Basketball Prince

A/N: Heya! Candi here! Thank you for reviewing (jj, Jeanette, wordy black birdy)/following/favorite this story. This is my first time writing such a long chapter so forgive me if you spot some errors. This is unbeta-ed and self-edited, so if you see spot some errors, tell me so I can edit that part out. Enjoy the next chapter!

Chapter 1: The Prince Promises

"All right, looks like all the first years are here!" Hiroto couldn't contain his smile as he glanced around the gymnasium of the school. Seirin Private High School really lived up to his expectations, it is spacious and clean, as it is new and well-managed. Today, the Basketball Club is having their very first meeting.

He eyed the first years with him and caught sight of a familiar red hair. He observed it a little more closely before his orange eyes widened in realization. Isn't that—? Hiroto couldn't help but keep a snicker from falling out, it's him isn't it? This isn't merely a coincidence to meet him here. He chose to keep quiet for a moment; he would love to see his reaction later.

As he surveyed everything around him, he caught sight of another familiar hair, a light-bluish one. Hiroto pursed his lips, wasn't that the little kid he…?

Hiroto's musing is cut off when he heard a light smack of fists hitting hard heads and he turned his attention towards two first years groaning in pain, clutching their heads as the captain, Hyuuga crossed his arms over his chest muttering 'Morons, you got it wrong.' along the way.

"I'm the boys' basketball club coach, Aida Riko. Nice to meet you." Riko-senpai introduced herself with a smile that sent the other first years reeling in shock and disbelief. Hiroto stifled his laughter with his hands, even more so when the first years asked if the coach wasn't the old man sitting on the corner of the gym. It turned out he was just their advisor Takeda-sensei. It's just pretty hilarious. But it didn't just end there, especially when Riko asked them to strip their shirts off. Now that even surprised the orange-haired male. Well, okay, if that's what she wanted.

A few moments later, everyone was stripped off of their shirts and stood in line. Hiroto glanced at his right and left and frowned, from what he had observed, these players are a little bit…

"Your ability to move instantaneously is a little weak. I bet you do 50 side jumps in 20 seconds, don't you? You'll need to do a little better for the basketball team." Hiroto smiled in awe at his senpai's observations, ignoring the first year's reaction to her every observation, as if they couldn't believe that she got them all right and he snorted. So she had those eyes, as you would expect of a coach.

Hiroto's smirk couldn't get any wider when she stopped in front of him. She couldn't take her eyes off of him as she continued to blatantly roamed her eyes all over his body. She only snapped from her trance when Hyuuga asked what she was staring at so intently. He bets she couldn't see his potential, for only his eyes have the ability to do so. Hiroto couldn't help but feel proud of his—

"Hiroto-kun?" he heard the coach call his name. "Is Ichinose Hiroto-kun here?" Finally stepping in front of everyone, Hiroto waves a hand at his senpai with a wide and excited smile.

"Yes, I'm here, Aida-senpai." Hiroto could practically feel the surprised stare of his red haired friend when he turned towards him with a teasing grin. Oh god, that look on his face! Hiroto can't help but want to laugh out loud at his reaction.

"Hey, Taiga! It's been a long time!" he greeted cheekily, and in English. Hiroto could feel all the stares now directed to them as well as Kagami Taiga's accusing finger finally pointed at him in shock, excitement as well as awe, but mostly — he looked really really shocked. After all, it has been a long time since they last saw each other. Taiga seemed to have finally got his mouth to work before he shouted in a weird accent.

"HIRO? What are you doing here?!" Everyone beside the redhead flinched as his thundering voice echoed throughout the entire gym. They stared incredulously at the two, it seemed they know each other and why the heck are they both speaking in English? And they are quite good at it too. Hiroto merely let out a hearty laugh and pushed an index finger over his lips in a shushing motion.

"Hush Taiga, you are being too loud. I'll explain everything to you later, m'kay?" Hiroto smiled gently, hoping to calm the redhead and it seemed to work when the raging tiger scratched his head in frustration and nodded, muttering "You better." and his eyes remained glued to Hiroto's as if expecting that they would really talk it out later. Everyone held their breaths at the scene. Just who was this guy? And how the hell was he able to calm the wild tiger with just one smile? Was the question in everyone's heads but that was to be answered for later now they had other matters to attend to. Hiroto now turned to his senpai, Riko.

"You would like to check mine now right, Aida-senpai?" Hiroto gave her another dazzling smile. He expected this, her reaction that is, it was much more than what she did with Kagami. Her jaw was glued to the ground now and her eyes widened in obvious awe which now turned to admiration.

"Coach! What are you staring at? Hyuuga snapped their coach again out the trance she was in. Hiroto, before everything gets scary, quickly put on his shirt and scratched his head embarrassingly.

"You looked at all of them, Ichinose's the last one." Riko turned scarlet and shook her head, nodding in understanding before burying her face on her clipboard before one name caught her eye.

"Eh? Really?" She checked the names again. Hiroto blinked, isn't there someone else that they forgot about? What about that blue-haired kid he saw earlier?

"Is Kuroko-kun here?" Riko turned her head left and right, trying to find the missing player. Hiroto stared ahead, hey, wasn't that…? It seemed the coach didn't notice him. He was just right there…right? Couldn't she see him?

"Oh, that kid from Teiko." At the mention of the school, Hiroto froze. A player from that school? That kid is? Hiroto's orange eyes narrowed at the blue-haired teen just standing in front of Aida-senpai. So it is him, Teiko Middle School's phantom sixth man. He had heard rumors about him, but he didn't care at that time, not that he actually cared about anything at that time though.

'But I'm changed now, I'm not going to be like before.' Hiroto thought. He was going to leave his past behind him now and focus more on the present. Hiroto chose not to say anything else and silently observed as Aida-senpai and the others again are shocked at the player's introduction. Kuroko Tetsuya, is his name. Hiroto couldn't help but wonder why such a player chose to enroll at Seirin. But that wasn't his main concern, what concerns him the most is that if he was a regular in Teiko, then he must be hiding something. Something that will help the Seirin Basketball Club make name for itself. Hiroto is quite sure of it, so with a light smile on his face, he couldn't help but shiver in excitement and anticipation. He just couldn't wait.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Staring in thought at the bus window, Riko pondered about the stats she saw today. Kuroko Tetsuya's stats were way too low, for his numbers are below average and on top of that it looks like he's almost at his limit. And also…

Ichinose Hiroto's stats, she couldn't help but shiver again as she thought about it. It was just way too high, way too high. It was almost impossible to think that he was just a high schooler. But no, it just to be expected, cause ever since he had been in middle school he was already very good, a match of that of a member of the Generation of Miracles or maybe even better.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

The ball went in swiftly inside the hoop and Hiroto caught it before it even hit the ground. He passed it over to the welcoming hands of Taiga and he positioned himself and made another shot, it went in. Hiroto caught it again and started to dribble it.

"As I told you before Taiga, I was planning to tell you! I just didn't have the time to—" Hiroto quickly turned and evaded Taiga's offense and jumped, shooting the ball inside the hoop and it went in without much effort.

"Screw that! You were planning to tell me? I haven't seen you or heard from you since you left America and you say you were planning to tell me?!" Taiga growled again and this time charged at Hiroto as he continued to dribble the ball that Kagami passed to him. Hiroto smirked at his play and faked to his right before swiftly turning left, evading Taiga again and the ball is shot again, earning him another point.

"Well, I really got your contact info from Alex. I just wanted to surprise you Taiga! But believe me! I didn't know I would meet you here." Hiroto laughed at the pissed look on his friend's face. Kagami had the ball now and he dribbled it towards the three point line before he got ready to shoot that is until…

"I thought you know that I hate surprises—ah!" The ball he shot hit the side of the ring before it fell into the awaiting hands of their spectator.

"You?! When did you get here?" Kagami scowled. Hiroto blinked and turned over his shoulder to see Kuroko Tetsuya, staring blankly at the two before greeting.

"Nice to see you."

"What are you doing?" Kagami raised a brow at him, as if mentally asking why he was even here in the first place. Hiroto chose to remain silent and observe, watching the two interact.

"What are you doing here yourself?

"Nothing. We're not doing anything."

"Is that so?" There was a moment of silence before Kagami spoke again.

"I was in America until my second year of middle school. I've been appalled ever since I came back by how low the standards are here. I'm not looking to play basketball for fun. I want to play a more serious game that really gets me going." Hiroto felt a cold breeze pass as he leaned against the screen of the court, closing his eyes as if he waited for Kagami to continue. He thinks he knew were this was going, after all, he knows all too well what happens inside the little tiger's head.

"I heard all about you. I've heard all about the supposedly strong Generation of Miracles from our year." Hiroto smirked, 'So you did your homework huh, Taiga.'

"You were on that team, weren't you? I have a pretty good sense of how good others are. People who can succeed smell different from the rest. But something is not right with you."

'You are right Taiga, but still, you shouldn't underestimate this person's potential.'

"The weak should smell weak, but you, you don't smell like anything. Your strength has no scent. I want you to let me see. Show me." Kagami stared head-on with the blue-haired boy.

"Show me just how good your Generation of Miracles really is." Hiroto then opened his eyes, did…did Taiga just proposed a match against him? Hiroto sweat dropped, this may be a very bad idea. He can tell that Taiga was going to be very disappointed, but before could Hiroto stop them, Kuroko seemed to have agreed to a one-on-one match.

"How fortunate. I've also been hoping to play against you." At that, Taiga grinned in excitement.

"You wanna go?" Hiroto buried his face on his hand; this was going to end badly. And as Hiro expected Kuroko was losing to Taiga, badly. Why does he always have to be right?

"You've got to be kidding me! Have you been listening? How much do you have to overestimate your own abilities to think you can beat me?" Taiga was on a rampage now and Kuroko still stared blankly at him, unfazed at the tiger's outburst.

"I can't believe how arrogantly you challenged me!"

'And I can't believe how much of an idiot you are for actually thinking he was strong enough to beat you, Taiga.' Hiroto shook his head, sighing mentally.

"Of course you're stronger than me Kagami-kun, I knew that before we started." At Kuroko's reply, Hiroto burst out laughing. He just can't stop it anymore! It was just too amusing, and of course, Taiga just has to be such an oblivious idiot.

"Hey! Hiro! What are you laughing at, you bastard!?" Hiroto can't help himself and still laughed, patting the redhead's shoulders to placate him.

"Maa, maa, it was quite obvious that Kuroko-kun can't win against you Taiga, you just have to be an idiot to actually believe he can." Hiroto blunted stated, it simply added more fuel to the fire as Kagami spluttered curses at him. Hiroto chuckled again. Man, it has been quite a long time since he had a good laugh. He quickly ignored Taiga's current dilemma.

"Well then, if I may ask," The orange-haired teen turned to Kuroko then, who was as usual having this blank look on his face.

"Why did you propose that challenge in the first place, Kuroko-kun?" Now, that seemed to catch Kagami's attention since he stopped growling like a wild cat and waiting for the blue-eyed teen to reply.

"I just wanted to see how good he was for myself."

Hiroto blinked at the reason, as he thought. There really was a reason why this guy chose Seirin right? As well as the sudden challenge to his tiger seemed to have a hidden motive. But of course, Taiga, being the idiot that he is didn't get anything and muttered something about how Kuroko should just quit or something about not having talent for basketball.

'I really wonder about that Taiga…' Hiroto kept his mouth shut though, he really wanted to tease Taiga and he wants him to eat his words someday. Hiroto is sadistic like that, even if he may not look like it. Oh well, as long as no one else knows right? Insert evil grin here.

"I don't accept that. First of all, I love basketball and I don't share your opinion." Kuroko, with determined eyes, held the tiger's for a few moments. "I don't care who's strong or who's weak." Hiroto silently eyed the interesting conversation going on.

"What did you say?" Taiga frowned at him.

"I'm not like you. I'm a shadow."

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

"Huh? A mini-game?" Hiroto yawned, whenever it is raining hard he tends to get really sleepy. The coach has planned for them to give a game, the first years against the upperclassmen. Since Riko knew Hiro was way to good (that actually flattered him when she said that), Riko chose to just let him observe the first years.

'Heh, so it is to test how good the first years are. You really are good, Aida-senpai.' Hiro mentally smirked. Hiro then kept a close eye on the game as it started with Riko's whistle blowing. His eyes comically went half-lidded when he saw Taiga got the ball and went to jump as high as he could to dunk.

'My my, Taiga, you never hold back do you?' Hiroto sweat dropped. Hiroto yawned again, as he thought, Taiga dominated the whole game. The upperclassmen seem to have acknowledged Kagami's strength but, Hiroto could see the redhead's disregard to teamwork.

'Basketball is a team sport Taiga, when will you learn?' Hiroto grinned as soon as he caught that usual scowl on the red-haired tiger's face. He is getting hot-headed again. It's only a matter of time before he'll...

Hiro's orange eyes now focused upon Taiga as he was blocked by the three upperclassmen, Koganei, Izuki, and Hyuuga. Now, that's more like it.

'How are you going to get out of that bind now, Taiga?' By now, the game is dominated by the upperclassmen. Even if Kagami doesn't have the ball, he got double-teamed as if they weren't going to ever let him touch the ball. Hiroto could tell Kagami is going to blow up soon, if he doesn't—

"Enough! What the hell are you talking about?" Hiroto frowned when he saw Taiga grab Furihata's collar in anger at something the brunette said. Damn. He really is getting hot-headed. In surprise, the orange-haired teen watched as he caught a glimpse of blue hair get behind Taiga and bent his knees, causing the redhead to stumble and turn to glare at his assailant.

"Please calm down." Hiroto stifled a laugh. Really, Kuroko never fails to amuse him. Taiga looks like he's gonna kill someone now as he turns his glare to the blue-haired shadow behind him. The orange-haired teen couldn't take his eyes off the comical fighting going on. He just couldn't stop it, it is just too fun! But of course it just have to end when they started to play again.

By now, Hiroto's attention is directed towards the blue-haired teen in interest as well as in anticipation.

'Now, let's see your potential. Kuroko-kun.' Hiroto's eyes followed precisely as the ball is passed towards the awaiting hands of Kuroko and then, that is when the it happens. Hiroto grinned in awe. Wow, that was amazing. Even the senpais didn't notice what just happened as the just stared dumbfound as Furihata made a score.

'Heh, What an interesting ability you got there, Kuroko-kun.' Hiroto turned towards Riko as she also turned to him. When she saw him smirk, she knew then that something was obviously up. She turned her attention again back to the game, there really was something going on that made her feel uneasy.

Again, as Kawahara held the ball, he caught a glimpse of Kuroko getting ready to be passed to. Seeing the opportunity, he passed it over to him and again, it happened.

The ball landed upon the hands of Fukuda who in turn was shocked to receive the ball from out of nowhere but followed Kagami's advice and went to shoot the ball, as expected it went in. Now, the game went in favor to the first years as Kuroko's invisible passes went unnoticed by the players except for Hiroto himself who was now utterly enjoying it.

'Is he using his lack of presence to pass?" Riko contemplated, eying the game a little intently.

"He's not even touching the ball for very long. Could he be diminishing his already weak presence even more? Misdirection. A technique used in sleight of hand. He's drawing his opponent's attention away from himself.' Riko now turned again to Hiro and see, finally beside him. His tiredness was gone now as he focused more on the game.

"To be more accurate Aida-senpai, Kuroko-kun is not using his lack of presence, but directing his opponent's attention elsewhere." Hiro grinned, it wouldn't be a bad time to tell her now right?

"Kuroko-kun is the invisible regular of Teiko who excelled at passing. He's known to be the sixth phantom member of the Kiseki no Sedai." Riko's eyes widened at the revelation.

"Wait, Ichinose-kun, you knew?" He smiled sheepishly at her accusing tone.

"I just wanted to surprise you, Aida-senpai." At that, a vein popped out of Riko's forehead and she immediately grabbed the orange-haired teen's collar and shook him.

"Why didn't you tell me that sooner, you stupid Prince?!" Hiroto laughed nervously against the violence, he expected this reaction after all.

"Maa! Aida-senpai! Let's observe the match for now! Oh look! It's a one point difference." As fast as she could, Riko let the orange-haired teen go and turned to the match again, it was true, there was only a once point difference. Hiroto cautiously moved a little bit away from the coach.

Back to the game, Koganei held the ball in his hands and passed it towards the awaiting Mitobe but immediately stolen by Fukuda and it landed upon the hands of the one and only Kuroko. The upperclassmen cursed and chased after the blue-haired teen. Hiroto watched as the other first years cheered for Kuroko to shoot but he knew, 'of course it won't go in', the ball hit the side of the ring which is immediately caught by the hands of Kagami and slam! It went in.

"This is why I hate the weak. You have to make the shot, dumbass." Hiroto chuckled at Taiga's insult because that doesn't really sound like an insult at all.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

"Wow, Taiga, your eating habit never fails to amaze me." Hiroto glances at the mountain of burger he had on his table and he shudders, eating a lot of that will truly make him sick. They were having dinner at Magi Burgers tonight, it was also a way for them to catch up.

"Shut up! Just hurry up and eat." He caught the burger thrown his way and he can't help but smile.

"Hey, Hiro." Taiga started as he peeled the burger's wrapping.

"Hm?"

"Why did you join the basketball club?" Hiro froze at the question. He contemplated if he should answer that truthfully. He went quiet for a little while unwrapping his burger before starting.

"Taiga, I would like to answer your question but..." As the orange-haired teen watch the redhead opened his mouth to take a bite on his burger and glanced at the person beside Hiro and his eyes immediately widened. He choked on his burger, Hiro handed him over his coke and the redhead gladly took it and drank. When he finally put down his drink, he turned to glare at the person nonchalantly drinking a vanilla shake beside Hiro.

"Where'd you come from? Also, what are you doing?" Taiga asked. Hiroto, again, stifled a laugh at the look on the redhead's face.

"I was sitting here first. I like this place's vanilla shakes."

"Then go somewhere else." Taiga smirked. Hiroto threw his trash at the redhead's face.

"Taiga, don't be rude." At his reprimand, Kagami's split brow furrowed and his glared at Hiro's face, grabbing his collar.

"What the hell do you think you're doing, Hiro? Aren't you the rude one? Why did you have to throw it to my face?" he growled, but grabbed the trash anyway and placed in on the table together with his trash.

"Because it's fun to see your irritated face." Hiro bluntly confessed. Kagami frowned at that. He never changed, the sly and sadistic Hiro he knew from America never changed. Unbeknown to them, Kuroko observed the interaction with interest.

"You two are really close. How come you know each other?" the blue-haired teen asked. Kagami and Hiro turned to him but it was Kagami who answered his question.

"We know each other from America," Kagami stated as it peeked Kuroko's interest in their relationship as well as he's curious about Hiro's skill in basketball since he never saw him join their practice. The coach always has something else to let him do like give him his own laps to run around the gym.

"We met at a street basketball competition in our community, and we've been friends since then." Hiroto added as Kagami seemed to refuse to add more. Kuroko nodded at the new found information.

"Then, Ichinose-kun, are you any good at basketball?" At his question, Taiga choked on his burger again and Hiroto merely smirked.

"Hey, are you crazy? You don't think that Hiro's not good?" Kagami finally spoke again. Kuroko shook his head at the question.

"No, it's just, I haven't seen you practice with us at all, Ichinose-kun. I'm just curious if you are really good enough as Kagami-kun insinuates." Hiro snorted at his point. It is true that he never practice with them, and it was only because Riko had another regimen for him. A regimen he knew that the others could not easily undergo, not even Taiga himself.

"Then, you'll just have to wait and see for yourself, Kuroko-kun." Hiro grinned knowingly while Taiga snorted at Hiro's usual elusive attitude. Kuroko nodded, and then he'll just wait and see. At the short time he knew Ichinose Hiroto, he immediately knew one obvious thing about him. It is that he really loved surprises.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

The three of them are walking home together. Kagami walks on the right side, Kuroko in the middle and Hiro on his left. Since they left Magi Burger, the whole walking trip is filled with silence, which is quickly remedied of course by Taiga opening his mouth again.

"Just how strong is the Generation of Miracles?" Kuroko met his eyes as if saying he could continue his question. "If I played them now, how would I do?"

'You would be slaughtered, Taiga.' thought Hiro.

"You'd be destroyed instantly." The orange-haired teen chuckled at Kuroko's blunt reply. Kagami glared at him again and the orange-haired teen just smirked at him. Kagami's just so fun to tease that's why.

"Do you have to put it like that? And what's with the look on your face Hiro!?"

"The five prodigies have each gone on to play for their own schools. One of those schools will stand at the top." At this, Taiga laughed.

"That's great. That's the kind of thing that lights a fire in me." That is when Hiro recognized that look on the redhead's face. He had seen that expression a lot of times and he knew there would be nothing to stop his decisions now. Hiro only smirked, that was what he always liked about his friend though.

"I've decided. I'll crush all of them and become Japan's best player." Hiroto smiled at his declaration.

'Ah, You never change Taiga.' Hiro closed his eyes as if a fond memory crossed his mind and he decides as well.

"I don't think that's possible." And...Kuroko just have to ruin Kagami's moment.

"Hey!"

"If you have hidden talent, I wouldn't know. But, from what I've seen, you wouldn't even reach their feet. You can't do it alone. I've also decided." Hiroto and Kagami turned to the blue-haired teen, waiting for him to continue.

"I'm a shadow. But the stronger the light, the darker the shadow, and the more it accentuates the brightness of the light. I will be the shadow to your light and make you the best player in Japan." Hiroto couldn't help but admire them both. Really, it is so interesting he can't just stop it anymore, coming back to Japan and joining the basketball club again may not have been such a bad idea after all. So grabbing hold of both of them, Hiroto make them know of his decision too.

"Well said you guys! Well said! So now I think I've decided as well!" Hiroto let out the brightest smile he could manage at both of them. Taiga looked confused and Kuroko was curious about his decision too.

"What is it that you decided too, Hiro?/Ichinose-kun?" Hiroto took a step forward from them both and turned, his countenance turned from a smile into the most serious one that Kagami and Kuroko has ever seen.

"I've decided, that from now on, Taiga," Hiro pointed at his friend who raised a brow at him. "I will be playing with you, training you, one-on-one." Hiroto smirked in challenge.

"Bring it on!" Kuroko is surprised to see the biggest grin splayed out on the red-haired tiger's face. He looked really excited; just at the thought of playing basketball against Hiroto, even though he knew he can't win as much as he hates to admit it but playing against the orange-haired teen always make his blood boil in anticipation.

"And you, Kuroko-kun." Hiroto turned to him with a bright grin. "I will ensure you will become someone the light can depend on." Kuroko stared wide eyed at his proposal, before he nods.

"Do whatever you want, Ichinose-kun." Hiroto laughs and patted his head.

"It's a promise you guys, it's a promise."

.

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..to be continued.

Thank you for reading! Please tell me what you think!