Quarter Six

How about we make a deal?

Kouki's day consist of many things, studies, basketball club activities and his part-time job. The whole day he successfully avoided Kagami and any sort of conversation relating to him. He barely even have the chance to even exchange small talks with the red head since they're all busy preparing for the inter-high.

Kouki found himself sighing deeply his hand gripping the strap of his bag as he walk to the train station after finishing his part time job he still have a few more hours to spare before the last train comes so he can still waste his time thinking. The truth is he's been passing time to make sure when he comes back home Kagami would probably sleeping believeing coming back home late will reduce the chance of them meeting. By now Kagami has had already know that he's avoiding him but then again he wasn't really subtle on doing it.

Kagami's angry but its better this way.

Kouki found a bench by the streets and sit on it.

"I promise myself I'll wait for him but that promise was crumbling down ever since I've met Kagami-kun and I feel like I'm betraying Sei-chan." Kouki bit his lip, his heart felt like being ripped into million pieces at the thought of Akashi. "But I've already betrayed Sei-chan because I'm already..." he paused his hand clench into a fist the fact that he is afraid to admit the truth scares him. Not knowing what to do scares the hell out of him! He was so deep in thought that he didn't notice someone sitting next to him.

"You alright?" The stranger asked making Kouki yelp a bit.

"E-Eh?" Kouki jumps on his seat as he gave the stranger a sideway glance seeing a very tall man taller than Kagami with half-long, brown hair that frames the stranger's dark eyes. His eyebrows are quite thick. And what caught Kouki's attention was the stranger's hand it was large even for him.

The stranger gave a chuckle at his reaction, flushing hard embarrassed that the stranger caught him staring at his hand.

"S-Sorry." Embarassed, Kouki apologize so quietly that the stranger probably has the hard time hearing his apology.

"Don't worry I get that a lot." The stranger said with a gentle smile. "You know I'm not exactly a friend I am a complete stranger but I sat down here because you look like you need someone to talk to and you know they say that telling a stranger about your problem there's no judgement I swear!" The stranger said raising his two hand as if he was surrendering.

"Uh, I..." Kouki stammered.

"I saw you look like you're troubled and I can't just leave someone like you alone what about we make a deal?" The stranger said kindly as the taller man turn to look at him, "You tell me your problem then I give you advice then I'll tell you my problem then you give me an advice."

Kouki sighed, this guy made opening up sound so easy.

"I-I'll try."

"So... you can start..."

Kouki sighing deeply while playing with his hand on his lap, "I-I don't know you might get gross out..."

"I have an open mind." the stranger said in understanding. Feeling brave of his reassurance and kindness Kouki turn to look at the empty space.

"I-I have this classmate...he said he likes me." Kouki started.

"And?" The stranger urged on.

"He said he'll wait for my answer but I can't..."

"Something or someone preventing you to do so?" the stranger guessed.

"S-Someone from my past...but..."

"You already in love with that classmate..." The stranger concluded.

"N-No...I..." Kouki desperately trying to deny the truth but he couldn't found a word to explain.

"The only problem with you is that you are in denial."

"I-I'm not I..."

"Yes you are." The stranger pressed on.

"W-What should I do? I can't..."

"Why do you feel that you can't admit your feelings." The stranger questioned.

"I made a promise to myself that I'll wait for him but...when I met Kagami-kun things started changing I felt like I'm betraying that promise." Kouki sniffed as tears started to stream down his face down to the back of his hand on top of his lap.

The stranger put his large hand on top of Kouki's back comforting him.

"Do you still think that you and that man from your past still has a chance?"

"I-I don't know."

The stranger sighed understanding Kouki's situation leaning his back on to the bench his brown eyes staring at the starless sky.

"It might sound selfish but you can't gamble your life waiting for a person in uncertainty do you think that you'll fall in love for this classmate of yours if you still love the man from your past?" the stranger shrugged as he look at the tear stained Kouki.

"I don't know."

"Don't you think you already fell out of love on the old one and now you're in love for this new one."

"I really don't know."

"Everything will be easier and you'll feel free once you open up your heart and admit what you truly feel in here." The stranger said while pointing his large hand on his chest where his heart is.

"T-Thank you." Kouki didn't know this person he doesn't look that old but he sound so wise than their age put together.

"Don't thank me yet you still have to admit your feelings."

Kouki couldn't sleep the night before after thinking about the stranger's advice he decided to give Kagami his answer the answer he memorize in front of the mirror the entire night repeating it over and over so that he wouldn't forget anything he has to say to him.

Satisfied with his memorization Kouki excitedly walks out of his apartment immediately his brown eyes brightening up seeing the broad back of Kagami leaning by the rails as if he was waiting for someone. Kouki's felt his heart starts to hammer against his chest while silently reciting his answer inside his head.

"Okay Kouki this is now or never." Kouki thought to himself he was about to call out Kagami's name when a shrill voice of a girl cut him off.

"Taaaaaiga!" Kouki watch as the beautiful blonde girl pounce on the taller red head hugging Kagami from behind him.

"W-What the heck Nina! W-What are you doing here?!" Flushed, Kagami pry the clingy girl off him.

Nina rolled her eyes, "I'm here to see you!" She said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Go home!"

"Nope no way! I'm here to stay." she said with a huffed.

Kagami turn away from the blonde that's when he notice Kouki was behind them looking hurt.

"K-Kouki I..." Kagami scramble to explain but Kouki ignored him and walk towards the elevator.

"Oh who's that cute boy Taiga was he your friend?."

"Knock it off Nina." Kagami said following Kouki's trail.

"What's the harm? I just wanna be friends with your friend I am your fiancé after all!" She announce happily making Kouki internally flip out.

Unanswered question filling up his mind.

"Uh, Furihata-kun?" Kuroko called out his blue eyes staring straight at the book Kouki tore into two.

Realizing what he had done Kouki profusely apologized to Kuroko.

"S-Sorry Kuroko-kun I...you lent this to me but I was careless and tore it!" Kouki said as he tried to put the two separated part of the book together as if it will be glued back together again when he does. (But it doesn't)

"It's fine Furihata-kun you didn't tore it on purpose and I understand that you're frustrated."

"I-I am not!" Kouki denied indignantly.

"Do not lie to yourself Furihata-kun."

Kouki look away.

"Is it because of Kagami-kun and his fiancée," It sounds like a question but it doesn't.

"N-No of course not! Why would it be because of Kagami-kun and N-Nina-san?!"

"What a reaction Furihata-kun." Kuroko gave him an amuse look.

Kouki scowled Kuroko is definitely enjoying this.

"You know you don't have to deny anything."

"I am not denying anything!" He yelled in frustration, "He can be with any girl he likes after all that's the way it should be!" During his rant he didn't notice that Kagami has approach them.

"Hey," Kagami said with a scowl his thick eyebrows meeting in the middle.

"What are you two doing."

"Nothing Kagami-kun we're just talking." Kuroko explained.

"Then why I hear yelling."

"None of your business." Kouki snapped as he walk away from the two.

Kagami was about to follow Kouki when Tsuchida call out for the red head.

"What?" Kagami snapped.

"A blonde girl claiming your fiancée is here!" Koganei announce cheekily with a loud voice the entire gym can hear him.

"What? No!"

Kouki looks down the folders on his arm his brown eyes squinting in anger and jealousy.

"Taigaaaaa!"

Kouki clench his fist as he heard Nina call Kagami by his first name.

"Kouki I..." Kagami call out to the brunette.

"Just stay with your fiancée."

Kouki lock himself inside the store room putting all his frustration on cleaning the remaining basketball balls in the basket.

"He can be with her for all I care!" He said as he threw the ball on the row of balls he already cleaned. "I hate him!" even from inside the store room he can still hear the blonde's voice calling out for Kagami's name makes his blood boil. He only stop what he was doing when he felt his phone vibrate inside his pocket. His anger quickly evaporated out of his system when he saw the caller's name flashing on his phone's screen.

Incoming call...

Akashi

OMG!

Akashi will finally make an appearance :D