"Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten

-Neil Gaiman, Coraline

13th Quarter
"There's no such thing as fairytale"

Kouki eyed the movement of the clock's hand watching it move like a snail his heavy eyes drooping as an uncontrollable yawn came out of his mouth. "God can't this clock move any slower?" the brunette ask himself as he straighten his body behind the counter. Working your late night shift after school and club activities really taking a lot of energy.

Since the team's has two matches a day and long hours of training his mind's kept from thinking of things concerning the certain tiger he had to admit that lack of attention from the red head kind of disappointing but there's no way he will ever admit it. Kouko blushed as he slap himself painful enough to make his cheek red.
"How can you even think of something like that?!" Kouki berated himself as he runs his fingers on his lacks in frustration. Darn it! I can't be thinking of something impossible to happen.
"Koukicchi!" the brunette twitched at the nickname snapping him back to reality. There in front of him is the dashing blond in his glory. "It's been awhile Koukicchi I didn't know you work here!" Kise said in all his hyperactive self.

"Uh..K-Kise-kun w-what are you doing here?" Kouki blinks, surprise of the blond's sudden arrival.
Kise pouted cutely, "Well you see Kurokocchi invited me!"
"Kuroko-kun did?" Kise nodded with a smile.
"Please don't make a scene here Kise-kun." the bluenette said suddenly appearing beside Kise who jolted in surprise.
"Kurokocchi don't do that again you're gonna make me have a heart attack! ?mou~" Kise sniffed like a hurt puppy.
"I've been here next to you Kise-kun." Kuroko murmured as he drinks his vanilla milkshake.
"Uhm, what are you two doing here?" Kouki couldn't help but to ask, he never told anyone that he works here.
"We're buying some ice pops." Kagami said gruffly as he place 2 dozen boxes of popsicles on the counter.
"Oh..." Now its Kouki's turn to flinch suddenly he couldn't look up to his friends. "O...okay..."

"Geez Kagamicchi how can you eat such sweet stuffs like that." Kise said with a grimace. "And after eating such big meal."

Kagami shrurgged his shoulders, "Well I like it."
"Next time you should definitely join us for practice Koukicchi!"
"Practice?"
"Uhuh.." Kise nodded.
"We were practicing at the basketball court just one block away from here Koukicchi plus it'll be convenient for you as well..."
"Uh...oh yeah l-let's see.." Kouki said with a force smile while he scan the items on the register.
"So what time you're gonna finish your shift Furihata-kun?" Kuroko asked changing the subject.
"I still have an hour to go."
"Oh that'll be eleven then." Kuroko concluded.
"Yeah."
"That'll be pretty late want us to stay behind and wait for you Koukicchi?" Kise said leaning on the counter in anticipation.
Kouki looks up glancing at the red head's direction only to see his crimson eyes staring back at him. He gulped a big lump in his throat his heart beating so fast against his chest. "Why is he feeling this again?" damn it! he cursed inwardly.
"N-No!" Damn he said it more forcefully! Clearing his throat, "Uh...I mean no don't wait for me Kise-kun and Kuroko-kun lives far from here Kagami-kun also..." he said glancing quickly at the red head. "It'll be late when I finish and I don't want you guys to be in trouble with your parents."

"I guess that'll be troublesome..." Kise commented with a disappointed sigh, "Maybe next time though..."

###

"I'll be going now thank you for your hardwork!" Kouki bowed to their store manager before completely leaving. Once outside though he stop on his tracks when he sees Kagami sitting on the guard rails right outside the store.
"Why in the..."
"Finished?"Kagami asked standing up from his seat closing his distance from the surprise brunette.
"W-What are you doing here Kagami-kun?" he asked but it earned him a poke on his forehead instead.
"Of course I'm here waiting for you bakaa." Kagami said while messing with his hair and the brunette's so flustered to even protest leaving him just staring at the red head's broad back.

Their way to the station went on without a hitch not like the rush hour there only countless people in the train so both of them are able to seat down on their way home.

"So...you always come home late when you're working there?" Kagami asked beside the brunette breaking the unnerving silence between them.
"Yeah." Kouki replied timidly.
"That's too late..." Kagami said it as if he was complaining.
"Umm.. its alright I don't mind doing long hours since I really need the money." the brunette explain with a tired sigh since he has no parents or a guardian to support him he has to work extra hard on his part time jobs to pay his rent and for his everyday expenses. Good thing though he didn't have to pay for school tuition fees since he's a scholar. Kouki sighed again.

'Being an orphan is so hard." Kouki thought to himself.
"From now on I'll wait for you to get off from work."
"Eh?" before Kouki could even react a sudden halt of the train carriage send him towards Kagami's chest with a yelp. Remaining passengers let out a cry once the lights went off.
"You okay?" Kagami asked his bangs covering his eyes his hand cupping the brunette's chin making the smaller male look up at him.
"U-Uh y-yeah?" Kouki's eyes widen when he felt a warm moisture on his lips. Holy mother of everyone! Did Kagami just stole a kiss from him? Before he can even react the lights of the train are back on again.

"We are sorry for the inconvenience but rest assured everything are back in order and the train will continue on its service."

Kouki can't even register in his mind what's happening at this very moment but all he knows was his heart is beating faster than it did before. 'Am I falling in love with Kagami-kun?" A question he kept on not wanting to answer.

But having these feelings feels like he's betraying his promise to Akashi.

"What should I do?"

###
Morning, that Saturday Kouki woke up early to meet up with Riko at Maji he was getting ready to leave his apartment when his phone on top of the nightstand went off he picked up the ringing device to look at the screen he knotted his forehead to see the caller is an unregistered number.

"Who is this?" he thought to himself.

"Thanks for meeting up with me in such a short notice..."Nina said once Kouki arrived.

"Oh its fine..." He said once he was settled. "You said it was important...so...I came as soon as I can." Kouki said timidly as he turn to look up to the blonde. "You want to talk about something with me Nina-san?"he asked while waiting for the blonde to finish her coffee.

"I'm not going to beat around the bush anymore Furi-chan I'll be honest with you and I want you to be honest with me too..."

"Uhuh.."
"Do you like Taiga?"
"W-What?" Kouki blinks, did he just heard what he think he heard? His mind immediately raced back that time Kagami kissed him that day in the amusement park. Flustered he clutches at the strap of his bag tightly. So someone saw them that day...and that someone is not just someone...of all the people Nina had to see that.
"It's a question answerable by yes or no Furi-chan, clearly my question wasn't so hard to answer." Nina said her voice unusually hard and cold a contrast of her typical overzealous personality. "I'm asking you again Furi-chan do you like my Fiancée.." Nina then produce a cold hard evidence settling it on top of the table for the brunette to see.

Kouki's brown eyes widen in surprise he struggle to pick up the paper with his shaking hand. The picture was taken during their 'date' in the amusement park. And there's no way he can explain the situation in the picture and expect the girl to believe him.

"You are aware that you and Taiga can't be together right? Not only because the obvious reason that the two of you are both guys he has me and we're going to get married after high school and even if Taiga chooses you his mom won't be accepting his relationship with you."

Kouki clenched his fist on top of his lap, of course he is well aware that the two of them can't be together. Taiga and him in a relationship there's no way it can happen. Kami-sama he can't believe that this is happening all over again.

"This is just a phase for Taiga and unfortunately you are the focus of his fixation but it'll be over soon as you know it..."

"I-I know that! I..."

"Oh Furi-chan...there's no such a thing as a fairytale you and Taiga together will never happen...ever so if I were you I'll stay away from him if not I will spread these pictures and you don't want that to happen to your dear Kagami-kun right?" With that Nina left the completely distraught Kouki.

A/N: Be strong Kouki! :)

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