Disclaimer: Kuroko no Basuke belongs to Fujimaki Tadatoshi.

Summary: Momoi Satsuki is known for being a specialist in data gathering for basketball, with passion greater than even the players. She is reputed to possess unrivaled ability at predicting the growth of players. But rarely did anyone remember that her first encounter with basketball was not filled with happiness. And neither was the journey to where she is now, a smooth one. Aomine could most certainly vouch for it. After all, he suffered the most at her hands.

The Beginnings of Basketball - Momoi Satsuki (and Aomine Daiki)

It was during the second year of middle school, when the Generation of Miracles had just been established. Basketball training has been tougher than ever, in order not to let the reputation of being the strongest falter. Not that anyone believed for a moment that the Generation of Miracles could be defeated, not after the last tournament where every other school was crushed by a point difference of more than a hundred.

Momoi Satsuki was proud to be the manager of this basketball team. It wasn't wrong to say that the pink haired manager had been in love with the sport from since young. Her ability at spotting the strengths and weaknesses of players was not simply 'talent', but passion. And it would have taken years to get to where she was, with latent ability or not, so she could only have started young. There were many speculations about the origin of her love, most involving her childhood friend Aomine Daiki. And it was partly true. Her affinity with basketball had begun ever since she was dragged into it by her childhood friend.

At four years of age, the two children had gotten separated from their parents during the New Year's festival, all because 'Dai-chan' wanted to chase after his balloon which slipped from his small hands. As it rose higher and higher, Aomine had climbed up a tree to catch it, and when he looked up again, a basketball had appeared in place of his balloon. His eyes followed the ball as it stopped in the air for a moment, and then dropped back – no, a pair of hands reach out as if to gently collected it. The skillful hands then proceeded to manipulate it as if it defiled all rules, bouncing the ball between legs and shadows, never losing it. Despite Momoi's whining from below for him to get back down now, Aomine could not stop watching with eager eyes, soaking the sight in like water on dried soil.

For him, it was probably love at first sight. The free flowing, ever changing style of street basketball probably represented the freedom a child yearned, and for Aomine who was facing a difficult time, love came easily.

For Momoi though, it started off as a bad premonition. The stupid grin on 'Dai-chan''s face when he stopped on the tree always meant that a scolding was on its way, and the fact that he left her on the ground where it was dark by herself was unforgivable! Didn't he know that wolves would come out and get her? She started yelling louder, and it wasn't long before it become wailing instead.

Of course, Aomine came back down when he heard her crying. Nothing good ever happened if she cried, and he really, really, wanted to tell her what he just saw. It was so amazing!

Momoi calmed down when he dropped back next to her, and then she was hitting him for leaving her alone in the dark. Aomine was still too excited to be dampened by that, and he quickly related all he saw to Momoi, waving his hands wildly and enthusiastically. But Momoi was cold, tired, and scared. All the talk about the mystery ball and how it flew around people increased her dislike of whatever it was Aomine was so taken by, and the fact that the two of them were still lost was not helping. For the next few days, actually declined going out to play with Aomine, especially when he said saw the ball again and wanted to show her.

But he was her best friend, and best friends should forgive each other often, right? Her mama did tell her that, and besides, 'Dai-chan' would be lonely without her. He was such a stupid boy, always getting into trouble. If she did not look after him, he might really get into something serious, like fighting with a big dog instead of a frog! And, and, the big meanie two doors away would tear him into pieces!

With that thought in mind, Momoi ended up going with Aomine to the nearby basketball court. And really, she could not resist the silly smile on his face as he mimicked the movements of the players with a plastic ball he picked up somewhere. So she sat with him day after day, watching him handle the ball clumsily, flustering, stably, firmly, until he held it confidently, with fingers covered in blisters.

The awkward and aloof 'Dai-chan' had finally found something he loved, and Momoi was happy for him. She decided that this basketball might not be that bad a thing as she had previously thought, if it could always make him smile.

Momoi did not meet with Aomine the next day, since she had unfortunately, caught a cold while she was out. And the next day, she was horrified to see him covered in bruises and band-aids. It turned out that he was practicing how to throw the ball in the hoop when there was nobody around, when some older children came by to play. They wanted him to give the place to them, and Aomine did not want to. He boldly told them he wanted to play as well.

So they challenged him to a match, and if he won, they would play with him. Obviously, an eight year old kid would win over a five year old any day. And because of the size difference, the younger boy was pushed around a lot and he fell often. Despite that, Aomine did not give in easily.

When Momoi heard the tale, she was mad. Mad at 'Dai-chan' for being so rash, mad at the older boys for bullying him. But mostly, she was mad at herself for not being there when they pushed him around. So she went with him that day. And that was the day it all changed.

The two children went to the basketball court as Aomine wanted to re-enact the whole match to her. It was his first match, and even though he lost, he was really happy about it. The court was empty, and once again the same group of eight year olds came by.

The fearless Aomine went on again to play another match, and this time, Momoi saw it all. Not only were the boys looking down on him and treating him as if he was no better than a newbie, they were purposely playing rough. Momoi had heard all about this basketball from her older cousins ever since she found out that 'Dai-chan' liked it, and they always told her that pushing other players were wrong. But still, when she pointed it out to the older children, they had threatened to tear her rabbit doll apart.

Apparently, she must have spent way too much time with 'Dai-chan', for she fearlessly told them off despite their threat. The older children had then taken her doll and stomped on it in retaliation, and she was crying so hard that Aomine went to rescue it, taking some kicks in the attempt.

Fuming mad, Momoi spoke to a beaten up Aomine as they walked home together.

"Dai-chan! Let's make a team next time! We'll beat them fair and square!"

"With you?" Aomine chuckled painfully. "You can't even bounce a ball and get it back!"

"What! So what if I can't play!" Momoi exclaimed embarrassedly. "I'll just become your trainer, and make sure you train hard so you can beat them and everyone else!"

"Do what you want." As long as you don't cry again…

Her passion for training Aomine in basketball had been ignited, and Momoi would do all she could from now on so 'Dai-chan' would never have to suffer such humiliating losses again. The next day, however, it was Aomine who was close to tears. Momoi ordered him try mimicking some of the movements she saw on TV for basketball, and Aomine almost dislocated his shoulder when he failed. It looked like Satsuki still have a long way to go…

A/N: Satsuki willingly offered up this story when I asked her about her past. Hearing about Aomine was a bonus. I suspect it might have been a ploy to embarrass Aomine, since he forgot about her and made her wait again.