Quarter Five

I made a promise to wait for him

Kouki closes the door of his apartment quietly waking up early in the morning to avoid Kagami, since last night no matter how many times he force himself to forget what happened he couldn't get it out of his head..It was like a broken tape recorder he can hear it being played over and over in his head it's driving him crazy.

Absentmindedly, he traces the lines of his lips where Kagami's lips touches his. He couldn't forget that touch of his lips on his own, it was soft and warm. Kouki's face heated up blush creeping on his face his heart beating erratically at the memory of that kiss.

Kouki shook his head trying to remove the foreign feeling in his chest.

...

"Stop this Kouki stop thinking about last night..." He keep telling himself, but it was useless his mind kept on rewinding what happen last time.

"W-What are you-..." He trailed off, pushing himself away from the red head.

But as if Kagami didn't heard him the red head just continue staring at him he look up to the taller boy he watch him as he rubbed the back of his head shyly a blush also gracing his cheek.

"Remember this place?" Kagami said as he look around the court.

Kouki frowned, What is he getting at? Is he going to brush off the fact that he just kissed him?

"You shot the ball for a three point play but instead it landed on my head. And that really hurt ya know." Kagami chuckled at the memory.

Kouki blushed at the memory he was showing off his 'basketball prowess' to a kid but he instead he made a laughable mistake. "I-I said I was sorry that time." he stuttered embarassed at the thought of Kagami bringing it up. What's with this turn of events?

"He kissed me but Kagami-kun's changing the subject."

Kouki watch Kagami as he put both of his hand on his waist.

"Well you took your sorry back!" he retorted playfully.

"I-It was because you were being a jerk after I apologized to you!"

"You should have seen your face back then you were so red in anger." Kagami said amusedly at the thought.

"W-Well so are you..." Kouki stuttered, "You're face back then was so red like your hair!" Kouki said looking up only to pause to see Kagami staring at him his crimson eyes intense and deep.

Concious all of the sudden Kouki rubbed the back of his head uneasily.

"W-What?"

"I thought before you were just a weak and scrawny...annoying and..."

"Hey!" Kouki frowned.

"Let me finish."

Kouki huffed but he didn't say anything.

"But then I've got the chance to get to know you better...you are not weak like I thought you are before..." Kagami said his crimson eyes focus his hazel eyes it was intense he felt he was melting onto his gaze.

"You are one of the strongest person I know you're caring, kind and what's more you love basketball the same way as I do, you're still annoying though..."

"Well yeah good news we feel the same way...a-about the annoying part." Kouki added quickly.

"Kouki." Kagami said his voice husky and deep making Kouki's heart beat against his chest again hearing him call him by his first name gives him this undescribable shiver down his spine and butterflies in his stomach.

"W-What?"

"I like you."

"Eh?" Kouki was speechless he just stared openly at Kagami.

"I...really really like you."

And then Kouki realized he must be joking so he laugh nervously.

"T-Thank you? I suppose...like you too." Kouki said with a weak smile.

"I didn't mean it like 'I like you as a friend thing' I like you as in a lover would."

Kouki's hazel eyes widen, no way! His ears must be deceiving him.

Kouki laughed.

"What so funny?" Kagami asked not breaking his eye contact with him.

"B-Because that was a good one...b-but please don't joke like that again."

"Do I look like I'm joking." Kagami said his crimson eyes gazing at him intently.

"Y-You're not...joking?"

"I kissed you Kouki can't you figure it out?"

Kouki stared at Kagami his mind turning into mush he couldn't find the words to say things are happening all of the sudden he couldn't think straight.

"You don't have to say anything right away I can wait."

"K-Kagami-kun...I...I'm flattered I really do...but you don't know what you're saying.." Yeah, Kouki nodded to himself there's no way Kagami knows what he was talking about can't he realize the reality of their situation?

"I know myself well enough."

"N-No you're not...you're straight Kagami-kun."

"Yeah I am hell I don't care that we're both male I like you that's all that matters."

Getting frustrated Kouki clench his hands into a fist so hard his knuckles turning white.

"Stop this joke already it's NOT funny."

"I already told you I am not joking."

"It's best that I avoid Kagami-kun...there's no way his feelings was real he's just confused."

"Yeah I know Oyaji I know you don't have to remind me." Kouki flinch hearing Kagami's voice closing on him he walk faster towards the opening elevator once inside he pressed the close button repeatedly

"Let me on, idiot..." Kagami said as he push the elevator's door sideways preventing it from closing.

"G-Good morning." He greeted, trying not to sound awkward.

"Morning." Kagami briefly replied.

"I-It's still early for you to leave for school." That's true, its only five-thirty am he woke up early with a plan to stay in the train station to wait till its time for him to go to school at six. Just to avoid Kagami.

"Like you're the one to talk."

"Its different for me." That's also true since he is the basketball club manager he needs to be in school early to prepare for the morning practice before the other seniors and first years, like Kuroko and Kagami to arrive.

"It doesn't matter."

Kouki chose to say nothing squeezing himself as much as possible into the little corner of the elevator just being able to stare at Kagami's broad back making his heart flutter.

"Kagami-kun's acting like nothing happened so...maybe I might as well act like nothing happen."

"Don't forget about what I said to you last night."

Kouki flinches his heart beating in his ribcage so hard its as if it was the only sound he can hear.

"W-What did he just say?" Kouki asked himself, twice.

"I will wait for your answer, as long as it takes for you to come up with it."

"K-Kagami-kun I..." He said, but just in time for them to reach their destination.

"Come on we're going to be late for the first bus of the day."

"Is everything all right with you and Bakagami?" Riko asked him early in the morning while the others are doing their daily laps.

"H-Huh? O-Of course we're ok!" Kouki bit his lips, damn he sounds forceful denying it.

Riko visibly sighed, "That's what I was afraid of...you two being 'okay' are bad news."

"What do you mean Riko?"

Riko shrugged, "Well you two are always at each others throats and you guys being 'okay' means something happened." she said instinctively.

"Riko-chan you think too much."

"Did Bakagami already confessed that he likes you?" Riko asked directly Kouki choke on his water.

"H-How do you-" How did Riko know? Is she secretly a psychic?

"Its obvious that Bakagami likes you he just heard the others mention your name and he'll react to it..." Riko said like it was the most obvious thing in the world, "And you Kouki its obvious that you like him but you seems to be in denial."

"I-I'm not in denial!" Kouki said, there's no way he was in denial!

"Yeah right." Riko said her voice dripping with obvious sarcasm.

"H-He can't like me."

"Says who...you? Even if you tell him that you can't just take away his feelings he has for you."

"I-I know that but..." Kouki said thoughtfully.

"What's stopping you Kouki?" Riko's question made Kouki's mind went back to the certain red head in his past.

"R-Riko-chan I..."

But before he could confide to the older girl the rest finished their laps.

"This is really the Spartan drill." Kawahara panted, wiping his dripping sweat with the back of his arm.

"I can't take it anymore." Fukuda added while he sits down the floor.

"I-I'm dying!" Koganei said leaning his head against the wall with Mitobe next to him doing the same thing.

Riko sigh deeply, "Alright we continue this conversation later." With that she face her team with a visible angry vein on top of her head, "Alright you lot! Let's start to learn another gameplay someone help Kuroko-kun stand up!" she said as Kuroko lying face down on the ground.

"T-There's nothing to talk about right? I-I just have to avoid Kagami-kun he can't like me there's no way!" As he turn his back around from the team Kagami stared at his back with indescribable look on his face.

After practice:

Kawahara approach Kouki while he arrange the record books on the bench.

"Hey Furi wanna come with us? We're going to get some burgers at Maji with Kuroko and Kagami." Kawahara said, pointing his thumb to the light and shadow.

"Yes, please come with us Furihata-kun." Kuroko said his cute blue eyes looking straight at him.

Kouki bit her lips, his eyes glance at the red head discreetly, he's supposed to avoid Kagami so no matter what he needs to lie.

"I-I can't I have something to do." He excused, hoping it was enough but it wasn't.

"And what is that." Kagami scoffed, clearly not believing his obvious lie.

"I..."

"Coach has already given us some off until exam week ends stop lying." the harshness on his voice hasn't slipped from Kawahara and Fukuda but Kuroko just frown disapprovingly, to who Kouki don't know.

"H-Hey chill out Kagami." Fukuda said feeling how intense the situation is becoming.

"You do not have any decency at all Kagami."

Kagami ignored the two.

"You don't think I- We..." Kagami corrected himself, "We didn't notice it." That you're avoiding me.

Feeling guilty Kouki look away, "I-I'm really sorry...but I have something important I needed to do so...enjoy your time in Maji." He excused himself his eyes on his feet as he walk pass the trio but as he pass by Kagami the red head grab his arm pulling him back down, making him yelp.

"W-What..."

Alarmed Kawahara tried to come in between the two but surprisingly Kuroko stop him.

"H-Hey Kagami relax you don't have to pick a fight just because Furi turn us down!" Kawahara said with a trembling voice, fearing a fight's about to unfold.

"K-Kagami-kun."

"Whatever." Pissed off, Kagami let him go he watch the red head as he left the gym with Kawahara and Fukuda following suit.

"Furihata-kun." It was Kuroko.

"K-Kuroko I..."

"Sooner or later you have to face him...you can't continue this any longer."

"You don't understand...no one understands what I'm going through..."

At the basketball court

"Ouch!" Kagami winced in pain while massaging his aching head after Kuroko hit him with his ignite pass. "Damn you teme!" he yelled angrily.

"You can't just break stuff whenever you're angry Kagami-kun."

"Why the hell not? Kouki's obviously avoiding me."

Kuroko sighed as he sits down the nearby bench, "Furihata-kun has reasons." he started.

"Well what the hell is it?!" Kagami said impatiently.

"I know you're angry right now but think about what Furihata-kun must be thinking. He has a lots of things on his plate right now his mind all mess up besides don't you think he might only protecting you?" The bluenette said looking at Kagami.

"Protecting me from what?"

"From who you asked? Maybe from himself? You're straight and you have lots of potential Kagami-kun..."

"I told him I don't care about that."

"You might not care but Furihata-kun does..." Kuroko paused, "And also..."

"Also what?" Kagami raised his eyebrows, his curiously growing every minute Kuroko stayed quiet.

Kuroko sighed, "I can't tell you about it."

"What the hell's that suppose to mean?!"

"Its not for me to tell but it might be because of that reason Furihata-kun's keeping his distance."

...

"I made a promise I'll wait for him...and I don't want to break that promise..."

This is the longest chapter I made, Wew I'm done finally! I haven't spell check this chap so bare with the mistakes in my defence its already 2:10 AM here I'll edit this when I can :D

Hope you like this Jimbei-chan! :D

Hope you lot enjoy this and leave reviews! Tell me what you think... pretty please?