Sorry for the wait! I got lazy, and then the most terrible thing happened the my internet was disconnected for 3 days, I went through anime withdraw and as soon as it came back, I made this extra long one for you guys! Thank you for all the support! I really love hearing what you guys have to say, you guys are so sweet~ Anywho, review if you got any comments, questions, or corrections, I will happy to answer! Onward to the story!

I woke up this morning dead tired, my fingers still pink and bruised. I wish I could regard this as hard work paying off but it didn't, the distance I could pass the ball was limited. So everyday afterschool, I had spent with Aomine-kun who suggested I punch the ball since I hit stronger than I throw, but that is illegal, so I need to palm it. So ever since I had been palming a ball into a wall over and over as hard as I can but no way I could pass from half-court. I also had my father throw the ball to me as hard as he could to simulate getting passed to by the basketball members, but it wasn't even close to any of their strength especially Sei-kun.

I pulled the covers over my face, even grasping them hurt.

"Maybe I won't go to school today." I turned in bed to bury my face in the pillo_

"Tetsu…you better get your ass up now you have a damn test today." For some reason Aomine-kun was in my room...well, as long as he doesn't go through my drawers I'm good…

I drew my knees to my chest, leaving my sheet covered butt in the air. "This ain't time for jokes! If you're going to tell me you give up then..." He sounded like he was going to get angry.

"Never." I assured him. "I'll be up in a minute my uniform is still in the dryer." I sighed, I felt something light thrown onto me.

"Your mom sent these up with me…ya got thirty minutes after school before practice. Meet me at the usual court." I heard him say and shortly after my door was shut. Okaa-san must've let him in…she's way too trusting, what if it was one of Sei-kun's henchman trying to get money?

I got dressed slowly and painfully, when suddenly I heard okaa-san's voice from downstairs.

"Dear, would you like some protein shake?"

"Hell yeah_uh I mean…thank you." A door while later there was a silence then… "Damn this is goo_I'm mean this is real good Ms. Kuroko." Of course it is, it's vanilla after all.

"Please call me Okaa-san. And no problem, it's rare Tetsuya has friends over ever since Hiro-kun." Oh no…

"Hiro-kun?" I quickly went for the door but instead got an incredible shock of pain "OW!" I quickly opened the door with my non-dominant hand which was only slightly bruised and sped downstairs.

"Oh, he was a childhood friend of Tetsuya's but he_"

"Good Morning Okaa-san." I greeted, ending the conversation. Aomine-kun made some off handed remarks about my bed head but I ignored it. In which him and okaa-san laughed, while I waited for them to stop.

"Good Morning dear, protein shake?" She offered me mine, I thanked her and she skipped away like something wonderful had happened.

"Uh, Aomine-kun I have to make a call…you can go without me if you want."

"Yeah, that's why Satsuki left she had a test, but I can wait, I guess." I was going to ask why he was waiting for me when he made himself comfortable to watch TV.

I left him to it and went to the restroom. I cradled my hand…there's no way that I can even grab the ball like this. My usually alabaster skin was pink and in some places blue especially in my fingers.

If you tell me you've given up then…

No…it's not an excuse. I have to pass Sei-kun's test or I'll never forgive myself.

I shakily grabbed a pencil and dialed Midorima's number.

"Midorima." I heard his voice answer.

"Ano…" I've never called him before, and it sounds like he was still sleeping. "

"Um…please excuse me Midorima-san, but can I borrow some tape?"

"Who is this? Go to an office supply store, I'm not your shopping cart."

"It's Kuroko…I need finger tape." There was a long pause…then a sigh.

"Fine. Come get it before class." Then he hung up before I had the chance to say thank you.

So I finally retrieved Aomine-kun after slipping on some gloves on, and started walking to school. And it was silent.

For someone that waited for me from the moment I woke up he was awfully quiet, there was obviously something he wanted to say.

"Um…Tetsu." He looked flustered…

"Yes?" I answered.

"I…" We can't have this, at this point, we'll reach the school before he asks and that would be a shame after all that waiting he did.

"If you're asking me out, I will have to decline." I smiled slightly as he flipped out.

"Hell no! I was going to ask you about Akashi!" Oh.

"Hm? What about him?" I really didn't want to talk about him.

"Everyone wants to know your relationship to him." He pushed further.

"Um…well." I didn't want to be associated as 'the captain of the basketball team's cousin' sure enough everyone would think that I didn't earn my place on the team. "We kind of grew up together."

"Oh so is that why you call him 'Sei-Kun', damn if I called him that I'd be dead for sure!" He remarked. "You must be rich then."

"It's not like that. I'm not like him…I told you my family owes his money…it's the only reason we grew up together."

"The way you speak of it…you must hate him."

"Hate is a strong word, I wouldn't wish death on him, but it's as close as I can get to it."

"So that's why you two haven't spoken before now. Why call him 'Sei-kun' then? If I were you, it'd be 'Akashi', impersonal, you know?"

I stopped walking….that's right, Sei-kun has been 'Sei-kun' since the day I met him, I've never thought of calling him that. It certainly would show my distain…okay, Akashi-san it is!

"A-akashi-san." I tried.

"There ya go Tetsu! You're on the road to being a bad ass!" I threw an arm around me and ruffed up my hair.

"I-I never asked for that." I said trying to push him away.

"You two look chummy." It was Midorima-san! He threw a roll at me. "Hurry or you'll be late to class." He warned and walked ahead, I can't believe he waited at the gate.

"What's that?" He grabbed it from me and examined the roll.

"Please give that back." He raised his arm up and watched as I jumped for it.

"Let's see~" He squinted to read what it said.

"Don't read it!" I tried to jump again.

"Ath~let~ic~ Ta~pe. Trying to be like broccoli head now, huh? Hold up…" He looked to my gloved outstretched hand and to the tape and then back to my hand. "Did you_"

Ding dong ding dong

"Shit. There goes having regular training today, the prodigy's gonna kill us. Here. See ya afterschool." He tossed me the tape and walked away.

I took my time getting to class no one ever notices me there anyway. I opened the door and found a girl sitting on my desk.

"Excuse_" "GHOST!" she screamed.

"Tch." I heard from the desk next to mine, it was Kise-kun.

"Good Morning." "Teacher, I request a seat change!"

"Huh? Why?" Ms. Takanaga asked.

"Um…I'm sensitive to the sun, my skins important to my career." He smiled.

"Um…okay." Ms. Takanaga gave in.

" If there's two things I hate its losing and temptation." He muttered in my direction, he got up and his groupies of girls moved with him. He noticed me there, when no one else did. Why doesn't like me? Did I do something wrong?

I shrugged it off and continued class, it was short, and we did nothing since everyone wanted to talk to the new model that included the teacher.

I was the first to leave since everyone was still immersed in Kise-san's story of modeling for the famous magazine Dazzle.

I walked out to see someone that did not belong there. Sei-kun. I meant Akashi-san!

"Shintarou told me of your predicament." He took my free bandaged hand.

"Aren't you supposed to be on the other side of the school at this time? Please do go. I wouldn't want to be responsible for your tardiness." I bowed but he still had my hand. I glared at him, my hand was hurting and he kept a steel grip on my wrist, he looked amused and glared back.

"Do you need to postpone the test?" He asked suddenly.

"No." I said frankly and took my hand back.

"My courtesies are only extended once per occasion, are you sure?"

"Yes." I nodded.

"Very well." He sighed then walked away without further word…was he trying to be considerate?

"Oh~Tetsu-kun!" She ran at me with a gigantic stuffed emperor penguin doll. "Whoo~I'm glad I caught you, I had a hard time taking this to your classroom it's just so large! A very handsome man came and dropped it off for you along with your lunch." She had a bag handing off her wrist. That's right I was so focused on Aomine-kun and my fingers that I forgot. So my father? Father is always bringing strange souvenirs home, but a penguin? That's a bit too specific. He's supposed to be in Australia though…and I haven't seen him since I was 10. No, it must've came from the mail, and father thought to send it to me.

"Handsome man?" I asked taking the penguin from her and the bag.

"He didn't leave a name, and he wore sunglasses and a hat." The how could you tell he was handsome then? "We asked his name and he said 'just a handsome man'. It was funny." She giggled, blinking a bit much.

"Momoi-san, do you have something in your eye." I inched closer to see if maybe she did when she turned red, yes, she must be sick.

"Er..no…NO. I'm fine. Bye Tetsu-kun!" And she ran off…I sighed.

Just then a Kise-san came out the door and looked at me holding the gigantic penguin.

He made a surprised yelp and ran away, quickly. Maybe I looked funny?

The rest of the day went on without a hitch and next thing I knew, I was standing in front of Sei-kun…Akashi-kun…san.

"Are you ready Tetsuya?" He crossed his arms. "Here is the deal it is 2 on 2, since you cannot use misdirection without a partner, you may chose whom you wish out of the people here." I looked around, just the generation of miracles here and Momoi-san.

"Ano…Aomine-kun?" I stated, I looked around but he wasn't here. When a hand ruffle my hair.

"About time." I looked up and the light shined behind his head putting a halo of light behind him, a light, I smiled.

"Kise Ryouta!" Akashi yelled.

"Um, yes!" Kise stood immediately after being called by such a demanding voice.

"Even though the judges saw you fit to put you on the first string, I as the captain do not recognize you as a member. You do not know it works around here and you seem to carry an arrogant air to you, which I will have none of, but as captain I am entitled to be fair, so you shall pick one person as well to go against Tetsuya and Daiki. If you lose, you will be demoted to second string." My eyes widened for a second, so if I lose…Kise-san will be put on second string?

"Wha_"

"Problem, Kise?"

"No…"

"Pick..."

"Um…I don't know names."

"I am Akashi-san, that is Murasakibara-san, Midorima-san, and Satsuki-san."

"How do I know there won't be any biased playing."

"We as members of Generation of miracles do not like lose."

"Oh…um Akashi-san."

"Wise choice."

"Well, Tetsuya?"

"Hm?"

"Aren't you going to put away that ridiculous penguin?"

"It was a gift, it'd be rude to make it dirty. May I ask someone to hold it? "

"Uh…yes?" The captain looked confused.

"Thank you." I made my way to the tallest person, Murasakibara-san. "Can you please hold this? I got some sweets in the bag, you may have it all."

"Haai~" Murasakibara said monotonously, looking into the bag for the large array of sweets that came with my lunch. So doubt, he was back. But that is a problem for later.

"Bribery." Midorima said under his breath.

"I am ready." I stated.

"I won't lose." That was the first direct sentence the blonde had ever said to me. Perhaps he really doesn't like me.

"Check." Akashi-san called out and threw the ball to Aomine-kun which was passed back to Akashi-san.

The next second Akashi-san took off in a flash and the next thing we knew there was a 'swiiiish' sound, and there was 2 point under HOME on the score board.

"Let's keep this short since practice starts in 15 minutes, to 10." We all nodded, and panned out on the court.

"Showoff." Aomine-kun muttered while we passed eachother, I couldn't help but smile a bit. Sei_Akashi-san can be overdramatic.

I was positioned to block Akashi-san, he broke through and passed the ball to Kise-san but Aomine-kun was on him. The height difference making it difficult for Kise-san to shoot, when suddenly Kise-san backed up and shot, it hit the back board and fell in the hoop 4 points was put under HOME, 3 more shots for them to make it to 10 or even worse if they make the basket from further away and get a 3 pointer.

"Aomine-kun! Switch!" I yelled, as much as I could.

"Huh?! Are you sure?!" He said already dropping defense on Kise-san and heading toward me and Akashi-san. Kise-san made a break towards the hoop but I made it to him before he could shoot and stole the ball.

"Wait! When did he…?" Kise-san gasped.

I dribbled the ball while Kise-kun tried to block me, he probably didn't know about my bad shooting skills. I posed to shoot when I heard a hiss from Akashi-san as he ran after Aomine-kun, who had made his way behind me as I trained my eye on the hoop as I tossed the ball back to him, he swiftly jumped and made a shot from the 3 point line.

I passed the ball in a odd angle since Kise-san was blocking my way but I still was able to pass it successfully to Aomine-kun who dunked it in immediately.

2-5, we got the lead!

"Good call Tetsu!" We high fived, as he passed me to get the rebound.

"It's too early for celebration!" Akashi-san stole the ball from Aomine-kun and laid the ball into the basket.

4-5

Kise caught the rebound and attempted to put it back in but Aomine had ran and blocked his shot, hitting it into my hands.

Both Akashi-san and Kise-san's eyes were on me and Aomine winked. I quickly passed back to him which he dunked.

4-7

I caught the ball and was about to pass when I was face to face with Akashi-san, Aomine was out of reach for the moment, he was at half court for some reason. No doubt that if I did land a pass to him, he would be able to shoot it from there, but could I get it there?

I froze.

"What the matter, Tetsuya? Ready to give up?" Akashi-san taunted.

"No, I'll never give up. Especially to you." I faked right and he took the bait and guarded my right, I bounced the ball to my left hand. It wasn't my dominant hand but I have to make this. No, I couldn't make it with my left, even if I did hit it far, who knows what direction it might go to? At the last moment, I threw the ball in the air with my left, and used the air time to adjust myself and sent it flying with my right hand.

I hit the ball with all my might to Aomine-kun. His long arms struggled to catch it but he did…if he makes it…it's over, we will have won. But it bounced off the rim and into the arms of a now maniac looking Akashi-san.

"Yes! That is what I like to hear!" His eyes burning with a new excitement.

I had unintentionally stepped on a landmine that I forgot was there. Just recently I have learned that Akashi-san loved my defiance towards him. This new excitement no matter how shocked everyone was to see it, was not a good thing for me and Aomine-kun right now.

"Please mind what others don't know." I stared him down.

"You're being paranoid, Tetsuya. I have revealed nothing." He dribbled the ball, he had plenty of openings, I wasn't exactly the Great Wall. He broke through but moved back, running past Aomine-kun and Kise-san, and made the shot at the 3 point line.

7-7, now he was just playing with us.

Kise-san caught the ball and I was on him, Aomine-kun on Akashi-san.

I needed to get the ball to Aomine-kun, we were always at a disadvantage, compared to a team that had two capable shooters. Akashi-san had to know that whoever Kise-san picked was going to beat us. The lead in the beginning was them letting us.

The look in Kise-san face was of pure focus and determination. Oh yes, I didn't stop to think what he has on the line right now. I've seen how he plays, he could easily beat 2nd string, he'd learn nothing, maybe some teamwork, but that could be easily labeled the weak point in the generation of miracles. Just watching him you could see he belonged in 1st string.

But I had to win!

Huh? What did I just say? For what am I winning for? Akashi-san never said anything about me winning, this was a test. The goal was unknown, I would not condemn Kise-san, but I do not want to give up basketball. Is winning really the key to me passing? Or is it my performance?

I couldn't decide, Akashi-san has strange ways of thinking, thus his championship shogi medals.

"I can't lose." Kise breathed, for some reason having a hard time getting around me.

"Tetsu!" I heard Aomine's voice, as Kise jumped back and made a shot below his feet the three point line.

The ball made a straight line that skimmed the top of the rim before it rebounded on the back of the hoop and went in…it was over.

I had lost and possibly had lost my chance to play basketball at school.

"Tetsu, damn…it's alright, I fell for that trick too." Aomine-kun tried to console me, no doubt blaming himself for not making that first shot. I nodded silently, I wanted to cry, but I would never allow anyone to see my tears.

"Congratulations Kise, you get to keep your spot on the first string." Akashi-san patted or rather hit Kise-san on the back. "Shintarou? Satsuki? What do you think?"

"He needs work, but his passes are above average."

"Yes! You never see him until he passes!"

"I agree, now to the main question, can we use someone like that on the first string?"

"Yes! It'd be wasted on the 3rd string!" Momoi-san gave a thumbs up.

"It wouldn't hurt…" Midorima-san shrugged.

"Well there you have it Tetsuya, welcome to the 1st string." Akashi smiled slightly.

My heartbeat stopped, was this for real? It can't be.

"Hell yeah! You did it Tetsu!" Aomine-kun held out a fist and we fist bumped and Momoi-san hugged me.

"Thank you everyone." I bowed politely, and smiled a bit. I still couldn't believe it. I saw Kise-san in the corner catching his breath all alone, I broke Momoi-san's embrace with care and went over to Kise-san.

"Congratulations Kise-san, you did great." I held out my hand to shake, he just stared at me. "Ano…I have been meaning to ask you, have I done anything to make you dislike me?" I tilted my head to the side.

"NO! I mean no. I don't dislike you or anything, I just…you're just so…CUTE! My manager said to stop coddling cute things because some meanie at the agency has been spreading a rumor that I was gay and I'm noooot! But since we'll be working together there's no use in trying to stay away! Sorry for being rude earlier!" Did he even need to breath? That was about the fastest explanation I have ever heard, he took my hand firmly and shook it. "Kise Ryouta. You can call me Kise-kun, Kurokocchi~" He shook my hand more harshly, I winced, I guess adrenaline took my mind off it during the game…now it_I was dizzy.

"What the hell is an Kurokocchi?" Aomine-kun asked.

"I put –chi at the end of people's name I respect." He explained.

"Tetsu-kun is cute, isn't he?" Momoi squealed and shook Kise's hand.

There was too much going on, too many voices, too many people crowding me, I couldn't think straight, and the world was slanted and moving beneath me.

"Tetsuya! Move!" I saw a red blur push past the yellow and pink one, I could feel a hand on my back as the world slowly turned to black.

"Tetsu!"

"Tetsu-kun!"

"Kurokocchi!

"Kuroko-kun. Passed out."

"Really? Oh no~ Poor Kurocchin."

"Sorr_" I started, they all sounded worried.

"Don't talk. The nurse will have left, I'll take yo_" And I no longer heard anything.

I woke up and found a wet cloth on my head and some pajamas on, I felt alright, just really thirsty. I sat up and saw the penguin in the corner. Thank goodness, it wasn't a dream.

I slipped on my house slippers and made my way down stairs.

Smelled like okaa-san had made dinner just now, they must be eating. I turned the corner to join them when I saw two people that did not belong there, a red haired boy with crimson eyes and a raven haired boy with eyes like mine.

"Ano…Otou-san." I hid behind his chair, I think the safest place behind him. I blacked out in a happy dream and woke up in a nightmare!

Hope you liked it! I will try to update very soon! Oh! And let me know what you thought or if your confused, I know sometimes I confuse myself sometimes... Thanks and hugs to all that reviewed, favorite, and/or followed! I cherish every single on of them!