"This place is big, they really emphasize sports here at Kaijo," Hyuga commented.
Kuroko agreed, but his main focus was on the dark black rings around Kagami's eyes. "Your eyes are worse than usual, what did you do last night?"
"Shut up," The sleep deprived irritation getting to him, "I couldn't stop thinking about the match today that I didn't manage to get any sleep."
"You're like a grade schooler before a trip." Is he going to be alright?
"Hey!" A figure jogging up to the Serin team yelled, eventually becoming clear that it was Kise. "I came looking for you guys so I could be your escort, this pace is pretty big and easy to get lost in."
"Kise, yo-" Kagami said wanting to clear something up about what he had told him last time, but the blond bypassed him without even a glance; as if he was never there.
"Kurokocchi!" Going to grab Kuroko by the shoulders but reacting in time to stop, "This sucks! Not being able to give you a simple hug. And ever since we talked last I remember what might happen to you, and it's caused me to cry into my pillow every night."
"Can you please not talk about that? You know I came here to play basketball with my team." I've got to taunt him, make him serious; I have to bring 'that' Kise out.
Kise was taken back a bit, the look in Kuroko's eyes were serious. "K-Kurokocchi- Fine." Whipping around to stare at Kagami, clenching his teeth. "Although I'll be pleased to tell you are my prey. I'm not obsessed with the name Generation of Miracles, but if Kurokocchi is willing to be this confident about his team then I'll have to show you just how wrong he is. You'll never be able to take me on, even with Kurokocchi at your side." Devilishly grinning at Kagami who gave him the same look back.
"Of course we won't," The sarcasm apparent in Kagami's snarky retort.
He's doing the same thing to Kagami, Kise must be really determined to win if he's egging on his opponent. Lingering in the back of the pack as they followed Kise.
"Huh?" Riko said entering the gym, quick to notice that half of the gym floor was cut off by a giant net. "We're only playing half court?"
Everyone could see that club members were already practicing on the other side of the net, irking them to some extent.
"There they are, Serin, I hope you don't mind but we'll be playing on this half." Introduced and explain the Kaijo's coach, Genta Takeguchi.
"What do you mean, why?" Riko asked. "And let me introduce myself, I'm the Serin basketball coach," Receiving an odd look from the older man.
"Err, nice to meet you. Today's match is nothing much of a warm up for our regulars, so we made the rest continue practice because they won't learn anything. But even though it's a warm up, please don't let us triple your score." Making his thought known that he didn't have much going for Serin.
How can he think like that without seeing anything yet? Kuroko kept his monotone expression, although thoroughly annoyed on the inside. Although he could feel the anger emitting from the rest of his team mates.
"Kise, why are you putting your uniform on?" Coach Takeguchi asked just as Kise put his jersey on. "You're not going to play."
Surprised, Kise protested, "Don't say that, you have to let me play!" His desperation showing as he whined. "I want to play!"
"No, you're on a completely different level then them, and it's already unfair with our regulars playing. If I were to let you play then it wouldn't even be a match anymore." Speaking a little too loud because the anger of the Serin team now bursted into full blown rage.
"I'm sorry, sorry!" Running to his opposing team franticly, "He's just joking, I'll be on the bench. You'll only need to knock him around a little, and I'm sure he'll put me in!" Putting on a sly grin, "I know it sounds selfish, but if you can't get me to play in the match then you shouldn't be saying that you'll take down the Generation of Miracles." Locking his gaze with Kagami's.
He's right. This is the Kise I remember.
"Kise, show them to the locker room!" Coach Takeguchi ordered.
"No, please wait up," Kuroko said taking his place beside Kagami, "You'd better start warming up, because we won't be holding back." Disappearing behind the locker room door. All we have to do now is win for real.
"The practice match between Kaijo High and Serin High!" Followed by a whistle from the boy posing at the referee. "Hold on, Serin can you please have your fifth person line up?"
"But there are five of us," Kuroko announced, appearing nearest the referee. His sudden presence caused all of Kaijo's members to do a double take with a gasp or two.
"Serin is ridiculous, I thought they'd actually have some decent members but they put in a guy like him," Takeguchi sighed next to Kise.
"I wonder, he might not be a 'decent' one," Kise added as he watched Kuroko intently, "You'll just have to watch him action, then you may want to take back what you just said.
Riko took as much info as she could see from the Kaijo players, "Ah man, this is bad." Noting that their numbers were way above average and much higher than her own members. "Although I expected nothing less form a national level team."
The ball was thrown for the tip off, Kobori out jumping Kagami to give the basketball to Kasamatsu.
"Alright , let's get one point to start things off," Dribbling calm and collectively, watching everyone around him; except for the one that wasn't visible.
Smacking the bright orange ball right out of Kasamatsu's dribble, Kuroko sent the ball sailing behind the Kaijo captain. Running off to continue his own dribble down the court. Although it wasn't new that he was easily caught up to, seizing the chance to make an impression now that all eyes were on him. Passing to Kagami who was in place. We steal the first points of the game and they won't be looking down on us anymore.
Leaping into the air, Kagami took his underestimated strength and sunk the ball into the hoop; unexpectedly taking the rim back down onto the ground with him. "Take that Kise!" Raising his arms above his head to celebrate a bit, but then realized what he was still holding onto. "Oh?" Blankly staring at the broken hoop. "WHAT?!" Surprised himself that he accomplished such a feat, then turning to Kise once again. "How's that? Enough to get you to play?" Walking over to the coach fuming with anger, "Sorry," Setting the metal ring next to the bench.
Kuroko, unknowing to anyone, had also come up to the Kaijo coach. "Sorry for breaking your goal. So, can we play on the full court since we cannot continue like this?" Bowing to add to his apology, glancing at Kise who was shocked yet amused.
"I hope you've warmed up, Kise. We told you that we wouldn't hold back." However, I'm surprised as everyone else that he actually broke it, I would have never imagined that. But it's got Kise blood boiling now, if anything.
Finally everything school related is done! I don't have to worry about anything until the end of the year.