Another day, another chapter.

Warning ahead, that's like the fluffless chapter of fluffless chapters ever. Haha. I had to split it up because I'm a little busy and the match has like over four episodes dealing with it, I can't squish it all into one. That's why today is the beginning, a lot plot and atmosphere. Sorry about that, haha. I hope you'll enjoy it nevertheless!

Thank you for all the lovely follows, favorites and reviews!

ONE HUNDRED SIXTY ONE I

Mia nearly stopped walking as they approached the huge hall in front of them. They were only a handful visitors of many others, but the clear sight of the building was amazing. It stood proud in front of them, inviting basketball teams and people from all over the country to find shelter from the cold outside. Not to forget the event which was taking place inside.

"Amazing."

"It is, isn't it?" Satsuki smiled at her.

The girls walked side by side, following the coach of the team. Harasawa Katsunori. Mia hadn't even known that the chemistry teacher of the second years was coaching their team, because the older man hadn't been at the practice match against Josei nor had he been at the regular practice of the team in summer, she had visited with Nanami.

Now, however, he leaded them all. She had been a bit surprised that he had nothing against her tagging along like this; all she had received was a look and nod. Although it probably didn't matter to a teacher like him if another fellow student decided to join the audience and watch their team play against another. Mia hadn't seen any classmate yet but she was sure that she wasn't the only student of Tōō Academy who decided to come today.

"There will be an opening ceremony first." The bubbly girl continued to explain. "Afterwards a break." Satsuki tapped a finger against her bottom lip in thought, her rosy red eyes glancing at the sky above them. "I'll try to go and see you after the ceremony, Mi-chan. Let's meet up in entry area, alright?"

The orange-head nodded, still a bit baffled by all the people around them who all came for the Winter Cup. Before she had started talking with Aomine in spring, she hadn't known how popular this sport was. How many other people here shared the same passion for it and cheered for the high school students who all fought to win.

"Okay."

She confirmed once more, tugging at the scarf around her neck. The girl couldn't wait to finally be inside the building, save from the cold wind which had picked up on their way towards the gym. Today the basketball team of her academy would fight against Seirin High. Against Kuroko and Kagami. Satsuki hadn't showed it openly but her eyes had often ghosted over the strangers around them, probably in hope to find the pale boy she called her friend in between the unknown faces.

Mia did feel a bit bad about how much good luck she wished their opponents. But every time she remembered the unbelievable score they had achieved against Josei High. How Aomine had refused to play and spoke harshly about Kuroko...the boy he had called his best friend in middle school...

Mia grimaced softly as they stepped into the giant building, the pink haired student beside her still eager to explain her where she'd find the staircase to the seats.

"Eeh? It was to your left, I'm sure."

"Left." Mia repeated. "Right, sorry."

She listened to Satsuki bright laugh over the line. It was a bit embarrassing to have called her but the orange haired girl had lost sight of everything in the hallway with all those strangers around her. She had walked into the complete wrong direction and now turned around, following the other way in hope to finally reach the entry area and the basketball team manager. They wanted to buy drinks before the real game started.

"See you then."

"Okay."

Mia hung up and pushed the mobile phone into the pocket of her jacket. She had felt so small in the audience; the court was not even comparable to the one she had seen in the park or her own school. It all felt suddenly big and far out of reach. An amazing world she had nothing to do with.

"Nidori-san."

The girl came to a halt, her gaze flying from one stranger to another until she found the icy orbs of no one else but Kuroko in between the other visitors.

"Ah, Kuroko-san." Mia breathed in surprise. "Long time no see."

The boy nodded calmly. She hadn't even seen him even though he now looked rather bright in the snow-white uniform of his team. A sight which made it now even clearer that they actually stood on different sides...or at least they should. The girl still couldn't shake off her inner wishes.

"You're here to watch our game, right?" Kuroko asked quietly.

And Mia found herself nodding as well, confirming it swiftly. "I promised." She added.

But it didn't take long before her gaze fell, her attention landing on their shoes instead as she wondered how to word her thoughts the best. Mia barely knew him or Kagami. Nor did she understand the past which connected all of those teenagers she had met up until now. Like a bystander she trotted after them, receiving glimpses and little glances at great and meaningful events.

"Kuroko, there you are! Don't disappear all the time like...Oh."

The orange-head looked up; the loud voice was already recognizable, even from afar, which belonged to the red haired basketball player. His hard expression lit up as he saw her as well, easily recalling their previous meeting at the Onsen not long ago. But behind Kagami appeared yet another boy in a similar white uniform. Another member of the basketball team she hadn't ever seen before.

It was rather funny how small this whole world seemed to be, she had only tried to find the pink haired girl and now she stood here in the middle of the hallway with three students of Seirin High. The break must surely be over soon, the important match waiting. And Mia had still not met up with Satsuki against all odds.

"You probably need to change, right?" Mia asked as her gaze travelled from one face to another. "I actually tried to find Satsuki-san...but this place is huge."

"It is, isn't it?" Kagami bursted, pointing at his pale friend beside him. "It was a pain to find him; seriously, Kuroko - the second we went back inside you just vanished."

"I merely went ahead." The suspect stated calmly.

The red haired teen snorted. "Yeah, stop that. The coach is already going to have my head anyway."

"That is entirely Kagami-kun's fault."

"What?"

Mia started to grin, a soft laugh leaving her lips as she watched the energetic students in front of her. At first she was ignored, but at the sound of her quiet giggles Kagami looked up from his heating staring contest with his friend. The redhead was slightly embarrassed by his own outburst while Kuroko still appeared to be unfazed by the whole situation.

It was hard to imagine, but there must have been a time in the past where Aomine acted like this as well with the pale boy. Someday, before everything went wrong, before her classmate lost all the passion for the sport he had harbored before.

"Haah..." The orange-head sighed heavily. "I can't change my mind after all."

Mia shifted slightly on her feet before she looked at Kuroko, locking their gazes in process.

"It sounds probably really, really stupid...but I do hope you'll win today, Kuroko-san." The girl bit her bottom lip in thought. The smile shrinking ever so softly. "And Kagami-san as well, of course. It's just...I mean...uh, give your best, okay?"

That was the shakiest thing which had left her in a long while, Mia mused.

In her head it had sounded a lot better. But now she felt a bit flustered by her awkward way with words, she blinked at the teenager in front of her. Expecting an odd look or question what she was trying to convey. But instead of doing anything like that Kuroko nodded, a ghost of a smile gracing his face.

"Don't worry, Nidori-san. I don't intend to lose against Aomine-kun this time."

It was something about the way he spoke, his voice smooth and warm in contrast to his calm appearance that gave the orange-head the assurance she needed. He had understood her anyway, thank god for that. And with a smile in return she nodded thankfully.

Her ringing mobile phone, however, quickly destroyed the moment. Hastily Mia dug through her pocket for the little device, accepting the call to stop the noise from filling the air.

"Mi-chan! Are you still lost?"

Mia paled slightly, she had forgotten about Satsuki for a moment!

"Sorry." She quickly hushed. "I...uh, I'm still in the hallway, I'm coming."

The girl gave the taller boys a wave and smile. The gesture obviously representing a drastic goodbye because Mia couldn't let Satsuki wait any longer, the break was probably already over soon, too. Kagami who had been a bit confused by Kuroko's and hers exchange at first started grinning and gave the orange-head a thumbs-up. His confidence the last push she needed to finally start walking again.

"Where are you?"

"In hallway...B?"

"B?" Satsuki's voice breathed. "Did you walk in a circle? I thought you were sitting in the row on the other side."

Mia blushed as she scowled at nothing in particular. She knew she messed that one up.

"I...I just went the wrong way, remember? I'm nearly there."

The handful of giggles was the last thing the girl heard of her friend before she stopped their call. Stupid, they should have labeled the directions better, her inner voice hushed grudgingly. It wasn't her fault that this place was incredibly huge. And with that thought in mind she quickly jogged down the path to catch up with Satsuki.

The match was about to start soon.

This was it, her mind hushed.

The break was over; the bubbly girl had been able to contain her amusement as they had seen each other. Sharing the last few minutes they had together before they had to go separate ways. And now she had returned to her seat in the audience, watching the teams approach the court under the loud whispers and yells of the people around her.

Seirin and Tōō weren't unknown.

Mia stared flabbergasted at the two boys to her left who talked openly about Aomine. The lazy teen who was part of a handful of other students who were truly talented players it seemed...but 'generation of miracles'? That sounded a bit exaggerated...right? The orange-head didn't know what to think anymore, her dark gaze slowly returning to the team of her high school.

It was her first time to see her blue haired classmate in his uniform. The tanned teenager taking his place on the court just like any other player...it still looked foreign to her though. Sakurai looked so small from her point of view while Imayoshi threw a last few gestures towards his comrades.

It would be her first time to see Aomine play with them.

The first real match anyway.

And with the loud buzzing of the bell it started, people around her cheered while the teenagers on the court moved with the direction of the ball. Mia bit her tongue and narrowed her gaze in hope it would increase her view.

It all went amazingly fast, the ball flying from one side to another. A pass thrown to a team member who tried to get the orange orb closer to the hoop of the opponents - even Sakurai took part in the entire dynamic. Making a three pointer in the beginning which nearly made Mia stand up to join the loud cheers of the reserve player on Tōō's bench, no matter how often she'd see the shy boy do that, it was still amazing.

Her upperclassmen were strong, just like her classmates.

And even though the orange haired girl still couldn't follow every single rule of the sport, she had learned enough about it from Satsuki and Aomine to understand the most of it, she believed. Which points were made from which line, which position was used to defend and attack in the end...

It was incredible to watch Seirin fight against Tōō. Their players all rushing to keep up with her friends and acquaintances - and still it seemed to be difficult. The score ended in the first round with an even number on both sides, a draw.

"Can they really keep up...?" Mia whispered, furrowing her brow.

She had seen Aomine move. His steps and shots were not comparable at all with the way he played with her. The orange-head had known that he never used his real strength and skills with her, obviously, Mia sucked at basketball. But it was slightly terrifying to see how fast he was, how high he was able to jump and how easily he kept up with everyone from Seirin.

"Ahomine..."

He wouldn't lose...