Chapter 4

The starting members of Kaijou and Seirin lined up facing each other on the half-court. For Seirin, the starters were Hyuuga, Izuki, Mitobe, Koganei and Kagami. Riko had made the team promise that the game would start off with a gigantic bang in revenge for having Seirin play on only half a normal basketball court. Of course, all the starting players were nervous and scared of her, so they hastily agreed. Kuroko was standing next to brown-haired coach by the bench, clipboard in hand. Just taking one glance at the players of Kaijou's team, Riko could tell that Seirin was outmatched in terms of physical stats.

She grimaced and thought, Crap, this doesn't look too good. Their stats are all way above ours! This is a national-level team…

At tip-off time, the referee blew his whistle and being the tallest player on the court, Kobori was able to throw the ball to Kasamatsu. The captain of the opposing team casually dribbled and gave out directions to his teammates, but Izuki took the opportunity to quickly steal the basketball. He jogged in the direction of Kaijou's hoop and performed a pass to Seirin's newest player. Once the ball was in his hands, Kagami dashed forward and dunked it in powerfully–so powerful that when he landed back on the group, he took the hoop down with him. He cheered, pumping his fists in the air, not realizing that he was holding a little something extra. Everyone in the immediate vicinity stared incredulously at the fiery redhead.

"He… took the hoop down…" One of the members of Kaijou's basketball club, who was currently warming up, muttered. Hearing this, Kagami glanced at his hands.

"GWOH!" He looked just as shocked as everyone else, "Whoa, this thing is bigger than my head!"

Izuki analyzed the backboard and noted, "The screws are rusted… this means we're screwed."

Off on the side, Kuroko looked slightly worried and ran over with Riko to apologize to Kaijou's coach.

Riko mischievously smiled as she spoke, "Sorry, but I'm afraid we won't be able to play like this. Could we use the full court?"

"We truly are sorry for the inconvenience." The blue-haired girl added, bowing.

Takeuchi looked like a vein in his head was about to burst from anger, but nonetheless, he signaled for some club members to lift the barrier. In the mean time, Kagami was waving around the hoop with the other Seirin players surrounding him.

"I wonder how much a hoop costs to replace?" A quiet voice piped up, causing the boys to jump a foot into the air, screaming.

"… Oh, it's just you, Kuroko-chan." Hyuuga held a hand up to his racing heart. He really should be used to this by now.

Kagami looked at her after calming down, "You mean we have to pay for it?!"

"Oi, Kise! Put on your uniform and get in the court!" Takeuchi yelled and the blonde scrambled to follow his orders.

While the model was walking past Kagami, he said, "I'm surprised! That's the first time I've seen that face on him!"

"We'll resume the match now!" The referee announced.

"He exudes such a strong pressure when he's serious, you wouldn't expect that from a guy who models." Hyuuga commented on the difference in the atmosphere on the court once Kise had entered.

To herself, Riko thought, Now that I see him again… He's a monster! His stats are through the roof!

All of a sudden, all that could be heard throughout Kaijou's gym was "KYAAA, KISE-KUN!"

Hyuuga jumped in surprise again, "Whoa, what the hell?"

Kasamatsu, who was standing nearby, was the one to reply, "Oh, that? That always happens whenever he's playing. Actually… How long are you going to keep waving at them?!"

While saying this, the dark-haired captain kicked Kise on the back. Kise muttered several apologies, as he was wincing in pain.

"I'll hit you if you continue!" Kasamatsu growled and the taller teen could only whimper out, "You already did…"

Kasamatsu smacked him again, except this time his target was the other's shoulder, "Do you even understand the situation right now, Kise? Since they introduced themselves in such a spectacular way, it would be rude if we don't return the favour!"

As Kasamatsu was scolding their freshman ace, Moriyama was busy scanning the girls that had gathered in the area. Sadly, no one caught his eye, until he looked over to Seirin's bench and noticed a fair-skinned female with beautiful azure hair and matching eyes.

"Ah~ I've found the maiden I want to play for today!" The shooting guard for Kaijou exclaimed with great enthusiasm. Kasamatsu and Kise turned their attention to their teammate. When the blonde player saw that Moriyama was full on staring at Kuroko, he scowled, a dark look passing over his face. However, no one noticed the one-sided interaction.

The basketball game continues with Kise performing a powerful dunk, outshining Kagami's previous one. The whole first period consisted of the score bouncing between a two-point difference and a tie. During the break in between the first and second period, Riko tried calming Kagami down by placing him in her famous "Boston Crab" move; to which he grudgingly relented (and called "uncle" for mercy).

During the second period, Kaijou managed to pull ahead once Kise got serious. Then as said blonde was attempting to break through Kagami's guard, he failed to notice Koganei behind him. Flailing ungracefully, he tripped over the cat-boy's legs and smacked into something… or rather someone. Kise picked himself up off the ground, only to realize that he wasn't the only one lying down.

"Kurokocchi! I'm so sorry! Are you okay?" The copy-cat player rambled.

Sky blue eyes blearily blinked, seeming quite dazed from a blow to the head. The girl touched her face and pulled away to see blood dripping down her forehead and into her eye.

"Ah, Kuroko-chan! Don't move around too much." Riko exclaimed and hurried to her side with the first-aid kit that she always carried around to matches. Before she could administer any treatment, Kise already gathered the smaller teen into his arms and cradled her.

"… Kise-kun, you are getting sweat all over my uniform. And I may stain yours in the process." Kuroko reprimanded, while the model whimpered and hesitantly let go of her. Everyone looked mildly surprised at her indifference to her injury. Riko shooed the opposing player away, so she could gain access to her patient. The brunette carefully wiped the blood off and wrapped a bandage around the girl's forehead.

As she helped the slightly taller girl up from the ground, she inquired, "How are you feeling, Kuroko-chan? Dizzy or light-headed?"

"I am fine-" Kuroko managed to say before she started swaying a little. Luckily avoiding any further injury, Hyuuga caught the frail girl and placed her on the mat that Seirin's coach had laid out.

Kasamatsu was quietly chiding Kise for being so careless in his movement, but his heart didn't really seem into it. He was also worried for the other team's manager; after all, it wouldn't look good for Kaijou if someone got injured during a match. However, no matter how hard they tried, Kaijou, especially Kise, lacked the focus they originally had and Seirin managed to pull forward. During the last few seconds of the match, where the score was 100-99, Kise was about to shoot a two-pointer, but out of the corner of his eye, he noticed that Kuroko was sitting up slowly. He faltered for one second and that cost him the entire game.

Seirin cheered at their victory, but tears marred Kise's handsome face, "I… lost..? This is the first time… I lost."

"Whoa, Kise is crying?" One of the spectators remarked, "Well, I understand how frustrating it must be, but it's still only a practice match…"

"I couldn't win for my lady…" Moriyama complained, looking forlorn.

Hearing Kise's mumblings, Kaijou's captain kicked him in the back, a vein popping.

"You idiot! What's with the weeping?"

"Ouch!"

"Wait, the fact that you ever lost until now is pissing me off even more! You'd better add the word 'revenge' to your dictionary after this match!"

"Teams, line up! With a score of 100-99, Seirin wins!" The referee yelled.

Both teams saluted each other with a "Thank you for the game!"

Seirin & Kaijou say goodbye to each other outside the gym, while Riko was glowing with pride, Takeuchi seemed angry at the outcome of the match.

Kasamatsu looked to his fellow captain, "We're in different districts, so the next time we'll face off is during the Inter High Tournament."

"We'll definitely be there. None of us want to confess to a girl naked." Hyuuga agreed, but the other black-haired teen was visibly confused at the last statement.

A member of Kaijou's basketball team asked another, "Where is Kise?"

"It seems he didn't want to show his face after losing, so he excused himself and went somewhere else."

"Geez." Both of them didn't notice the teal-haired manager standing by them, overhearing their conversation.


Kise, both feeling guilty for hurting his former teammate and despair for losing the practice match, decided to wash his face by the fountains outside the gymnasium.

"I knew Gemini's had bad luck today, but I didn't think you would actually lose."

The blonde was slightly startled at the appearance of his former teammate, Midorima Shintaro.

"Midorimacchi! You came to watch?" Kise asked, looking like an excited puppy at any positive attention coming from his middle school basketball team.

"Not in particular. I just happened to be passing by this part in town." The green-haired teenager harrumphed, pushing his glasses up his nose. "Well, regardless of who won, it was an unpleasant match either way. Even monkeys could dunk a ball in. Nothing was left in the hands of fate."

Pouting at this statement, Kise pointed out, "I see you still have that same habit of taping your fingers… And dunks or whatever, it doesn't matter as long as it goes in."

"That's why you're no good. Of course it'll go in if you're that close. But the farther the shot, the greater the number of points scored. Don't you know the saying, 'Man proposes; God disposes?' First, you do your best and then fate will decide the outcome. I am a man that proposes. And I always carry my lucky item of the day around, as my horoscope says. That's why my shots never miss!"

I've been thinking through his thought process so many times, but I still don't understand the meaning of any of that! To think this guy is the number one shooter of the Generation of Miracles… Kise thought, sighing internally.

Midorima paused in his speech and narrowed his eyes, realizing that Kise had stopped paying attention, "And don't think I don't know about your role in Kuroko's injury."

"EH? AH, WAIT! Please don't tell Akashicchi! He'll kill me!"

"Actually, I have the urge to kill you myself." The tall green-haired teen's glasses glinted and he flexed his hands. Before Kise could reply or potentially run away, Takao came in with the rickshaw.

"You bastard! You went on ahead when we were caught in a traffic jam! Do you know how embarrassing it was to be hauling this thing around?" The black-haired male shouted, while jerking a thumb over his shoulder.

Ignoring his teammate, the shooting guard continued talking to Kise as if he hadn't just threatened him, "Well, I only came to see the match today, but I guess I'll apologize beforehand. A fate where Seirin defeats us is impossible. It's a shame, but you should give up on your revenge. Especially since Kuroko isn't playing."


In the meantime, Seirin visited a nearby hospital to get Kuroko's head injury looked into. The doctor on duty gave a green light for her wound and they were on their way. Once the team had left the quiet building, everyone let out a loud cheer, "WE WON!"

"Let's go eat somewhere on our way back!" Hyuuga exclaimed.

"What kind of food?" A fellow second-year responded, excitedly.

Izuki stated, "Something cheap, I only have enough for transportation back."

"Same here."

"Wait a second, how much money do we have altogether?" Riko realized that this was a question worth asking. Everyone put their remaining money in her palm and the captain counted a total of 21 yen, which most definitely was not enough for anything.

Just as everyone was losing hope for a good meal after an intense game, Riko caught sight of a sign above a restaurant:

"Super volume 4kg steak! If you can finish within 30 minutes, it's free!

If you fail, then it's 10 000 yen each."

"Fufufu… Let's stock up on some MEAT!"

Having no choice, but to follow their coach's lead, an atmosphere of doom settled over the group as their super steaks were set down on the table in front of them. The only ones without a steak were Riko and Kuroko, who seemed utterly relieved that she wouldn't have to finish one of those monsters.

"Go on! Eat without restraints!" Their coach encouraged.

"Isn't this too much though?" Everyone asked, loudly.

Hyuuga grumbled audibly, "Wait, you're serious? What happens if we can't finish them?"

"Eh, come on… Why do you think I make you run so much every day?" Riko gave an angelic smile, which caused the freshmen trio to question her intentions.

"Damn, I knew you were sadistic from the start, but…"

Everyone picked up their utensils and this marked the beginning of the impossible mission. Izuki savoured a piece of meat in his mouth and couldn't help but say, "This steak… is steakilicious."

Having no tolerance for his teammate's odd habits at the moment, the glasses-wearing captain smacked point guard over the top of his head, "Sorry but if you say stuff like that now, I find it really annoying!"

After about fifteen minutes into dinner, Mitobe passed out. One by one, the seniors of the basketball club started withering, still attempting to stuff meat in their mouths, but failing. On the other hand, Kagami was shoveling food into his mouth so rapidly he had to store excess food in the pockets of his cheeks, "So good! Can I have another?"

Everyone looked at him in shock.

"If you don't want it, then I'll just help myself, okay?" Eventually, all the plates were cleared and no one was forced to pay a shipload of money, thanks to Kagami. Kuroko excused herself, not that anyone really took note of it. The blue-haired girl walked out of the restaurant and bumped into Kise by coincidence.

"Kise-kun…"

"…Oh! Kurokocchi! Nice timing. I have something I want to talk to you about."


Oh my God, I finally finished this chapter. I don't know why it took me so long (most likely due to my super power of PROCRASTINATION!), but it's here!

Guys, I truly love you so, so, so much! I can't believe the number of favourites, follows, and reviews that this little story has gotten, thanks a bunch~ :) Special thanks to Yoruko Rhapsodos for being my 100th reviewer.

And of course, who knows when the next update will come? I keep apologizing, but I just write when inspiration strikes me. u_u"