The sun was already dipping low, painting the streets in warm orange when Kuroko walked home, his footsteps quiet as always. His school bag rested neatly on his shoulder, expression calm, almost unreadable—until familiar, hurried footsteps sounded behind him.

“Kurokocchi—wait up!”

Kuroko slowed down just in time for Kise to appear at his side, slightly out of breath but grinning like he’d just won something. His jacket was slung over one shoulder, tie loosened, hair glowing in the evening light like it always did.

“You didn’t have to run, Kise-kun,” Kuroko said softly.

“But I wanted to,” Kise replied immediately, leaning closer without shame. “I saw you from the other side of the street and thought, ‘There’s my boyfriend, walking all alone,’ so of course I had to catch up.”

Kuroko blinked. “You make it sound dramatic.”

“It was dramatic,” Kise said, nodding seriously before breaking into a smile again. “My school’s the opposite direction, y’know? I totally went out of my way.”

Kuroko glanced at him, the corner of his mouth lifting just slightly. “Thank you.”

That was enough to make Kise beam even brighter.

They walked side by side, their shoulders brushing every now and then. Kise talked—about practice, about how hard Kasamatsu had been on him, about a commercial shoot that went on forever. Kuroko listened, as he always did, occasionally responding with short comments or gentle observations that somehow always landed perfectly.

“And then I thought of you,” Kise added suddenly, tone softer now. “Like—how you’d probably just say ‘that’s inefficient’ and walk away.”

“I would not walk away,” Kuroko replied. “I would listen. Briefly.”

Kise laughed, loud and warm, and without thinking reached out, hooking his pinky with Kuroko’s. Kuroko didn’t pull away. He never did.

By the time they reached Kuroko’s street, the sky had turned dusky blue. Kise slowed, reluctant.

“I’ll walk you to the door,” he said, already knowing he didn’t really need to ask.

Kuroko nodded. “I would like that.”

For Kise, that made the detour worth everything.