Chapter 4: Erase everything.

"You're doing good, Tetsuya." Akashi commented as he helped Kuroko back into his wheelchair. It was finally the end of Kuroko's physical therapy session. Everything was going well; he was able to walk a good reasonable distance, such that he should be able to freely walk around his house with just some support from the walls.

"It was because of Akashi-kun's help that I was able to start walking this quickly." He smiled at Akashi as his eyes travelled to the hands which were helping him to sit down on the wheelchair. As Kuroko sat down, he gripped onto Akashi's hand tightly, startling the latter for a moment.

"Akashi-kun, what is this?" Kuroko asked, lifting Akashi's bandaged hands.

"It's nothing. I just hurt them while moving some heavy boxes back at home."

"Hmmm... I never thought Akashi-kun could be this clumsy. I hope it gets well soon." Kuroko chuckled as he released his hold on the other's hand, unable to detect the lie Akashi created.

"Thank you." Akashi said as he went to the back of the wheelchair and started pushing the wheelchair out of the room. Staring at the teal-head while making their way towards Kuroko's room, Akashi can't help but feel a little disheartened.

"Akashi-kun is lying."

"What makes you say that?" The red-head innocently asked as he smirked at the other.

"I'm the one who understands you the most after all, Akashi-kun. I can always tell when you're lying and when you're not." Kuroko smiled as Akashi just sighed at the other's response.

"I see."

"This feels kind of nice." Kuroko spoke up as he leaned back onto the wheelchair. Akashi who was taken aback as he was suddenly broken out of his trance relaxed his shoulders which subconsciously started to tense up.

"What is?"

Kuroko brought his hand up to his mouth and chuckled. "It's this. Akashi-kun being here to help me like this. It feels like I'm being reborn as a baby again. With Akashi-kun caring for me, doing everything. Ah! Of course I feel bad about it, but... I can't help but enjoy being pampered like this."

Akashi started smiling, softened his gaze at the chuckling Kuroko and stopped the both of them along the corridor. Kuroko noticing this, stopped chuckling and turned around to face Akashi, only to see the red-head smirking. Akashi bent down, having one knee on the floor and the other towards his chest and leaned forward until the two of them were just inches away.

"Then don't hold back and just enjoy it." Akashi whispered into Kuroko's ear.

A faint pink made its way to the teal-head's face as Kuroko blushed a little, startled at the sudden closeness and Akashi's breath brushing past his right ear.

"It seems to me like you changed a lot these past few years, Akashi-kun." Kuroko sighed as he turned away from the red-head.

Hearing that, Akashi stood up and continued pushing the wheelchair while smirking.

"Maybe."

Kuroko was shocked as he opened the door towards his room.

"Why... is everyone here?" Kuroko asked, dumbfounded at the sight before him, even though he was happy that they came to visit him. But this...

In front of him, Himuro, Kiyoshi and Kasamatsu were seating in a circle on the floor playing poker, while Aomine was snoring on the couch, with Murasakibara munching on his treats beside him.

"Kuroko! It's been a while!" Kiyoshi grinned as he waved towards Kuroko as well.

"Kuroko-kun. I'm glad to see you this lively now." Himuro commented as well.

"Ah. You look better, Kuroko." Kasamatsu waved towards him with Himuro and Kiyoshi nodding in agreement, to which the teal-head bowed in response as he greeted all of them in his wheelchair.

"Yes. It's thanks to all of you."

"Kise's here too, though I think he's being tortured by the green haired guy now." Kasamatsu explained and sighed at the thought of how the green-head was dragging the blonde out of the hospital as soon as the former saw him earlier on. "That idiot must have done something stupid again."

"Kise-chin and Mido-chin went out to buy me treats~" Murasakiabra lazily chirped as he licked his fingers, completely finished devouring that whole packet of chips. Kuroko sighed at the giant's antics as he proceeded to make his way to the bed with the help of Akashi.

"Ah... I really wanted Hanamiya to come with me, but he declined my invitation immediately and just left," Kiyoshi laughed dumbly as he rubbed his hand against his back. "Ah! But he says to get well soon it seems!"

"No... That was Imayoshi." Kasamatsu said.

"Eh?! Is that so? Haha! It seems I'm getting old! I can't remember!"

"You met them?" Kuroko asked, suddenly curious as to why the two names were brought up.

"Yes, we met them while on our way here at the station where we were meeting together before coming here. It was a coincidence though, and we invited them to come along with us." Himuro explained while eyeing at Murasakibara every now and then.

"Hanamiya-san and Imayoshi-san. I didn't know they were on such good terms." Kuroko said, a little curious at this new little information.

"They were from the same middle school. And apparently they seem to be working on a project together now to set up some business company." Kiyoshi continued laughing.

"I see. It's been a while since I last saw them. I want to play basketball with them soon." Kuroko smiled as he played with his fingers.

"Eh? With Hanamiya? Are you sure? I know he's stopped with his rough plays but..." Kasamatsu grimaced a little as he remembered of the numerous times he'd seen the rough plays of the raven-haired male.

"Yes. I want to play basketball with everyone again. But..." Kuroko's voice trailed off as his eyes landed on his injured legs.

Seeing the disheartened teal-head, Kiyoshi went forward and patted him on his head. "It's okay. Give them more time and you will be better in no time." Kiyoshi assured the younger male while Himuro and Kasamatsu nodded in agreement, before he retreated his hand.

"... That's right... The doctor said that too, but the scars wouldn't disappear." Kuroko stared at the numerous scars on his legs, running his hand past them. Long ones and short ones, deep and shallow; Kuroko cringed at the sight of them. I wish these scars will disappear... Kuroko thought as he gripped tightly onto the sheets beneath him.

The three of them stared at the teal-head as he started trembling a little. They understood how the male felt. It was normal for someone in his situation to feel like this; to erase the scars which are the sources of one's despair and the remembrance of one's loss.

A warm hand soon rested onto Kuroko's and his head shot up, surprised at the sudden action from the owner of the hand. He looked up to see heterochromatic eyes staring straight into his teal orbs. Kuroko immediately felt the tension in his muscles go away as he relaxed his grip on the sheets of the bed and his body when Akashi brought his other hand to ruffle his teal locks. "Everything's going to be all right." I will be here with you. Kuroko nodded and smiled in response.

"Hmmm...? Ah...Tetsu, you're back." Aomine yawned as he finally woke from his slumber, stretching his hands and legs to ease the discomfort from having slept on something uncomfortable in the same position for a long time. He sat up straight before leaning forward, scratching the back of his head, eyes still dreading to be opened. God knows how he was able to sleep so soundly with so many people in the room with him.

"Aomine-kun, good morning." Kuroko greeted the tanned male. "It's rare for you to be so free in the morning. Don't you have work?"

"I'm taking the night shift tonight." Aomine yawned again as he lied back down on the couch once again.

"Anyway Kuroko, do you want to have a game of poker with us?" Himuro said as he started shuffling the deck of cards in his hand. With the mention of the word poker, Aomine's eyes shot up as he sat up immediately.

"Poker? Let me in!" Aomine exclaimed as he started cracking his knuckles. "I won't lose this. The only one who can beat me is me only."

"Isn't that for basketball?" Kasamatsu sighed and shook his head at the tanned male's behavior.

"Ahahaha! Let's all play! We could eat these snacks I brought too!" Kiyoshi chuckled while Murasakibara's eyes glitter in excitement as he laid his sights onto the bag of snacks on Kiyoshi's hand.

"I want those snacks~"

"Atsushi, you should stop soon. You've had too much of those unhealthy food already. You will fall sick if you don't stop soon." Himuro warned the purple-head but his efforts went to waste as the latter didn't once left his gaze from those tempting snacks.

"All of you..." Akashi hissed, breaking the silence as everyone turned to face towards him. His eyes started glinting dangerously as he continued. "Who said you could treat this place as a picnic for elementary school graders..." Everybody froze in their spots for a moment, as they continued staring at the red-head. Haven't felt this in a while. All of them chuckled inside their mind.

"Isn't it nice once in a while? Akashi-kun, just let them do as they wish. I'm glad and thankful for all of them to take their time off to visit me." Kuroko spoke up, relieving the tense atmosphere in the room.

Eyeing the teal-head, Akashi sighed reluctantly as he went to sit beside him on the bed and started to gently brush Kuroko's teal locks. Kuroko, knowing now that the red-head likes stroking his hair, just pouted and let him continue stroking his hair. The others in the room just continued staring at the two who continued to be in their own world.

Just then, the door flew open as it revealed a green-head carrying bags of what is thought to contain snacks for the purple giant. "We're back." Midorima announced as he stepped into the room and shoved the bags into the awaiting hands of Murasakibara. "Here, a week's worth." Midorima grunted as Murasakibara snatched the bags quickly.

"Thank you. Mido-chin~" Murasakibara chirped happily as he started opening the bags of chips.

"Hey! Murasakibara-cchi! I paid for more than half of those! You should thank me too!" Kise appeared from behind Midorima and started whining as he started tearing up.

"No~"

"Shut up Kise. It was your fault for telling him. You should have been the one paying for everything. Be glad I was kind enough to pay for a portion of those... unsightly junk food." Midorima growled as he pushed his glasses up.

"What?!" Kise whined.

"Atsushi, too much isn't good for your health. Control yourself." Akashi warned. Turning towards Akashi's direction where he heard his voice, Kise noticed Kuroko sitting atop of the bed, and scurried over towards him.

"Kuroko-cchi! You're back!" Hugging the teal-head tightly, Kise started complaining immediately. "Kuroko-cchi! How are you doing? You know, Midorima-cchi is so mean! The first thing he did when I stepped into the hospital was to drag me to the convenience store! And he made me pay for all these snacks for Murasakibara-cchi! So mean! Saying it's my fault and all and I-"

"Ryōta." Akashi silenced him before the blonde could continue squashing Kuroko. "Let go of Tetsuya."

Realising his mistake, Kise quickly jumped away from Kuroko "Ah! Sorry Kuroko-cchi!" Kise apologised as he released the teal-head from his death grasp. Kuroko heaved a sigh of relief as the muscular hands were finally off him.

"You idiot! How could you just squash him like this! He's still recovering you know!" Kasamatsu scolded as he threw a flying kick towards the blond.

"Idiot." Aomine yawned as rolled his eyes.

"Kasamatsu-senpai! Aomine-cchi! How mean!"

"Somehow... this is entertaining." Himuro smirked as Kiyoshi started laughing beside him.

"I prefer you would not just stand there and laugh at me, Himuro-san and Kiyoshi-senpai." Kuroko said monotonelessly.

"Ahaha, sorry." The two answered in unison.

"Muro-chin made Kuro-chin angry." Murasakibara lazily said as he placed a chip into his mouth.

"Atsushi, stop it. You've had enough." Himuro narrowed his eyes as he stared at the purple giant leisurely devouring his newly acquired snacks. Sighing as the purple-head just continued chewing and pouted whenever the raven-haired male attempted to stop him from eating any further, Himuro looked at his watch, before gesturing Murasakibara to stand up.

"Atsushi, it's already ten. We better hurry, or else Furihata-kun can't handle the customers alone."

"Customers? Furihata-kun?" Kuroko inquired, surprised at the mention of the said man's name.

"Ah! The three of us opened a patisserie shop nearby here. If you have time, do visit us." Himuro smiled as he handed Kuroko his name card with the shop's address. "Well then, see you again Kuroko-kun. We really need to go now." Himuro waved as he and Murasakibara left the room.

"Bye Kuro-chin. Eat those vanilla cookies okay~" Murasakibara chirped lazily as he pointed to the box containing the said cookies on the table. Kuroko nodded as he waved to the two of them before the door was completely closed.

"Well then, it just leaves us then." Kiyoshi said, a little sad.

"Well first things first, Kuroko, you can be discharge this coming weekend." Midorima announced, to which Akashi widened his eyes a little before regaining his poker face. "Your doctor has already given his approval."

Aomine, hearing the news, instantly shot up from his seat. "That's good, Tetsu! By the way, aren't you the one to decide on these things, Midorima?"

"I don't have the authority to decide these things myself, since I wasn't the one who worked on Kuroko's surgery; I am not the one who knows his condition the best."

"Heh!" Aomine snickered at the green-head, to which the latter just ignore him, before approaching Kise. "Kise! You don't have work today right? Let's go grab a bite! I'm hungry! Tetsu, you want anything?" Aomine asked.

"I'm fine, Aomine-kun."

"Hey wait! Why are we leaving too? I just got back here!" Kise whined as Aomine dragged Kise out of the room to accompany him for his meal.

"Wait." The commanding tone of Akashi stopped the duo in their tracks before they reached the door and turn to face the red-head. "Ryōta, you are free for the whole day, I assume?" Akashi asked, which he earned a confused look and a nod from the blond in response. "And Daiki, if you're working the night shift today, you are free now right?" Again, he got a nod as response from the tanned male.

"Well then, Shintarō, look after Tetsuya for us." Akashi eyed Midorima before turning to face the sitting Kuroko. He patted Kuroko's head for the umpteenth time. "Then, I will be leaving as well. Take care of yourself, Tetsuya."

"Akashi-kun?"

"Daiki, Ryōta, come with me." Akashi said as he left the room. The duo who couldn't do anything, just followed their former captain out of the room after bidding goodbye to the others.

The room fell silent as the only occupants remained were Kasamatsu, Kiyoshi, Midorima and Kuroko himself.

"Oi Akashi! Where the hell are we going?" Aomine cursed as he quicken his steps to catch up with the red head who had gone ahead by himself.

"That's right Akashi-cchi! Where are we going?" Kise whined as he tried to catch up as well.

Akashi, ignoring them, hastened his pace and quickly got to the stairs and went down. Reaching the basement, he took long strides as he finally reached the carpark. He stopped beside his red sports car and turned around to see the duo slowing down their steps as they came to stand in front of him. Taking out his car keys from his pocket, he threw them towards Aomine, who caught it easily with one hand.

"Get in the car, immediately." He emphasized as he gestured the both of them and they complied quickly. Aomine sat at the driver's seat with Kise beside him and Akashi sat behind them at the passenger's seat.

"Daiki, drive us to Tetsuya's house." Akashi instructed as he took out his cellphone and started texting someone.

"Eh?!" The both of them exclaimed in surprise.

"Why Akashi-cchi?" Kise asked while Aomine started the engine.

"Enough talk and just start moving."

And the car sped off.

"They left..." Kiyoshi said as his turned his attention away from the door towards Kuroko.

"..." Kuroko remained silent while Midorima sighed and leaned against the wall of the room.

"Well, they might have urgent business to attend to. Don't mind them." Kasamatsu smiled as he took a seat on one of the chairs.

"...Yes, they might have something on." Kuroko muttered softly, feeling a little sad. Is something wrong with Akashi-kun? He seems to be in a hurry. He isn't like his usual self... Kuroko thought as his fingers played with the blanket above him.

"Kuroko?" Kiyoshi asked as he felt the teal-head's sudden change in mood. Realizing that the teal-head was deep in thought, Kiyoshi nudged him by the shoulder. "Kuroko? Are you all right? Are you feeling unwell?" That sudden statement shocked Midorima as he stood up and walked towards the bed. He was about to check on Kuroko's condition but was stopped when the teal-head broke out of his trance.

"Yes?" Kuroko asked, and Midorima sighed a little in relief as he retracted back his slightly extended hand which he initially wanted to press onto Kuroko's forehead.

"Are you perhaps... thinking about Akashi?" Kiyoshi asked, to which Midorima widened his eyes in anger.

"Oi! What are you sayin-" Midorima burst in anger but was cut off as Kasamatsu grabbed him by the shoulder to calm him down and shook his head to discourage Midorima from saying anything else.

"It's all right. I don't believe Kiyoshi will say anything stupid." He whispered towards Midorima before letting go of his hand on Midorima when he felt the tense shoulders of the younger one relax.

"Thinking about Akashi-kun...? Why did you think I would?" Although I did... Kuroko thought and he felt his face heat up a little as he shifted his gaze away from Kiyoshi, embarrassed at the brunette's spot-on guess.

"Well, after all you guys have been dat-mmfph!" At that instance, four hands came forward and clamped onto Kiyoshi's mouth, making him unable to speak any further.

"To hell he wouldn't say anything stupid." Midorima growled at Kasamatsu, tightening his grip on Kiyoshi.

"Really... I have nothing to say." Kasamatsu sighed as he let his hand go. However, Kiyoshi's face started to turn green and turn pale as Midorima showed no sign of letting his hand go.

"Midorima-kun?!" Kuroko asked anxiously while holding onto Midorima's hands. "Please loosen your grip! You're choking him." Midorima immediately let go of Kiyoshi as the latter started breathing heavily.

"Hahaha! You have a good grip there! It proves you're still young!" Kiyoshi chuckled as he patted Midorima's back, earning a grunt and a death glare from the green-head. Smiling at his friends, Kuroko was very happy. The fact that they took time off to visit him, he was very grateful for them. They didn't forget about him, they didn't lose hope even though he was in coma for almost six months.

But still, I will always be alone from now on.

"Kuroko? What's wrong?" Kasamatsu asked anxiously as the said male started grasping his head. "Do you have a headache?"

Springing their heads up as soon as they heard Kasamatsu's worried tone, Midorima and Kiyoshi immediately focus their attention onto Kuroko. Midorima reached a hand out towards Kuroko's forehead and lifted the teal's fringe. Placing his hand on the younger male's head, he felt for his temperature. "You are really feeling unwell!" Kiyoshi exclaimed, worried for his junior.

"But, it isn't a fever." Midorima answered. "Kuroko, what's wrong?"

"Sorry. It's just... I'm a little tired." Kuroko answered breathlessly as he clutched his head tighter. "And I have a little headache. It's nothing to worry about." He smiled to reassure his friends that he was just tired.

Eyeing Kuroko cautiously, Midorima pursed his lips and pondered for a while. "All right. Kuroko, you should rest. Your body is still in the process of recovering, and you must be tired from the physical therapy session earlier. Please rest well. If you feel anything wrong, don't hesitate to call for us, okay?" Midorima said as he pushed his glasses up. Kuroko nodded as he laid down onto his bed and closed his eyes.

"Then, we will be going now. See you this weekend, Kuroko." Kasamatsu waved when Kuroko opened his eyes.

"See you Kuroko." Kiyoshi bid goodbye as well.

"Yes." Kuroko muttered and closed his eyes when he heard the door click.

Soon he drifted to sleep.

"Somehow... It isn't as I expected it to be..." Kise gasped when he stepped into the house. It wasn't the dirty, dusty, long neglected environment he thought it would be since nobody was supposed to be in this house for the past six months, but the house was spotless and so clean that it looked like it was just cleaned a few minutes ago.

"Idiot." Aomine said as he hit the back of Kise's head. "Do you think Akashi's the kind where he would leave Tetsu's house in a mess when there's no one living here?"

"That's right, Ryōta. Just for your information, I hired a housekeeper to help clean the house once a week, just so if you need any explanations." Akashi smirked as he took off his shoes and properly entered the house.

"I get it already!" Kise pouted as he scurried after Akashi, with Aomine following behind. "So? What are we doing at Kuroko-cchi's house?" Kise asked when they reached to the front of Kuroko's bedroom.

"See those?" Akashi muttered as he pointed to the desks full of photographs. After taking a closer look, both Aomine and Kise gasped in surprise. All those photographs contain of not only Kuroko and Akashi himself, but also with Kuroko's close friends taken these past few years.

"W-what are we going to do with it?" Kise asked nervously while Aomine glanced towards Akashi before closing his eyes and sigh, fully understanding what the red-head wanted them to do. Turning back to face them, Akashi softly mumbled.

"Erase everything."

"Is he really going to be all right? It doesn't look like a normal headache to me." Kiyoshi continue to question as he paced along the corridor.

"It's normal for someone like him. After all, he lost his memories and his parents from the accident, he must be feeling stressed. Just give him more time. If anything crops up, I will be here for him." Midorima said as he pushed his glasses up.

"That's right." Kasamatsu nodded in agreement.

"Furthermore, his memories might be coming back."

"What?" Kiyoshi asked frantically before smiling. "Will it really come back?"

"I don't remember saying the memory loss was permanent."

"I see. That's good." Kiyoshi heaved a sigh of relief while Kasamatsu smiled at the good news.

"Why..." Kise sighed as brought his knees to his chest and hugged them neglecting the box which was filled with photo albums and letters.

"What's wrong Kise?" Aomine asked as he stood up and started stretching his numb legs due to sitting on the floor for so long.

"Like I said, why do we have to do this?" Kise sighed again.

"It's because Tetsu doesn't remember anything, you idiot."

"But, for all these photos of all of us together to be kept away like this... Its so sad! Especially my pretty face! Look! It's such a waste!" Kise sobbed while pointing to one of the photos of him and Kuroko. Aomine rolled his eyes at the blond before hitting him on the head.

"Idiot. You aren't the one who's suppose to say that. The one who's the feeling it the most right now is ...him." Aomine muttered softly as he turned his head to face Akashi. Following Aomine's gaze, Kise stared at the red-head, who was staring at one of the framed photograph with him and Kuroko, before walking towards them and placing it into the box.

"I am stepping out for a bit." Akashi mumbled before slowly walking out of the room. Hearing a click from the main door which signaled that Akashi has stepped out of the house, Kise immediately asked.

"Then, why don't we just tell everything to Kuroko-cchi? I can't bear to see Akashi-cchi like this anymore! It's so sad to see him always having those sad eyes! It isn't like him at all!" Kise wailed but was stopped by Aomine hitting him on the head again for the umpteenth time.

"Didn't you hear what Tetsu said? He said he wants to remember everything by himself." Aomine sighed before continuing. "Besides, if Akashi tells him about the two of them dating before the accident, Tetsu will definitely believe him. And that's what Akashi doesn't want to happen."

"That doesn't make any sense right? Isn't it better if he believes it?" Kise asked, confused.

"Knowing Tetsu, he would definitely feel guilty for it and will start to date Akashi, not out of love, but out of some sort of repentance. Don't you remember? Five years ago, they didn't start dating because they love each other. But now, the only one who has feelings is Akashi. It's a one-sided love. Moreover, Tetsu has lost his parents so suddenly after the accident. To have so many things suddenly confessed to him, he definitely can't take all the stress at once. And that's what Akashi doesn't want to happen." Aomine explained while ruffling Kise's hair. "The only thing we can do now, is to hope that everything goes well for them."

"I guess so..." Kise mumbled while softening his gaze onto the framed photograph of Akashi hugging Kuroko in the box that Akashi was previously holding on to. Huffing and turning his attention towards Aomine, Kise suddenly grinned. "Somehow you became smarter, Aomine-cchi."

"HARH?!" Aomine exclaimed. "What do you mean by that?!"

"Nothing~" Kise grinned wider.

"You!" Aomine went forward and started strangling the blond until both of them fell, lying down on the floor. Kise continued laughing, to which Aomine started to get irritated by him. "Oi Kise! Stop laughing or-"

"But, I hope everything goes back to normal soon." Kise suddenly stopped laughing and spoke up, with a slight smile on his face. "I want to see Kuroko-cchi and Akashi-cchi smiling together once again."

Glancing at the blond, Aomine sighed and closed his eyes.

"Yeah. Me too."

The cool breeze blew past Akashi, causing his red-hair to sway with the wind. He leaned against the bench and closed his eyes, enjoying the breeze.

"Five years ago huh..." He muttered to himself. "To think that things would turn out like this... Is it fate?... How ridiculous. To have someone like me thinking about fate like this, something must be wrong with me." Akashi chuckled while placing a hand over his eyes.

But it still hurts to see the photographs of us together to just be kept away like this...

"But... It's better this way."

Note: Hey guys! So sorry for the super late update. How many weeks has it been? Ahahaha! Probably more than a month. Well hope you guys like this. I must say I'm quite proud of myself to be able to rush this chapter even though I have a lot of things going on. I have my assignments, tests and what's more, I have a concert coming next week and I ain't fully prepared for it! God bless me.

And a big thank you to those who left a review and those who favorite and followed this story! It really made me happy! I guess I can't update so frequently now but I will try my best!

Sorry for any mistakes! This chapter feels a bit rush and the flow isn't that smooth. Please forgive me!

Well, hope you guys like this chapter! Please do spare some time and review!

Thank you.