When Kuroko woke up the following morning, he was lying in a king-sized bed with soft pillows and a comfortable blanket. The room was unfamiliar to him, and he was alone. But the bed smelt like Akashi, so Kuroko presumed that it was the bed Akashi usually slept in.
Kuroko sat up and looked around the bedroom. It was quite spacious, but there was nothing very personal about the room. It looked like a place that Akashi came only to sleep.
Speaking of Akashi, where was he anyway?
Kuroko got out of bed and made his way out of the bedroom. Akashi's grandfather's house was a one-storey residence, so when Kuroko stepped out of the room, in a sense, he was already in the living room. He could see Akashi sleeping on the three-seater sofa. Meanwhile, Tama was already awake and eating from the timed food dispenser in the corner.
Kuroko approached Akashi's slumbering form and gazed at him. Personally, Kuroko was surprised that Akashi didn't just get into his bed and slept beside Kuroko – there was plenty of space. And being a healthy young man with an attraction towards his partner, Kuroko expected that Akashi would have tried to remove his clothes and sneak in a fondle or two as he laid down with Kuroko. But on the contrary, Akashi was a perfect gentleman – he gave his whole bed to Kuroko, allowing Kuroko to be comfortable, while he settled for an uncomfortable rest on the couch. Furthermore, Kuroko had woken up in the exact state that he had fallen asleep in. That said something about Akashi's integrity.
Kuroko believed he had just fallen deeper in love with Akashi.
Tama had finished her food. She trotted over to Kuroko and rubbed her body against his ankle.
Kuroko knelt down to stroke Tama's back. "Good morning, Tama," he greeted the cat. Using both hands, Kuroko picked Tama up. "Why don't we cook some breakfast for your master?"
Tama meowed in reply.
Akashi had walked Kuroko back home to his cottage. Kuroko claimed that he would be alright making the journey back home, but Akashi insisted that he walked with Kuroko to make sure Kuroko reached home safely and unharmed. Akashi left as soon as Kuroko was inside his cottage safe and sound, saying that he had a few errands to run.
As soon as Kuroko had closed the door, a lightning bolt of yellow fur pounced onto him, sending him tumbling to the floor. Immediately, a large rough tongue attacked Kuroko's face, dribbling slobber all over him. There was a lot of whining on the leopard's part.
"Kise-kun…" Kuroko was laughing at the distressed animal. He reached his arms out and around Kise's body to stroke his back placatingly. "I was only gone for one night…"
A growl sounded from behind Kise, and Kuroko tilted his head to look at a black panther glaring disdainfully at him. "Nothing happened between us, Aomine-kun," Kuroko told Aomine. "Akashi-kun took me stargazing, that's all. He's the perfect gentleman."
Aomine raised an eyebrow, looking like he didn't quite believe Kuroko. Nevertheless, he approached Kuroko and sniffed him. Seemingly satisfied with what he smelt on Kuroko, Aomine's gaze softened, and he nuzzled Kuroko's shoulder.
Kuroko smiled, and turned his attention back to Kise, who has stopped licking Kuroko's face but was still whining. He had lowered himself onto Kuroko's body and was rubbing his face against Kuroko's neck. "Kise-kun, I'm sorry, okay?" Kuroko apologised. "I'm sorry for making you worry. To make up for it, I'll do anything you want. That okay?"
Kise's whining stopped, and he looked up at Kuroko with a glassy-eyed expression. He meowed happily, and jumped off Kuroko. He ran around in circles a little comically, as Aomine looked on while rolling his eyes.
Kuroko watched Kise in amusement. It was good to know that nothing had changed at home.