1Q: I Am Teru

Disclaimer: I don't own the rights of Kuroko no Basket. All rights belong to Fujimaki Tadatoshi-sensei. OCs belong to me.

Warnings: AU Universe, OOC-ness, overprotective GoM, and Fem!Kuroko

Pairing(s): Kagami x Teru, Kise x Akito, Aomine x Momoi

Seirin High School. A beautiful school with new facilities, located near the city and doesn't occupy a large plot of the land. It may not be much since it is still considered fresh and pristine, but it does have a gym nearby so it's no problem.

It was the first day for Seirin to open their doors for new first years and returning second and third years. This day is the opportunity to have first years join clubs which awaits for them by the entrance. There's rugby, shōgi, baseball, swimming, and book club. However, all of these doesn't pique a ghostly girl's interest as she easily strolled through the crowd. She had a novel in her hand, making it seem she wants to be in the book club, but she wasn't noticed by the leader. All she wanted…was to join one club.

Basketball Club.

Compared to the other clubs with the enormous crowd of first years surrounding them, the basketball club was far off from getting the minimum amount of players to join. Few of the members had to pass out flyers to get more attention inside the crowd while two remained sitting at the booth.

"Just a few more would be nice." The female basketball coach, Aida Riko, murmured as she took a good look at the fill-in forms on the table. "This one might be good…"

"We couldn't even get ten." The bespectacled captain of the basketball club, Hyuga Junpei, commented while glancing at her analyzing the papers.

"Um…" a quiet voice rung, but wasn't heard.

"We're just getting started!" The coach smiled. "If we advance through Inter High and Winter Cup, we'll be the talk of the next year!"

The captain laughed at her words. "You're putting much pressure on the captain already?"

"Were you always delicate, Hyuga?" Riko retaliated, and knowing her, he gave up as he slumped his head down on the table booth.

"I'll do my best. I'll do my best."

Both were oblivious of the petite girl who tried to get their attention with her hand raised to wave at them, but the two did not notice her by their own conversation. With a content sigh, she gave up in getting them to see her and took a sign-up sheet from the corner of the table. She didn't see a pen at the table and was in the coach's hand, the girl had to look for one in her school bag.

Then there was a thud.

"I brought back a new student." Rather than bringing a first year back, the crying feline boy was tugged at the back of his collar by the tall first year. He had a menacing look resembling to a predatory tiger, with dark red hair and eyes and slightly tan skin. This shocked the coach, captain, and even the unnoticed girl who already had gotten a pencil out.

"I want to join." He said nonchalantly, yet there was a hint of anger in his tone.

Riko was still in shock and also was afraid. She stuttered a yes in a questionable form.

"The Basketball Club." The first year answered, dropping the feline male on the table face down as the first year took a seat.

"Uh, yes! Yes! Welcome!" She cried out nervously, but at the same time happy to have another recruiter. She started to explain about the basketball club and everything else about the new school as she handed the first year a sign-up sheet. "As you can tell, Seirin is a fairly new school that just opened a year ago. All upperclassmen are second years, so a guy of your build—"

"I don't care about that." The guy interrupted, already scribbling down words on the sign-up sheet. "I'm just going to write my name down and leave."

So he said, and did. He set the pen down and shifted the paper back to Riko who took it and read it while the red head took a sip of tea that was previously offered to him by Hyuga. During that time of distraction, the unnoticed girl was almost done filling out the sheet.

Kagami Taiga…? Middle School…America!? Oh…he was trained at the very origin place of basketball! Riko was ecstatic on the inside of having an extraordinary guy like him at Seirin. She looked further down on the sheet until the bottom where there was only a blank box in the topic of goals.

"You have no goals?" She asked.

"Nothing in particular." Kagami gulped down the last drop of tea, then crushed the cup in his hand. "Everywhere I go, basketball is all the same to me."

Bitterly, he got up out of the seat and went forward to the open doors of the school along with the rest of the crowd. He tossed the crushed cup behind his back where it landed right into the disposal bin, which was right next to the undiscovered girl who was done with his sign-up sheet. The girl set the paper down next to the feline male who was still in shock from being grabbed unexpectedly by the large first year, and head to her class.

The basketball booth was silent after meeting the large first year. Then the silence broke by the cryful shriek of the feline male. "S-Scary! Is he really a freshman?"

"That guy is on a different level." Said a new person who revealed himself behind the bushes, behind the booth.

"Where the hell were you when that guy dragged me Izuki!? And you too Mitobe! Tsuchida!"

"Sorry Koganei." Izuki apologized, not feeling that sorry at all when he was hiding away with Mitobe and Tsuchida.

Hyuga ignored the four bickering while he was looking at the paper that Riko handed him. "Kagami Taiga. An American returnee. So he learned from the source."

"At least he'll show some potential." Riko added.

"Hey, you missed one." Koganei said, holding a sign-up sheet that was left beside him.

"Sorry. I must have not seen that." Riko grabbed the paper and read. "Kuroko…Teru…?" A girl? "There's a girl wanting to join our team guys."

The boys became alert when they heard the word "girl." They asked if the girl was wanting a position as a manager, but Riko confirmed that this girl wanted to join the men's basketball team. Considering that Japan didn't have much to offer for women in sports, this girl wanted to take the chance to tryout in men's basketball. Riko had to hand it to her if the girl was confident to go against the gender discrimination. But why couldn't she have seen her when she was at this booth the entire time?

Once she stumbled to the bottom of the paper, her eyes widen. "She's…she's from Teiko Middle School!" She screamed.

"Teiko?" Hyuga questioned in surprise. "You mean the Teiko!?"

"Yeah! And if she's a first year, that would mean she was from the 'Generation of Miracles.'"

"'Generation of Miracles.'"

"Ah! Why can't I remember that golden egg's face!? And the American returnee! Our first years are crazy!"

A girl with soft blue hair read a novel in her hands while walking diligently to her class. Her eyes glanced up to the boy with blazing hair in front of her. Her eyes gleamed of expectation of what awaits when she encounters him face to face.

It was after school hours. Everyone was in the gym. Freshmen recruits were standing in rows waiting for the upperclassmen to start speaking. Riko was talking with Izuki in the distance, or notice some small smiles of the freshmen as they whisper to each other.

"Hey, isn't that manager cute?"

"She is in the second year, right?"

"If only she was a little more…"

Before any word could be spoken out any further, the freshmen were hit by an impact behind the head. Turning around, they saw the standing captain with his fists out. "You're wrong, idiots."

Riko made her way in front of the freshmen, standing proud and high as she held her clipboard and wearing her whistle around her neck. "I am the boy's basketball coach, Aida Riko. Nice to meet you."

All of the freshmen, excluding Kagami and the blue haired maiden who was still undiscovered at the very back, shouted in shock in hearing that a girl is the coach. One of the freshmen pointed over to the elderly man at the corner who was minding in his own self on the bench. "He's not the coach?"

"Takeda-sensei is out advisor." Riko corrected. The freshmen didn't know what to say when they thought this was all a big joke. They didn't think that it was allowed or even possible that a girl would be appointed as coach. Riko overheard their side comments of her, and soon her smile shown. "Everyone! Take off your shirts!"

Small silence…then loud shouts. "EH!? WHY?!"

Relented in wanting an answer from Riko and possibly the other second years of the purpose of introduction, everyone took off their shirts, revealing their revealed torso. The girl at the back took off her blouse and she was exposed of only wearing a sports bra underneath the top. And of course, no one saw her even being half naked.

The tension of nervousness and embarrassment with also slight confusion rose amongst the first years as the female coach walked in surveying each and every one of them intently. She would frequently stopped in front of each one to tell them the wrongs of their fitness on their body.

"You," Riko called out to annoy with light brown hair and small pupils, "your instantaneous strength is weak. You must have done fifty steps in twenty seconds, right? You need to improve better if you want a spot in basketball." Next she moved on to one with a guy with dark brown hair. "Your body is too stiff. Work on your flexibility!"

One by one, the freshmen were stunned that Riko would guess right on their body activity just by looking at it. One with a buzz cut head asked, "How does she know this?"

Hyuga smiled and gave a light chuckle. "Her father is a sports trainer. She gained the ability in her eyes after spending her time with him collecting data and coming up with training menus. She can see the person's numbers of their abilities." Hyuga glanced over to Riko who was at the end of the row where Kagami was standing, looking down at her.

"What?" Kagami asked.

Riko was in awe at what she is seeing. W-What is this? His numbers exceed the chart of any other person in here! He's not your average high school boy you see! He…he has natural talent!

"Coach! How long are you going to stand there and daydream?" Hyuga snapped at Riko who returned back.

"Sorry, sorry." Riko hummed in getting the thought that she forgot something. She pulled her clipboard up to check the names. Only one wasn't checked. "Um…is Kuroko Teru here?"

"The girl from Teiko?"

Hearing the famous middle school name, freshmen conversated to themselves. Was an actual player from the Generation of Miracles coming to join? And it's a girl? Was there a girl playing during the last three years in the middle school basketball championship? Everyone looked around the gym and didn't see any other girl besides the coach. And what were the hopes that the girl could have been just a manager or a benchwarmer. Riko was a bit disappointed that the star player wasn't present at this time.

She scratched the back of her head. "I was looking forward to meeting her. I guess she took a day off. Well, let's start practice!"

"Um, excuse me," out of nowhere, the missing person showed herself up close to Riko, "I'm Kuroko Teru."

To the top of her lungs, Riko curdled a loud shriek. Hyuga jumped in asking, "When the hell did you come here?"

"From the start." Teru answered, having her indifferent eyes make contact with his green eyes.

Riko still stared at Teru like one would normally react to a sudden ghost appearance. This girl was right in front of her eyes for who knows how long, and no one else could felt her presence. She was practically invisible!

Koganei came up to get a better look of Teru next to Riko and Hyuga. "Are you serious? You were from the 'Generation of Miracles?'"

"There's no way she could have been a regular for Japan's strongest basketball team." Hyuga scoffed in disbelief in hoping that this girl was just some manager anyone barely paid attention to. "Am I right, Kuroko?"

Teru blinked. "No, I've played in matches before."

"Eh?"

"Eh…?"

"EH!?"

Overhearing the conflict over there with the girl of pale complexion and expressionless face, Kagami silently took in the topic of the supposed strongest basketball team in Japan. What were the Generation of Miracles? And this girl…so happened to played with them as equals? It's unbelievable…

"Anyway, take off your shirt!" Riko demanded to Teru.

Teru pulled the fabric of her blouse in confusion. "I already did that."

"What? N-No! Just do it so I can get your numbers!" Riko did not want to waste anymore time with her. Teru didn't argue any further with that. Teru started to pull up her blouse, slowly revealing her stomach. However Riko stopped her for a moment when she felt a couple of stares directing at Teru by the boys. "Oi! If you bastards think yourselves as men at all, you would at least have the decency to look away out of consideration!"

Every boy turned their backs to the two girls, faces covered in blushes. One of them had a sudden nosebleed. They could hear the coach growl at them in warning that they will be punished if they don't fix themselves up by the time she's done surveying the new recruit. Kagami, being the most red in the face than everyone else, was surprised to see this turn of an event happen on the first day of high school.

Teru removed her blouse one more time. Riko was glad that she wore a sports bra. Riko eyed at Teru's torso through immense focus. Then her brown eyes widen at what numbers were displayed of her abilities.

Riko told Teru to put her shirt back on. The boys turned back where they saw Riko thinking to herself with a struggled expression and Teru was remained stoic.

"Let's just start practice." Riko announced. She gave a training menu to the freshmen. Although they were stunned on how precise and descriptive the training was, they went along with it. First was full court sprinting. In the meanwhile, Riko was remembering Teru's stats. Low power. Low speed. Almost average flexibility. Although her physicality was low level, her mentality was the only highest thing in her abilities. No way could she have been a regular of the strongest team.

Practice ended at late evening. The freshmen were told that tomorrow would be a special practice. If some of them have the determination to continue forth on the basketball team, they were to be expected inside that gym and be serious. On the other hand, there were few freshmen who grew bored or tired and simply resigned early.

At the corner of the city block was the fast food restaurant, Maji Burger. A popular place to hang out and eat, especially for the tall red headed freshman who ordered a tray of twenty seven burgers. Those around were shocked to see him about to gobble down the amount of burgers that compares to a monster.

Kagami took a seat by the windows. Unwrapping one burger, he starts to eat a large bite. Getting the unsensational feeling that somebody was watching him, he looked in front of him.

"That's a lot of burgers." Teru commented as she stared at him. The unforeseen presence of the girl caused Kagami to choke, but recovered quickly.

"Wha—when did you—what are you doing here?" He stuttered in asking.

"I was here from the beginning. I was watching people." She took a sip of her drink.

"Watching people?"

"Yes."

Already weirded out by that sentence, Kagami remained quiet. "Mind tagging along with me?"

Teru agreed to his offer. That is, after he finished eating his dinner which only took a couple of minutes to get down into his stomach. She was amazed on how much a boy of her age can chow down the amount of calories without bulging his abdomen. Then again, she did face this with someone she used to hang out with a couple of years ago.

After done, Kagami and Teru walked out in the night where they stood at the park on the street basketball court. Dropping their bags on the bench and with one basketball out in Kagami's hands, the two exchanged looks at each other in silence.

"What are you hiding?" He finally said, although Teru was bewildered. "After the end of my second year of middle school back in America, I came back to Japan. I was disappointed to see the low level of basketball that was in store here."

"I'm sorry to hear you say that." Teru apologize, even though it's not her place to say that.

Kagami continued. "My reason in playing basketball is not to have fun. I only want to play matches that will make my blood boil and go out full strength." Hearing those exact words made Teru reminisce something she wishes to forget. "I've picked up on the strongest team called the 'Generation of Miracles.' According to the coach, you were apparently on the same team with them, right?" He chucked the ball to Teru who caught it easily despite the force put into it. "Whenever I encounter strong opponents, they smell. However with you…it's nothing."

"I want to see for myself. What you and the 'Generation of Miracles' are made of!"

He was smiling madly. Teru put the ball down to remove her blue sweater. Declaring her answer, "It's such a coincidence. I was going to ask for a one-on-one with you."

"Let's do this!"

Before starting, Teru said in warning that she was wearing a skirt. Noting this, Kagami promised not to be that insensitive even though he was never going to look up her skirt in the first place. He blushed, but yelled it out to get things clear.

Kagami started off first as Teru was defending. He went in for a drive and shot a basket, and Teru tried to brush the ball off, but failed. And through numerous attempts of defending and trying to get past him or take a shot, Kagami concluded Teru was absolutely weak. She went to fetch the ball that was blocked easily by Kagami. He growled that he was being made a fool of.

When she returned with the ball, he snapped. "Don't mess with me! Did you even hear me!? You said those proud words at the beginning, but overestimated yourself in thinking you had a chance to win against me!"

Teru blinked. "I'm only me, Kagami-kun. I knew that Kagami-kun was stronger than me. I just wanted to see in person how strong you are."

Kagami restrained himself from lifting Teru up by the collar, knowing he can't go against the conduct of threatening a girl. Instead, he sighed heavily while rubbing his hand against his hair in annoyance of wasting his time with Teru. I should've known. A girl with no smell just means that she's utterly weak. Teru stared at him with the ball given to him. "Forget it. I'm done." He went to retrieve his bag and gakura from the bench. He turned back to the girl where the moonlight was hit perfectly on her face. "I'll tell you this: you should give up. Even if you use effort as an excuse, you won't be able to reach into this sport when you have zero talent. Not even your words of wisdom will save you."

Upon hearing that, Teru walked over to him with the ball resting between her hip and her hand. "That's impossible. I love basketball. Everyone has their own opinions on what they think of the sport. It doesn't matter who is the best or strongest so long as they enjoy playing." She looked up at the moon where the light shined brightly at her, casting a large outline of herself on the ground. "I'm different from you. I'm just a shadow."

The next day was pouring rain. Like the coach said, there would be a special training practice. A couple of freshmen came in. All of them had yellow numbered shirts while the upperclassmen wore blue numbered shirts. Today was when the freshmen play against their seniors in a small match.

"A match with our seniors?"

"Didn't they make it to the Final Leagues a year ago?"

"That's amazing. But…this could be difficult for us."

The following freshmen; Furihata Kouki, Fukuda Hiroshi, and Kawahara Kouichi commented as they stepped onto the court. Kagami soon came onto the court with a grin seething of anger and excitement, but mostly anger. "It's better that our opponents are strong! Let's go!"

Unbeknownst to anyone, Teru with her hair tied followed over to the heated player while wearing a yellow number 15 shirt. This number brings back memories. Teru thought in disgust, showing no livid emotion on her face as she focused on the practice game coming up.

Let's see how the rookies handle our second years. By the sound of the whistle, the game begins and Riko anticipates in the freshmen's play on the court.

Starting off at the first few seconds, the first years have taken the first points as Kagami drives in recklessly and dunking the basketball in the net with brute force. The impact caused the quiet defender to fall over. Seeing that, everyone became shocked on this one guy's power. Riko was stunned to blow the whistle as she recognizes the strength he can have for the team.

"What destructive force! He's a monster." Hyuga exclaimed.

"Amazing…" thought Teru with slight amazement.

Getting back to the mini-game, the first years were in favor of 11 points to 8 points thanks to Kagami's constant dunks. This had the second years wracked up in exhaustion seeing that Kagami is the only one scoring for the team. Although, the said player wasn't looking great either. In fact, he's completely enraged.

Shit! Thanks to last night, that girl has been getting on my nerves! He glared over to Teru who held the ball and only to be stealed. "Get it together!" Furihata yelled at Teru who ran after the opponents like nothing happened. Damn her! Her talking nonsense doesn't argue that she's a shitty player! Those kinds of people who talk big…

"—really piss me off!" He yelled off the last comment as he blocked a layup from the second years' counterattack.

"So high!"

As the scores remained having the first years in the lead, the next plan commenced.

"I believe it's time to teach the freshmen their place." Hyuga said.

"Switch off." Izuki replies.

This time as Kagami was in position with the ball, he is completely defended by three second years. Hyuga, Izuki, and Mitobe did not hold back in preventing Kagami from scoring, much less of making it past them. Even if he could not get the ball, he was guarded by two defenders. The freshmen's offense play was shut down and the second years had the complete advantage of changing their score to 31 points in contrast to the first years' 15 points.

All through that, Teru could only observe as much as possible. She finally has her plan strategized. It just depends on how her teammates can successfully work together. It's a very big if so long as Kagami remains heated by the outcome right now.

"They're totally destroying us." Kawahara spoke, huffing his breath along with the others.

"They're too strong." Fukuda uttered after.

"Ah, I've had enough." Furihata followed.

"What the hell?! You're just giving up?!" Kagami snapped at Furihata who was lifted off the ground by collar.

Sighing in knowing he needed to steam off, Teru made her way behind Kagami and kicked under his knees. "Please calm down. No need for violence."

There was a very menacing aura. "You bitch…"

Kagami pivoted his gaze to Teru with a small snarl heard. The three freshmen alerted him to calm down, but it didn't stop him from trying to grab the calm girl who easily dodged his hands. The three freshmen tried to pull him back. The scene caused the second years to see.

"Ah, those guys are fighting." Koganei exasperated. Izuki flinched in realizing something. "What is it?"

"Was Kuroko always on the court?"

"Huh? Mm, yeah…I think."

Riko gave an annoyed look as she held her pink whistle in her mouth. I'm supposed to be the referee here, and I didn't take notice. Hmm? Wha—? Since when? Since when was she there?

It was almost the end of the final quarter of this mini-game, and everyone got into position. Teru was adjusting her wristbands and flicking her hands. She was ready.

"Excuse me," she heeded the notice to Fukuda with the ball, "could you please pass the ball to me?"

It was three minutes near the end, and the freshmen didn't know how to gain back more points now. Fukuda can't really trust much onto Teru who has the ball stolen more times than count, but what other options were there when Kagami can't do much either.

At the very least, don't let them steal it. Fukuda doubtedly passes over the ball to Teru who had serious eyes for once.

The ball was now in the hands of Furihata by the net. He scored.

The court was silently taking in what happened. That was a pass, wasn't it? But no one could react quickly on how it was passed way out to the end of the court, and conveniently to Furihata.

"Wha—what just happened?" Hyuga questioned, having everyone else wanting the answer too.

Riko had an unsettling vibe down her back. What is this weird feeling? Is something unbelievable happening? She crosses over to Teru who had a solemn expression, something that is completely different from her usual normal expression.

The ball was passed over to Teru again, and she simply tapped it over her shoulder and onto the player behind her defender. It kept going for the next two minutes as Teru swiftly passes the ball to her teammates and scoring afterward.

"What the hell are with these passes!? The moment the ball is handed to her, it quickly goes to another person to easily score!"

Teru passes over to Kagami who was surprised to get it. He shoots for two points instead of dunking it. "This is Kuroko's basketball…"

Misdirection! Riko realizes. It's not because of her lack of presence that prevails her passes. It's because she's using the technique of misdirection. Instead of drawing attention to herself, she draws her opponent's line of eyesight to the person holding the ball. Riko was trying to remember of something from the past during Teiko's championship. It's no wonder why I have not heard of her from the Generation of Miracles. There was a rumor that there was a mysterious sixth player that excels at passing. Kuroko Teru…she was the Generation of Miracles' phantom sixth player!

The score was now 36 to 37 points. The first years only have to make one basket to win this game. And only a couple of seconds left until it is over.

"Dammit, I got caught up on Kuroko's passes!" Hyuga complained in running to get the ball. The ball was stolen and Teru now has the ball.

She was near the net and she ran while dribbling the ball over there. It was the final momentum of victory for the first years. The second years couldn't catch up. Teru made a layup, and…it missed, having the first years have downfall expressions for her suckish scoring. But the ball was caught again.

"This is why hate weak players!" Kagami roared, dunking the ball in. "Score properly, you idiot!"

Teru gave a minuscule smile as she witnesses the potential of this team. She was more impressed to have a likely good partner for the basketball tournament.

It was back at Maji Burger again. Kagami ordered another large amount of burgers on his tray. Finding an empty table and seat by the window, he unwrapped one burger to stuff in his mouth, getting a sensational feeling of déjà vu. He decided to turn forward, and then choked.

"Be careful when you eat, Kagami-kun." Teru warned the choking male who gulped the piece down to breathe again.

"It's your damn fault that I have a panic attack while eating!" He retorted at the girl sipping her drink. "Why are you here?"

"I like this place's vanilla milkshake." To Teru, it was a rejuvenating energy drink.

"Go sit somewhere else."

"No."

"People will think we're friends or something."

"I was here from the beginning. And what's wrong with befriending me?"

He gave up in talking further back to Teru. Sighing, he tossed one burger to her. She catches it easily. "I don't like weak players, but you're on a different level." Kagami proclaimed, making eye contact with Teru. Unexpectedly, she gave him a soft look.

"Thank you."

He coughed, hiding his blush behind his hand. "I-I'll take you home."

"Okay."

The two walked together in the night as cars lit their headlights on the road to shine the city. Teru lead the way to her home and Kagami followed. They didn't talk so Kagami had to start a conversation.

"Hey, if I were to go against the Generation of Miracles, what would happen?"

"You would be killed instantly." She responded fast, causing Kagami to twitch.

"Did you have to put it that way?"

"The Generation of Miracles are five prodigies who have gone their separate ways in different veteran schools. They will compete, and only one may stand as the top team of Japan."

Teru was somber when talking about the Generation of Miracles, but her brooding stopped once she heard Kagami laugh. "Haha, that's a nice thought! I've decided! I will go against the Generation of Miracles, and become Number One in Japan!"

Teru stares at Kagami grinning at his own declaration. So he shares the same idea as I? It's rare that she would have a partner with the same goal. Especially when it comes to the topic of the infamous basketball team. She replies and still staring at him, "It's impossible."

He twitched again. "Hey!"

She was joking a little bit, but she was mainly serious. "Your enthusiasm is pretty good and you do have some qualities higher than an average Japanese player, however seeing your current level, you will not reach at the same footing as them." Teru sounded like she can't entrust Kagami, but she continued further. "At least, not alone."

They walked across the street crossing as the light hit blue. Teru stopped Kagami by standing in front of him.

"I've decided,"

"What?"

"I've told you before that I'm a shadow. A shadow can only exist with a light. The darker the shadow is, the brighter the light will be. Therefore, I will be the shadow to your light, so I can aid you to becoming Number One in Japan."

Kagami was astonished by Teru's confrontation of words to him. He was taken back by her vocabulary of metaphors, but he was pretty excited—no, burning up—now to take on the Generation of Miracles soon! "Look who's talking. Do whatever you want."

"I'll do my best."

Teru entered into her humble home after bidding Kagami a good night before he left. She greeted herself into the vacant and dark house, knowing no one would answer a welcome back. Taking off her shoes by the doorstep, she plopped herself onto the black sofa and taking back some relaxation. Over her head near the wall where the sofa was leaning against, Teru saw a photo frame of her family.

Seeing the photo of happiness and smiles, Teru blocked her eyes with her arm. "When was the last time…I was like that?"

Her inscrutable demeanor remained. She thought a small shower could get her mind together, until she was stopped by her phone vibrating. A message…addressed by the name of 'Chi-chan.'

Time: 21:15

From: Chi-chan

Subject: Decision

Have you come home from practice? How is the team?

Are you…going to cross that path once more, Teru?

Reading through the text, Teru replied.

Time: 21:19

To: Chi-chan

Subject: re: My answer

The team is promising. I will not run away from this. I can't accept this unless I challenge myself to change them.

"I don't blame them. Just myself." She muttered to herself as she sent the message. Teru places her phone on the sofa as she went into the bathroom. Another text message came.

Time: 21:23

From: Chi-chan

Subject: re: I'm worried

As your cousin, I just wish you would throw the memories away than continue to live through this.

I'll talk to you some other time.

Teru washes her hair and body delicately. She can only imagine how her cousin must be feeling right now, seeing her be like this.

"I'm sorry."