"Tetsuya, how are you doing?" Akashi greeted as he sit beside him and arranged the blanket to make sure that he keeps warm
"I'm fine, Akashi-kun" he replied with his small, hoarse voice of his
"h-how's everyone?"
"They're fine" he answers, enable to hide the emotions threatening to be voiced out, silence enveloped them before Kuroko stares outside
"...w-winter" he started "it's where everything ended a-and *cough*cough s-started and-"
"No Tetsuya" Akashi interrupted "it doesn't end there, it doesn't"
"I k- *cough*cough" Akashi slowly help Kuroko to lie comfortably on his bed and at the same time, avoiding to look him in the face, not wanting to see his friend's pained expression
"T- thank you for everything"
"No need, I should be the one who is thanking you"
"Akashi-kun, can I be really blunt this time?" His face bears no emotions but his eyes look very serious that Akashi almost hesitated for a second but nevertheless continued with a light chuckle
"You're always blunt, Tetsuya" Kuroko smiled a little after hearing what he said.
"I'm n-not afraid" he paused momentarily as he cough and wiped some of the blood that spilled "t-to die anymore"
"How is he?" Aomine asked with a frown the moment Akashi left the room
"He's now resting" Akashi answered nonchalantly
"Aren't you going to apologize for what you said?"
"No, I'm not" Aomine balled his hand into fist and gritted his teeth
"Call everyone and tell them to go here"
"It's very cold today isn't Kurokocchi?"
"Y-yes it is"
"At times like this we usually play basketball then drink tea after" Kise smiled as he reminisce. Kuroko saw the distant look on Kise's eyes so he too looked at the falling snow outside the window
"...Kise-kun what do you think would happen when.." 'I'm gone' is what he wanted to ask but seeing everyone struggle he decided not to ask him anymore
"Hmm? When?" The cheerful blond asked still looking outside the window
"Ah, please don't mind me" he just shifted his gaze into the falling snow outside
"Kurokocchi... I'm sorry and thank you" Kise suddenly said "I've wanted to say that to you for so long"
"..." Kuroko just looked at him waiting for him to continue
"I hurt your feelings, your bestfriend's feelings, I made you hate the thing you love the most and I'd probably still be an arrogant player if it weren't for you" he chuckled a little
"..K-kise-kun, I'm just glad that you're back, that everyone's back, that's the most important"
"Me too I'm glad that we're back" he smiled softly. A knock interrupted them as a mop of dark blue hair appeared on the door
"Oi Kise, It's the tsundere's turn already"
"Eh? I still want to stay here -ssu!"
"You still haven't eat yet!" Kise slumped feeling defeated
"...Kurokocchi, it'll be my turn again after a few rounds so see you again-ssu!" He said cheerfully
"Here's you're lucky item for today Midorima said as he placed a pocket watch beside Kuroko
"Thank you, Midorima-kun"
"Hmph, It's just they wanted me to give something to you it's not like I have a choice or anything
"Thank you"
"Wha-! You already said that" he said feeling flustered
"How's Nigou?"
"He's getting bigger the last time I saw him and it's with the seirin team anyway" he said as he arrange the flowers on the vase, he glanced at Kuroko who was lying with his hands placed on his stomach, he sigh deeply before continuing what he was doing
"Kuroko"
"Yes?"
"Our horoscopes may not be compatible but today according to Oha asa my luck will be better if I.." he hesitated for a second feeling embarrassed but he clenched his fist and took a deep breath before continuing "b-become grateful to those who have done big to my life"
"..."
"..."
"Oi, aren't you going to say something"
"Eh? Sorry Midorima-kun I was waiting for you to continue"
"That's all I have to say! I-i'm going to change shift with Murasakibara!" He said in panicked and embarrassed tone and hurriedly went out to call Murasakibara. Kuroko looked at Midorima's retreating back and smiled softly before whispering "you're welcome"
"Uh... vanilla~?" Murasakibara said as he offered him a candy
"Murasakibara-kun as much as I want to, unfortunately I can't"
"Uh" he looked disappointed for a second "then Kuro-chin, when can you?"
"When I'm healed" he opened the candy then eats it before giving him the wrapper
"...?" Kuroko looked at him confusingly
"Since Kurochin still can't eat candies or drink milkshakes and..." he said lazily "...as a compensate~"
"C-compensate?" He asked before coughing
"Kurochin... Thank you"
"Murasakibara-kun..."
"Next time we'll drink milkshake with everyone like we all used to, right?" He asked hopefully
"..r-right"
"We'll be waiting then" he said as he patted him on his head
"Murasakibara-kun, please stop doing that" he said with a deadpan voice
"Doing what~"
After a few rounds it's finally Aomine's turn in staying with Kuroko. Aomine lying lazily on one of the chairs while reading a basketball magazine and Kuroko is writing quietly in his blue notebook. A comfortable silence engulfed the room as a scratching of a pen and a flashing of a magazine can be heard in the room.
"Ah a new basketball shoes is out...cool... I want one" Aomine grumbled to himself
"Aomine-kun still didn't change"
"Wah! Why'd you say so?"
"You still grumble to yourself every time you read a magazine"
"Did not!" Aomine defended Kuroko just smile in return then continues writing
"Oi Tetsu if you're having a hard time writing, let me help you"
"I'm fine Aomine-kun thank you"
"Tsk, what are you writing anyway?"
"It's nothing to worry about"
"Ah if you say so"
"Is there any problem Aomine-kun?" Kuroko ask after carefully putting the notebook under his pillow and clearing his throat
"It's n-nothing...it's just that when I think about it I'm really glad that everything went back... well almost" he snorted to himself
"I'm really thankful Tetsu I-i just wish that everything really is b-back to normal"
"We all do Aomine-kun" 'but sometimes things doesn't work the way we want to' he added on his thought
"Bye Kuroko-kun!" the seirin said as they exited his room
"Yosh we'll visit him again tomorrow right coach?" Furihata asked
"Of course we'll do, so we better rest early!" Riko said cheerfully
"Ahh, such a relief to say thank you to Kuroko-kun, I feel 10 pounds lighter!" Kiyoshi said while stretching
"Let's go to Maji! I'm hungry!" One of them said
Thump...
Thump...
Thump...
Thump...
Thump.
Beeeeeeeeeeppppppp...
A/N: please don't kill me! XD i promise it'll be a happy ending... i hope...HONTOU NI GOMENASAI! *runs away*