FinalBossValvoga: Basketball gloves are specialized gloves used in basketball as an anti-grip device. Though rarely used in comparison with basketball leggings and arm sleeves, it has been said that it helps lessen the strain in the fingers.

And to the other reviews out there, I'm really touched and so, I give you my thanks for giving some time to read it. But for now, please enjoy. When will I update, I don't know but I would update it nevertheless.

After that meeting that saw the Generation of Miracles, Kuroko, and Hikigaya reconcile with each other and finally made up for their mistakes, the five rainbow-haired prodigies already went home to their respective prefectures and schools as the short, two week autumn break finally starts. This meant that Kuroko and Kagami still has at least a week left in their training camp and in that lone week, Hikigaya was invited to play with them. While the latter did have some activity to do (they have their own recreational activity to accomplish as agreed in their meeting), he was thankful that it was actually only two days and so, he had the three other days of that week visiting his former teammate and his new light. While still as gruff and rotten as ever, Hikigaya surprisingly managed to get along not only with Kagami but also with their kouhais, who always go to the boy with rotten eyes for some tips.

"Hikigaya-senpai!" Yagi cried out as he was having a hard time breaking pass against the older player, who is yawning. "I can't do this! Please, be more considerate!"

"Hnn. You won't learn if I go easy on you, kid." Hikigaya sighed as he defends against the younger Yagi. "Just think of this as a training ground for your future games. The world isn't easy that people would go on easy on you. Sometimes, it's better to expect to be defeated out there."

Kuroko, who was nearby the duo while instructing the other freshmen, heard him and smiled since he knew that Hikigaya is just doing the right thing for players who aren't yet used to taking the lead in becoming the floor general.

"Neh, Kuroko?" Kagami, who came back from outside of the inn as he was busy jogging to keep his body shape, called his captain. "Is it me or it's that Hikigaya's really good in teaching basketball? He may sound as bit antisocial like what you've mentioned before but it looks like he got no issues with Yagi."

"Hikigaya-kun's never really comfortable with people except to those whom he knows personally." Kuroko explains. "But since I was the one who requested it, he said it's not a problem at all."

In the bleachers, Yukinoshita and Yuigahama were simply watching the whole scene. At first, Hikigaya didn't want them to come along since the request was done outside of the school but since this was done via phone while they were coming home from their recreational activity, Yukinoshita heard all of it and demanded immediately that they be taken as well since she claimed that this is something that must be done by the whole club.

"Oi, it's not like you two know how to—" Hikigaya tried to rebut that time but was met by a deadly, icy glare coming from the Ice Queen.

"Forget it. You can come along too." The man with rotten eyes groaned as he thought. Since when did my activities with Kuroko turned into a free public viewing event?!

As Hikigaya and Yagi continued to go at it, with the latter falling to his butt as he got crossed over, Yuigahama whispered something to her friend. "Neh, Yukinon, isn't Hikki being too mean to Yagi-kun? His rotten eyes can't see that he's tired already…"

Yukinoshita was almost ready to agree to what the tinted-haired girl said when out of nowhere, someone suddenly appeared on their side.

"You think so?"

"Eeeeeeeh?!"

Yuigahama screamed in shock at the sudden appearance of Kuroko's pale face in front of them as he just walked in front of them without the two of them actually noticing it. "Kuroko-san, stop doing that. Your appearance can be the end of our precious lives." Sobu's resident Ice Queen glared at the Phantom Sixth Man, who just stared back at her blankly.

"Ah, sumimasen, Yukinoshita-san. I didn't intend to surprise you with my lack of presence." The tealnette apologized sincerely beneath his stoic façade. "Hmmmm…Hikigaya-kun and Yagi-kun seems to be just doing fine."

"How so?" Yuigahama rudely points at the two, who continued to have a one-on-one. "It's very obvious that Hikki's killing the poor lad…"

"Is that how you really see it?" Kuroko strangely eyes the two women. "For me, it's fine. Yagi-kun's not going to die with this training regime. And before you say how I can say it's little, what we have experienced back in middle school is harsher. I'm not saying that Yagi-kun should experience the same thing but my point is that if you want to become strong, then you might want to try to learn how to drive your limits further."

Yukinoshita and Yuigahama didn't reply back at Kuroko's answer.

Kurokon is right…probably.

Aside from the training with the Seirin regulars, Hikigaya's short, two-week break is just the usual today-I-don't-feel-like-doing-anything attitude as he lazes around in their house. After he trains with Seirin High School, he then goes shopping first before heding home so he can finally pay his PSP. Sometimes, he and Komachi would play together and other times, he would play alone. Sometimes, he would just sleep it off when he had no training to do with Kuroko and Kagami.

Maybe because it was the timing but Hikigaya found himself quite confused that he hadn't heard anything from the other former Teiko players, especially Akashi, after their somewhat heartfelt reunion that included his two club mates who didn't have anything to do with their past.

Or am I thinking too much? Akashi's too much prideful that he had to be moved by that dumbass video before apologizing. And even then, sometimes apologizing is the only way you can regain your social status and pride that you have held for long and I'm pretty sure he did it just for the sake of personal gains. But if he would treat us to dinner though, I don't particularly mind.

Or maybe he had just talked too much—and thought too early, too soon.

Because when school reopens, he would be in for the biggest surprise of his life.

Eventually, school did reopen at the second week of April. While Kuroko and Kagami were being referred by their underclassmen as third years, this is the only time that they become officially called as such as. This was the same case for Hikigaya, who is now currently pedalling his bike towards their school.

"Neh, onii-chan." Komachi, who is now officially a high school freshman at Sobu High School, calls out to his brother. "What do you think about this year?"

"About this year?" Hikigaya almost wanted to spit out and mock her but held her tongue out for his love and affection to his younger sibling. "There's nothing very exciting about this year, Komachi. Other than the fact that I have miraculously promoted to the next level and that I survived every piece of Yukinoshita's icy atmosphere, Yuigahama's mouth, and Hiratsuka-sensei's fists, it's all the same shit."

"Neh, onii-chan but you do have something to look forward to…" Komachi looked at his brother and then to the large duffel bag that he is carrying with him. "Yukino-san and Kuroko-san. I heard that you'll have another meeting with Kuroko-san sometime in these days. And here, I can see you carrying your basketball equipment." Komachi giggled so cutely that her older brother can't help but feel so flustered.

Dammit, Komachi, you'll really be the end of me with your lovable smile! Oh, that's a lot of Hachiman points!

Still, he had to say something. "You could say that Kuroko's a bit of the unpredictable type so just in case he asks me to come and pay with him, I had my sneakers and extra shirt ready. And what has Yukinoshita have to do with this?"

"Nothing and Onii-chan, stop daydreaming and concentrate since we're already here!" Komachi said as Hikigaya stops.

They are now in Sobu High School.

After Hikigaya had parked his bicycle in the usual parking lot for bicycles, he and Komachi walked hand-to-hand as they enter the main building of the school. After reading the directions of the map, the younger Hikigaya insisted that she can go on her own now. Hachiman can only watch as his younger sister runs off to her own classroom. Then I guess I must go to my own new room then. Hikigaya thought as he then walked off to his room.

After a few minutes, he reached his new class section, Class 3 – F. Maybe it was just a coincidence but with the exception of Yuigahama, who got inserted into another class, and some few classmates, this class which would focus on Liberal Arts more or less has the same air of atmosphere as last year. Hikigaya groaned as he saw again the faces of Hayama, Miura, and the bitch—err, Sagami gathered in the class. He doesn't mind seeing Kawasaki, who is sitting alone in her seat, but one thing made his heart grip in terror.

W-Where's Totsuka?!

Luckily for him, the feminine-like male friend of his just came on time after he entered. Wew, that was close. I thought I'm going to die of heart attack. Hikigaya heaved a sigh as he was about to sleep.

"Hello, Hachiman!"

Sady, it looks like he wasn't about to get his sleep.

"Wha—oh…Totsuka, what do you need?" Hikigaya almost choked into his own saliva as he saw the silver-haired boy looking at him.

"Nothing. I just thought to say hi." Totsuka smiled his sweetest smile as he then goes into his own seat.

That's a bit of a hear-wrenching moment. Hikigaya thought as Hiratsuka enters the class.

After classes, Hikigaya immediately went straight to the Service Club room. This day was an okay for him, though he did have to adjust since they have a new schedule system for their third year and there are a lot of new faces in their class, not that the boy with rotten eyes would mind.

In the end, I'll just make enemies out of them so what's the point of even trying to know them in the first place?

He calmly enters the clubroom where, as expected, he spots Yukinoshita preparing her tea and Yuigahama and Komachi busy chatting with one another. The latter had already intended to join his onii-chan's club and form the looks of it, she seemed to be having lots of fun with Yuigahama.

"Yo…" Hikigaya gruffly greeted the three girls in the room as he shuts the sliding room closed.

"Onii-chan, you're finally here!" Komachi waved her hands as Hikigaya lays down his bag and duffel bag on the table and sat on the chair.

"Yahallo, Hikki!" Yuigahama greeted as well.

"Good afternoon, Hiki-yoursisterisevenearlierthanyou-kun." As usual, the Ice Queen's remarks has been laced with both formality and sarcasm as she began to pour their hot tea into their mugs. And what's with the long nickname, Yukinoshita? Hikigaya thought weirdly as he just took her words as mere compliment, no matter how insulting it may sound to him.

The day for the four of them started off just like how the three original members of the club acted last year. Maybe the difference is that there is Komachi providing some sense of sparkle in the club and Hikigaya, instead of just reading his light novels, is actually concentrated on his smartphone watching some videos while having his earphone on. This scene of him was enough to catch the attention of Yukinoshita, who then asks Komachi.

"Komachi-san, I don't believe how this husk of a brother of yours is lazing off, unlike you." The raven beauty insulted the inattentive male, who was too busy to even hear her.

"Ah…it's April as of the moment so it's time." Komachi chuckled a little as she scratches her head.

"What do you mean "it's time?" Yuigahama asked.

"It's time because April is simply the month where the NBA playoffs starts." Komachi explains the reason why his brother was hooked up in his smartphone.

"NBA…playoffs?" As much as Yukinoshita tried to understand it, she cannot. Understandably, she isn't even a fan of basketball and she had to admit to herself that the only reason she was putting up with Kuroko and Kagami in the first place was that Hikigaya is accepting their request.

Which she nevertheless invited herself in despite Kuroko's insistence for Hikigaya only.

But before they can even continue with their own, Hikigaya who abruptly stopped watching to drinks his tea, noticed them staring to him and in annoyance, he asks. "Uhm…what are you guys looking at me for?

"Don't jump to conclusions, Hikipervert-kun." Yukinoshita immediately went full Tsundere-mode as she covers herself up. "Of course, how can we not watch you when you are all there simply lazing off while watching a random video about this thing called the NBA Playoffs?"

"It's a game between the Heat and the Celtics. Of course, I can't help it." Hikigaya shrugged as he sips his tea. "Besides, this is just the only time I'll watch the NBA."

Now that I think of it, Hachiman seemed to be a lot more peaceful within himself. Yukinoshita began to think to herself as Hikigaya continues to drink his tea. That Kuroko…what kind of guy he is? What kind of power does he have that he can make Hachiman transform into something I didn't expect. He still had those rotten eyes and twisted personality but…but…he was even glad to be with those guys in Seirin High School. Does that mean that Kuroko can make him happy in just one week…but I cannot do the same in a year?

"Oi…Yukinoshita…you're spacing out. Is there a problem?" Hikigaya snapped her out of her thoughts as she fiercely glares at him, but with cheeks reddening.

"I'm perfectly fine, Hikifroggy-kun! You have no right to ask me about my condition, especially that it's coming out of the mouth of an insectoid."

Th-That hurts, Yukinoshita! Hikigaya felt crushed in his heart as he attempts to make a counterattack.

The sound of the sliding door opening beat him to it first.

"Ah, good morning, Hikigaya."

The lone male of the Service Club almost got crippled in his legs when he heard that familiar voice coming from the entrance of the Service Club. Akashi?! What is the red, shorty devil doing here?! He asks himself mentally as he saw their former Teiko captain calmly enter their room in his Rakuzan uniform.

"A-Akashi-san?!" Komachi had once personally met the Emperor Eye wielder back in Hikigaya's middle school days in Teiko and thus, it's not surprising that the younger sibling is somewhat familiar with his red hair and the perilous air that he is surrounded with.

"Hmmm. I see that Hikigaya's younger sibling is already in high school. That's good." Akashi gave a warm smile which only made Yukinoshita grit her teeth as she knew there must be something going on beneath his façade. "You're a grown-up right now, Komachi-san. Study well so you can make your brother proud."

"Y-Yes, Akashi-senpai…" Komachi somewhat stuttered as she eyed the red head with curious eyes.

"Oi, Akashi, why are you here? Is it about the Olympics?" Hikigaya didn't want to beat around the bush and quickly questioned Akashi, who merely chuckled at his reply.

"Clever as always, Hikigaya despite your somewhat rebellious and deviant personality." Akashi said as he glances at the phone. "I supposed that you're watching the game between the Miami Heat and the Boston Celtics. Hmph, I see that you still had the same adoration for Dwyane Wade. I can't blame you for that. His speed and flexibility in his younger, pre-injury years is unmatched by his contemporaries. You even patterned a lot of your offensive attacks after his."

"I don't need someone to tell me what I know already." Hikigaya replies. "And besides, you haven't answered my question."

"Ah. Pardon for my intrusion then. Actually, I'm here for two things." Akashi said as Yuigaham offers him a chair and a cup of hot tea. "As you said, I'm here for the Olympics. I would be extending you a formal invitation for you to attend the summer camp training for the national team this may though informally, you're already a part of the team."

"Huh?! Wait—"

"I'm not calling this as a request per se." Akashi smirked as he steals a glance at Yukinoshita, who suddenly clenches her fists at what he is implying to her mentally. "I've been hearing some stories from Kuroko so you can call this as an order or a call-up from the Japanese Basketball Association. Besides, we promised you that this is the second chance."

Hikigaya thought for it in the moment.

"Hnnn. Fine." He then gives his decision. "I don't know about playing but for Kuroko's sake, I'll just attend there."

"Hi-Hikki?!" Yuigahama can't help but feel shocked at the sudden decision Hikigaya gave.

Akashi then continues. "That settles it. The second one is actually a form of help to our former coach."

Hikigaya then raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Coach? As in Coach Shirogane Kozo? Wait…I thought he is in the hospital?"

"He recovered as fast so no need to worry." Akashi explains as he then takes out a printed document in a small envelope from his pocket. "As for his *cough cough* request, he wants us to help him overhaul the regular team of Teiko. In short, all of us seven were tapped to help choose the best for the five positions of the game. You'll be the one who'll select the best player for the point guard position, and that goes with the other four who would choose their own. As for Kuroko and me, I'll be the one who'll make the final say while Kuroko's job is to assist the three idiots in Aomine, Kise and Murasakibara."

"Wait…just wait…" Hikigaya then felt something wrong with that request from their former coach. "What's the point of all of these? It's not like it's our business now on how the team runs. How will they react on a real match is none of our business. None of mine. None of yours. Besides, we're already third year—"

"How the new generation of Teiko's players act would reflect poorly on us, Hikigaya." Akashi calmly explained, causing the rotten eyed man to shut up. "So it's a good chance that we choose ourselves. Besides, this is the only way we can do something to give back to our alma mater even if in your case, you didn't graduate there."

"I—I see. So when will this so-called selection start?" Hikigaya seemed to have no choice but to accept his former coach's request. After all, Shirogane was the one who promoted him in the regular first string.

"It would start tomorrow at 12 in the noon. Don't worry about not having to attend classes. Here, I have presented this letter a while back notifying to your principal that you're excused from any activities tomorrow." Akashi explains as he hands the letter to Hikigaya, who reads it with a hint of astonishment. "Oh, and if you want, you can bring people along with you but I'll have to cut it down to two since I don't want any troublemakers in our former school, especially those who had a clear rivalry with our family." Again, he dropped another hint on Yukinoshita, who understood whom Akashi is referring to as she had to suppress herself from saying something out of mere emotions. "Well, that's all Hikigaya. Thank you very much for lending me your time. I'll be on my way now and I'll be waiting for you, tomorrow."

He then calmly walks out of the club room and shuts the sliding door.

The silence that came descending to them was so deafening that Yuigahama wondered if they would get deaf or were now deaf from the chills she received just from hearing Akashi speak with a clear hint of authority.

"Neh, onii-chan…Akashi-senpai's still as scary as ever." Komachi broke the silence that accompanied them.

"That's so true, Komachi-san!" Yuigahama finally said something. "I mean, his aura is so terrifying! I don't know if I could actually hold a decent conversation with him."

"I—I see…" Hikigaya noticed Yukinoshita eyeing the letter in his hands. "Well, it's now like we can help it. Akashi's the heir of the powerful Akashi clan. He's been trained to be all-knowing despite how ridiculous it sounds. What do you expect that we do against him?" He sighed. "Well, you heard Akashi. I'll be absent from school tomorrow so you three better take care—"

"Hikigaya-kun, I'm going with you tomorrow at Teiko."

"Okay—huh, wait a minute, Yukinoshita!" Hikigaya turned his head as fast as he can to face their president. "This is already a business for us, Yukinoshita. You can't come along. Besides, who would even watch over the service club room if you will—"

"Akashi said that you can take two guests with you." The raven haired beauty shut up the lone male in their club. "Besides, it looks like you are exerting en effort in trying to keep something from our eyes, Hiki-liar-kun."

"Hah?! Where did you get that—"

"Komachi-san can take care of the club, right?" Yukinoshita turned to Komachi, who was about to say no as she wanted to go along with her onii-chan but the Ice Queen's eyes is telling her to give it up.

Poor Komachi ended up nodding.

"Then I guess I can go to Teiko, neh, Hikki?!" Yuigahama is the last one to invite herself. "I'm actually curious as to what your school looks like!"

"Well…yeah Yuigahama…" Hikigaya sighed to himself as he knew there's no way he would leave behind the airhead. If Yukinoshita says she would come, of course Yuigahama would follow suite. Though it breaks his heart seeing Komachi having to handle the club duties tomorrow.

"You do know that this isn't even a request?" Hikigaya then gave then one last chance to back out of this. "It's an order from my old coach. Basically, it's—"

"Then we'll still go, Hikigaya-kun."

Great. Why did I even bother to stop her?

The next day was quite the hectic one. After asking permission from Hiratsuka that they won't be all attending classes, the homeroom teacher begrudgingly accepted their requests as she was presented the letter that Akashi had written in order to excuse Hikigaya from his classes. As soon as they were able to give Komachi the keys to the service club, they immediately rode a bus going to Tokyo City.

After an hour, they finally reached the street where Teiko Middle School is located. Thanking the bus driver, Hikigaya lead his two female companions as they began to walk in the street. When they managed to spot the lone, maroonish walls with a bronze plaque saying "TEIKO MIDDLE SCHOOL", Hikigaya then announced, "We're here."

Yukinoshita and Yuigahama can't believe at what they were seeing.

Being founded on a rainy season many years ago, Teiko Middle School is an elite school with a high-levelled basketball club and many of its students apply for a position in this reputed team. Their basketball club is exceptionally strong and has over 100 members. As such, the club has three separate strings, labelled the first, second and third string. The first string is the main team of the club, the strongest and most important one. The club's captain is always a player from the first string. The second string can be considered reserves for the first string, even though they play their own matches too. The third string is somewhat a dumpster where the players end up in after being rejected from both the first and the second string. It is encouraged for them to improve and advance to the second string though this is unlikely to happen especially when the two other strings are too far ahead in terms of skill, physique, and level. They have a lot of successive championships titles on their name.

The school had a strong winning-philosophy and they taught their players that winning is everything and that losing is not accepted.

"Why are you two looked surprised?" Hikigaya asked in an irritated way as Yuigahama kept staring at the Emperor-like logo of the school.

"Hikigaya-kun, did you really study here? It doesn't look like a school for some people like you." Yukinoshita asked rather rudely as she scans the whole area.

"Know what, cut that out." Hikigaya isn't in the mood for banters right now. "If I didn't study here, then I wouldn't even bring you here in the first place."

"Ara…ara…Hikifishy-kun looks like he's getting very antsy right now…" Yukinoshita felt like making fun of Hikigaya, who wanted to retort back but knew that time ir running out and so, he decided to walk inside the school gates, motioning the two to follow him.

Speaking of Hikigaya, today would be the day that Akashi would help Shirogane establish the next generation of new Teiko stars, which would be a very easy task at a first glance if they just had to pick the best juniors the team had in first string. That was how it was supposed to be but apparently, Akashi had another twisted idea. He was going to organize a mini-tournament in Teiko's first gymnasium, which would involve not only all of the juniors from the second to first string but also the first members of Japan's national team versus an unnamed opponent. Midorima wondered why Coach Shirogane would just nod and obey Akashi before leaving the rest of the matters in Akashi's small but capable hands. Akashi might be the relative of an official in the Japan Basketball Association but there should be a limit of how much privilege the governing basketball of Japan could give.

Momoi definitely had the same thought as she browsed through the list of members on her clipboard. Right now, all of the Generation of Miracles plus Kuroko were already present, with the exception of Hikigaya, who was still not yet present and Akashi, who was known to be getting late. "Hnn…e have around fifty juniors in first, and second string..." She tucked the strands of pink hair behind her ears, a habit she had developed back in middle school. "We can get ten teams out of those, but should we choose who is with whom randomly? It would be unfair if we..."

Midorima shrugged as he held his lucky item, which happened to be a pot of cacti. "It doesn't matter. Akashi just wanted to see how good this amateurs are and choose the strongest of their respective position." He paused as pushed his glasses up to the bridge of his nose, "I'll be the one who chooses the best shooter for the shooting guard, but in the end, the final decision will be still be Akashi's. After all he is the best at spotting potential." Just like that time with Kuroko.

Midorima sighed as his eyes browsed through the list of unfamiliar names in the list. Why did Akashi have to drag us into this? Out of all of them, it would be Aomine who would have the most trouble to choose a prospective player that Akashi can approve. The Touou ace had angrily complained all day long yesterday when Akashi announced his grand plan via text message and through a visitation in Hikigaya's case.

The Shutoku standout knew he valued accuracy and persistence when shooting at crunch time the most. Kise decided he would choose a well-rounded player but preferably decent at defense and perimeter shots which, in Midorima's opinion, was going to be harder to choose than what the blonde had initially thought at first since there were many who were like that in the Teiko club. Murasakibara was always simple in mind so he was sure he would choose a tall, and strongly built player which made his decision-making easier since there was only a handful of people who were close to the Yosen center in the club.

Aomine in the other hand was off the charts. Obviously, his talent was agility and flexibility so it wasn't actually that hard to find a fast and strong scorer but to match Aomine's and Akashi's standard was another matter entirely.

Akashi seemed confident that Hikigaya would be able to find a good point guard that can take the reins in Teiko's offense but then again when had Akashi ever doubted himself?

Thinking about Akashi made him think of Hikigaya. "I wonder what Hikigaya is doing now. He hasn't arrived yet."

Kise perked up at that while Kuroko merely blinked. "Hikigayacchi, you mean?" He sighed sadly. "He still hasn't arrive, though."

"You're merely being redundant, Kise-kun." Kuroko told the blonde model as he drinks his vanilla milkshake. "At any rate, Hikigaya-kun and Akashi-kun would be here." He sighed in relief.

"Yo, Aominecchi!" Kise then turned his attention to Aomine and waved at him, "Anyone catch your attention?"

Aomine raised an eyebrow at the cheerful blonde and gruffly replied. "They even haven't started yet, Kise." He looked around as it seemed Hikigaya and Akashi wasn't here yet. "Where's Hikigaya and Akashi?"

Midorima sighed as he pushes up his glasses. "I'm pretty sure Hikigaya would be here soon and when do you think, Akashi was ever not fashionably late, other than for official matches?" He pointed out with a huff. "Anyway, I'll brief you on this mini-tournament." He cleared his throat, as he tapped the paper on the clipboard and began to speak loud and clear so that Aomine and Kise would be forced to listen to him. "Basically there would be ten teams from A to J, it'll be a full court match, four quarters." He paused, "It doesn't matter which team wins, since we're looking for the best of the best of each respective position, which is why we'll only use one court, so we can focus on observing each match carefully." He explained as he flipped through the pages, "Of course there would be Kuroko recording the whole match so we can watch the video if we can't decide right away at this point."

Kise whistled as he rolls the basketball in his hands. "Hai...Hai…it's all crystal-clear Midorimacchi!" Coincidentally, he turned to the entrance of the gym where he saw the crowding members parting like Red Sea for Akashi, who had just arrived. "Akashicchi is here."

Aomine clicked his tongue as he swallowed a bitter pill in his tongue. "An impressive entrance as ever, Akashi…" Talking about entrances, there was someone else in their team whose entrance was a different kind of impressive .

"They really parted like the Red Sea for him." A monotone but gruff voice commented, getting the attention of the some of those who heard it.

"Exactly just what I was thinking." Midorima nodded in a strained agreement.

"They really respect our dear Akashicchi captain, don't they?" Kise smiled sheepishly at the sight of a freshman player dragging his friend away out of Akashi's path.

"Idiot. The respect they have is only a more sugar-coated term for fear that they are feeling right now."

Kise and Aomine laughed at that remark. "You get that one right…"

They suddenly paused in the middle of their laughter and double-checked their surroundings.

Midorima looked to his right, and Aomine to the left, where between the two of them there was a familiar set of rotten eyes. Kise also looked at the person, whom he didn't immediately noticed when he walked straight in front of them.

The shrieks of three members of the Generation of Miracles echoed through the gym. "Hikigaya/Hikigaya/Hikigayacchi?!" Have you become Kuroko 2.0?!

Hikigaya was not amused, "Yo."