-about 3 years later-
"I'm back…" She announced to no one, looking up at her old and currently empty house. "I hope Suki-chan and Kaa-san isn't mad that I didn't tell them I was coming back to Japan today…" Hikari muttered to herself. She had wanted to avoid her clingy twin showing up at the airport and making a scene, as she knew she would, and also avoid making her mother go out of her way to pick her up, which she also knew would happen. With a sigh she made her way to her old bedroom, lugging her suitcase behind her. America had been very interesting but she had missed her mother and sister, and Tetsu-kun too… She had want to see them quite a lot but she need at least one day on her own to get reacquainted with Japan. Luckily Suki-chan had been all for her going to Serin with Tetsu-kun instead of Too Academy with her and Dai-chan, so that was a relief. To quote her older twin,
"That's great Hika-chan! You can take care of Tetsu-kun and I can take care of Dai-chan! It works out perfect!" Sometimes it was hard for her to believe they were twins…. With another heavy sigh she opened her suitcase on the middle of the room and pulled out her Serin uniform. For a moment she just stared at it, thinking back to her last conversation with Tetsu-kun. He had sounded so broken, shattered almost… It was only moments after that conversation that she had asked her father to let her move back to Japan to live with her mother and twin again and attend Serin with Tetsu-kun. But on a different note the uniform was in very poor taste, not very flattering her rather impressive chest at all, but in a way that was a good thing. Both her and Satsuki had been pursued by boys on a daily basis, after awhile it became irksome and a bother to both of them, though for different reasons. Satsuki because she was currently pining after Tetsu-kun. But for her it was because she had a boyfriend already, not that she had told anyone that just yet… Satsuki would have most likely lost it on the spot and interrogated her for days on the matter, while with Dai-chan there would have been a good chance he would threatened him, neither of which would do, not at all. She sighed again, she had been doing that a lot lately and finished her unpacking and got comfortable. She fell back onto her bed, a smile forming on her tired face. She was back, it felt good to be home.
"Now where was the gym again…?" She wondered out loud, it would seem she had lost her way, again.
"Hello Hikari-san, your sense of direction is still as terrible as always." She only knew one person who would address her that bluntly.
"Tetsu-kun!" She greeted him and waved at him giddily. She had miss him quite a bit and he sounded much better since their last conversation.
"I was surprised when mom told me that you had enrolled here with me. How was America with your father?"
"It was fun and interesting but I missed Japan. Me and Suki-chan missed you. She would not shut up about you, she really loves you, you know."
"I know, but I am unsure if I feel the same. I apologize if I cause either of you any trouble." "Not at all! We just care about you is all." Hikari explained calmly, if not a bit sadly.
"Thank you both of you. I am much better now." He answered giving her one of his rare smiles.
"That's good." She answered and smiled back at him.
"You have a boyfriend." It was not a question.
"Ehhh?! How'd you know that?! I haven't told anyone yet!"
"I am a perceptive person too Hikari-san." He answered cryptically with a faint, but playful smirk.
"No fair Tetsu-kun." She pouted at him, cheeks puffed out cutely.
"Can I get a name?"
"No way! Not unless you tell me how you found out in the first place." He gave no answer simply staring her down.
"Fine, he goes to Serin and that's all your gonna get from me!" She declared crossing her arms across her chest stubbornly.
"Very well, but we should get to practice, it would not make a good impression if we are late on the first day."
"True, true. Lets go." and marched forward happily.
"Ano, Hikari-san, it's the other way…" She blushed to the roots in embarrassment. Without another word she turned to follow Kuroko in the proper direction.
Tetsuya and Hikari entered the gym just in time to see a tall upperclassman with glasses bash the three gossiping freshman over the head for their incompetence.
"Morons she's the coach." The upperclassman explained.
"Ehhh!? It's not the old man over there?"
"He is just our teacher sponsor and our new manager should be here any minute now."
"That would be me I believe." Hikari announced walking over to address the other girl who had been clarified to be the coach.
"Hello, I'm Hikari Momoi I applied as manger and reserve player. Nice to meet you." She declared to the other girl with a small bow and bright smile. There was silence for a moment before she got a answer.
"N-nice to meet you Momoi-san… I'm Riko Aida and the coach of the team, I look forward to your assistance." Outwardly she looked fairly calm and collected but inwardly Riko was wailing in despair at the sight of the model-worthy girl in front of her, and with a obviously impressive bust size, even in the very modest Serien uniform. But she quickly recovered and returned to her normal state of mind.
"Strip!" She suddenly ordered the freshman with smirk and pointed finger.
"EEHHH?!" They all did as they were told but still looked totally confused and doubtful as to what purpose this had. Their reactions were apparently expected because the be-speckled upperclassman from earlier, Hyuga Junpei, had a ready prepared answer.
"Her father is a prominent and skilled sports trainer, spending everyday around that sort of work she developed a skill to see a person's current abilities in numbers and stats at a glance." And as he spoke the coach walked down the line of freshman and gave her assessments of them with pinpoint accuracy. The looks of doubtfulness with replaced with looks of respect and awe instead. But when Riko reach the last freshman she paused in shock, just staring up at the body of Kagami Tagia in awe, practically drooling at the talent potential there.
"Um coach…"
"Oh! Gomen!" She apologized breaking out of her trance and turned only to find herself facing Hikari Momoi again.
"Ano… Should I strip as well?" The girl asked the coach with a questioning look. "I do wish to be a reserve player as well as the manger."
"Um…Well I don't know how likely that is… Seeing as your a girl…"
"I have permission from the school board of directors and Japan Basketball Association." Was her almost instant response handing the coach a folded paper with said permission.
"Well, okay then…" Riko began as she read the document and finding it valid.
"I guess you should-" Apparently the girl had already begun to pull off her top.
"Eh! Not here!" Riko shrieked and promptly dragged the girl off towards the lockers leaving the boys all bushing heavily. Riko was at a loss for words as she stared at the body of the girl standing before her in nothing but her undergarments. Riko couldn't believe her eyes, this girl was a monster all her own. She had about as much talent at that red haired freshman, Kagami, but much more polished. The only thing that made Riko hesitate from pouncing on the girl and demand that she become a full-time player was the scars. They were numerous and varied in size, shape and covered a good amount of her body. They looked like the kind one would see on someone who has been in a very serious accident. So Riko decided that she would respect the girl's decision to be simply a reserve and become their manager. She was sure the good would be a good one, Hikari seemed like the very capable type. "Thank you, you can get dressed again and we would be very happy to have you as a reserve as well as as our manager." She told the girl with a smile and when Hikari was dressed again the two of them exited the lockers and returned to the gym.
"Alright I think that about covers everyone…"
"Huh? But where is Kuroko Tetsuya?"
"Eh? Your right… I guess he's not coming, alright let's-" She was cut off mid-sentence.
"I am Kuroko." The pale almost invisible boy announced flatly. There was a silence again before Riko shrieked in terror at his seeming sudden appearance.
"When did you get here?!" Hyuga demanded in shocked confusion.
"I was here the whole time." Was his simple answer.
"Ehh?!"
"It's true." Hikari said with a shrug like it was a obvious thing and they all turned to look at her. "We arrived together." She explained with a sigh.
"It's fine, I'll look at you after we do some basic drills." Riko told him with a dismissive wave. As promised Riko assessed Kuroko after the practice but was shocked to see that all of his states were extremely low! She couldn't understand how he could have been a regular at Teiko Middle School, which was known for it's motto of Absolute Victory. It seemed impossible. But then again, the girl Hikari Momoi, she defiantly had the stats to back up that she had played at Teiko, but only wanted to be a reserve and manager. Maybe there was something to the them that she just couldn't see yet… The very thought Infuriated the coach. She was gonna find out what those two were hiding if it was the last thing she did!