I wiped my sweat and panted as another ball hit the palm of my hand. It was a perfect pass from my end to the other side of the court, right into Aomine-kun's waiting hands. He gave me a thumbs up before dribbling his way around Murasakibara and shooting another formless shot.

Aomine-kun ran towards me, raising his fist for a fist bump which I gladly returned.

"It's been a month and you still keep up with me pretty well, Tetsu." I nodded in reply. "It gets me fired up!" I smiled at him before taking a seat at the bench right after coach subbed in Kise-kun.

The game cost me almost my entire stamina, even with it only being a practice match but I would never admit it so long as my teammates risk their all in the game.

"I'm guessing that tripping on your own foot was worth the humility." Instantly, my eyes were on my twin who sat right beside me. I think a second string sub replaced him.

"Please stop bringing that up." I glared, hoping to come across as somewhat intimidating. It does not work anyway. "It's my debut game and I think I'm doing well, mind you."

"You're right." Sei failed to hide his laughter behind his hand which caused me to hit his arm lightly. "Alright, I apologize Tetsuya. You did well."

"Hmph."

Praise me more...

Sei seemed to read my mind since he didn't fail to follow up with compliments- not without criticizing me first. "Just remember not to hold the ball for too long. You shouldn't dribble, so pass immediately. You're doing great, Tetsuya." Sei kept petting my head like he was patronizing me. I took note of the way he said you shouldn't instead of you can't.

When the sub ran back, Sei went back in the game. He ruffled my hair affectionately before running after the ball. I pouted, my mood instantly turning another 180 as soon as my brother left my side.

We're not done yet- was what ran through my mind during the whole match but I couldn't bring myself to confront him about what had happened just recently.

Waking up from a coma was no different than waking up from a good sleep, contrary to popular belief. The events that happened before that were hazy in my mind, but I knew there were more than just having the rescue team having a successful feat in taking me back from whoever had the audacity to kidnap me and challenge my father. Still, no one breathed a word of what had happened like it didn't happen at all. It irked me more than I'd like to admit.

Spotting a tuff of grey hair in the corner of my eyes, I saw Haizaki Shougo score another dunk. He's improving faster than we expected. I nodded in acknowledgment when he turned to me.

Shou-kun hadn't been with us for long, but he's already carved his place in the team. It took us a while to convince him to change his ways, but he was an actual soft hearted person so we didn't take much to keep him in check. I also think he's sort of scared of my twin brother, but so was everyone in our team since I got back- more than usual anyway but I didn't think much of it at the time.

Speaking of change, seems like the team grew even stronger than before. Sei came up with a name for our team. I told him it was bizarre, but he reasoned with all the other American teams having team names such as Lakers and Cavaliers. I snickered at his reasoning but let him be anyway.

Since then, the Teiko regulars were dubbed as Generation of Miracles.

Of course, I wasn't included (and neither was Haizaki-kun then but I neglected to mention that) since I haven't even played my debut match. Until now- which brought my sour mood back.

The coach signaled for Shou-kun to come back, putting me back in the game after a couple minutes rest. I was too distracted to note who I replaced, too distracted to know who I pass to. As long as the person I pass to had a white uniform.

I was too distracted to notice the concerned glances from my team.

Something doesn't feel right, I heard them whisper to each other. Tetsu-chin seems off, I heard the purple giant tell the rest of our friends.

In the contrary, I felt the lightest I've ever felt in a while, and my passes seemed to reflect it. Kise-kun seemed to be having fun receiving them. Aomine-kun yelled at both me and him for not passing to him instead, but I chose to ignore it in favour of paying attention to conversing with my brother.

"Tetsuya, don't get too excited. You're still injured." Ah yes, another factor I failed to take into consideration. As if on cue, my side started to throb on the gash that was very noticeable if I had taken my jersey off.

"I'm fine, Sei-kun."

"It's only a practice match." Sei shook his head, ruffling my hair. "Cool your head. We'll talk later, I promise." He ran back to the far side of the court.

I nodded, my face void of any emotion.

The game continued and I continued to pass absentmindedly, not without receiving pointed looks from our coach.

"Tetsuya!" Sei called when I was cornered by two players. It took me a second too late to pass, and it was blocked by the other team giving them an opportunity to steal the ball. It took me another while to realize my misdirection lost its effect not too long ago. The other team shot the last ball and even if we still won, I could feel the disappointment that my team felt with me for missing an easy pass. I huffed, making my way towards the locker room first without hearing what coach had to say. I did not want to hear a scolding right now.

"Tetsuya, you're spacing out again." Sei told me when we were in our piano lessons.

"Oh- sorry." I apologized half heartedly, returning to the current assignment. "I was thinking."

"Too much." It was a statement. Sei hesitated, like he wanted to say more but decided against it.

"Hai. Gomenasai." We didn't say anything more, letting the awkward silence fill the room and going back to practicing the new piece.

I was reading a book on my nightly routine when it happened. Sei was still downstairs conversing with father so I was all alone.

My senses started to dull, and I began hearing a voice at the back of my mind.

'Tet... Tetsu... Tetsuya...'

Hai..? I answered subconsciously. By instinct, I turned to look if anyone was in the room with me. I was more weirded out by the fact that none of this felt strange, having someone in the room with me when none of our house helpers are allowed to invade our privacy without as much as a knock, but I stuck to the fact that I wasn't alone instead of talking to myself. I'm not Sei-kun.

The voice didn't stop calling my name. 'Tetsuya..?'

I felt some sort of connection building, and the voice became even clearer. My head was spinning lightly, but I ignored that in favor of focusing on the strange connection.

'Tet... Tetsu-'

"Tetsuya." The connection vanished in an instant as soon as Sei walked in, settling himself down on the other side of the bed. "What are you still doing up?"

"Reading. I couldn't fall asleep."

He didn't say anything, only staring at me. I stared back, not affected by his intimidation tactics that seemed to work with anyone else. After all, I knew I stand his equal regardless of our few minute age difference.

After a beat, he smiled. I smiled back, getting myself comfortable as I set myself closer to his warmth. At the end of the day, we're still twins.

Sleep came faster than I could think any more.

"Man, I'm beat." Aomine-kun stretched, sitting on the ground with his legs stretched out in my direction. It was the day before we start playing in official matches and everyone around me were getting very hyped. "The training regime from Akashi is even harder than before."

"I'm sure it only looks that way since Niji-senpai left..." I replied, performing my own final stretches. "If anything I'm pretty sure mine quadrupled." I deadpanned, blanching at the memory of the laps earlier.

Everyone around me laughed while I tried to hide my blush. Kise-kun was the one who had the gall to remind me. "Tetsuyacchi, you should tell him when you reach your limit. It won't do us any good if we keep losing track of you just because you can't keep up."

"What are you even doing, talking to cats like that..." Shin-kun added, looking at the kitten right beside me skeptically pushing his glasses up. He was the only one other than Murasaki-kun who already finished their training menus and slacked off a bit on the side. "And you even brought it with us."

I took a glance at my new found kitten, petting him before saying, "It's fine, I don't think coach would mind. I found him sleeping in a box on the side of the road so I feel a bit bad leaving him there." I pouted to add effect. "Besides, doesn't he look like someone we know...?"

That comment made the others pause, staring at the kitten who was now in my arms. Said kitten meowed, it's dark blue fur ruffled lightly by the wind. The eyes looked fierce yet bored while it's tail wagged around lazily before lightly rubbing it on my arms. I sneezed lightly with the way it tickles.

We then turned to Aomine-kun who was picking his ear, already losing interest in the poor kitty, before staring back at the kitten.

"...H-HAH?" Aomine-kun jumped and pointed in our direction. "You can't be serious, Tetsu! That thing is a midget, there's no way it resembles me!"

"For you to even know a word that big astounds me, Aomine." Shin-kun pushed his glasses up, making us all snicker. Aomine-kun was not amused, he gave him the stink eye. "Oi! I'm a wild black panther, mind you! Having a tiny kitten like that one will mean I'm a pu-"

"Not in front of Tetsucchi! Geez Aominecchi." Kise-kun took the liberty of covering my ears from anything else my light says. I heard Aomine-kun grumble out a 'whatever' before he settles back in his place.

The lazy giant was the one who spoke last, still munching on his chips while he rested with Shin-kun. "Eh, as long as he doesn't get us in trouble." And that settled it. We're keeping the kitten.

Just then, I heard the door open and feared for my life once again when a squealing voice reached my ear. "Tetsu-ku- OH MY GOSH! It's a Dai-chan neko!" The squealing got closer until the kitten in my arms was snatched away and up in the air. I could do nothing but sympathize with the poor kitty. "Mou, what's it's name?"

"Aomineko." I answered without a second thought. In the background, I heard Shin-kun say 'don't name it nanodayo! You'll get attached.' None of us payed him any more mind than we did with the newly dubbed Aomineko.

Aomine-kun, although not very pleased with the turn of events held the kitty in his arms when it rushed towards him. I felt a smile tug at my lips at the sight. For once, my light seemed small as he held the small animal. I could tell everyone else were affected since no one dared to say a word, and even Momoi-san had her phone out to take pictures.

The doors opened once more, my twin walking in at the scene with Shou-kun at his tail looking apprehensive. I'm not sure what he did to him, but by the look on Shou-kun's face, I can only imagine. I know my brother like the back of my hand after all.

Sei stood beside Aomine-kun, about to scold him knowing he has yet to finish his menu, but all was forgotten when Aomineko came into view. There was another reason why I decided to bring the poor thing with us, and it was very much worth seeing Seijuro the almighty looking dazed and defenseless at the mere sight of a kitten. I know my twin more than anyone else, after all.

There were gasps of surprise around the room when Sei wordlessly took the kitten from my light, lifting it up before adjusting him so he was cradling him like a baby.

They all act like he's a robot incapable of feelings. Which was a sort of accurate description, but Sei has his moments too. My brother is human, it was a given proof by the way he subtly takes care of each one of us in the team like a mother hen. I took my phone out to take a photo, unaffected by the change of the sadistic captain but still cheering mentally at my success.

Two of the most intimidating members in our group just showed their soft side to our team. It was then a warm sensation filled my heart for the feat that I achieved by bringing the neko along with me. Pride, I suppose.

"...Yes, uh that many yes- and one large vanilla milkshake, please. Yes, that would be all... thanks." Aomine-kun sat on the opposite end of the table, handing me my milkshake in the process before he started gobbling on his mountain of burgers. He eyes my portion of the table, doesn't comment on it. It was a common thing for us to stop here and eat dinner together at the end of practice, but I never order food so it was no use arguing with me about eating anymore.

Today was different though, he just tossed me one of his burgers from the pile.

"Eat up, you'll need your energy for tomorrow." I opened my mouth to protest but closed it soon after because he was right. As much as I'd like to admit, an empty stomach right before game day could be fatal. We need as much strength as we can get. "Are you nervous, Tetsu?"

The question startled me, making me look up to him. It only took one look for him before he sighed.

"Don't be nervous. Just remember the goal, aim for championship and we'll be fine! The team is counting on us both. No pressure..." But I was already a quivering mess at the end of his statement. Aomine-kun froze too, stuttering wondering what he could have said to make me even more scared than before.

Just then, a hand was at my shoulder and a chair was being pulled up right beside me. Sei sighed at the blue haired idiot who was now also broken infront of me before saying, "Don't worry Tetsuya. You'll do great. Just believe in us, we'll be fine."

I stared at him for a minute. My senses jumpstarted at his words, calming me down. I heard Aomine-kun grumble something though I wasn't sure what. I was too busy being bedazzled by the sparkles Sei was emitting while he spoke.

Like always, he understood me.

I nodded dumbly at him, staring at the hand that held mine. "If Sei-kun thinks so..."

"Trust me, Tetsuya. I am-"

"Absolute." I snickered at his predictable remark. Sei sweatdropped but said nothing. We all proceeded to eat our meals. "Why are you here anyway, Sei-kun? Usually Takumo-san would take you home after you do your school council stuffs."

"Oh, I decided to go home with Tetsuya today and make sure a tanned aho doesn't do anything to keep your spirits down for tomorrow's game."

"Oi! I'm right here, Akashi." Sei dismissed his words, but Aomine-kun wasn't done. "I wouldn't do anything to upset Tetsu." I think I saw him glare at Sei, but I was too busy sipping on my milkshake and pretending all this was normal.

"One can't be too sure."

"I thought you were absolute!"

"If Tetsuya's involved, I'd rather take the extra mile. Just in case." I pouted at his words, but it seemed like I took it the wrong way.

"That sounds like a bad thing, coming from Sei-kun." I retorted, hiding my face from the way he interlocked our fingers under the table again. I could feel him smirking at me, proceeding to rub the back of my hand with his thumb. Sei said nothing more, but he was still looking smug with the way he won over Aomine-kun just like that.

Aomine-kun paused, something under the table catching his attention. He ducked down, bringing the kitten up into view. Both him and Sei suddenly changed their moods, still dazed at the kitten in front of them. The kitten purred as both of them gave it some attention, while I continued to sip my milkshake.

The hand holding mine disappeared; the kitten opened his eyes wider, suddenly turning to stare at me, and, as if mocking me, looked rather smug for a kitten.

An irk mark appeared on my forehead, but my face remained stoic. I had just saved this kitten but now he's challenging me. What nerve.

The caressing and cooing lasted for a few minutes, and when I was sure there was no need for my presence there anymore, I stood up and declared, "I'll take my leave." Neither one of them reacted, and like the phantom I am, I vanished into thin air. Just kidding, I just swiftly strode towards the exit.

Oh well, they'll realize soon enough.

Both Aomine-kun and Sei were so entranced with Aomineko that neither of them noticed when I went to head home. I sighed. There's no point fighting a kitten now when I had a whole game to worry about tomorrow.

The cold hard wooden floor of the gym squeaked louder than our gym in Teiko as basketball shoes collided against it. The cool air of the air conditioned room blew past my face, although it was the perfect temperature in comparison to the freezing winds outside.

My insides shook. I knew things would change after this tournament- the national tournament of our second year.

Taking a peek at my side, a smile tugged at my lips when I saw my team right beside me, matching expressions of excitement evident on their faces while we scanned the crowd. I smiled.

Aomine-kun might be my light by name, but no one said the rest didn't shine their own bright lights. With them, I was confident we'll take the win. Sei nodded at me before turning to our teammates.

"Let's go!"