Work Text
May 10, 2021
New York City
That morning was far from the picturesque sunlit dawns described in novels. A thick layer of gray clouds loomed over the dense cityscape of New York, casting a somber tone over the bustling metropolis. And there, amidst the muted glow of the morning, stood Kagami, letting out a deep sigh as he tightened his slightly loosened black tie.
Beads of sweat formed on his forehead, his heart pounding relentlessly in his chest. Every so often, he glanced anxiously out the window, his brows furrowed in concern. His arms crossed over his chest, then dropped to his sides, only for him to start pacing back and forth across the room. Then, as if caught in a cycle, he would stop abruptly and check his watch.
But no matter how many times he looked, time remained indifferent. Time could not be willed forward nor turned back. It moved at its own unwavering pace.
And time, above all else, held countless mysteries.
A knock at the door snapped Kagami out of his thoughts. He turned, spotting a pink-haired girl peeking inside, dressed in an elegantly sweet gown.
"Five more minutes, Kagamin," she informed him with a soft smile. Kagami nodded in acknowledgment. Clearing his throat, he adjusted his tie once more before stepping out of the room.
The moment he took that first step outside, the corners of his lips curled into a small, knowing smile. Because he understood—his life was about to change. And he would never forget the day that made it all possible.
That date—May 10th.
.
May 10, 2020
New York City
"Taiga, wake up. It's already late."
Aomine gave Kagami a rough shake, but his boyfriend remained stubbornly buried under the blankets. Typical. Just because it was Friday, Kagami had decided to laze around in bed till noon.
"Five more minutes—" Kagami muttered groggily, swatting away Aomine’s hand, which had just been resting on his shoulder. Aomine clicked his tongue in irritation.
"Five more minutes, my ass. You don't want breakfast?" he asked, but the only response he got was another incoherent mumble. Aomine, who had spent the past hour making Kagami’s favorite breakfast, immediately felt his mood sour.
Five years of dating, and Kagami hadn’t changed one bit. Still the same heavy sleeper who refused to wake up after an intense one-on-one session in bed. Well, to be fair, last night had gotten a little out of hand. But that wasn’t the point.
The truth was, neither of them had changed much. Being 23 hadn't stopped them from being complete idiots. They were still Ahomine and Bakagami—constantly bickering over the smallest things, only to make up every Friday, their one free day to play basketball together, even if it meant traveling more than two kilometers just to find a decent court.
Aomine let out a sigh and glanced at Kagami, who remained fast asleep, his chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm, mouth slightly parted. The sight was enough to make Aomine’s fingers twitch with the urge to mess with him.
Five years ago, he never would have guessed that his life would turn out like this—living in an apartment in New York City with someone he never imagined would end up being his boyfriend.
The last time Aomine checked, back in high school, he was head over heels for Mai-chan—or really, any woman with big breasts. Well, except for Satsuki, of course, because Satsuki was basically his sister. But somehow, after Kagami Taiga barged into his life, everything flipped upside down.
Aomine still remembered the first time they met, back when Kagami was the new "light" to Tetsu’s shadow. Aomine had despised him with every fiber of his being. He was reckless, dimwitted, gluttonous, completely full of himself, and worst of all—he always tried to beat Aomine.
Back then, Kagami had been his greatest rival. Until the Winter Cup came around and Kagami finally defeated him. And from there, everything unfolded in the most cliché way possible. They became friends, though their daily arguments over the pettiest things never ceased.
Then, in their final year of high school, they somehow ended up dating.
Neither of them really knew how it started. But before Aomine even realized it, he and Kagami were inseparable—going everywhere together, causing trouble, playing one-on-one every evening, commuting to school side by side, crashing at each other’s places. Even their underwear ended up getting mixed up at some point.
It was Imayoshi who first voiced what everyone had probably been thinking when Kagami showed up after one of Aomine’s basketball practices.
"You're basically inseparable. Why not just date already?"
And them, being absolute morons, actually considered it. What started as a joke quickly became reality. They figured, well, they had no time to date girls anyway—why not just date each other instead? So, they did. They started going on casual dates, shopping for sneakers together, kissing every now and then... and, somewhere along the way, those "every now and thens" became "all the time."
And without them even realizing it, five years had passed.
Which brought them to today—exactly five years since their ‘let’s-just-try-it’ relationship began. And here Aomine was, in the apartment they had bought together nearly eight months ago when Kagami decided to move back to America for good.
Aomine was many things, but romantic wasn’t one of them. Still, just for today, because today was special, he had forced himself to wake up early and cook.
And Kagami? He was being a lazy ass, refusing to wake up.
"Fine, whatever. I’ll eat by myself," Aomine grumbled in defeat, turning to leave. But before he could take a step, a hand grabbed his wrist and tugged him back.
Aomine fell onto the bed, landing right beside Kagami, who immediately nuzzled into his chest. Aomine let out a small, exasperated huff but wrapped his arms around him anyway, pulling him close.
"Just a little longer, I swear I’m so damn tired," Kagami murmured, voice muffled against Aomine’s skin.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever. But after this, you better shower, got it? I wanna go out today," Aomine replied, absentmindedly playing with the strands of Kagami’s hair.
Kagami’s eyes slowly fluttered open, and after a moment, he tilted his head up, locking eyes with Aomine.
"Where are we going?" Kagami asked, puzzled.
"No idea. Just walk. It’s a special day, after all," Aomine replied casually, making Kagami grin.
"May 10th, huh?" Kagami's eyes sparkled as he spoke. Aomine nodded. "Damn, has it really been five years?" Kagami asked again, his face filled with disbelief.
Aomine chuckled.
"Crazy, right?" Aomine said. "I can’t believe it’s been five years already." He loosened his embrace, sat up, and reached for Kagami’s brief lying on the floor. Without a word, he gestured for Kagami to get dressed, eat, and shower.
Kagami grabbed the brief but didn’t put them on immediately. Instead, he wandered around the room completely naked.
"Are you doing this on purpose?" Aomine asked, eyes trailing after Kagami's exposed backside. Kagami glanced back at him and snickered.
"I’m looking for my phone, dumbass," he replied.
Aomine snorted.
"It’s outside, near the kitchen. You left it there yesterday because you were in a rush to get to bed." He nodded toward the doorway, and realization dawned on Kagami. Without hesitation, he left the room—still stark naked.
Aomine shook his head and watched until Kagami disappeared through the door. Once he was sure Kagami wouldn’t be back for a few minutes, he quickly pulled out his phone from his pocket and made a call.
The line rang three times before a flat voice answered.
"Yes, Aomine-kun?"
"Where are you guys?" Aomine snapped, not even giving the person on the other end a chance to speak.
"We're at the airport already, claiming our baggage," came the response. Aomine nodded to himself.
"Good, let me know when you’re all set, I’ll send you the address,," Aomine instructed. And before the other person could reply, he spoke again. "But you’re all set, right? Everyone’s coming?" There was a hint of worry in his voice.
"Kise-kun had a last-minute photoshoot, so he’s on the next flight."
"Oh, okay. Just keep me updated," Aomine said.
"Will do."
The call ended.
.
"Daiki!" His mother’s excited voice rang, making Kagami wince. He glanced at Aomine, who was now being enveloped in a tight hug by Kagami's mother.
"Come on in! Taiga, you too. I cooked a lot today!" she beamed, disappearing into the house the moment the kettle started whistling.
Kagami leaned toward Aomine, hissing, "You could’ve told me we were coming here!"
Aomine shrugged, taking off his shoes. "Chill, babe. Your mom’s been calling me non-stop since yesterday, saying she misses you."
It’s not like Kagami minded visiting his parents. But once they were here, there was no escaping for the entire day. They’d be stuffed with food until they could barely move, interrogated about work, and basically dragged into every possible conversation.
"Hey, Uncle." Kagami heard Aomine greet his father, who set down his newspaper to shake Aomine’s hand. Within seconds, the two were deep in a discussion about American politics.
Kagami sighed, flipping through an old sports magazine he found under the table. He still didn’t understand why Aomine found politics interesting.
As for their relationship, Kagami’s parents had known about it for three years now. He had told them himself—or, more accurately, they had found out by accident.
They had come to visit him in Japan and, without warning, used the spare key to enter his apartment. They had no idea Aomine was staying over. And worse, that Aomine was in bed with him. Naked.
It was not a pleasant morning, to say the least.
They had to endure hours of his mother’s lecture on safe sex, responsible relationships, and a whole lot of things Kagami wished he could forget.
His parents weren’t bothered about who he was dating. Sure, they were surprised at first. They never expected Kagami to swing that way. But they understood quickly—being gay wasn’t anything unusual if you grew up in New York.
And just like that, Aomine became the golden son-in-law.
Maybe it was because he was good at charming parents—bringing fruit and flowers when visiting, complimenting Kagami’s mom, and always talking about topics that interested Kagami’s dad.
"Where did Daiki go?" his mother asked when she returned to the living room, finding only Kagami lost in his magazine.
Kagami barely looked up. "Probably in the backyard with Dad."
His mother hummed and made her way outside.
Not even five minutes later, her voice rang out, calling Kagami to join them in the backyard for snacks.
Kagami couldn't stop the smile that spread across his face when he stepped outside and saw Aomine chatting comfortably with his parents.
A warmth spread through his chest.
Because the three most important people in his life were together, smiling and laughing, and for that moment, everything felt perfect.
.
"You already got the address, right?" Aomine whispered into his phone, barely a minute after slipping away from Kagami and his parents, who were still engaged in a lively discussion.
"Yeah, I got it, Dai-chan," a female voice responded on the other end. Aomine nodded to himself. "But seriously, we're just supposed to gather? We’re not doing anything else?" she asked, curiosity lacing her tone.
"Your job is just to stand there," Aomine replied flatly.
"We don’t even get to know what you're planning?" she pushed, joined by a chorus of murmured agreements from the people on the other end.
Oh, crap. Was this call on loudspeaker?
"You'll find out soon enough," Aomine said, attempting to shut down the interrogation. Then, he suddenly remembered something. "Just—whatever happens, no one laughs. No matter how ridiculous I look, no one laughs. Got it?"
A brief silence followed before stifled snickers erupted from multiple people. Not just one or two—nearly everyone.
Damn it. Aomine scowled. He was already being laughed at, and the real thing hadn’t even started yet. If they were already like this now, how much worse would it be later tonight?
For a moment, he seriously considered calling the whole thing off. But then the teasing voices over the phone reminded him why he was doing this in the first place.
It was for Kagami. And if it was for that idiot, Aomine would willingly die of embarrassment.
The sun had just set when Aomine and Kagami arrived at their usual one-on-one court.
"You said you're planning something for us, but we’re ending up playing one-on-one instead," Kagami scoffed as Aomine tossed him a basketball.
Aomine chuckled. "I missed playing with you."
Kagami shot him a confused look before shrugging it off. Without another word, he started dribbling, fast and aggressive—just the way Aomine liked.
"We literally play every week," Kagami pointed out between breaths as he maneuvered past Aomine, trying to break through his defense.
Aomine shadowed his every move, refusing to let him score. "I miss competing against you."
With a sharp move, he stole the ball. "I miss seeing you in your Seirin uniform," he added, dribbling past Kagami.
Kagami spun around quickly to block him, but Aomine smirked. "I miss our high school days."
And with that, he leaped, executing a flawless dunk. The ball swished clean through the hoop before Kagami could even react.
Both of them stood still, catching their breath, gazes locked in the dimming twilight.
"I miss calling you Bakagami," Aomine admitted, his tone softer, his stare intense.
Kagami's heart pounded. Five years together, and Aomine could still make him feel like this. Without a second thought, Kagami grabbed the front of Aomine’s shirt and crashed their lips together.
They kissed, tasting the familiarity of each other—warm and relentless. Their lips moved in sync, alternating between gentle and demanding. Aomine's arms wrapped around Kagami’s waist, pulling him closer as he tilted his head to deepen the kiss. Kagami sighed against his lips, hands fisting against Aomine’s chest.
After what felt like forever, they finally pulled away. Kagami was the first to chuckle.
"You’re such an idiot. If you miss calling me 'Bakagami,' just call me 'Bakagami' then," he teased.
"Yeah, right. Like I have a death wish! Your parents are also named Kagami—one slip-up and they're no longer love me."
Kagami burst into laughter. "Well, if I call you 'Ahomine,' it feels weird in front of your parents too."
"Exactly! Now you get it."
Kagami shook his head with a smirk. "But I’m here now. Why are you missing the past?"
Aomine shrugged, a small smile playing on his lips. "Dunno. I get sentimental around our anniversary. Happens every year."
Kagami studied him for a moment, then smiled. "Well, I like it, though."
Aomine's eyes widening slightly before his lips curled into a triumphant grin. "I knew it. You love me."
Kagami scoffed, crossing his arms. "I said I like it, dumbass! LIKE, not love!"
"Hah! Keep telling yourself that. I love you too, by the way."
"What the hell, shut up!" Kagami swatted at Aomine’s hands as they started poking at his waist. Aomine laughed so hard his stomach hurt.
"Alright, let's head home before I turn into a total pervert out here," Aomine finally said.
But as they started walking, his stomach twisted.
Going home meant everything he planned was about to begin.
In the taxi ride back, Aomine pulled out his phone. Five unread emails stared back at him, making his pulse quicken.
54 minutes ago
From: Okaa-san
Mom and Dad already got here, Daiki.43 minutes ago
From: Murasakibara
Mine-chin, don’t forget to buy snacks.40 minutes ago
From: Satsuki
Everyone's gathered across from your apartment, Dai-chan! Btw, why we have to stand across the street?18 minutes ago
From: MOP Your World Agency
Dear Mr. Aomine, the sound system is ready. The dancers are ready. Police have blocked the road. Everything is perfect.3 minutes ago
From: Kise
Aominecchi! I just landed in New York-ssu! Everyone left me behind! But don’t worry, I’ll make it in time!
Oh, God.
Aomine rubbed his temples. He was really about to do this.
Closing his eyes for a moment, he took a deep breath, gathering his courage. Then, he reached for Kagami’s hand.
Kagami noticed immediately. "What’s up?"
Aomine hesitated before shaking his head. His face looked a little pale, but it was too late to back out now. Their apartment was just a few meters away.
"Nothing. There’s just something I want to show you."
.
Kagami raised an eyebrow when Aomine pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and gently tied it over his eyes, shrouding his vision in darkness.
"Daiki?" Kagami questioned. "What are you—"
"Sssh." Aomine's warm breath tickled his ear, sending a shiver down his spine. Kagami obeyed, falling silent. He could feel the taxi steadily moving toward their apartment, the faint hum of the engine filling the quiet space.
Throughout the remaining ride, Aomine's hand rested firmly around Kagami's waist, holding him close. And as the taxi came to a stop, Kagami couldn't suppress the excitement bubbling within him. He had a feeling about what was coming.
Today was May 10th—their five-year anniversary. And Kagami wasn’t clueless. Given the unusual circumstances, Aomine was undoubtedly planning something special.
So when the taxi finally halted, Kagami couldn't help but smile. It was rare for Aomine to act like this. In five years of dating, they'd never even had a proper dinner at a fancy restaurant. Not that Kagami wanted that, of course. Their relationship had never been about grand romantic gestures, lovey-dovey moments, or constant words of affection.
Which is precisely why this sudden surprise had Kagami completely caught off guard.
"We're here," Aomine announced.
"So, what now?" Kagami chuckled. "What are you up to, huh? Getting all romantic out of nowhere."
"Just shut up and follow me," Aomine muttered, guiding him out of the taxi. Kagami felt his partner’s hand securely gripping his own as they walked forward.
The night was quiet. Kagami unconsciously held his breath when Aomine let go of his hand.
"Daiki?" he called out, suddenly anxious that Aomine had left him stranded.
"Relax, I'm right here." Aomine’s voice came from just behind him. Kagami could sense his presence, standing close as he began untying the blindfold.
Kagami's heartbeat quickened.
As the fabric slipped away, a flood of light momentarily blinded him. He blinked, adjusting his vision, and then—
"SURPRISE!"
The sudden chorus of voices made Kagami’s heart nearly leap out of his chest. His eyes widened in shock as he found himself immediately enveloped in a flurry of hugs—from Momoi, Aida, and Alex, one after another.
Wait.
Alex, he could understand. She lived in LA, just a short trip from New York. But Momoi? Aida?
"Waaaa! Happy Anniversary, Kagamin!" Momoi squealed.
Aida clapped him on the back, and Alex, in her usual fashion, planted a big kiss on his cheek. Before Kagami could fully process their presence, his mind was thrown into further chaos.
Bright blond hair caught his attention.
"Kise?!" Kagami exclaimed in disbelief. Kise, sporting flashy sunglasses, was busy recording everything on a handycam, grinning like he was some kind of professional cameraman. He waved at Kagami before refocusing on capturing the moment.
And then Kagami saw them—Midorima, predictably accompanied by Takao, Murasakibara looming behind them, and at the center of it all, Akashi.
Wait. Akashi?!
What was the former captain of the Generation of Miracles doing here?
As if reading Kagami’s thoughts, Akashi crossed his arms coolly and simply stated, "Daiki invited me."
Before Kagami could respond, a familiar arm slung around his shoulders.
"Oi, don’t forget about us!" a voice called out. Kagami turned to find himself face-to-face with Hyuuga and Kiyoshi. His eyes widened before breaking into a disbelieving grin.
"Senpai!" Kagami wasted no time pulling them into a hug. Hyuuga laughed heartily, as did Kiyoshi.
"Tch, you ungrateful idiot! Got too comfortable living with your boyfriend in America and forgot all about us, huh?" Hyuuga teased, making Kagami burst out laughing so hard his stomach ached. He still couldn't wrap his head around the fact that his former Seirin teammates were all here—Mitobe, Koganei, and even Izuki.
Kagami shook his head in utter disbelief.
"
Daiki, you absolute lunatic
," he thought. The joy of seeing everyone gathered here was overwhelming. Even Aomine's old teammates from Touou had come—Wakamatsu, Sakurai, and Imayoshi.
Yet, something felt incomplete.
"Where’s Kuroko?" Kagami asked, scanning the crowd.
"I'm right here, Kagami-kun."
"Shit!" Kagami cursed in English, startled as he turned to find Kuroko standing right beside him, his expression as unreadable as ever. "Since when were you—oh, right, you’ve been here the whole time, haven’t you?"
Kuroko's lips curled into the faintest hint of a smirk as he nodded.
Of course. Kagami should have known. But even the shock of Kuroko’s sudden appearance couldn't overshadow the warmth swelling in his chest. One by one, his friends embraced him—Kuroko, followed by Himuro, who smiled before pulling him into a heartfelt hug. Furihata shook his hand, laughing, and even Imayoshi gave his shoulder a teasing slap while grinning mischievously.
"You both owe me, you know. I'm the reason you two started dating," Imayoshi remarked with an all-too-smug smirk, making Kagami chuckle.
Aomine had seriously outdone himself. This was just their anniversary, right? Then why had he gathered practically everyone they knew from Japan?!
But before Kagami could question him, he noticed something.
"Wait… where the hell is Dai-chan?" Momoi voiced the very thought running through Kagami’s mind. He glanced left and right, but Aomine was nowhere in sight.
Gone. Vanished. When had he even slipped away?
Kagami scratched his head in confusion. Then, he noticed something else—the streets were eerily empty. No cars, no traffic, just a stillness in the night.
Just as he was about to voice his concerns, music erupted from their apartment across the street.
The intro was unmistakable.
Kagami's eyes widened as he whipped his head toward their building. Their apartment was a modest two-story flat, not too big, not too small. But now, strung across the balcony of their second-floor unit, was a large banner with bold letters reading:
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY.
A white sheet had been draped over the railing to serve as the backdrop, the words scrawled across it in thick strokes. And as the intro transitioned into the main melody, Kagami couldn’t hold back the smile spreading across his face.
Because that song—
It was his favorite.
Come feel my heart
It's beating like a drum and I confess
When you're around
It's like an army's marching through my chest
The sound of his friends clapping made Kagami's grin widen.
"
Unbelievable!
" Kagami thought, even though he still couldn't spot him anywhere.
Because tonight was so perfect, so breathtaking, that Kagami couldn't even put it into words.
He had no idea how Aomine managed to clear out the streets around their apartment, but here they were—his friends beside him, and his favorite song blasting through the entire block. The music was loud enough to draw their neighbors out, some peeking from their windows, others even stepping outside to see what was happening. It was both mortifying and exhilarating all at once.
And there's nothing I can do
I just gravitate towards you
You're pulling on me like the moon
I just wanna get you sideways
Kagami's eyes widened as five women in mini dresses stepped out of his apartment, dancing in the middle of the street to the song. It was a band both he and Aomine adored—the one they always sang along to at karaoke, the one whose concert they attended together two years ago.
"Damn, the one in the middle is hot!" Wakamatsu's voice rang out, making Kagami chuckle as the dancers spun around, flaunting their curves.
"What the hell is Daiki up to?" Kagami laughed, still scanning the area for him. "And where
is
he?"
But for now, he decided to just enjoy the moment. This was their song, after all. And being surrounded by his friends on a night this special—it made him ridiculously happy, even if Aomine was being over-the-top.
What would you do if I told you that I la, la, la, la, loved you?
Do if I said it tonight?
What would you do if I told you that I la, la, la, la, loved you?
'Cause you know…
As the chorus hit, Kagami joined in, singing along at the top of his lungs. He even urged his friends—most of whom had no idea how the song went—to sing along with him.
By the time the song ended and the dancers had disappeared, the atmosphere had turned into one of infectious laughter. Kagami felt like nothing could surprise him more. He was already on cloud nine.
And then another song started playing.
Kagami's body froze as the intro blared from the speakers. His mind short-circuited, and his eyes widened in shock.
And the very first lyric made his knees go weak.
It's a beautiful night
We're looking for something dumb to do
"WHAT THE FUCK?!" Wakamatsu's outburst was quickly followed by shrieks from Aida, Momoi, Alex, Takao, and Kise as they recognized the unmistakable voice of Bruno Mars.
Kagami couldn't move. A strange, electric current ran through him, leaving his legs unsteady.
No way…
Hey baby
I think I wanna marry you
And right on cue, Aomine stepped out onto the balcony of their second-floor apartment, dressed in a sleek black suit, looking…awkward.
Kagami's heartbeat skyrocketed. His mind raced with a million possible explanations for what the hell was happening.
Is it the look in your eyes?
Or is it these dancing shoes?
Aomine lifted a large sign that said:
"I'm gonna dance, but please don't laugh at me."
Kagami couldn't help but chuckle, his tense muscles slowly relaxing as Aomine locked eyes with him.
Who cares baby
I think I wanna marry you
"KYAAA, Dai-chan!" Momoi's scream was deafening, but Kagami barely noticed. He was too busy laughing as Aomine—
Aomine!
—actually started dancing.
Well, I know this little chapel on the boulevard we can go
No one will know
Oh, come on, girl
Kagami could hardly believe his eyes. Aomine. Dancing. On the goddamn balcony. He had to record this—
Oh wait. Never mind. Kise already had his phone out, capturing every second.
Who cares if we're trashed? Got a pocket full of cash we can blow
Shots of Patron
And it's on, girl
Kagami shook his head as Aomine, now fully grinning, shamelessly danced however he pleased.
Unbelievable.
Kagami had
never
seen him like this. After tonight, he was going to tease the hell out of him.
Don't say no, no, no, no-no
Just say yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah
And we'll go, go, go, go-go
If you're ready, like I'm ready
Everyone was singing along—everyone except Midorima, Akashi, and Murasakibara. Even Wakamatsu had given in and joined the chorus.
And just when Kagami thought it was all over, the final surprise hit him like a freight train.
'Cause it's a beautiful night
We're looking for something dumb to do
Hey baby
Kagami's breath hitched as he spotted Aomine's parents stepping out of a parked car across the street.
And—oh,
hell.
They were walking toward him.
And then, they hugged him. Tightly.
Kagami felt his chest tighten, overwhelmed by the rush of emotions swelling inside him.
When he glanced back at Aomine, he was still grinning like an idiot, still dancing like a fool.
I think I wanna marry you
The lyrics were clear. Aomine’s eyes were clear. The warmth of his mother’s embrace was clear.
Tonight was clear. Crystal clear.
Kagami wanted to cry, but he held it back. Because a second later, his Mom and Dad stepped out of the same car.
He shook his head and laughed, welcoming them as if he hadn’t just seen them at home a few hours ago. They had been part of this all along, yet they had the audacity to pretend they knew nothing while spending the entire afternoon with him.
His mother murmured something, but Kagami couldn't hear it. The music had suddenly stopped, replaced by the uproar of his friends clapping and whistling—everyone except Midorima, Akashi, and Murasakibara. Midorima, too
tsundere
to join in, Akashi, too cool to indulge, and Murasakibara, whose mouth was too full of snacks to care.
Kagami looked across the street at Aomine, silently asking what was going on. Aomine didn’t answer. Instead, he turned around and picked up a large piece of cardboard with bold letters scrawled across it.
Kagami squinted to read it, then chuckled. The sign read:
"Hey, Bakagami, I need to say something."
Kagami nodded. Aomine locked eyes with him before flipping to the next sign.
"You know I never cry."
Kagami nodded again. Aomine changed the sign once more.
"And you know I hate romantic stuff."
Another nod. Kagami knew Aomine would never do something like this voluntarily.
"So tell me, what the hell am I doing right now?"
Laughter erupted around them. Kagami could feel his mother and Aomine’s mother hugging him from both sides. Then, Aomine switched to another card.
"Maybe I’m going overboard."
"Maybe I’ll die of embarrassment after this."
Kagami snorted.
"But if it means seeing you smile at the end of all this, then I’ll take my chances."
Kagami laughed again, struggling to suppress the grin threatening to split his face. He couldn’t hold it back anymore.
One by one, the cards kept coming.
"You know,"
Aomine continued,
"these past five years have made me believe."
"That miracles really do exist."
Kagami saw Aomine scratch the back of his neck before flipping to the next card.
"Because meeting you is too incredible to be just a coincidence."
Momoi squealed, but Kagami barely heard it over the pounding of his own heartbeat.
"I’ve known since the Winter Cup seven years ago,"
"That you are the best friend God could have ever given me."
Aomine smiled. If Kagami could move, he would have run over and tackled him into a hug. But he stayed put, determined to see everything Aomine had to say.
"Remember when we sneaked into your high school’s basketball court at night?"
"And played until dawn?"
Kagami chuckled at the memory.
"Or when I crashed at your apartment,"
"And we mixed up our underwears?"
"Hey!" Kagami shouted, horrified. He did not want to remember that. Meanwhile, Imayoshi burst out laughing, making Aomine snicker along with him.
"But honestly, I’m grateful I met someone as dumb as me."
Kagami shook his head in disbelief. Classic Aomine.
"It makes me hope we’ll never stop doing stupid things together."
"Playing one-on-one. Going to Majiba. Attending The Cab’s concerts."
"Or wiping your tears when you cry over Titanic."
Kagami groaned and buried his face in his hands as his friends roared with laughter.
"But seriously,"
the next card read.
"With you… I want to be a better man."
"Because you deserve it."
Kagami’s chest tightened. His eyes burned, though he wasn’t sure why. He smiled, wiping away the tears blurring his vision, and read the next card.
"Look around you. See how many people care about you."
Kagami did. He turned and saw all his friends smiling at him. He returned their smiles before looking back at Aomine.
"So let me be one of them, for as long as you allow me, always. Someone who cares about you. Someone who can bring you happiness."
That was it. Kagami's tears finally spilled over. He wasn’t one to cry easily, but every word Aomine had written left him speechless.
So he simply nodded and gave Aomine two thumbs up, making Aomine laugh. Then he lifted another card.
"Life isn’t easy, I know. Especially ours, filled with all kinds of chaos."
"But then I realized, all that chaos becomes perfect."
"When I get to share it… with you."
Kagami bit down on his knuckles. If he kept reading, he would end up bawling like an idiot.
Then Aomine stopped flipping the cards. The atmosphere grew still, and Kagami's heart pounded so hard he feared it might give out. The only thing he could see was Aomine’s face, smiling.
Not a smirk. Not a grin. Just a genuine smile.
Kagami hadn’t realized he was holding his breath until Aomine lifted the next card.
"So, Kagami Taiga,"
It said.
And in that moment, it wasn’t just Kagami who froze—it was everyone watching. Aomine lowered the card, but instead of pulling out another one, he walked towards the balcony railing, where a white banner reading
"Happy Anniversary"
was draped.
No one dared to utter a word. Not even Kagami, whose hands were already clammy with cold sweat.
Aomine reached for the edge of the white cloth and pulled it away, revealing four words hidden beneath it. Four words that made Kagami’s knees go weak and his heart stop. Four words he had never imagined would be asked of him.
Four magical words that brought tears to his eyes before he nodded.
"WILL YOU MARRY ME?"
That night was one Kagami would never forget. The night Aomine held up his final sign, which read:
"If you’re gonna marry me, what the hell are you doing over there? Get over here and kiss me!"
And Kagami didn’t waste a second. He dashed across the street, rushed up to the second floor, and captured Aomine’s lips in a kiss, surrounded by their friends, who cheered in joy.
There was no day happier than that one. Or so Kagami thought.
But once again, he was wrong. Because exactly one year later, Kagami stood at the altar, binding himself to Aomine in a lifelong vow.
May 10, 2021
St. Paul’s Chapel, Lower Manhattan, New York City.
Aomine Daiki stood at the center of the altar, dressed in a sleek black suit with a crisp white tie, facing the person who would become his lifelong partner.
The atmosphere was almost surreal. Magical. His entire family was present. Friends from Japan, friends from America—everyone had gathered to witness this moment, to hear him make his vow.
The last vow he would ever make to the person standing before him.
Kagami stood tall in his immaculate white suit and black tie, looking noticeably nervous. Aomine wanted nothing more than to reach out, squeeze his hand, and assure him that everything was going to be just fine.
And it was.
As Aomine glanced toward the pews, he saw the faces of those he loved—his mother, his father, Momoi, Kuroko, and all their friends. They smiled at him, their eyes radiating warmth, as if his happiness was their own.
So Aomine had no doubts left.
He turned to Kagami, took his hand, and the chapel fell into a hushed silence as he parted his lips to speak.
He had memorized the vow the night before, committing it to heart. A vow he would never break as long as he lived.
With unwavering conviction, Aomine locked eyes with Kagami and spoke:
"I, Aomine Daiki, promise to be your lover, companion, and friend. Your partner in parenthood. Your ally in conflict."
He squeezed Kagami’s hand a little tighter, feeling Kagami return the gesture with a reassuring smile. Aomine’s voice echoed through the chapel as he continued:
"Your greatest fan and your toughest adversary. Your comrade in adventure. Your student and your teacher. Your consolation in disappointment. Your accomplice in mischief. And your partner in life. This is my sacred vow to you—my equal in all things. I love you."
Kagami smiled, gripping Aomine’s hand just as firmly before he took his turn.
"I, Kagami Taiga, promise to be your lover, companion, and friend. Your partner in parenthood. Your ally in conflict. Your greatest fan and your toughest adversary," his voice trembled slightly, emotions brimming at the surface. "Your comrade in adventure. Your student and your teacher. Your consolation in disappointment. Your accomplice in mischief. And your partner in life. This is my sacred vow to you—my equal in all things. I love you."
As Kagami finished his vow, the officiant spoke the words that would seal their union:
"Now, I pronounce you as husbands and partners for life."
A joyful cheer erupted from every corner of the chapel.
Kagami smiled, and so did Aomine. And when their lips met in a tender kiss, Aomine holding him close, Kagami knew—without a doubt—that this was the happiest day of his life.