Kuroko Tetsuya has been hiding things. He is not as weak as he seems to be. In fact, if he were to play with his full power in a one-on-one match against any of the Miracles or Kagami Taiga, he would win. Hands down. But no one knew of that fact because he was hiding it. Why? You may ask. The reason is simple. Kuroko Tetsuya is afraid, afraid of repeating the mistakes he had made before. He is afraid of losing everyone again. Therefore, he will hide his secrets and take it to his grave.

~Winter Cup; vs Rakuzan~

"…the newest model of the Phantom Sixth Man." Akashi Seijuuro stated as the jersey number '5' of Rakuzan was revealed.

Shock painted Kuroko Tetsuya's face. It was not one of terror or horror but rather the shock of seeing a long-lost acquaintance, that you thought you would never have seen again. "Mayuzumi-kun…" Flashes of the past clouded Kuroko's mind. The happy memories and the sad ones. They seemed so far away, those times in Meiko.

-A month later-

The relationship between the Generation of Miracles and Kuroko Tetsuya has patched up. After Kuroko 'saved' all of them and rekindled their fiery love for basketball (at least for Aomine), the friendship between them is now stronger than before. It certainly took several days and up to a week for Akashi to finally admit his loss and 'warm up' a little but he did and now the Miracles often met up for a meal or to just catch up. Kuroko Tetsuya is happy for that, though one cannot tell from his facial expression but those close to him will say that he is practically radiating happiness off him, compared to before. Though it is true that Kuroko is happier now, he just can't smile with the certainty that he is truly happy, he can't lift a particular load off himself, he can't break the chains and remove the shackles of the past no matter how hard he tries. The shackles seem to have grown tighter instead, after his meeting with Mayuzumi, nagging at him to remember. To remember that Kuroko Tetsuya does not deserve love nor to be loved. No matter how small it is.

Rakuzan High, Rooftop

"Mayuzumi Chihiro, I want you to become the new Phantom Sixth Man"

"…What?" was the only word Mayuzumi Chihiro managed.

Déjà vu? Didn't a similar situation happen before? When he approached him.

Flashes of the past followed as the redhaired captain's words began to sink in.

"Are you Mayuzumi-san? Nice to meet you, my name is…"

"If I were to help you with your training, I am sure together, we will make it to the Junior High school Nationals easily"

Mayuzumi chuckled at the memory. He sure cannot wait to see the look on Kuroko's face.

"Sure. I accept your offer, Akashi Seijuuro."

Rakuzan High, Basketball Gym- locker room

*Loud rumble*

"What was that?!" Mibuchi Reo shrieks.

"Hungry. " Eikichi Nebuya mutters as his stomach continues to rumble.

"What kind of stomach do you have to make that sound? It resembles an earthquake!" Reo snaps but only receives a grunt in response.

"Just…!" "Ne~ne~ Reo-nee~"

"What?"Reo replies, irritated that Hayama had just cut him off when he was about to lecture Nebuya.

"I think I saw Kuro-chan today." Nebuya stops in his tracks, redirecting his attention from his hunger to Hayama. "I was looking at basketball shoes you see and then I bumped into this tall rabbit apple eyebrows guy. Then I apologized and ran off since I had to catch the train, but then I thought I saw Kuro-chan but it just didn't feel like it was Kuro-chan there so I left. But now when I think of it, that was Kuro-chan, right?" Hayama rambled.

"...I see" Reo said as Nebuya exited the locker room in search of an All-You-Can-Eat meat buffet.

Rakuzan High, Rooftop

"Someone like you can become a Phantom Sixth Man that surpasses Tetsuya"

I doubt so.