Kagami pulled his phone out again. He was still in the middle of class, but he didn't care. It was the completely wrong time to be getting texts from Aomine, but he saw a notification from him on the screen regardless. He sent Aomine a message, "it's okay if you go to sleep, you know."

"Not tired." He got an almost immediate reply from Aomine.

He let out a sigh. "I know how late it is in Japan. You should be sleeping."

"And you should be focusing in class."

He grit his teeth a little. He knew Aomine was right, but was it so bad to want to see the messages from Aomine as soon as they came in? "I guess we're both being a little bad."

"How strange to see you admit it."

Kagami could almost see Aomine's smirk that went with the text. He had to do his best to keep from laughing in the middle of class. "I admit nothing."

"I wish I could stay up longer and make you even badder."

Kagami kept picturing Aomine's signature smirk and couldn't help the way he was smiling more. "Early morning?"

"Testing, unfortunately..."

"Finals? I can't believe we're in our last year of high school already."

"It would've been easier if you hadn't left the country." He could feel Aomine glaring at him through the phone.

"But we didn't lose contact, did we?" There was a longer pause, so Kagami sent another message, "I know where I'm going to college. I got the basketball scholarship I wanted."

"Where you going?"

He wondered why Aomine didn't respond at all to his first message. They were usually so particular about replying to everything. "Duke. If I can do well on the college level, I'll be one step closer to NBA."

There was another pause before Aomine's message came through. "You can make it happen."

Kagami felt a sudden tightness in his chest. He knew Aomine meant what he said, but it did feel bad to be so far away from his friend. "I wish you were going with me." He'd already hit send before he could take it back. He set his phone down and leaned forward against the desk. Why did he have this empty feeling inside? It wasn't like this with any of his other friends. Sure, he missed Kuroko and his old teammates, but he didn't feel this need to see them the way he did with Aomine.

His phone vibrated loudly against the desk. He quickly pulled it off the desk and hid it in his lap before the teacher noticed. He glanced down to check Aomine's message. "You'll make all new friends in college, don't worry."

"I don't want new friends." He quickly typed. He mumbled to himself, "I want you..."

"Well I don't want Bakagami to be lonely."

Kagami held his phone a little tighter. Damn, his chest felt so tight. They were friends, on opposite sides of the Pacific Ocean, he should remember that. But all he wanted to do was play basketball with Aomine again. To feel that rush that got his heart beating faster than ever before. To be able to make Aomine sweat and each of them challenging the other to new heights. He typed back, "I'm not lonely. I have you to talk to, Ahomine."

"Fuck, why do you have to say things like that?"

Kagami stared at the message for a moment, his brow furrowed. "Why shouldn't I?"

"Because." Aomine's text was quickly followed by another. "Do you have any idea of what it does to me?"

"Something good, I hope." He wasn't sure what Aomine was getting at, but he didn't want to do something that would hurt his closest friend.

"Stop it." Kagami frowned as he waited for more messages from Aomine. "Stop being this sweet."

Kagami's eyes widened at the message. Was he being particularly sweet? He couldn't tell. He just didn't want to lose his friend. It felt odd to realize it, but Aomine was the most important person to him. He could feel the heat rising in his face, his phone gripped tightly in his hand.

"Say something, Baka!" Kagami could picture Aomine getting a little flustered.

"I love you." He hit send without really thinking before pressing the button. It was the best word he could think of to describe the feeling in his chest and the way it hurt to not have Aomine close by.

"Fuck you." Another message followed it immediately. "I love you too."

~~~

Kagami did his best to avoid people in school for the day. It was Valentine's Day and, while it wasn't exactly a holiday, he saw enough people in reds and pinks for the school dress up day. Every other time the student body did the dress up days, he hadn't thought much about it, but today, all he saw were hearts and people holding hands. It made his own heart weak.

He pulled out his phone, looking at his messages with Aomine. He'd wished Aomine happy Valentine's Day as soon as it had become the 14th for Aomine in Japan. It had been a little over a month since they both confessed. But it was long enough to make him feel happier and sadder at the same time. They still talked about all of their plans and what they were up to, but it wasn't enough.

"I need you here with me." He sent the message, knowing that Aomine was asleep already, but he just needed to say it.

The rest of his day was hard. He kept his head down, ignoring every lovey-dovey thing around. He did finally make it home and went right to his room. He tossed his bag on the floor and flopped onto the bed. The dull ache in his chest had only grown throughout the day.

He felt his phone vibrate, wondering if Aomine was up already. It kept vibrating. He furrowed his brow and took his phone out of his pocket. Aomine's name and picture were displayed across the screen. He stared, wide-eyed, for a moment. He swallowed hard and swiped to answer the call. "A-Aomine?"

"You sound surprised to hear me, don't tell me you expected someone else to call?" Aomine's low, gravelly voice drifted into Kagami's ears. He closed his eyes, taking a moment to savor the sound. His heart felt so free.

He shook his head even though he knew Aomine couldn't see it. "No, I just... even though we talk every day, we haven't called. You caught me by surprise."

Aomine chuckled a little. "I had to call. You left me to wake up with that message. Sounded like you needed a call."

"Sorry, I didn't mean to worry you. I just..." Kagami trailed off, unable to finish his sentence. His throat was already feeling tight.

"Just what?" Aomine prompted him.

"With all the Valentine's Day decor around and seeing other couples... I wanted you with me. This pain in my heart won't go away." He sniffed, feeling tears rolling onto his cheeks. "I'm scared."

"Hey, don't talk like that." Concern edged Aomine's voice. "Why are you afraid?"

"What if..." he swallowed hard. "What if we never see each other again? What if I can't go back to Japan and you can't come here? What if—"

"What if it'll just take a little time?" Aomine cut him off, his voice steady. "We'll make it happen, you have to believe me."

Kagami bit his lip and nodded. He knew Aomine was right. He tried to hold onto that and refuse to let any more tears slip from his eyes. "I miss you."

"I know." Aomine's voice had a surprising gentle tone to it. "I miss you too."

"Will we really be able to see each other again?" His voice came out quietly.

"I just told you to believe me." Aomine's came across stern again. "It may take some time, but don't give up on us yet. Promise me that."

"I'll always wait for you." He gripped the phone tighter. "I promise."

~~~

Kagami looked up at the old building. First day of freshman year and the college students were gathering in the building for opening ceremonies. The months had gone by long and slow. He and Aomine still talked, texting every day, calling when they could. They'd both congratulated each other when graduating. But Kagami had never gotten rid of that pain in his heart. He did hold onto his promise and did his best to believe Aomine's words. But each passing day got harder.

He walked closer to the building. He had to go in soon or he'd be late and get a bad seat. He let out a sigh. Aomine said he would make friends and he was probably right, but it didn't brighten his spirit.

"Keep sighing like that and someone might think there's something wrong."

Kagami straightened up, his eyes wide and his heart beating fast. That gravelly voice with the hint of amusement. It couldn't be...

He spun on his heels. There he was, Aomine. It had to be a dream. Kagami didn't care he ran towards him and hugged him tightly, making Aomine stumble a few steps back. Kagami felt Aomine's arms wrap around him too and knew it was real. Aomine was really here. "You never told me!"

"Because I knew you'd trust me." Aomine hugged Kagami tighter.

Kagami pulled back just enough so he could kiss Aomine. He firmly, yet tenderly pressed his lips against Aomine's warm, slightly rough lips. He'd never kissed before, but his heart was racing. There was such an exciting feeling in his heart when Aomine kissed him back.

He stayed in the kiss for as long as he could, until he had to pull back for a breath. "I-I've never kissed someone before."

Aomine grinned, "now you don't have to kiss anyone but me." He placed a few kisses on Kagami's cheek.

Kagami could feel his face heating up and he couldn't stop a giggle coming out. The emptiness in his heart was completely gone. All he needed was his arms around Aomine. "I love you so much. I'm so glad I don't have to wait to say it in person any longer."

"Me too." Aomine looked into Kagami's eyes, holding him tightly around his waist. "I love you too. Promise me you won't leave again."

"Promise." Kagami grinned, "why would I leave when you being here sets my heart free?"

Aomine grinned back. He leaned in and kissed Kagami again. Kagami kissed back, closing his eyes and savoring the moment he'd been waiting months for. "I love you, Daiki."

"I love you too, Taiga."