Three hours have passed since Kuroko collapsed. Kuroko's heart has stopped beating when they reach the hospital. However, the doctor managed to save his life by supplying him with the life support immediately as they managed to make his heart beating back. How thankful the others feel when they heard the good news. However, the doctor expecting something has triggered this accident. Either the tumour has spread to other place or grown too big. The risk of having more than one tumour is high for someone who already reaches the last stage. They start to worry. If there is more than one tumour means that Kuroko will be more suffering. Just why, why in the earth Kuroko have to suffer more despite his found of happiness with them. Why?

Most of them want to stay beside Kuroko, waiting for the bluenette to open his blue sky eyes. However, there are restrict hospital rules that ban visitor to stay more than two visitors in one night. They deal that the ones who will stay are Kagami and Aomine since both of them desperately asking for their chance to stay. The others go back to their house to take their rest.

"Don't forget to tell us if he wakes up. We will be here immediately." Akashi says before leaving the room with the others.

"We will." Agreed Kagami and Aomine.

They sit beside Kuroko's bad, with a face full of worry. No. Anxiety. There are too many possibilities that arise and most of them are the bad one. Silent engulf them as both of them are in their own world.

"Nee, Kagami," Aomine says suddenly, eyes still looking at Kuroko's steady breathing.

"What?" Kagami replies.

"What will you do if our shadow leaves us?" Aomine's expression change into sad and hurt one.

Kagami is taken aback with what he had heard.

"That.." Kagami couldn't continue. He does want to keep the positive thinking in his mind but with all those risks and possibility, he can't think other than Kuroko will disappear for real this time. Not as a shadow in basketball anymore but as a person who will die because of a brain tumour.

"I don't want Tetsu to die" without Aomine's realise, his tears flow down to his cheek as he speaks. His only wish now is to repent back his wasted time before by staying next to Kuroko this time.

"I feel the same. Never in my wildest dream that Kuroko will die in young age. I.. I never want that to happen!" Kagami almost screams his lung out. How frustrated he feel when he can't do a thing for Kuroko. Kuroko is important to him. The one who have saved him numerous times in basketball and in life. Kuroko teaches him so many things. How can he just let him die?

Sobs, cries and frustrated screams echoing inside the room. However, the person in the bed still didn't move and response a bit. Instead, the bluenette is falling into a deep slumber.

======

The next morning.

"This is the result of latest MRI of Kuroko's brain" The doctor gives Akashi the MRI. Instantaneously, Akashi observes the MRI, looking if something has changed from before.

"The tumour in his brain stem is growing bigger. That explain why he had breathing problem before. The other things are we have found that there's another tumour on Kuroko's temporal lobe inside his brain. Both of this tumour is the reason why his headache unbearable. These tumour is giving his brain pressure as it growing. I'm afraid to say that he will lose consciousness more and more because of this. And once the tumour disturbs most of the brain function, he will die." The doctor explains professionally.

This causing Akashi to silent, too shock to even utter a thing. His grip on the MRI become tighter than before, expressing how mad and sorrow he does feel.

"Since the treatment has failed to help anything, we will only supply the corticosteroids drugs to help him decreasing the pressure from the tumour and swelling in the healthy brain tissue." The doctor adds.

Akashi in a deep thought for a moment.

"Please.. please save him. I beg you. I will pay how many you want. Please.." Akashi is begging, lowering his head at the doctor. Asking the impossible thing.

The doctor was taken aback, startled by the sudden movement of the next leader of Akashi Cooperation. He always knows that an Akashi will never bow to anyone but this boy in front of him do the opposite things.

"I am sorry. I have done my best. There is no treatment available for him. Even if you offer me the money, I have no power to restore his life." The doctor apologises.

Akashi falls to his knees. Never in his life has he felt this hopeless and powerless. Tears start treating to fall from his ruby eyes. The grips of his hand on the floor tighten. He wants to scream and cries at the same time.

'Please kami-sama.. Please, gives Kuroko a second chance.'

========

Two long days passed with no change in Kuroko's condition. Momoi, who stay for the next night together with Kise, get up from the chair and walk toward the window. If anyone focusing on her face, they could see her swollen eyes which showing how hard she have cried in this two night. She opens the window and enjoying the sound of breeze pass through the window and the scenery that welcome her. Chirping sound of birds singing at the tree also helping him to feel calm in this stressful time. Yes, they are stress, knowing that their friend, a precious friend can die any moment from now.

Kise joins her. He leans himself at the window sill, taking a deep breath of refreshing air.

"Refreshing isn't it?" Kise starts the conversation. Both of them is barely talked with each other the entire night which is not a usual thing for a talkative people like them.

"Yes.." Momoi smiles.

"You know, Momochi. I just hope that everything is going to be alright and be just like before" Kise smile but the sound of his voice showing that he is holding back his tears.

"We all hoping the same thing," Momoi replies.

"Yeah"

They didn't change any conversation for 5 minutes. No word being utter.

Then, Momoi starts to let out what she feels.

"My best memories is with you guys. For me, there are no other friends that could make me feel the same way I feel now. It thanks to Tetsu-kun, he brings you guys back. Yet, I...I" Momoi cups her mouth. A tear falls as she remembers back what she had done to Kuroko. Although Kuroko has forgiven her, she could not forgive herself. How could she repay Kuroko's kindness with cruelty?

Kise puts his hand on Momoi's head, startles the pink hair girl.

"Knowing Kurokochi, he never taking that into his heart. Didn't you have already repaid him by coming back to us right? We have spent our days together. Do you saw his face? How happy was he? I could say, He is happier to be compared to the days when Aominechii and you were gone missing." Kise says with a smile.

"But he has stopped calling me Satsuki. I could tell that he want to avoid me from being too close to him"

"He does love you up until now. I could tell. However, his selfless nature forcing himself to let you go. That is why he stop calling you Satsuki." Kise says.

"We can be like before. I swear this time I will never make him sad anymore." Momoi almost screams as she says this.

"Yes you could do that but I'm afraid, Kurokochii thinks the otherwise."

"What do you mean by that?"

"He knows he only has few more time to live. He afraid that he couldn't give you your happiness." Kise's expression changes into a sad one. It pained him to even say that.

"How do you know?"

"Before, he never complained anything when Akashi doubling his treatment. Although he was so sick that time, he never says how hurt he was. When I overheard their conversation when Kurokochi wants to go home and how he suppressed his feeling when Ogiwara says Akashi want him to continue his treatment, I already know how Kurokochi thinking. He is my mentor, I have watched him for years now because of admiral. I could tell by that."

Momoi silences.

Without her even register, she goes back to Kuroko side and grips tighter his hand.

"Tetsu-kun... Tetsu-kun..." She cries.

Kise just watches from the window with a sad feeling engulfing him.

'Just how much time does Kurokochi have?' Tears fall from Kise's eyes.

========

In the evening, everyone come to visit Kuroko including Seirin. There's a lack of conversation and laugh there. Everyone have been informed of what the doctor has told Akashi. Some of them are screaming and some of them crying. They all blames god for testing Kuroko too much. He didn't deserve this. Grieving engulf them since then, they can't even think what to do next. No one has a good motivation to help each other. The thing is too hard for them. Harder for Kuroko himself.

Suddenly, there a sound of a movement from the bed. They move their attention to the source of some hope. The blue eyes that they longed to see for a few days now, slowly revealing itself as the eyelids flutter slowly.

"Tetsu-kun is waking up" Momoi cheerfully announces. The others including herself move toward the bed, surround Kuroko and waiting for him to responses to them.

Kuroko blinks. His vision is blurring.

"Kuroko?" Kagami calls.

Kuroko didn't response because of his vision blur. Afterwards, he turns his face toward the sound, tries to recognise the one who is calling him. He could see a dark red hair with split eyebrows between his blurry visions.

He raises his hand to hold the thing that he sees, travelling across Kagami's face.

"You made us worry. How are you feeling now?" Kagami looks relief, he gives the bluenette warm smiles.

Kuroko keeps on silent.

"Kuroko-kun?" Akashi calls for Kuroko's name, tries to get any response from the sick boy.

It takes time for Kuroko to turns his head toward Akashi. He moves his hand on Akashi this time. The same movement. He travels his hand along Akashi's face, looks a bit confuse.

Everyone could detect something is wrong with Kuroko. It is not usual for him not to respond to any of them whenever they called for the bluenette. But today, he does. Moreover, he seems at lost and slow. Why is that so?

"Kurokochii. Are you alright?" Kise nervously asks.

"Kuroko.." The others from Seirin call too.

"Tetsu!" Aomine shouts.

"Don't shout at Tetsu-kun, Dai-chan. Maybe he still feels sleepy." Momoi stops Aomine by pulling his hand a bit.

"Didn't you see he is acting weird? I need to wake him up" Aomine says, he is beginning to feel panic when he saw how Kuroko is acting right now.

"Aomine-kun" Akashi gives a warning look at him.

This silent Aomine instantaneously.

Akashi turns back to Kuroko with warm smiles, just to make the bluenette easy.

"Do you know who I am?" Akashi asks.

The question shock others.

"W-what?" Kagami mutters unconsciously.

"What do you mean by that Akachin? There is no way Kurochin didn't recognise you." Murasakibara comments.

"I am trying to make him response to me," Akashi says without looking at Murasakibara. He continues to wait for Kuroko's answer.

"Do you recognise me?" He asks again. Kuroko keeps on staring at Akashi, tries to filter what that question is about.

Kuroko parts his lips open.