The four teenage boys stood outside a dagashi shop, peeking inside, where hundreds of brightly packaged snacks sat on the counters, neon colors and kiddish mascots on the wrappers greet their eyes. Quiet fills the shop, although the noisy whirring of the air conditioner could be heard from the back room. Kuroko raps his knuckles on the door, waiting for an answer that doesn't come. Despite the lack of reply, Kuroko slides the door open more, stepping inside the shop. He and Kagami immediately gravitate towards one corner of the shop, clearly familiar with what they wanted to buy. Akashi stands apprehensively at the door frame, Ogiwara prodding him.

"Oh come on!" Ogiwara laughs, "have you never been inside a dagashi shop before?"

"There aren't any in the city," Akashi says defensively, "and even so, I'm not the biggest fan of sweets."

Ogiwara merely rolls his eyes and places his hand on Akashi's back, urging him into the shop. Akashi's first instinct is to follow Kuroko's lead, but the other boy was off on the other side of the shop, pouring over some candy with Kagami. A frown makes its way across Akashi's face, and he stands in the middle of the shop dumbly for a few minutes before striding over to one of the shelves. Menko cards and plastic toy figurines lined the higher shelves, but having no particular interest for cheap sweets or toys, he only stares at the umaibo section with about as much fervor as separating grains of rice. Bored, his hands move to the back pocket of his jeans, pulling out his phone. Neglect to reply had led to an onslaught of text messages that clogged up his notifications. He swipes across the screen, dismissing all of them, save for one. Snapping a picture of the dagashi shop, he sends the attachment to Momoi, along with a cursory explanation of his situation, ending with a plea of 'help?' and just seconds after sending the message, he receives a reply. Momoi's a lot of things in Akashi's life: she's always there at his side, helping him stay steady, and there had never been a day where she could disappoint. Yet, when he opens her message, he can only read it in confusion.

Momoi: akashi-kun! you lucky boy!

Just a few months ago, a girl had presented Akashi with a box of chocolates for Valentine's day and he had immediately passed it onto his teammates, despite their protests that it wasn't chivalrous to regift chocolates. So there was no doubt that Momoi was aware of his apathy towards sweets; there was nothing she didn't know, and nothing she said without intention. A chill creeps up his spine and a foreboding sense of doom curdles in his gut.

Akashi: please explain

Momoi: www the guy with the blue hair in the picture you sent me is seriously cute!

Opening the picture again, Akashi notices that Kuroko and Kagami had indeed made it into the side of the picture. He automatically presses the delete button, but his finger hovers over the confirmation, before canceling his action.

Akashi: when i asked for help i wasn't referring to tetsuya but rather about what to do about being in a sweets shop

Akashi glances around. Still preoccupied with their own candy hunts, the other boys make no indication of leaving any time soon, so Akashi slides the shop door open, slipping outside. A vending machine stood next to the store, humming gently. It's a more desolate part of the town where only the bugs bother to keep him company. Heat waves dance in the distance, the air stifling and sticky like taffy, but Akashi had no business going back in the shop at the moment either. Inserting a hundred yen coin into the vending machine, he punches the button for iced tea, feeling unusually irritated. The drink drops out of the vending machine and Akashi picks it up, striding over to the nearby bench, only to nearly drop his drink when he reads Momoi's messages.

Momoi: he is very cute

Momoi: tetsuya isn't a last name is it

Momoi: first name basis! cute. very cute.

Akashi: satsuki...i call you by your first name? i fail to see your logic

Momoi: akashi-kun were you not aware that we are like the #1 friendship power couple

Momoi: the other day i asked a boy out for ice cream and he turned me down bc "akashi-san is really scary. like really scary. i'm on the basketball team. and i don't want to die more than i already do at practice"

Momoi: which is really sweet, i appreciate that you always have my back but how do you retain a threatening presence WHEN YOU'RE NOT EVEN HERE

Momoi: THAT BOY WAS REALLY CUTE :(

Akashi: who is this boy.

Momoi: see.

Momoi: ANYWAYS this is off topic

Momoi: tetsu-kun is very cute pls say hi to him for me and give him my love! reo says hi as well! and hayama says 'thank you, god. i will die less this summer bc akashi isn't here to make me run 3092 laps during training.' takao says 'yo, don't die!' and midorin said 'i hope he's dead'. :o

Akashi: remind him that our shogi record is 52 to 3

Momoi: he's right here next to me. he says 'die' and that he 'hopes hell takes you back'

Momoi: go make your move, akashi-kun! we're rooting for you. if you chicken out you owe us all ramen when you get back :)

Momoi: lets hope he isn't dense bc it only counts if he knows!

Momoi: if you chicken out can i have him www

Momoi's a lot of things and terrifying is definitely one of them. But, Akashi thinks, shaking his head, her message is nothing short of ludicrous.

Momoi: oh, and please buy me some caramel dice!

"I'm guessing you don't like sweets."

Akashi jumps slightly at the sudden voice behind him, nearly spitting out the tea he had been sipping. Switching his phone off hastily, he turns around to face a curious Kuroko. "You really need to stop sneaking up on people, Tetsuya," Akashi chides, slipping his phone back into his pocket. Kuroko rolls his eyes, not amused by Akashi's unoriginal line, taking a bite out of the fugashi in his hands. "You did, however, guess right. Did you already pay for your candy?"

"I left money on the counter, if that's what you mean." Kuroko jerks his head back towards the shop. "You should've told us if you were going to leave. So, who were you texting, if I'm allowed to be nosy?" Kuroko asks casually, taking another bite of the fugashi. Akashi raises an eyebrow, nearly denying that he had been texting at all, but no ruse would be able to shake Kuroko from his tail. He taps his fingers on the side of the can, listening to his nails clink against the aluminum to draw out the conversation.

"Satsuki," he answers, after a few more moments. "She wants me to get her caramel dice, whatever those are."

Nodding, Kuroko tugs on Akashi's arm in order to get him to stand. The can of tea is only half finished but Akashi picks it up and tosses it in the trash, following Kuroko's lead. He's pulled over to another shelf in the shop where a jar of candy packaged in boxes that looked like dice sat on the lowest self, marked for five yen each. Akashi takes out one of the boxes, opening it and unwrapping one of the caramels. He holds it up in front of Kuroko's mouth.

"Open up, darling," Akashi drawls in a silky voice and smile sweeter than the caramel, that would make girls squeal and Momoi proud of him for his charm. Kuroko, however, scowls slightly and knocks Akashi's hand aside like he was no more than a bothersome fly. Momentarily surprised by Kuroko's rejection, Akashi chuckles and plops the caramel candy into his own mouth.

"Don't call me darling," Kuroko deadpans.

Blue eyes study Akashi's actions carefully as he takes a handful of the caramel, digging through his pockets for any loose change and walking over the counter.

"Bored?"

There's no anger or annoyance that laces Kuroko's tone, no undertone of accusation but his slight frown, furrowed brows, narrowed blue eyes, are all devoid of innocence. Akashi doesn't reply for a moment, feeling slightly guilty. Walking up the counter, he counts out the coins while Kuroko's gaze bores holes in his back. He even takes care to separate them out neatly, into little stacks, biding his time. When he's done, he turns around with a small smile.

"No," he says at last. It wasn't a complete lie, at least. Kuroko throws him a disbelieving look.

"Not bored with nothing to do," Kuroko corrects. "You have your phone, I know. I meant, bored of us."

"I know what you meant," Akashi says evenly. "My answer remains the same."

"So nothing's bothering you?"

"I never said that," Akashi shrugs. Momoi's word flash through his mind again, replacing his tentativeness by the looming threat of having to pay for some seven or more bowls of ramen. His wallet could handle it. His pride, however, could not. Crooking a finger, he beckons Kuroko to come closer and when the latter does, albeit suspiciously, Akashi leans forward, wrapping a hand around Kuroko's wrist. Shooting him a teasing look, Akashi guides the fugashi in Kuroko's hands to his own mouth and takes a bite of it. Kuroko's reaction is immediate, jerking his arm away from Akashi's grasp.

"Hey! Get your own, you spoiled city brat," he protests, cradling his snack protectively like a child with their teddy bear.

"Sorry," Akashi says, voice low and not the least bit sorry, "I am, indeed, a spoiled city brat." He looks up at Kuroko through half lidded eyes before continuing, his voice almost a purr. "And being a spoiled brat, I'm not used to having to share anything."

"What?" Kuroko blinks in confusion, looking down at his fugashi. "You can't share what's not yours to begin with! And what does this have to do with what's bothering you?"

Closing his eyes and sighing in temporary defeat, Akashi leans back against the counters, resting his elbows on the top.

"What is it now?" Kuroko asks. Akashi opens one eye lazily to stare at Kuroko.

"Ramen costs about eight hundred yen a bowl, doesn't it?"

Teenage hunger and laziness sits on the kitchen counter in the form of Chinese takeout, oily boxes stuffed to the brim with fried rice and vegetables, noodles, teriyaki, tofu, and orange chicken. Next to it sat a too heavy plastic bag full of the treats from their purge at the dagashi store. Late night summer heat had seeped into the house and with the air conditioning broken rendering them unable to sleep, the boys spent their time lounging around the house, draped over couches, laying on the floor, and trying to avoid the heat.

"I'm hungry," Kagami said, looking up at the ceiling, rolling over onto his back on the floor. "But it's past twelve in the morning."

"Go cook something then," Kuroko replied, rather snappishly as he stands, sticking his head out half of the window.

"Enough," Akashi grumbled, "I'm ordering Chinese takeout, you'd better have a twenty-four hour takeout place around here."

Now, they stood, congregated around the kitchen table, where a dozen or so movie DVDs had been spread out. Rummaging through drawers and ransacking closets, the house had been upturned in order to procure Kuroko's movie collection that seemed elusive as the owner of the movies himself.

"We're watching Pirates of the Caribbean. Anyone who disagrees can suck it because I paid for your Chinese food," Akashi announces, holding the DVD up.

"Could it be," Kuroko gasps, "that Akashi-kun is actually a huge nerd?"

"Don't be ridiculous," Ogiwara interjects, "there's no 'could be a huge nerd', it's 'is a huge nerd.'"

"Is your sole purpose in life to torment me?" Akashi mutters under his breath, smacking Ogiwara across the back of his head.

Snatched by greedy hands, the food is claimed and moved over to the living room, the bag of sweets dumped on the coffee table where the treats piled into a small mountain. Half hurdling over the couch, Ogiwara stretches out over all three cushions, leaving no space for anybody else. Catching the drift, Kagami claims the arm chair for himself, leaving Akashi and Kuroko the floor. Kuroko shrugs and sits down, back against the couch and takeout in his lap. Akashi joins him, though he sends a nasty glare towards Ogiwara who flashes him a thumbs up.

When the characters in the movie were stealing a ship, Kuroko glances at Akashi, who was staring intently at the screen with fondness written across his face, food by his side, forgotten. Shifting forward slightly, Kuroko steals a piece of Akashi's orange chicken, Akashi's eyes never moving from the screen. Gloating at his silent victory, Kuroko makes move to take a bite of the chicken but a hand flashes out to stop his hand.

"Why, thank you, Tetsuya," Akashi murmurs before leaning forward and eating the piece of chicken from Kuroko's chopsticks. "If you were so intent on feeding me, you could have just said so."

"I wanted to feed myself," Kuroko corrects, pulling his chopsticks out of Akashi's mouth.

"You can't even finish your own food." Akashi points at Kuroko's portions which had barely moved since the beginning of the film.

"Your food tastes better," Kuroko whines, using his chopsticks to poke around his fried rice and beef teriyaki, so flavorful that Kuroko was sure that if he ate the box, he wouldn't taste a difference. "I should've ordered what you got."

"We can switch."

"But then I'd feel bad..."

Akashi's eyes light up just the tiniest bit and he pats the space in front of him like an invitation. Eyeing the invitation apprehensively and wondering if it was something akin to a death sentence, Kuroko scoots over anyways.

"Turn around," Akashi orders and Kuroko does, his back facing towards Akashi. Uncrossing his legs, Akashi wraps his arms around Kuroko's waist, pulling him towards his chest so he sat between Akashi's legs.

"Wait - Akashi - what are you-" Kuroko's a spluttering mess at the close proximity, tendrils of a blush blossoming and unfurling across his face. He struggles in Akashi's hold, embarrassment flooding him.

"Stop moving," Akashi scolds, one arm reaching for his box of Chinese food, the other still around Kuroko's waist. He shoves the Chinese food into Kuroko's hands and rests his chin on Kuroko's shoulder, reaching over the latter's chest to take another piece of chicken. "Now we can share."

"Does it have to be like this?" Kuroko hisses, his face redder than Akashi's hair.

"I hope not, you guys are so gross," Ogiwara mutters from above them.

"Keep your eyes to yourself, then," Akashi retorts. "Like Kagami."

"Gross, so gross," Ogiwara repeats, pretending to puke, before turning back to the movie. "Just stop beating around the bush."

"The real question is," Kagami interjects, "why you think that's a good idea when it's so hot already."

"Is this something you do with your friends too?" Kuroko squirms slightly, trying his best not to choke on his heart that found it's way into his throat. Mortification pricks at him, poking fun at his current situation and Kuroko wonders how he'll ever survive. His only solace, the Chinese food, pacifies him some, and Kuroko considers it quite sad that he was willing to trade his pride for a few pieces of chicken and noodles.

"Kind of," Akashi answers vaguely. "No need to feel so embarrassed, it's nothing new."

Kuroko settles down a bit after that, leaning into Akashi's chest gently to test the waters, before resting completely against the other's chest. His hands are wrapped around the container of food possessively, sometimes even denying Akashi his pick of food.

"Don't be rude, Tetsuya," Akashi whispers, blowing in Kuroko's ear when Akashi had lost to a chopstick faceoff and Kuroko had successfully swiped Akashi's chicken from him. Kuroko ducks his head, shrieking slightly in surprise and clamoring away from Akashi slightly. Spotting his opening, Akashi reaches for a piece of tofu, but before he can retract his hand, Kuroko grabs his wrist, eating the tofu.

"Oi, who's the spoiled brat now?" Akashi growls, tickling Kuroko's side.

"It's not my fault you were so intent on spoiling me, Akashi-kun," Kuroko says, looking up cutely at Akashi, lashes fluttering.

"Nice try," Akashi says, arms tightening around Kuroko's waist, "eat my tofu again and we're done."

When Akashi wraps his arms around Kuroko tighter, Kuroko finds it hard to breathe but as Akashi's grip loosens again, he finds it even harder. Kuroko moves slightly, knees knocking Akashi's own, and Akashi, catching the cue, shifts so Kuroko could be more comfortable. Touched by his thoughtfulness, Kuroko finally offers Akashi his pick of food. Akashi fails to be as impressed by Kuroko's act of generosity.

Even after the Chinese food is done and set aside, Kuroko doesn't move from his current place.

Somewhere between Jack Sparrow and the part about Will Turner, the movie faded into the background as Akashi's close proximity began to take center stage of Kuroko's attention. Kuroko's sure he hears screaming coming from the movie but he's sure the internal part of him is yelling even louder. Slow and steady, Akashi's heart beats, and it irks Kuroko how composed Akashi is. His breath hot on the Kuroko's nape, Kuroko finds it's the only heat he doesn't mind in the current weather. Even the way Akashi smells is dangerously intoxicating, overwhelming, and Kuroko found himself resisting the urge to turn around and bury his head in the crook of Akashi's neck, like how Akashi was doing to him, for payback. Under the assumption that Akashi was a lot more engaged in the movie than Kuroko himself, Kuroko discards his plan for revenge, sure that Akashi would only remain calm. Maybe even tease Kuroko, and after a moment, Kuroko's glad he hadn't gone through with his original plan, having saved himself from any more humiliation.

At one point, when the characters had been fighting in the moonlight on the ships, skeletons and humans against one another, Akashi had pulled out his phone, his arms draped across Kuroko's chest and his phone in a position where both of them could see the screen. Surprised that Akashi dares to open up his texts when Kuroko could so easily read them, Kuroko realizes that it was Akashi's way of saying he was comfortable and didn't mind. Not wanting to miss the precious chance, Kuroko plucks the phone out of Akashi's hands who huffs in amusement as Kuroko taps on Momoi's contact. Akashi turns his attention back to the movie while Kuroko focuses on the phone in front of him.

Akashi: hello, momoi-san, i've heard a great deal about you from akashi-kun

Momoi: oh my god! are you the kuroko tetsuya i've heard so much about

Akashi: i am

Momoi: www nice to meet you! how did you get your hands on akashi-kun's phone?

Akashi: he let me, surprisingly enough

Momoi: :ooo you are a lucky lucky boy, tetsu-kun! akashi-kun usually doesn't let anyone touch his phone

Momoi: did akashi-kun get me my caramel dice

Akashi: he did, no need to worry momoi-san

Akashi: he said that if he didn't 'he'd have to face hell's fury' which i think is pretty impressive

The more Kuroko texts Momoi, the more he finds himself liking the upbeat girl, laughing quietly at some of the things she sent. He leans forward slightly to obscure the phone from Akashi's view, out of precaution so Akashi wouldn't notice his attempts to cajole Momoi into disclosing Akashi's dearest secrets. Slowly, he eases into an upright sitting position, hunched over the phone, farther from Akashi until arms wrap around Kuroko's waist, pulling him back into the warmth of Akashi's chest. Kuroko looks up to see the redhead's displeased expression.

"Where do you think you're going?" Akashi frowns. Glancing down at his phone, his eyes widen as he scans the screen, reading what the two had been chatting about. He catches the words 'wild', 'bed', among others that makes him regret any previous decisions in trusting Kuroko with Momoi. Akashi's hands grapple for the phone until he finally wrestles it out of Kuroko's insistent grip, yet again using one arm to keep Kuroko still and prevent him from retrieving the phone and outstretching the other out of Kuroko's reach to text a furious reply to Momoi.

Akashi: satsuki, i trusted you

Akashi: how could you tell him all this

Momoi: oh is this akashi-kun

Momoi: pls give the phone back to tetsu-kun! i want to talk to him more D:

Akashi: excuse my rudeness, satsuki, you're near and dear to my heart, but: fuck off

Akashi scrolls up slightly and pales when he sees some of the pictures Momoi had sent Kuroko from her camera roll. Among them, one featured him and Kise, both dressed in suits with their hair slicked back and staring into the camera.

Akashi: YOU SENT HIM THAT PICTURE?

Akashi: i thought we agreed to burn that picture.

"I never knew you modeled, Akashi-kun," Kuroko giggles and Akashi pinches Kuroko's side, only making Kuroko laugh more.

"I don't," Akashi huffs, "it was only one time, when Ryouta needed an extra for a modeling shot."

"You were handsome," Kuroko assures. "But not as much as Kise-kun."

Akashi pauses. "Did Satsuki tell you to say that?"

"Maybe," Kuroko hums. "Or maybe it's my own opinion."

"Bullshit," Akashi says. "You think I'm devilishly attractive."

"No, I-" Kuroko denies it with vehemence but Akashi holds up the phone in front of his face, smugly pointing to the text Kuroko had sent Momoi just minutes ago.

Akashi: he is kind of cute

Momoi: its ok tetsu-kun everyone has a little crush on akashi-kun

"I said 'kind of cute' not 'devilishly attractive'," Kuroko protests. Akashi's phone buzzes with new messages from Momoi.

Momoi: language, akashi-kun, language :)

Momoi: now stop harassing tetsu-kun and give him the phone back so i can talk to him

"Are you even still watching the movie or are you just flirting?" Ogiwara interrupts from the couch. Akashi and Kuroko crane their necks to glare at him.

"We're not flirting!" they argue in unison.

"Yes," Ogiwara says, nodding, "I can now see I was right. Even a brick wall is more observant than you two."

"It's not that weird," Kagami pipes up from the arm chair, attention never wavering from the movie. "I grew up around Alex, though. Everything seems platonic after that."

"Yeah, but, come on. It's almost like watching a trashy romance movie," Ogiwara says, "and I'm not sure which one is worse."