Comatose

14. Memories

❝Some days you have to create your own sunshine.❞

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CATORCE:

MEMORIES

Sharp needles fell upon him, exploding into small drops that traced a path along his bare skin. Standing beneath the constant attacks of gelid water, Aomine placed a hand on the humid wall and closed his eyes. Never one to be bothered by darkness, he hadn't bothered turning the lights on and remained concealed in the bathtub. The sound of the water crashing on the marble floor echoed in the small room, placing a spell upon him and filling his mind with memories of rainy days and intimate nights.

He had woken with a start, and the sun was yet to show on the horizon. But he couldn't sleep; it became harder with each passing day. His stomach was twisted into a permanent knot, always reminding him of the choices he had made and the mistakes he was unable to rectify.

His short conversation with Aria had showed him something about himself. He was still an idiot; too far up his own ass to see the extension of his actions, the degree of their consequences. Aomine had known he had fucked up big time, that he had hurt Kaiya in ways he could never imagine.

But in the short time he had been back, the man had noticed the changes in her once-carefree personality. There was still a fire within her, but it was slowly fading out.

And it's your fault, a voice chanted in his head.

Aomine could see it now; he had forced out a side of hers that didn't exist before. His words had built up walls around her damaged heart, separating her emotions from her actions at times and making it seem like she couldn't care less about those around her.

He hated himself for it.

He needed to bring her teasing grin back, along with her playful yet passionate personality. It was all there, buried beneath layers of self-destruction.

Turning the water off, Aomine ran a hand through his wet locks and locked his jaw. With a towel wrapped around his waist, he stepped out of the bathroom and sat on his bed. Silence whispered to him, reminding him of his loneliness – and of Kise's absence. Fortunately, he was able to find a cheap yet nice place for himself; he had had about enough of the blonde's pompous ass.

In the darkness of his new apartment, his phone suddenly flashed. His blue eyes read the message from a former teammate, before his fingers moved on their own. Scrolling through random photos, it didn't take him long to find those he had never deleted.

"Yo, hot stuff."

Her grey eyes twinkled with evident joy when they found him standing by the open gates. Kaiya stepped up to him and tilted her head. "This is new. I thought we were just having fun? My friends won't let me live through this after seeing you here."

Unable to contain himself, he smirked and threw an arm around her shoulders. "Well, that ain't my problem."

"You're a dick, Aomine Daiki."

He barked a laugh and grinned. "But you love that."

Much to his delight, an amused smile formed on her lips. Pulling out his phone from the pocket of his trousers, she leaned into him and clicked on the camera button. Instantly, he groaned.

"I hate photos, you know?"

Her smile twisted into a mocking expression. "That ain't my problem. Plus, this moment needs to be memorized. Aomine Daiki willingly coming all the way here to pick me up."