What's this? An update? One that only took me forever to work on, but an update, nonetheless. Finalizing my last undergraduate semester was insane, my classes were so involved, but I've survived and finished my two degrees. I wanted to get another update out before I started my summer classes in a few days, so I hope this is a nice treat.

This chapter is pretty heavy at times, but it's for the sake of the plot.

As always, may you all be well during the insanity that is 2020, and I thank you all for reading, favoriting and following this fic. I feel as though I never say it enough, but it makes me so happy to see the notifications that people are supporting this story.

Disclaimer: {I don't own Kuroko no Basuke. I do, however, own my OCs and the ways in which I weave them into the KnB universe. Of course, the quote does not belong to me either.}

Chapter 11: This Lady's Crazy, the Stampede's Gone Wild

"The Greek word for "return" is nostos. Algos means "suffering." So nostalgia is the suffering caused by an unappeased yearning to return." - Milan Kundera

"It's a nostalgic feeling being back here."

Yuki found herself turning around to look at a stranger, seemingly content on talking to herself. Yuki had been in the process of returning to her home when she heard a voice speaking close by. She could only assume that this woman had lived here previously by her tone. Shrugging her shoulders slightly, Yuki began to turn around, until she noticed the woman's eyes on her.

"You ever experience that?"

Yuki felt herself struggling to understand why this woman felt the need to talk to her. Rather, she felt more concerned with how tall she was. The stranger seemed to be closer to the height of her father. Yuki could tell she carried herself confidently. She could feel another set of eyes boring into her forehead.

"Experience what?"

"Nostalgia."

Yuki shook her head. "I doubt I've lived long enough to feel nostalgic about something."

The woman shrugged, her shoulders barely reaching her messy-styled chocolate-colored hair. "Nostalgia knows no age, so long as you have something to remember."

"Well, maybe there's no point romanticizing the past."

Quiet laughter seemed to come from the woman. "Aren't you a little young to be such a philosophe?"

"Questioning aspects of life is something people do as children and build up from there."

"You're one of those, I take it – always having a response for everything," the woman sighed, glancing up at the sky. "Exhausting."

Yuki could feel annoyance building within her. "Do you need something, or was I simply an unlucky one to walk near you?"

An audible laugh this time. "You're just like your mother," the woman moved her hair behind her ears. "Well, she was never as openly blunt as you, but the resemblance is uncanny." The woman motioned for Yuki to come closer, but after several moments, she realized Yuki had no intention of moving. "I'm assuming your father neglected to tell you I was coming?"

"He said a friend was coming."

The woman grinned. "I certainly hope I still fit that description."

Her father's friend followed her home, much to her annoyance. Every few minutes, the woman would utter, "How nostalgic!" into the night air, as though the sidewalks, the trees, the houses – they would recognize her. Yuki felt frustrated with the stranger, but also with herself. If this woman was indeed her father's well-selected helper, Yuki had certainly just turned her off with her belligerence.

The pair had entered through the front door, Yuki calling out to alert her parents that she was home. After she and the family's 'guest' took their shoes off, again prompting a comment from said guest about how she hadn't had to do that in ages, the pair headed off into the living room.

Unsurprisingly, Yuki was amazed by how happy her father was to see this woman enter their home. She couldn't have anticipated what kind of reaction he would have had, but Yuki felt this one was the most fitting.

"You made it, Kimi!"

The two had hugged, clearly ecstatic at seeing each other. Yuki felt uncomfortable being so close to their jovial embrace. She felt herself drifting over to the couch where her mother sat stiffly. Turning over to her mother, Yuki whispered, "She said she knew you."

Her mother nodded. "I'm assuming she thought we look alike," she whispered back.

The two slightly smiled at each other before focusing their attention back on the pair near the doorway.

"It has been too long since I stood in this household," Kimi remarked, holding Yuki's father and arm's length away. "So many memories came back to me while walking with your daughter; I missed Japan more than I initially had realized."

"Nostalgic, eh?"

Kimi lightly smacked Yuki's father's arm. "Please, your daughter will kill me if anyone utters that word again." She looked over at Yuki and smirked.

"How'd you know it was Yuki?"

Kimi scoffed. "She's the spitting image of your wife; have a little more faith in my eyes, would you?"

Yuki's mother rose, walking over to Kimi, and gave her a light embrace. "You've been well?"

Kimi nodded, glancing between Yuki's parents before spotting the empty seat on the couch. "No need to be so formal with me, you two!" She remarked before sitting next to Yuki. "Let's catch up!"

While her parents found seating and situated themselves comfortably, Yuki couldn't help but feel increasingly more confused by this woman's behavior. Instead of being patient and awaiting answers she figured would be coming shortly, Yuki mumbled out, "It's common courtesy to introduce yourself, especially when not everyone knows who you are," at the foreign woman next to her.

Instead of reacting the way Yuki thought she would, Kimi laughed and patted Yuki's shoulder. "All in due time, I promise."

Entry #5: I Very Much Dislike Strangers

This topic is probably one of the strangest ones I've written about, but I felt the need to vent about foreign women entering my home. Well, not foreign, as she is Japanese, but foreign to me as a person. And, of course, not women. Just one. But the point still stands. My parents barely elaborated on who she was for a long while until I practically had to beg to get a response out of them.

Yokoyama Kimi. That is her name. She is apparently my father's closest friend since middle school and the person that brought my parents together in high school. Shockingly. She's currently a basketball assistant coach in the United States for one of the California collegiate teams.

She's also apparently very good.

She frustrates me. I hope she can help Kuroko-san with his basketball playing, but that also means I must deal with her.

Very frustrating indeed.

The festival was in a few days.

Yuki woke up with the single thought on her mind, and she could feel the anxiety seep deeply into her bones. The festival itself didn't seem too difficult in theory, but speaking up in front of fellow students, with a greatly opinionated, green-haired menace next to her would be a challenge.

Midorima had been accommodating with the planning, attempting to present Hirasawa with various means to make Yuki and his life less bothered by this event, but even still, the two were dreading it.

Not that they constantly confided in each other about it, but they'd gotten pretty good at reading each other's faces.

Yuki rolled over and groaned. Life just wasn't getting any easier for her.

After getting ready to go to her classes for the day, Yuki left her room only to stumble upon Kimi.

"Good morning, O Antisocial One!" Kimi called out to her.

Yuki rolled her eyes but greeted the woman in return. "Did you sleep well?"

"I'm adjusting. Jet lag and all." She waved it off as though that was the last thing on her mind. "You're looking pensive again."

Yuki could only bring herself to stare at Kimi's shoulders, not wanting to make eye contact.

"Hmm. It's going to be difficult helping your friend if you're as closed off as you are, Yuki."

"There's no correlation."

Kimi just stared at her, and she could feel Kimi's eyes boring into her forehead.

Yuki maintained an air of brevity, "I just have a lot on my mind."

"You're in junior high school! How much could possibly be on your mind?"

Yuki huffed.

Kimi walked past her, lightly patting her shoulder in a similar manner to the night before. "I hope you open up with me soon."

"It's been a little while."

Akako's brief beginning of a conversation with Yuki is comical to Yuki. She's underwhelmed by Akako's efforts. Rather than offer a response, Yuki continues to stare at the board in front of her, despite its blankness.

Out of the corner of her eyes, it is evident that Akako's frustrated. Not that Yuki blames her. The feeling of being ignored is a painful one, something that Yuki's dabbled in too often to forget the turmoil that comes from it.

Forgiveness is a difficult thing for Yuki. Grudges are something she holds.

Akako sighs. Putting her hands together on the table, she initiates a conversation again. "I never imagined that I would be on the receiving end to this kind of behavior."

"Yet here we are."

The words are not biting; however, they are said so emotionlessly that even Yuki is surprised.

"I gave you space."

"And I took it."

"Yuki, I – "

"Is there a point to this?" She interrupts, bored with Akako's disingenuous attempts.

Akako halts her tongue, staring at Yuki with shock. "I just thought I would check in."

"And then leave. Again." Yuki could feel anger rising within her and she wasn't quite sure she'd be able to calm down. She tried to fiddle with her pencil, changing the ways she gripped it, but it wasn't helping.

"I left after you abandoned me for something I can't partake in."

"I was involuntarily shoved into a position that has provided me with nothing but stress while you spend hours discussing models and other irrelevant topics without a care in the world." Yuki paused, knowing she was out of line; yet it felt too good to vent. "We have different luxuries; we lead different lives."

"Then I think it's best if you're no longer a part of mine."

Yuki had to close her eyes to prevent any accidental tears from falling but the damage had been done.

It hurt.

Yuki spent half of her lunch crying in a random bathroom stall.

She then spent the other half eating in said stall.

And then she left.

She certainly felt that she had more tears left to cry, but her pride wouldn't let anymore fall.

Surely, she wasn't the only one hurting after that conversation.

Yuki watched the second-string players conduct practice while feeling thoroughly disconnected from it. The plays were made, the balls thrown, but beyond the cacophony, Yuki was very much away from everything.

There was truly no greater example of going through the motions than Yuki today.

By the time practice had ended, Yuki felt as though all her energy had been sapped away, her eyes opening and closing lazily, her head occasionally bobbing. She started to reflect on what Kimi said earlier in the morning. Maybe she was going above and beyond for a junior high school student.

Maybe it was time to get all her priorities straight and focus on herself for once.

Seeing the team start to pack up and head out from the gym, Yuki followed lethargically, severely lacking the motivation to deal with anything. It wasn't until a hand was placed rather assertively on her shoulder that Yuki was able to escape her head. Looking down at the hand, then following up the length of the arm to see who was connected to the hand on her shoulder, Yuki realized that the tanned arm could belong only to Aomine.

"Yes?"

Aomine shook her shoulder a bit, as if she needed to wake up. "I've been trying to talk to you for a while now, airhead."

"Oh."

"Don't, 'Oh,' me. I was headin' to the gym to practice again; were you comin' along, too?"

She shrugged his hand off her shoulder and looked further down the hall. "You're working with Kuroko-san again?"

"That's the plan. It's fun playing with him."

Yuki felt the edges of her lips raise, a smile desperately trying to make its way onto her face. "I'm glad." Yuki tucked her black locks behind her ears before making eye contact with Aomine. She could see he was still full of energy despite having just conducted an intensive practice. Enviable. "I'll probably just head home today. Could you give Kuroko-san a message from me though?"

Aomine studied her a bit. "Sheesh, I'm your errand boy now?"

"As if. Just tell him my father's friend is back in Japan. He'll understand."

He waved her off and headed in the opposite direction.

She couldn't help but think about how warm his hand was.

"They said you're acting funny, so naturally they sent your wonderful little sister to check up on you."

Yuki had been staring at the ceiling, willing herself to fall asleep without impressive results.

"I'm fine."

Ayako practically bounced over to the foot of the bed, her hair flopping up and down as she moved. Every time Yuki looked at her, her sister seemed to grow taller. She was starting to remind Yuki so much of their older sister; it was painful.

"Is it boy trouble?"

Yuki rolled her eyes. "I'm sure there will never be boy trouble."

"Oh, I know. You're so mean; you probably scared all the potential candidates away years ago."

The two sisters smirked at each other.

"Well, then, how is Akako? She hasn't been in touch in a while."

Yuki scratched the back of her head. "Well, you're getting warmer now."

Ayako jumped on the bed, sitting a foot away from her sister. "Ooh, so you two had a fight?" She could see Ayako pouting out of the corner of her eyes. "I really like her. Do you think you two will make up?"

Yuki shrugged, not entirely in the mood to be having this conversation, but not minding an opportunity to speak her mind. "Probably not. I have a big mouth when I'm riled up enough about something."

"That sucks."

"Thanks."

"Well, who started the fight?"

"The basketball team."

Ayako scrunched her face up in confusion. "Um, like, how?"

Yuki giggled a bit. "I shouldn't have joined the basketball team. That's what started everything."

"She told you that?"

"Sort of."

"You haven't done anything outside of classes in a while. Shouldn't she be happy for you?"

Yuki looked at Ayako in surprise. She hadn't expected her bratty sister to be taking the situation so seriously. "I mean, I guess? I'm sure if the roles were reversed I would – "

"Psh, you wouldn't care. You're very self-motivated by your own goals."

"I would miss her though."

"Not enough to go after her," Ayako stood up and spun around in front of her sister, her hair swirling around her. "That's why you're so weird." Ayako pulled Yuki's desk chair in front of her sister. "You should just make new friends instead."

"It's not that easy."

Ayako cocked her head to the side. "Is that blue-haired boy not your friend? He's super quiet but he seems really nice. And what about the girl that called here a few days ago? The really bubbly one? She seems fun."

"Well, yes, those are my friends, I suppose."

"'I suppose,' makes you sound so annoying. They're your friends, stupid. Don't make it so complicated." Ayako mumbled under her breath, "No wonder they sent me to talk to her; she's such a blockhead."

"I can hear you."

Ayako shrugged unapologetically, a smug grin on her face. A thought seemed to cross her mind as she parted her lips into an 'o' shape. "What do you think about Kimi?"

"What about her?"

"Well, I really, really like her. She seems so interesting. And she lived in the United States, but she's also traveled a bunch. Like, that's just so, so cool to me."

"Right."

"Ohhh, I get it," Ayako looks at her sister critically before pointing a finger at her. "So you can't stand her."

"I never said that."

"I think you should give her a chance. She came here to support you, y'know?"

Yuki could feel herself getting annoyed. Kimi was solely here to train, not to be befriended by her. "To support Kuroko-san," she corrected her sister.

"Please. You know as well as I do that no one just simply moves across an ocean for a stranger."

"She's just here for our father."

Ayako looked at her surprised. "She's friends with both of our parents."

"There's no way Mom actually likes her."

Ayako huffed, and stood up. Yuki could only imagine that she was fed up with the current direction of the conversation. "You really are the queen of making horrible assumptions about things and people, Yuki."

Yuki had noticed some slight changes after working with the basketball team. Beyond how cross her female classmates seemed to be with her over her interaction with arguably, some attractive fellow classmates, the ways other individuals interacted with her was altered.

For instance, Yuki couldn't help but keep track of the amount of times that Nijimura-senpai happened to either nod at her, or offer a slight wave, when she saw him in the halls. She also couldn't help but realize that each and every time he did that, she would blush.

It certainly wasn't a common occurrence for Yuki to be approached by an upperclassman. Especially not one she would have easily considered to be attractive. She didn't know how to deal with him.

A smirk and a wave more than once a day was too much for her.

On the complete other end of the spectrum, Haizaki felt like a perpetual migraine. Yuki felt like she had a stalker. Even when he wasn't around, Yuki imagined that he was lurking, watching her every move. She didn't want to complain to the school about his behavior, but she was sick of this feeling – a shadow hanging over her head.

When she wasn't thinking about the upperclassmen, she was thinking about Midorima. And that was a bizarre enough concept to admit to herself. Yuki felt that Midorima actually enjoyed showing off his lucky items to her. At first, she thought he was just irrationally flexing his love of random things, but she realized that there was more to it. Yuki would be lying if she said she didn't get a kick out of seeing a new item every day.

It was fun.

Not that she'd ever tell him that. Yuki would die before she stroked Midorima's ego.

Things were weird. That's how she'd summarize it. Some things were better, more exciting; however, a lot more stress and attention seemed to go her way. Yuki was conflicted.

She was also completely unprepared for the arrival of a certain blond-haired boy walking through the halls, especially when a thrall of girls practically stampeded her to get into his line of sight.

That was it.

Her first interaction with Kise Ryōta.

A stampede.

"I want to transfer."

Midorima didn't laugh, but she could see a slight twitch in his features. "I know you're one for the dramatics, but this might be beyond you."

"I was almost killed. I'm leaving."

He pushed his glasses up, an action Yuki assumed was to avoid maintaining eye contact with her. "Don't be ridiculous."

She raised her arms wide. "The whole situation is ridiculous. Why is there a model at our school?"

"So, now models are undeserving of an education."

"No one said that." He continued to look at her. "Midorima-san, no one said that."

"It'll die down."

Yuki scoffed. "You gotta be kidding me. It's just going to keep going. It's never going to stop. I'm just going to keep getting run over in the comforts of my own school."

Midorima rolled his eyes. "Exaggerations will get you nowhere."

"Says the guy who wasn't stampeded."

"I had my lucky item."

Yuki looked over at the rock in ire. "There's no way that would have ended a stampede."

"No one came near me."

Yuki felt an urge to either throw the rock or slam her head on the table. "I want to die."

"Exaggeration."

"You don't know how I feel."

"You've been complaining for fifteen minutes. I think I got the gist of it."

Yuki sighed. "I hope I don't have to interact with him at all." She paused for a bit. "There's no way you counted how long I've talked to you about this."

Midorima repositioned the rock on the chair next to him. He kept fiddling with the rock as though it deserved the highest care possible. Ignoring her statement of disbelief, he said, "I've noticed a trend."

"Hm?"

"Usually when you ask for something, the opposite happens in your case."

"I'm naturally unlucky."

"You need to start bringing lucky items to class."

"Why are you like this?"

"Isn't that him?"

Yuki glanced over to where Midorima had been looking. There, outside the front of the school building, was Kise Ryōta.

The stampede leader.

"Oh, I am so out of here."

Midorima rolled his eyes again. "I didn't point him out to you so that you could talk to him."

"Then why'd you even bring him up?"

"I'm merely awaiting the stampede."

Yuki felt a blush creeping along her face. She was lucky it was dark out or he might have seen how red she was.

"I'm waiting."

"Well, obviously it isn't coming."

Midorima huffed.

"You're so annoying. Do you want me to get run over?"

Midorima only adjusted his glasses.

Before Yuki could retort, she heard a voice call out to the both of them. The two looked over in shock, not expecting his voice to carry over as loudly as it did to them.

"Hey, hey. You guys go here, right?"

Midorima and Yuki made eye contact, both thinking the same thing, "Idiot."

Midorima nodded at him, seeming to hold his rock more assertively than he was before.

"He's not going to take your rock away," she whispered to him.

"I'm holding it like this so you don't throw it."

She glared at him.

"So, what are your names?"

The pair looked back at Kise, seeing how close he was now. They both sighed.

"Midorima Shintarō."

"Morine Yuki."

"Well, I'm Kise Ryōta." He paused and smiled brightly at the both of them. Yuki thought 'brightly' was appropriate because of how blond his hair was. "I just started going to classes today."

"Oh, we know," Yuki bit out before she could stop herself. Midorima gave her a sharp look. She attempted to make it sound less blunt, "Uh, what I mean by that is that everyone was talking about a new student today."

Midorima nodded.

"Guess it doesn't help I'm a model, huh?" He looked positively sheepish after uttering that.

"No, it certainly does not."

Midorima was giving her a look again. She could feel his green eyes boring into the side of her head. After a few moments, he regarded Kise, "Was there a reason you were here as late as you were?"

Kise looked between the two before answering the question. "I heard some basketball practice in the gym, so I stuck around and watched for a bit."

"You play?"

Kise shook his head. "Wish I did though, after looking at it in person."

"Morine-san is one of the managers for the team, currently. I play for the first-string."

Yuki glanced at Midorima, annoyed. Why he felt the need to share that piece of information was beyond her. Kise seemed to light up even more, the gold in his eyes sparkling.

"Is the team good?"

"That's an understatement."

Yuki could see the wheels turning in both boys' heads. She didn't like what she was seeing. She turned to Kise, deciding to inform him about, but more so deter him from, the team. "It's difficult to move up the strings though. Teikou is a very competitive school."

"Unless you're very good."

She felt the urge to step on Midorima's foot.

"Interesting. Well, then, maybe I'll be seeing you guys around!" Kise smiled widely at the two of them, before waving a good-bye.

Once he was out of her field of vision, Yuki turned to Midorima. "I cannot believe you."

He rolled his eyes at her. "I'm just surprised you didn't kill him." Midorima started to take large strides to move away from her before she could throw the rock at his head.

She found Kimi guiltily eating ice cream from a carton in her home.

Yuki thinks it's out of guilt due to how dumbfounded she looks when she sees Yuki approach her in the kitchen.

"We have bowls, yeah?"

Kimi licks her lips in embarrassment before turning a bit away from Yuki. Yuki was beginning to question whether she was actually the same age as her father. After an awkward silence, Kimi asks Yuki why she was out as late as she was.

Yuki shrugs. "I'm usually out this late. The only reason I was home earlier yesterday was because I didn't have a tutoring session."

"You're getting tutored?" Kimi looks intrigued.

"Not my decision."

"Interesting. Never thought I'd be alive to see you getting tutored by a fellow classmate," Kimi paused to take in another spoonful of ice cream. "Is this one of those school romance things where the tutor falls in love with the student he's tutoring?"

Yuki gags. "Why does everyone always jump to boys in this household?" She's perturbed, but she can feel the blush adorning her cheeks.

"All right, all right. But he's definitely attractive, right?"

The blush is spreading.

"I remember those days. Crushing on boys." Kimi's looking out the window, seeming to relive a fond memory. "Believe it or not, that's how I came to know your dad."

"A crush?"

"Very much so. I liked him quite a bit."

"So?"

Kimi looked at her, "So what?"

"Well, what happened that changed?"

"You mean, why am I not with your dad?"

Yuki nodded.

Another spoonful before she answers. "Your mom."

Yuki rolls her eyes, "No kidding."

The two smile at each other.

"She's the better girl for him; trust me on that." Kimi twirls her spoon around in her right hand. "I can't imagine how different things would have been if the situation were reversed. She keeps him focused; you know?"

"You didn't want to settle down?"

Kimi shakes her head. "He didn't want to leave Japan. All I wanted to do was leave." She pauses, cringing a bit at her word choice. "Wait, that sounds horrible. I wanted to get away, but I love it here. I just – I needed a change of pace."

Yuki feels there's probably more to the situation than Kimi is letting on, but she's not one to pry into another's life when it comes to uncomfortable topics.

Kimi continues softly, "I, uh, I didn't know how to approach this subject, but I thought I should let you know: I know your older sister very well."

She feels annoyed at Kimi's admission. "In what way?"

"As in, I've seen her on multiple occasions."

Yuki says nothing, but she can't help but feel as though her mind is reeling from the new information Kimi threw at her.

"She's fine. Trying to get her master's at the moment. Med school keeping her on her toes." Kimi glances at Yuki and is unsurprised by how grave she looks. She knew it would cause Yuki turmoil to mention her sister to her, but it had been weighing on her chest since she arrived.

Kimi almost misses the question Yuki practically chokes out, "Has she ever . . . asked about us?"

"She does, not often, but I've heard it. I usually let your dad know about what she's been thinking, what she's been doing."

"Everyone knew where she was but me?" The question is laced with betrayal.

"I highly doubt Ayako knows."

Yuki can't help but feel a myriad of emotions at the mention of her sister and her well-being. Not that she wants to feel this way about her, but to hear she's been doing well – successful – without keeping her family informed . . .

Yuki can't put into words what she's feeling, but Kimi can see it very clearly on her face.

"I'm sorry, Yuki."

"You didn't do anything wrong." Yuki rubs her arms, a cold seeping throughout her. "How am I supposed to feel? Proud? Happy she's doing well in whatever she's been doing?" She pinches the bridge of her nose, closing her eyes. "Am I supposed to just accept it? You're our intermediary to my sister? This is reality? It's not – "

"Fair? It never is." Kimi disposes of the now empty ice cream container. She can't look at Yuki for a few moments, having witnessed the pain flashing across her eyes. "I can't tell you how to feel, Yuki, I can only offer advice."

Yuki's moved closer to the doorway of the kitchen, clearly wanting to get away. "Like what?"

"Do things for yourself, and hopefully, just maybe it all falls into place." Kimi gave her a light smile. "You've gotta make sense of yourself and your life before you try and make sense of everybody else's."

She walked over to Yuki and lightly tapped her on the forehead. "Like I told you before, you're thinking too hard for someone in junior high school."

As Kimi began to walk up the stairs, Yuki could feel the tears lightly falling down her cheeks.

"So, this is him?"

Kimi and Yuki were on the basketball court near her home, watching as Kuroko ambled up. Yuki had been grateful Kimi made no comment on her appearance. Her eyes were puffier than usual; she looked exhausted.

All Yuki did was nod in response.

"Interesting." Kimi laughed lightly. "If you weren't looking out for him, you seriously wouldn't notice him."

Kuroko walked up to Yuki, having not seen her for a little while. His deadpan expression gave nothing away, but Yuki imagined that he was bothered by her appearance. "Hi, Kuroko-san."

Her voice was scratchy; Yuki blushed lightly, feeling embarrassed.

"Hello, Morine-san."

Kimi could tell that Yuki wasn't in the mood to continue speaking. "Yokoyama Kimi," she says, holding her hand out to Kuroko. "I'm here to help work on your misdirection."

Kuroko regarded the woman curiously. He and Yuki had wrongly assumed that their helper would be someone different. What they received was a tall, lithe woman with a brilliant smile and doe-eyes. "Kuroko Tetsuya." He shakes her hand lightly. "Nice to meet you."

Kimi looks at the two students before asking, "Do you love basketball?"

He nods. "Very much so."

Kimi practically beams. "I can tell." She moves away from Yuki and closer to the center of the court. Facing towards the basket, she takes a shot. Effortlessly, Yuki thinks.

The three watch as it gracefully falls into the hoop. Turning back to the two with a small skip in her step, she says, "In case you needed some proof, I do, too."

A/N: Kimi has been such a difficult character for me to write into this story because of how I've changed things to fit my main character. With Kuroko already having Yuki and Aomine supporting him, I didn't want to make it seem like he needs so much help to play basketball, but I also wanted a character that not only helps Kuroko grow, but Yuki as well.

Also, for the life of me, I don't know why it is so difficult for me to write Kise, but I've been holding off on him making an appearance for some time because of this. I just thought it would be fitting if Yuki and Midorima stumbled upon him randomly.