Mika hummed, shoes clicking against the hallways - she was late. Of course she hadn't planned on being late to practice, unfortunately the layout of the school had played some nasty tricks with her memory. Having just transferred, she'd gotten lost or turned around more than once that day.

Mika knew that she was headed in the right direction now though. She could hear the familiar sound of basketball shoes clicking against the court. She could feel the nerves begin to build in her stomach as a reaction to the unknown. She didn't know much about this school, let alone the team. Mika had gone here because it was the closest school to her house and made the travel easiest. However, she'd heard a rumor, one that had spread quickly through the halls... A member of the Teiko middle school basketball team was playing for the team this year and by error of elimination, she was pretty such she knew who it was. She was anxious about the interaction.

Finally reaching the gym doors, she quickly pulled her mandatory school uniform shoes. Stepping onto the gym floor with socked feet she step a focus point, refusing to look at the members on the court. After all these years, she still felt discomfort.

When she was at Teiko, she'd worked her fingers to the bone to prove her worth, to be able to play in a mens basketball league. But she never could have done it without help, without those around her that believed so strongly in her ability...even when she couldn't. She'd be nowhere with these people and she knew that which held her forever grateful. Yet, it was bittersweet now and nothing was the same.

In a way, this was more difficult than it had ever been. She was starting from square one again but this time, she didn't have the help, there wasn't the support. She'd never been under any impression that this path would be easy, but she hadn't accounted for her emotions to control her so strongly because right now she wanted to run and it took everything in her to keep her steps going forward.

At the otherside of the court, Mika found the coach, a small framed girl with short brown hair. She watched the members warm up, so wrapped up in her observations that she didn't notice Mika until she was a few steps away. Beside her stood a taller man with glasses. His arms were tightly crossed over his chest. He was actually the first of the two to notice the new presence.

"oh!" The girl stated, pulling the end of her pencil away from her lips her eyes dropping quickly to her clipboard to find a name. "Kobayashi...Mikayla?"

The brown haired girls moved her eyes from the clipboard to Mika for confirmation. Mika smiled lightly, extending a hand. "please, Mika is just fine."

It was what she was used to, there was barely anyone that called her Mikayla, let alone by her last name. The girl took her gesture,

"My names Riko, Aida. I'll be your coach."

Mika turned to the man standing beside her, her hand still extended. He hesitated to take it, it was a small hesitation but one that was not lost on her. She'd learned to be very perceptive of people.

"Huuyga, Junpei. Team captain." He introduced.

"I'm sorry for being late. I'm still getting used to the school."

"that's okay" Riko reassured, "we are actually still waiting for another player to show up. He is a transfer student, like you."

Mika nodded her head and went to the one of the benches. She dropped her bag off her shoulder, suddenly realizing how heavy it had been; or rather how tense she'd been. She rolled her shoulder to try and ease it out, taking a deep breath before sitting on the bench and pulling out her shoes. They were a combination of black and white, nothing fancy. Leaning over to lace them up, a shadow cast over her as she tied the last knot.

"Mika..."

Mika looked up, a wave of shock overtook her and it took a moment for her to get to her feet. She shifted her arms a little, wondering if it was alright to hug him but she held back.

"Kuroko." Mika replied, trading her shock for a smile. "I'd heard that there was an Teiko member trying out for Seirin's basketball team this year, I thought it might be you."

She could never read Kuroko, most people couldn't in truth but it made situation like this unbearable. She could tell if he was angry or happy to see her, maybe a combination. If he was angry, he had every right to be - she'd disappeared for two years without so much as an goodbye. The guilt at the thought, hit her hard.

"It's good to see you, Mika" his voice was as soft as she remembered.

"you too, Kuroko."

Kuroko had had a hunch that it would be Mika when Riko mentioned that a girl would be trying for a position on the team. It gave him some time to prepare, but it he didn't really believe it until now, when she was right in front of him.

There interaction was interrupted however by the entrance of another individual. He stood nearly as tall at the door frame with red hair. He stood out to say the least. He apologized for being late, apparently he'd been struggling this the same issue that Mika had. Mika figured that he must be the other transfer student. Kagami, Taiga.

The red head plopped down beside Mika on the bench, the weight of his larger frame causing the bench to bend a little and lift Mika up.

"ah, hey." The new boy said, as if he just noticed that she was there. "are you one of the coaches? " he inquired.

"No." Mika stated, raising an eyebrow, before looking to Kuroko, who Kagami hasn't seemed to notice at all yet.

"huh?"

Kagami didn't seem to bothered by Mika's statement, his eyes scanned down assuring himself that she was dressed in athletic wear. When he'd been in America, he'd see a lot of mixed leagues were girls and boys played together. But usually that was in streetball, there was a different set of rules here.

"Alright. Enough. Let's get going." Huuyga called out sternly, he was very much a no nonsense kinda guy.

"We will start by playing a match. Our current team, against the new members." Riko informed. "Take a few moments to warm up."

Huuyga rolled out a bin full of basketballs.

Mika focused on stretching herself out before taking a few shots. These were some of the more important moments in a player career. You had to show a team everything that you had to offer, so inducing a game again more veteraned players was definitely a good way to go about it. Everyone handled the news differently, she could see the concern in many fresh eyes.

"So, your trying out for the team." Kagami had jumped up to catch a rebound, tossing the ball forcefully back out to her.

Mika stayed quiet for a moment, holding the ball. "is that a problem..."

She was always on the defensive, ready to face any backlash from the idea. What she was not ready for was what the tall red head said next.

"I don't care." He shrugged genuinely, "if you enjoy playing basketball, and your good enough to play. What right do I have to say whether you should or shouldn't play."

Riko blew the whistle, indicating that warm up time was up and it was time for the game.

They put there first line-ups on, the senior team vs. Mika, Kagami, Kuroko, Furihata (who'd switch with Kawahara) and Fukuda. Mika took point guard, she'd trained to be a switch player, useful in either point guard, small forward or shooting guard. Standing at 5'9 she'd spent her time in the girls league playing power forward and center, so she was actually familiar with all the positions, however the last two spots didn't make sense anymore playing in a mens league. She was simply too small to complete against someone like Kagami for a rebound.

Mika took the ball and began to dribble down the court before being picked up by her check, Izuki. He was the seniors point guard. He'd given her some space whether that was because he underestimated her or he was giving her the benefit of the doubt, she wasn't sure but it didn't really matter to her either way. She'd use the opportunity.

In a blink of an eye she increased her playing speed, she crossed the ball over and back fluidly before slipping around her check. She was quickly met with a wall of two other players much bigger than herself. She'd never really expected to get much further than this on her own, so that was alright.

Her original plan was to draw some attention onto her, thus taking attention away from other players. The shooting guard was too far back and the center was being blocked, but...

She yielded her movement swiftly passing the ball to her left.

Mika didn't have to see the other players faces to know they were confused by her actions. She'd passed directly into a space that no one was open. Huuyga was so shocked that he almost forgot to reach for the ball that was heading his way. There was even more confusion and shock however, when the ball suddenly changed its trajectory seemingly on its own. Mika knew better though, it wasn't by magic, Kuroko had stepped in place, sending the ball pass her position to Kagami who headed in for the basket.

Mika couldn't help but grin as the ball was dunked through the hoop. The court was puzzled and so it began.

"just like old times," Mika patted Kuroko affectionately on the shoulder, "hey Kuroko."

Kuroko stared at her for a moment, before cracking a light smile and nodding his head, "yes."

Mika stretched her arms behind her back as she listened to the conversation. It had been about a week since there try outs and Seirin had decided to take the risk of taking on Mika. Kagami and Kuroko had both made the team as well and they were building quite the program around the power couple. They took it seriously, practicing nearly everyday.

"wait...she was skipping?" If the panic hadn't been evident by his first statement, he made it clear by the second, "ARE YOU SURE!?"

His fears were confirmed and he sank back into his seat a dark aura surrounding him. "Everyone. Prepare yourselves. This can only mean that our next opponent is really strong."

The gym doors ripped open, revealing a rather cheerful looking Riko. She was happy to inform everyone that Huuyga's assumption had been correct.

"Our next opponent will be Kaijo."

Izuki piped up, "didn't Kaijo gain one of the Generation of Miracles?"

The room quieted and Mika glanced at Kuroko. He didn't seem too phased by the information, however, he didn't look too happy about it either. The GOM was strong when she played with them, she could only imagine their growth at this point. If she was correct, then playing against any one of them, would be a challenge.

Riko nodded, "Kise, Ryota."