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A saddened Aomine watches you departing away from the castle. He then roars a painful and heartbroken roar as you went into the forest.

He had let you go, again and again. After all, if you truly love that person, you have to let go. A sad truth about reality that Aomine have finally understood.

You were in the woods calling desperately our for your brother's name. "Tetsuya! Tetsuya!" You called.

H/N began bucking. This caught your attention so you turned around to H/N's sight and saw a familiar sky blue hair.

"Tetsuya!"

➭ ➮ ➭

You bursted open the door and hurriedly dragged your brother towards the couch since you needed him near the fireplace. You were lucky that we was a few inches taller than your size making him easier to carry.

Once the fireplace was lit, you placed Kuroko's head on your lap.

"What a crazy night.." You mumbled to yourself. Aomine... he was still fresh in your mind. You still felt raw guilty when you abruptly left him after that magical ballroom dance he offered you.

'I wonder what he's doing right now..' You thought to yourself.

Looking out the window, you saw the starry night sky with the usual stars twinkling. 'Are you looking at the same stars like me right now?'

➭ ➮ ➭

Tetsuya's eyes stirred as soon as he heard the sizzling sound of cooking. He sniffed the smell and it was heavenly, he instantly knew what it was.

"Eggs.. bacons.. and pancakes.." His eyes shot open. (A/N: I badly wanted to put milkshake here;< )

The boy quickly perked up with an empty stomach and noticed he was on the couch. He turned around to see you placing the fish with delicious food on the table.

"Yep you got it. C'mon, the food can't eat itself." You giggled.

Kuroko's eyes widened. "Y-Y/N? Is that you? I'm not delusional am I?"

"No you aren't brother." You rolled your eyes jokingly. "Besides, if I weren't real, I wouldn't do this-" You tackled him in a hug and ruffled his hair after giving him a quick peck on the cheeks.

"Y/N.." He breathed out your name once again. It was nice to feel your warmth again after weeks.. or maybe a month now. Who knows?

You reassuringly patted his head tenderly, "Don't worry brother. I'm not dying that easily. The beast won't get me as well."

"Oh sheesh don't say dying so easily— Wait... how were you able to escape?" He let go from the hug.

"I didn't really.. He let me go.." You softly smiled looking down as you remembered Aomine. "One more thing, why were you out in the woods?"

"I wanted to bring you back home." Kuroko said bluntly.

"Aww~ I was doing fine. You should eat now actually." You reminded him. He stood up and walked over the table completely consuming everything he saw.

As he ate, you picked up your bag and noticed it moving together with small muffled noises inside.

You looked at it with a brow rose up, opening it to see 4 teacups.

Himuro, Kagami, Nishida and Aiko.

"What the?" You looked at them surprised.

"W-we can explain." Nishida sweat dropped.

"Pleasure to see you again Y/N. You see, Kagami and Aiko originally wanted to go along with you. Aiko dragged Nishida forcefully as well since they are inseparable and I was there trying to pull them away. Unfortunately, I fell inside the bag as well." Himuro explained.

"And then here we are." Kagami shrugged.

"Aiko, is this true?" You questioned the youngest teacup.

She laughed nervously, "Yes... It's true. But I wanted to see the world outside the castle. I also wanted to stay by your side too.."

"Yes but-"

"Who are you talking to Y/N?" Kuroko asked finally done with his breakfast.

You carried all 4 of them and showed it to him. "Talking teacups." You grinned.

"Oh. I know Kagami and Himuro. Who are the other two?"

"Oi, Kuroko!"
"Glad to see you doing well Kuroko."

"I'm Aiko~!"
"Nishida."

"My name is-"

"Kuroko Tetsuya! We know." Aiko brightly smiled.

"You do?"

Nishida nodded. "Y/N told us about you."

Kuroko smiled at you which you returned back. "What can I say? I just missed you a lot back there."

But then he turned serious again, "Y/N. Seriously though, what happened in the castle? You seem happy, I was expecting you to be traumatized."

You chuckled knowing it'd take a while to explain.

➭ ➮ ➭

"Aomine please eat, nandayo..." Midorima pleaded.

"I'm not hungry." He growled.

"You've been saying that ever since yesterday ssu~" Kise cried.

"DAMMIT, LEAVE ME BE. I SAID I'M NOT HUNGRY." He shouted. "Now, fuck off."

Their eyes softened while Akashi's eyes still stayed stoic.

It was only a few hours since you left him but it greatly damaged him a whole lot.

Akashi looked over at his paw and saw he was holding your favorite book, 'I Love you Since 1892'.

'When we both met, you exposed me to every color, ever angle, every pixel. But you were gone in a flash, and now all I have left is a wasted film.' That was the line he repeated reading every time.

The more he read it, the more he remembered about you, and the more he remembered about you, the more he misses you. And the more he misses you, the more depressed he has been.

Everyone was worried about Aomine. He blacked out and isolated himself in his room.

It was different when he turned into a beast because they could hear occasional heartbroken roars and muffled cries. He moped around his room.

The three left him alone to emote again.

The others waited outside and knew that the answer was still the same just by seeing their faces. They sighed.

Seeing Aomine in pain was unusual, when he's sad he'd usually be angry than being it. He wasn't outgoing but he was usually strong, independent and proud.

It was the same exact feeling he felt when he lashed his anger on you making you leave him before.

But then history repeated himself once more sadly.

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Tomoki was sprawled out on the ground. He passed out for a long time due to the lack of sleep.

He was sleeping soundly under s bird pooped on his face. "Ew! Blegh!" He wipes it off.

Tomoki rubbed his eyes and squinted. Did he just saw you exited the house?

Looking at you one more time, he was sure he wasn't dreaming. Jumping in joy, he hurriedly headed to Wakamatsu.

➭ ➮ ➭

"Kosuke! Kosuke!" Tomoki called him.

The said man turned around to see Tomoki running towards him. "What? Is she back?"

"Yes yes!"

Wakamatsu looked at him unconvinced. And so, Tomoki pointed his finger on a figure that entered the bookstore. It was you.

"Well I'll be damned." He slyly smirked. "The plan shall commence later at dusk."

➭ ➮ ➭

Aomine's head was in his arms as he stared outside in his window. Desperately waiting for you to come back and hear your pleasant voice again. He missed you.. a whole lot than he expected actually.

Akashi and the others were behind the door peeking over his buddy.

He wasn't getting better and he knew it. Tomorrow was his birthday and the deadline at the same time.

"We need to help Aominechii somehow.." Kise looked down worriedly.

"I actually may have an idea." Teppei said.

He quickly turned around and swaddled away. Eventually, he returned with a box.

"What's in it, nandayo?" Midorima asked.

"A doll. Y/N made it for him." The Knight answered.

"Well let's see how he'll react them." Alex sighed hoping it'd work.

Akashi opened the door. Aomine was still in the same spot with the same expression, dull and lifeless eyes.

Akashi sat down in front of him and gave it. "Aomine."

"What."

"Y/N wanted to give this to you as your birthday present. She knew it'd be your birthday soon and she wanted to give it to you in person but unfortunately she is unable to."

Aomine wanted to cut him off but he knew better than to don't.

"Okay! I get it! She left me, why do you need it to rub it in or some shit." He said in a hostile tone.

Akashi glared at him. "No. I certainly am not mocking you, you dumb stubborn idiot."

The scissors scoffed and walked away. He badly wanted to make him bleed but the beast was suffering enough.

After he left, Aomine turned his attention towards the box in front of him. He hesitantly lifted it up and placed it on his lap.

He saw a note dangling on it so he opened it to see your infamous handwriting that he remembered, 'Happy Birthday Aho! -With much love, Y/N' it read.

The beast almost smiled by the side of your nickname to him. "Pancake.." He mumbled.

He lifted it up opening. "A doll?"

It was a stuffed doll that looks exactly like you.

H/C yarns that served as the hair. E/C buttons that serves as the eyes and other things that reminded him of you. You even included to put small fake roses as designs around the doll's dress. What caught him the most was how you made sure to perfect the doll's smile.

It made him slowly show a small smile to the doll.

"I'll call you pancake." He murmured to himself chuckling lightly.

Then, a paper fell out from the doll's pocket. It was another letter, with your handwriting on it.

He unfolded it and began to read it wholeheartedly.

Dear Aomine,

Happy Birthday!! I'm sorry I couldn't give it to you personally, huhu. I originally wanted to do so though.

So, I thought to give you a gift which is a mini-me in doll version!! I want you to see this as a sign that I care and treasure you and our memories together. I want you to bond with this doll whenever I'm not with you. Just in case you miss me or something.. //wink

You taught me that beauty is found within and to look for it.

I never thought that a terrifying, arrogant and overly proud beast like you could change into a cuddly, sweet and overly caring one. And I really like the change! Keep it going buddy~

I solemnly swear to never forget you and our memories together because you mean so so much to me!!

I hope Little Me can make you at least a bit happy. Until we meet again, Aho.

Love lots,
Kuroko Y/N

He trembled. He shakily breathed out heartbroken,  "Dammit... why.. why did I let you go?"

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