I do not own Kuroko no Basuke.

When Fukue arrived to school the next day she found Kise faced down on the ground unconscious with his soul slipping away. The sight sent chills up her spine and instinct told her to run immediately but the moment she turned, she came face to face with a pair of livid slate eyes.

"So…" He growled with waves of anger rolling off him. "If you've got a good reason for skipping yesterday's practice, you better speak up now."

But before she could utter even a single word, she was already losing oxygen from his death grip. It wasn't until a few minutes later did she have the opportunity to actually explain herself. Thankfully, the captain had let them off without punishment when she informed him that the reason that they left practice was to scout their opponent. Although, the initial damage that he had inflicted was punishment enough in her eyes.

Fukue sighed tapping her pen on her clipboard as she watched the club members play practice matches against each other. She glanced at the clock hanging on the wall in the gymnasium. Today was supposed to be the match with Seirin.

Seeing that her gaze was constantly flickering to the clock, Yukio walked up to her. "So? When are they supposed to get here?"

Vrr...

She felt her phone vibrate in her pocket. She took it out and glanced at the newly arrived text. "Looks like they're here. I'll go out to meet them."

Hearing this, Kise perked up in interest. "Senpai! I'll come too!"

He quickly grabbed her wrist and dragged her out of the building before any objections can be made. Their quick exit left the captain staring at them blankly.

"What's got him all worked up?"

"Hey guys!" Kise greeted as he ran up to the mass of black and white uniforms with Fukue in tow. "This place is big, so I thought I'd come get you."

Fukue pulled her wrist out of his grip once he came to a stop and she walked up to the caramel-haired coach. "It's good to see you again, Coach Aida."

"Same here. Although, it's fine if you just called me Aida, Ichimiya-san," Riko smiled staring up at her.

"Ah, this is our captain, Hyuga Junpei," she motioned to the dark haired teen with glasses and introduced the rest of the members behind them.

Fukue gave them a nod of acknowledgement. "Welcome to Kaijo."

Kise walked up to Kuroko. "Kurokocchi~ Ever since you turned me down so easily, I've been crying myself to sleep every night, geez…" He said wiping away artificial tears, not noticing the slightly disturbed looks on the other members' faces. "Not a single girl has ever turned me down, you know?

Fukue raised an eyebrow at his pathetic display. And he wondered why I thought that Kuroko was his ex. Does he not hear himself speak?

"…Would you stop saying things like that?" Kuroko said unfazed causing the blonde to stop his pretense.

Kise narrowed his eyes and turned to Kagami who seems to be the reason for his rejection. "That's why I'm interested to know more about the guy who's making Kurokocchi say those things."

"I don't care much about being called the Generation of Miracles, but I can't ignore such an obvious challenge." He continued as he walked passed Kagami before coming to a stop. "I'm not mature enough to let it slide. Sorry, but I'm going to crush you with everything I have."

Kagami smirked in anticipation at the challenge. He was more than willing to accept a match with a member of the Generation of Miracles after hearing how strong they were.

"Bring it on."

"Ah, you're here. Welcome, I'm Coach Takeuchi." Takeuchi greeted as he glanced at the group that approached. "So? Which one of you is the coach?"

"That's me," Riko spoke up with a smile.

"You? You aren't the manager?" Takeuchi pointed in bewilderment causing her smile to drop briefly.

"Coach, don't you know that pointing at someone is rude?" Fukue muttered before looking away innocently when he shot her a glare.

Despite the slight insult, Riko confidently walked up to formally greet him. "I'm Coach Aida Riko. We look forward to playing with you today!"

"Uh, yeah," He replied with a bit of hesitation. Isn't she just a high school student? Although he had nothing against female coaches, he couldn't help but doubt the ability of one so young.

"So, um…what is this?" Riko asked as she looked around the court. There was a green net dividing the court in half with players practicing on their opposite side. Some of the members had stopped to stare at their arrival.

"It's just as you see. Today's match is just a light warm-up for our team," Takeuchi grunted as he turned to look at the non-regulars practicing. "There won't be enough to learn from this game to make it worth watching for the guys sitting out. So we're having the other members continue practice as usual."

He faced them once more. "But even though I say it's a warm-up, it's still our regular members so please don't get yourselves defeated by triple the points."

His derogatory words caused the members to twitch and glare in anger.

Fukue sighed. Really coach? Telling them that they were barely worth his time and completely underestimating them? She gave them a small apologetic bow before following the coach to the bench.

"Hm?" Takeuchi stopped as he spotted Kise changing into his uniform. "Kise, why are you wearing your uniform? You're not playing."

"Eh?" Kise looked at him in confusion.

"If you played it wouldn't be a match anymore," Takeuchi sighed. "Even if we've scouted aces from all over, you're on a whole level of your own."

"Wha- Wait, Coach!" Kise quickly glanced around in panic. Singling people out never helped anyone. Man, he could already feel the intensifying glares from Seirin. "Stop saying things like that. Seriously!"

Takeuchi just shook his head and walked away ending their conversation.

Fukue watched as Kise jogged up to Seirin in apology before sitting down on the bench.

"Let the practice game between Seirin High and Kaijo High begin," The referee announced loudly and the players lined up facing each other in front of him.

"Err…well…" He looked at the at the Seirin members standing on the left. "I said we're starting so... Seirin, would you mind getting your fifth player on the court quickly?"

"Um, all five us are here."

He turned and spotted a light blue haired player near him and recoiled in shock as did all the other Kaijo members. The pale skinned boy caused a wave stunned murmurs.

"Woah…what the hell is that guy?"

"He's got no presence."

"He's one of their starters?"

"He was right in front of me and I didn't even notice him," Kobori spoke in disbelief and looked to his captain. "What about you Kasamatsu?"

"Me neither," Yukio agreed just as perturbed as the rest of the members. How the hell can one guy have such little presence?

"This is ridiculous," Takeuchi said unimpressed, sitting on the bench with Kise and Fukue on his left. "After all their boasting, I thought they'd have some decent players."

"We'll see," Kise stared contemplatively at the players on the court. "Though, he might not be just a decent one." Someone like Kurokocchi was more than just decent.

Fukue said nothing as she watched the match begin. They formed a makeshift circle around the center of the court. Kobori and Kagami stood directly in the center with the referee beside them holding the basketball.

If the winner of the match could be determined by school reputation alone, then Kaijo would be the obvious choice.

The whistle was blown and the referee threw the ball into the air. Kagami and Kobori jumped simultaneously but Kobori manages first contact and directs the ball toward Yukio.

"Alright," Yukio dribbles the ball as he pointed upward with his left hand. "Let's start by scoring once!"

But…

Yukio's eyes widened as the dribbling ball seemingly disappears from his fingertips. He quickly turns and chases the back of player 11. Where'd he come from!?

He easily caught up, but Kuroko smoothly passed the ball from his hand to Kagami's approaching form, who in turn rushed pass Yukio and slammed the ball into the hoop.

Nothing is ever that simple.

Fukue's eyes widened as she watched the hoop break apart from the backboard.

"No way!"

"He destroyed the hoop!"

"You're kidding! I don't believe it!"

Riko approached Takeuchi doing her best to hide her glee and bowed. "I'm so sorry!"

"I'm sorry we broke you hoop," Kuroko apologized as he walked up to the coach with Kagami as well. "Since we can't play like this, could we use the full court?"

...

Kise let a small chuckle as he watched the non-regulars clean up the court. "Now that's what you call a beating."

"Huh?" Kagami looked at Kise.

"I've never seen the coach like that before." He grinned remembering the twitchy constipated look on the coach's face.

"You should tell him that's what he gets for underestimating us!" Kagami retorted.

"How much do you think a replacement hoop will cost?" Kuroko wondered as he walked away from them.

"Eh?!" Kagami gaped staring at Kuroko's retreating form. "We have to pay for that?" Sure, he had wanted to prove their skills to that sloven-looking coach, but he never really meant to break the hoop. Who would have known that one of the bolts was rusted?

Fukue's shoulders trembled as she did her best to withhold her own laughter. Really, that was hilarious. She'd never seen someone actually break a hoop before. Barely a minute into the game and she was already enjoying herself.

...

Kise enters the court in full uniform with a confident smile on his face. "Sorry to keep you waiting."

"You're finally in," Kagami smirked in satisfaction with his hands on his waist. It was about damn time.

"Such pressure now that he's finally in the game," Hyuga commented slightly unnerved. "You wouldn't think that guy is actually a model."

"He's not just putting on a show," Kuroko said cautiously. Model or not, Kise was a member of the Generation of Miracles. It would be a mistake to underestimate him. "He's the same inside."

"Kyaaa~ Kise-kun~!"

"Kise-kun, over here!"

"He's so hot!"

Heads turned toward the sound of the high-pitched commotion by the entrance.

"Huh? What's all that?" Hyuga looked startled at the cheering crowd of grey female uniforms.

"Oh, that? That happens every time he plays." Yukio closed his eyes in exasperation before running up and kicking Kise with ease. "How long are you gonna keep waving at them! I'll hit you!"

"Ow…" Kise groaned as he got back on his feet from the sudden blow. "You already hit me, Kasamatsu-senpai."

Ignoring his comment, Yukio narrowed his eyes as he leaned up close. "Do you understand what's going on, Kise? Who the hell is number 10?"

"Number 10?" Kise turned slightly to look at the red-head. "Oh, that's Kagami."

"Kagami?" Yukio frowned. "I've never heard of him."

"Anyway, forget about him," Kise spoke excitedly. "The guy who stole your ball, number 11… That's my teammate from Teiko, Kurokocchi. Isn't he amazing? Right, right?"

Yukio frowned. That number 11… He had come out of nowhere and taken the ball from him before he had time to react. With his ego slightly damage, Kise's overly happy response did nothing but annoy him; so he did what he usually does best and jabbed the blonde in the stomach.

"In any case, they gave us quite a greeting," He continued while looking carefully at Kagami. "It'd be rude if we didn't return the favor."

Once they resumed the match, Kaijo was on the offense. Yukio ran through the court and Hyuga blocked his path. In response, he bounced a pass between Hyuga's feet to Kise who easily mimicked Kagami's previous dunk. Unfortunately, it seemed like that was not enough to satisfy his captain, and the kick to his back told him as much.

"You idiot! You should've broken it!"

"Sorry!"

Fukue couldn't help but grin at their interaction. It was nice seeing someone other than herself be at the end of Yukio's violent tendencies once in a while.

"What the hell are you doing!?"

Fukue winced at the volume of coach's voice as she stood beside him. Seirin had called for a time out from the high-paced game, so the regulars were currently resting on the bench while enduring Takeuchi's deafening lecture.

"How many points are you gonna let them take?! Is the defense asleep!? Huh!?"

Kobori straightened up. "Sorry."

"Honestly, this isn't easy," Moriyama sighed leaning his elbows on his thighs.

"Yeah, that first year duo is brutal," Yukio agreed and looked at Kise. "You should be able to handle Kagami." He paused for a moment. "But what's with that invisible Kuroko guy?" His grumble caused a wide childish smile to spread across Kise's face.

"I know, right?" Kise beamed. "Kurokocchi's amazing right?"

"He is!" Fukue chimed in with a grin. "He's incredible! I've never seen anything like it!"

"You understand, don't you senpai!" Kise was delighted to know that someone acknowledged his former teammate.

Yukio could only stare dumbfounded at the duo as they continued to gush about number 11. It seriously felt like if he squinted hard enough, he could see some impenetrable pink aura with flowers sprouting around them.

The hell?

What are they, the Kuroko fan club!?

Having heard enough of their fangirling, he jabbed them both at their sides. "Enough! Why the hell are you two so happy?! You guys should be discussing ways to stop him, not spouting words of admiration!"

"Don't worry, senpai," Kise rubbed his side. "The balance will tip soon enough, because he has a weakness."

"A weakness?" Yukio's eyes widened.

Kise nodded. "His misdirection isn't something he can use for the whole 40 minutes."

"Misdi…what?" Yukio looked perplexed at the unfamiliar term.

"Misdirection," Kise repeated. "It's not like he's using magic or anything like that."

"He's basically directing your attention elsewhere, right?" Fukue looked at Kise.

He nodded as he held a basketball in one hand. "Even I can do it for a moment. Please look at me."

They focused on Kise's face before their eyes wandered to the basketball thrown into the air.

"See? You're not looking at me anymore," Kise observed as he continued. "Kurokocchi's using his exceptional observation skills to do this continuously, creating the illusion he disappeared so he can pass the ball around." He smiled as he added, "Not that he has to do anything special to have no presence. But the more he uses it, the more we get used to it, and its effect gradually decreases."

"I see…" Yukio muttered. "That's useful to know."

Fukue turned to look at Seirin briefly only to see Riko with her arm wound tightly around Kuroko's neck. Are choke-holds the new trend these days? She mentally shook her head getting before turning back to the regulars.

"Anyway, chances are they'll be focused on blocking Kise, since they probably see him as the biggest threat," Leaning her weight on her left leg with her hand at her waist, she looked at the all the members with a smirk.

"So go show them that he's not the only one that they should be wary of."

With the time-out over, the players returned to the court. Kise finds himself blocked by a barricade of players as he dribbles the ball.

Yukio frowned at the scene. A box-and-one defense huh… It's just as Fukue had assumed. They're being wary of Kise so they have everyone following Kagami and aiming to stop Kise.

He ran and caught Kise's side pass and shot the ball into the hoop.

"Ooh, a sudden three-pointer!"

"Nice, Kasamatsu!"

"Are you looking down on Kaijou's regulars?" He glared. "There's a limit to how naive you can be."

As if following up that statement, Moriyama manages to block a pass from Kagami to Kuroko and scores as well. The match continues before it comes to a stop when the ball is knocked out of the court.

Fwee!

"Out of bounds! White ball!"

Fukue glanced at the score board. 25 to 33 with about two more minutes until the end of the first quarter. If they could continue at this pace and widen the gap some more than the match would lean in their favor.

Suddenly, the sound of laughter echoes loudly across the court, and she as well as everyone else turned to look at Kagami.

"Sorry, sorry. I'm just so happy," Kagami said smiling with tears forming at the corner of his eyes from laughter. "It's been a long time since anyone's said that to me. I heard it all the time over there."

Kise looked at him in confusion. "Over there?"

"In America," Kagami answered.

"You lived in America?!" Kise looked at him in awe. "That's amazing."

"I thought I jumped the gun coming back here to play. So hearing you say that is encouraging, really." Kagami grinned broadly. "Life is all about challenges. There's no point in living if there's no one strong to play." He clenched his fist. "It's better if I can't win."

Kise blinked as he stared blankly at the red-head. It's better if I can't win?

"We're just getting started," He walked passed Kise. "Don't you think it's a little soon to be saying you? Besides, thanks to you, now I know your weakness."

Kise gaped at him in confusion. What weakness?

"I'm sure it wasn't easy for you to say it yourself." Kagami stops in front of Kuroko as he continued speaking to Kise. "You can do anything as long as you see it? How about when you can't see it, then? Against a guy who's already invisible, it's impossible."

He turned to look at Kise once more. "No matter how athletic you are, you'll never achieve an invisible basketball style. In other words…" He gripped Kuroko's head while grinning triumphantly. "This guy is your weakness."

Everyone stared at the court in astonishment. The weak point of Kise, who Kagami isn't even a match for, is the weakest guy on the court for anything other than passes….Kuroko!?

Finding his voice again, Kise scoffed, "So? It's true Kurokocchi's style is one that I can't imitate. But what does that change?"

Fwee!

"The first quarter is over! Take a two minute break!"

Kagami smirked. "It changes everything. We'll bring you to tears in the second quarter." He walked away from a frowning Kise.

"Damn, what's with that small point difference!?"

"They're closing the gap! Your fundamentals suck! Hands up! Screen out! Rebound! You're taller than them, so get the rebounds!"

Kise was hunched over tuning out the coach's voice. His focused eyes were looking down. Kagami had seemed so confident that Kurokocchi was his weak point. How could that possibly be? Because he couldn't copy his play style? Well, that would go for all the members of the Generation of Miracles so that was old news to him. Special ability aside, Kise bested Kurokocchi in all other aspects of basketball. Was there some kind of trick that they had up their sleeve?

"Let the second quarter begin!"

Oh well, it doesn't really matter…

He stood up.

Regardless of what they throw at me, there's no way I could lose.

A/N: End of chapter four! Thank you for reading~ :3