A/N: So. I recently discovered KNB, or rather I knew about it a while ago but Kagami's eyebrows deterred me from watching the series I'll admit XD. Hope this fic turns out somewhat decent.

Seirin was his original plan, and he should have stuck with it.

Kuroko thinks any self-respecting basketball team that isn't trying to recruit a Miracle will do for him, especially after Akashi's pointed orders, so it's out of pure coincidence when Kirisaki Daiichi lands on his list.

And of course he's never known about the Uncrowned Generals despite having played against them in his second year of middle school, so Kuroko had really no idea of Kirisaki Daiichi's strength as a basketball team.

"Come try your hand at a pitch! You might be great at baseball!"

Orientation went smoothly enough, with him going unnoticed to most of the students. The usual fuss was made over club/society promotion day, where seniors tried their darnedest to get freshmen to consider their clubs. He walked past a couple of booths and saw a table which was labeled "Basketball Club".

There was a tray of registration forms for the basketball club, and Kuroko reached out- only to stop himself.

Did he really want this? Was he sure about returning to basketball? Was there even any purpose it would serve? His hand trembled. Then again, what other club was there for him to join? Shogi was Akashi's territory. There was a bunch of weird clubs such as social media and whatnot that Kuroko couldn't say he had much interest in. There was the literary club, but…

He clasped the trembling fingers of his left hand in his right.

Make a decision.

Kuroko didn't understand himself, he decided as he felt another freshman overtake him and easily steal the ball from his grasp. He tugged on his wristbands absently; he had gone and told Akashi what would definitely be seen by the other as a challenge, but he'd obviously forgotten just how exclusive and bizarre the nature of his role in the Teikou team had been. There wasn't a chance in hell he was going to be accepted the way his ability assessment was going.

"What the heck, can't you even shoot?" Someone called out, when he had finally run far enough to launch the ball at the hoop, if only to let it bound off the rim.

Likely most of them wouldn't have noticed him if he wasn't trying to grab the ball at every opportunity. Since this was a individual test, there wasn't an opportunity for him to use his ability.

Kuroko knows it, even before the selected few are called out. If they're taking in this few freshmen, their second-years must be strong. Which is also why he breathes deeply into a sigh, letting it settle into his head that yes, it's all over now.

And then, all of the freshmen's heads snap up as the captain enters the gym; it's obvious from the sure pace of his steps across the lacquered court. His gaze sweeps over the freshmen in the gym, and then it stops, and Kuroko's breath catches when he realizes that the captain is looking directly at him, has noticed Kuroko at first glance. So he can feel an ominous shudder through his bones as the senior now quirks an eyebrow in heightened interest and shows teeth.

"Well, if it isn't Teiko's sixth phantom player."