A Man's Wish

The next day...at breakfast, Kuroko sent a group mail to everyone.

That mail utterly stunned them speechless in their homes during breakfast.

Minna,

Last night, Kise-kun confessed to me
and will show...gulp...how serious he
is about this by going all out right from
the start for sure. He'll probably go
Perfect Copy from the beginning. I'm
warning you now. We should also play
fast and hard from the beginning as
Kise-kun is a walking armory of skills.
I tell you this now to have all morning
to mentally and spiritually prepare for
our match in the afternoon against Kaijou.
I'm sorry for this disaster but...it just
happened.

-Kuroko

'W-what the heeeell?!' is the reaction with Hyuuga, Riko, and Izuki.

'Kise did WHAT?!' Kagami, Fukuda, Koganei and Kawahara yelped, wide-eyed.

'Oh hell, looks like this is gonna be rough...' Kiyoshi scratched his head.

'Oh, come ooooon...' Furihata moaned.

'This is gonna suck...' Tsuchida sighed. 'Men in love are rough opponents...'

And so, heading for the Gym for the Rakuzan VS Shuutoku Match...they had to be there before three.

And so...

'Sooo, you and Kise huh?' Hyuuga grinned, teasing Kuroko.

'Uhm, he just confessed. Its not like I answered him...' Kuroko mumbled, pink-faced. 'This is...out of my depth. I don't know this.'

'Tsuchida you're on steady right? Give our kohai love advice!' said Kiyoshi cheerfully.

'Hai hai, but we'll have to focus on our jobs first.' said Tsuchida.

'Not to sound mean but Shuutoku's going to lose so let's focus on Rakuzan.' Kuroko said softly. 'Rakuzan has a rather unfair setting.'

'Unfair setting?' Fukuda blinked.

'No kidding.' Hyuuga griped. 'Rakuzan has been champions for years. They're a National-Class High-Pedigree school. They've won the Interhigh and Winter Cup the highest number compared to any other. And this year, they have the strongest line-up to date.' he said darkly. 'Kirisaki Daiichi has Hanamiya and we have Kiyoshi. Rakuzan has the remaining three Uncrowned Generals...and the strongest of the Miracles, Akashi Seijuurou.' he said darkly. 'Whoever the fifth member is must be just as good.'

'That's a really unfair setting!' Kawahara gawked.

'And that's why they'll be either our, or Kaijou's Opponent, whoever wins in our match.' sighed Riko. 'Think of Kise-kun as an armory, possessing every skill of notable players he's met. I'm just thankful he can't do Air Walk because you have to be BORN with it. Some skills are gained at birth, stuff you can't just copy, as well as Teppei's Vice Claw that needs big hands, and the Right of Postponement since he is close to Kagami in jumping ability. The problem is, everybody else's skills in his arsenal. You'll have to think you're fighting everyone you've met in one body, not just him. However, due to his training, those moves have more power and speed than the original user's.'

'The fallback to this, is his immature body.' said Kuroko. 'Out of the Miracles, he has the lousiest stamina. He's just five notches above our boys in that regard. This is because he juggles both his job and club training. He also can't copy players physically stronger and more developed than he is and if he forces himself to, he'll get injured by pulled muscles and spend more stamina than he should. But still...go all out because he certainly will.'

'Aa. Kaijou showed why they're a National-Class school to boot.' said Riko. 'They'll definitely want payback for that practice match though its their damn fault for underestimating us back then in the first place.' she snorted.


At the Rakuzan VS Shuutoku Match...

'Hey Kuro-chan, for a big-time school, Rakuzan's kinda quiet.' said Fukuda. 'What's goin' on?'

'And isn't Number 4 supposed to belong to a Captain?!' Furihata piped up.

'Yeah, I can agree its odd but because its Akashi-san we're talking about, I'm not surprised anymore.' said Kuroko. 'For four years now, he's a natural-born leader as well as further groomed into one by his family since he's heir to a big business conglomerate.' she said. 'Evidence of his leadership is that his senpai are utterly subservient to him when normally, a Freshman Captain is unheard of and no senior would like it if he lost his spot to a kohai and the youngest one at that. And his name says it all.'

'His name?' Kiyoshi glanced at her.

'Akashi is written as 'red ruler' and Seijuurou is written as 'conqueror of ten men'. And how many players are in the court?' her clubmates were utterly stupefied by her words. 'He conquered his way here. He conquered his team into accepting his captaincy and leadership, and conquering the opposition through defeat.'

They knew long ago but this was just too much for them and horrifying.

For Kuroko, its like Teiko High School.

'This feels like Teiko somehow gained a High School Branch and we're the last ones to know.' she said.

No kidding there indeed. Shuutoku lost 86-70. They were sixteen points behind.

'Sixteen points...not bad at all considering who we're talking about.' said Kiyoshi. 'Had it been any other team, that gap would be wider. Waaaay wider.' he shuddered.

'No kidding, what more of us and Kaijou down there against Rakuzan?' Koganei gulped.

'There's no way we'll lose with a wide gap or we'd never forgive ourselves. That's probably what Shuutoku thought and we should think that way too.' said Kagami. 'We're gonna do better than that or die trying.' he swore.

'Captain, how good are you in Shogi?' Kuroko asked her.

'Eh? Shogi?'

'Shogi is 'their' specialty.' said Kuroko. 'They played this match...like a shogi game. And you don't see Rakuzan cheering and stuff even after they won.'

'Aa. With the reputation they have, losing is forbidden. They got one hell of a pressure on their backs.' said Izuki. 'They're like trying to stand up while carrying elephants on their shoulders and ensuring they don't show weakness. Who'd want to be in their shoes?'

And so, at the next fierce act...

During the warm ups...

Kise deliberately caused a ruckus, three minutes before the game starts.

'Kurokocchi~' Kise jogged towards her.

'Oy Kise, we're not done with the warm-ups yet!' Kasamatsu yelled and as if as one, Seirin looked at the two Teiko OBs as if wary of something.

'Seirin's acting weird.' Kobori told Kasamatsu. 'Its nothing new that Kise's clingy to their manager...'

'Yeah, but what's with this guarded atmosphere, its being ridiculous.' Kasamatsu remarked as they too, watched.

'What is it Kise-kun?' Kuroko asked her while putting down a container containing supplements.

Kise looked a tad TOO cheerful..

Without warning, he kissed her.

In public.

'UOOOOOOH?!'

'GEH?!'

'HAAAH?!'

Up in the seats, Rakuzan was gaping.

'Is there a development we didn't know about?' Mibuchi gasped out excitedly, squealing like a fangirl giddily and beside him, Mayuzumi was giving him a weird look.

'S-so bold!' Hayama exclaimed.

'Looks like somebody wants a one-way trip to their own funeral...' Akashi smiled darkly.

His teammates gulped at the dark aura he was emitting.

On the other side, Momoi was petrified while Aomine looked utterly murderous. 'K-Ki-chan how could yoooou?!' Momoi wailed in dismay, utterly jealous while fully-aware there's a bubbling, boiling pot next to her.

Across them, Murasakibara was wailing and whining on how unfair Kise was to Himuro.

The whole stadium is in an uproar from disbelief with several jaws dropping or eyes popping as several cameras flashed from afar.

That, and Sports Tournaments are on fucking LIVE TV. So yes, in Sports Channel Basketball, yeah, that's on camera.

'Oh my gawd?!' Hyuuga yelped, wide-eyed.

'Oh dear oh dear...' Kiyoshi scratched his head.

'Never thought he'd do this.' Izuki sighed.

'KISE?!' his teammates squawked in shock.

'I can't believe he got a girlfriend before I did, how unfair!' Moriyama complained unhappily.

'TEMEEEE!' Kagami howled in horror.

'HOW COULD YOU DO THAT TO KUROKO-CHAN?!' Koganei yelled.

Kuroko was stunned, red-faced and frozen where she stood.

'Listen up you chumpy-kohai, this is a declaration of war!' Kise declared, pointing at Kagami, Furihata, Fukuda and Kawahara with his left arm while his right was around Kuroko's shoulders; girl in question still in shock. 'I'll show you I'm her number one student, not you!'

'Say it to our face, we dare you!' Kagami, Furihata, Kawahara and Fukuda growled defensively.

'What do you mean Kohai, we're the same age, dumbass!' Kagami added indignantly.

'I was her student for two years and you started recently so yes, you're technically my juniors! Age don't matter anymore!' Kise retorted.

'You idiots...' Riko growled, taking out her paper-slapper.

'Cut it out!' she and Kasamatsu bonked their players hard on their heads.

'Ugeh!'

'Ow!'

'Hmph, in regards to idiots, we might just get along well, Kasamatsu-san.' Riko harrumphed, twitching in annoyance.

'I concur.' Kasamatsu grunted. 'I swear, I'm getting gray hairs at age 19! Freshmen brats these days...!'

'Back to warm up, you morons!' Riko hollered while trying to wake Kuroko by snapping her fingers. 'Damnit Kise-kun, she's frozen stiff from shock! Kuro-chan wake uuuuup!' she wailed, even pinching her cheeks.

'Maybe I should kiss her again?' Kise happily and playfully suggested.

'HELL NO!' both teams yelled angrily except for Kiyoshi who shook his head in utter disapproval, hands on his hips.

'Private stuff should stay private you know...' he chided. 'Ah! Line-up time!' he exclaimed as the buzzer sounded.

/Both teams, line-up./ as Kaijou and Seirin lined up, Kagami and Kise were glaring at each other.

/Its only been two years since their formation but they've crushed their opponents since their Winter Cup debut! The miraculous Eye of the Storm, Seirin High School! Wearing their traditional blue, these National-Class Veterans have come from the highly-competitive Kanagawa Prefecture! They had a flawless offense and defense before but now they have one of the Generation of Miracles, Kise Ryouta! The Blue Elites, Kaijou High School!/

'Let's have a good match!'

It took time for Kuroko to recover because its one thing in private, its another thing to do it in public...and as Kuroko promised, the game was fast and hard, worthy of National-Class Players.

'Sooo Kuro-chan,' said Riko, elbowing Kuroko who squeaked. 'Looks like you got a serious one eh?'

'Uhm...any advice?' Kuroko squeaked out, utterly embarrassed. 'This is out of my depth...I'm a mentor but no more than that...' she croaked out.

'Well, considering I dated Teppei once, I should help you out some, but in my case, we didn't work out but still stayed friends...then there's Tsuchida-kun who's steady with his girlfriend, so listen to the two of us when this match is over!'

'H-Hai...'

'Anyway, where's that weird doll of yours? You don't go out without it if all possible.'

'Ah, he's in the laundry. Tetsu spilled food on him.'

Said 'laundry' is in Namimori Town as while Kuroko was stronger than Chrome in fighting, that was a no-no considering Chrome was in the mafia, yet weaker than her in combat but stronger than her in illusions and Mukuro wanted everything evened out.

The match was a very high-level one.

As Kuroko predicted, Kise went all out in a bid to make her proud of him and as if following his pace, his teammates have his back, so Seirin had to fight with all they have, and wait for the time he gets subbed out for them to make a comeback.

'Nee senpai...is this love thing enough to motivate people so?' Kuroko asked Riko. 'Kise-kun is giving everyone considerable trouble...'

'Well, it depends on the individual but since he likes you for so long without switching to another girl even though he's got the looks and a job already...makes me wonder what kind of girl he likes that he decided you are it and stuck on it. Did you ask him why he likes you when he fessed up? You're his type of girl obviously.'

'Uhm, I didn't get the chance.' said Kuroko sheepishly. 'I was about to when his manager phoned that they got a job at 10 pm so he had to run for it.'

'Geh...'

'You mean you never even had puppy love back at elementary, Kuro-chan?'

'What's that?' Riko, Mitobe, Furihata and Fukuda sweatdropped.

'Are you serious?!'

After a long, arduous match, Seirin won by a hair out of luck. By one point before time ran out and it was thanks to Kagami's high-jumping powers and Meteor Jam.

'Thank goodness for Kagami~' Riko choked out as their bench gasped out a breath they didn't realize they held out of suspense.

'That's one thing Kise-kun can't copy even if he spent a whole life on it for sure.' Kuroko gasped out. 'Without Air Walk, we'd have lost this match.'

'No kidding...'

'I didn't see that coming at all and its vexing to lose.' Kise moped to Kuroko. 'But Kurokocchi, who's your best student?' he asked her hopefully while wincing on his leg. He pulled a muscle chasing Kagami to prevent Seirin from winning but how could they know he can jump that damn high?!

'Kise-kun, I never pick favorites.' said Kuroko, shaking her head. 'Whoever comes under my care, I treat them all equally so they'll equally grow and become their own unique talent and your full development is a Coach's duty for their athletes.' she said. 'As a trainer, I care more for how much everyone has grown when I'm not looking whenever we're done for the day.' she told him with a smile. 'I'm equally proud of all of you.'

'Too bad she's not into favoritism eh?' Kagami snorted. 'But nonetheless I'm glad for that.'

'By the way Kise-kun, I never got the chance to ask...why me of all girls?' Kuroko asked him curiously. 'I never got the chance for that question because your manager called.'

'Ohhh yeah! Spill it buster!' Riko said excitedly. Kise went beet red.

'I'll tell only her!'

'She'll tell us anyway!' the sophomores snarked.

'Are you serious?!'

'Well...they know me full well Kise-kun.' said Kuroko. 'Unlike you, I never had things like puppy love or crushing on a boy from Primary to present date...and you're the first boy to ever say he likes me in such a way so this is out of my depth.' she said. 'Falling in love is something I have never known nor understood so I ask senpai for advice. They know about your confession.'

Kise understood that she never told them that he got too touchy or they'd have decked him by now and kept him away from her.

'Huuuuh?' Kise's jaws dropped. 'Not even a crush in elementary?!'

Kuroko shook her head.

'Nope.'

Kise fainted.

'Yare yare, someone is the last to go through puberty.' Hyuuga pinched his nose. 'Oy, somebody take Kise away already!' he called out to Kaijou.

'Well, Kuro-chan still has yet to fall in love herself.' Tsuchida laughed. 'A girl's normal reaction if confessed to by a guy is to be all shy and awkward around them because, well, things changed between them. Kotoko-chan was the same way when I fessed up.' he said with a fond chuckle. 'But Kuro-chan never acted that way even after Kise dropped the bomb. I'd say his fight is not yet over, fessing up alone isn't enough.'

'No kidding!' Kiyoshi laughed.

'Well, he has more things to worry about.' said Izuki.

'What is it?' Kagami asked him.

'The other Miracles are watching no doubt...any bet on who guts Kise first and hang his innards like a macabre christmas decor on a tree?' Izuki piped up while shuddering. 'I mean, Aomine's close to her, Midorima holds her in high regard especially her cooking, no idea about Murasakibara and Akashi...'

Everyone gaped at him.

'I'd say he's a dead man walking.' said Kagami flatly.

Before the Interhigh when his leg was injured, Aomine, thinking he was close to Kuroko gunned for him regardless of his injury in a one-on-one by Coach's Sports Gym and practically stated why he was the better man. So yes, he's not about to forget that soon, thank you.