"Eh!?" Kise nearly spat out his tea all over Kuroko's parents but managed to choke it down. He gave his chest a hard pat and then looked back at Sumire with wide eyes.

He took a breath. "No," he said after he settled, the lie coming easy now. Only Akashi knew the truth. "Not anymore. I confessed to him at the beginning of second year, but he turned me down."