A/N: Hey, guys! It's absolutely… fantastic over here for me. I have started my first year of high school as a freshman with my friend, CaptainRainbowSama. More assignments, more pressure, and more responsibility – all that forced me to repel from fanfic works for a while.

Anyway, please enjoy this update!

Chapter 13

"I'm sorry that I presented you so much pain. But it's all over now. You're free – and I'll take the role as the prisoner in your place. I'm sorry."

"Let's break up."

Haizaki said that for the twelfth time that month. The crestfallen expression of girls weren't his favorite sight, but he had no alternative to take. He would've taken another route if given, definitely, but he wasn't given one.

"But why? We were doing so well until yesterday…"

There it was. The quivering lips, the hand placed carefully on the chest, grasping the shirt as the thin legs just trembled underneath.

"Sorry. I think this just won't work out."

"… Do you have somebody else you're interested in?"

"No, it's just… we're not for one another."

The breakup itself was pretty easy to tolerate. Sometimes the girl would bawl, and if Haizaki was in a good mood, then he played along and tried to comfort her – if not, he just mumbled a second apology and walked away to school or home.

It was his desperate effort to forget. Unbridled ambition, greed, and determination brought nothing but desolate emptiness. He possessed a bombast personality, and did not concern himself with others' business. Haizaki Shogo was just that kind of guy – the bastard, the jerk, the gaudy troublemaker that was known as the heartbreaker of girls and the deadly enemy of pure, unrivaled love.

Kuroko Tetsuya was the solitary fascination of his life for the past year. She was his happiness and bliss, although unknown to her. He indulged in the invisible of actions just to spend time trying to make her even cheerier than she was. It didn't matter whether that involved the other Generation of Miracles – it really didn't matter to him.

Haizaki considered this feeling as a fatal mistake – a miscalculation he should've thought through thoroughly millions of times beforehand. Thanks to her, his daily schedule was never the same. Even after "putting an end" to their relationship, Haizaki continuously paid the first gymnasium of the basketball club visits. The gym itself was restless, filled with movement – but the ambience felt like everyone in their was dead, soulless. It was devastating that among that disastrous fog, he couldn't feel Kuroko's light at all. She had completely blended in – she wasn't the Light anymore.

He was pretty sure he had untied the tangled knot. He had undone all the ties he had with the Generation of Miracles and Kuroko. Yet he kept on finding himself searching for them again, going back to the Tokyo National Stadium as they held their National competition.

Just like that, winter was here again. Their second year of Junior High was ending, and everything was beginning to fall apart. The wall they had built up to perfection was breaking down – even if Haizaki hadn't taken part in the construction.

"Shogo, be a nice son and get some tofu and chicken breast from the super market, will you?" Haizaki put down the magazine he was reading at his mom's call, and then grunted.

"But what about Hasaya?"

"Hasaya's out, you dumbass."

"But it's a Saturday."

"Yes, exactly. Your brother decided to hang out with his friends and enjoy something called a "Life" outside of gravure magazines. Now get your lazy bum off the floor and go get those ingredients." His mother slammed the spatula into the side of his head, as the male rolled his eyes and stood up, putting on his faded green hoodie.

It was drizzling outside, but looking at how pitch-black the sky was turning, Haizaki assumed it was going to pour pretty soon. He grabbed an umbrella from the counter and wriggled his toes through the tight sneakers. "'M going."

The sight of people hustling around put him at odd ease for no particular reason. He was suddenly aware of every single detail of his surroundings, like the wet smell of the rainwater, or the offbeat blinking of the cross lights, or the rubbery squeaks of boots and shoes clashing with the cement – it all sounded so real, so… full of life.

On days like these, bad things occurred. At least, that seemed to be the incessant tendency. It was almost as if his animalistic instincts were sending signals to the body – that he had to avoid whatever was coming afterward as soon as possible, faster than the speed of light.

"Haizaki-kun?"

And there it was. Haizaki wondered why he didn't practice running at the speed of light during all those morning sessions of basketball.

He turned around in disbelief, a couple passing his view next to him as he tried to fixate his stare on the source of the sound. There was Kuroko Tetsuya, the girl that was messing up his life in the most hardcore fashion ever.

"Shit." He mumbled, as Kuroko raised an eyebrow.

"Well, that's a nice greeting."

Ridicule first took over his mind, but then after about a millisecond, he reverted to his cynical self. It was relieving that Kuroko seemed normal in comparison to how she appeared to be in the gym, even if she was faking it.

"Sorry. Thought you were this supernatural existence or something. I was seriously convinced that I was chosen to go to Hogwarts."

The girl snorted at his nonsensical excuse. Haizaki could only thank his mom for presenting him a sense of humor. They started walking, as they just happened to be going to same direction. "So…" Haizaki began, awkward. "I heard you won the nationals?"

He didn't miss the split moment of dullness in Kuroko's delightful eyes. "It's a natural thing." The way she shrugged the topic off almost pained Haizaki. It seemed like she had lost all passion whatsoever for basketball. He decided it was an unfitting timing to mention that she wasn't even in the starting lineup.

"I guess. I mean, we're Teiko." That's all he could think of as a response.

He thought he saw Kuroko's lips move very quietly at that moment, and blinked. "What?"

"Nothing." The girl smiled, brushing it away. "Anyway, how have you been these past few months?"

Terrible. Mortified. Absorbed into an abyss where the darkness was you, and where you were the darkness. Absolutely horrifying, unforgettable, yet pleasurable at the same time. "Fine. Just shitty."

"Did you join a new club?"

Haizaki rolled his eyes. "As if. It's an incredulous fact that stands by itself, considering that I've ever joined a club. And I quit it. So it doesn't matter anymore."

None of them mentioned how they broke apart previously. The hug, the words. Now they were really just students from the same school that just happened to meet one another on the way to the local super market. Haizaki was the troublemaker, and Kuroko was the girl in the basketball that was invisible to everyone. It was better off that way.

The auto doors opened as they stepped on the mat in front. "So, how's the other idiots?"

Kuroko threw him an anxious look, as Haizaki clarified the meaning of 'idiots'. "You know, Daiki and such." He internally cursed as he saw Kuroko's fingers curl into her palms, her eyes filled with grief that was yet to be overcome, and her shoulders hunched. Man, this girl sucked at hiding her feelings. He had obviously touched a sensitive spot. "… Sorry, you don't need to –"

"They're fine." She cut him off. Haizaki grabbed a packet of chilled tofu from the fridge, not saying another word. Kuroko reached for a frozen milkshake (vanilla flavored) and just stared into it.

The last thing he wanted to do was corner her into an uncomfortable disposition. "Oh." But that was all he could say. Really, he had no choice. Despite the fact that he practically stalked her all around the past year, he didn't know much about her. And he doubted that Kuroko knew anything about him, too.

He then realized that she was literally scooping at least five vanilla milkshakes at once into her basket. Who ever devours that many milkshakes of the same flavor, anyway? "Uh, is that for your family?"

"Oh, no. It's all for me." He didn't even know where to start – the fact that at least fifteen milkshakes were all for the girl, or that it was all the same flavor- Lord, he wasn't even into sweet things. (A/N: Just saying, I am assuming this. It doesn't say anywhere officially that Haizaki dislikes sweet things.)

"… I guess you're really into it."

She beamed, proud. "Yes, I am. Do you have a flavor you like in particular?"

"Uh…" Shit. How do I say that I don't like milkshakes without starting a World War 3? "… I like soda flavored ones."

Her nose crinkled playfully at that. "I can't drink carbonated beverages."

"Serious? Shame on you."

Haizaki reached for the plastic box with chicken breast in the freezer, as they continued walking towards the cashier. The comfortable air began between them, as they casually conversed about everyday stuff. Grades, books, movies, food, birthdays, zodiacs, all those useless and unnecessary information that one never really needed. But even amongst all that impractical topics, Haizaki was extremely cautious to never bring up the Generation of Miracles or anything basketball related at all costs.

As the male expected, it was pouring outside. He sighed. "Fucking rain."

"I didn't bring an umbrella." Kuroko mumbled, as her eyes wavered. "I guess I'll take a shower at home after I dash through."

Haizaki took out his umbrella. "How did you not know it was gonna pour? You're pathetic."

The female huffed, looking offended. "It was sunny when I came in, alright?"

"Whatever. How far is your house?" They took a single step towards the auto doors as they opened.

"About ten minutes away. But I can just buy my own umbrella –"

"I'll take you. Easy."

"But –"

"What, don't you wanna save some money? Umbrellas aren't that cheap here, you know. Take up the offer while you can."

Kuroko hesitated for a few seconds, but eventually hopped beneath the umbrella. "Thank you, Haizaki-kun." Her small smile was enough to make Haizaki avert his attention in embarrassment. God, he was helpless. Was this that awful demon called puberty?

She led the way, and he merely followed her tracks. He made sure he kept his distance so that other people won't misunderstand their trivial relationship for something more than it actually was. They took many turns and curves, passing by fields and rivers. He supposed it was about fifteen minutes from his house, but he didn't really care. It felt nice to walk alongside someone he liked.

"It's here. Thanks for walking me." She stopped in front of an apartment. "If you want, you can come in until the rain stops. My parents and grandmother is inside, so I can get you some tea and snacks, as a gratitude for the safe journey."

He really wanted to, but his mom was probably waiting at home. For fuck's sake, parents sometimes ruined everything. "Sorry. Mom's waiting for this." He glanced at the plastic bag with the ingredients. Kuroko nodded.

"Then you can come over later – maybe I should treat you to a soda milkshake?" She suggested, and Haizaki smirked, turning away, facing the empty street.

"Sounds good."

Even if it was something so minor as buying a milkshake, Haizaki was fine – as long as he got to be with her somehow.

Days after that rainy event was pretty much the same. When practice ended, Kuroko met up with Haizaki in front of the gate, and they would head to Maji Burger. She would often admonish him for buying too much food, but they laughed over the matter in seconds. Originally, the thing where him liking soda milkshakes was supposed to be a lie made up at the spot – but he grew to favor them over other drinks as time went by.

Their conversations consisted of the same overall material and structure that was just worded differently. Usually it was about how their day was, and what was good or bad, what sucked about this quiz and what was awesome about that class. Kuroko never began anything about basketball and club activities, and Haizaki never asked. It was almost like a silent rule amongst both of them – because then that would break their solid, rectified relationship as the normal, ordinary friends – Haizaki Shogo, the troublemaker of the school, and Kuroko Tetsuya, the invisible girl of the grade.

It was better off that way.

Haizaki wished it had stayed in that mannerism. Carefree, amicable, blithe, and enlightening – he wished it stayed in that mannerism. But that day was somehow different. Kuroko spoke differently, (with more heaviness, sadness, a lower tone, impassionate voice, dull words, missing syllables) looked differently, (a short, cautious glance, teal eyes with no glint, an iris with no focus) behaved differently (didn't order a milkshake, hands moved too often, legs crossing and uncrossing, fingers squirming under a weak grip, feet tapping impatiently on the tiled floor) – everything about her was different.

"Tetsuya?" He grunted. She didn't look up. "Tetsuya, are you listening?"

"What? Oh, yes. What were you saying?" Her lips were dry. Her fingernails had an uneven end, like she was biting on it for quite a while. "I wasn't paying attention."

Haizaki sipped his milkshake. "I can see that. Rude."

"Sorry." That was all she said, before staring into her lap again. Now, it was either that she found her lap just that interesting, or that something was wrong. Haizaki went with the second one.

"Look. Let's go. It's getting late." Flinging his bag over his shoulder, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her outside, forgetting to clean their trays.

"But it's only five-thirty, Haizaki-kun –"

"Let's just go, okay? You're acting all shitty today and I don't like that." Haizaki Shogo didn't know how to comfort a girl. He definitely didn't know how to indirectly approach her and make her speak up. In fact, he wasn't even certain whether she trusted him that much in the first place. He wouldn't be surprised if she didn't – he was a teenage boy that struggled with everything school-related, was a playboy that toyed with girls, and she was just a normal girl without presence, and also the phantom sixth man of the basketball club. The difference and personality gap just explained everything.

"I am not acting all weird." Kuroko refrained from using the word he used.

"I'm not an idiot, Tetsuya. You'll go home, and I'll go home. Cool your head off and clear whatever is in your mind, and we can catch up on the conversation we were having tomorrow." He was skeptical that she even knew what the conversation was about since she was daydreaming off into space the whole time, but he didn't care.

Her eyes widened a little, as Haizaki loosened the grip on her wrist. "… I'm sorry."

"Don't be. I mean, you're a teenager and the puberty truck hit you. I get it." He received a punch in the stomach as a response, as he coughed. "What the hell was that, Tetsuya?" The female pouted, stomping her foot on the bricked floor.

"You deserved that."

"I did not."

"Did too."

"Fuck, did not."

"Did too."

Their petty argument went on for a while, until Kuroko's expression darkened a little. Haizaki mentally panicked, wondering if he should've just given in. But her words were quite not what he had expected. "I'm really sorry for causing you all this trouble, Haizaki-kun."

"What's this about? The punch? The fact that you ignored me the whole day today? It's fine, really. I don't care." He really didn't. Haizaki was simply playing along because he desired all this.

"No, about how you hung around with me this past month. It's really nice of you."

Great, she knew? "… Doesn't matter, really. You just looked lonely, and I was bored. It's a coincidence." It really wasn't, but whatever.

"I still want to thank you, though. I guess… I was just really down for the past few weeks. Concerning basketball, club activities, and… I don't know. I'm glad that Haizaki-kun was here. It was very comforting." Hearing that relieved Haizaki. At least all those weeks he had put in some much effort into wasn't completely a waste.

He remained silent for about six seconds. He didn't want to mess up this mood with his careless word choice. "… Really, like I keep saying, it's fine." Kuroko gazed at his face for a while, as if trying to determine whether he was speaking of the truth or not. He said his next sentence a little softer. "Do you want to talk about it or something?"

"… Pardon?" Kuroko blinked, as if she doubted her ears. In which she probably did.

"I mean, I'm not the best listener or advisor or shit, but I usually give it a try. It's up to you, and I'm not gonna beat the truth out of you or anything. I just… I'm just trying to be nice." Even he found it amusing how the word 'nice' and him just didn't seem to fit in the same sentence.

But Kuroko smiled, just a little. "Thank you." She gave it a short pause. "The truth is, I was rejected by Aomine-kun a few weeks prior."

"You were fucking what now?" His voice went up a notch, as Kuroko's shoulders hunched in shame. Haizaki then finally processed the words, and cleared his throat. "… I mean, oh. I thought he confessed to you? Or whatnot?"

Her smile that came next was definitely not a happy one. It was empty, it was forced, it was nothing. "I don't know. I guess he forgot about it. I was never his type in the first place."

Yeah, you aren't exactly my type either, but look at me now. Haizaki ran his fingers through his head, troubled. He had no idea why Aomine turned Kuroko down. "Did he say it face-to-face or something? By text? Through someone else on the team?"

"No," She winced, "he just… forgot about everything."

He simply couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Tetsuya, one does not just forget that fact that they liked someone."

"That's what I thought initially, too." Her face was too pitiful to see. The way she was biting down on her lower lip, the trembling hands that was clutching her own uniform, and the fact that she had nobody to rely on. "But it happened."

Haizaki didn't know what to say next. Anger boiled inside of him that Aomine had simply 'forgotten' about the fact that he had confessed to Kuroko. He promised that he would wait – Haizaki was there, witnessing every single scene, being torn inside out. But now, he was gone. Gone, from the station where he was supposed to be waiting. He left, just like that. He left the girl behind, and now she was alone.

Haizaki didn't like any of that. He didn't like it one bit.

"I'm gonna fucking kill him." Whispering under his breath, Haizaki tried his best not to punch a person nearby. Luckily, Kuroko didn't heed his words.

"Haizaki-kun, I…" His divided attention instantly gathered upon the call of his name. "What do I do if…" She trailed off. "If…" It was not going well for her – even Haizaki could read between the lines that much. He could see that the tears were welling up in her eyes, and that something had definitely happened after that. He blamed himself for not possessing the power to magically know how someone felt.

"Don't tell me." It was torture for him to see her like this. So broken, so uncharacteristic. This wasn't the same girl he had fallen heads over heels for a year ago. This was just… a shattered person, and the shards were scattered all over the place, impossible for repair. He wrapped his arms around her head, and pulled her into a warm, comforting embrace. This was not the same as the one he had given her the previous time, when they parted ways. This was just an affectionate way of displaying his unknown love to the girl – it was his concern, his feelings, all that he could do. "Don't force yourself to tell me a fucking thing, Tetsuya. It's fine."

He knew that the waterfall opened when he felt his upper abdomen dampening. She didn't make a sound, as if she was holding in all the pent up feelings. The gray-haired boy only held her tighter, ignoring the suspicious glances of others.

"I'm sorry." Her muffled cry just made his eyes close in thought.

"Don't be." He said.

But she just said it over and over again – and Haizaki was not unsure whether these words of perennial apology were directed towards him, or Aomine Daiki. Either way, there was nothing he could do at this moment but hold her like this, giving her the smallest barrier of safety – providing her with seamless haven she deserved.

"I'm sorry."

"I know, Tetsuya. I know."

He only wished this could just end – that this was all a nightmare.

But it wasn't.

(This takes place during the practice before Kuroko met Haizaki, in the section above.)

That morning was unpleasant. Akashi Seijuro was a morning person, but that morning was ridiculously disturbing. Weird, because it was the clearest sky he had ever seen. Maybe that was why it was so unpleasant. He was never a great fan of clear skies.

But his day was the same. School, classes, and then practice. Dull members, and a dull coach. Nobody was there to lighten up the mood, and Akashi wasn't going to take up that role.

"Hey, did you notice?" Kise poked in, dribbling a ball across the court. "I saw Kurokocchi with Haizaki-kun the other day at Maji Burger. They seemed to be having a lot of fun."

For some reason, that set off Akashi. Maybe it was because it was Haizaki, out of all people possible on the never-ending list. He vowed to himself to not get involved with any of Kuroko's business from thereon, but nevertheless, he despised Haizaki. He considered the male as a deleterious existence to humanity – he was tenacious, abrasive, and rough on the edges. To be blunt, he just didn't get along with Akashi.

"Heh, with Zaki-chin?" Murasakibara sounded interested and surprised all at the same time. "That's rare, isn't it?"

"Is it?" Midorima fixed the position of his glasses. "Kuroko doesn't follow us home anymore, which means she either has found a new companion, or just simply desires an alternative. Haizaki doesn't even cause trouble nowadays – I don't find it very discerning, to be honest."

Amidst all this, Aomine still refused to say anything. He didn't seem affected or damaged at all by the mention of this fact. On the other hand, Akashi felt uneasy. He didn't know why Aomine could remain so calm at this announcement – he was pretty sure the emotion they possessed towards Haizaki was mutual. At least, until a few months ago, that was.

"I mean, we don't hang out with Kuro-chin that much. I guess it was bound to happen, sometime. Zaki-chin likes Kuro-chin, so maybe he's trying to hook up with her?" Murasakibara shrugged, as he jogged ahead of everyone else. Akashi froze for about a millisecond after that, until he continued jogging as well.

Hook up, huh. She was a nobody to him. She didn't matter anymore. All that he was to concentrate on was the stable victory of Teiko, and the improvement of his very own abilities. I guess it's fine that way. No, it wasn't fine. But it had to be. It just had to be fine – or else – or else I wouldn't be able to withstand the pain.

Kuroko entered the gym. She looked glum, as she held a basketball in her hand. Nothing seemed to amuse her – even the incessant victories that she used to love so much.

He thought Teiko's victories made her happy, delightful – the Light she was. Because there was basketball, Kuroko was content. That's why Akashi had tried so hard to keep Teiko the unmoving powerhouse of the Junior High competitions – to keep the victory. What was he doing wrong? What was Haizaki doing right?

Where was it that everything started going downhill?

Practice ended like always. Kuroko stayed behind, cleaning up the balls that everyone else neglected to do. Akashi waited, after changing. He just wanted to talk – and clear up his mind.

He needed to forget. Forget the fact that he had begun all this because of that girl. That girl that changed his life – she now had to be forgotten. Relinquishing the emotions was difficult – it was challenging task to be done alone. And that's why Akashi just wanted to talk to her face-to-face, in person. That way, he could possibly let her go.

"Akashi-kun? What are you doing here?"

Her soft, gentle voice. Her intoxicating scent. It all just captivated Akashi in every single way possible – and he had to let her go, despite all this. Life was cruel.

"I… I needed to talk to you."

She tilted her head to side. "About?"

I wonder. I wish I knew. "Concerning… your plays yesterday." He started aimlessly. "You seemed a little out of it."

"Oh." Kuroko murmured. "I'm sorry. I wasn't in the best of my conditions."

She continued talking, apologizing, making up excuses that didn't seem true and whatnot. Akashi just stared at her for a while.

You need to forget.

But he didn't want to.

Let her go, let her be who she is.

But he couldn't.

She's imprisoned in this hell, because of your existence. Disappear.

He wished he could.

Her light is gone. It's your fault – this is the sin you have committed. How are you going to atone for your sins, Akashi Seijuro?

He wished he knew.

Bring her back. Bring your Light back.

The next second, his mind went blank, and his body and instinct had completely taken full control of his everything. Kuroko's eyes widened in shock and disbelief.

Their lips met.

When they parted, Akashi walked away without another word. The girl wasn't moving a single inch or centimeter – just frozen. He turned and muttered his final words as Akashi Seijuro to Kuroko Tetsuya, the girl he loved, his Light.

"Goodbye, Kuroko."

A/N: I know, right? Akashi took the first kiss in this fanfic – you're welcome, AkaKuro lovers. Although, there was considerably a lot of HaiKuro too.

Anyway, please review! I need inspiration as a freshman in high school right now.

Meiko