A/N: The second last chapter of CAAHI! I'm gonna be sad letting this fic go ;_;

Disclaimer: I do not own Kuroko no Basuke!

CHAPTER 16:

After school at Shutoku...

The entire group had gathered at the gate on time with the exception of Kise, who was tasked to get Midorima. The new additions to their group were there as well; Kagami was fuming, probably because he was dragged there by Aomine on Akashi's orders and Kuroko was being as blank as usual.

A little put off by Kagami's presence, Aomine shuffled his feet uncomfortably. He was dreading what was about to take place. He had stayed up late last night to plan his speech to Midorima and he hoped it was enough to convince the stubborn greenhead to forgive Takao. Reviewing the speech for the eighty-ninth time that day and Aomine felt that he almost had the gist of it at the back of his head. Akashi would be so proud of him!

Speaking of the redhead, he was at the head of the group observing everyone. Feeling Aomine's eyes on him, Akashi swerved his gaze to him. There was a threat in those eyes, telling him to accomplish his task well or die. Aomine gulped.

Takao was standing around like a lost sheep, for everyone seemed to be preoccupied with the others. Akashi beckoned him to stand beside him at the front.

"Today, we are here to witness Daiki's atonement to Kazunari," he laid a hand on Takao's shoulder. "He is going to make Shintaro forgive Kazunari. There is only room for victory. Do you understand, Daiki?"

Akashi's words were laced with threat. Aomine nodded nervously. Hell, it would be better if all he had to do was play basketball with Midorima. He would win hands down, that was for sure. Unfortunately for him, basketball wasn't the case right now. A stubborn Midorima was.

As unwilling as he was to do what he was about to do, he knew that he had to take responsibility. He tapped his foot impatiently, wanting to get the whole thing over with.

Everything should go right this time.

Meanwhile, in the hallway...

Midorima was just about to leave the classroom and head home when a familiar and unwelcomed voice called out to him amidst the cheers and fangirl screams.

"Midorimacchi! Over here!"

He frowned. This meant trouble. He turned away, thinking of hurrying down the hall in order to avoid the owner of the voice.

Said owner was busy trying to untangle himself from his crazily screaming fangirls. Which was good. It would allow Midorima to escape.

In the midst of his discreet brisk-walk, he failed to see the potato sack coming.

At some secluded part of Shutoku...

Kise's placating voice and Midorma's angry cries signalled their arrival and the rough scraping sounds the potato sack made against the floor had most of the group members wincing.

The rest were signalled to hide save for Takao and Aomine and the sack containing Midorima. Takao rushed to the writhing sack and got a furious Midorima out.

"Takao! What nonsense are you trying to pull again?! This is the last straw!" Midorima spat out his words as he readjusted his glasses and rubbed the bruises he had gained from being dragged about in the sack. His anger seemed to amplify on seeing Aomine.

Kise was slightly sheepish. "Oops, I didn't mean to make him angry... I didn't know how else to bring him here." He scratched his head and stuck his tongue out in embarrassment.

"It's okay, Ryouta, the end justifies the means." Akashi soothed him.

Midorima was enraged, that was for sure, he advanced threateningly to Takao, raising his unoccupied hand as if to hit him. Takao closed his eyes in resignation.

To his surprise, he was not hit. Instead, the necklace gracing his throat was ripped out and flung to the ground. Takao felt only coldness spreading in him.

"This ends whatever we had, friendship, partnership, whatever you call it. It's over. Now get out of my sight." Shin-chan muttered, his voice calm and controlled, and turned to leave.

Tears welled up in Takao's eyes. He was really an emotional wreck over Shin-chan, wasn't he? Despite his want to salvage the situation, nothing came out of his mouth. He watched numbly as Midorima walked away.

"It's not his fault."

The group watched as Aomine, stern expression in place, stood in front of Midorima to block his way.

"And what's it to you? You don't even know Takao in the first place." Midorima retorted, a sneer appearing on his face.

Aomine felt his temper rising. He took a step towards Midorima intimidatingly, his meticulously prepared speech thrown out of the window.

"I know him more than the heartless you who doesn't give a damn about his feelings. At least I can tell of his feelings for you. Who do you think was with him when he was hurt repeatedly by your idiotic stubbornness? I can tell you, it's definitely not you."

Aomine was ranting now, his anger increasing with every word.

"Takao tried really hard; the bunny suit, flirting and the other stuff? They were all his efforts to make you like him but you were blind to it all. I don't get it. You obviously like him. The damn necklace is proof of that. So why deny that you feel something for him? Are you ashamed of being gay?"

Midorima seemed frozen in place as Aomine's words registered in him. A blush took over his features as he protested:

"I-I don't feel anything for him! He's just my slave! That necklace is just his lucky item to cure him of his craziness! And I'm not gay!"

The entire audience behind the bushes facepalmed. Midorima was really an extreme tsundere!

"Exactly! This is the problem! Look at the extent of your stubbornness! You are so obviously in love with Takao! Why are you denying your own feelings? Takao reciprocates so what's the problem? Hell, if you'll just accept him, you two would have been happy ages ago!"

Midorima remained silent, still stunned by Aomine. Takao on the other hand, was horrified. Aomine had just directly confessed his (meaning Takao's) feelings to Shin-chan! He covered his face in embarrassment, peeking through his fingers to gauge Midorima's reaction.

Midorima forced out a laugh:

"That's one of the most absurd things I've ever heard. I'm not gay. And I don't like Takao. This conversation has ended. Goodbye." With that, he turned to resume walking, stirring a few groans from the disappointed audience.

Takao didn't know where he found his courage. All he knew was that he had to stop Shin-chan from leaving. He lunged at the greenhead and they both dropped on the ground with a large thump. Takao could have sworn Kise let out a large cheer.

Midorima, on the other hand, had a sense of deja vu.

"Get off me, Takao." He flipped his back over and tried to shrug the weight off but was met with strong resistance.

"Shin-chan... Shin-chan, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to make you angry... I like you, Shin-chan! I really do... So please don't hate me..."

Knowing that begging had already shattered his pride, Takao let the tears flow. He wrapped his arms around Midorima and buried his face into his neck.

"Shin-chan... I like you... Please forgive me... Shin-chan..."

Midorima's anger crumbled at the sight of a teary Takao. His arms slowly and unconsciously went around him. In the background, the audience were cheering silently as they watched the scene unfold.

"Don't cry. I'll hear you out, okay?" Midorima awkwardly ran his hand down Takao's back in an attempt to calm him down. He looked away in embarrassment. The pair sat in silence, enjoying the warmth of each other's embrace. Aomine felt terribly out of place now. He muttered a few curses under his breath and turned to leave.

The pair's engrossment in each other caused them to not notice Aomine's departure. The remaining audience, although reluctant, discreetly left as well to give the couple some time together.

"Shin-chan... I like you..." Takao repeated his words, looking into Midorima's eyes in desperation, as if trying to search for the answer to his feelings.

Midorima had a conflicted expression on his face. He seemed to be debating on what to say.

"I-I... It didn't feel right without you with me these few weeks. And I may have gone a little overboard..." He clutched Takao's waist tighter as he trailed off. As much as he wouldn't admit it, he kind of missed Takao's presence during the past few weeks.

Takao's eyes widened. This was as close to a confession he'll get from Shin-chan, wasn't it? He was speechless, his feelings indescribable and the furious palpitations of his heart reinforced the reality of the situation. His heart soaring, Takao hugged his partner.

"Shin-chan... Shin-chan... I'm so happy..." Takao smiled up at Midorima goofily. A part of him told him that as real as this seemed, this had to be a dream, and he was just in his delusional fantasies again. He needed a wake-up call.

"Shin-chan..."

"Hmm?"

"Slap me..." he continued dreamily.

Shin-chan gave him a disturbed look.

"Okay."

Shin-chan raised his hand for the second time that day, and promptly slapped Takao.

"OWW that hurt, you moron! Eh... It hurts? Does this mean this isn't a dream and you aren't a fantasy? Shin-channnn! You are real!? Shin-cha-ompf!" Takao's babble was silenced with Midorima's lips pressing against him.

That day, Takao shared his second kiss with Shin-chan.

A/N: And so we've a happy ending xD How was it? Abrupt? Acceptable? Do tell me your opinion... And also, stay tuned for the last chapter!