He forced a smile before looking at him with his pure longing eyes, for the last time. Now, Akashi Seijuurou understands. "I see, Tetsuya. You have indeed found a great team" he uttered, before standing up and mumbling,

.0.

The breeze is getting colder and Winter is approaching. In this time around, there's only one thing everyone bearing their own jersey, could think of, "The winter cup."

However, at also this time around, Akashi Seijuurou was an exception. Yes, he was always an exception, one should have been used to it.

Today, red and gold eyes scanned through the certain court of the Seirin Gym. He sits alone, crossing his arms and giving off an intimidating aura.

56-71

The scoreboard said it all. The opponent's team is going to win the practice game.

"It can't be helped" he remarked. Kuroko was benched during the time and actually regaining his strength.

Akashi was blunt just like Kuroko, really, but there are times when he could be a slight tsundere wherein he doesn't want to admit someone's important to him. There he was, making himself believe that he just want to see Seirin's game, thinking that they would go againts each other at the finals but on the other hand, this can't be true since he doesn't care about the winter cup and all.

All he wants to see was what Seirin could've have that they failed to attain during their Teikou days.

They were now all high school students, separated to different high schools by their oath. No one wanted this, to be blinded by rivalry that they forgot they were once teammates for three years. That Kuroko was once their phantom sixth man, will one day, be playing as the small forward of Seirin.

" I'm no longer the phantom sixth man, right now I'm Seirin's Kuroko Tetsuya"

Did Kuroko replaced all of them for a weak team?

Akashi looked once again at the game, study the slow movement of the team and eyed every move. "They're weak"

He watched the game and steadied his gaze, they were desperate, eager to win. Does this mean they also have hunger for winning?

But no, It's different. It's different from him, from theirs.

Back on Teikou, when the opponent was almost winning, they found theirselves on the same situation, in a desperate situation.

They never pass, they keep the ball and do what they can, just to win, with their own hands. Almost selfish, but it's for the best.

Different from Seirin, that at the last minute, they strengthen their teamwork.

Teamwork.

Akashi paused. Realization strucked as he stared at Kuroko.

He forced a smile before looking at him with his pure longing eyes, for the last time. Now, Akashi Seijuurou understands. "I see, Tetsuya. You have indeed found a great team." he uttered, before standing up and mumbling,

.

.

"be happy"