Teiko Junior High School basketball club. An incredibly strong team with over one hundred members and three consecutive championship wins. Amongst their brilliant record, the generation of five prodigies was known as the "Generation of Miracles (Kiseki no Sedai)". However, there was a strange rumor concerning the Generation of Miracles. Despite being relatively unknown and lacking a game record, there was one more member recognized by the five prodigies. A phantom sixth man.

Well, that was supposedly the rumors I heard about Japanese basketball. I just returned from America a few while ago, and am still adjusting with life here in Nihon. Mama and Papa was going to return with me to Japan, but then Papa got a call concerning his work that he couldn't just leave, so I decided that I would return by myself and that I would be perfectly fine living alone. Reluctantly but surely, they sent me off with smile on their faces, trusting I would be okay in Japan.

And here I am, standing in front of my new apartment bought by Papa just a while ago. I put my keys on the lock and opened the door. I turn on the lights and felt my eyes widen, it's just too, refined, if I may say so myself. It was all sparkly for some reason. I decided to let it go and not ask Papa to get rid of the sparkly stuff. I got into my room and changed my clothes. I put on my light blue shirt and short cotton pants and head for the mirror. I started to comb my part red and part pinkish hair, and yes, it's my natural hair color, and stared into my reflection. The golden eyes that I have were there, staring at me. I was pulled back and drown in my own memories.

-Flashback-

Amaterasu Akari, 4 years old.

"Ara, Aka-chan, you're holding the basketball while you're sleeping. That's so cute. Maybe you'll end up being a fine basketball player just like Papa and Mama was, back in our days. Right, darling?"

"Yes I think she will, Mama. She'll grow up to be a beautifully strong basketball legend, hai?"

Amaterasu Akari, 6 years old.

"Mama! Papa! Ittekimassu!" I said while grinning and holding tight the basketball in my hand, and playing with my shoulder length hair that Mama set to a pigtail style.

"Safe trip, Aka-chan! Don't forget to be happy while you're playing okay?"

"Haaaai!"

I left with a big grin on my face, heading towards the basketball field in the park, joining a few of my friends who were there first.

Amaterasu Akari, 10 years old.

"Hey! Pass!" I shouted with a big smile to my teammate.

"Here, Akari!"

Receiving a pass directed right to my hand in just the right time made me grin. I was just outside the three-point line when I took a step back, positioning the ball on my left hand as I got ready for a shoot. *swish*

The lashes on the hoop made a sound as the ball entered without touching the rim.

"Yatta! We win! We got the court for the upcoming week! Nice going, Akari!"

-at home-

"Akari! We got a call from Papa, saying that he would love to see you play at his stadium. It's his players' plead to play with you again before you graduate elementary school."

"Haaaai~ I would love to see Luke-chan and gang again!"

-Papa's court-

"Aka-chan, pass!" I hear Robin-chan, the team's captain yell at me to pass, and I did.

"Yosh! I'll get the ball Aka-chan pass and jam it in the ring!"

"Not you won't, Robin!" Ken-chan, the center blocked Robin-chan's dunk before he could reach the ring.

"Yosh! Fast break!" Luke-chan is giving sign for Ken-chan to pass to him.

I jumped and received the ball intended for Luke-chan and dribbled it back outside the three-point line.

"Whoa! Aka-chan, you're agile as ever! I won't let you off now! We're on opposing team!" Luke-chan said to me with a grin.

"Hai! Luke-chan, ikuyo!" I took a step back from the three-point line and shoot the ball pass Luke-chan's block. *swish*

That concludes the game and Robin-chan's and mine's team wins. We exchange high fives and hugged each other.

"Aaah~ you're so lucky Robin, Aka-chan is on your team. She's good, even for our level, she'd keep up! I'm so proud of you, Aka-chan!" Luke-chan said while patting my pigtail hair.

"I'll make you proud even more! Just wait! Luke-chan, Robin-chan, Ken-chan, daaaaisuki!" I said, giving them a hug.

"Yosh! I'm hyped now! Let's play again, another game! Change of team is of course needed."

We decided to play more games until we're dead tired and went to eat afterwards.

"Life couldn't be giving me more love, I'm so blessed!" I mumbled to myself.

Amaterasu Akari, 11 years old.

"I hate you!"

"What are you doing, showing off your basketball skill, Akari? We know you're the daughter of the famous basketball coach, Masada-san, and the WNBA Japanese-born legend, Misuru-san. But don't get cocky with your skill!" I can feel her shoving me, making me fall down afterwards.

"Ugly Akari!"

"Ew, just die!"

"What's with your left hand anyway, let's just damage it and leave her be."

They pushed and punched until I can't get back up. Sad, but that happens a lot recently. With me being the coach's apple, and me being picked on the international championship to represent USA, and further more, me, being given a honorary scholarship to study at a prestigious school while attending to junior WNBA.

I hated basketball then. I hated my talent. I hated my life…

But I cannot stay away from basketball. I love it from the bottom of my heart.

-End of Flashback-

I let out a sigh. I remembered Mama and Papa's face when they saw me coming home bleeding. I remembered not being able to play basketball in a while. I remembered the looks on Luke-chan, Ken-chan and Robin-chan's face when they visit me at home. Looking at the damaged hand that I was proud of, losing half of the power it had before. Flipping my hand, I can still see the bruises I usually hid with a couple of bandages and band-aids. I look at my right one; trying to imitate the shoot I've been doing with my left hand my whole life. Thinking about what happened then would never do me any good. I look up to the counter beside the mirror and saw articles about me, from a year ago.

"NEW BASKETBALL GENIUS SPOTTED!"

"JAPANESE NEW LEGEND?!"

"HEIR TO THE AMATERASU BASKETBALL BLOOD IS HERE!"

"AMATERASU, THE YOUNGEST REPRESENTATIVE OF USA!"

"USA ON A ROLL WITH AMATERASU!"

"AMATERASU, THE FAR DISTANCE SHOOTER!"

"AMATERASU, THE THREE POINT PRODIGY OF THE EAST!"

I scatter the pages one by one, seeing articles about me that I was happy about, yet also sad. I was happy of my achievements, and that I am able to make Papa and Mama proud. Yet, I feel something is lacking from my play. I need to find that something, here. I think I can find what I lack, here. I felt my golden eyes widen as I look at my transfer form, readied by Papa himself. I am going to be transferring to Teiko Junior High School. The Teiko Junior High School. I can feel
the excitement as I go to bed.

-chapter 1 end-