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What is he to you?

What is he?

[Kagami swore there was a bit of a bite to Kuroko's question. He was upset, but why? Kagami didn't even know how to answer the question, but he fumbled for something anyway.]

We live together. We're friends. We do... Ariel things.

[ It sounds like Kagami is fumbling. Or at least reaching for an answer. But Kuroko is too skilled at reading people. It's kind of his job.

But he wants to hear this from Kagami. ]

You're friends that do Ariel things and live together. Would you ever move out?

Move out? I guess if we got a bigger house or something...

Or you mean move out and not live together anymore? I don't know. If he said he didn't lo- want to live with me, I guess I'd move out.

[Shit. Double shit. Why did he always trip up around that word?]

[ Yep. That was what Kuroko had expected in the first place. ]

...So he's said he loves you. Do you love him?

[After what happened between them, after what Kuroko said about liking Kagami, how could he trip up like this? Gritting his teeth and sighing, Kagami knew he had to be honest about it.]

We've both said it to each other. Yeah.

I love him.

I see.

[ His voice sounds so neutral and flat. ]

You're not just friends, Kagami-kun. You're dating him. He's your boyfriend.

[ Now to keep that mask in place. He's good at hiding how he feels. ]

That's what I thought. I wondered why people paired you two together when talking about you. I guess that explains it.

[Aaand Kuroko's hurt. Triple shit. Kagami clicks his tongue and sighs. Kuroko can't see it, but Kagami is furiously rubbing the back of his neck right now.]

I don't know. It's not boyfriends. It's... Fuck, it's complicated, all right?

[His voice gets a little softer, remembering his first day in Ariel.]

When I first saw him... I thought it was you. He reminded me of you.

You can call it whatever you'd like, but that's what it is.

[ Just that matter-of-factly. What else would you call someone like that? They are living together. They love each other. It's pretty clear cut to Kuroko. ]

...I don't know how I should take that, Kagami-kun. Is he my replacement?

No, of course not!

[Is it possible to dig his way out of this? Probably not, so Kagami had to clench his fists and try his best to continue.]

No one can replace you. Didn't you realize that through all the games and training and everything we did together? We're the light and shadow of Seirin!

[He cuts himself off, not sure what to say next. What can he say to make this better?]

[ Kuroko is trying to decide if the issue here is Kagami's lack of eloquence or if it's as he says. He's going to try not to be even more hurt at that and just blame it on Kagami not being good with words. ]

Some days I wonder.

[ He goes silent for a moment, the air heavy even though they aren't face to face. ]

You're free to do as you please, Kagami-kun. I just wanted to know.

[ So my hopes don't get too high. ]

Don't wonder. You're special to us - no, to me. You shouldn't ever feel like you're being replaced.

[He really doesn't want to get made fun of for a cheesy speech, but Kagami can't really help himself here.]

You were the first friend I made when I came back to Japan. You're one of the people who's closest to me. If you ever feel like I'm ignoring you or pushing you aside, just... I mean, do what you always do. Hit me in the head or something.

[ Of course it would seem that simple to Kagami. He's an idiot. But at least he's trying, even if Kuroko doesn't know how of what he says is something he can believe in. ]

Mm. Alright, Kagami-kun. I'll keep that in mind, then.

Hey. I mean it.

[Even if he sucks at being reassuring, Kagami doesn't want Kuroko to be upset anymore. There's a part of him that just can't stand seeing his partner get hurt, especially when the redhead seemed to be the cause of it.]

Mm. I know you do.

[ Kagami wouldn't lie, that much was certain. But he was uncertain about the entire situation and he fit into it. Perhaps it was just one of those things that would take time. ]

I'm going to let you go now. I'll talk to you later, Kagami-kun.

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