Just a friendly reminder before we start that Kuroko and the others are second-years now, and Hyūga and the formerly second-years are third-years for this!

Ai rose as soon as she heard the alarm ring. Reaching over to stop the clock on her phone, she stretched and sighed.

Akashi also woke up and opened his eyes. He looked up at her sitting on the bed beside him and smiled.

She felt him staring while she hand-combed her long hair. "Good morning, Seijuro."

"Good morning. Are you making breakfast, Ai?" He adjusted his body to sit up against the wide antique-style headboard.

She giggled. "I trust your chefs know better about your meals and nutritional diets than I do."

"That's a pity. I would've liked to have your cooking first thing in the morning."

"I'm already making our lunch, which I have to go downstairs and finish," she said, sliding down from the bed mattress. "There's a lot more to make, in case you've forgotten." She walked with bare feet on the soft carpet to her discarded shawl. She heard him getting up, too.

"But that's for everyone to share, as a group. And I've grown tired of elaborate breakfasts."

"Pity," she returned, teasing and getting a smirk from him. "Just ask for oatmeal or something."

"I doubt Father would exactly enjoy that. I will say, though, that dining with you," he took her hand, warming it. "I haven't looked forward to sharing a meal with someone so much."

She made a sad smile. "I think he's trying, too."

He smirked. "You sound like Mother." He waited until she finished wearing the shawl over her nightgown and kissed her on her cheek. "Thanks for sleeping over."

"I'm happy I did," she smiled.

He opened the door for her, and she stepped outside.

Ai looked back to meet his kind eyes before leaving. "See you at breakfast."

"Yes, see you." Akashi tugged lightly on her arm and kissed her temple before closing the door, each going to wash up for the day.

.

Team Vorpal Swords arrived at the big basketball stadium an hour before the match. A few personnel wearing earbud radios ran around to get ready for the game, scurrying to make sure everything was in place. They sold tickets at the entrance, set up the chairs, and checked the speakers and microphone for the announcer.

Ai left the team's side for a few minutes to reserve seats for the volleyball players coming to watch, just as she'd promised. She taped a sign on the backrest of twelve seats. Each paper said, in printed red ink:

'RESERVED FOR NEKOMA AND FUKURŌDANI VOLLEYBALL TEAMS'.

She chose seats in a middle row with a good view; not too high and not too close to the court. Hopefully, Kuroo or Lev would put their tall height to use and find it okay.

.

"Hey, there're a lot of empty seats here!" Konagei pointed. He waved his teammates over, but Mitobe silently pointed to the row of seats.

"Huh? Oh," the small forward muttered upon closer inspection. "Says it's reserved."

Fukuda joined the third-year in looking at the signs. "Volleyball teams? Why would volleyball teams reserve seats to a basketball game?"

Kawahara shrugged. "Who knows? Maybe they were interested in other sports."

Ultimately, Seirin's third and second-years chose to sit in the row behind the reserved seats.

"It's a good thing we came early," Furihata commented, surveying the quickly filling seats.

Catching his friend's attention, Mitobe pointed to the door, signalizing that he was going to leave for a bit.

"Got it! We'll save you a seat," Koganei interpreted, and he kept the seat next to him and Tsuchida open.

.

The team of ten waited until it was time in the locker room. They had a quick lunch together before the game, and the guys were energized with Ai's cooking.

"The food was so good!" Takao sighed contently, taking out the shirt of his uniform to change into.

"I'm glad you liked it, Kazunari-kun." She smiled and prepped the bags for Momoi and Riko to take with them to the bench by the court.

The other athletes were supposed to change as well, but some of them fiddled with their clothes.

Riko noticed their hesitance. "Huh? What are you guys so nervous about, stripping your shirts off in front of us? Don't be shy! It's nothing we've never seen before." The assistant coach smirked at the managers. "Right, ladies?"

Ai and Momoi half laughed. Karasuno often changed shirts in front of her and Kiyoko, or even took them off during practice on particularly scorching days, much to Yachi's flushed fluster. Ai was as used to it as Momoi, and the guys generally had decency.

When she had watched Strky's game online in Miyagi a week ago, Ai saw that Imayoshi had kept the number 4 as the captain of the new university street basketball team, but Okamura had traded his captain's number for the number 8. Kasamatsu and Miyaji had taken on Kise and Midorima's numbers 7 and 6 respectively, after graduating from Kaijō and Shūtoku. Higuchi became Number 5, coming out of his position as a manager and returning to being a player; it had been Mayuzumi's number when they were in Rakuzan.

Akashi, Aomine, Midorima, Kise, Murasakibara, Kagami, and Kuroko all kept the numbers they usually wear for their separate high schools. Meanwhile, Wakamatsu took Number 12; Hyūga, the number 13; and Takao got 14.

While she didn't bat an eye at Akashi's Number 4, however much time had passed, Ai was used to the numbers they wore for Teikō; to Murasakibara with the number 5; Aomine being number 6; Midorima, the number 7; Kise, the number 8; and Kuroko wearing the number 15. As for Nigou, the puppy got to have Kuroko's very first uniform number, 16.

Ai stood in front of Akashi, smoothing out the shoulders of his new uniform. It looked pretty and fashionable, but a small part of her preferred Teikō's colors over these.

They all had matching fuchsia red towels as well, the same as their team color. The bench players wore a long-sleeved shirt over their uniforms while the females had a sweatshirt on to keep warm. The air conditioning was on full blast for the athletes' comfort, so the stadium felt chilly for some. Riko and Momoi had also opted for their school skirts.

Ai was planning on wearing the clothes she'd originally brought for Karasuno's training camp underneath, but Akashi had given her a summer dress to wear. When he went to her room to prepare it and lay it out for her was a mystery. All she did know was that he never got her size wrong and always chose styles that suited her body and complexion perfectly. The dress itself was white with black lace on either side. It had a square neckline and thin straps for the shoulders. The flared ruffles of the skirt peeked out from beneath the contrast of the red sweatshirt.

"You look beautiful," he whispered, lowly enough that it wouldn't echo louder than the others' conversation in the locker room.

"You have good taste in clothes," she replied.

Akashi looked enchanted by her outfit that matched her eyes. "Will you keep the sweatshirt on?"

"I was planning to. I don't have anything else in Vorpal Swords' team color." She gave a little laugh. "I suppose I'll get strange looks wearing this in the audience."

"Akatsuki-san, you're not going to be on the bench?" Kuroko asked in a somber tone.

Momoi deflated. "I was looking forward to working side by side together again..."

"We could just get an extra chair," Murasakibara suggested lazily.

"It'll only be crowded with too many people. I'm used to watching the game from the stands, since there can only be one manager on the bench in volleyball. It gives me a different perspective."

"I wanted to have Ai-cchi on the bench, too." Kise pouted. "Right? Midorima-cchi, Aomine-cchi?"

The green-haired shooting guard only huffed while Takao nudged him with an elbow, trying to get a more fun reaction from the stoic second-year.

"Mine-chin and Kuro-chin have Sacchin, but Mido-chin and the rest of us only have Tsuki-chin," Murasakibara pointed out. "Oh, but I guess Tsuki-chin's Aka-chin's property."

Akashi chuckled.

"That's only outside of basketball. I thought I was your manager too, Atsu-kun." Ai went behind his large sitting frame and started playing with his violet hair.

"Yeah," he mumbled, not caring that she was absentmindedly making a small braid.

She gave Aomine, Midorima, and Kuroko each a soft look, to show that she cared about them just as much.

They had been around each other long enough to know what she meant in her quiet communication.

"Wakamatsu-san, how would you like a massage? You seem tense."

He blushed and stammered. "Well-..Err..Um... S-sure..."

Working her magic on his shoulders and back, she focused on where she pressed and the amount of pressure she used.

The well-built, blond third-year sighed in content. "Ah, yeah. Right there."

Kise piqued his interest in her new ability. "Ai-cchi! When'd you learn how to do that?"

"In the spring, I think. Before Interhigh, Ryota-kun."

"Can you do me next?"

"Of course, Le-" She caught herself before she could finish saying the name. Ai looked up at him and smiled apologetically. "I'm sorry, Ryota-kun. Your speech sounds a bit like Haiba Lev from Nekoma. I didn't mean to mistake you for him."

"Lev?" Kise repeated.

"Yes, do you remember him from Saitama? He's very stylish. You might even see him again in your modeling enterprise."

"I remember Bokuto-san. He was really nice, and he's an ace like me."

She chuckled. "He is, and your voices are very similar. Actually, they're coming here to watch the game," she said, sneaking glances at Akashi. He didn't seem too bothered, yet. "It's as if you're Yū and Lev combined."

Akashi silently remembered the short boy who had performed their small giving-away ceremony in the sunset. He liked the libero for his honesty; Nishinoya took care of his girlfriend when he couldn't be there with her.

Ai smiled and finished with Wakamatsu, moving on to Kise. "Sit still, Ryota-kun."

Riko watched her press and untangle the tension in his back muscles. "Hey, not bad," she complimented with a smile.

"Thank you, Riko-san."

"Ai-chan's leveling up with massages! I can't get left behind," Momoi motivated herself.

She smiled. "And, here I was hoping you would teach me more analyses, Satsuki."

"Fine," she sang happily. "I'll teach you, but only because I know you're only going to use the skills for volleyball."

"You're right. I have no interference with this year's Winter Cup." She patted Kise's shoulders after giving them a good rub. "Shintarō-kun, how about you?"

He huffed through his nose and poked at his glasses. "I'll accept a massage."

The Aida coaches went over their strategies, and the guys got ready for their game. Akashi didn't have much to say because they covered most of the plans already, but he did say that his other personality may make a guest appearance. Ai stood next to him the whole time, his hand resting at the small of her back.

She held his arm as they walked from the locker room to the door of the stadium. Ai would see them off before they entered the court.

"Do your best, Shintarō-kun, Kuroko-kun, Ryota-kun, Daiki-kun, Taiga, and Atsu-kun. Tatsuya said that he's here with Liu-san to see you play."

"Huh? Muro-chin is?"

"Tatsuya's here?" Kagami asked excitedly, contrasting Murasakibara's laid-back attitude.

"Yes." She turned to the people who would be on the bench. "I hope you have fun, too, Hyūga-san, Wakamatsu-san, Kazunari-kun. Coach Kagetora, please take care of them. Riko-san, Satsuki, I'll have my phone on me if you need anything."

"Thanks, Ai-chan! We'll be okay." Momoi grinned.

She smiled at them all. Team Vorpal Swords. Her first basketball team since Teikō. In other words, her second ever basketball team, and probably her last. It would have always been this way, even without her promise with Momoi.

And to the others, this was yet another way of how Akashi, Murasakibara, Aomine, Kuroko, Kise, and Midorima knew how loyal she was.

Ai gave Kagami and the guys double high fives as they entered the dim hallway to the bright stadium. She and Momoi hugged, and Akashi stayed behind to have a moment with her alone.

"Would you like me to walk you to your seat?"

She shook her head. "It's fine, Seijuro. You're going to be late."

"How will I know where to look for you in the audience?" The glimmer in his eyes told her that he was only teasing.

"Ask Kazunari-kun," she joked back with a smile. His Hawk Eyes could probably pick her out from among the crowd.

Akashi's smirk turned into a smile, too. "I'll find you. Always will." He wrapped his arms around her waist. "See you later."

Ai nodded, hugging him around his neck. "I'll be watching over you, both of you." She pulled back and searched in his red-maroon eyes for the two different Akashi's in them.

Then, he leaned down to kiss her lips twice. The first was soft and slow, but the second one was more passionate and quick. Pulling back, he started to let go.

Suddenly, Ai felt on the edge of the cliff of loneliness again and hugged him tighter.

Akashi permitted her embrace and soothed her back with a reassuring hand. He whispered in her ear, "What's an hour match when you'll have me for the rest of the day after it's over?" He smiled. "I'll be back soon."

"Okay," she relented, not wanting him to be late. "Bye, Seijuro." She let his white and fuchsia jersey slip from between her fingers. Ai watched him follow the others onto the shining court.

.

Ai wore a shoulder bag as she walked the hallway of doors briskly. Each opened to the indoor bleacher seats, but she already knew which section of the audience she was headed to.

Just as she reached the right one, a familiar face with medium-length black hair stopped in front of her. The shy giant from Seirin recognized her as well and nodded with a quiet smile.

"Hello. It's a pleasure to see you again," she greeted, smiling back.

He nodded again and pointed to the door she was about to enter. Although he didn't say a word, his friendly attitude spoke for him. It reminded her of a middle blocker back from Date Tech.

"Thank you," she said as the third-year opened the door for her.

The stadium was almost full now, and they surveyed the area. Ai had taken longer than she had originally planned, staying with the team to the last minute until they had to go out onto the spotlighted court. The place was packed.

As they descended the stairs and looked for seats individually, she thought that Mitobe would naturally part ways, but to her surprise, he followed her all the way down to the row of seats she'd reserved in advance.

Ai spotted Kuroo's bedhead easily. He sat in the middle of the row with Kai and Kenma on either of his sides. His hair hadn't changed at all since they used to play in a playground together in Chiba, and she identified the setter's blond strands with overgrown roots without a problem. And, she could see Bokuto's spiky two-toned hair with frosted tips from a mile away.

None of the Nekoma students wore their conspicuous red school jerseys, and neither did Bokuto and Akaashi wear their white Fukurōdani ones with black and gold lines. So, they blended in with the crowd. If it weren't for their personalized hairstyles, they would have been indistinguishable from behind.

From a row above them and closer to her, a brown-haired guy in a yellow jumper stood and waved. "Mitobe!"

The quiet center player saw his friend and walked to where the six other people from Seirin sat. Tsuchida was at the aisle, with an empty seat for Mitobe next to him, then Koganei, Izuki, Furihata, Fukuda, and Kawahara. Coincidentally, the three teams Seirin, Nekoma, and Vorpal Swords shared the same school colors: red, black, and white.

She smiled when she recognized them as well. "Hello, everyone from Seirin. It's wonderful to see you all again." Ai bowed, since most of them were a year older than herself.

"Huh? You're...?" Koganei tried to remember where he'd seen her before.

"Oh, Kuroko's former manager, right?" a male with loosened business attire said. He also had straight black hair and sharp eyes like that of an eagle.

The red volleyball captain, who had been engrossed in a conversation with Kai until that moment, whipped his head around at the sound of her voice. He knew she wasn't talking to him, but he could pick her voice out from anywhere. "Chii!" he shouted, but Kuroo began to blush when he saw her outfit. It looked really cute on her.

The basketball team just glanced at him in confusion.

After blinking for a few moments, Izuki found his voice again. "Oh, yeah. Kuroko did say that you switched sports."

Kenma turned back too, with a smile as small as his wave. Taketora on the other hand, wasn't quite as calm as the other volleyball second-years. He shot out of his seat, standing with a straight spine and flushing all red, and became a blubbering mess.

"Sit down, Yamamoto," Yaku chided. "Hey, Ai. You look really nice." The libero was the first to compliment, a pink flush spreading on his cheeks like the rest of Nekoma.

If Kuroo were more composed, he would've shot him a glare, but he couldn't take his eyes off of her.

A chorus of "Ai-senpai!" rang out as well, and she responded with a handwave of her own.

"I'm glad you all could make it." She smiled at the two in front of her. "You too, Keiji-kun, Kōtarō-san."

From the opposite end of the row, there were Kai, Kuroo, Kenma, Fukunaga, Teshiro, Taketora, Yaku, Lev, Inuoka, Shibayama, Bokuto, and Akaashi. A dozen seats for a dozen people.

"Hey, hey, hey! Ai-chan!"

"Kozume kept in touch so we could meet up. I hope it wasn't a bother."

"Not at all. I'm happy the two of you came." Since Akaashi sat on the aisle seat, she placed a friendly palm on his shoulder, but the second-year vice-captain stood to give her a side hug instead.

"Me, too!" Fukurōdani's ace got out of the narrow rows to wrap his bulky arms around her shoulders. She had to stand on her toes to hug him back, and his back felt so wide.

When he stepped backward, Ai looked at the first-years next in line. "I'm not going down the entire row to give out hugs when the match is just about to start. I'm sorry, Yūki. Maybe afterward." She gave him a wink.

Shibayama blushed and got flustered, still not used to her teasing smirk.

"When's it starting?" Bokuto asked excitedly.

"Soon, Bokuto-san," the setter replied.

"When's soon, Akaashi?"

Ai giggled. "I didn't think you would look forward to a basketball game so much."

"Where are you going to sit?" Kai asked.

Inuoka tilted his head. "Ai-senpai, you didn't save a seat for yourself?"

"I was going to find someplace once I made sure you got settled okay."

The three second-years from Seirin dropped their jaws while Yaku sighed.

"Ai, you've got to stop doing these things to yourself."

"Yaku-paisen's right, Chii," Kuroo scolded, looking half mortified.

"Here, sit with us," Tsuchida offered.

Mitobe nodded, making an extra seat between him and the power forward.

"Thank you. Excuse me for intruding on Seirin's row of seats."

"It's no problem!" Izuki laughed. "Nice it worked out so nicely!"

Fukunaga swiveled around in the plastic chair with awe, stars twinkling in his eyes.

"Izuki..." Koganei looked a bit disappointed in his vice-captain and like he wanted to retort something. His jokes were embarrassing in front of Akashi's girlfriend, the empress. "Keep the puns to a minimum."

"Huh? Why? Hayama laughed at my camel pun during our game with Rakuzan last year."

However, Ai giggled softly with a hand over her lips. She smiled as the guys around her stared in shock, not expecting her to laugh. "Izuki-san, may I introduce you to Shōhei? I think you'd get along really well together."

The second-year wing spiker responded with a joke of his own, and they hit it off pretty quickly. It made the point guard want to show him his series of 108 volumes of joke books.

"So, this is your team from... Miyagi, was it?" Tsuchida asked, striking a conversation from her right.

The Nekoma volleyball members blushed at his innocent misunderstanding. If only Ai was their full-time manager.

From the far end, Kai stepped up to answer on her behalf. The third-year wing spiker had to raise his voice to be heard over the talking crowd. "We're a school here in Tokyo. Ai's been more than generous to manage the team for us while she's visiting our group training camp."

"Karasuno, my school, has two other managers, but Nekoma had none," she explained.

"Until her. Now, she's the only manager we'll ever need," Kuroo added jokingly.

However, the basketball players took it very seriously, word for word. They already knew how unbelievable the rest of the Generation of Miracles were and didn't doubt that she was no different. Especially since she was dating the captain; it was hard proof that Akashi must have seen her as a rank above the others.

"And those two are just lucky owls who got to tag along."

"Hush, Kuro." She leaned forward, looking over to talk to Seirin's second-years farther to the left. "Kuroko-kun would be thrilled to know that you all came to watch. Satsuki and I are glad he has great teammates in high school."

Furihata, Fukuda, and Kawahara felt their cheeks burn hot, the point guard of the three especially. Ai had an aura of magnificence that became stronger when it came to basketball. Furihata definitely felt the semblance between her and Akashi. The emperor and empress, the imperial couple. It was a fitting name for the two.

The moderator began the announcements, and Ai turned to face forward in her chair. Somewhere else in the stadium, the new captain Hayakawa and Nakamura from Kaijō, Himuro and Liu from Yōsen, Sakurai from Tōō, and the three Uncrowned Kings from Rakuzan had all come to watch their teammates perform.

The game started, starring the one-time-only dream team of the Generation of Miracles and others: Team Vorpal Swords. Revenge against Jabberwock for Team Strky.

The five from Teikō lined up on the polished court to start. None of them smiled or even smirked. Murasakibara caught the tip-off from Silver and sent it to Akashi. At least he had overcome his bad habit of accidentally taking the ball before it reached its peak.

"Wow, he's so big!" Inuoka exclaimed, and Shibayama was just as astonished beside him. "Was there a person like that before?"

"He couldn't come to Shinzen last time, but Atsu-kun was a member of Teikō's starting lineup."

Although she knew there was no need to take notes, Ai took out a small notebook and pencil and started scribbling. It kept her hands busy, and it was more of a habit now. Plus, it released a bit of energy from watching the sport, simultaneously giving her something to entertain her mind.

"You're taking notes?" Izuki asked from beside Koganei. "Did Akashi tell you to, or something?"

Kuroo peeked behind himself upon overhearing, curious about any topic relating to his female childhood friend.

"No, it's more for myself than Seijuro."

Seirin's players blinked at her, stunned. Ai was probably the only person who could call Akashi by his first name, and without any honorifics. Sure, she was his girlfriend and it shouldn't be surprising, but it was the Akashi, captain of the Generation of Miracles. Additionally, it was the first time they were seeing her skills as a manager, and it was baffling, to say the least.

Ai smiled innocently. "Is something wrong?"

"Uh,... no! Not at all," Seirin's vice-captain shook his head.

"You're definitely the type who does all the extra credit and goes beyond expectations for schoolwork," Koganei stereotyped.

"Well, Seirin's a good private school, isn't it? I'm sure your grades and mine aren't all that different."

"Hmm... Guess so!" Koganei grinned and boasted.

"I don't think I've had the opportunity to tell you yet that you were amazing at the Winter Cup last year. It's hard to believe that you've only formed your basketball club two years ago." She smiled genuinely at Mitobe, since he was next to her, and faced forward, watching the game begin as she spoke. "I only hope my volleyball club in Miyagi could do the same as your school did. From a no-name team to winners. Karasuno had been called the 'Fallen Powerhouse' and 'Clipped Crows' until recently. Yours is an admirable story."

"Thanks. But, it's all thanks to those three guys down there and Kiyoshi," Izuki attributed.

Mitobe also nodded silent thanks and encouragement to her from her left.

"How is Kiyoshi-san? I heard he's getting treated in America."

"Yeah. Come to think of it, you lived there too, right? Like Kagami?" Koganei asked.

Ai nodded, writing down the players' numbers and corresponding positions. "Yes, for four years."

The small forward whistled. "Wow."

Ai flashed another smile for Seirin's third-years, but she could hardly take her eyes off of the game. The volleyball players also anticipated the match to start. Kuroo would turn his head to glance at her from time to time, and so did Kenma, whenever the middle blocker did.

Aomine scored their first two dunks, and they were off to an amazing start. Kise blocked a shoot from Nick, Akashi's team coordination was superb, and Murasakibara stopped Zack from scoring. They were all working together, while Kuroko and Kagami sat waiting for their turn. Midorima's long-distance three-point shot was as flawless as ever; Cancers were in first place that day, with the shooting guard's lucky TV remote sitting on a metal chair. Perhaps two other captains of blue and white teams, Nijimura and Oikawa, would have good luck today as well.

Despite their uncomfortable relations during middle school, they had trained hard to build their teamwork over the past week. It seemed they'd had enough time to prepare and get into the rhythm of collaboration.

The first quarter ended smoothly, 20-8, but her players seemed much more tired than usual. Momoi got up to help the team as Ai always did, and the guys drank from the bottles thirstily. The guys around her cheered, but the manager in the audience looked concerned. Jabberwock may be the strongest opponent they'd faced yet.

When they started the next quarter, Aomine and Murasakibara were beaten by Jason Silver, in stealth and power. She never would have wanted to see someone take the ball from Akashi — it was why she'd hesitated to watch that Winter Cup Finals game. It made her wince and bite her lip. Silver outran Kise and Midorima, and he jumped from the free-throw line. A lane-up to a both-hand windmill dunk. Not even Kagami had ever produced such a skill.

"What the heck was that?" Tsuchida said unbelievably.

"Impossible... It's not a human technique," Koganei added.

Seirin's basketball athletes were thoroughly shocked, but the volleyball players? Their jaws were on the ground, rightfully so, and their eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. It felt surreal, like a fictional movie, or maybe an illusion or magic trick that was meant to deceive what they truly saw. How on earth could this be??? Were they really just eighteen years old???

On the court, Silver basked in glory and threw his arms sideways, shouting to everyone in the stadium. "Did you see that, you monkeys? It's something you'll never be able to do in your entire life! It's an absolute difference in strength that can't be made up by hard work!"

It continued like that in Jabberwock's favor until Kagetora took a timeout. Ai refused to grant Silver the pleasure of making her feel small and powerless, even if he couldn't see her. Instead, she sat up straighter in her seat and kept a stern expression. Although, she completely agreed with the coach's decision internally.

She believed in her new basketball team with all of her heart and soul. But sometimes, it wouldn't be enough. Seirin noticed her shuffling and they were in awe of her inner strength. However, looks could deceive, very well.

The purple-haired center annoyedly ate the honey lemons — made by Ai, of course — on the bench. He seemed to stand up in protest to the coach, but Akashi spoke to him.

"Atsu-kun... Seijuro..." she whispered.

Akashi and Midorima stayed on the bench while the two second-year star players from Seirin made their debut. The flow went back to Vorpal Swords as their new strategy came into play, but Aomine bickered with Kise and Kagami. It didn't worry her. In fact, it was rather amusing to see that they hadn't changed. The Generation of Miracles had a hard time accepting to work with Kagami. After all, he and his team had won against them all in the previous Winter Cup.

Aomine threw Kuroko a sloppy pass, but he reached up to catch it and connected it to Kise. The small forward dunked beautifully.

Ai couldn't help smiling, the words of praise rolling off of her tongue naturally. "Nice receive, Kuroko-kun. Nice dunk, Ryota-kun."

During halftime, Silver kicked a chair in agitation. Ai guessed that he was frustrated by losing to mere "monkeys", as he called them. He was too prideful from the simple fact that he was from America.

An interaction with his green-eyed captain immediately stopped his rampaging actions.

Next, the two blonds faced off, but Kise couldn't prevent a pass from Nash Gold Jr. Silver, having regained his power and confidence, dunked over Murasakibara's head.

A man with a whistle called for a referee timeout, and Murasakibara got up from the floor to resume the game.

The athletes didn't care about saving themselves from pain while they played. All they focused on was the game, and it left Ai with the sole option of begging in her mind. Please don't have any accidents.

The point difference began to increase. On the fourth seat over from her, Furihata squeezed his hands together and prayed for the Japanese team. Finally, Kuroko was subbed out for Akashi.

Ai's bias appeared as she was excited to see her boyfriend play. She didn't even try to contain her grin and tapped her pencil with contained glee.

After a few brief words with the team, Akashi had everyone go into position. While the captains marked each other, Aomine and Kise pulled a double team against Silver, both of them entering the Zone. The Perfect Copy was flawless, and it looked like there were two Aomine's at first glance. Kise moved in sync with his partner to every breath and step. Impressive didn't cover it.

They continued to play in unison, and Kise mimicked Akashi's Ankle Break as well. As he and Aomine jogged to retreat to their side of the court, it was just like old times.

Her heart began to swell with emotion, and tears slipped past her eyes. Biting her lip to contain her gladness, Ai imagined that Momoi was feeling the same way. "Daiki-kun, Ryota-kun, I'm so happy for you. It seems you don't need to worry so much about them, Satsuki," Ai whispered.

Kise decided to take Silver on by himself, which freed Aomine to claim his spot with someone else. Paired with the Zone, Kise was undoubtedly the strongest player on the court just then.

However, the powerful skill didn't last for long; it was too good to be true. Utilizing and combining multiple Perfect Copies, he gave up his stamina for the rest of the team's sake. Kise soon fell to his knees, having used up all of his energy to the last drop.

She saw his body tremble as Akashi held a hand out to him. He helped him up and carried the small forward with an arm around his shoulder to the bench where Momoi stepped in to take care of him. Ai wondered if she should go to them, but she told herself that Momoi would call her if they needed her.

Midorima eyed Akashi, as if taking notice of something. And in the next few moments, Ai understood it as well.

His Majesty was back.

Author's Note:

Has anyone read the "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" series by Lewis Carroll?

I've started it, but I'm still nowhere near the parts about the Jabberwock or the Vorpal Sword, so I can't make many references to it.

Also, if you could help me by pointing out grammatical errors or mistakes of any kind, I'd very much appreciate it! I do proofread the chapters, but sometimes I skim over them.

Reference:

Paisen is slang for senpai, (although I believe it only became a thing recently).

Total Word Count: 5958