Kuroko POV

"So... you're Kuroko." Kagami Taiga was sitting in front of me at Maji. It was awkward. Kagami kept checking me out. I don't know if it's because of my looks, or if he couldn't believe I was actually here. Both are both very reasonable, understandable answers (translation: I have experienced both).

"Mm." Yes, how absolutely helpful. I quickly add a nod for emphasis. Don't think I've forgotten to text Ash. I'm just biding my time. Things have been hectic. I haven't found a secure place to bunker down. And I certainly don't feel comfortable enough to ask someone where I can hang out at. Though Ash says that the stereotypical Japanese person is extremely (overkill) polite. Is that true? Fuck knows.

"So... America then. You've stayed there for... 2 years?" Is that not fucking obvious?!

"Yes, I believe so." Should I try to pick up this failing conversation? No, I'll let him make the first move.

Kagami cleared his throat awkwardly. Kise and Aomine were arguing loudly about a set of algebra problems on a piece of paper between them. Midorima was yelling at them for being so dumb and explaining it to them. Akashi and Murasakibara just looked on with amusement shining in their eyes.

"No, it's '1/5(-5+20b-7c)-1/2(2b+7c-6a)'" Kise snapped, fiercely glaring at Aomine, "So it can't be '2a+2c'!" I do some quick mental calculations.

"Of course not!" Aomine fired back, "But it can't be '-7c+3b+2a'! If you solve it backwards, it doesn't work!" I stifle my laughter. Are they kidding? This was so simple. I've completed dozens of problems like this in middle school. Weren't they graduating this year? Why were they so dumb? My laughter threatened to bubble out. I glared at the paper and bit my lip in my effort to keep silent.

"Ahomine, do you even pay attention during school?" Midorima huffed exasperated. Aomine whipped around to face Midorima. More like glare him.

"Even Ku-Kuroko knows." Akashi stumbled a bit on my name, but he caught himself. My laughter nearly came out, but I quickly shoved it down. It was like pushing down slime. You had to evenly push down all of it. Otherwise, it would come up somewhere else.

Kise and Aomine turned to me in surprise. I felt the force everyone's gaze prickle my skin. I felt hot from their piercing looks, and combined with my laughter, my insides too warm. The absurdity of the fact the me, a Street Mutt, felt uncomfortable under a handful of stares, made the laughter worse. I must have been failing in hiding my amusement because Kise looked wounded, and Aomine furious.

"What (the hell) are you laughing at?!" They howled simultaneously. My laughter came spilling out like fudge in a freshly made and cut lava cake. It flowed over, rolling out and all around, smoothly floating through the room, like the gentle tinkling of bells.

"I-I'm s-sorry!" I managed after my laughter subsided (somewhat), "But... the answer is clearly '2a+3b-14c'!" Kise and Aomine flinched in disbelief. Kagami spluttered in shock, and Midorima's and Akashi's eyebrows were raised. Kagami moved so he was looking over my shoulder towards Kise and Aomine.

"Bu-but! You can't even see the paper from where you're sitting!" Kagami cried, "Did you seriously solve it from hearing Kise once?!" I blink. Does Kagami know how loud he is? He's making my ears ring.

"Yea. What's so hard about that?" I ask, "This is 7th grade math. Aren't you guys in around 12th grade material?" Seriously. This should come quickly to them. It's pretty simple. You distribute, then add like-terms. Do they realize that now?

Aomine turned back to the paper. His head was tilted, and the annoyance had long left his face, leaving no trace of itself. He scribbled out his work. Realization sparked in his eyes. It slowly but surely blew into a ferocious flame.

"Huh."

"How did you not get that the first time?!" Midorima hissed. My laughter slowly died out, though an amused smile never left my face. Aomine then proceeded to explain it to Kise. I pointed out Aomine's mistakes. We completed the rest of the worksheet like that.

"Thank Kami-sama you're back." Kagami commented flippantly. I jerked back in surprise, but quickly caught myself. The end result was a tiny flinch. The problem was, I wasn't the same. Kuroko Tetsuya wasn't really back. But Kagami and the others seem so happy that I'm back. I don't think they realize it, but they sneak me glances. Like if they take their eyes off my for too long, I might disappear.

They smile at me, and I force myself to smile back. They talk about plans and after school activities they can do together. Do I even deserve to be here? Why am I here? This group of friends, they're so comfortable with each other, but their concepts are completely foreign to me.

They don't exclude me. They make sure to explain anything that I don't understand. But even then, most of the things they talk about, you'd have to be there to fully understand. I'm sure Kuroko Tetsuya would understand. He would join in and laugh with them. He would talk at ease, and not just observe. He would be able to seamlessly slip into their conversation and add smart-ass and witty comments without caution.

He would talk and talk and talk to them (or at least get a few words in{damn they talk a lot}). But how can I? How the hell am I supposed to easily talk to them when I didn't know what this, "Winter Cup" was-is, a few seconds ago? Akashi keeps giving me the most piercing and lingering stares.

Like his stares are trying to pierce right through me.

"Yo, Kuroko," Kagami nudged me, shocking me a little, "You still need to meet Seirin. Ya know, your senpai and the rest of the team." Oh god. More people? That means more socializing... ah, and here I thought I could get away with just nodding and observing them. No way would Seirin let me just watch them.

"Mm," that sounded dispassionate, even to my ears, so I quickly added, "Of course I do." Okay, that sounded worse. Like I really, really don't want to meet my senpai. Or past-senpai. I do! Just, not right now. My mind is still struggling to try to sort out the GoM's little kinks and special behaviors, I really don't need to have to keep up with another group.

Aomine yawned, "A'ight. I need to head back soon, Satsuki will have my ass for dinner if I don't get back before 2." That's a pity. I like Aomine. He's really amusing, and good-natured. Plus, he's really lax. A nice break from the uptight and discipline of the others. He stood up and started to pack up.

"Bye, Aominecchi! We'll miss you-ssu!" Aomine rolled his eyes, though his eyes were affectionate.

"We'll be seeing each other in a few days."

"Sayonara, Aomine." Akashi gave a cool nod.

"See ya, Akashi." Aomine returned it.

"Make sure do your homework, Ahomine."

"Tsundere." Aomine snorted, though his voice lacked bite.

"Oi!"

"Mido-chin, it's true." Murasakibara nodded sagely, "But you shouldn't hold that against him, Mine-chin." Midorima glared at Murasakibara. He seemed to be holding back his tongue. Aomine snickered.

"Midorimacchi, shouldn't you and Kagamicchi start heading back soon?" Kise leaned forward, subtly offering a way for Midorima to salvage his slaughtered pride. Midorima nodded curtly. I smiled. They seemed so at ease with one another, so used to each other's antics. At this thought, my limbs went a little numb with fear and uncertainty. Why was I here? I'm so... misbehaved, to put it lightly. They were pure, innocent angels, so free from the crimes I committed. What right did I have to taint them? Why do I deserve to have them as my friends? They don't know that I've-

"Yea, we'd better head back." Kagami stood as well. I pushed all my doubts away, though they still clung to me like cotton on thorns. Whatever I deserved, or didn't deserve, I would have to wait to tangle out later. Preferably with Ash. Right now, all I knew was that these boys, they deserved to be happy, and I should try my hardest to do just that.

"Will I be coming with you?" I ask. I kind of hope I do. I would like to meet my senpai. But I also wouldn't. I know that Ash would want me to meet new people, but do you like socializing? I don't. I find it stressful and nerve-racking.

Ash says that that doesn't make an introvert, but I think he's wrong. I did some research, and I'm pretty certain I am an introvert. I don't need social stimulation, but rather, I feel better when I'm silently reading a book on a roof at midnight. I don't always like sitting alone, though. I am human. That does make me an introvert. But I can never be 100% certain. That's impossible.

"Totally!" Kagami cried, his eyebrows raised in surprise, "They'll want to see you again. It would be cruel to make them wait." Right, I have to go because I don't want to be mean, right. I keep my face impassive. They should get the chance to meet me. I can imagine Ash chiding me, using the imaginary voice I gave him.

"It's only fair, Blu. If you met up with the GoM, you should say hello to your senpai as well."

"Of course." I am saying that to Ash and Kagami. It's only fair.

Even if I don't deserve them as friends, this is my chance to make me deserve. Make myself worthy.

"My senpai deserve to see that I'm alive."