Pairings: Aomine/Tamaki
Warnings: AU Universe. OOC. Gender swap. Nice Akashi. Overprotective Generation of Miracles
Disclaimer: I do not own Kuroko no Basuke and any of the characters, but the OC characters belongs to me
Chapter Thirty Five: The Winter Cup
"You're pretty versatile. You can basically be anything that the team needs. That's what the specialist of the team – the sixth player is." - Aida Kagetora
XXXXXX
All of Seirin minus Kagami found themselves in the indoor basketball court of the Aida Gym the next morning after they've left the hot springs' inn where they had been relaxing in the previous day, save for their run-in with Touou Academy.
Tamaki was silent even as their coach's father who will be training them until their next match against Touou introduced himself. Kagami had cornered her the previous night just before they have gone to bed, informing her that he'll be gone until the Winter Cup begins.
"I had a teacher who taught me how to play basketball when I was in America." Kagami told Tamaki seriously even as the two lounged in the rest area of the inn. "I'm thinking of going back home for some time to train under her once more." He confessed.
Tamaki raised an eyebrow at her partner. "It isn't like you," she said bluntly. "Is there a reason for this?"
"Well… I guess so." Kagami mumbled, scratching at his cheek. "I was basically useless against that…Aomine the last time when we had faced Touou. And meeting him and Touou again…" He trailed off slowly. "It has been six months since the Inter High. It is true that Seirin had grown stronger. But at the same time, Touou has too. If I want to even stand a chance against Aomine, I need to get more training. I need to get stronger." He stared at his clenched fist. "As of now, I am the only one on our entire team who even stands a chance against him. And this time, you will be on the court too." He grinned at Tamaki who smiled back. "I'll be back in time." He promised. "Then we can beat Touou and Aomine together."
"Anyway…" Kagetora cleared his throat. "Start by taking your shirts off."
"Except for Tamaki-chan!" Riko cut in hastily, seeing the eager eyes of her team on the only female player in their midst. Next to her, her father seem rather surprised at seeing Tamaki, and there is even a hint of recognition in his eyes as he laid eyes on the only female Seirin player.
"This seems rather familiar…" Koganei mumbled even as the boys start peeling off their shirts, thus standing half-naked in front of their temporary coach even as Kagetora eyed each of them carefully.
"Well, you're not bad." Kagetora said at last. "You seem to have been keeping up with Riko's training since this summer. Your stamina and muscles show balanced improvement." He stated. "Anyway, split into two groups." He said suddenly, much to their surprise. "And go play cops and robbers in those mountains for about three hours." He pointed outside the window where they could faintly see the outlines of mountains just beyond it.
"…What?"
"Just go!" Kagetora barked. "Except for you." He added, looking at Tamaki who looked faintly surprised. "I want to talk to you. The rest of you, scat!" He ordered.
Still rather confused, the Seirin players all filed out of the gym, with more than one of them giving Tamaki curious looks. Finally, as the doors of the gym slammed shut behind them, thus leaving only Kagetora, Riko and Tamaki behind, silence reigned for several moments.
"I'll go and keep an eye on them." Riko volunteered, seeing that the upcoming conversation between her father and Tamaki seem to be rather private, and she then left the gym as well.
Kagetora was the first one to break the silence. "Is Kenta doing well?" he asked at last, much to Tamaki's surprise and slight confusion.
"You know him?" Tamaki asked, surprised.
"Yeah, I do." Kagetora nodded, dribbling a ball absent-mindedly on the floor of the court. "Back when I was in the National team with the others, Kenta was one of my teammates before he had to retire due to medical reasons. The others and me left a few years after that as well. After all, as athletes, there is only so much time that we could devote to basketball and stay on the court as players. Age is an unbeatable enemy after all. From what I know, most of my former teammates became basketball coaches as well. And pretty well-known teams, in fact. I'm probably the only one who didn't." Kagetora looked at Tamaki. "Even before Riko came to me about her team and told me about the players, you especially, I've heard enough about you from Kenta. He told me about the injury that you've sustained." He added, glancing at Tamaki's left wrist.
"It isn't like I can't play basketball anymore. It's just that… I can't use my old style with my right hand, especially since I'm left handed right from the start." Tamaki said slowly. "But against Touou and Daiki…"
"I've seen several of your match videos—from both your Teiko days, and even with Seirin." Kagetora said briskly. "Riko has talent as a coach, and she has a sharp eye, but she lacks experience. With just one look, I can tell. Just by your muscles alone, and your movements, I can tell that you're originally a support and offense player. You're pretty versatile. You can basically be anything that the team needs. That's what the specialist of the team – the sixth player is." He told her. "Even that strange move that you used against your last match against Kirisaki Dai Ichi…" He trailed off before sighing. "There is no polite way to say it, so I'll just come out and say it. If there is any weakness about your current playing style, it is your lack of an ability to shoot. That 'Vanishing Drive' of yours is effective against teams like Shutoku and even Kirisaki Dai Ichi because they don't know what to expect, and it took them by surprise. But the more you use it, the more future opponents will research it, and probably come up with a way to counter it. The way I see it, the Vanishing Drive only works if one of your teammates is free, and will be able to score. But what if none of them are free? You will be the only one who can score. And against a team like Touou, they will be sure to research their opponents thoroughly, and will hit out at their weak points. If you come up against a situation like this, what will you do?"
Tamaki was silent for several moments before she sighed. "I've thought of this before," she said. "But no matter how much I wish it, even though I might have been ambidextrous right from the start, my right hand still isn't my dominant hand." She stared at her right hand, clenching and unclenching it into a fist. "It lacks the power and control that I have over my left. And of course, it is impossible for me to score at present. Well, with my right hand, that is." She admitted.
Kagetora stared at Tamaki for several moments before he sighed. "Very well," he said. "I can't teach you anything more, as I don't know you well enough. But there is one person I know that can help you with your training." Tamaki looked surprised. "Go and find him. I've already told him about it even before your team came here. I'll explain things to Riko."
Tamaki managed a small smile, knowing just who Kagetora is referring to. "Thank you," she said, bowing politely to him.
"You can thank me by winning your next match." Kagetora said with a smirk. "If I had been a basketball coach, I would have been proud to be able to call a team like Seirin my team. Go on. Get stronger. Then you can show the rest of the world what the vice captain of the Generation of Miracles is capable of."
XXXXXX
The phone rang for a long time before it was picked up, and a rather grouchy voice answered, with the owner sounding as if he'd just rolled out of bed.
"Hello?"
"Nijimura-kun? It's me." Kashitori Kenta spoke into the receiver.
There was silence for several moments. "Coach?"
"I'm not your coach anymore." Kashitori said with a sigh. Several of his former students still addressed him as 'Coach' whenever they see him even though they have already graduated from Teiko. "I have something to ask you though. Are you free for a week at least, starting from today?"
"I am. Why?" Nijimura sounded almost as if he's frowning.
"There is something that I need your help with. It's one of them."
Nijimura was silent for several moments before he sighed. "Which one of them is it?" he almost groaned.
"…Tamaki-chan."
Nijimura stayed silent again. "…I'm listening."
XXXXXX
"You turned Tamaki-chan's training over to someone else?" Riko was very surprised. "Who else could help her in ways that you can't?"
"Riko-tan, I'm flattered that you think so highly of your old man—" ("I'M NOT!") "—But despite what you may think, I'm not the best there is when it comes to professional coaching and training." Kagetora said, semi-joking about with his daughter even as the rest of Seirin took a quick break after having returned from the mountains after playing a three hour game of cops and robbers.
Riko frowned. It might be because that she is his daughter, but Riko honestly believes that there is no one better than her father when it comes to coaching and training. Even most of her coaching methods that she'd used with Seirin had been learned from her father.
"To whom did you hand Tamaki-chan over, and why?" Riko asked curiously. She really wasn't expecting to lose two of her best players for a week at least as they underwent god knows what training without her supervising them. Kagami and Tamaki both have this tendency to overwork themselves after all, especially Tamaki.
"Even before you came to me about her, I've already heard a little about her from one of my former teammates." Kagetora admitted at last. "She's probably the type of player that you'll only see once in a blue moon—an extreme outliner, she doesn't play for herself, but her team. I can see why she's the vice captain of the legendary team." He looked at his daughter. "I can't do much more with her than what you could. Thus, I handed her over to someone who will know what to do with her training, and how to make her stronger – her old coach."
Riko's eyes widened in surprise. "You don't mean…?" she trailed off slowly, and Kagetora nodded grimly.
"Amongst all of my former teammates when we were together in the National team, he is probably the best at coaching amongst us," he said. "Little wonder why he is able to turn out a team like Teiko, turning them into the strongest middle school team in just under a year. Of course, the skills of the players had a lot to do with it, but still, he is an excellent coach." Kagetora looked at his daughter. "I sent the little miss to her former Teiko coach. Kashitori Kenta, the current basketball coach of Teiko Middle School, and also the one responsible for turning the legendary team of six players to what they are today."
XXXXXX
Tamaki stared at the front gates of Teiko Middle School, her bag slung over one shoulder, with Aoi's head partially sticking out of it even as the black and white husky stared curiously at the white buildings of the school.
As it is a weekend that day, and not to mention that it is so near the examination period for the middle schoolers, Tamaki isn't surprised to find that the school is so quiet. For Teiko Middle School, at least a month before the examination period, all club practices will be suspended for the students to go home and study.
Back during Tamaki's middle school years during her first and second years, for the more basketball crazy students like Aomine and Kise, this isn't something that they are very happy with. Unfortunately, that had been the golden rule when it comes to Coach Kashitori and Akashi too.
Aoi whined from within Tamaki's bag, and she smiled slightly as she patted the head of the husky. "I'm all right," she said. She then sighed. "Well then, should we go?"
It seems almost strange and surreal to Tamaki even as she wandered through the quiet hallways of Teiko Middle School, her feet almost taking her automatically along the familiar path that she always took towards the first gym of Teiko Middle.
For as long as she had been in Teiko, her old middle school is never silent. There is always noise somewhere in the school, be it the eccentrics of the guys from the Drama Club, the shouts and cheers from the various sports clubs in the school, or even the loud screams from Kise's endless fangirls always screaming 'Kise-kun! Kise-kun!'
Teiko Middle School is never silent, no matter which hour of the day it is. If anything, it is always noisy.
The doors of the first gym was slightly ajar even as Tamaki approached, and she entered it cautiously, and albeit warily. Two figures were standing by the side of the basketball cage, already dressed in practice clothes, seemingly waiting for her.
"It's been awhile, Tamaki." Nijimura Shuzo greeted with a smile, a basketball tucked beneath one arm. Tamaki didn't let her surprise show at having one of the very few seniors that actually acted like a senior and cared for his juniors during her middle school years now standing in front of her.
"Tora told me all about it." Kashitori Kenta said briskly. "I may no longer be your coach, but I'll be damned if I let one of my former students make a poor showing at the Winter Cup against an opponent that I know she can beat. Kise-kun and Midorima-kun, and even Aomine-kun…" Kashitori glanced at Tamaki. "You should be able to handle them with no problem, Tamaki-chan. You're the vice captain of the team for a reason, not just for your tactical skills alone. Even with your injury, you should be more than a match for them. And not to mention Hanamiya Makoto." Kashitori's eye twitched as he recalled that brat from two years ago. "He might be one of the so-called Crownless Generals, but he's the weakest of the lot. You shouldn't have that much trouble with him like how I'd seen during Seirin's match against Kirisaki Dai Ichi."
Nijimura studied his silent junior for a long time. There had been several reasons why Nijimura Shuzo is one of the few, if not the only senior that the Generation of Miracles had the utmost respect for. He understood his juniors well, and while he no longer played basketball due to his family situation, he still took the time and trouble to catch up with the basketball tournaments happening in the high school circle right now.
"Tamaki, I remember back during your second year, after you had that accident, you were stuck in a rut for some time that you even seem to have trouble playing against some of the second stringers." Nijimura said slowly. "Akashi-kun had mentioned at that time that you had a classic case of what we referred to as 'yips'. Most athletes who suffered from traumatic experiences tend to underperform after that due to fear. Is it the same case here? I agree with Coach. I know you're better than this. Injury or not, there is no reason that your performance level had dropped this drastically."
"I…don't really know." Tamaki admitted. "Maybe it is as you've said it. But…" Tamaki trailed off. "Our opponents from here on will only get tougher. Touou Academy is strong. But they're not the strongest school out there. Yosen High. Rakuzan High. We'll be facing stronger opponents than Touou in the Winter Cup. That's why… No matter what, I want to be able to play my old style once more. The 'Mirage' style."
Nijimura and Kashitori exchanged looks, a small smile on their faces. "Well, you don't lack conviction at least. I was worried, after what I've heard from Tora, that you might have lost that fire and the will to win that I've seen back in Teiko." Kashitori said cheerfully. "That same fire that had convinced me to become the basketball coach of Teiko Middle School. Anyway, that's what Nijimura-kun and I are here for. No matter what it takes, we'll help you to retake back the Mirage style that had given you the name of the Ghost of the Court, the Mirage, amongst several other names."
Nijimura almost snorted. It almost amazed him sometimes just how corny the names that people could come up with. When his juniors have first started their debut, and thus gained the corny name of the 'Generation of Miracles', he remembered the loud complaining that Aomine had done for a week after that article came out in the magazine. But the name had stuck, and ever since then, everyone in the middle school and high school districts have then addressed the six Teiko prodigies as 'the Generation of Miracles'.
"How?" Tamaki asked with confusion. "I mean… I'm left handed to start with, even though I'm ambidextrous." She waved her own right hand about as she spoke. "My power and control over my left and right hands are different. And to start with, I've been using my right hand for a little over a year. And it's impossible for me to start shooting or even use Mirage with my right hand."
Nijimura muttered something beneath his breath. "Then what do you call your brief performance during the Seiho game?" he said albeit sarcastically, recalling the short thirty seconds or so when Tamaki had used that move to score the first ball of the game against Seiho. "And then during your first match against Midorima-kun's team? That is undoubtedly Mirage! And don't you dare say it is all you can do!" He said sternly. "I know you better than that, Tamaki! Nothing is impossible for you. You'll always find ways to overcome it, like how you and Akashi-kun formed a new varsity basketball team during your freshman year, even though everyone told you that it's impossible. And then later on, you both only took three months to train your team, and then started taking the three major basketball tournaments by storm that year. I was there too. I heard how everyone—both the school and the team, and even the School Board told you that it's impossible. But you both proved them wrong back then. So why can't you prove us and everyone wrong here too?"
Tamaki was silent, and Kashitori eyed Tamaki calculatingly. "Tamaki-chan, have you tried shooting with your right hand before?" Kashitori asked suddenly. "And I don't mean when you first started trying to get used to your right hand. I mean ever since you've started high school."
"Uh… Well, no. I don't believe so." Tamaki said at last after thinking it over.
The last time that she had even tried to shoot using her right hand had been back during her third year of Teiko when she was still trying to get used to using her right hand for basketball. Since then, she had all but given up on trying to shoot using her right hand, as the first few times when she'd tried, the ball literally flew all over the place. That's just how bad that her control had been back then when she'd first started using her right hand to play. Oh sure, she had used her right hand even before that accident, but that is mainly for passing and ball tipping. She had never once used it for offense.
"I thought so." Kashitori nodded. "With everyone around you telling you that it's impossible for you to start shooting, and that you can no longer use Mirage using your right hand, probably, somewhere inside you, part of you had agreed with them." He looked at Tamaki. "A long time ago, I retired from the Japan National team as a player due to injuries. Everyone said that I can no longer return to basketball, and I believed them. Until one day, you and Momoi-chan turned up on my doorstep and asked me to be your coach, thus proving me wrong. You are one of the team of six prodigies that are dubbed the Generation of Miracles. Nothing is impossible for you. You just have to believe. So prove to me, Kuroko Tamaki." Kashitori started dribbling the ball on the floor of the court. "Prove to me that you can overcome the impossible, like how you've done so many times during your time in Teiko. And I'll also prove to you that I can turn you into the player that you had once been back during Teiko. The player that opposing teams everywhere feared to even face on the court." Tamaki was a little taken aback. "You are my student, even though you're no longer in Teiko. But I helped to turn you into the player that you had once been. And I intend to bring that player back. It's like what you told Hanamiya Makoto during your Kirisaki Dai Ichi match. The name of Teiko and the Generation of Miracles isn't cheap enough to be thrown around by just anyone!"
"Well then." Nijimura smirked as he rubbed the back of his neck. "We have a week to do this. Let's get this practice underway."
XXXXXX
A week later, Tamaki is making her way towards the gym where the Winter Cup tournament will be held in Tokyo that year. Nijimura and Kashitori have really grilled her with everything that they have for the past week, and their training is as tough as Tamaki had remembered. But she had been grateful for it, as she knew that it is something that she needs, especially if she'll be facing her former teammates on the court as opponents.
For the past week, Tamaki had given everything that she has, and now, as she alighted at Sendagaya Station, and start to make her way over to the gym where the Winter Cup will be held, seeing players from several different teams all dressed in their team jackets, she felt the same excitement that she had always felt whenever a tournament is about to begin.
For the past few years, the three major basketball tournaments have always been the summer Inter High, the autumn National Sports Meet, and the Winter Cup.
Until recently, the greatest of these three tournaments was the summer Inter High. However, the scale of the winter tournament has grown every year, and now with the Generation of Miracles entering high school, the scale has grown even bigger. Now, the title of the winter tournament is on par with, or perhaps even greater than the Inter High tournament.
Tamaki received several surprised looks from her teammates as she joined them at their meeting spot, thanks to the several band-aids visible on her right wrist and palms and even on her cheek, and not to mention the thick white bandage visible around her left wrist, but they said nothing.
After all, there is nothing more to say.
The Winter Cup had hereby commenced, and for Seirin, there is only one thing left for them to do.
To win.
XXXXXX
The opening ceremony of the Winter Cup is an eye-opener, as Tamaki had recognised several of the team colours and the team jackets that several of the other players were wearing. The Winter Cup tournament indeed seems to be greater in scale, as compared to the Inter High or even the Nationals. The nation's top and best teams have all been assembled in this tournament.
No matter which team that Seirin had drawn for their opponent, it won't be an easy match, and Tamaki will need to use everything that she has—both her basketball skills on the court and even her tactical skills in order to support her team with everything that she has.
Volcano Riko erupted after the opening ceremony had ended, and a certain redhead hasn't even shown his face.
"Damn it! What is that idiot Kagami doing?" Riko raged, imaginary fire almost appearing behind her, and all of Seirin took several steps backwards to protect themselves from Riko's wrath. "The opening ceremony's already over!"
"Apparently, he forgot about the time difference." Fukuda told a harried Hyuuga who looked extremely stressed, as they had their match against Touou Academy in the afternoon, and they'll definitely need Kagami for the game. "He'll be here soon."
"Unbelievable." Hyuuga almost groaned. 'He'd better get here soon, for his own sake, if not mine.' The Seirin captain mused to himself, glancing at a fuming Riko.
"This is amazing." Kawahara said, eyes shining even as he looked around him at the courts where the court personnel were all cleaning and setting it up for the matches. "The Inter High courts were amazing, but this is even bigger."
"On top of that…" Furihata looked at the other teams lounging around with an uneasy look on his face. "Everywhere you look are schools we've seen in books or magazines. We're supposed to fight these monsters?" He mumbled.
"Idiots!" Hyuuga smacked the two freshmen over their heads. "We weren't invited here as guests. Hold your heads high. Just like them, we earned our place here." He reprimanded.
"Yes sir!"
Unlike her fellow freshmen, Tamaki wasn't fooled however, as she caught the slight uneasy look in Hyuuga's eyes. She still recalled the first major basketball tournament that she had ever participated in as a freshman in Teiko, and how nervous and anxious that her teammates had been. But she also knew that their nerves would soon go away once they actually start playing.
Tamaki's phone started vibrating in her pocket just then, and she fished it out, opening it only to see that she'd just received a mail from her cousin. And from the looks of it, it is a group mail; being circulated to several others. Tamaki doesn't even need to guess to know who else Akashi had sent that mail to.
There is just one line in the text message: Head to the south entrance now.
Honestly… Why isn't she surprised?
Tamaki had already anticipated something like this coming from her cousin sooner or later. It is just that she didn't expect for him to take this long.
"Sorry, could I step out for a bit?" Tamaki turned towards her bickering seniors. "I've been summoned." She added.
"Summoned?" Kiyoshi echoed.
"I'm going to see Sei." Tamaki answered. "Akashi-kun." She added for the benefit of those of her team who apparently couldn't remember that 'Sei' is the name that she uses to address her cousin and also the former captain of the Generation of Miracles.
There was a sudden shocked silence from the rest of her team. This isn't the first time that they've heard about the fearsome captain of the Generation of Miracles, and more than one of them had often wondered just what kind of person would be able to command an entire team of egocentric geniuses like the Generation of Miracles, and just what kind of player he is.
"The captain of the Generation of Miracles…" Izuki murmured.
Riko sighed. After having Tamaki in her team for this long, Riko knew by now that whenever it comes to the Generation of Miracles, Seirin has no hand in it unless Tamaki turns to them for help, which as Riko knew, is highly unlikely.
"Fine." Riko said at last. "We've got a game this afternoon. Be back by then."
"Okay." Tamaki nodded, before she then turned to leave.
"Furihata-kun, could you follow her?" Riko asked the brunette first year. "I know that she'll be fine, but still… I'm a little worried." She bit on her lower lip with worry.
"Right."
Furihata then ran to catch up with Tamaki. For several moments, the two said nothing at all, and merely made their journey in silence until Furihata broke the silence. "What is he like?" Furihata asked Tamaki curiously. "The captain of the Generation of Miracles."
After all, what kind of person could command a team like Teiko for three years, and single-handedly bring Teiko to the top during his reign?
"What is he like?" Tamaki mused, her lips quirking slightly in amusement. "Well, you'll soon see later." She told Furihata even as they exited the gym, and made their way towards the south entrance that doesn't seem to have as many people outside as compared to when they've just arrived. "There is a reason why he had been our captain starting from our first year after all. Just don't take everything that you see and hear later on at face value." She said mysteriously, much to Furihata's confusion. "It's his own way of greeting us."
The steps leading to the south entrance was soon in sight, and both the Seirin freshmen soon caught sight of four tall figures either standing or lounging about on the steps, all dressed in their own team jackets.
"You've got a babysitter, Tamaki?" Aomine asked carelessly, a basketball spinning atop his index finger.
"Mine-chin, you've got Sa-chin." Murasakibara rebutted, chewing on his half-eaten chocolate bar.
"Satsuki's got nothing to do with this."
"Midorimacchi, why do you have scissors?" Kise asked the green haired teen, staring oddly at the scissors in his hand.
"It's obviously my lucky item, you idiot." Midorima scoffed, opening and closing his scissors as he did so.
"It's dangerous though. I wish you wouldn't walk around with them out like that." Kise sighed.
"Sorry to keep you waiting." Tamaki said coolly even as she stood at the bottom of the stairs, seeing almost all her former teammates gathered together in one place like this ever since the last gathering that they've had back in June.
Behind Tamaki, Furihata was almost shaking in fear. And of course, Furihata had only seen the Generation of Miracles as individuals, not seeing all of them gathered together in one place like this, and also when Seirin was facing them as an opponent. He hasn't had the opportunity to face all of them outside the courts yet. For most people, their mere presences alone can be rather intimidating.
The phone in Kise's hand beeped just then, and Aomine frowned. "Your phone's annoying, Kise." Aomine scowled. "Is it Akashi?"
"No." Kise stared at the screen of his phone. "It's a text from a fangirl."
"Go die!"
Meanwhile, Murasakibara was trying to open a new bag of potato chips that he had somehow brought out of nowhere, apparently having finished his chocolate bar. "Mido-chin, let me borrow those scissors." Murasakibara pleaded, giving what seems to be his version of puppy dog eyes towards Midorima.
"No."
"What?" Murasakibara pouted like a child. "Hime-chin, do you have any?" He asked, turning towards Tamaki next.
"No, I don't. And why would I have any to start with?" Tamaki asked with a sigh.
'They're speaking normally.' Furihata mused to himself. 'But the air feels so heavy.'
And so it is. The air is so tense and oppressive that one could almost cut through it with a knife.
"Anyway, why's the guy who summoned us here the last to arrive?" Kise complained. "Tamacchi, do you know where he is?"
"No, but he'll be here soon." Tamaki answered. "He's always fashionably late. You know that. It's how he is."
A red haired figure wearing a white Rakuzan jacket approached them just then, standing at the top of the stairs leading to the south entrance. "I apologise that I've kept you waiting." Akashi Seijuro said smoothly.
"Sei." Tamaki nodded to her cousin, having not seen him for weeks, as both of them have been training hard for the Winter Cup, and the redhead hasn't been back in Tokyo for weeks. "It's been a while."
Furihata was speechless for several moments as he stared at the redhead with heterochromia eyes of red and gold, being dressed in the team jacket of Rakuzan High. In terms of stature and size, he isn't all that much different from himself and Tamaki, with both of them easily being the smallest players on the Seirin team. Even Fukuda and Kawahara are taller than them by a head at least. It is one of the reasons why Furihata is currently getting trained to take over Izuki's position once he graduates.
'That's the captain of the Generation of Miracles?' Furihata mused to himself.
"Daiki. Ryota. Shintaro. Atsushi. And Tamaki." Akashi greeted his former teammates and friends. "It's been a while. Not since our last gathering."
"Hey, that was fun." Kise piped up, trying to lighten the mood, as even he could feel the tense atmosphere in the air. "We should get together again one day."
With the start of the Winter Cup, Kise has to be a complete and utter moron to not realise the reason behind this tense atmosphere. After all, after this, no matter what past that they had with each other as members of the same team back in middle school, they will be facing each other as enemies on the court in the Winter Cup.
Akashi chuckled, quite amused. "Well, that was fun, I agree with you," he said smoothly. "However…" He glanced at Furihata who looked quite petrified as he stood behind Tamaki, his knees shaking. "There is someone here who doesn't belong. I wish to speak only to my former teammates right now. Sorry, but could you leave?"
Behind Tamaki, Furihata seemed to like nothing better, but his feet seemed to be almost frozen to the ground.
Tamaki sighed. "Sei, stop terrorizing my teammate," she reprimanded her cousin, and the ominous atmosphere then vanished in an instant. "He's already frightened enough."
Akashi chuckled. "Well, I was joking," he said smoothly.
Midorima sighed, shifting his glasses up his nose. "Akashi, you really need to know when to joke, and when not to," he said. "Your jokes are never funny."
A hand landed on Furihata's shoulder just then, and the two Seirin players present turned only to see a certain tall redhead standing behind them, a grin on his face. "Well, you're no fun." Kagami said. "Don't exclude us in this conversation."
"Kagami!" Furihata spluttered. "You're late! Coach is furious! She is saying something about putting you in the Boston Crab Hold."
Kagami winced at that. "I'll make it up to her later," he mumbled. "But more importantly…" He took a step forward, stepping in front of Furihata, almost as if shielding him from Akashi's gaze. "You're Akashi, huh? I heard from Momoi that you're Tamaki's cousin? Nice to meet you."
Akashi's left eye twitched very very slightly, and all the other former Teiko graduates—Tamaki included, stared at Kagami as if he'd just grown two new heads.
Everyone back in Teiko knew that defying Akashi means an immediate death sentence. He might never lay a single finger on any member of his team, as that had also been the golden rule that he had laid down to his team when he had first became captain, but it doesn't mean that he couldn't make their life very miserable. Though to be fair, Akashi had always treated punishments as they are: training.
Despite what some may believe, particularly those that doesn't like Akashi and the Teiko regulars, Akashi is a good captain, and he had always treated his teammates well.
"Shintaro, can I borrow your scissors?" Akashi asked smoothly, and Midorima handed his scissors over without a word.
"Sei." Tamaki interrupted as the redhead started making his way down the stairs towards the three Seirin players. "Please. We don't need this right now." She warned.
Akashi frowned. "I wasn't going to do anything," he muttered, and the other Teiko graduates exchanged grins. Now, that is a sight that they haven't seen in a long time. Tamaki had always been the one to rein Akashi in when he goes a little far with his 'punishments', usually when it comes to Kise who somehow seem to have this gift in stepping on Akashi's toes.
"Then what is the scissors for?" Tamaki deadpanned.
"To cut my hair."
Silence.
"Why don't we save it for until after the Winter Cup when Aunt Yuki can cut your hair for you?" Tamaki said at last, not knowing if her cousin is joking or not. "Anyway, are we done here?"
"Yeah." Akashi nodded, handing the scissors back to a rather relieved Midorima. "I just wanted to say hello to everyone today."
"What? Don't be ridiculous, Akashi!" Aomine was annoyed. "You summoned us just for that?"
"I actually wanted to confirm something, but after seeing everyone, I realised that there was no need." Akashi said smoothly, and the Teiko graduates exchanged looks with each other. "No one has forgotten our promise. Everything's fine then. The next time we meet will be on the court."
"Sei, are you going back now?" Tamaki asked before Akashi could leave, and he nodded. "I'm going back with you. I want to meet your teammates." She said, much to Kagami and Furihata's surprise.
"Tamaki?" Furihata almost squeaked.
"Tell the coach that I'll be back before our match in the afternoon." Tamaki told her teammates, exchanging quick looks with Aomine who looked away quickly. After all, Seirin's first match in the Winter Cup that afternoon will be against Touou Academy. "I won't be long."
In the locker room allotted to Rakuzan High of Kyoto that they will be using for the duration of the Winter Cup, the Rakuzan regulars were preparing for their first match of the day.
"Sei-chan is late." Mibuchi Reo frowned with concern. "Going to meet his former teammates shouldn't take this long surely?"
"He isn't a kid, Mibuchi." Nebuya Eikichi grunted. "And as if anyone would even dream of doing anything bad to him. He's the Devil incarnate himself!" He winced, his body still sore all over thanks to the intense training that the entire team was just put through yesterday.
"How can you say that—"
"I'm back." A cool voice said just then, and the three second years in the locker room turned towards their captain only to see a girl with teal hair with him, being dressed in an unfamiliar team jacket.
"Sei-chan, you're back." Mibuchi greeted. "And who is this?" He looked curiously at Tamaki.
"Your cousin, right?" Hayama Kotaro grinned, bouncing up to the two freshmen happily, and Tamaki was taken aback for a moment, as she was instantly reminded of Kise. "Nice to meet you! Akashi has told me all about you. You're all that he could talk about for months!"
"Oh…" Tamaki looked at her cousin, startled. Much like herself, Akashi is a very private person, and wouldn't divulge personal details about himself. Hence why back in Teiko, only the regulars and their coach were aware of Tamaki and Akashi's relationship. "Nice to meet you. Thank you for all your help."
"Don't mention it. All that I did is to refer Akashi to my godfather." Hayama grinned such a wide grin that Tamaki is almost worried for a moment that he might just split his face in half. "I'm Hayama Kotaro. Nice to meet you!"
Akashi coughed loudly, and Hayama then took a step backwards from the two freshmen. "Thank you." Akashi said coolly. He then looked at his cousin who looked rather amused, and his lips twitched. "I'll make the introductions. This is my cousin, Kuroko Tamaki of Seirin." He gestured towards Tamaki, and recognition shone in Mibuchi and Nebuya's eyes. Most likely due to the team that Tamaki is with more than her name. After all, Kiyoshi is their close friend, and is in Seirin. "You already know Kotaro, of course." Hayama grinned at Tamaki, forming the victory sign. "That is Nebuya Eikichi." Nebuya grunted whilst Tamaki bowed politely to him. "And this is Mibuchi Reo." Akashi gestured towards the second year who is more feminine than any guy should have any business being. "And for your information, a guy." Akashi added, since he doesn't think that his eardrums could take anymore abuse should someone else mistake Mibuchi for a girl again.
Hayama burst into loud laughter, almost doubling over himself, and even Nebuya gave out several loud guffaws. Mibuchi huffed, but he merely ignored his teammates' antics. Akashi then looked around the room. "By the way, where is Chihiro?" he asked Mibuchi.
"Now that you mention it…" Mibuchi looked around the locker room, but see no sign of the usually quiet senior.
"He's probably somewhere quiet with one of those trashy novels of his again." Nebuya grunted. "He'll come back before the match. He always does."
Akashi sighed. "I'll find him later," he said with an air of someone who had done this about a thousand times before. He then turned towards Tamaki. "I will like to introduce the last member of my team to you, but he's gone somewhere again. Anyway, these are the members of my team. I really hope that Seirin will be able to face us, Tama. But if it's you, I'm sure that you can do it."
Tamaki nodded silently, studying the three Rakuzan regulars standing in front of her—the Crownless Generals. Teiko had never faced them in a match in middle school, but if they're anything like Kiyoshi at all, then they're bound to be strong.
'So this is Rakuzan.' Tamaki mused to herself. 'And assuming that if we ever manage to face them in a match, it will be at the championship match. They're strong. We're going to be in for a tough fight should we ever get to face them.'
A/N: For those that follow my story site, please take note that it will soon be taken down, as I could no longer afford to maintain the domain name due to cost increase. Instead, I will be shifting it to a blog on Wordpress. The url will be on my profile, under the name 'Story Blog', and I will deeply appreciate it if you could go and spread the word, and maybe take a look.
Anyway, I hope that you like this chapter and please read and review! Reviews give me inspiration to update!
Upcoming Stories:
Our Basketball (Kuroko no Basuke)
The Generation of Miracles never went to Teiko. The famous team of six players all attended different middle schools instead. How much different would it be if they were all in separate teams, with Kuroko Tamaki and Akashi Seijuro attending Meiko Middle alongside Ogiwara Shigehiro? Fem!Kuroko
Yatogami: Kuroko no Basuke Redux (Kuroko no Basuke)
Set in Noragami universe. When Kagami Taiga almost died saving a girl, he soon started to gain the ability to see gods and powerful spirits, and soon started to get tangled with the affairs of the seven celestial gods, some of which aren't very pleased with having a human in the know about their affairs. And soon, Kagami soon realised that there are things that are better off left unknown, as he started to get dragged into the fights and battles between the seven celestial gods of legend. Fem!Kuroko. God!GoM