A/N: Sorry for taking a while, finals were a super-ultra-mega pain. Thank you very much for the follows, favorites, and reviews! And I apologize if I didn't make it clear that this is a Fem!Kuroko story, but I hope you that doesn't discourage you from reading. Here's some reference for the character's ages:

Kuroko, Kagami: 25

Generation of Miracles: 15

I hope you enjoy this chapter. Please review!

"Ne, ne, Dai-chan. Decide on which club to join?"

"Ha? Don't ask something so obvious after all we've done." 'Dai-chan' smirked. "Of course it's basketball. I heard it's pretty strong, so at least I got something to look forward to."

"Oh, then maybe I can be team manager or something? I can make you lunch if you want!"

"No thanks... If you did, I couldn't play." Momoi Satsuki pouted. It was already their first day of high school and her childhood friend hadn't chance since they were kids!

Cherry blossom petals blew over the campus of Teiko High School, where clubs had already began to recruit new members. Students were dressed in blue button-up dress shirts and black bottoms appropriate for both genders. Clubs booths filled the whole campus, reaching up to the front entrance.

The two childhood friends walked together, searching for the basketball club sign-up booth. Aomine, six-foot-three at the tender age of fifteen years old, was too busy with his conversation he accidentally bumped into one of the club tables. "Whoa!" he cried before losing his balance and falling straight down onto the top of the table, causing some sign up sheets to fly off.

"Hey!" a voice called out. "Are you okay?"

Aomine groaned at the throbbing at his head when he made impact with the table, Momoi's distressed calls sounding behind him. With his face kissing the wooden surface of the table, the dark skinned teen noticed the contents of the applications he had knocked over. The basketball club!

The fallen teen was suddenly lifted by a strong hold on his bicep. Aomine looked up to thank his helper, but came face to face with a familiar person. A person he had not seen in ten whole years.

Somehow getting trapped between his fellow first years and club recruiters, he was fatefully stopped by a student. "Oh, you like books? How about joining the literary club?" The boy narrowed his eyes down at the student, and gripped his book firmly.

"No, this is a phone book."

The energetic student continued, "A phone book is a fine book!" Comprehending what he just said, the student took a double take, looking from the yellow phone book to up the weird green haired teen adorned with black glasses frames. "Why are you carrying a phone book?!"

The not-so energetic teen stated, "It is, in fact, an Oha-Asa lucky item." He saw the confused look the recruiter wore, and decided to use him to his advantage. "Where is the sign-up for the basketball club."

"Over there..." said the recruiter as he pointed towards the direction of greenett's request. Without a word, the teen left the recruiter with only one goal in mind. Joining the basketball team.

Midorima Shintaro walked closer to the stand until he witnessed a most peculiar sense happen where a student had fallen on top of the table, and caused applications to fly off in all directions. One paper had conveniently drifted to his direction and was in his reach. The six-foot-five megane inwardly smirked. "Luck is on my side today." But before he could grasp the floating paper, a hand came into his line sight and snatched the paper. Then, out of nowhere, a shadow cast over him by what Midorima believed to be a giant. A giant with purple hair that is.

"Hm?" The giant hummed reading over the paper, an uninterested look in his eyes. "Basketball?" he drawled. "What a bother."

Midorima furrowed his eyebrows. "If you think it's a bother, give the paper to me." He held out a hand.

The purplehead stared down at him for a good few moments, then stuffed the paper carelessly into his school bag and walked away, but not before saying, "Finder's keepers~"

"WHA—!" started Midorima as he watched the giant get away. Being the stubborn teen he was, he chased after the purple teen and in midst of his pursuit bumped into a handsome blond who somehow had stolen all the girls attention away.

The blond caught himself before he lost balance, and turned around to see who had rushed by him fast enough to knock him over. When he saw no one, he felt a tug on his sleeve by one of the girl club recruiters who called out to him. "We'd love to have you in our club!" the girls said in sync.

All the teen could do was smile down at the girls, mastering his ability to conceal his true feelings. His voice hesitant as he spoke, "Oh, no. I don't think it's for me." The blond's own words rang through his head. If this club wasn't for him, then what was...?

Just on the other side of the campus, a chauffeur was uneasy. "Are you sure this is okay sir? Your father will take issue..."

The young master shook his head with a polite smile. "This isn't about him. Besides, if every morning was like this, I'll be mocked. At the least...

"Let school be somewhere I can have my freedom," said Akashi Seijuro. The wind brushed through his red locks then, just like a very special person had once did years ago. Even though it was his first day of high school, he had the oddest feeling that fate had brought him here. And soon enough, his fate would intertwine.

The dismissal bell rang for the last time that day, and Aomine started to wish he hadn't signed up for the basketball club. He groaned, remembering the incident from the morning.

After he regained his senses from the impact, the fallen teen was suddenly lifted by a strong hold on his bicep. Aomine looked up to thank his helper, but came face to face with a familiar person he had met ten years ago.

"IT'S YOU!" he shouted, a look of disbelief sketched on his face.

A moment passed before the person's expression mirrored the first year's, raising a pointed finger in front of him. "A-AHOMINE?!"

Said idiot blushed in embarrassment at the name he had heard plenty in his younger days. At the moment, however, he was still trying to comprehend the situation when Momoi came up behind him with all oxygen taken from her lungs.

"Kagamin!" she screamed with glee. The pinkette ran past the dark skinned teen and instantly wrapped her arms around the strong adult.

Kagami grinned down at the girl. "Yo, Momoi." He patted her head, just like he'd done when she was a child. "Looks like you're all grown up," he said.

She released him from her crushing hug, and nodded up at the redhead. "Yup! Though Dai-chan grew a lot more taller..."

The tiger snorted. "She still calling you that huh, 'Dai-chan.'" That cause Aomine to snap out of his stupor, shaking his head side-to-side vigorously.

"Oi Satsuki! I told you to stop calling me that! Now people are gonna talk," he grumbled at the girl, who only stuck her tongue out in response. Ignoring the insult, Aomine decided to address more important matters and glared at Kagami who happened to be only a few more centimeters taller than him. "So, Bakagami. Why are you here."

Kagami sighed, unaffected by the teens attempt to intimidate him. "Isn't it obvious," he said to the pair, holding up the basketball applications. He pointed to where name was printed on the paper, causing their eyes to grow wide then stare up at him incredulously. "I'm the Teiko basketball club's adviser."

Aomine groaned louder. "Damn it all to hell..." He was too engrossed in his thoughts he didn't notice Momoi shaking his shoulders to get his attention.

"Aomine-kun! It's time for tryouts!" She shook him harder but at no avail. "A-o-mi-ne-kun!" Deciding her idiot of a friend wouldn't budge any time soon, she shouted, "Mou! I'm going on without you so don't blame me if you get lost!" Momoi stomped out the classroom in frustration. It only after she left did Aomine hurriedly pack his things and followed her trail. When the pair entered the gym it surprised them just how much people signed up to join.

Almost half of the gym was filled with students of all years, conversing about the chances of making the team based on the rumors of the basketball team. The whole gym went silent when Kagami cleared his throat, and prepared their instructions.

"We'll start with a placement test," he announced, arms crossed. "Those who make the first string will get to play official games as part of the regular roster." Once he finished, whispers and murmurs sounded around the gym.

"I hear no makes the first string in these tests..."

"Seriously? So second string at best?"

"So I guess our goal should be second string..."

Before the whispers could grow any stronger, Kagami yelled at the top of his lungs. "Let's begin!" And at the blow of his whistle, the test began.

Squeaking shoes and dribbling could be heard outside of the gigantic gym where a blond stood curiously only a few feet away. "Sounds pretty rowdy in there," he commented. "I wonder what club that is..."

"I wonder what club indeed."

. . .

"AAHHH!" The teen shouted, startled by the sudden input he heard out of thin air. Searching around him, he looked left and right but couldn't find the source of the voice. He gulped nervously as he could feel his pulse going faster. Was Teiko known to have ghosts? "W-Who said that?" he called out, curling a fist onto the strap of his school bag.

"I did."

He blinked, then blinked again. And screamed once more.

There in front of him, was a short woman dressed in black denim, folded up just under her knees. She wore a velvet cardigan that covered over a plain white t-shirt. Her ocean blue eyes held no expression nor reaction under the wide-rounded black framed glasses that complimented with her simple flats. Is she a student? the blond thought. He would've labeled her as a librarian if her hair were long enough to be put in a braid. But he had to admit, shoulder length hair suited the woman in front of him.

"Ano..."

Blinking his eyes for the thousandth time, he looked at the mysterious bluenette. He didn't know what to say in that moment, but decided to asked what had confused the blond from the start. "How long were you standing there..?"

Tetsuki tilted her head. "The whole time."

"EH!" She ignored his surprise, but put a finger to her closed lips in a 'shush' manner. The blond apologized furiously.

"What is Kise-kun doing out here?" she wondered.

The first year rubbed the back of his head, a smile forming on his mouth. "Who, m-me?" he laughed nervously. "Nothing at all! Just taking a walk is all." It completely slipped his mind that she had known his name.

"Mind if I join?" For some reason, he couldn't find the strength to deny her request when she looked at him with those deep, blue eyes. The way she stared at him made him feel like he could trust her with his own life. And when she stared to walk away...

Kise Ryouta couldn't help but follow.

When Kagami called time all players were left panting, trying to inhale ever bit of breath they could take. "Thank you for your hard work. I will now announce the test results starting with third where you will go line up with your coach. Number 2, Saito Nobuo..."

The list went on for another 30 players, plus another 30 more for second string. Some proud with their given results while others were relieved they were able to make it. But what surprised the whole gym was the next words that came from Kagami's mouth when he said, "Now for first string..."

"Did he just say first string?"

"He's gotta be kidding..."

Kagami scoffed inwardly. Right now, he really wished he was kidding. She better get finish her paperwork soon. Breathing in, he began to name the first string players.

"Number 8, Aomine Daiki.

"Number 11, Midorima Shintaro.

"Number 23, Murasakibara Atsushi.

"Number 29, Akashi Seijuro."

So this is this year's first string regulars. Feeling a buzz come from his pocket, Kagami fished for his phone to find that he received a message. As he read each word, the basketball adviser could feel a headache coming on. Kagami was about to reply but stopped short when he felt a familiar set of 'friends' glaring holes into the back of his skull. The tsundere and the idiot, he thought. They haven't changed a bit. But what peeved him the most, was the odd piercing stare he received from the short redhead. He felt his left eyes twitch, and sighed. "I need a raise."

Kise sat with hands on his knees, searching around the small counseling room. Golden eyes bore into the bluenette sitting on the other side of the table. Clearing his throat, he awkwardly asked, "What's this about?"

She stated, "It is required that every student be involved in a club. But it seems Kise-kun is the only one that hasn't."

"Oh, well," he averted his eyes, "I haven't exactly found anything that sparked my interest."

"What about basketball?" she inquired. "You seemed to be interested since I found you eavesdropping."

Kise blushed in shame. "I was not eavesdropping!" he cried. "I was taking a walk! Besides, even if I did join this club, I know I'd be able to make it—no matter what. But then there'd be no real competition for me."

Tetsuki narrowed her eyes. "You sound confident."

He leaned back in his seat, crossing his arms. "This is me we're talking about, you know."

She shut her eyes then, processing his words. "I knew a boy who thought just like you," the bluenette shared. "He lived on a single principle: 'the only one who can beat me is me,' he used to say." Tetsuki reopened her eyes and blue met gold. "What do you say to that?"

Kise answered, unfazed. "That changes nothing."

"And if your opponent is stronger?"

The blond gave her a smirk, his eyes shining with promise. "Then I'd take them down with all I got."

She stared a moment longer at the teen, then stood up from her seat and said, "That will be all for today," before making her way to the door. Kise blinked in confusion.

"That's it?" he said with surprise. "You're not going to force me to join after all that?"

Placing a hand against the doorway, Tetsuki shook her head. "I cannot force you to do something you do not wish to do," she said softly though her voice monotone. "However," she gave a minuscule smile, "I know that Kise-kun will do what his heart tells him to."

Kise froze, unsure how to go about the comment. Instead, he decided to ask his final question. "How do you know my name?" She held her smile, and he swore he felt his heart stop at that very moment.

"All teachers should know their students."

Kagami blew his whistle. "Alright that's all for today," he called. "Hit the lockers!"

Coated in sweat, all players spilled out the gym one by one and went as instructed. The first string players went to follow suit, but Kagami stopped them. "I have some information for you guys."

Aomine growled in annoyance. "Can't it wait 'till tomorrow?" he whined. "I'm blaming you if I lose an hour of sleep Bakagami!"

The adviser was about to retort, but decided against it. "As you could already tell," he began, "Each string has its own individual coach. For now you guys will do second string's training regime until your coach is finished with other things."

Midorima pushed up his glasses before asking, "How long until he returns?"

The tiger laughed nervously, unsure if he should break the news just yet. Kagami gave a fake cough and answered, "Your coach will probably be back by the end of the week."

"It's said the first string coach brought Teiko single-handedly to the Winter Cup each year and brought them to victory every time," Akashi spoke up. "Is that true?"

The dark skinned teen gaped. "Each time?!" he repeated. "A-Amazing!"

Kagami crossed his arms. Single-handedly? Tch. I was there too you know. "It's true," he confirmed the shorter redhead. "Look, I know this school has strict principles and whatnot, but you should know that Teiko won because of their spirit and teamwork, not because of some doctrine." When they remained silent, Kagami came to a realization. "Where's Murasakibara?"

The greenhead placed a hand on his hip, and sighed. "It seems he ran off with the others."

Aomine yawned, "Can we get changed now?"

"Yeah go ahead," Kagami waved them off. He was turned away from the trio and picked up some leftover basketballs to put in the cart. When he held the last one, he dribbled, warming himself up to the familiar technique. Kagami dribbled from front, back, and under his legs and began to jog over the nearest hoop. But before he could leap off the ground to preform his infamous Meteor Jam, the ball had suddenly disappeared from his grasp. "What the—?!"

He turned around to face the offender who made a steal, and found Tetsuki standing in the center of the court. She held the ball in one hand and turned to look over her shoulder at her long time friend. "This is a first," she said monotonously. "Have you been slacking off, Kagami-kun?"

Kagami smirked at the bluenette. "Ha! As if," he crackled. "You should've seen them today," he brought up, catching the ball that was passed to him. "It was unbelievable. If we played them when we were in high school, we would've be destroyed." He made eye contact with the basketball cart and shot the ball in its direction, and fell right into the cart with the others. Kagami gave a laugh. "He hasn't changed at all."

Testuki smiled at the thought. "He's all grown up now," she imagined.

A scoff. "Yeah, he's almost my height now."

"How is Midorima-kun?"

He made his way to the bluenette. "Still weird," he replied. "By the way," Kagami scowled down at the woman. "When are you exactly going to start doing your job? I thought you already finished all the paperwork."

Tetsuki gave him a deadpanned look. "My paperwork has been done since yesterday."

His split eyebrows rose and red-colored eyes widened. "What?!" he yelled. "Then why weren't you here to coach?!"

The phantom coach averted her eyes. "I have my reasons."

Angered, Kagami brought a hand down on Tetsuki's head and made a crushing motion against her skull. Something he did often when she'd piss him off in their high school days. "You're going to need to do better then that," he threatened. He let her go and Tetsuki rubbed her head, trying to sooth her hair back into place.

"If you must know why, it's because..." she trailed off, looking up at Kagami with seriousness in her eyes, and responded, "I am a shadow."

"That's not what I meant!"

The hungry teen felt his stomach growl for the seventh time that night. Not that practice could ever tire him to the brink of hunger. He was just never satisfied. He thought back to his last snack he had finished right before basketball tryouts. "Uwah, I should've save those cookies," he regretted. As he continued to walk beside store after store, he stopped at a bakery that fit his budget. Through the windows he could see all sorts of pastries put up for display, causing his stomach to growl in anticipation. "My reward for making first string," Murasakibara Atsushi decided and went to enter the bakery, but not before adding, "what a pain."

Once he stepped in the head chef, he guessed, greeted him. "Welcome!" she called from the counter. "Sit any where you like and someone will be with you right away!" Murasakibara nodded, and she smiled warmly. Turning away from the counter she called out to her daughter who offered to help her mother, owner and head chef of the bakery, for the day. "Tetsuki! Can you help the customer that just came in? It looks like he goes to Teiko," Sorano pondered, observing at the customer's attire.

The younger bluehead nodded once, and began to wrap an apron around her waist. She grabbed a menu before walking over to the customer, who surprisingly was able to sense her presence right away. "Good evening," said Tetsuki as she handed him a menu. "Is there anything you'd like to drink?"

Her customer was oddly quiet with his eyes closed, and was sniffing as if he was searching for something. Murasakibara opened his drooped eyes to reveal purple irises and mumbled out, "Vanilla..."

Tetsuki blinked. "What was that, sir?"

Purple eyes matched his shoulder length hair as he looked up at her with a what she thought was a bored expression. "You smell like vanilla," he said.

"Thank you..." she accepted, unsure if his words were a statement or a compliment. "Your order?"

He looked over the menu briefly, his mind somewhere else. "Vanilla Parfait," he told the bluenette. She nodded, and wrote down his order. Tetsuki took back the menu and bowed respectfully. She turned away from the teen and went to the kitchen to prepare his order. Luckily for him, the bakery wasn't busy that day and she was able to make the order herself. Her mother had always lover culinary and was the main reason why she opened this shop. On some days Tetsuki would help her mother wait tables while others she'd help in the kitchen. Her cooking skills weren't always as great as they were now, but overtime she learned. Placing a final wafer onto the parfait, she placed the cup on a tray and walked back to the waiting customer.

It amused her how starved he looked when she placed the dessert in front of him. "Enjoy," she said as she bowed once again. But before she could turn the other way, her small hand was engulfed by the customers larger one. Tetsuki face remained neutral as she stared at the customer.

The purplehead's expression matched her's if not for his slanted eyes. He stared up at her before suddenly asking, "Why do you smell like vanilla?"

"Because I work in a bakery," she stated bluntly. Murasakibara shook his head at her answer.

"I smelled vanilla," he stated, "but it's not from the parfait." The purple teen squeezed her hand tighter which made Tetsuki be on her guard.

Tetsuki wondered what kind of animal this boy was, and why he had suddenly grabbed her hand just to ask her about her smell. Kids are much bolder these days, she thought. Deciding an answer that would subdue the teen she replied, "I drink the vanilla milkshakes at Maji Burger. That must be why you think I smell like vanilla."

He seemed pleased with her answer, and released his hold on her hand. "Do they taste good?"

"They are the best."

Humming, he finally took a spoonful of the parfait. The sugar sending tingles throughout his body. Tetsuki wasn't sure why she stayed beside the eating teen who seemed to enjoy asking multiple questions. "What school do you go to?"

Did she look that young? Tetsuki felt herself beaming rays of sunshine at the compliment. "Teiko," she said although it was only half the truth.

Murasakibara gulped down the rest of the dessert, and looked into her deadpanned eyes. "Are we in the same class?" he pushed. Unbeknownst to him, Tetsuki was closer to him in more ways than one.

"You could say that," she mused as she walked away, leaving him in his thoughts.

Upon entering her apartment door, Tetsuki received what seemed like the second surprise that evening. There sitting on the couch was her very, much taller neighbor. He had an upset look upon his face for reasons unknown to her. Midorima was alert the moment she came in and instantly met her at the doorway. He didn't give her the chance to speak once they made eye contact. "What is the meaning of this!"

Tetsuki stared at the greenhead and proceeded in removing her flats. Not one to leave questions—or shouts in this case—unanswered, she held up a box of what she believed would help Midorima's problem. "I brought cakes."

He growled, "You know that's not what I meant."

The bluenette walked pass him to make her way to the kitchen, Midorima hot on her trail. "I know," she chided. "I was only teasing." She placed the box of desserts onto the table and began to take out various flavors. "Would you like tea?"

Midorima hestiated. "Don't get the wrong idea. I'm only accepting until you answer my question."

"A tsundere as ever," a voice came from the bathroom. Out came Kagami in all his glory, fresh out the shower, with a towel hanging around his neck and hair still damp. To add to his glory, his extremely well built six-pack was exposed in the absence of his shirt. Coming to the kitchen he made note of the cakes on the table, rather than the shocked look on Midorima's face and Tetsuki's regular impassiveness. "Oh you brought cakes!" he said excitedly, and was about to attack the desserts but was stopped by the greenett's distressed yell.

"KAGAMI!" Midorima was beyond belief. Was this what happens in his neighbor's apartment?! How could this beast walk around practically naked around a young woman—around Tetsuki?! The tsundere took the liberty to come up behind the bluenette and shield her eyes from the horrific sight. "How dare you walk around indecently!" Removing his hands from Tetsuki's eyes he turned her around to face him, and grasped her shoulders tightly. "AND YOU! Why do you let this guy do this, especially when you're around!"

The bluenette mused internal at sight of Midorima's blushing cheeks during the whole scene. Of course she'd never let Kagami do such things when she was present, and would instantly punish the redhead for doing so. She would've done so sooner, but watching the greenhead fret entertained her greatly as it always had before. "I understand Midorima-kun," she said to the distressed teenager. "I will take care of this right away."

Kagami felt his heartbeat increasing with each step the bluenette took closer to him, his face losing all color. "W-Wait a minute, Kuroko! I didn't mean to walk out shirtless. In fact, my nightshirt was in the... in the washroom! And I was on my way to get it but I got distracted you see! S-So you'll spare me won't you?"

"Ingite Pass..."

The redhead waved his hands frantically. "Come on now Kuroko! I promise I won't do it anymore—swear!"

"Kai!"

Midorima only heard two sounds after that: Tetsuki's hand twisting into Kagami's torso with excruciating pain, and Kagami's head impacting with the hard wooden floor. He gulped, feeling his eyes widen immensely in pure astonishment. Just how strong is Kuroko? the tsundere tried figure out in his head. And is that smoke coming from from her hand?

Tetsuki blew out a breath. "Please respect our company Kagami-kun," she ordered the unconscious tiger. She turned back to Midorima, her face deadpanned. "So Midorima-kun, to what do we owe the visit?"

Oh right, Midorima remembered. Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, he looked down at the bluenette and demanded, "Why is Kagami the basketball club adviser at Teiko?"

She tilted her head at that. "Shouldn't you ask him?"

"He told me to ask you."

Tetsuki stared up at Midorima what felt like years to him. The greenhead could feel his cheeks burning under her gaze. He was never good at staying calm when he was around her. She looked down and finally spoke, "I suppose it won't be a surprise after all."

Midorima's brows furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean?"

Finally regaining some consciousness, Kagami worded out, "Kuroko... me... hired..."

"Hired?" the megane repeated. "But the one who chooses the adviser... That means..."

Tetsuki bowed respectfully at the teen. "I look forward to working with you, Midorima-kun."

The teen was awestruck. "Then why weren't you here today?" he couldn't help but ask.

She shared a look with Kagami, their faces mirroring one another. "Looking for a lost chick."

Akashi was the first to arrive to the locker rooms the next day, punctual as ever. Opening his assigned locker he placed his bag down and dug into its contents. After finding his prized possession, he brought a magnet to the locker door and hung the photograph. Once his task was done, he took a moment to gaze at the person who was the sole reason he was currently standing in that very locker room. He was much, much smaller than Tetsuki when they took the picture. It was the day that Tetsuki had taught him the wonders of basketball.

"Dribble?" the seven year-old asked curiously, holding a basketball. "How do I do that?"

Tetsuki took the ball from his hand to demonstrate. "Dribbling is the motion that helps direct where you want the basketball follow as you run with it." She pushed the ball down, and as result, it bounced back up. Catching the sphere, she repeated the motion then tossed the ball back to Akashi. "You try."

Nodding, he copied her movements. He pushed the ball down towards the ground, caught it when it bounced up, and pushed it back down again. The redhead began to smile as he effortlessly learned how to dribble. Akashi became confident with his achievement, and tried to run around as he dribbled. But what motivated him the most was the proud look Tetsuki had on her face as she watched him. He smiled up at her, but had forgotten his current task at hand. The basketball slipped out of his grasp and when he tried to chase after it, he lost his footing and tripped. Picking up his fallen form he felt a slight stinging coming from his leg, for he had scraped his knee.

The bluenette was at his side then and instantly noticed his injury. "Are you okay?" she fretted. "Can you stand?"

Her question fell on deaf ears. Akashi was unusually stoic about his scraped knee and remained quiet through the ordeal but managed a, "I'm okay."

Tetsuki stared at the young redhead, taking note of his silence. She searched her back pocket for her plain blue handkerchief and brought it to his dripping knee. "It's not good to lie Akashi-kun."

"I'm not lying."

She raised a brow, but continued. "No one will blame you for making a mistake," she assured him. "Not your mother nor I. It's the only way for us to remember we are human."

Akashi bit his lip, crossing his arms over his injured knee and mumbled, "But father will..."

Tetsuki took one of his hands in hers, causing the redhead to raise his head to face her. "While it's true that there are some things we can't change in our lives, we should accept them in order to become stronger." Her usual deadpanned expression turned into one of sincere concern. "I know I cannot stop your father's strict ways, for it is not my place, but I want you to promise me you won't change."

The redhead furrowed his tiny brows. "Change?"

"You will grow into a fine man, Akashi-kun. I'm sure of it." She brought a hand to wove through his crimson locks in a comforting manner. "But remember, no matter how hard life will get—"

"—never forget who you are." Akashi closed his eyes at the memory. If they were to ever meet again, he hoped he hadn't disappointed her. Deciding he had taken up more than enough time, he began to prepare for practice when his fellow first string player entered the room.

Murasakibara was hugging a half-eaten potato chip bag to him went he came inside the locker room. "Ah," he noticed the redhead. "Aka-chin is early today."

Akashi smiled politely. "It seems so." But before he could remove his blazer, Kagami popped into the room.

"Yo," he greeted the pair. "No practice today, but there is someone you should meet."

The two regulars shared a look, before following after their adviser to the gym where Aomine and Midorima were already waiting. Akashi noticed the greenhead gritting his teeth for reasons unknown.

As always, Aomine started to become restless. "This better be worth my time," he grounded out.

Oh trust me, it will. Just as Kagami's thought passed, he heard Murasakibara suddenly call out, "Ah, Vanilla-chin."

"Vanilla?" Aomine repeated. "Unless your potato chips are starting to taste like vanilla then I suggest you go see a doct—AH!"

Midorima raised his glasses higher at the bridge of his nose, furrowing his brows. "Must you be so childish?" he sighed.

The now revealed bluenette peeked a head from her spot behind Aomine, where she stood on her the tips of her toes to blow into the tanned teens ear that caused his yelling. "I could say the same to you, Midorima-kun," she shot back, staring at the peculiar stuffed teddy bear under the greenett's arm.

While the megane's face heated with embarrassment, Murasakibara mused, "Mine-chin is a scaredy cat."

Aomine would've retorted but was more concern with the person hiding behind him. "Show yourself!" he yelled when he couldn't locate the offender.

Kagami grinned. "Allow me to introduce the Phantom Coach of the Teiko Basketball Club." He grabbed Aomine's head, forcing him to look towards a different direction where he came face to face with a basketball that was passed to him out of thin air—hardly catching the ball before impact. Murasakibara showed mild surprise while Akashi eyes widened by a fraction.

Bringing the ball away from his face, Aomine's navy blue eyes met its match of a lighter shade. "Tetsu?!" Tetsuki gave a friendly wave despite her face holding no emotion.

Akashi felt all air had escaped him then and there. "Tetsuki..."

Tetsuki smiled his way; nostalgia hitting him hard. "It's been a while hasn't it, Akashi-kun? You haven't change a bit."

Winning always came easy to the redhead as he continued to grow throughout the years. But now, he couldn't explain why those last five words made him feel more accomplished than he had ever felt in his entire life.