A/N: Woohoo! Hi guys! This is an update and I thank my friend, Angel for always scolding me to update this, since she loves this so much. :p

Wow, omg. This is the first time I received so many favorites and followers, and reviews too. For all those who followed, favorited and reviewed this story, thank you so much for your support everyone! I like you guys so much! I'll keep doing my best! You guys are my inspiration! Thank you! *bows*

...So, I'll tell you all in advance that the next chapter will be kind of be delayed since major exams are coming up and I have to focus on that, but do not worry, I will surely update after the exams are over m'kay? So please be patient and I will just update the status of the next chapters in my profile. Till next time! :)

Self-edited and may contain grammatical errors, English is not my first language so please be kind.

I do not own KnB, just my OC.

Enjoy.

Chapter 5: The Prince and Victory

The loud cheering of the crowd does not register his mind, instead he felt their warm embrace, and their joyous faces set his face on fire as he struggled to keep his balance with the added weight on his body. He sees one boy scowl but the faint flush on his cheeks said otherwise.

He smiled then, grabbing the other boy (despite his scandalized protests) into their group hug. The other team members laughed at the other boys' curses and he laughs along with them, enjoying their loud shouts for their victory.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Kagami panted heavily when his feet finally hit the ground. His red eyes turned to look at the scoreboard.

Seirin: 100

Kaijou: 98

The gym went all quiet, taking in what just happened with dropped jaws and shocked faces. The silence is broken after Kagami cheered happily.

"All right!" The first years and the other team members of Seirin ran towards the other players, congratulating them all for a job well done. Riko gave the upperclassmen a thumbs up which was graciously returned.

"I can't believe we won." Hyuuga grinned in happiness, despite the fatigue he was feeling. Kuroko let a small smile escape from his face. They won against Kaijou. They won!

All the other players were panting heavily, they looked so tired. The Kaijou players' sighed, watching the other team cheer for their victory. Meanwhile, Kise was staring blankly in the air.

"…I lost?" he muttered to himself.

'For the first time in my life, I…' He felt something wet roll down his cheeks and he realized that tears are slowly streaming down his face.

"Huh? What?" He touched the wetness, rubbing the tears away in both surprise and wonder.

"Is Kise crying?" Hiroto turned to the said male, watching as tears freely rolled down his flushed cheeks.

"I know he must be frustrated, but…"

"It's just a practice game though."

Kise winced at the voices, keeping his gaze to the ground to avoid and others to see him cry. He blinked at the handkerchief being shoved on his already blurry vision. He looked up to see the very person, who helped defeat his team, offer his handkerchief to him.

"It was a good game, Kise-kun." Hiroto smiled at him, Kise blinked as he also registered Kagami and Kuroko standing beside him. "We look forward to fight you in an official match." The model's eyes widened at the proposition, he also saw his ex-teammate, Kuroko nod his head at him while Kagami merely smirked and uttered how he'll surely stop Kise by himself next time.

Kise stared before he graciously accepted Hiroto's handkerchief, laughing at their challenge.

"Okay, but next time, We won't lose." the blond declared, motioning towards his team. Hiroto watched as Kuroko's eyes widened as Kise made the declaration. He was not going to back down, he accepted their challenge, and he will not be alone. He was acknowledging his team. Hiroto smiled as he watched a rare emotion swiftly passed the blunette's face, ruffling his hair knowingly when the smaller boy turned to him.

Hiroto followed closely with Kagami and Kuroko when Riko called them out. Hiroto looked over his shoulder to see the other teams' captain, Kasamatsu Yukio, slam his foot down Kise's back.

"Stop crying. And you've got some balls to say you've never lost before. I'll hit you!" growled his senpai in a threatening manner. Hiroto watched in amusement at how Kise whined and acted childishly, but this time it doesn't really make him feel strange anymore, instead he finds it incredibly adorable. Just like teasing Taiga.

"You'd better add the word revenge to that empty dictionary of yours!" Hiroto smirked at his words, finally turning to follow his team. The whistle blew, and the referee asked the players to line up. Every player did as they are told.

"With a score of 100 to 98, Seirin High wins." All the players' bows to each other said their thanks.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Hiroto grinned in amusement as Hyuuga and Kasamatsu shook hands, he could see that angered aura behind the other teams' coach.

"Because we're in different districts, if we play again, it'll be at Inter-High." Hiroto turned towards his coach and giggled to find her extremely beaming with flowers and all emitting out of her face.

"We'll be there. I don't want to confess my love butt naked." Hyuuga sweat dropped as Riko's smile grew wider.

"Yosh, Let's go, everyone!"

"Yes sir!" Hiroto moved to follow everyone else but stops when he heard someone ask where Kise was.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Kise turned off the faucet, feeling the water tickle down his face.

"Gemini's horoscope predicted terrible luck for you today," Kise eyed the newcomer blankly, waiting for him to continue. "But I didn't think you'd actually lose."

"You came to watch, Midorimacchi?"

"Either way, it was an unfortunate game." The said person continued. "Even a monkey could have managed those dunks. It's no wonder fate didn't choose your side." Kise snorted.

"Maa, it wasn't just Kagami that was a pain though. Even that Prince was such a pain." Kise remembered the moves made by the said Prince. The timing of intercepting their passes, the way he easily brushes off their defenses and the way he even faced the blond on the one-on-one before, it was strange.

He helped his teammates take back the scores Kaijou gained but he never did as much show his skills anymore, he just let his team slowly gain the scores a little bit until they caught up with them. Sure he'd make the effort of trying to stop Kise but, for some reason the blonde could easily pass his defense.

Like he wasn't even trying to play the game seriously, and it left the blonde really confused at that strange behavior.

"Ah, that orange-haired player is a strange one." Kise perked up as his ex-teammate mentioned the Prince. The blonde eyed him as he could clearly see the sudden interest in the green-haired teens' eyes.

Now, that is rare. Midorima Shintarou, Teiko's former shooting guard rarely showed interest in anything except his horoscopes and Kuroko Tetsuya. But, even he could tell that Hiroto was being strange despite being just a spectator of their game.

"Strange? Ah, don't tell me you were observing him too, Midorimacchi?" Kise playfully teased. Midorima glared at him but he sighed.

"What of it? He just looks really familiar, but I can't seem to remember where I've seen him before." Kise blinked, for some strange coincidence he remembered his Coach talk about something like that too but he wasn't paying that much attention since his fans occupied most of his time.

"Familiar? Well, all I know is that his name is Ichinose Hiroto, he's a new student at Kurokocchi's school and he's—" Kise stopped when the green-haired teen made a strange expression.

"…Midorimacchi?" Kise watched as his ex-teammate's expression turn into a complete surprise.

"What did you say his name was?" Midorima's eyes were narrowed now.

"…It's Ichinose Hiroto. Do you know him? Midorimacchi?" It left the blonde clearly confused as the other teen buried his chin on his hand, contemplating.

"Midorimacchi?" Kise watched as the other teen shook his head and whispered something under his breath.

"…It's nothing. Either way, Kise." Midorima turned to him. "There's no way we will lose to Seirin. I regret to tell you that you should give up on your revenge." Kise narrowed his eyes at the statement before his eyes caught the players of Seirin.

Kise's eyes followed, narrowing as Hiroto patted Kuroko's bandaged head and for some reason he can't help but feel a bit worried.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Hiroto sighed in relief with the rest of the team as Riko told them that Kuroko was fine as they went out the clinic that examined the blue-haired teens' injury. Kuroko bowed to them saying sorry for making them all worry.

"I didn't know what would happen when you fell over." Izuki said.

"I'm just glad you're all right." Tsuchida added.

"But you worried Ichinose the most though; he went immediately to your side when you fell." Hyuuga said and the others turned towards the Prince who is, for some reason looked surprised when the others turned to him with really weird expressions on their faces.

"Ah…" Hiroto blinked when Kuroko's gaze fell upon him. Kagami watched his friend's strange expression and a light bulb lit up in his head. He draped himself over the shorter male with a teasing grin.

"Yeah, it's the first time I've seen Hiro like that. He really was like a Prince saving the damsel in distress." Kagami grinned and the others laughed when the Prince's face flushed. Kuroko's eyes widened at the look on the other's face. Wow, that is new.

Hiroto's face is red, just like Kagami's hair before he pushed the redhead away from him with a glare.

"Taiga…" he growled lowly but the said teen merely laughed his ass off, as if he successfully extracted his revenge upon all the teasing the Prince had done to him. It amused him to see Hiroto like this. The others laughed at the look on Hiroto's face and Kuroko smiled, grabbing the orange-haired boy's attention when he bowed in front of him.

"I'm sorry for making you worry, Ichinose-kun. I'm fine now." Hiroto's composure broke and his face, if possible, turned even redder. He rubbed Kuroko's head affectionately, while his other hand covered his red face.

"Geez, it's fine already. I'm glad you're fine." Kuroko and the others mentally took note of how cute the Prince actually was when he got all flustered. Now they knew their sadistic and playful Prince actually had a cute side as well.

"All right! We won!" Koganei cheered to save the Prince from his embarrassment and the others followed. Hiroto merely smiled at seeing everyone's cheerful yells.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

"Let's get something to eat on the way home." Izuki turned to the others as he walked in front of everyone.

"What do you want?" Hyuuga asked.

"Something cheap. I'm broke." Koganei said.

"Me too." Kagami added.

"So am I." Kuroko said.

"Hold on." Hiroto was the first one to stop when Riko called them out. The others turned to her as well, paying attention at how serious her expression was.

"How much does everyone have after transportation costs?" she asked. After a few awkward moments, Riko held out her hand to see their remaining money. Hiroto twitched at the three coins in her hold.

"…"

"Let's go home." Hyuuga suggested.

"Yeah…" the rest of the team gloomily replied.

Riko sighed in resignation, turning towards the roadside and caught sight of a truck running past her and the words caught her eyes. Free Steak. Her eyes shone and she called out to the others. She blew her whistle and everyone turned to her.

"It's okay. What do you say we go for steak?" Everyone blinked as if to make sure they heard that right. Steak…?

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Hiroto eyed the sizzling steak in front of him. This—This steak is huge and Riko expects them to eat this? He remembered the poster outside of the restaurant and he recalled the words saying…

4 kg Steak. Eat it in 30 minutes or less and it's free! Those who fail must pay 10,000 yen.

No. There was just no way…

"What's wrong? Don't hold back." Riko smiled angelically from her seat. Hiroto watched the others jaw drop at her, all of them thinking the same damn thing.

'This is too much!'

"What are we going to do if we can't eat all of this?" Hyuuga asked.

"What? Why do you think I make you run every day?" Riko crossed her arms over her chest, eyes narrowed with a pout adorning her face.

'For basketball!?' they twitched, thinking the same thing again. Hiroto felt a sweat drip down the side of his face as he glanced down at his share. There was no way he can finish this.

A few moments later, everyone else started to fill their stomachs. They slice up the parts bit by bit and grudgingly took it all in their mouths. Hyuuga grumbled to himself, slicing off another piece.

"This steak is steakalicious." Izuki held up his fork, making off another pun which seemed kind of unnecessary at the moment. Hiroto realized that it really is a bit too much and he only finished a portion of the large steak and he immediately grabbed into the uniform of Kagami sitting beside him who turned to him in wonder.

"Um…excuse me." Kuroko wiped his mouth with a napkin and Hyuuga turned to him and asked if he needs some water. Kuroko dropped his hands and after a few seconds of silence said.

"I give up."

"KUROKO!"

After a few minutes later, each member of the Seirin Boys Basketball club hanged their heads, feeling sick after eating just the half portion of the steak.

Mitobe froze with a portion of a steak pushed up his mouth, Koganei hanged his head and Izuki was totally out of it, laid his head upon the table with drool dripping down his mouth.

Hyuuga leaned against his chair, a piece steak hanging out from his mouth. Everyone was already on the verge of giving up, just as they were already about to accept their fate, an enthusiastic voice said.

"This is delicious! Maybe I'll get some more." Hyuuga dropped his steak and turned to see a very cheerful Kagami munching the last bit of his steak and turned to him.

"Huh? If you're not gonna eat that, can I have it? I already finished Hiro's portion so…" Hyuuga's jaw dropped and he pointed at the redhead.

"What? You ate Ichinose's portion? Ichinose?" Hyuuga and the others turned towards the smiling Prince as he was happily sipping his drink.

"It's okay, senpai! Taiga will finish it all up!" The other's sweat dropped. What a spoiled Prince.

"Save me the hassle and bring them all over here." Kagami ordered, stuffing his cheeks with the food given to him like a squirrel. The redhead gestured to the rest of his teammate's food. The others look at him like he was an angel sent from above to help them out.

"Ohh! Kagami, thank you!" they cried out graciously.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

"Thank you for the food!" Riko stated cheerfully as they all exited the shop, full and grateful that they did not need to pay for the food since Kagami finished all of it.

"Yeah, do not come back!" Everyone else ignored the owner as he shouted just as the door closed.

"I think I ate too much." Kagami muttered as he clutched his huge stomach.

"You really are a monster."

"But you saved us though."

"Okay then, let's go home. Is everyone here?" Hiroto looked around, inspecting the whole team to realize—

"Huh? Where's Kuroko?" Hyuuga asked.

"I'm sure he's near the back, just like he always..." Everyone turned to the back to realize that...he was not there.

"I can't believe not even Hiroto noticed him leave. This is ridiculous." Hiroto followed closely with Kagami as they walked around to search for the missing member of their team.

"Doesn't Kuroko have a phone?"

"I can't believe he just disappeared like that. What is he, a puppy?"

"Let's hurry up and find him. Maybe I'll put him in a Boston crab hold when we do."

Hiroto felt the conversation fade out as they finally were walking a bit further away from the rest of the team now; he walked beside the redhead who was keeping a look out for their other player.

"Sheesh. Where could he be?" Kagami grumbled.

"Maybe he just went to get some fresh air." Hiroto said.

"But does he really have to disappear—"

"Hey, over here!" Both their attention is caught by the sound of shoes squeaking and the sound of a ball slamming to the ground of a nearby basketball court as they passed by.

"Oh, street basketball. It's been awhile since I've seen that in Japan." Kagami smiled. Hiroto eyed the game going on inside the court and felt nostalgia hit him. Ah, he and Kagami used to play street basketball in the States, it only stopped when Hiroto moved back to Japan and left.

"Ah, I miss playing street with you, Taiga." Kagami turned to him and snorted.

"Well, it was you who didn't contact me at all. We used to have communication after you left America, but sometime after that I lost all contact with you! Like, what the hell man?!" Kagami grumbled. Hiroto smiled sheepishly at the redhead. It was true.

He left the States to study middle school in Japan. They maintained contact for a while, but then that happened and Hiroto lost contact with the redhead or more like—he chose to leave behind everything at that time.

Kagami watched as a forlorn smile swept past the Prince's face and he can't help but wonder why he was making such an expression.

"I'm sorry, Taiga." The redhead blinked.

"Well, you see, a lot happened since that time and..." Hiroto trailed off, looking up the orange sky, frowning. Kagami studied his expression, it was like that he was trending on a really sensitive subject that he was not acting like his usual self.

Kagami did not like seeing him like this. Sure, he'd get pissed at Hiroto for teasing him all the time but, seeing the Prince with such a melancholic expression made his chest protest in the most uncomfortable ways. If he doesn't want to say anything about it then Kagami will not force him.

He lifted his hand, and ruffled the shorter boy's orange hair. Hiroto's eyes widened at the action, and he looked up at the moment Kagami stopped and he stared back at him.

"It's fine already, geez, stop making such a weird expression on your face. It makes me a little uncomfortable." Kagami scratched the back of his head, a tint of red visible on his cheeks. "The past doesn't matter anymore; I won't care anymore, okay? As long as you are here now, that's all that matters right?" I'll wait until you're ready to tell me. Kagami thought and stared unblinkingly at the shorter boy. Hiroto felt his chest flutter at his words.

Ah, you really grew up to be a fine man, Taiga.

"Ah, please stop saying such heart fluttering words, Taiga. I might fall for you." Hiroto teased and as expected, the redness spread from the redhead's neck up to his cheeks and to the tip of his ears.

"HUH!? What are you talking about, Hiroto, you bastard?!" said Prince only laughed heartily. There it is their usual bickering. Kagami was so red that Hiroto can't help it. How cute!

"Geez, stop joking already." Kagami grabbed at his collar and fans himself, face still red.

"Yes, yes, sorry. Now, why don't we go fetch Kuroko-kun?" Hiroto smiled at him and motioned to the other side of the court; Kagami squinted his eyes and saw the familiar blue hair of Kuroko and his companion with the obvious blond hair.

He nodded and looked away from the smiling Prince beside him as he closely followed, clutching his shirt this time. He knew Hiroto was good-looking, but really? He looks even more beautiful when he smiles like that! Damn.

Instead, Kagami turned his attention upon the person they were looking for and they finally found him—he looked like he was talking to...

Is that…Kise?

They seem to be talking about something. Maybe there are trying to catch up?

"I wonder what they're talking about…" Hiroto muttered as he watched as the two conversed.

"I think we should let them talk, we can't just—ah, hey! Taiga?!" Hiroto felt his wrist being grabbed and he stumbled as he followed the redhead as he slowly made his way towards the duo.

As they approached the duo, Hiroto can faintly hear what they are talking about.

"—I don't get it. But I can say one thing though. If you think so highly of Kagami and Ichinose just because of their attitude towards basketball, someday the three of you will part ways." The two approaching males stopped as they waited for the blond to continue.

"The biggest difference between me and the other four isn't our physical abilities. They all have a special ability not even I can imitate. I realized during today's game that he's still learning. Just like the Generation of Miracles, he has a unique ability. For now, he's still an immature challenger." Hiroto can tell they were talking about Kagami.

"He's enjoying the thrill of recklessly playing strong opponents. However, someday he will achieve the level of the Generation of Miracles and grow apart from his team." Hiroto felt his heart freeze at those words. Grow apart from his team…

He shook his head before he thinks of something else entirely.

"When he does, do you really believe Kagami won't be a different person?"

Hiroto felt the redhead squeeze his wrist before he let go of him, making his way towards the other two who were talking behind their back.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

That is how Kagami and Hiroto went to interrupt the duos conversation, or more like, Kagami jumped into the scene and bumped into Kuroko who stumbled at the force.

"You bastard, why did you disappear like that?" Kagami asked and glanced at Kise while Hiroto went to steady Kuroko as he wobbled.

"Hey." He greeted the blond.

"Were you two listening?" Kise asked, taking a spare glance towards Hiroto before returning his gaze towards the redhead.

"Of course we were! What the hell are you kidnapping Kuroko for?"

"What? Who cares if I talk with him a little bit?"

"We can't go home! The coach won't shut up about responsibility or something. We've been looking for him." Hiroto looked away from the bickering redhead and blond as he immediately followed where Kuroko was going.

"Kuroko-kun?" he asked, watching the blue-haired teen spun the ball on his finger in front of the thugs who were playing dirty basketball.

"There's nothing fair about this." He said to one player.

"Who the hell are you? Where'd you come from?" the thug asked while clutching his nose.

"This isn't basketball. Besides, violence is bad." Kuroko stated with narrowed eyes.

"What do you think you're doing?!" another thug grabbed Kuroko's collar and that's the time Hiroto decided to interfere.

"Excuse me." He harshly slapped the offending hand away and he stood before Kuroko, protecting him from the other boy's view. "Don't touch my friend so casually." Hiroto glared scathingly at the teen in front of him.

"Huh? And who the fuck are you?" the thug asked.

"There are still guys like this these days." The other thug said with a smirk.

"Fine then, let's settle this with basketball." He challenged and his companion nodded in agreement. Hiroto raised a brow at the proposition.

Before they could accept said proposal, an arm wrapped itself around Hiroto's shoulders and held him close. He turned to his side to see Kise drape himself on him while Kagami grasped Kuroko's head with his large hands.

"Mind if we play too?" Kise asked, his tone full of confidence and a teasing quality to it.

"Why'd you get involved?" Kagami glared at Kuroko and Hiroto as well, scowling. "And why didn't you stop him Hiro?" said teen merely scratched his head sheepishly.

'H—H—He's huge!' the thugs gaped at the tall redhead as he bickered with the orange-haired boy.

"What the hell?"

"Five-on-four's fine. Bring it on." Kagami challenged.

"What'd you say!?" Hiroto sighed inwardly, feeling a wave of slight pity over the thugs, or maybe not.

The game was as easy as taking candy from a baby. Hiroto glanced at the bodies laying upon the dirty ground before he followed the others out of the court. They completely destroyed their opponents, well, as expected.

"What were you thinking?!" Hiroto immediately glanced towards the side when he heard Kagami raise his voice towards Kuroko and well, him too.

"Did you think you could win if it turned into a fight?"

"No, they would've beaten me up." Kuroko replied with that same monotone voice of his. Hiroto snickered at the side.

"You bastard!" Kagami growled before he turned to the Prince as well. "Hiroto, you too! Stop laughing, damn it! I'm being serious here!"

"Look at these guns." Kuroko showed off the nonexistent muscles in his arms and Hiroto doubled over, laughing as hard as he could while patting Kuroko's back.

"You don't have any!" Kagami shouted in exasperation.

"Kurokocchi, you can be amazing sometimes." Kise sweat dropped.

"I thought those guys were terrible. I just wanted to tell them." Kuroko glanced to the side, seeing Hiroto nodded in agreement.

"Then, you should've considered the consequences first! You too, Hiroto! Geez, I thought you were better than that!"

"Well, we forgot to. Right, Tetsuya-kun?" Hiroto draped an arm over Kuroko's shoulders and the shorter boy nodded, innocently.

"Don't give me that crap, you two!"

Kise observed the exchange, silently.

"We are sorry." Hiroto pursed his lips meanwhile Kuroko's expression remained blank.

"You said yourself they could beat you up!"

"Sorry."

A smile easily bloomed upon the blonde model's face, grabbing his bag from the bench; he turned towards the trio as they finally stopped their bickering.

"I should get going." Kise smiled. "I finally got to play with you, Kurokocchi." The blonde turned over his shoulder, glancing at both Hiroto and Kagami.

"Don't think I've forgotten about my revenge, Kagamicchi! Hirotocchi!"

"Kagamicchi?" Kagami bristled at the nickname while Hiroto raised a brow at it and turned to Kuroko who in turn explained.

"Kise-kun adds "-cchi" to the names of those he acknowledges. That's great for you."

"I don't want that though!" Hiroto smiled then, watching as the blonde gave them one last wave and shouted that they shouldn't lose in the preliminaries.

"Kagami-kun, I'd like to ask you something." Hiroto listened as he closed his eyes, feeling the warm breeze hit his skin.

"Did you hear my conversation with Kise-kun?"

"About us parting ways?" Hiroto can feel his heart beat a little bit faster than usual. "Well, we don't even get along in the first place. You were the one who said you could not do it alone. If you're right, there's nothing to worry about." Hiroto let a smile tug out his mouth again. "Besides..." When Hiroto opened his eyes, both he and Kuroko stared back at the redhead, entranced.

"You'll always stand by the light. That's your basketball."

"...Kagami-kun, you say some deep things sometimes." At Kuroko's words, Hiroto chuckled and thought again of an idea of how to tease the redhead.

"Right?! I told you you shouldn't say some heart fluttering words! You'll even make Kuroko-kun fall for you now." It never fails to amuse the Prince as the redhead shouted curses at him, his face turning red. Kuroko, at the side, smiled at their bickering.

"Geez! Stop joking already! Hiroto, you bastard! Don't you laugh too, Kuroko! Damn it!"

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

On their way finally out of the park, Hiroto, Kuroko and Kagami were ambushed by the rest of their teammates, or more like Kuroko got ambushed by Riko who quickly ran and grabbed the blue-haired teen into a choke-hold or what the brunette said before as the Boston crab hold.

"...Ah! Ka—Kagami-kun! Ichi-Ichinose-kun! He-Help!" Kuroko croaked out from under his coach's hold.

Sorry, Kuroko. We do not want to die just yet. Needless to say, the rest of the team just ignored the bluenette's cry for help and went on their way.

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.to be continued.