I never thought I would return to thank you...

Chapter 15

“We better have arrived to the mansion in five minutes or else.” I grit my teeth as I feel Tetsuya's warm forehead, he definetly has a serious fever.

Yes, Tetsuya will surely get a whack on his fragile head.
A really strong one at that.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kuroko's P.O.V

I found myself walking down the city streets. Again.
It helps me think clearly and it's quite calming despite the noises in the background.

I hadn't done so in a while because I've been busy with studies and everything that's been happening lately…

Especially today.

“Ah, welcome to the world of living Tetsuya.”
.
“The doctor that treated you saw some new bruises.”
.
“Cutting while you have a fever Tetsuya?”
.
“What are you hiding, Tetsuya?”

Akashi-kun, I don't even understand myself.
I don't remember what happened.
I can't remember waking up and going to the bathroom, let alone cut.
All I know is that I didn't feel well.
Then again. It's been quite a while since the last time I really felt well.
.
But it's also been some time since I found myself in this much trouble.

“You haven't been paying rent for the last two months.”

Having to deal with Haizaki, I totally forgot about that.
It's just a week more before school's over.
Just a week to find the amount of money needed to pay my living.

~

A sigh escapes my lips as the chilly night air hits my face, causing my eyes to blink a few times and trip on my own two feet, bumping into a stranger's stone built chest.
“Whoa, easy there kid!” Shrieked a slightly familiar voice.
A very, familiar voice.
“Ah, forgive me… Ninjimura senpai?” I look up to see that my guess was correct.

He hadn't changed much, slightly better built than before, also taller (how could one get so tall in that age?) and he looked like an actual adult now.
“K-Kuroko-kun?”
“So you remember me.” I comment, getting out of his strong(er?) grip and bow in a sign of thanks. He did catch me after all.
“Tch. Why wouldn't I remember you?” I chose not to answer and he chose to forget about it.“Still as polite as ever I see. What are you doing out in this time of night?” his black eyebrow rose as he stared intently at me.
“Senpai is also outside, what's wrong with me going out?” I couldn't tell him ‘Oh, I'm just getting my mind off of things. Finding solutions to my miserable life problems.’ now could I?
He heavied a sigh and put his hands in his pockets, but not before making a gesture with his hand while he said in a bored tone.
“Follow me.”
.
And I did.

~

Going towards Maji Burger, I found out that senpai was on vacation for a week. He missed his old place and took a walk downtown.
What a coincidence.

“So, what do you want, Kuroko-kun?” The raven haired teen asked me, taking out his wallet while we took our seat.
“There's no need for that, senpai. I can pay for myself.” I'll risk getting two part time jobs but I will not let senpai pay for me. It's rude. I don't do rude things.
Although, his eyes narrow to the point one can say he's bored, but I know that's a cue to agree or else.
“Let me rephrase that. What am I going to buy you, I wonder?” A jolt of shivers made me break eye contact, and suddenly memories of the demon ancestor of Akashi-kun feeding me burgers and pizza came flooding back.
“Uum… well then-”
“No vanilla milkshake.” He says with his famous authorative tone, crushing any hope I had left.
“A burger then. Please.” He gives a soft hum.
“Two.”
“B-but-”
“Or would you rather three?”
…So devilish.
“…two…” He let's a soft smirk, ahem… smile , grace his features as he gave a nod, heading to the counter to give our orders.

I sigh, thinking how Ninjimura senpai always won.
How annoying!
Senpai deserve's it though. He works hard on everything he does and he's a great leader.
I can almost see him leading a prestigeous company sometime in the future.

“What are you smiling at Kuroko?”
Blinking in suprise, I turn to look at the center of my previous thoughts.  “S-smiling?” Gulping suddenly became hard, seeing the curious look he gave me.
No way am I going to tell him that!
It'd be too embarrasing and he'd never let me live tomorrow.
I shudder at the thought of a very  happy Ninjimura strangling me in what he'd call a hug and look around to try and find a distraction.
Luckily for me and not so luckily for him, my eyes landed on something on his tray.

Alongside four burgers, stood proud and tall the very source of my happines.
A vanilla milkshake.
“V-vanilla shake…” My hand moves on it's own accord across the table to grab it, but it was immidietly slapped away, making me frown.
Not pout. Frown.
A lot.
Frown.
“B-but-” I try once more to take it away from the demon's hands, but fail to again.
“Nu-uh, you'll finish your burgers first. This will stay here until then.” He commands, pushing two burgers in my two open hands, that were definetly not waiting for them.
“How mean of you senpai. Buying me a vanilla milkshake just to get me to eat these.” I try my last trick, my puppy face, as Aomine-kun and Kise-kun called it.
“You should be grateful I'm not the one feeding you instead.” He says, I silently agree as it was never a pretty experience, but notice him looking away and taking his first bite.
That's cheating senpai…
My head bangs on the table, I felt like throwing a tantrum. I had a vanilla milkshake right in front of me, yet I couldn't reach it. “Demon.” I mutter. And as if waiting for that particular comment, he asked in a very amused and sweet tone, making me straighten up immidietly.
“What was that~?”
“N-nothing, senpai! I'd better get started then.” I say stuffing my mouth with the first burger.

After that, silence followed.
As I finished my burgers I felt myself looking outside, until senpai spoke again.
“So how's Akashi and the others?” I somehow felt it was comming, but I still wasn't prepared to hear the question leave his mouth.
I didn't know how to answer it as the man asking it was the one who created the GOM, the one that made everyrhing happen.
The one that stood proud watching us play and the one who'd break the most if he were to know the answer.
.
“Good. They've improved a lot.” I say, taking my last bite. He hums and leans on the palm of his hand.
“And you?” With nothing to hide behind, I found myself looking at my hands as if they were the most interesting thing in the world and shrugged.
Perhaps if I was looking at him in the eye, I might've cought him raising a questioning eyebrow at my behaviour, but I wasn't, so I didn't know if that was his reaction.
“I see.” He said in a strange tone of voice. “Well then, what about-”

“Vanilla.” I interrupt, what I assumed was a question about Haizaki, as he always asked about the silver haired teen for some reason, streching my hand to him expectantly, also having the opportunity to see his cute confused and lost face.
I could almost see black dot's behind him, his face that of a child learning something new.
“What…?”
“I finished my burgers. I want my vanilla milkshake now.” I demand in an Akashi way and watch as he takes a moment to fully proccess the request before breaking to a wide grin and then burst out laughing, attracting some attention.
“Why, Kuroko-kun…” He said once he calmed down. “Who said I bought this for you, huh?”
“Senpai said that-”
“I said the shake would stay here until you finished your burgers.” He said, making my eyes widen at the sudden relization. “I didn't say you'd get to drink it.”
I frowned as he shook the vanilla shake in a tempting way before moving to take a sip.
.
.
.

.
.

He ended up taking a blow to his stomach, therefore, giving me my well deserved vanilla milkshake.

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Just what are you hiding, Kuroko?