Sorry this is late. But on a happy note my laptop got fixed so this should not have that many mistakes. Typing on phone is not easy but it was convenient. Thanks for holding on to this. And without further delay, here is the next chapter.

Disclaimer: nah, I'm too lazy to own it.

The visit to home was never pleasant for Kuroko, even more so when that person was there. But he did endure it. With not so subtle hints to come back home and sharp remarks for choosing Seirin and people getting told off by Nijimura-senpai and Akashi-kun it was just a normal visit.

They had fortunately returned before the match with Seiho and he had been chewed out by Riko for not informing him of his leave before she was forced to back down by Nijimura-senpai. He really pitted his opponents for his brother was in a bad mood.

And so they arrived to the court where their match would be held. Kagami-kun throughout their practice kept an eye on Midorima in the other court who was benched. No one knew what to do about Kagami at this rate.

"Kagami, where are you looking? Our opponents are here"

Hyuuga informed to their ace that had his whole attention on the other court. At this rate he was going to die before they could advance to the finals.

"I am paying attention"

Kagami informed. Suddenly a bald player, too happy to be there ran in to Kagami and stared at him in total fixation. Kagami getting uneasy stepped back.

"Who, your hair is so red. Captain, this is him right? Seirin is week but has only one strong player and this is him right?"

He asked and it annoyed the whole team to no end. They knew Kagami was good but to be called week even before being faced was annoying. The pass specialist and a certain power forward did also not like it and when they begin disliking the opponent; let's just say it goes bad for the opponent and fast. Kuroko was reminded of a certain incident in his second year when this idiot had the insulted the whole generation of miracles and by proxy, Akashi-kun.

"Oi, take your player back before he's injured"

Nijimura called out to the Seiho captain who gave him a nod at first but then did a double take seeing him. His wide eyes were unnerving his whole team.

"Y-You? Don't tell me you're in our opposite team?"

He asked and Seirin just gave an amused smile. Rest of Seiho just gave an uneasy look at him seeing their captain so unnerved. From the other side of the court even Shutoku's captain and shooting guard had shifted their attention toward him.

"Domo"

Kuroko greeted and it caused a chain reaction with most of the court screaming and whispers of 'was he there' following. Nijimura was the only one not affected as he had most likely seen him there.

"Well, since that guy is not here it falls down to me I guess. Let's have fun~"

The sentence was said in the most casual tone but the dark undertone was not missed by anyone. Seiho's captain collected himself as he headed back to his team with his bald teammate being dragged by his shirt.

"Tsugawa, you'll take care of Nijimura there. Leave Kagami to us and defend him like crazy"

The Seiho captain ordered to his still confused player who was complaining about having to change the targets to a rainbow guy. He was not getting away so easily.

Nijimura vowed to show him rainbow, just after he beat him bad enough. It was time to take revenge for last year's defeat. In the other court Midorima who had heard it shuddered at that. Looked like they'll be facing Seirin. Could he fake a muscle ache now?

...

The match started with a tip off. Nijimura, Kagami, Kuroko, Hyuuga and Izuki made the offensive four of the team. Nijimura was really going to hit the red idiot if he missed the tip off this time. He had made him do enough jumps to increase the jump height and well as stamina and he would be damned if they didn't get the ball first.

Fortunately for Kagami he did receive the ball but just as quickly passed it to Hyuuga who ran toward their basket. His efforts were however proven futile when the ball was blocked by the opponent's centre and captain.

"Kuroko here"

Nijimura signalled to the pass specialist who had successfully managed to retrieve or as you would say have stolen the ball. He passed the ball to Nijimura who was being blocked by Tsugawa. He could have easily shaken him off but it would require too much stamina on his part and right now he needed to conserve it so he passed the ball.

Riko observed the game from the side lines and it seemed to be going good with both teams having scored almost the same points. So far so good, but then suddenly Tsugawa changed marks and begun marking Kagami. She was not surprised that it had come to this. Their original plan had been to have Kagami marked but then again he had been scaring points.

"Pass here"

Nijimura asked for the ball, having shaken off his defender now. Unfortunately for him the ball got stolen before it could reach him. He groaned in frustration as the ball went to the opposite team. They would have scored the basket if not for Kuroko. The game was fast pace but it had begun taking it's on the blue haired phantom's body. Not to mention Kagami was suddenly beginning to make fouls. He already had three in the first half itself. So he was really not doing that good under pressure defence. More footwork practice was in order. But for now he had to do something or Seiho will catch up them. That could not be allowed.

And then Kagami made a mistake in the end of second half, well more like another one since the game had started. He charged pass Tsugawa who had a certain smile on his face. Or at least that was the plan, but somehow he collided with that annoying guy. Seirin gave a shout of cry at the idiot who had managed to earn another foul. That made it four before half-time already. The free throw Seiho was given was converted into a basket.

And so ended the first half of the match. At the Seirin table the atmosphere was not so good.

"You Bakagami, just what were you thinking? You're too easy to provoke. You have four fouls, four and Kuroko-kun, you don't look that good, have rest for a while"

Riko was furious at the idiot but then again this was not beyond gone. They were only behind by a mere four points. They could still win this.

"Coach, I have a request"

Hyuuga Junpai asked who was in al his earnest wanted to win this match. They had something important riding on this match after all. Their pride and revenge. For them this was once in a lifetime chance and they'll be damned if they'll miss it. Riko also knew it; she was after all one in feeling with the seniors on this.

"Leave this match to us, Nijimura-san, Kuroko, and Kagami. Well make sure to win. We have to pay them back sometime time after all"

He said it so casually but no one could miss the meaning behind his word. Well everyone except a certain red haired ace of Seirin who was on his feet to protest. All his protests were shot down by a very annoyed captain who had so continently gone into clutch mode.

"Listen to your seniors once in a while or I'll kill you"

It certainly calmed Kagami down. While captain was no Nijimura or Akashi there was no denying that he was scary. Kagami would prefer to stay on his good side. Beside even Riko and Kuroko were looking at him with that look so he gave up. A happy Kuroko meant a happy Nijimura and that was a goal to meet for him.

So the senior members of the team went up to the court to duel it out. Tsugawa was apparently complaining of benching Kagami and you could just see Hyuuga scaring him to the end of his wits. Were all captains this scary or was it only Tetsuya who had met intimating captains?

"I should be out there"

Kagami complained as he watched it all play out and quite frankly no one could tell if he was angry that the gap in points were not decreasing or because he was not out there. They could only take a wild guess.

"Kagami-kun, have you ever hated basketball"

Kuroko had the look of someone who really wanted to convey his message but had no way to do it. For someone who had not hated something they loved, this was a foreign concept.

"Can't say I have. I love basketball"

Nijimura had at this point decided to pay attention to the conversation. Tetsuya might have shared with him his thoughts but still a lot was said unsaid and he wondered if anything new would come out in this conversation here. He was really desperate to know just what it that had reduced his brother to that state was. He never wanted Tetsuya to be in that state again. It would be bad, both for Tetsuya and the people around him.

"I have, it's a painful feeling to hate something you love. This is very important for our seniors and I believe that they'll win. So Kagami-kun, have confidence in them"

Kagami was touched but it does disturb him on a scale. Kuroko loved basketball; he practiced harder than anyone he knew even if he did not improve. Kuroko's face sparkled when he talked about the sport. But when he talked about his feelings something hard had entered his eyes and for a second he felt like an entirely different person but at the same time it felt like a curtain had been lifted from something. Nijimura felt liked cursing. The treatment was not working and he really wished Akashi would hurry up with whatever he was trying to do. In the meantime he wished something would not happen.

Third half ended with Seirin behind by two baskets.

Last quarter started with the seniors with the possession of the ball. The game was going on into full force when the ball which should have gone out of bounds was redirected by Kogane, who crashed into the bench. Seirin players gathered around the player whose eyes were spinning. There was no way he could continue.

"I'll replace him"

Nijimura informed the coach, but not everyone was happy. It was their revenge and they wanted because of them, not Nijimura even if he was a part of the team.

"No, I'll play"

Kagami asked. He was bored and they needed him to win. He could take Tsugawa, he had slaved away for this and he was going to show him that he was better. But before he could voice his thoughts he was jabbed in the gut by Kuroko.

"A guy who has four fouls should stay at the bench. Senpai, i'll take on Tsugawa as I'm a junior like him. I'll pay him back as a proxy"

For the seniors that was more than agreeable. Nijimura however did not look reassured. Kuroko Tetsuya could be dangerous when unstable and in the progression of this match he had seen more than enough of that personality resurface. He did not want Tetsuya to go back to how he used to be. There was a reason that Seijuro and Tetsuya got along that well, but before he could voice it out the match had resumed. All he could do now was to sit back. He did enjoy as Kagami squirmed under his gaze. Ah, the power of intimation and how he loved it.

The match ended with their win with a superb pass from Kuroko.

They all lined up for the final greetings and that was when Tsugawa blew up about how they were better and they should have won.

"Its not who's strong that wins. It's the winner who's strong"

With that the Seiho team departed from there but one thing he had said had stuck into Nijimura's mind, but he did not dwell much on it. He had another brat to take care f right now. A certain Green haired, orange jersey carrot looking boy.

And there it's done.

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