing anything, or anyone say his name. Internationally well-known as a pilot and at the same time a model, the man before him works under a suspicious yet world-renown company called Red. Right now, at this very moment, Kise Ryouta is here, right in front of him.

"K-Kise-kun…" Kuroko can only stutter. He isn't sure but he must have been looking at him horridly as Rio looks at him with worry in her eyes.

"Sensei… Are you alright?"

Kuroko hasn't the time to spare her. Everything that he had kept from years ago, all those memories, the bad ones, are just now overflowing him, taking him over. Right at that very moment, right that very second, the voice of the person standing before him start to echo through his ears.

"Long time no see, Kurokocchi," Kise smiles with a glow in his eyes.


A/N: HOOORAH. I just read the new chapter today on the manga, and OH HOT DAMN OGIWARA. I think I'll be adding him soon.