A/N: THREE MONTHS! It's been three months. I am so so so so sorry for making you guys wait this long. I feel absolutely awful. You have my boyfriend to thank for making me finally get this chapter out. He read all of your reviews out loud to me through the phone and basically guilt tripped me.

On another note, he left a review with a message/question for all you readers. Go take a look at the reviews if you want to see. Meep!

Disclaimer: I don't own KnB.

A few days passed. Winter continued to extend its icy limbs.

Kuroko skipped practice. It was all he could do to save his sanity and pride for the time being. He avoided being out in public; he was sticking out like a sore thumb. He had started to wear a dark grey beanie to protect his ears from the cold wind but it also acted as a do-not-bother-me flag to strangers. It also hid his light hair nicely. People couldn't recognize him from afar.

He really didn't need people jumping him from behind and harassing him about how he wasn't showing up to practice (Mainly Aida Riko). There was also a strange dread in the pit of his stomach that Kagami would find him before Kuroko mustered up the courage to confront him himself. But that dread, he suspected, was also a hope. Not that he would ever admit it. He was even more acute to his surroundings than before.

Then came the meet up. The morning of, Kuroko woke up abnormally early, even though his first class started at 1PM. Exhaustion wracked his body but his mind wouldn't let him fall back asleep. He lay in bed staring at his dorm ceiling for a good 10 minutes before rolling off the bed and onto the carpet. The carpet felt no better than the bed.

The rest of the day dragged on and Kuroko found himself fighting the urge to tap things impatiently. When his last class ended, he bolted out the door and walked as fast as his feet could take him back to his dorm. It felt like a walk that would never end, but eventually he arrived back to his sanctuary and flopped back on his bed. His bag was tossed in a corner and his jacket was abandoned near the doorway. The beanie was lying at the foot of his tiny bed.

No work today. But there was the barbeque with the basketball team to endure.

He kicked off the constraints of his jeans and splayed out on his back, staring at the ceiling. Now, he felt lethargic. The energy he had earlier had dissipated and was replaced with a sense of dread.

I'll eat as little as possible and leave as soon as I can. The worst thing that could probably happen was him being cornered by Kagami, which was unlikely to happen. He felt some sort of relief at that thought.

Bailing out wasn't a good idea either. He'd have multiple people giving him a hard time about it.

He got to the train station on time, after taking a quick shower and cleaning up his room. Kuroko made sure to put on the beanie as he left. With his hands glued to the insides of his pockets, Kuroko stood beside a pillar at the platform, waiting for the train to arrive. It would be a few stops, so a long ride wasn't expected. The station wasn't particularly busy at the time.

The jingling melody signaling the arrival of the train sound and he started to move towards the edge of the platform but he froze in his tracks. His stomach felt like it was dropping to the floor.

Oh god.

Kagami Taiga was walking into the compartment closest to Kuroko, sporting a black jacket and a head full of fiery red hair. An abnormally tall guy with hair like that was almost impossible not to spot.

He dived back behind the pillar as he saw Kagami taking a seat but panicked as he heard the melody signaling the departing of the train. Kuroko dashed across the platform and darted into the next compartment just as the doors were about to close. They closed with a clunk behind him and he clutched the metal bar closest to him as he regained his breath.

Too close for comfort.

His heartbeat finally slowed as the train resumed its journey and Kuroko lifted his head, only to see a dozen pair of eyes glued upon him. All female.

He took a better look at the compartment he was in and realized he had entered the all-female one. Kuroko felt like sinking into a hole and disappearing. This was the worst thing to ever happen to him. He ducked his head down and bowed a bit, muttering awkward and sheepish apologies as he scooted towards the closest end of the compartment to move into the next one. Several glares were thrown his way.

Why do I have to be noticeable at the worst possible moments? He groaned.

As Kuroko entered the next compartment, he received several more suspicious looks. After all, he was a male that just exited the all-female compartment. He quickly took a corner seat that was available and turned his head towards the window behind him.

Kagami's in this train a few seats away. The mere thought made Kuroko feel like diving out the window. This was a horrendous start to the night that was already predicted to be awful.

He kept his head turned away as best as he could so he would be unrecognizable. The three stops that he had to endure until they reached their destination were excruciating. He kept his face blank, though, staring out at the window even though his neck was starting out hurt from twisting around in his seat. The time almost seemed to pass at an impossibly slow speed and when the familiar landmarks finally came into view from the window, Kuroko clutched the edge of his seat, ready to bolt out before Kagami realized. The train slowed to a stop and Kuroko stood up as fast as he could and sped his way out. He saw Kagami getting out of his seat from the corner of his eye and he picked up his pace.

Kuroko had no idea how it happened but his foot clumsily hit his other foot as he was trying to get away and he felt himself falling onto his face. He threw his hands out to break the fall but it was too late. Luckily, there was no one in front of him. The pain had him disabled for a few seconds but the sound of Kagami's voice behind him jolted him back.

"Hey, you okay?"

No. Not okay at all!

He scrambled to his feet and tried to sprint as fast as he could towards the stairs leading up to the exit. He had probably left Kagami dumbstruck at the scene of his accident. He didn't even dare look back. Kuroko was lucky enough already to not be recognized.

This presence was really becoming a problem.

I'm heading off to a university freshman orientation for 3 days tomorrow so I gave you guys a short chapter. Sorry! R&R