Ergh, stuvac is killing me and exams start Monday but I am so over studying it's not funny. So I thought I'd write instead, at least I'm productive in some way right?

Hope you all enjoy this!

Chapter 12

The haze of elation lasted until Aomine opened the door to admit his childhood friend into his home, that night. Sitting down, and breaking the news to Satsuki was easier said than done. A tense and heavy silence hung over the pair as Aomine concluded his long-winded, convoluted and downright confusing relation of events.

"O-oi, Satsuki…"

The pink-haired girl shook her bowed head slightly. Aomine had known her long enough to know when to give her time and space. He chewed on his lower lip in concern before getting up silently and padding into his kitchen. Opening the top most cupboard – the one Satsuki never managed to reach, even when she stacked chair upon chair – he rummaged around before procuring a well-hidden tin and set to work on making things right.

'Stupid Satsuki.'

The young woman berated herself over and over again in her mind. She had known from the start that the mild-mannered and sweet-tempered light blue haired boy – with the most adorable eyes to match – had belonged to the prodigy who had one tanned arm slung around the shorter boy's neck throughout their introduction. Her suspicions had been confirmed in a multitude of ways throughout their three years at Teiko, and yet she hadn't been able to stop her traitorous heart from flinging itself at Tetsu-kun's feet.

'Stupid, stupid Satsuki.'

Hearing Dai-chan shuffling back into the living area, she surreptitiously swiped her palm over her eyes. A soft and awkward cough caused her to look up. Dai-chan was crouched in front her, eyes averted and clearly uncomfortable but offering her a mug. Her eyes widened. Not just a mug, she realised as the steam wafted towards her, bringing with it a rich and aromatic fragrance. But a mug of her favourite hot cocoa that was only sold in Belgium, the one Dai-chan had introduced to her years and years ago, during one of his father's infrequent and brief pitstops between business trips. Satsuki's eyes welled up with tears again when she saw that he had even topped it with a generous swirl of whipped cream, delicate dark chocolate shavings that were still curling at the edges and a fresh, dark red cherry; none of that overly sweet and preserved glace rubbish that she hated with a passion.

As she offered her best friend a tremulous smile – and a slight giggle at his badly hidden sigh of relief – and accepted the drink, Satsuki resolved then and there that she would become the number one supporter of her two most favourite and loved people in this world.

"So have you formulated a plan for your first date yet?"

"Eh? Plan? Well, I was thinking we could hit the burger joint and I'd get him his favourite vanilla milkshake." Aomine shrugged.

"This burger place. The one we're sitting in right this moment."

"Well, yeah," he paused at the disbelieving look Satsuki was shooting him, "Er, and a movie afterwards?"

"Dai-chan!" She punched her friend in the shoulder, "That's a terrible plan! It's the same as what you've been doing for the past three and a half years. It's your first date together, it has to be special!"

The basketball player was in the process of rubbing his sore arm and coming up with a clever retort when a cheerful voice interrupted, "Momocchi's right you know, Aominecchi."

This was punctuated with loud chewing and the crinkling of foil and followed by, "As I thought, Virgo's have a poor affinity to creative thinking and constructive planning this week."

Aomine groaned, barely restraining from bashing his head heavily against the table, "You guys are everywhere."

"Now," Satsuki chirped brightly, "Since everyone's arrived, let's start planning!"

"I think they should go to a fancy restaurant, I can even get my manager to set up violins and roses and champagne-"

"How about a bakery? They sell a lot of really nice pastries and sweets there."

"In my opinion, they should explore the cultural side to this city, there's nothing like the sound of a philharmonic orchestra to-"

"No, no, no! Dai-chan should cook a picnic lunch and take Tetsu-kun to a park where there will be sakura trees in blossom, it would be so romantic!"

The clash of four voices and four very different ideas continued to weave its dissonance around Aomine who valiantly tried to block them all out by pure determination. It wasn't working.

The discussion – yelling match – was just reaching its peak – homicidal intent had just been thrown onto the table – when Satsuki had enough. She slammed her hands against the table, "Shut up! All of you!"

As the voices died down, Satsuki spoke persistently over the discontented grumbles, "How about we implement all the plans?"

There was a brief silence before Aomine couldn't hold it in anymore, "What?! Are you out of your minds? That's the stupidest idea I've ever-"

He was soon drowned out (and ignored) by the rest of the members at the table and their enthusiastic agreements.

"So- Dai-chan! Listen up!"

Aomine grunted half-heartedly in response.

"So," Satsuki started again, "The plan is, on Saturday, you'll begin the day with fresh pastries from the bakery Muk-kun frequents."

"It's really very good," the giant's eyes were glazed over in hunger even as he spoke.

"Then you'll head to Ueno Park with your home-cooked picnic basket and have the most romantic lunch ever!"

"After which, you'll take Kurokocchi to Kozue, it's got spectacular views Aominecchi! And I'll get my manager to organise candles and violins and lots and lots of roses!"

"And after dinner, you'll attend the performance of NHK Symphony Orchestra at Bunkamura Orchard Hall. You're very lucky they're performing this week."

"Now, remember Dai-chan, you're then going to accompany Tetsu-kun home and voila! After such a perfect day, he won't be able to resist you, you'll be getting that goodnight kiss, Dai-chan!" Satsuki squealed while the others blanched.

Aomine blinked blankly at his crazy manager and previous team mates.

"You lot are serious."

"OF COURSE, WE ARE!"

This time, Aomine didn't even try to stop himself, he let his head fall heavily and repetitively against the table top.

Kuroko was just wrapping up his nightly training session when he heard his phone vibrate loudly against one of the wooden benches which lined the court. Panting softly, he trotted over and peered at the glowing screen. Upon seeing the caller ID, his lips unconsciously lifted into a soft, fond grin.

"Aomine-kun."

"H-hey, T-tetsu. Um, about our, er, d-date…"

While the pale boy waited patiently for his light to continue, he tugged a towel free from his bag and began drying off. Knowing Aomine-kun, it was going to take a while.

'But,' Kuroko paused in his motions and tipped his smiling face up to gaze at the night sky above, 'Like all good things in life, Aomine-kun was more than worth the wait.'

Ring-ring. Rin-

"Satsuki."

"Akashi-kun."

"I assume, everything has gone to plan."

"Yep. Ki-chan, Midorin and Muk-kun played their parts perfectly."

"Good. Very good work, Satsuki."

"I'll see you this coming Saturday then, Akashi-kun?"

"Hm."

So next chapter will be the date that this story has been building up to! Stay tuned! :D