The following list can be interpreted as Original character - Body that character is inhabiting

Kuroko – Murasakibara

Kise – Midorima

Midorima – Aomine

Aomine – Kise

Murasakibara – Akashi

Akashi – Kuroko

...

Chapter Fourteen

Over the next few days, the Miracles kept hard at practice.

It turned out that Nijimura had some good advice to dish out.

"Seeing as you won't change when sleeping with the same omamori as your last swap, keep it as that," was what he had told them. "We can't afford to have you switching with the game in the horizon. We'll deal with how to revert you back after we win."

Aomine's overconfidence was also getting the better of him.

"You know, I'm pretty used to Midorima's body now," he said indolently. "I don't think my presence is relevant."

Akashi said calmly, "I figured you would say that, Daiki. As insurance, I went over to Kaisei and spoke with their Captain."

"You did what?" said Aomine in disbelief.

"So that's where you disappeared to the other day!" exclaimed Kise.

Akashi folded his arms, gazing at his team impassively. "I told him we would not simply win. We would match their score – tenfold."

Kise's eyes bulged out. "Say WHAT?"

"Tenfold?" exclaimed Midorima. "Akashi, you're joking right?"

"They're a strong team," said Kuroko worriedly. "They managed to double every team's score in the last nationals."

"Then," continued Akashi coldly, "go ahead and skive all you want. Losing the bet is fine. I will simply send the second string to participate in the next championship game, in our stead."

Even Murasakibara groaned. The second string were skilled, but they were light years from playing half as well as the Miracles.

"But the game is tomorrow," protested Aomine furiously. "What good will it be if I practised one more day?"

"I have no concern for your presence today. This is to make sure every one of you gives your all."

"And the Coach agrees with you?"

"Yes."

"Damn it, Akashi!"

"Daiki." Akashi's eyes bored into Aomine's. "Are you defying me?"

Yes. The word almost slipped out of Aomine's mouth. But what he managed instead was a disgruntled, "No."

"Then we shall practise."

...

Morning came, and with it, disaster.

It was a bloodcurdling scream that woke them.

"Noooooo!" screeched Kise, gaping at his reflection in Momoi's hand mirror as if it were some nightmarish creature.

Aomine sat up so fast he got the spins. "What's your problem?" he snapped. "Did you dream about losing or something, Midorima?"

Then he clammed up. He was supposed to be in Midorima's body, so why was Midorima right in front of him?

"Aomine-cchhhiiii! We've changed again!" whined Kise.

"No," muttering Aomine, refusing to believe. "No, no, no, no, no, no."

"See for yourself!" Kise shoved the mirror in his face. Aomine saw Kise's face staring back at him in growing horror.

"ARGH!" Aomine mussed up his own hair violently. "Now I'm in Kise's body? You've got to be kidding me!"

At that moment, not-Akashi sat up groggily.

"Is it time already?" he mumbled, yawning until his mouth was a cavernous pit.

"Murasakibara-cchi!" whined Kise, near tears. "What should we dooooo?"

"Stop it! You're not helping things," snapped Aomine. "How did you know who I was in the first place?"

"I don't know… your attitude?"

Murasakibara peered at his reflection blearily. "What, we've changed again? What a mountain of pain."

"How can you say it so calmly?" wailed Kise. "Don't you know the game is today?"

"Are you a crybaby? Knock it off already!" said Aomine irritably.

It was Midorima's turn with the mirror.

"And now it's Aomine nanodayo…" he sighed, setting it down. He eyed Kise and the real Aomine, who were still quibbling. "Kise, stop crying nanodayo. Don't forget you're wearing my face now."

"Kuroko-cchi, everyone's being so mean!" whined Kise, hugging not-Murasakibara, who had been watching silently the whole time.

Aomine paled. "Oi, Kise! That's not Kuroko!"

"Oh!" Kise released not-Murasakibara. Who was this? If he wasn't Kuroko, then…

Kise retreated ten feet in a flash.

"Eek! Sorry, Akashi-cchi! I didn't mean to hug you or anything…!"

Not-Murasakibara blinked. "I'm not Akashi-kun. I'm Kuroko."

Kise blinked. "WHAT?"

The door slid open. A towering figure filled the doorway, blanketing the five Miracles in shadow.

Then the figure stepped in, the shadow fading from his face, and they saw that it was only not-Kuroko.

"This is an unforeseen setback," he said quietly. "Did you not sleep with the right omamori?"

"Akashi-kun," said Kuroko. He looked extremely contrite. "I'm sorry, Akashi-kun. This was my doing. My omamori tumbled out last night."

He held up the amulet. Everyone looked at him.

"Your omamori…?" frowned Akashi. "Explain."

"I was trying to avoid Kise-kun," described Kuroko. "For some reason, he kept moving toward me even though he was fast asleep. My omamori must have fallen out while I was edging away."

"I did?" said Kise in astonishment.

Aomine grabbed Kise by the front of his shirt. "So we're in this mess because of you!"

"it hurts! Aomine-cchi, you're becoming more violent everyday!"

"It's not Kise-kun's fault, Aomine-kun," said Kuroko. "If I had stashed it properly, this wouldn't have happened… "

"It's no one's fault, Kuroko," said Midorima. "Blame it on misfortune nanodayo."

Akashi nodded. "It would certainly explain why Tetsuya alone has remained unchanged."

In that moment, something stirred behind them. When they turned to look, they saw a surprised Nijimura standing in the doorway. He was dressed in casual clothing, something they hadn't seen before.

"Why are all of you still here?" demanded the third-year. "Shouldn't you be getting ready to leave?"

"Why are you here?" returned Akashi.

"I came to watch you play, of course," said Nijimura. "And I also need a word with Akashi. Anyway, you need to hurry! The match starts in a couple of hours."

"My chaffeur will be delivering us personally," said Akashi. "And I am Akashi."

Nijimura's jaw dropped. "Huh? You guys had another episode?"

"Call it an accident and leave it at that. Now, what is it that you wanted to tell me?"

They stepped out to talk. The Miracles exchanged looks.

"Akashi's chaffeur will be delivering us?" said Aomine. "Since when did a simple practice match blow up into a federal case?"

The Captain returned moments later.

"Listen up," he said. "Momoi has gone ahead to settle a few things. Soon, we will also be making preparations. But first…" Akashi raised his eyes again, contemplating them all. "As you well know, I once mentioned that victory is prioritised over teamplay. But not this time. In two hours, we will all be unified and undivided."

"Who are you and what have you done with Akashi-cchi?" said Kise in bemusement.

"We've been able to score better as individuals nanodayo," protested Midorima.

Akashi shook his head. "Until now, we have been playing for a team. Today, we will be playing as a team."

"So you want us to hold hands and match their score tenfold at the same time?" said Aomine incredulously. "Being a Miracle doesn't mean we can just conjure one out of thin air!"

But Kuroko couldn't have looked happier.

"I'm all for it," he said with a smile. He never thought he would get to play with his team as a proper team again.

"Only for today," repeated Akashi. "I assure you, it is not in my interest to return to our old style."

"May I ask why you're doing this?" asked Midorima.

Akashi gazed at them silently. "You will find out soon enough."

…..

Momoi was beginning to regret her lone reconnaissance. The entire Kaisei team was already present, and they seemed highly determined to show off every skill set they possessed.

"That's got to be the third time he's pulling that move," she grumbled under her breath. The food container pressed on her legs slid down; she shifted it back to a safe position. "Do they want to use up all their fuel before the match begins?"

"Momoi."

Momoi's eyes widened when she saw her senpai approaching.

"Nijimura-san! Did you come to watch the game?"

"Yes." Nijimura sat down beside her. He looked a little tired. Momoi wasn't surprised; the third-year had been spending late nights with the Miracles ever since he'd learnt about their predicament. Not to mention the worry must be eating away at him as much as it was at her. Seeing the exhaustion in his face, Momoi really treasured her senpai. "Akashi and the others are here as well. They're in the changing room now."

Momoi looked up at him worriedly. "How are they? Akashi called me about what happened this morning."

"They're… coping." Nijimura looked unsure about his answer, but he gave her a reassuring smile. "Don't worry about them, Momoi. I'm sure they'll be fine."

Momoi bit her lip. She gave the container a squeeze and stood up.

"Thank you for telling me, senpai. I'm going to look for them. Please warm the bench for me."

Nijimura nodded. "Right." Although 'warm the bench' isn't exactly the appropriate term…

…..

As Momoi ran, the container in her hands made soft sloshing noises.

I hope they pull through it, she thought, her hair whipping wildly in her fluster. I can't believe such a thing would happen right before the match. Anyway, where are they? I need to give them these lemon slices before the match starts. I've put all my heart and soul into it so it will bring them luck.

She skidded to a halt. Akashi had just appeared around the corner, looking utterly bored.

"Dai-chan? Is it you?" she asked, wide-eyed.

"If I say yes, will you give me these lemon slices?"

"Mukkun!" Momoi half-laughed in her breathlessness. "Of course! I made them for you guys. But no hogging, OK?"

It was the fake Midorima who came next.

"Midorin! No, wait…?"

Not-Midorima's face brightened. "Momo-cchi, it's me!"

"Ki-chan! So you're in Midorin's body now. Here, I've got something for you!"

Now she spotted the fake Kuroko and Aomine approaching.

"Are you Tetsu-kun?" she asked not-Aomine.

"Quite the contrary nanodayo."

"None of you has seen Tetsuya either?" inquired not-Kuroko.

"I saw him with the real Aomine-cchi just now," said Kise.

Now the fake Murasakibara and Akashi appeared.

"You were looking for me, Momoi-san?" asked not-Akashi.

"Not in particular, but here!"

She thrust the container into Kuroko's arms. Kuroko looked down and saw four lemons swimming inside a yellow sea.

Momoi lowered her head shyly. "I made these for you guys. Yours is the biggest, though."

"Fawner," said Aomine.

Momoi pouted. "Dai-chan! Don't be mean."

"I told you not to call me Dai-chan!"

"Sacchin, you were supposed to slice them up first," complained Murasakibara, examining his own lemon wistfully.

"Really?" Momoi blushed. "I'm sorry…"

Kuroko gave her a warm smile. "Thank you, Momoi-san. They look delicious."

Momoi was on cloud nine.

When the Miracles entered the gym, the Kaisei team stopped to watch. One of them, a guy with outrageous spiky hair, grinned snidely. He reminded them awfully of a certain former team member,

"That's their Captain," whispered Momoi. "His name is – "

"Spiky dude is their Captain?" said Aomine in disbelief. "He looks like he should be in some dark alley beating the crap out of innocents."

Kise eyed the guy distastefully. "Not sure I want to know his name."

"Then, let's just call him Captain," suggested Murasakibara.

"I don't think Akashi will like that nanodayo," said Midorima.

Akashi said indifferently, "Whatever you call him, as long as we win, it does not matter to me."

Kise applauded. "Well said, Captain! I mean, Akashi-cchi."

They had a few minutes to warm up. Ignoring the scornful eyes of the Kaisei members, the Generation of Miracles stepped onto the court.

Aomine dribbled on the spot. He looked put off.

"This is by far the worst swap ever."

Kise paused in the middle of a shot. "I guess my body is too great for you to handle, huh?" he teased.

"Yeah... you're right. Not enough muscle."

Kise pouted. "Don't make me punch Midorima-cchi."

"Don't drag me into your fights nanodayo," said Midorima, who hadn't made any inclination to warm up, but was busy wiping his glasses.

Murasakibara was feeling too lazy to warm up too. "Why Mido-chin?" he asked puzzledly.

"Cos he's in Aomine-cchi's body," said Kise.

"What I said nanodayo."

A whistle sounded; it was time for the tip-off.

"Tetsuya, we'll be putting you in during the second half," instructed Akashi.

Kuroko nodded. "OK. Good luck, everyone."

"We'll wipe the floor with them," promised Aomine.

"Don't forget," said Akashi, leading the team as they made their way over to the midcourt line, "we play as a team today."

Why? they wondered. But Akashi had made it clear that they were not to ask questions, so they didn't. There had to be a reason though. Akashi never did things without having something to back them up.

The rest of the Kaisei team looked more decent than Captain. However, their hostility was unmistakable; they glared at the Miracles as they approached. The Teikou team could see that they badly wanted to win.