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Kise had no prior reason to hate hospitals.

When his eldest sister, who was a successful editor for one of the largest publishing firms in Tokyo, gave birth to her daughter, the hospital had been a place for celebrations. When his next eldest sister had gotten a nose job, again, the hospital served as a place to celebrate her new and improved look. Even when Kise broke his arm in high school, the hospital was a place for gathering almost all his classmates and all their wonderful gifts.

But now it was downright scary.

Apparently, Kuroko was just passing by the police box on the north side of town when he passed out. Aomine, being on duty, found him and carried him all the way to the hospital. He was currently pacing the hallway, his uniform making everyone who passed through the hall nervous.

After Kise and Takao arrived, Takao had tried to calm down Aomine by telling him to go take a smoke outside but Aomine refused, insisting that he stayed right outside the emergency unit until the doctors came out.

It was no doubt odd for Kise to see Aomine so concerned over Kuroko's health. True, any normal person would care what happened to someone as sweet as Kurokocchi was, but Kise was under the impression that Aomine couldn't even stand to hear his boss's name. So to see Aomine, sweat on his brow, his fists clenched not in anger, but in worry, was something out of a dream.

Takao sat next to him, his knees bouncing as he watched Aomine mumbled inaudible things under his breath.

"Takao-kun?" Kise nudged him with his knee.

When he didn't answer at first, Kise nudged him again, this time with his shoulder.

"Huh?" Takao snapped back to reality and turned to face Kise. "What is it?"

"What exactly is wrong with Kurokocchi? I mean, I knew that he was sick but…" Kise's voice trailed off, unable to fathom what was going to happen to one of the few people in this world that treated him more than just a pretty face.

"He's –" Takao paused, looking up at Aomine but when the other didn't respond in any way, continued "- He's been really sick for awhile now. When we were in junior high, he was diagnosed with arthritis. At first, it wasn't so bad but…"

Takao sighed and looked towards Aomine who had stopped moving, his back still to them but, somehow, Kise knew that he was listening to every word Takao said.

"But then he was in the hospital for, like, six weeks. He lost a lot of weight and he, well, he just became really frail and it was difficult to get him back to normal again." Takao fiddled with his fingers, hyperaware of Aomine, Kise, and the moving bodies throughout the corridor. "But in high school, he was completely fine. He joined the basketball team with us and it was all good. Even after we graduated, everything seemed totally okay, like, he still was in pain sometimes but it was never that bad. Just two years ago… Um…"

"Two years ago, it got really bad and he hasn't improved much since." Aomine finished, still turned away. His shoulders were rigid, stiff with Kise didn't know what – concern? Fear? Anger? Whatever it was, Kise felt for the guy. It was obvious that whatever was between Aomine and Kuroko stemmed from this and Kise wanted to tell him it was okay, that nothing was his fault, that it wasn't going to end up without Kurokocchi – but Kise didn't know Aomine that well and he had a feeling that if he said any of those things, he'd get punched in the gut.

"He's been in a lot of pain and his granny has been really worried about him…" Takao said quietly. "She wants him to sell the store and move somewhere he can be taken care of –"

"But he's too damn stubborn to let go." Aomine growled, continuing to pace the hall, his voice low and dangerous.

Kise swallowed and felt like he needed to get out of the hospital, like he needed to escape from here to close his eyes and just breathe in air that wasn't so sterile.

But he would stay as long as he needed to.

Finally, after another hour of waiting, the doctor came out of the room.

No one said anything, all holding their breath. Waiting.

"He's awake now. Everything seems to be going smoothly, but he's in a lot of pain right now. He won't be going anywhere for the next few weeks." The doctor paused, waiting for something, but when he got nothing, he continued. "You can go in and see him, but please, keep it quick, he's on a lot of medication right now and we need him to rest."

Aomine stood motionless and Takao had to grab ahold of his arm to get him into the room. Kise waited a few moments before entering himself, but once inside the room, he could feel the tension. Aomine stood at the window, saying nothing, not moving, his shoulders still hunched together. Takao was sitting next to Kuroko, who was watching Aomine's back, his eyes distant.

Kise slowly made it to the bed where his boss lay. Takao got up and gestured for Kise to sit, whispering to Kise that he would go to the nursing home to tell Kuroko's grandmother the situation.

"Kise-kun." Kuroko was still watching Aomine and his voice was weak, as far off as his eyes.

"Yes, Kurokocchi?" Kise felt himself swell with emotion as he saw a tear fall from Kuroko's pale eyes.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you my situation but I want to thank you for all the help you've given me the past few weeks." Kuroko managed to get out, his voice breaking as he went. "But I'm going to have to close the store… I'll be in here for awhile. I may… I may even be moved to Tokyo if my situation gets any worse."

Kise was silent for a moment as he swallowed any emotion that was threatening to spill from his lips. He knew this whole speech was probably for Aomine's benefit, but Kise was feeling the pain in his chest.

"Kurokocchi…"

"Can I trust you with Nigou –" Kuroko's voice broke and he had to wait a few moments before continuing "- Will you take him for me?"

"O-Of course, Kurokocchi!" Kise nodded eagerly, "And I can take care of the store for you when you're gone! I don't know how to arrange any fancy arrangements but I could try my best! I don't know how to order stock either but I could ask someone to help me! I don't know how to even work the cash register but I could figure that out on my own, I swear!"

Although Kuroko was still struggling to keep his composure together, he managed a small laugh.

"Thank you, Kise-kun, but I couldn't ask that of you."

"I'll – I'll ask Kasamatsu-Senpai to help me! I'll hire Hayato-kun and Jun-kun, even though he's evil, Senpai will understand and we could manage…" Kise trailed off as Aomine finally turned around from the window, his fingers pressed to his eyes.

"Daiki –"

Aomine was out the door before Kuroko could say anything.

…

Sundays were usually Kise's days off but this Sunday, Kise awoke the moment the sun peaked past the mountainous horizon.

The house had been dead quiet since last night. Kise didn't know where Aomine had gone and Takao returned late, only to go straight into his room. A note was left on the table of a phone number that Kise didn't realize and some scribbles that Kise guessed to be Takao's writing. By the looks of it, he had called Aomine's parents in Brazil yesterday to tell them the news.

The air was already moist when Kise left on the bike he had bought a few weeks ago. It was the beginnings of the rainy season and Kise could tell it was going to pour later today. Knowing that, he didn't return back in the house for an umbrella or jacket.

He had a job to do and it couldn't wait.

The Kasamatsu household was situated just where Kurokocchi had said: on the river front, nestled between two old, weathering houses. Just like the store, the house was littered on the outside with random potted plants, bikes and little knick knacks. It was the same worn dark brown color as Kise's house and the paint around the windows were peeling away.

Kise rang the doorbell and waited. He knew that they would be home today since it was Sunday and the store didn't open until nine, so Kise figured it gave him about an hour to talk with the Kasamatsu's before they left to open the store. Kise rang the bell again, adding a desperate knock to the mix that would surely convey his urgency.

Apparently, they weren't used to getting guests so early, because when the eldest of the Kasamatsu brothers opened the door, all he dawned was a pair little blue boxers and a grey t-shirt that was one inside out and backwards.

"What do you want?" Kasamatsu yawned into the back of his hand, his eyes still closed.

"Senpai, I need a favor to ask!"

"What the hell? Kise? What are you doing here?" Kasamatsu suddenly looked wide awake at the realization that it was Kise that stood before him. His ears started turning red and he pulled on his grey t-shirt to hide the fact that he was only in his boxers.

"Senpai, can I come in? It's very urgent!" Kise stomped a foot.

"What the – Okay, fine, come in." Kasamatsu stepped aside to allow Kise in.

Kise knew that only men had lived in this house for a good fifteen years, so it shouldn't have surprised him to find it completely lacking in any décor or cleanliness whatsoever, but it was still shocking to find how completely dull it was. The entry way opened straight into the kitchen. Pots and pans were stacked in the sink, with leftovers from the store scattered all along the counter and sacks of potatoes and onions on the floor. The Fridge had a family photograph that Kise would have to take a better look at later. There was a wooden table, piled with books, homework, and orders from the grocery store, that separated the cooking area with the living room.

Sitting there, was a half-naked Hayato, still half asleep as he lazily spooned some cereal into his mouth.

"Sit down." Kasamatsu ordered, pointing at the chair next to his youngest brother.

"Yes sir." Kise mumbled, sitting on command. Hayato didn't spare him a glance and just continued to barely maneuver the spoon into the general area of his mouth. Kise wasn't even sure if he was awake any more.

"You want some breakfast? Tea?" Kasamatsu was busy at the counter, already with two bowls out and pouring cereal into both of them. He grabbed two mugs from the drying rack and poured in some hot water.

When everything was placed before him without even asking for it, Kise mumbled a thanks and sipped at his tea.

"So what did you want, kouhai?" Kasamatsu asked, sitting across from Kise.

Hayato pipped up at that, suddenly turned to look at Kise. They sat staring at each other for a moment before Hayato turned a nice shade of pink – very reminiscent of his brother's blush – and quickly ran from the table, taking the steps two at a time, his hands covering his chest like he was some girl.

"He may act a big game, but he's shy." Kasamatsu shrugged, eating more of his cereal.

"You just called me your kouhai." Kise said, awestruck.

"Yeah, well, you call me senpai and you're an idiot like Takao and Aomine, who were actually my kouhai in school, so that's what you are."

At the mention of Aomine, Kise remembered why he had come to the Kasamatsu household early on a Sunday morning in the first place.

"Senpai! I need your help!" Kise bowed, careful not to dunk his head into the cereal bowl.

It was silent for a moment, the only noise coming from the soft drip of the faucet and the quiet padding of feet up above.

"Is this about Kuroko?"

"You heard?"

"I work in a grocery store, I know everything that goes on in this town." Kasamatsu shrugged. "All the old ladies were really concerned."

"He wants to close the shop until… Until he gets better! I can't let him do that! He loves it and I want to help him in any way that I can…" Kise felt emotion start to swell in his heart. He wasn't really aware of it until now but he couldn't help but question if he would have done something like this back when he lived in the city.

"So keep it open, I don't see why you needed to come all the way over here to tell me that." Kasamatsu yawned.

"I can't do it alone!" Kise cried. "You know what my previous job was! I have no experience in business; I don't know how to order inventory, or work a cash register, or make a bouquet or –"

"Okay, okay, just shut up, okay?" Kasamatsu sighed, getting up from his seat. He walked to the small bookshelf across from the table and grabbed a black binder labeled 'Schedule' and sat back down across from Kise. He pushed some of the papers away from between them so Kise could see what he was doing.

"Now, this is going to give me so many migraines, but I can put Hayakawa in charge on Mondays and Wednesdays and come over to help you myself." Kasamatsu grabbed a random pen from the table and marked up the page. "I could get Jun to help you on Tuesdays and Thursdays after he comes home from school…"

Kise looked up as Kasamatsu trailed off, watched as his Senpai rubbed his chin, something Kise found he did a lot of when he was thinking. His eyes scrunched up and he stared at the binder before him. He sighed and looked up the stairs and back at the binder.

"I guess I could have Hayato help out on Fridays." Kasamatsu paused, meeting Kise's eyes for a second before looking back down. "He's been in trouble lately with not doing his school work but maybe working with you will motivate him."

Kise nodded, keeping his eyes on Kasamatsu. "And on Saturdays?"

"Saturdays… Hmm," Kasamatsu rubbed his chin again. "Wait a minute, can't you handle one day on your own, you lazy shit?"

Kise laughed, his first since what happened yesterday.

"I am an idiot, remember, I need all the help I can get."

"That's for sure," Kasamatsu mumbled, snapping the binder closed without making any markings on Saturday. He rose to put it back: "Now shut up and finish your breakfast."

This story is moving quite slow but its nice to write some daily-life, semi-peaceful, country story instead of focusing solely on my papers for school. So I hope you are enjoying it as well!

Also I have no idea what to title this chapter... soooo...