2Q: We Will Be Number One
It was early in the morning. No one woke up. There was no sound made. Except for the sound of a dribbling basketball on a street court.
Kagami was out on the court practicing his skills through shooting and handling the ball. During the time of running and sweating, he reminisces back to last night when he and Teru walked together.
"Hey, if I were to go against the Generation of Miracles, what would happen?"
"You would be killed instantly."
"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."
Running down the street court, he smiled and laughed out. "Haha, I'm pumped! I can't sit still!" From the three point line, he made a shot to the goal. I want to play against them already!
It was another bright day in Seirin. Everyone went on to class, freshmen getting the hang of their schedule with each period. In Class 1-B, Kagami arrived a little late due to getting caught up with excitement on the court as well as having to take a shower to wipe the sweat off of him. The teacher callously told him to take his seat which was the second to last desk by the window.
"I can't believe I was late." He grumbled.
"You should really manage your time well." A voice said. Kagami turned to see who said that. "Behind you."
Sure enough, a girl with light blue hair and eyes stares intently to the red haired male. "AHH!"
His scream boomed around the classroom, causing everyone to look at him oddly. The teacher twitched his eyebrow, eyeing Kagami angrily. "Kagami-san…if you have the time to scream and interrupt the class, you might as well leave. For now, sit down and be silent."
The students reverted back to sitting forward and eyeing the chalkboard. Kagami, being mortified for his outburst, sat back down and glared at Teru. "Why must you be in this class with me?" He whispered cholerically.
"It's not my fault the system put me in here. You don't have to blame me for such things."
"It's because of you that I nearly got punished and got humiliated by the whole class."
"Technically, you screamed loudly, so it was all on you, Kagami-kun."
He wanted to beat senseless into this girl, but he knows he can't. Plus, he's already on the bad student list with the teacher. Forget it. I gotta ask the captain to make me a regular player today.
"Huh? You can't play in matches yet." Hyuga quickly denied Kagami of his request.
Kagami blinked. "What? Why!? What's the reason, captain? Am I lacking something?"
"Ah, it's not like that." Hyuga reassured. "You rookies are still temporary members. If you want to become a real member, you have to talk to the coach." Hyuga pointed over to classroom 2-C.
Kagami made his way inside to talk to Riko.
"Ah, the men in this game show good stats. So nice~" Riko sipped on her milk as she freshens her thoughts on her PSP game.
"COACH!" Riko spat out the milk onto Kagami who jumpscared her. He wiped off the calcium from of his face and spoke his request. "Coach, make me a real member."
"What the heck? You too?"
"Too?" Kagami repeated in perplexity.
"Kuroko-chan came in here before you asking the same thing." Riko remembered that she spat her milk out before because of Teru suddenly appearing out of nowhere. To be honest, Teru's surprise was more scarring that Kagami's. "Seriously, you two are hasty! Such naughty children~!"
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" He asked, blushing a bit in knowing the full meaning.
"Never mind that. Here." She handed him a paper. "We have an open bench spot."
"Great! Now I have the chance to play in matches."
As soon as he was about to leave, Riko stopped him. "Just so you know, I will accept the forms at the rooftop on Monday at 8:40 am."
The last sentence had Kagami raise his eyebrow in confusion. But if he at least gotten the paper to fill in for matches, it's good enough for him. It was still break time and Kagami had nothing else to do aside walking down the hallways. Near the library, there was a cork board on the wall. On it was a newspaper headline of the Seirin basketball team. Hyuga was the central picture on the paper. The title: Seirin Boys Basketball Club advances to the Kantou Tournament on their First Participation.
Kagami was impressed. "They're really amazing."
"Indeed." Teru came beside him.
He stood stiff until he yelled loudly. "WHAT THE HELL!? WHY CAN'T YOU APPEAR NORMALLY KUROKO!?"
Gasping for air, he waited for Teru to answer. All she did was shushing quietly and gestures her finger to her sealing lips, using her free hand to point up at the library sign.
Kagami's temper was no longer contained. He grabbed her by the head, giving a threatening look down at her. "You're looking for a fight? You are looking for a fight, aren't you?!"
"No, not really."
Kagami let go of her when she commented that her head is hurting. To think Kuroko is titled the phantom sixth player. There was nothing special besides her sudden disappearances and reappearances. He took a good look at her. She has a height of 5'5", scrawny, very pale, doesn't have good stamina, utterly quiet and unnoticeable, small breasts—wait, no! The only appeal to her complexion is her unique colored hair of the sky. Hm? The Generation of Miracles each went to some big veteran school, but why not Kuroko? She could have gone with one of them if she wanted to, right?
"Hey, Kuroko," He was about to ask Teru the question he had on his mind, but she was no longer there. "I want to kill her."
Monday came by fast, and the freshmen came to the designated place of the school's rooftop where the devilish coach awaited for them. Everyone aside Teru gave Riko an inscrutable expression.
"Is this a duel?" Teru asked.
"Are you an idiot? It's five minutes before the the beginning morning routine!" The freshmen looked down the rail to see all the students lined up in front of the school. "Hurry and take these!" Kagami pulled out his form, along with the others.
"Before that, I like to say something. Last year when the team formed, the captain and I made a promise. This team is playing basketball to aim for the Nationals. That means we are very committed. If you have any second thoughts, you can join another club by all means." No one really objected, but they were slightly perplexed. "We all have commitments to get stronger in taking up sports. I know you all have your strengths, but saying stuff like 'as I try, I can do it' or 'I have only this much to give my all' will only tie you down to be weak. So, you will speak loud and clear out to everyone of your goals! Your objective must be achievable! From here, you will shout your goal along with your name and class number!"
Everyone was beginning to contemplate again on what their real reason to join this team was, and what was the commitment they had to show.
"There is a twist to what you are dealing with. Us second years have done this last year, and we swore on a losing bet. If we couldn't make into the Nationals, the lot of you had to strip butt naked and confess to the girl they love." The boys' bloodstream drained.
"Coach, what about me?" Teru raised in question, having the boys' attention.
"Ah…well." Teru can't be naked. It's criminal! Even if she were to wear some skimpy outfit, she would just vanish from everyone's sight. "I guess I'll just exclude you from this, Kuroko-chan."
Teru was slightly relieved to not have her innocence tainted so soon.
"Once it's done, it's done. Be firm on your goals freshmen. If it's some cheap goal like having a girlfriend or the 'I'll do my best' motivation dialogue, then think of something else." Riko concluded, smiling like a maniac. This basically applies to Furihata, Fukuda, and Kawahara altogether.
"Isn't this too easy?" Kagami, having nothing to look back on, made his way to the top of the railing. "CLASS 1-B! KAGAMI TAIGA! I WILL DEFEAT THE GENERATION OF MIRACLES, AND RISE UP AS NUMBER ONE OF JAPAN!"
The student body down below looked up at the red head who got down from the railing with the coach who accepted that declaration as his goal. Hyuga sighed, They're doing it this year, huh? But it does bring back memories. Izuki and Koganei looked up in astoundment, and Mitobe was taken back with a small open smile.
The rest of the first years finished the rest of their goals. One had a long winded story of his childhood, another referenced one of Izuki's puns as some sort of motivation even though he never realized it was an actual joke, and one other had to use the girlfriend bit in different terms which was satisfactory enough. Lastly, Teru was on.
"Forgive me. I have a quiet voice, so I will be using this bullhorn." Teru somehow pulled out a white bullhorn from nowhere, but no one dares to question where it was.
Teru made her way to the railing with the bullhorn positioned over her mouth. She was almost going to speak until the doors burst open.
"Hey! The basketball club again?!" A teacher boomed at them angrily.
"Damn! We were almost done!" Riko clicked her tongue.
For the rest of the morning, the Riko and the first years were seated in line as the teacher scolded them. "I warned you last year! Didn't you say you'd never do this? You should know what's right and wrong at your age!"
Kagami came back to the usual Maji Burger to eat a full amount of calories, being a bit peeved from this morning. "I can't believe he got mad over a little shouting."
"I didn't even get to do mine, and I still got yelled at." Pouted Teru who was sitting across from Kagami and enjoying her milkshake like usual. And on cue for Kagami to choke again.
"Goddammit! Should I just go somewhere else?"
"We're not allowed on the roof anymore. What do we do if we can't access it anymore? I won't be able to fulfill my promise."
"…That's not gonna happen." He somehow felt sympathetic towards Teru when her tone of voice changed dejectedly. He still didn't like the blank face she wore. Heck, she remained like that when the teacher confiscated the bullhorn which was originally a teacher's property.
Her shoulders relaxed bit, showing that his reassurance worked. "Is that so?"
Now was the perfect opportunity. "Kuroko, I've been wanting to ask. Why didn't you go to a big veteran school like the other Generation of Miracles? With your talent, you would have been accepted easily. Why didn't you go with them?"
Teru regarded that question greatly. "Teiko Middle School had only one principle: 'Winning is everything.' It drove to the point that teamwork was not necessary. The Generation of Miracles was only basketball based on their individual skills. You wouldn't call it a team anymore." Teru looked at her own reflection on the window. "I felt that we were missing something important."
Kagami could only assume what Teru has been through. All he can know is that Teru went through it alone. "So…you want to defeat the Generation of Miracles with your own skills?"
"That was my original thought."
"Seriously?"
"Today I was moved by your and our upperclassmen's words. So now, my reason of playing basketball is wanting to make you and the team the best in Japan."
Saying such embarrassing words! Geez! Kagami handed Teru the remaining number of burgers he had on his tray. "It's not 'want.' You 'will.'"
Teru looked up at Kagami who stood out of his seat. She was jovial inside, still not showing signs of a smile. Ah, he really is what I am looking for. "Kagami-kun, I can't eat all of these."
She had to ruin the moment. "You're too skinny! You can't always drink shakes your entire life."
"I also eat hard boiled eggs."
"That's still not enough!" This girl really is something. "At least eat two and then I'll take you home."
"That's not necessary. I have to return back to school for something." Her clarification of why she wanted to go back to school in the middle of night was very vague, but Kagami didn't delve further, as long as she eats.
The two parted ways after Teru was forced to eat and finish two burgers, the rest swallowed whole by Kagami. Teru was out on the open field where the student body had stood during the morning fiasco. She went to the shed to fetch a stripe liner and a sack of white chalk dust. She had only one night to complete this.
The next day.
The students inside their classrooms were gossiping and murmuring of what they were seeing from the windows. Kagami came in late again, although he found it odd that he did not get yelled at by a teacher. He saw the students looking out. He investigated the same, and smirked seeing what was left on the field.
I WILL MAKE YOU NUMBER ONE IN JAPAN.
In class 2-C, Riko was smiling at the message, and held a membership registration form written by Teru. "Things will start to be interesting."
Kagami spotted Teru at her desk who had her head down and arms wrapping around. He saw chalk dust on the sleeve of her blue sweater. He made his way to his desk, still smiling. He pats her head. "You forgot to write your name, idiot."
Teru could feel the sensation of her hair in her slumber. So warm…
The message was misinterpreted to be one of those unexplained circles, and it later become one of Seirin's Seven Mysteries.
After school practice commenced. The new members were assigned to their lockers in the club room. It was small, but it was enough. However, there was a problem for Teru. Being the only girl on the team, she had to change in and out of her uniform and gym clothes. Riko made adjustments that Teru changes first and then the boys after. Unfortunately, there was no room in the girls' changing room.
Teru has her white short sleeved t-shirt and aqua shorts on, and she was waiting for the boys to finish changing outside. She overhears the shuffling of clothes and banging of lockers.
"Oh, an issue of the monthly basketball magazine." Koganei keened as he grabbed the magazine.
Hyuga looked over Koganei's shoulder to read too. "It has the featuring articles of the Generation of Miracles." They pass page by page of each player. "Where's Kuroko?"
"You don't have one, even though you're the sixth player?" Koganei asked, opening the door to her.
Teru peered in. "Someone did come. He forgot about me."
So sad! They pitied Teru as they let tears stream down.
"Well I was set up for another interview, but the reporter was more persistent…and ill-mannered. The Generation of Miracles saw this, and took him to someplace I wasn't allowed to look at. I don't know what happened to him after that."
How horrible! They became pale at the thought of the reporter beaten near the death for just being perverted to the lone girl of the team.
"So you never had another interview after that?" Izuki questioned.
"I did want to try again, but they didn't agree with it. They chose to have me as an anonymous rumor so that my safety of being a girl wasn't jeopardized." She picked up the magazine from Koganei's hands and looked at the five players in the articles. "Besides, those guys are true geniuses."
"Coach is back!" Fukuda came in with big news. "Coach got us a practice game!"
Everyone awes. "Who are we playing?" Hyuga asks.
Fukuda rubbed the back of his head, not knowing. "Who knows? But I saw the coach skipping."
"S-Skipping?!" Hyuga jumped. He can feel the deathbeds already. "Be prepared everyone. If she's skipping, that means our opponents are tough."
Teru wonders what school they are going to practice with. She also wonders if Riko was singing while skipping down the hallways. She can't tell if it's good or bad.
Outside of the Seirin school entrance, a tall figure with a charismatic aura and golden blonde hair was standing out there and admiring the structure. "So this is Seirin High? New and pristine, just as I expected." Wearing his school uniform as if it was an official business uniform, he models down to the gym. Behind he had multiple female admirers recognizing him as a famous model. On the outside he is calm, but on the inside he was ecstatic to meet an old friend.
At the gym, Teru had some sort unpleasant feeling down the back of her neck. It was painful in a way that could be compared to an annoying mosquito noise. She had little time to worry about that when she watched Kagami play one-on-one with Izuki after passing to him. He did a full drive, but Izuki didn't let that get to him. Kagami soon did a roundabout and dunked into the net.
His jumping is amazing. Teru thought.
"He's amazing! He turned and dunked after going at full speed. He's no ordinary human!" Koganei praised.
"He might be able to go on head with the Generation of Miracles." Tsuchida suggested after.
"He might just beat them."
"That wasn't an easy maneuver."
"He might be better than them."
The three freshmen complimented him, but Teru didn't buy those opinions true.
"…however seeing your current level, you will not reach at the same footing as them."
"That's what I said, but…" Teru glanced over Kagami. Not yet…
Riko blew the whistle. "Gather around everyone!"
"Yes ma'am!"
"Announcement: we're having a practice game against Kaijo High!" Riko declares.
"Kaijo!?" Hyuga exclaimed. "Didn't they take the Nationals?"
"They are worthy opponents! They won't disappoint us! It'll be a chance for our freshmen!"
"Rather than that, won't it be too much for us?" The freshmen whines.
"Well they do participate the Inter-High every year." Hyuga added, having the freshmen sweatdrop.
"Not only that, Kaijo is one of the schools with a Generation of Miracles player. His name is Kise Ryouta."
Everyone's blood pressure drops hearing the name of a Generation of Miracles player. Teru remained stoic, but felt a little panicked hearing the name once more. Not to mention, it's too soon to go against one genius while everyone is getting the hang of things. Though Kagami was boiling in excitement to face him.
"Kuroko, did it mention that Kise had a job?" Hyuga asked in curiosity.
"He works as a part-time model." She answered simply.
"Seriously?" Izuki cried.
"That's incredible! But you can't help but feel envious…" Koganei slouches depressingly.
"Morons." Riko mumbled.
All of a sudden, everyone took notice of the sound of giggling and optimistic girls gathering in one place by the stage of the gym. There was a big line coming from the door and all the girls held paper and pen. Somewhere in the large mass of fanatic girls was the appearance of yellow hair.
"Eh…I didn't expect this to happen." He nervously laughed at what had become.
Yellow eyes directed over to light blue eyes. "It's been a while, Kise-kun." Teru greeted.
"Nice seeing you." He greeted back.
The team looked uncomfortably between the two. It seemed like a normal reunion, but the air was stiff.
"Um…let me get this done. Just five minutes." Kise pleads to finish this.
It did not take five minutes.
It was thirty minutes really. The girls were gone, and now Kise was free. He hopped off the stage and stood proudly towards the team.
"Uh, why are you here?" Hyuga dares to ask.
Kise walked over to them. "Well when I heard that our team was going to have a practice game against Seirin," he abruptly stops in front of Teru. The team thought something morbid was going to go down, but then Kise had a very cheeky expression, "I just had to come visit Kurokocchi~! Ah~! It's been so long!"
He wrapped his arms around Teru and hugged her tightly while nuzzling his cheek against the top of her hair. Teru had an unamused expression as she has been used to this treatment from her former teammate for two years. This explains earlier about the painful feeling down her neck, and it was only Kise's presence. The team didn't know what to think about this.
"Kise-kun, please let go of me so you can tell what you need to say." Teru ordered him politely to let go of her, and he complied easily.
"Sorry, sorry! I got caught up with Kurokocchi's cuteness! She and I were the best of friends!"
So he claims, but Teru rebutted. "Not particularly."
"How mean!" Kise cried tears as he crouched down on the floor and tugged on Teru's waist. Teru consoled him with a rub on the head and saying "there, there" to have him bounce up again.
It's like seeing a dog and his owner. The team thought the same idea. Teru is the owner and Kise is a golden retriever.
Kiss Ryouta. Started playing basketball in his second year of middle school. Despite being the less experienced player amongst the Generation of Miracles, he became a regular quickly. He's an all-rounder and improved quickly. So it says on the article of the magazine that Furihata kept.
"Two years?"
"Well, that article exaggerated a bit." Kise sweatdropped and scratched the back of his head. "I was glad to be considered a part of the group, but I am still the weakest of the bunch. That's why Kurokocchi and I were always picked on."
"I was not picked on, Kise-kun. Please stop making things up." Teru scolded.
"Was it just me then!?" Kise cried again onto Teru's waist. Teru consoled again, but with a small treat. On sudden guard, Kise palm pressed an oncoming basketball that was aimed at his face. "Ouch! What was that for?"
His question was directed to the redhead blazing with fury and thrill. "Sorry to cut this reunion short. I know you didn't come all this way for a greeting. Why don't you and I play for bit, ikemen-kun?"
Riko and Hyuga tried to stop Kagami, but he didn't listen. Kise accepted the challenge, knowing how this will go.
"This is bad." Teru warned Riko.
One-on-one between Kagami and Kise. Kise dribbled the ball slowly, then he sped past Kagami at full drive. Kagami catched up near Kise still running. Then Kise did something that Kagami didn't think he would do easily. It was the same quick turn that he pulled earlier.
"Kise-kun can learn plays quickly. Then he can copy those plays and use it against his opponents." That was what Teru told Riko, and she was stunned to comprehend this. No person can call this a level of imitation. He's using it like it's his own already.
Kise was close to making a dunk, but Kagami reacted in time to block. Don't mess with me! That's what I did before! And I can stop it too! Even with good reflex, Kagami could not prevent Kise's dunk which had a more impactful force into it to make Kagami fall on the floor.
"So this is the Generation of Miracles…" Furihata said, too startled. "Kuroko, your friend really is incredible!"
Her eyes were overlaid by her bangs. "He's not my friend."
"Huh?" He was surprised to hear Teru say something harsh.
"It's not what you think. I let my naivety get to me. It's only been a few months since I last saw them, and I underestimated their improvement. They're evolving too quickly than I knew it." Teru admitted, making her way to help Kagami on the floor.
Kise spoke again, causing Teru and the rest of the team to stop and look at him. "After all this, I still can't leave." Kise strode to where Teru stood. "I would like Kurokocchi to come to Kaijo."
"What?" Seirin questioned.
"Hand over Kurokocchi." He repeated, not sugarcoating anymore. "Let's play basketball together again."
It was a dreadful silence in the gym. Seirin completely rejects the proposal to hand over Teru, but it was up to her answer. Teru didn't say anything, until she bowed. "I am honored that you look up to me that way, Kise-kun. However, I humbly refuse to go with you."
Kise didn't put on the act of a sad dog anymore, and just became regularly surprised by Teru's response. "Wha—? That's rare of you to say things like this. Why couldn't you have gone to a better school? Isn't winning always everything?"
"I'm afraid my thinking has changed after our third year." Teru did not want to hear that quote again. "Also, I have made a promise to Kagami-kun." Teru walked to where Kagami was and offered a hand to him. He took it, not saying anything after the short play. "I've made a promise that we will defeat the Generation of Miracles."
Kise didn't want to believe that this was truly Teru. "You should stop joking around Kurokocchi."
"Heh…" Kagami made a small laugh. So this is the Generation of Miracles. I'm pumped. "What the hell, Kuroko?" Kagami laid his hand on top of Teru's. "I was just about to say that!"
"Sorry." Teru said apathetically.
Those two…they've already formed a relationship as partners. It's like… Kise took in the image of Teru and Kagami standing next to each other. He removed the burning memory of an incident in the past.
"I've never been good at making jokes. So I am serious." Teru proclaimed.
The three stared at each other, declaring that the practice match will be one hell of game. Seirin will not lose. Teru will ensure that they will defeat him and Kaijo at all costs.
A week from now, it would be the practice match of Seirin against Kaijo. Teru returned home after practice ended and Kise went back to Kaijo High. This is the first game where two players of the Generation of Miracles will play against each other. Teru was worried. Kise has grown stronger and powerful. And considering he's the weakest member of the Generation of Miracles, Teru fears what the others are like now.
Her phone vibrated of a message. She read that it was from the name 'Akito-san.'
Time: 20:04
From: Akito-san
Subject: Apologies
Teru-chan~ ! I've heard that idiot Kise dropped over a visit to your school! (;´༎ຶД༎ຶ`) I'm so sorry! It's so hard tugging a leash to that fool these days. It must have been hurtful to see him again! My condolences that I could not make it to see you.
That idiot told me that he asked you to come to Kaijo (#`皿´) He barely has a brain, does he not have a heart too?! I wish I was there with you to kiss the wounds in your heart!
Anyways, I've come to inform you to be prepared. Just because we're separated doesn't mean we'll go easy on each other. Even if I declare my love to you, I will remain in Kaijo as managerial support! Can't wait to see Teru-chan next week~
( ๑‾̀◡‾́)σ» I can't wait to see your school and see you dress in a new uniform! Such purity and innocence!
Teru read through the long text. She almost snickered seeing that this person has not changed one bit from middle school. I forgot that she attended Kaijo. Teru probably needed this at the end of the day. It helped her calm down after having the face-to-face conversation with Kise today.
Time: 20:11
To: Akito-san
Subject: re: Thank you
I appreciate your concern for me, Akito-san. Kise-kun didn't do any harm. In fact, he motivated me to take this seriously.
I won't take things lightly at the start of the game.
Teru sent the message. Coming to a realization, Teru knows that coming to Kaijo would mean being ambushed by Kise…and also Akito. Two perky and happy-go-lucky people from middle school who admires and cherishes Teru will just bring a bad omen to her. One is already enough.