"No one can beat me, not even you."

The words sliced through the autumn air, a low yet resonant warning of things that were no longer there.

Aomine's tone, voice, and words were layered with steel, hard and cold no matter how much of a lazy drawl it came out as.

It was a warning for him to back off, because Aomine Daiki could never be defeated, especially not by Seirin whom Touou tripled their score against during summer.

Yet, though he boasted such words of arrogance, not a single hint of even misplaced joy was present in the voice of the winner.

No one was happy.

Not him.

Not Kuroko.

His former partner only felt his mouth dry, forcing words to form in retaliation he stared up at his erstwhile light, azure eyes dark and hardened as he breathed out , "...Hah."

It was a perfectly dead and even tone yet, in all honesty, his impassion may have been forced, the only way to counter the foreign being that possessed his former reason to continue basketball. Despite his lazy demeanor, if it wasn't for Aomine, he would've quit basketball long ago yet, it was precisely that which made even him become unable to stomach the situation.

Unlike Kise or Midorima who were merely led astray by victory somewhere along the way, Aomine was swallowed by an impossibly bright light of talent, blinding him to everything around him. To him, those days depicted in Kise and Midorima's photos didn't exist anymore in fact, to him, it was questionable if such things could've been remembered—Not when a single shred of the former Aomine Daiki ceased to exist.

His smile, his laughter, and his passion were long gone.

The only thing left was Aomine's talent—the cause behind all this despair.

Even though, there shouldn't have been anything wrong with having talent.

Kuroko sighed. Seeing all those pictures of the past allowed him to grow soft, to become naive again and believe that like with the previous two, things would out smoothly when that was far from the truth.

But if anything, Kuroko didn't like to give up. Besides, Aomine's attitude was something apparent long ago. There was no need to reminisce the past, not for what he needed to do.

"Then Aomine-kun, since you're here now, would you like to get going?" Kuroko prodded with nonchalance.

"Hah? Oi are we seriously going somewhere?" He demanded, catching up to the wan youth. Immediately, his strides caught up.

Kuroko tilted towards to the teen beside him. "Yes of course. I wanted you to help buy some basketball items with me. The Winter Cup starts this Saturday after all."

"Then just go with Kagami or something, there's no need to get me to come. Besides, what's the point in helping my first match-up?" Aomine yawned, clearly wanting to return to the warmth of his bed.

Kuroko stayed resolute, orbs of pure azure meeting the murky ocean. "Kagami-kun and the others were busy. Moreover, I need Aomine-kun for this. Aomine-kun is the one that bought me my sweatbands after all." He replied blankly.

Aomine however, displayed surprise.

"…Oi, do you seriously still remember that? The birthday present I gave you." He frowned, seemingly displeased.

Ever so slightly, a whiff of a smile passed Kuroko's face. "Should that not be my line? It's Aomine-kun who remembered it was for my birthday."

Aomine cringed. "Ngh! Shut up Tetsu," he scoffed, turning away from the boy as the two headed towards the department store.

Kuroko blankly stared up at the half-hidden face of the teen. Faintly, he felt the presence of the partner he once knew.

"But well…" he heard Aomine begin, head still turned away. "I guess, considering that I never got you a present again after that, it wouldn't hurt to look." He mumbled, voice slightly stiff as he awkwardly placed his hand on his neck.

Kuroko widened his eyes. "…Thank you, Aomine-kun."

Perhaps, it wasn't too late.

The shelves of the department store were packed with a multitude of colorful bands in every array. Along with the stock of sweatbands were basketball shoes hung from the every wall, standardized high quality basketballs, and a variety of other basketball equipment, fit for the place to be dubbed "Basketball Haven". There were even some NBA magazines by the counter.

Yet despite seeing so many items that were practically glittering under the light, Aomine barely batted an eye as he headed towards the sweatband section, eyes as dulled as ever.

Kuroko couldn't help but notice that.

"Oi, Tetsu, just get something like this," Aomine drawled, tossing a pair of black sweatbands over.

Kuroko blinked, easily catching the item as he stared at the package. "…No thank you." He immediately responded.

Aomine flinched. That was fast! "Hah?!" he demanded in confusion. "You wanted a sweatband right? This is a pretty good brand already so you should take it!"

"No. It's not the one I wanted," Kuroko returned stubbornly.

Aomine sucked in a breath. God he forgot how stubborn this guy was! "Ah? You're picky about sweatbands now?"

"Because it wasn't the brand Aomine-kun bought me before." The youth frankly stated, not a single shred of embarrassment on his face despite the various connotations it contained.

Unlike Kagami, Aomine was long accustomed to it. "…You, are you serious?"

"Of course."

He immediately facepalmed. "Ugh…Don't you know that band was part of a special collection that only sold so many at a time?"

Kuroko widened his eyes. "Eh? Aomine-kun, you still remember?" he asked in surprise. He thought he didn't care anymore, their friendship, their memories were all supposed to have been overshadowed by the incidents of the past. Not a single one of the Generation of Miracles were reminiscent about it when Kuroko first saw them again in high school—even Kise, who only wanted Kuroko to join Kaijou.

"Hah?! Of course I remember! How can I not remember how I had to shoot down store after store to look for that damn thing!" Aomine cried in exasperation, back facing the boy as he scanned the shelves for that special brand. "Even with Satsuki's data that thing was still hard to get!"

"…Then what about Kise-kun's birthday?"

A slight groan. "Oh god that guy. I was kind enough to give him one of my new Mai-chan photobooks but no, I did not want it exchanged for one of his!"

A smile. "Then, Midorima-kun's?"

"Hah? That guy's? Nnnn, just remembering it makes me sick. He was beyond picky with whatever I had with me that in the end I just gave him a can of Shiruko."

A slight crinkle by the eyes. "Well, in the end, you forgot and only did have things such as eraser bits, photobooks, and the like."

"Hey! He should've been grateful that I was giving him a book to adulthood!"

"…Hah." Kuroko unconvincingly agreed.

"Oi!" Aomine cried, finally deciding to whip around before he gaped, dropping the packages of black wristbands as he caught the sight of an undeniable smile on Kuroko's face.

"T-tetsu…?" He blinked, unused to such a sight. It was still slight compared to Kise and Momoi's over-dazzling/annoying grins but, held much more emotion than the two combined.

Kuroko immediately caught himself.

He reverted to his poker face.

Unusually enough, Aomine felt as if he should've saved it to his phone; he didn't know why.

Wait…was it because of that one time in the past when they all tried to make Kuroko laugh?

Hmm, what was wrong with today? Being around with Kuroko suddenly made him uncharacteristically nostalgic. Many memories were starting to resurface from the crannies of his mind, and for once, not just the bad ones.

"Ah, I'm sorry Aomine-kun but… I still think I want that sweatband."

…So it was back to that again?!

"Okay, okay, fine!" Aomine cried in defeat. Kuroko was beyond stubborn. "Then Tetsu, just wait here alright?" He instructed, pointing to a bench outside the store.

Kuroko tilted his head. "…Where are you planning to go?"

"Hah? Didn't you say you wanted that? I'll go look for it so just stay put." Aomine sighed, stuffing his hands back into his coat pockets as he ambled off.

Kuroko blinked. "Eh? No that wasn't what I inten—"

Already, Aomine was out of earshot, blending somewhat in with the common crowd that shoved through the store floors although, with his height and tanned skin, he wasn't hard to spot but, for Kuroko's maximum voice output, he was far beyond his reach.

Staring at the disappearing silhouette of his former "light", instead of waiting, he stood up.

He began to walk away.

Knowing Aomine, it was probably going to take a while and well, he recalled that there was a Maji Burger on the way from here.

He promptly purchased a vanilla milkshake, contentedly sipping on its soft and fluffy goodness at the shop.

Aomine however, returned 30 seconds sooner than what he had predicted.

"…Oi…are you serious?" Aomine Daiki scoffed, plopping down on the deserted bench with sigh. "Damn, where did Tetsu go now?" He muttered, discontent that the boy pulled another one of his disappearing acts on him.

Wait, disappearing acts? Hmm, maybe if he squinted…he would appear? "Tetsu?" Aomine murmured, already small eyes squinted into stereotypical Asian slits. "Tetsu?"

"…Yes Aomine-kun? Why are you looking for me with that disturbing expression?" A suddenly voice blandly voiced from behind.

Aomine jolted. He whipped around in fright as a thin wan figure with azure orbs and powder blue spiked up streaks of hair appeared in his sight.

"T-t-tetsu!"

"…Yes?" Kuroko repeated, eyes as blank as ever.

The taller of the two stayed frozen before slowly, he released a sigh, cupping his face in his hand. "You're seriously as invisible as ever Tetsu."

"…Thank you."

He glanced up at the boy. "Hah? That wasn't a compliment you know?"

"…Really? I thought it was. If I wasn't "invisible", I wouldn't be playing basketball like this now. Besides…I find this to be quite handy," Kuroko intoned, leaving an ominous suggestion as he raised up his left hand, revealing a freshly made Teriyaki Burger.

Aomine gaped at him. "O-oi you couldn't have possibly used your misdirection to—!"

The burger was Ignite Passed to his face. Luckily, it was done so with greatest force possible before splatter.

"Of course not Aomine-kun. Now please eat. Teriyaki Burger is still your favorite right?" Kuroko confirmed, continuing to down his vanilla shake.

"Ah? Yeah…" Aomine murmured, reaching for the burger before he stopped himself. "Oh right, Tetsu, I better give this to you first." He recalled, roughly rummaging through the bag to present him with a package with "Seishun" written on it.

"Ah, it's that brand." Kuroko blurted.

"Yeah, after searching through 5 stores." Aomine sighed. "It's not even popular now, why would you get it?"

"…Well, because it's motto was interesting."

"Hah?"

"Seishun means "youth" right? The motto was therefore, 'Passion, Friendship, and Fun'" Kuroko stated. "It sounds interesting doesn't it? As if a bunch of sports maniacs made it."

"…That's where you find it interesting?!" Aomine rebuked in astonishment. Yet, after he cooled, a contemplating expression passed his face. "But…yeah, you're right. Passion, friendship, and fun…that does sound pretty interesting." He murmured with faraway eyes. "So…that's what's a part of youth right?"

Kuroko stared at the figure of his former light. "…Yes."

"Then I'm already—"

"Aomine-kun's already an old man then right?" Kuroko interjected.

Immediately, Aomine swiveled up, instantly destroying the meager height advantage Kuroko had on him while he sat. "Tetsu you little—!"

Accidentally, he knocked the bag off the bench, spewing out a variety of basketball magazines to the floor.

"Geh." Aomine cursed, languidly shoving them back into the bag.

Kuroko stared them with a hint of shock. "Aomine-kun, I thought you weren't interested in basketball."

It was Aomine turn to gape at him. "Hah? Who said I wasn't interested? Where the hell did you get that idea?"

"Because Aomine-kun didn't look at a thing when we were in the store." Kuroko explained.

"Huh? Oh…that." The rangy teen recalled, turning to the basketball section. Suddenly, he sighed, lazily forcing himself up. "Oi Tetsu, see that?" He asked, pointing at a blue and black shoe on the display case.

"…Yes."

"Well, that's the best shoe in that store and…that's a part of my collection at home. So, there's no need for me to look at shoes."

"…Hah." Kuroko deadpanned. Aomine's household didn't look particularly rich, how in the world did he afford that shoe Kagami was always ogling at whenever they passed by?

"Yeah. And, see that basketball next to it?"

"Yes."

"That's the best in this store and…it's what Touou bribed me with to join their team." Aomine confessed in nonchalance.

Kuroko immediately stopped. He gave Aomine one of his signature soul-skinning stares.

"W-what!?"

"…And here Aomine-kun was worried about me being a criminal." The phantom player voiced, causing him to flinch.

"H-hey! They seriously gave it to me out of their own free will!"

"No, I can clearly imagine Aomine-kun employing methods of extortion. Aomine-kun is a ganguro after all."

"Oi! I'm not one and that's not even what a ganguro means!"

He wasn't met with much of a response other than a repeated, "Hah." Aomine grimaced…before he laughed.

"Pfft. Tetsu. You seriously haven't changed at all," he sighed between laughs, recalling their past quarrels over such trivial things.

Kuroko blinked. "Aomine-kun too. I'm glad you didn't start to hate basketball."

"Course not. Like I said, why would I? If I seriously did, I wouldn't even be playing!" Aomine sighed. "But…you're right about one thing. Basketball isn't interesting right now—at least, the one I'm playing. In fact, I don't even know what the thing I'm playing is." Aomine muttered, words turning bitter as he plopped down once more.

Kuroko narrowed his eyes. He knew exactly what he was getting at. He wasn't lying when he said Aomine was already an old man.

Passion.

Friendship.

Fun.

These things had long slipped the ace's grasp. He was the best, yet, the moment he reached his peak, everything was lost. Even though, there was nothing wrong with trying your best to do what you love.

Kuroko parted his lips. "Then…Aomine-kun, did you at least like it, the days we used to play basketball together?"

The tanned teen stared at him, wide-eyed before slowly, a pained smile spread across his face. "Ah Tetsu, I seriously don't get how you can say such embarrassing things with a straight face." He sighed, "but…yeah. I did. At least, much more than now." He confessed, head tilted up at his former "shadow".

*SNAP!*

He blinked at the sound of a shutter, noticing that somehow, Kuroko had whipped out a camera and was already pulling out a freshly made photo from within.

Yet, the boy barely gave it a peek before a curt smile uplifted his face. He neatly tucked it away in the depths of his coat pocket.

"Huh? What the hell Tetsu," Aomine demanded, eyesight still blurred by the sudden flash of light.

"Ah I'm sorry Aomine-kun." Kuroko apologized yet giving no further explanation of what just occurred. In fact, he instead diverted the conversation as he slipped out a black leather wallet.

"Um Aomine-kun, may I ask how much the sweatbands cost you?" He continued, ready to pay back what he owed.

"H-huh? Oh." Aomine murmured, turning away for some reason. If he recalled, Kuroko trying to pay him back for something always made him feel extremely awkward as hell. "Nah, don't pay me back Tetsu. Besides, after that year, I never gave you a present again right? So, happy belated birthday Tetsu." Aomine casually congratulated with a smirk.

Kuroko blinked. Something close to a smile danced on his lips. "…Thank you Aomine-kun. But…you know, my next birthday is in two months." Kuroko reminded.

"…Yeah?" Aomine frowned, unsure of where this was heading.

"So, this time, Seirin will definitely win against Touou."

"…What?" Why was he going on about this again? "Didn't I tell you? The only one who can beat me is m—"

"I know Aomine-kun. But, you see, I don't really like the current Aomine-kun."

Aomine flinched. "Hah?!"

"And…Aomine-kun doesn't really like this either right? I've said it before, I don't understand Aomine-kun's troubles. But, I've hated basketball and that…is a very painful feeling."

Aomine widened his eyes. "Eh? Y-you hated it?"

Kuroko paused. Slowly, his eyes met a vast ocean blue. "…I did. But, because of that, Seirin—No, I will definitely defeat you. So you can find joy in basketball again."

It took a moment for the words to register as Aomine Daiki, for the umpteenth time of the day was completely dumbfounded by his former teammate. Kuroko had always been a bit strange, a tad too invisible, and extremely blunt. But, beneath all that, was a passion none could extinguish.

He was serious—for Aomine's sake.

A hint of joy coursed through him. "Hah, well if you think that's even possible, try it Tetsu. I'll be waiting." Aomine leered with a smirk.

Kuroko nodded. "…Yes. And, to show your gratitude, I think Aomine-kun should buy me another present in two months," he quipped.

The rangy male nearly choked. "HAH?! Are you serious?" He groaned. "You're as picky as Midorima when it comes to gifts!"

"Ah, don't worry. I'll properly remember to buy you a gift for your birthday in return."

"…That's not the point!" Aomine cried before releasing a sigh. "But…that's only if you win Tetsu. So, show me what you can do. Like I said, the only one who can beat me is me. No one can beat me, not even you, Tetsu." He repeated once more, eyes darkening back to their originally steeled state.

Yet, it didn't have any of the dreadful effects it had previously. Instead, the "shadow" simply smiled. "…Yes."

The duo parted ways soon afterwards, their exchanges of farewells much warmer when compared to their stiff and upsetting hellos.

Since a long while ago, Kuroko was content as he sat down on the oak bench, gently taking out the photo he took earlier.

"No one can beat me, not even you."

A warning. The words that stung represented a warning for him to leave, to know that his effort, his time, and his basketball were all worthless before the talented. Yet, after Kuroko saw the photo, he knew this was far from the truth.

The photo, unlike the others was an intentional one, as if one belonging to a photo album. There, under the limelight of the basketball court, 7 rainbow-colored members appeared, side by side with a brightly beaming and proud Aomine in the center as he wrapped an arm around Kuroko, unintentionally placing half of his body weight on the teen who had slightly ruffled hair, miffed by the treatment. Yet, even so, he looked happy.

Beside the two were Momoi and Kise, both posing for the camera yet concurrently, Momoi had her one of her feet slammed on Aomine's while Kise was leaning unnaturally close to Kuroko. Then there was Midorima, looking slightly startled as Momoi had her hand on his elbow, as if she gave him a sudden jerk that forced him into the frame. On the other side of that was Akashi and Murasakibara, both as nonchalant as usual. However, in Akashi's case, there was even a rare, almost long forgotten smile of pride, as if he was proud of his team.

Yet, that was the fallicy contained within the picture.

Behind the gang by the upper left corner was a scoreboard with almost incredulous results.

TEIKO: 64 YOMI: 63

It was a simple one-point difference.

Yet…they were happy.

They were proud.

What Aomine wanted, wasn't to win—it never was. He simply wanted to have fun, live freely, and be together with his team. Despite his attitude around the Touou regulars, he wanted teamwork more than anyone else—he valued it as much as Kuroko and now…maybe even more.

Thus, those harsh words' true nature wasn't to offend but rather, to protect. In Aomine Daiki's eyes, no one could defeat him. Many have tried, heck, both Kise and Kuroko tried but neither came out successful. The teen was already at his wit's end. No one could match up to him in any way and, amidst the battle of effort and tears, once they realized all was useless, only pain could come from their favorite sport. Aomine didn't want to see that, to see them give up like that, to see him become the reason they gave up.

In the case with his teammates, that was especially true.

From what Momoi gathered, Kise was still hurt from their match during summer and of course, Kuroko was no different. The look he had in his eyes when his trump card, the Cyclone Pass and the Ignite Pass failed, was absolutely devastating.

Aomine didn't want to see such a thing and thus, in his rough manner, he purposely said such horrible words that could slice someone to pieces.

Suddenly, the boy parted his lips. "...Momoi-san, it's okay to come out now." Kuroko called, slipping the photo back in his pocket.

Immediately from his left, a girl emerged from the clothing aisle, gazing at him with a melancholic smile. "…That's not fair Tetsu-kun, when you can find me all the time yet I can never find you." She voiced, blooming pink hair flowing past her shoulders as she, in winter garb approached the boy.

"Is that so?" Kuroko innocently refuted.

She smiled. "Yup it's true! Plus, Tetsu-kun is also amazing in so many other ways! Like…with Aomine-kun…just now…" she murmured, trailing off at the end as she gazed in the direction Aomine left in, as if hoping to catch another glance.

Kuroko silently stared at her figure, reflecting a hint of both loneliness and joy. "…It's…really been a while…since I've seen Aomine-kun like that…" she continued, voice soft and distant, as if already swept up by a faraway memory.

"…Yes. It was a surprise for me too actually. But, I think Momoi-san is the amazing one, to be near the Aomine-kun that was no longer himself for so long," Kuroko replied, recalling how dark their initial hellos were.

That caught the girl by surprise. "Eh?" She blinked. What did he mean by that? No matter what she did, in the end, the person who actually got Aomine to admit his feelings was none other than Kuroko.

"Because…to Momoi-san, it was painful to see Aomine-kun like that correct? Back in Teiko when Momoi-san became the manager, even Akashi-kun was impressed by your knowledge and synthesis of basketball. That was because of Aomine-kun—the Aomine-kun who played every single day of his life right?" Kuroko assessed, as calm as ever.

"T-tetsu-kun, you noticed?" She gaped, shocked that someone who, at the time was still a 3rd stringer recalled all that.

" Yes of course," Kuroko replied, as if such a feat was completely natural. "That's why, I think Momoi-san is amazing. It would be a lie to say that I wasn't ever discouraged when Aomine-kun changed but, Momoi-san stayed by him right?"

She flinched. "N-no! No matter what I said, Aomine-kun never listened! Besides, in the end, it was Tetsu-kun who was able to do something for him!" She exclaimed, unsure of why she was even acting this way.

He was praising her…yet, she didn't feel as if she deserved it, not a single bit of it when for Aomine, nothing had changed.

"…But, even so, you stayed by his side didn't you? Momoi-san, you've done a lot for him, in fact, more than enough so please don't undermine yourself."

Immediately, her eyes widened as something inside her shook, violently shook to the point where tears were threatening to fall. She didn't like this side of herself but…she could no longer deny its presence.

It was painful, painful to constantly be beside Aomine, to see him treat basketball with such low regard and change from a simple basketball idiot to such a horrible jerk. She was right beside him, she always was yet, somehow, despite priding herself as Teiko's informant along with her ability to predict the growth of players, Aomine's growth completely eluded her.

It was a blow to her pride but also, a blow to her heart.

Yet, even so, she stayed by him, because it was all she could do and perhaps, this whole time, she might've hoped for someone to acknowledge that, to say, "you did the right thing, you did well."

"…That's not fair Tetsu-kun…you can always say such things with a straight face," she sniffed, biting her lip to prevent herself from bawling right there. Like…Like! From the beginning, she knew that her love for him was to be unrequited yet, no matter how much she thought otherwise, those feelings of love were hopelessly pouring out. She squeezed her eyes shut.

"…Is that so?"

"That is!" She cried.

Kuroko smiled.

"Tetsu-kun is always like thi—"

*SNAP*

Before she could even process his actions, a dazzling light engulfed her vision as slowly, every color in the vicinity seemed to blend and mesh together, even the powder blue hair of Kuroko.

When everything finally settled, she found the boy staring at a photo with an old camera in hand.

This photo however, never contained Momoi herself. Instead, under the streaming afternoon sun that casted a beautiful orange glow in the foreground, was an image of both Aomine and Kuroko, clad in their Teiko school uniforms with their backs to the camera, body only tilted around enough for their faces to face the camera, as if they were looking and speaking to someone.

It seemed to be summer, as both had a pink popsicle in hand. In fact, both had smiles on their faces, one bulged open in laughter, and the other curt yet tender.

It showed exactly what was important to Momoi—the two of them. Although she did technically consider Kuroko a love interest, beyond that, it was as if he was another childhood friend.

Despite only knowing him for a span of 3 years, he was someone she could nearly share anything with—like Aomine. Thus, seeing the two of them together, happy and joyful, was where her happiness lay. She treasured Aomine like no other, that's why she painstaking stayed with him every day. She treasured Kuroko like no other so she wanted to help him change Aomine because…it was always obvious what Aomine meant to Kuroko and what Kuroko meant to him.

It was a simple photo, a simple view of them walking home together from the convenience store yet…to Momoi, it meant so much more; it meant everything to her.

"Momoi-san," Kuroko suddenly called, startling the girl just as she was about to take a peek at the photo.

"E-eh? Y-yes Tetsu-kun?!" She fumbled, automatically straightening up.

"Do you still remember what I promised you?"

"E-eh?"

"That I would definitely defeat Aomine-kun."

The girl blinked…before slowly, her features softened. "Yes."

"I still believe I will."

She smiled. "Yes."

"Then…do you still also believe that if he loses, he might return to the way he was?" Kuroko continued.

She stared at him curiously. "I do but…is there anything wrong…?"

The youth shook his head. "No, I was just wondering, what should be said at a time like that," he expressed.

"Eh?"

"Aomine-kun...will be coming back right?" He hinted, his words finally dawning on her.

"Oh! Then of course, we have to say, "Welcome back!" she exclaimed.

He smiled.

Somewhere on the other side of the city, Kagami Taiga was rummaging through his bag. "Damn, where did I leave my phone?!" He muttered, digging through his 4-D pocket filled with basketball supplies before he finally came across something hard and rectangular.

"Ah! There!" He exclaimed in triumph, pulling out a red cellular…with something caught in its fold.

He squinted at it Huh, it was that photo Kuroko told him to take last time.

Yet…immediately, he noticed something strange about the photo.

A corner of it had peeled off—revealing something new.

Instantly, Kagami tugged at it.

He widened his eyes in surprise.

Back by the department store, a pink-haired girl whipped out her equally pink cellphone as she deserted from the bustling crowd, all the way to a plaza with people resting from their shopping sprees.

"Hello? Akashi-kun?" She asked through the speaker.

"Ah Satsuki, did you confirm what I asked of you?" The voice on the other end glibbed.

"Yeah. You were right. Tetsu-kun took a photo of me after all." She informed.

"Hmm I see, thank you for that information," Akashi replied, tone slightly dismissive.

Reading through the lines, she knew he had no further business with her. "W-wait Akashi-kun!" She cried, allowing the red-head to pause before clicking the END button.

"Hmm? Yes Satsuki?"

"Um…do you know why Tetsu-kun was taking those photos? Did something happen to him?" She worriedly asked.

There was a slight pause on the other end.

"I believe something did."

"EH?!"

"But…it's hard to say given the lack of information. However…Satsuki, if he asks where he can find either me or Atsushi, could you please direct him to my current quarters?" He requested calmly.

"Eh? Sure but…Akashi-kun, are you planning to do something about it?" She inquired.

"…Perhaps," he smirked.