AU: This story is an alternate universe and there are more differences than just merely the school.
A/N: I was going to wait until I got further into my other stories, but I thought why not now to add more variety.
Brothers
Prologue: Older Brother, Little Brother
They were brothers. Tetsuya was born on January 31 and Seijūrō was born almost eleven months later on December 20. They had been born into a rich family who owned their own business, with a strict father and a kind mother.
Even in elementary school they would go home only to be given more lessons. Perhaps it was Tetsuya's failure to live up to their father's expectations that caused Seijūrō to feel the pressure and felt the need to live up to their father's expectations. They were far from realistic expectations yet Seijūrō somehow always seemed to meet them only bringing more expectations on him.
Tetsuya could tell when the pressure was getting to Seijūrō. Their mother would try and do what she could, and she brought those moments of relief, but it didn't stop the cause of the problem. Tetsuya had try to place the blame on himself many times when their father wanted more of his little brother or when his little brother had been called out about "goofing off" too much. He would say things like "If Seijūrō is a failure than what am I?" knowing that his father no longer had faith that his oldest could live up to his expectations. He had just been too average. And when the brothers were caught "wasting time" Tetsuya would take the blame saying it was his fault for distracting him.
Sometimes it would work, other times he would be brushed off. Yet it never stopped him from trying. As they grew Seijūrō's light grew in their father's eyes as he was casted away further into the shadows.
Tetsuya was never particularly angry with his treatment. His mother still gave him plenty of recognition and his brother cared for him too. He was just sorrowful that things were as they were, wishing his father would relax sometimes and that Seijūrō wouldn't feel pressured.
He was introduced to basketball by their mother. Even if it was just another thing he was average at, it was fun to play especially with the two people he cared most for. Seijūrō turned out to be good at it. He shouldn't have expected anything less.
Seijūrō was that kind of person. He was special and he would achieve in whatever he participated in.
To be honest, Tetsuya was envious of his brother. To be so good at a variety of things.
…but that talent could only be a curse in their family.
It was in fifth grade that their mother died. He had lost someone important. Father didn't really know how to be a proper father so with his wife's death things had become even tougher for the red head. Without mother, Seijūrō would go to Tetsuya more.
Father saw it as a distraction.
In the end Tetsuya went to live with their aunt, her husband and her husband's grandmother in a small house (the two sisters had led such different lives) as Tetsuya would only bring shame to the Akashi family.
Tetsuya followed Seijūrō to middle school, though. It didn't matter how far he had to travel he would always be there for him.
.
Seijūrō dearly loved his mother and brother. While he called father by such title, he was more like an instructor. But his mother was kind and gentle and his brother was always on his side. It was because of them that he could put up with all the pressure. He wanted to do well for himself. He also wanted to impress the two who he cared for. His father's expectations were just a goal.
He could remember the times mother would play basketball with them, when he would sneak into Tetsuya's room, or Tetsuya would sneak him out of his studies. The two of them were his world.
Mother died.
Tetsuya was sent away.
He was alone now and didn't know what to do. He did the only thing he could do. Fulfill his father's expectations.
It was then that Seijūrō would be eager to attend school. Despite it being for the purpose of studying, it was freedom away from home. It was a chance to be with his brother.
Despite the distance, Tetsuya continued to attend the same school as him. They would always be together.
He had worried when Tetsuya had his last name changed to Kuroko, but had been reassured that it wasn't because he wanted them to stop being brothers.
Very few people knew about their relationship. It wasn't like they were trying to hide they were brother, they just weren't loud about it either. They just didn't like talking about family matters in general because it touched too many subjects they didn't willingly want to speak of.
He became a first string in his first year of middle school basketball.
He had become a member of a group that would be known as the Generation of Miracles.
He was the captain of said group of prodigies.
As the sixth phantom member, his brother was still there with him.
.
There had been coaches coming and going ever since the national tournament in an attempt to recruit the legendary members.
"Have you decided to take an offer yet?" Tetsuya asked before taking another sip of his vanilla milkshake.
"Rakuzan. Rakuzan High."
"Isn't that in Kyoto?"
"Yes." Seijūrō didn't even need to wait to know what Tetsuya's response would be.
"Then I'll be there."
It was then that Seijūrō's driver had finally caught up to them (they had left school without being seen), cutting their time short once again.
The driver bowed, knowing the circumstances before getting into the driver's seat and taking off.