Chapter 21

As the game began to start, Seirin had only 6 while Touou had 8. Seirin was managaing to hold on, because of Misaki's back-up and Kuroko's passes. Kagami looked over to the game, twitching.

As Mitobe tried to get the rebound from Wakamatsu, he threw the ball across the court to Imayoshi. However, Misaki jumped between grabbing the ball, as she begun to zig-zag around her opponents. She passed the ball to Kuroko who passed it to Hyuuga, who did a three pointer.

The crowd cheered. "Good one, Tetsu. How are ya doing?" asked Misaki, as they ran back.

"I'm fine, Misaki-san." replied Kuroko.

Misaki nodded. "Good. Tell any of us, if there any problems. Let's go!" she yelled. Seirin's spirit stayed bright with Misaki's encouraging yells.

Imayoshi had a small flashback when he played against a team. She kept yelling positive feedback, even if the situation was dark. He smiled at the memory.

When the match kept going on, Touou had 13 while Seirin had 9. Riko looked serious. They're strong! I didn't think they'd be this strong! If Misaki hadn't reacted fast enough or her prediction skills, we may have lost already. If they're this good without Aomine, we're screwed.

"This is bad." said Furihata.

"What's wrong?" asked Kagami.

"Look at Touou's prelimary scores."

"108 to 91, 151 to 72, 131 to 81... They're all in the 100s!" yelled Kawahara.

"That's right. They are the oppisite of Seihou. They're a offensive team." explained Riko. They're attention were snapped back as Sakurai shot the ball.

"Sorry!" he yelled. Hyuuga twitched. Damn it, I can't block him! He's shooting while jumping! And if you're going to apologize don't shoot in the first place! thought Hyuuga. As Misaki was near Sakurai, she looked at him.

"Hey."

"Hai?! I'm sorry!"

Misaki nearly lost her balance. "Why are you apologizing? Anyway, don't apologize if you're going to shoot."

Sakurai blinked, as she pointed to her captain. "My captain is going to really annoyed at you. I wonder you apologize so much? Are you trying to make up to something that happened to your past?" She said, as Sakurai blinked. He begun to shake, as Misaki narrowed her eyes at him. "Thought so. Look, apologizing over everything is not going to help. What's done is done. All we can do is just fix it and move on. Remember that." she said, running back to her captain.

Sakurai blinked surprisingly at her. Misaki begun to tell her team mates as they ran back. "They have no coordination at all, and their care for their team mates are minimal. We just have to go with it." she said.

"Work with it? How?" asked Izuki.

"I don't know. I just have this feeling. Anyway their offense and defense is all one- on-one. Basically, it's you get the ball, score yourself. They're firing us with their individual skill!" said Misaki. Kuroko patted her shoulders as she nodded. Sophie looked at the two and then at Momoi, who was slightly angry. Sophie smirked. This is soooo getting intresting.

"I expectd some of this, but that's your style." said Izuki to Imayoshi.

"That's right. Our team gathered athletes from across the country. The more skilled the player is, the stronger his sense of self." said Imayoshi. "We've been trying all sorts of things in the last few years, though. More than holding hands and playing nice, this way works best. We're both offenseive teams, which makes this game a little more intresting."

As Izuki got the ball, Imayoshi begun to guard him. "I don't know how intresting it will be. I'm not even sure we're the same type. Our style is full team play. " said Izuki as he escaped Imayoshi. As he was trying to chase after Izuki, Misaki got in front of him.

"Sorry, Shoichi-nii. I promised them I would do all I can. After all, we're a team!"

As everyone in Seirin got the ball, they begun to pass back and forth, thus ending it to Hyuuga, who shot a three. Hyuuga turned to Sakurai. "I don't plan on losing this game. Tell your captain, you apologetic mushroom."

"What?Sorry!" yelled Sakurai. I didn't say anything! and what's an apologetic mushroom? Misaki begun to laugh at the apologetic mushroom thing. "Really Captain?!"

As Wakamtasu passed the ball to Imayoshi, he begun to laugh. "I didn't hear what you said, but I understood something.. from your play!" yelled Imayoshi as he threw the ball as Wakamatsu begun to run.

"Another Long pass!?"

"Between our individual style and your coordinate style, let's see whose style is better." said Imayoshi.

"I called it team play." said Izuki. "Most people forget."

As Wakatamstu was running, he realized Kuroko was right next to him. He's fast! No, he's not! He started fast, but... where did this guy come from, anyway!?

Kuroko jumped to get the ball, as Riko yelled. "He's too low!"

"If you're going to do that, at least tell us!" yelled Misaki as she jumped grabbing the ball.

Too high! She's way too high! What nationally are you?! thought Wakamatsu. As Misaki begun to zoom to the hoop, Kuroko stopped Wakamatsu as the others did the same. Misaki jumped as Imayoshi escaped Izuki. They were at the same height.

"MISAKI!" Misaki merely closed her eyes, which earned Imayoshi an eyebrow raise. She snapped them open, Medusa Eye activating for a short time, as Imayoshi fell back to the ground. Misaki slammed the ball into the hoop, earning a point for Seirin. Kagami and the others cheered.

"TCH, she has done it now!" yelled Wakamatsu.

Sophie clapped for her former captain. Momoi stared at Misaki, trying to analyze her patterns, but to no avail. Sophie looked at the pink-headed girl.

"You won't find her pattern." she said. Momoi looked at her.

"What do you mean?"

"Captain doesn't follow anything. She's like a switch. She turns on and off whatever she feels right. If I don't know her style." she said. Momoi glared at her.

At the top of the stands, Kise entered the building. "I'm late again, and they're losing again." He looked over and saw a certain green-headed person.

"Midorimacchi?"

"Kise?!" yelled Midorima as he jack in the box opened. "How did you know it was me?!"

"What are you, stupid?" said Kise. "Those sunglasses are embarrasing. Please take them off."

"What?"

"What's with the box anyway?" said Kise.

"It's today's lucky item of course."

Kise blinked. "Is that it? You told everyone you didn't want to see the game, but you came anyway?"

"Don't say that! I just happened to be in the area!"

"Your house isn't anywhere near here. So how's the game?"

"Nothing special. Aomine doesn't seem to be here, but they're barely keeping up."

"Aominecchi's not here? Well, those two just scored. They're just getting started."

"Have you forgotten Kise? Touou has Momoi as well." said Midorima. "She is not just a manager. During middle school, she helped us many times. In other words, if she is your opponent, she becomes exceptionally hard to deal with."

"Momocchi, huh? She's know Aominecchi since they were little, hasn't see?" asked Kise. "Wait a minute, didn't she like Kurokocchi? What if she can't play seriously against him?"

"Is that right?" said Midorima.

"What? You didn't know?! She was all over him! What are you a monkey?!"

"What?! What do you mean, a monkey?!" yelled Midorima. "Well, if that's the case, it's all the more, then."

"Huh?"

" She would never wish for Kuroko to slack off in a game. Her role may be different, but her attitude towards basketball is no differenet from an athelete's. She would never intentionally lose a basketball game."

As the others were running back. "So...Momoi is your girlfriend? She's...cute."

Kuroko looked over. "Is that so? Anyway, she isn't my girlfriend. Why?"

"Nothing..." she said. Just jealous...I think.

"I can see how they defeat a couple of kings." said Harasawa.

"Coach, should we take a time out?" asked Momoi.

"No, it's fine. They're still making corrections after observing the real thing. Momoi-san, did you already hand those out?

"Yes. They... already know everything." Sophie merely looked at the hands out she was given. She turned to her captain and smirked in her mind. You may have theirs...however, the ones on captain... aren't even real.

Flash Back

"Momoi-san. Those are the handouts, right?" asked Sophie.

Momoi nodded. "Hai. I just need to print these ones out for everyone. I have to do something, so can you print some copies?"

"Sure, why not. By the way, are these the only one?"

"Yup. I got them typed up and printed it up, but I forgot to save the original file. It would be bad, if I lost these ones! Then I would have to re-do it again!"

Sophie merely nodded and smiled as Momoi turned away. She looked down at the originals and smirked. She took her captain's one and burned it, quickly making a false one.

"I don't care about the others. However, if it's captain, I will do anything. Even if it's against my own school." she said, getting rid of the evidence. "Besides Momoi typed down the accident. I don't allow such information to be seen!" she gritted, punching a hole in the table. "Whoops."

End of Flash Back

As Izuki got the ball, he passed it to Misaki, who begun to dribble the ball.

"A dunk!?" yelled Kise.

"I know. I thought you might try that." said Momoi. Sophie merely smirked, her face covered. As someone tried to stop her, she merely looked over to Sophie who was doing a finger signal. Misaki dodged them, Medusa Eye activating. They all fell down to the ground, as she did a three.

Momoi widened her eyes. "W-what!? What was that?! How come it isn't in the data?!"

Someone in the crowd smiled. Her red hair sticking out, as her honey yellowed orbs looked down. Her punk clothing making everyone silent around her. Even Sophie may have burned Audrey's information on her. It's wrong. I changed the data in everything about her.

Kagami merely looked at the crowds, as he saw the red mop of dyed hair. She's here... He looked at the court, where his captain was. Even though Captain isn't fast, his patterns will change.

When Hyuuga was about to go around him, Sakurai blocked him, earning gasps. "What?! They got his patterns!? They haven't seen this pattern before!"

Their height, weight, strengths, weaknesses, personality, habits... I gather all of it and analyze, interpet, and narrow the results. The last trick is..." A women's intution."

The red headed girl walked up to where Midorima and Kise was smiling evily. "Even though that girl may be able to tell what their moves are, Captain has a better way."

Kise and Midorima looked at her, than at the court.

As Hyuuga passed it to Izuki, he could not move, since there were no openings. Misaki merely looked at her opponent, and blinked blankly. Misaki begun to run, as her opponent did the same. Izuki passed it to her, as she used Medusa Eye. Her opponent fell down, sliding on the floor as she passed it to Kuroko, who passed it to her back when she jumped. Doing an alley-oop.

Touou merely gaped at her as she looked down at them. "Momoi may be able to predict, but I can see the future." she said. Momoi, Kise, Kuroko, and Midorima backed-up as they saw an image of Akashi, shivering, as she was looking down on his opponents. The others snapped out of it, as the game resumed on.

When they did the same thing again, they did something that was not on Momoi's data. As Hyuuga did the same thing, Sakurai felt someone behind him. He looked over to see Kuroko. When did they set up that screen?!

"Not even with a woman's intuition." said Riko as she put her hair behind her ear. As Hyuuga was about to be blocked, Hyuuga passed the ball to Misaki who dunked it in the goal. The points were now 21 to 20. Seirin quickly catching up.

Kuroko looked over to Momoi who was shocked. Hyuuga patted Misaki's back. "Good one Misaki."

"Good work as usual, Kuroko!" said Izuki.

Sheesh! I can never read him. thought Momoi.

"Damn, this isn't going to be easy." said Harasawa. "Well, it should be expected from Hayato's daughter."

Momoi looked at her clipboard. "Don't worry. I thought this would happen." Also that's why I love him.

As the buzzer went off, both teams began to sit at their benches. The points were now 25 to 21.

"A four point difference. It should be expected." said Imayoshi.

"With Momoi's data, we can still beat them. We don't need Aomine!" said Wakamatsu.

"No, he'll play." said Harasawa. "Don't make me tell you something as obvious as don't underestimate you opponent. Besides, at the second quarter, they'll probably come at us with those two."

"Yes, without a doubt. Isn't that right, Sophie?" they looked at the blond who was merely staring somewhere.

"I wonder about that."

"Huh?"

Sophie looked at them. "I'm completely useless when Captain is on. Her mind is like an animal. She goes with one plan, than another, than another, and so forth. She creates so many back-up plans, that every team gives up. No doubt, she knows our plan. And look, she already smirking." they looked to see Misaki, smriking at them.

"The more data you have, the more accurate it is. She's been researching the second-years for a whole extra year. However, there's considerably less information about you three and the rest of the first years. Kuroko-kun is difficult to predict, Kagami-kun is still developing, and Misaki is completely random. If there's anyone who can counter Momoi, it's you two."

"Okay, we'll keep Misaki on, until Aomine comes in." Kagami nodded as he gave Misaki and Kuroko a fist-pump.

"Give them hell, rookies!" yelled Riko.

As Izuki smirked, he passed the ball to Kuroko.

Already? It's just as Momoi predicted...

Kuroko did an instant pass as it went into Misaki's hands. Momoi gasped. Misaki merely remained blank as she took hold of the ball. She jumped.

As two of Touou's players jumped, they started to widen their eyes as they saw Misaki was still climbing.

"W-what?!" they yelled as Misaki dunked it into the hoop. The two landed with a thud, when Misaki landed with a light landing. She begun to walk back, as she looked at them.

"I've dealt bigger people than you in America. You tend to learn a few tricks when you do." she said. She high-fived Kuroko

"Nice pass, Tetsu!" she yelled as Kagami smirked. Who gives a crap about data! "However..." she raised her red hand. "Damn it! I didn't know if it hurts this much!" she yelled. Kuroko merely laughed silently, as Misaki blinked. "Oi! Tetsu! Are you laughing at me!?"

"No. I am not."

"Yes, you were!" Sophie merely laughed at her captain.

"This brings back so much memories!" she yelled. Momoi's face flashed with a look of jealousy.

As Hyuuga begun to shoot the ball, he accidentally moved, causing the ball to rebound. Misaki jumped in front of Wakamatsu as Mitobe smased it into the hoop.

"It seems Seirin is doing better now." said Kise.

"It should be expected. With Misaki's endless energy, she keeps everyone in check. She's like a back-up actor if something goes wrong. She also keeps her team mates spirit burning, and taunting her opponents. After all, a super energetic player does get under people's nerves." said Midorima, looking at Kise.

"What?!" yelled Kise. Sophie looked at the board. It was 38 to 37. Seirin, one point behind.

"Please hang in there, everyone!" yelled Kagami.

"Calm down, Kagami." said Tsuchida. "Have a little more faith in everyone."

" I know!" We'll beat Touou with team play!" Riko merely looked at Misaki's face.

"I'm sorry." everyone looked at her.

"What's wrong, coach."

"The truth is, Misaki wanted one of the first years to go on. However, I didn't want to. I wanted to let you on, however she refused for me to let you go on. It's not like I understimate everybody's strength, I just want to win." said Riko. Kagami merely stared at his coach. He sighed as he reached into Misaki's bag, revealing a pink letter.

"Huh?" said Riko as Kagami gave her the letter.

"Audrey, thought you would say that. So she asked me to give you this letter, if she was on."

Riko took the letter, and begun to read it.

"Everything gets done with effort and team work. Trust is easy to destroy, hard to build. However, trust is needed in everything. It is understable if you want to win, so does everyone. All you have to do, is trust the players you trained." read out Riko. She blinked as she looked at Misaki.

"We've been calling it team play, but it's actually a style someone taught me." said Riko.

"Someone?" said Kagami.

"I'm not strong enough to draw out everyone's full potential, so I have to rely on you guys, even though you're injured. My own weakness pisses me off."

"What are you talking about? It's not even like you." said Kagami. The others nodded in agreement. "You make pratice menus, you scout, you gives us instructions on the bench, and even massage and tape us. If anything, you do too much." said Kagami. "You're the coach. You've got to at least come prepared during games. I mean, telling us with an apology hardly amps me up."

The others smiled as Riko looked at them. "You're a brat, you idiot."

Misaki stopped as she felt someone's prescene. "Tetsu. Everyone. He's here." they froze as they saw Aomine Daiki walking into the court. Imayoshi looked and saw what they were looking at. Kagami felt someone's arm around him.

"Oh? You're not on? Are you going to sit there all day, or are you going to entertain me?"

Kagami widened his eyes as he threw Aomine's shoulders away. "You bastard!"

"You're finally here? Hurry up and get ready so you can play!" said Imayoshi.

"What?But you're winning." said Aomine."There's only one minute left in the second quarter, anyway." As he looked at the points. 49 to 48. He narrowed his eyes at the board. They're close...

"No, you have to play." said Harasawara.

"Fine." sighed Aomine. " Well then, let's go." smirked Aomine.