Monday morning found me tired and unnaturally anxious about my routine journey to Shiroyuri Stables. Since the photobook I'd done in collaboration with Toshio Onda to commemorate three years in the modelling industry was premiering next week, the weekend went by in a blur of promotional interviews and appearances.

Don't get me wrong, I was absolutely thrilled to be releasing my first photobook, and to have been able work with such an amazing photographer, and I really shouldn't be throwing any 'buts' in here…

But.

I felt like something bigger than that premier was happening in my life.

Something that I could no longer deny before myself, now that the whirlwind of work had released me. Now that I was sitting alone on the bus looking at the countryside skidding by without really seeing it. Now that my mind was free to wander as it pleased. And, now that it was fervently springing back, time and time again, to last Friday's events.

"So don't disappoint me, rival."

Aomine acknowledged me as his rival! And not only that – he also promised he'd explain everything out of his own free will if I qualify for the Nationals. It was safe to say that my efforts to get through to him had been surprisingly successful, and once again I shouldn't be saying 'but'…

But.

When he called me his rival, more than accomplishment I felt my chest fill up with this biting tension that could only be described as one thing – longing.

A stupidly idiotic longing to be more than rivals with Aomine. I hopelessly craved more than rivalry and friendship, and I could no longer hide that before myself as the smallest thought of being more than friends with Aomine sent my heart into override and made me blush like a lovestruck maiden.

"Watch your step Kise, you might fall and break your heart."

Kasamatsu's warming echoed through my mind.

It's not like I was in love... not yet.

However, I was falling.

Somewhere along the line I had already made that jump and I was falling, eyes too afraid to open for fear of discovering that no one was waiting to catch me at the bottom.

I didn't even know how to feel about it – you couldn't say I was sad, yet I wasn't exactly happy either. More than anything I was frustrated with myself because, objectively speaking, Aomine was an asshole and as much as I wanted to I couldn't picture him in a relationship with anyone – let alone me. Hell, I couldn't even picture him holding a civil conversation!

But – there was that word again – somehow, I couldn't help myself. There was just something almost hypnotic about him – and it wasn't just his ridiculously good-looking face. And muscular arms. And wondrously messy hair.

Where was I going with this?

'Wait a second, wait a second… where am I right now?' I pulled myself out of my thought-bubble, and started scanning the scenery ahead of me for any clues as to how far I was from the stables. I realized I hadn't been paying any attention to where the bus was heading and, for all I knew, I could have passed my stop decades ago. Thankfully, just as I was begging to feel pretty dumb, the disastrously rusted pole came into my field of vision and all was right in the universe. Well, for now.

'Ok,' I thought to myself as I made my way towards the stables at a ridiculously slow pace, 'you have about five minutes to swallow that anxious lump in your throat and repress your feelings like a proper adult.'

"Kurokocchi just show me how to do this," I pleased with him, for the thousandth time this afternoon, "It's no use – no matter how I try I can't get him to switch those stupid gaits when I want to!"

"Not going to show you." Kuroko replied plainly, not even looking up from stroking Kumo's fair mane, "you really need to be patient and keep practicing – I think you're doing pretty amazing as it is. You just need more practice, that's it." Kuroko flashed me one of his gentle smiles and I instantly felt calmer. He just had that effect on people – you couldn't help but relax around him.

And then I remembered Aomine's promise, and 'calm' was catapulted out the proverbial window.

"I don't have the time to be patient!" I countered and I dismounted Kumo, sounding a bit more desperate than I wanted to. My reply caused Kuroko to let out a delicate giggle. He was about to speak when Kagami's booming voice echoed from across the tracks;

"Oi Kise, heard you got your ass whooped last Friday!" He grinned, visibly amused.

"Hello Kagamicchi," I called back trying to hide my embarrassment, but I couldn't even bring myself to meet his eyes, "that might be the case, b-but I'm-"

"Might?" Kagami interjected, a mocking smirk plastered to his face, "Kasamatsu told me you barely made it halfway across the tracks when that tan-whore was already at the finish line."

I opened my mouth to speak, but then closed it again and looked to Kuroko for moral support.

"Even though it's true, you shouldn't criticize Kise-kun so openly" Kuroko appealed. I couldn't tell whether he was being sarcastic or not.

"What kind of support is that supposed to be?!" I exclaimed. I was, however, completely ignored as Kagami had finally come within hugging-range of his boyfriend. Consequently, I had to wait about ten years until, in typical mother-hen fashion,he had checked off all the points on the 'Tetsu Happiness Scale'. We'd be here until tomorrow if I had to recount their entire exchange, so here's just a snippet;

"Did you get plenty of sleep? The other day you said you had trouble sleeping?"

"That was three weeks ago, Kagami-kun."

"Ah, yes… Are you feeling good though? Is the sun not too much?"

"The tracks have roofing-"

"You still have to walk there and back!"

"Are you stupid?"

"That's completely beside the point! How are your students treating you? Are they nice? If anyone's casing you trouble, tell me – I'll kill them."

You get the idea.

Ok, let's get back to business!

"Anyway Kise," A sly grin was slowly appearing on his mouth, his good arm protectively wrapped around Kuroko's shoulders, "Kasamatsu also told me the Dark Lord graced you with his presence later that day… and that you wouldn't tell him what he said – what's that about?" Kagami cocked an eyebrow at me.

"Y-yea well," Just with that one mention of Aomine, I was full on back to lovestruck-maiden-mode – it was as though a thousand butterflies came to life within in stomach all at once.

"Well?" Kuroko prodded, as oblivious as ever to my evident unease.

'Well I seriously need to get a grip.' I mentally scolded myself as I felt an unsolicited blush spreading across my cheeks for the nth time. I closed my eyes and exhaled deeply before continuing.

"I-it's nothing really," My right hand instinctively travelled to the back of my neck as I spoke, "He came in b-because… I guess he felt bad and… he apologised. You know since we had an argument and everything. That's all." I mumbled all in one breath, looking anywhere but at the two of them.

"HUH?" Kuroko and Kagami cried out in unison, looking first at each other, then at me. Between their wide eyes and half opened mouths, they were positively hilarious in their shock. Surprisingly enough, Kagami was the first one to speak.

"Aomine Daiki apologized to you." His voice came out an octave higher than normal.

I just nodded yes in response – I would have just lost it if I opened my mouth, I could feel the urge to laugh bubbling up in the back of my throat.

"Aomine Daiki apologized to you." Kagami repeated full of disbelief, this time managing to sound like his usual self, "Did the bleach erode your brain or something?'

"You're repeating yourself." Kuroko pointed out, putting a hand on Kagami's forearm (too short to reach his shoulder).

"Kise-kun," Kuroko was now shifting his head in all directions, as though looking for something, "Where are the hidden cameras?"

"What the hell?!" I yelled back, completely thrown off guard by that stupid comment, "He really apologized! He even said he'd explain why he hates horse riding so much if I make it to the Nationals!"

There was a soft thud as Kuroko suddenly sat himself down on the ground, "Kagami, call the police – Aoime-kun has been replaced with a clone!" Kuroko demanded, hilariously serious.

A few seconds of silence passed as Kagami and I stared at Kuroko and, just as I thought those two raging morons had regained their sanity, Kagami reached for his pocket, got out his phone, and started dialling a number.

'He's actually going to do it!' I panicked – just then I realized I was still hanging onto my riding helmet and, without a second thought, flung it straight at Kagami.

"THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING, BAKAGAMI?" I hollered, just as the helmet hit him square in the face.

"I still think it was unnecessary for you to attack me like that!" Kagami groaned, but I could tell he was more embarrassed than angry.

He was holding onto makeshift icepack that Kuroko has just handed to him. The three of us were now sat in the delightfully squishy couches in the main building's extravagant lobby.

"Aha sure, "I dismissed him, "Can we get back to the issue at hand – Regionals are a mere five weeks away and I need to score at least third place to qualify for Nationals."

"Let me get that for you," Kuroko said, grabbing onto Kagami's icepack and giving him an adorable kiss on the cheek before turning to me, "I can see you're very Kise-kun – in that case, there's only one solution. I'll talk to Riko-san about training you. With your talent, you'll have a fair chance." He concluded.

"What- are you trying to get him killed?" Kagami demanded, before I could get a word in.

"No – okay Riko-san's training maybe a bit… intense," Kuroko defended himself, "But if Kise-kun perseveres, then I don't see why he wouldn't qualify."

"It's settled then!" I exclaimed, excitement bubbling within me, "I'll do whatever it takes to make it to Nationals! And, I mean, how scary can this Riko be anyway?"

Kagami raised both his eyebrows at me, and mouthed 'very'.