A/N: So onward with chapter 2. Nothing really that I have to say besides it's almost Thanksgiving break and that means more time for me to to type up chapters and brainstorm. Woot. Woot.


Setting the Stage

"Kurokocchi! Wait up!" called Kise as he ran up to Kuroko, who was walking to the game their team had at noon. Kuroko, the blue haired 6th member of the Generation of Miracles, turned around to see Kise running at full sprint after him. Kise Ryouta, another member of the Generation of Miracles, was much taller than Kuroko and had bleach blonde hair. Besides playing basketball, he was a model as well.

"Hello Kise," said Kuroko in a monotone voice once Kise had caught up to Kuroko, "Are you ready for today's basketball game?"

"Mmm yeah," smiled Kise as the two continued to walk together, "We're definitely going to win this game. Just like we always do."

Kise laughed and Kuroko looked up at Kise and forced a small smile. The two walked in silence for a moment before Kise spoke up.

"Hey Kuroko, who was that lady that was staring at you at practice the other day?"

"I don't know," relied Kuroko in a quiet voice like he always did.

"Well, I heard she's the new adviser for the Light Music Club. I'm actually kind of surprised she noticed you Kuroko, I mean not to be insulting. But you're kind of like a phantom or ghost on the court."

"Mhmm," mumbled Kuroko in response as the two approached the gymnasium where the match was going to be held. There, waiting for them, was the pink haired manager of their team, Satsuki Momoi. She was pouting and looking up and down the street, but once she spotted Kise and Kuroko, her eyes lit up and she ran over to them.

"Tetsu-kun!" she said happily as she jumped on Kuroko and seemingly hugged him to death.

"Momoi, please get off of me," mumbled Kuroko as Kise stood and laughed.

"Come on Kuroko, what's with you? You don't like Momoi?" asked Kise as he shrugged and started to walk into the gymnasium, leaving Kuroko to get up by himself. Once Kuroko had gotten up and Momoi had stopped hugging him, the two of them started to head into the gym.

"You and Kise are the last ones to arrive," said Momoi as if it was a disappointment, "The others are already practicing and warming up before the game. Though not like it matters, I've already looked over the other team and they're not as good as us. They do have a strong defense though, but you and Aomine will be able to punch through it easily with your misdirection."

Kuroko's only response to the update on the other team was a nod. Momoi scrunched her eyebrows together and pouted again at Kuroko's blunt and silent response.

"Tetsu-kun, you seem quieter today. Is something bothering you? I mean if you have doubts about our victor-"

"No. It's nothing Satsu-kun," said Kuroko suddenly as he gave a glance at Momoi. Momoi stopped in her tracks once Kuroko had said that so Kuroko just kept walking.

"He...he said...Satsu-kun..." said Momoi as her body started to shake from excitement, "I can't believe he said that!" Momoi then ran into the gym to tell the others what Kuroko had said.

Kuroko sighed once he had heard Momoi leave. He didn't want her suspecting anything to be wrong with him, so he said "Satsu-kun" to distract her. To be honest though, Kuroko wasn't exactly feeling like himself. He was starting to have doubts about his team. Not about whether or not they would win, but about the team's moral values on basketball. Kuroko played basketball because he loved the sport, but the others didn't. Some of them played for fame and others because they were just good at it. And because of the team's motto of never losing and always winning, Kuroko was starting to hate basketball. Kuroko looked up at the ceiling as he walked.

"There's got to be a way to fix this," he mumbled to himself before walking into the brightly lit gym. Once he had entered, the familiar sounds of a basketball game hit his ears. The crowd talking to themselves as they compared the teams, the coaches instructing strategies with their teams, and the soft squeeking of shoes as players ran up and down the court. Kuroko looked around the gym and gave a small smile.

Well, I guess I can always think about my problem after the game, he thought to himself as he spotted Kise beckoning him over to where the coach was.


"We're going to be late!" yelled Yui as she dragged Azusa into the car.

"W-what's the rush Yui-senpai?! It's just a basketball game!" said Azusa as she quickly put on her seat-belt. Yui started up the engine and reversed the car out of the parking lot before responding.

"This isn't just a basketball game!" said Yui as she started to accelerate down the street, making Azusa cringe in fear, "This is a game played by the Generation of Miracles! and more importantly, I have to get one of the players to be happy and show some expression!"

"But Yui-senpai! It's a middle school basketball game! There's nothing super special about that and what do you mean by expression?!" said Azusa as she started to tighten the seat-belt just in case of an accident.

"I don't care! We've gotta go or we'll be late!" said Yui as she made a sharp right turn and ran a stop sign.

"Yui-senpai-" began Azusa, but she paused for a moment, remembering something Yui's childhood friend, Nodoka, had said once.

"You see, when Yui set her mind on something or does something. She'll go all out and not give up."

Azusa blinked once at the memory before sighing and looking out the window at the cars and houses that zoomed by. She had officially decided to give up on getting out of the situation and just playing along with it. A few minutes passed by before the both of them arrived at the gym where the game would take place. Azusa looked around and saw a huge mass of cars parked in the lot besides theirs.

"This must be a good team or a big game if this many people showed up," said Azusa as she got out of the car and followed Yui into the gym. After smoothly getting through the guard that asked them for their tickets, Yui and Azusa stopped in the lobby. There they were met by a flustered pink haired girl.

"Tetsu-kun called me Satsu-kun!" said the girl in excitement before skipping away, leaving Azusa absolutely dumbfounded. Yui, on the other hand, seemed to be used to it as she just ignored the girl and kept walking. Azusa quickly started walking to catch up with Yui.

After a few more minutes of wandering around, buying food, and looking at the school's awards, Yui and Azusa finally settled down in the bleachers of the gym. Down below them were the two teams, Teikō Middle School was on the right while the other team was on the left. Azusa looked down and saw that the team from Teikō Middle School had five members standing around the coach.

"Man, they're six man team looks ever more impressive in their uniforms!" exclaimed Yui as she too looked at the members.

"Six?" asked Azusa as she glanced at Yui, "but there are five."

"Noo, there are six members currently talking with the coach," said Yui as she scrunched her eyebrows, "See, the last one with blue hair is the sixth member."

Azusa gave the team another look and this time she noticed the expressionless 6th member of the team. Azusa blinked and rubbed her eyes. How had she not noticed him before?! It was impossible, Azusa had counted five members a few seconds ago.

"Seee what I mean! So expressionless! We need to get some life into him!" complained Yui as Azusa glanced over at her.

"Y-yui senpai. How did I not notice him before?"

Yui turned to Azusa and smiled before looking back at the player.

"You see Azusa, this expressionless and emotionless player is the 6th member of the Generation of Miracles. I've been told that he apparently is almost invisible to most people since he doesn't have much of a presence, but I don't get why. I see him all the time!"

Azusa shook her head and looked back at the team. This time Azusa saw him, but if she adverted her gaze to someone else, then he would disappear.

"That's creepy.." mumbled Azusa as she continued to watch the teams prepare for the game. After a few more minutes, Azusa and Yui heard a whistle being blown.

"The game is about to begin!" said the referee as he walked into the middle of the court, "Both teams gather around."

"That's our cue Kurokocchi," said Kise as he and the rest of the Generation of Miracles stood up to go to the center ring where the other team was waiting.

"Okay," replied Kuroko as he got up as well.


A/N: Next chapter will be the actual game. I kind of want to stick to about 1500 words per chapter with a max of 2000. So sorry if this chapter was a bit boring. So again comment, review, follow, or favorite if you liked it. and Have a happy thanksgiving to you all if I don't update the next chapter by thanksgiving.

Chapter 3: Kuroko the Phantom