Kanagawa Prefecture: Kaijō is in Kanagawa which is in the greater Tokyo area for those of you wondering.
Light
Chapter One: Too Far Gone?
It took him an hour to travel to Kaijō from home between public transportation and walking. That was two hours of travelling a day.
It wasn't odd to travel for an hour in Japan. Most people were willing to travel in order to attend the school of their choice. A middle school's reputation played a role in high school admissions and high school would inevitably play a role in university admissions. It was why so many people attended cram schools since University was the end goal for many students (as far as education went). Kuroko much rather spend his time playing basketball then attending even more school.
He entered the school's property and headed to the board where the classes were listed. He couldn't help but hear the gossip as he passed even if he tried to ignore it.
"That was Kise-kun wasn't it?"
"Who?"
"You don't know? He's in the magazine I read."
"No way! What magazine?"
From another direction more conversations could be heard.
"Hey! We should go introduce ourselves."
"I hope I'm in the same class as Kise-kun."
"He looks just as good in person as he does in pictures."
Kuroko almost didn't hear the one basketball related comment with all his modelling fans.
"Kise is going here? The generation of Miracles destroyed my old school's team. I guess it's better than being against him."
Kuroko searched the name on the board. It was easy to squeeze his way to the front of the crowd to see the board. Kuroko Tetsuya. Kuroko Tetsuya. His eyes skimmed through the classrooms trying to find his name. He'd found Kise's name when looking for his own. The blond was in room 1-3 with Takahashi-sensei. He kept looking for his name. Finally he found it under room 1-8 with Sumire-sensei.
The teachers eventually came to gather their students. They lined up and went to the gym for the opening ceremony.
Upon entering the gym, filled with the senior students, the first-years were seated in an organized manner before the teachers headed to the stage where the principal stood. It was just a regular opening ceremony. Nothing special. They were introduced to the first-year homeroom teachers, most whom he'd probably forget their names if he ever encountered them. They were also offered some encouraging words from the principal himself and a senior student. Standard stuff. They were then led to their classrooms by their homeroom teachers.
Kuroko had only just caught a glimpse of Kise who seemed oblivious of his presence. It wasn't too difficult to spot him despite all the other students because Kise yearned for attention. It had been months since he'd been this close to one of the Generation of Miracle members, though; and despite the fresh pain, it still seemed like a lifetime ago when he'd last seen the copycat.
It was lunch when things got a little hectic. People were trying to eat but clubs were also trying to gain attention. He ate his lunch while the clubs and teams were setting up stands. Afterwards, he got an application form from a basket club member. Well, more like took one from the stack on the table. They hadn't noticed them and the presumably captain wanted them handed to him personally at their first practice. Kuroko had overheard this with another person who he'd recognized faintly from his class.
Afterwards, he also grabbed an application for the school's library committee.
He filled out the basic information needed for each form.
The school's library committee was simple. Just needed his name, student number, homeroom, and reason for joining.
Not that the forms were supposed to be difficult.
The basketball club was straightforward too. Name, student number, homeroom, previous school and experience, and more space for reason for joining and abilities.
He went to the library to hand his committee form before returning to class before the bell rang.
.
It was after school when he realized he didn't know where the gym for the basketball club was. It really was a large school with many sports facilities.
Then Kuroko remembered his other classmate who had talked to their senpai. Kuroko walked up to him. He was a bit taller than Kuroko with black hair and dark eyes.
"Um…"
He seemed to be ignored.
"Excuse me?"
"Ah!" Well he was finally noticed. "How long have you been there?"
"A while." His classmate didn't look comforted with that fact. Actually, he put a hand in front of his own face to see if his vision was normal. "Do you know where the basketball club meets?"
"I'm headed there too. Why don't we go together?"
Kuroko nodded his head in affirmation.
It was a quiet walk, not that Kuroko minded the silence. He disappeared from his classmate's sight once they had reached the attached change room.
Kuroko felt on edge. It had been a while since he played basketball with someone else.
Everyone handed the captain their form before gathering around him and the coach.
There had been 12 first-years who came. Overall there were probably 30-40 students. It was a good size. Not overbearing, but ironically the size of a classroom.
"Hello. I'm 3rd year Kasamatsu Yukio. I'm this year's captain of the basketball club. It's great to have you all and hope you're ready to work hard." He motioned his hand to a thick middle-aged man wearing a polo shirt and looked to have not shaved in a week. "And this is our coach Takeuchi Genta. Last year we had a little blunder but this year our determination is even stronger."
"Because of the amount of members we have 2 strings. First string and second string. Our regulars are from the first string. Work hard and that could be you one day," said Coach Takeuchi.
"Alright," said Kasamatsu. "Let's start with introductions. We'll take turns. Things like your name, school you come from and position is good enough."
Kuroko was surprised by this. They were all going to try and familiarize them with each other. Teikō had never done that. You got to know people slowly from being in the same string as them, but it was hard to keep track when people were constantly changing strings. Maybe this school wouldn't be so bad.
Kuroko listened to everyone's introduction and did his best to try and remember the names. It may take a few sayings before he remembered them all, but he could at least try.
"It's my turn, huh?" said Kise. He still hadn't noticed Kuroko. "Alright, since you've saved the best for last… I'm Kise Ryouta, a freshman. My hobby is basketball and my specialty is karaoke! Wait. I guess that isn't what I supposed to say. I'm from Teikō Middle School! I'm okay with any position." He then went back on a tangent. It was just like Kise. "I also work as a model, so I may not be able to make practice very often-" Kuroko stiffened at the news. He had at least hoped that the high school coach and captain would mandate practices unlike Teikō. "-but I'm looking forward to playing with everyone."
People began muttering about Kise.
"Shut up!" Their captain's attitude suddenly flipped aggressively. "I only asked for your name, middle school and position. Answer only what you have been asked you shallow little twit." Kise got kicked in the head.
"Hey! I'm the highly-anticipated rookie that you guys scouted-what's with this treatment?!" Kise held his numbing cheek.
"Like I care! You're a freshman either way. When a senpai gives an order, a freshman has no right to talk back."
Kuroko suddenly revealed himself between Kise and Kasamatsu with an extended hand to Kise to help him up. "Are you alright Kise-kun? Though, you are at fault."
"See!" Kasamatsu said happily to have some support when he suddenly jumped in surprised and yelled. "When were you there?"
Simultaneously, Kise grabbed Kuroko's hand and said "Thanks Kurokocchi" out of pure reaction to Kuroko's voice. Then the situation settled in and the model jumped back in surprise yelling "Kurokocchi!" soon adding "What are you doing here?"
"I was here from the beginning," said Kuroko choosing to reply the captain rather than Kise. Everyone was amazed. They either stayed shock still trying to figure out what just happened and where Kuroko came from or asked the people around them whether they had seen him.
Kise's eyes lit up like a child getting a gift. "Kurokocchi~ I'm so happy to see you!"
"Do you know him?" Kasamatsu wondered why the arrogant prick's mood changed so quickly just when the tension between them had been rising. "And what's with the -cchi?"
"I add -cchi to the names of the people I respect ssu."
Kasamatsu just showed disbelief. The other boy had almost no presence and, if anything, he looked forgettable on top of that. He tried to brush it aside for now as his train of thought was drifting away from what mattered. "Go ahead and introduce yourself."
"Hai senpai." At least this one acted differently and addressed him properly like a kōhai should. "I'm Kuroko Tetsuya from Teikō Middle School." As for his position, point guard wouldn't really be accurate. True the point guard was normally good at passing and controlling the flow among other things, but it wasn't fully compatible to his role and abilities. "My position… My position would be the opposite of Kise-kun whom is an all-rounder as I don't have a standard position."
Kasamatsu grew a tick. "What's that supposed to mean?" Did that mean he couldn't play? Why was he even here then?
He was so used to members having a role that suited him that he forgot that it was actually quite common for players to have not standard positions.
"Hey coach~" Kise turned to the middle age man who he thought would be easier to deal with than the captain. "You'll let him play, right?" He pointed at Kuroko. "I want to play with Kurokocchi again."
Kasamatsu's anger rose. A first-year wasn't going take over the club. As the captain he would have to put Kise in his place. Then his mind focused on his wording. Again. Then he recalled that Kuroko had said that he had attended Teikō.
Another member seemed to voice his confusion and Kasamatsu attempted to calm himself before he decided to attack the blond again.
"Does that mean you were on Teikō's first string?"
The question had been directed to Kuroko but Kise seemed to have the need to answer for his friend. "Of course he was. He was my mentor when I joined the first string! And he played in games too ssu!" Kise spoke enthusiastically but said nothing of Kuroko quitting the team before the nationals in their final year.
That's it! Kasamatsu has enough confusion as it was and he was tired of listening to Kise who seemed to love his own voice. "Enough!"
Some of the members paled or flinched at their captain's voice.
"We'll do some light drills today and let you off early." Mostly because he would have to go through all the papers he'd been given and give the school a list of everyone in their club for record's sake.
Kasamatsu watched happily as he saw the potential in some students. He grew exasperated at Kise who, while was still doing the drills, did them as he wanted and showed off. Then there was Kuroko who had trouble shooting a few feet from the net unguarded.
How had he been convinced that he should be captain again?
.
After practice Kise and Kuroko left with each other. They had been stopped several times by girls who still weren't accustomed to the fact that a model was attending their school. Kuroko was unseen every time.
"Sorry about that Kurokocchi." Kise finally said what he really wanted to say when no one was around. "Why did you leave?"
Kise looked at Kuroko expectantly, but as usual, he looked as passive as ever. He really couldn't tell what he was thinking. "I had my reasons."
Kise knew he wouldn't get any other explanation from Kuroko at this point in time. He frowned at not being trusted with at least that. (Especially since it looked like Kurokocchi was still playing basketball if his joining the club was any indication.) His frown turned into a wistful smile when he thought that at least Kurokocchi was back.
.
Kuroko was seated watching people as he waited for his stop. He could already tell Kise had greatly improved since the last time he'd seen him play with just the brief glance at their short practice. Kuroko also got a bad feeling from Kise's superior attitude towards the captain and coach.
Is he already out of reach?