Chapter 2

The sound of the cricket echoed in the afternoon milieu. The sun's heat wasn't as hot as the previous days, signalling the end of the summer period as well as the start of another school semester. It had been a few weeks since the last time he saw Kise; since the day they broke up. Not sure what to take for his college degree, Aomine went back to his Alma Mater to get his educational records.

"Better be prepared" he muttered as he walked on to the familiar bare asphalt of the school grounds. The new school year was about to start and students were busy settling their requirements for enrolment. "How nostalgic." Aomine felt a sense of sentimentality seeing the well-accustomed and massive school buildings before his eyes. Thinking of his high school days that only ended a couple of months ago, he couldn't help but smile. He was well-known for being a notorious playboy. Then there came the thought of Kise again. Kise's crying face was the last that he saw of him; a memory he couldn't erase from his mind.

His beautiful Kise, the sweetness of his smile and the love that had been long gone and never to be felt again.

As days passed by slowly, his appetite for night life lessen bit by bit. Surprised by the sudden loss of interest, he concluded that he was just tired. However, his interest for women and sex withered as well much to his partners' disappointment. He spent his nights in his apartment sulking for unknown reason.

As he entered one of the buildings which housed the administration offices, he approached the school registrar and asked for the necessary files he needed. After acquiring the documents, he decided to pass by the faculty and greet his teachers.

"yoh! Teach, how's life doing?" Aomine greeted with a smile on his face. It was with Mr Yamomo, his last homeroom as well as art teacher.

"Well, if it isn't the infamous playboy Aomine…I'm fine! I'm fine! How about you?" the teacher replied, grinning. Despite the fact that Aomine was a hard headed and carefree student, he was proud that he had already graduated and matured enough to venture for university.

"Hmm guess fine as well? Nothing exceptional to boast about."

"Now that you've graduated, we'll be at ease that the coming freshmen girls will be safe from your claws! Hahaha!" The teacher joked happily.

"Don't say that teach, every woman I had were happy when they were together with me you know." Aomine countered, still a smile plastered on his face.

"Now.. now.. That same old egoistic response again. I couldn't even count how many times I've already heard that. The University women should watch out for you!"

"Well, actually teach, I still haven't decided what to take yet." The grin on his face faded and a confused expression clouded on his face. The least he could do while still unsure of his path was to consult his teacher.

"What? But it's almost the start of the new semester. You should be enrolling in some University by now."

"It's not like I'm in a hurry teach—the only thing I'm good at is playing around. I've been below average when it comes to studying."

The teacher noticed Aomine's dejected expression and thought that the kid had changed a bit that he even became worried of his educational capacities. It wasn't that he didn't have enough ability to gain high grades. In fact, Mr Yamomo considered Aomine as an outstanding student. If only he exercised his vigour to his studies and not to playing around with women.

The teachers sighed and smiled gently. "If you find that one thing that you're really sure of, do your best to be good at it. You see, there are a lot of people who aggressively do something without thinking carefully first because they thought it's the thing they want the most but then after some time, they end up regretting the action they made. Wouldn't it be better to weigh your heart's true desire first then decide what you really want to do after that? I'm sure that you'll be very good at it, just put your heart into that something."

Among all of the teachers in his previous school, Mr Yamomo was his favourite since he treated Aomine like a younger brother. Perhaps, Aomine saw him as a brother material.

"By the way, you and Kise-kun were good buddies right? Both of you were getting along well last school year. It's such a waste."

"What do you mean?" Aomine asked curiously. The mention of Kise's name changed his mood quickly.

"Eh? You didn't know? He transferred school again. He just transferred in this school last year. I wonder why he decided to change school again. He was such a good student in both academic and sports."

Perplexed, Aomine remained silent. Kise never failed to surprise him. Thinking that he might see Kise again, he planned to visit his previous school. Weird enough, he didn't know why he thought of that. Was he expecting that there might be a chance for them to get back after a few weeks of not seeing each other?

"We weren't in contact with each other anymore" he managed to reply.

Kise…why? You really hate me this much that you have to go as far as transferring to evade me? Was it really the end of everything? Aomine silently wondered to himself.

The deep night silently enveloped the whole place making the room pitch black. Aomine's body shifted, restless as he kept on thinking about what happened that afternoon. The cold bed felt comfortable against his tired body however, his mind was busy in deep thought. That time five years ago when he found out about Kise moving away, there was something that stirred his whole self.

"Kise, five years has passed but he still looks as young as before. But for him to have a child,-Mine was it?...Mine—…"

A faint voice of Kise calling him echoed in his mind.

"Aomine-san!...Aominecchi!"

"Mine— it feels like he took that kid's name from mine—" he absentmindedly mumbled.

"From my name?–wait? Then what does that mean?" confuse but somehow a faint amount of happiness emerged from his chest. He looked from his bed and sat with a serious look on his face. Thinking carefully of the possibilities and probabilities, he thought of so many things but concluded on one definite result: he must find him again. This time, he would do everything to get him back—even if it means taking him away from his family.

"This time Kise, I will love you properly—" he whispered in the cold night.

There was a continuous knock on the door. It was weekdays and Mine was at his school. Alone in the house, Kise was busy taking care of the housework. He finished his work a week ago before he went to a trip with Mine. The summer was about to start and he had expected that a pile of workload would come. Since it was time for school closing, Mine had been busy preparing for his day care graduation, next year he would be entering kindergarten.

"Time passes by so quickly." he muttered to himself as he approached the door.

He was expecting his assistant to come for work updates, the reason why he opened the door without checking who it was. However, his eyes widened. Stunned, he froze the moment he realized who the visitor was. Never had he expected that after seeing him a few days ago the face he didn't want to see again appeared before his very eyes.

"A—Aomine-san" he stammered. His heart was beating ferociously and unknown sensations started to crept up on him.

"Kise…" Aomine spoke with gentle voice, much to Kise's apprehension

Somehow, compare to the past Aomine, whom he loved so much, the one in front of him emitted different aura. The change was evident.

"How—how did you find this place?" Kise asked diverting hi gaze away from him then he added.

"Come in first."

End of chapter 2