Thank you guys so much for all the favorites and follows even though it was only the first chapter! I'm so grateful that you guys enjoy this as much as I enjoy writing this. Just a heads up, this may be the only time I upload another chapter after only a week. As you can see, the chapters are kind of long and there's also the fact that I have school and homework flying everywhere. I don't have a specific time schedule to when I'm going to upload chapters but I will try to upload as fast as I can.
But enough of that; let the story continue :)
The next day after the classes had finished, Riko announced that there would be a match between the seniors and the remaining freshmen, which were Kagami, Kuroko, and three others who decided that they could handle Riko's training regimen.
"A match against our seniors? But that's unfair, isn't it? I heard you guys were only freshmen when you made it until the final league! We're going to get pummeled!" One of the freshmen complained while evidently shaking in fear as well.
Riko ignored the three freshmen's pleas and blew her whistle, announcing the beginning of the game. She smirked as the game began and wondered just how powerful the freshmen could be at this point.
Unlike the three freshmen, Kagami was pumped. He loved having strong opponents and told as such. It was better to have stronger opponents than weak ones, right?
As the ball shot up, Kagami jumped easily and quickly tapped it to make it go to his teammate. He dribbled before giving it back to Kagami who in turn dunked the ball forcefully.
Everyone in the court watched Kagami let go of the metal rim and were amazed at the power he emitted. Riko was especially astounded on how a freshmen could do such a dunk.
"Hey, that's completely insane…" Hyuuga mumbled before getting back to offense. His companion with the name of Izuki Shun nodded as he fell into stance with Hyuuga.
Riko blew the whistle and the game began once more. However, no matter how powerful Kagami was, he could not compete alone with five opponents by himself. It was obvious that the three freshmen were still very weak and lacking skill to be playing against the more adept seniors and soon enough, the point gap increased between the freshmen and the seniors.
Kagami growled in annoyance as he couldn't get his head in the game.
'What the hell is Kuroko doing, helping the other team?' He thought angrily as Kuroko had the ball but accidently passed to Izuki instead of a freshman named Furihata. Both looked shocked before Izuki shrugged and made a basket. The point score was 31-15 with the bigger score in favor to the seniors.
The freshmen panted and one wished they would stop and that they had enough.
"Enough?" Kagami growled and grabbed the freshman from the front of his jersey. "Don't you dare tell you're giving up!" He demanded but before he could do more, he felt a jab from behind his knees and turned around to see Kuroko.
"Please calm down." Kuroko said and the freshmen soon prayed for his soul. Kagami dropped the freshman and directed his attention to the short boy.
"Kuroko, you bastard…" He yelled as he tried to land some punches on the boy but were always intercepted by the three freshmen.
"Looks like the newbies are fighting." Hyuuga commented and the seniors nodded. A cat faced senior named Koganei noticed Kuroko expertly evading Kagami's clumsy punches.
"Wait. Was Kuroko always playing in the game?" He asked and Izuki nodded hesitantly, confused himself.
"Yeah, I think he was. I remember getting the ball from the opposite team without doing anything. Although, I can't seem to remember who did that…" Izuki said while rubbing the back of his neck, obviously trying to remember what happened in the game.
Riko sighed at the freshmen but then also noticed Kuroko.
'Even as the referee, I completely forgot about him at some point. Wait, what? Since when? It can't be...' She stared at Kuroko at that moment who was now getting into his position.
"Excuse me," Kuroko said to the nearest teammate, who in turn jumped back in surprise, "could you pass me the ball?" He asked and Furihata looked incredibly skeptical.
"Uh, sure. But make sure you don't give it to the seniors next time." He said before taking his own stance. He distinctly heard Kuroko whispering to himself that he wouldn't as he now memorized everything.
The game started and Riko shouted at the players that there were only three minutes left. The freshmen groaned in protest as Furihata found Kuroko and tossed the ball over to his direction.
'Just don't lose it now.' He thought as the ball entered Kuroko's hand.
Riko, on the other hand, had a strange feeling as she saw the ball in the clutch of the teal-haired boy. She had a gut feeling that something unthinkable was going to happen.
In a blink of a second, the ball was in the hands of a bald freshman called Kawahara. Everyone in the court except for Kuroko looked at the ball, shocked, before Kawahara moved out of his daze and ran to shoot the ball inside the hoop.
Riko's gut feeling was confirmed as she tracked Kuroko with her eyes. Was he purposely making use of his lack of presence to make passes? She then remembered the strange rumors that revolved around the Generation of Miracles.
'The phantom sixth player…' She thought and finally, the information clicked together. Her eyes widened in shock as Kuroko kept making the unbelievable passes.
"Misdirection." She whispered to herself as the ball intercepted Izuki's defense and Kagami scored a basket. Due to Kuroko, the score was now 37 to 36, with the bigger score in favor of the seniors.
"Damn it, with the two playing together, we have no way to stop these attacks!" Hyuuga exasperated as Kuroko suddenly came out of nowhere and slapped the ball out of Izuki's hands. He then started to run towards the hoop and the freshmen hooted at him to make the basket. However, once he launched the ball to the hoop, it bounced off the rim and the people looked severely unamused with his skill.
Right then, Kagami jumped and slammed the ball inside the hoop.
"If you're going to score, score properly you idiot!" He commented while Kuroko just gave him a small smile. The buzzer went off and the freshmen won with a one point difference.
The freshmen celebrated their victory while the seniors eyed the duo, Kagami and Kuroko, with hopeful expressions.
'Those two are going to be our key to victory.' Hyuuga thought while chuckling at the victory dances the freshmen were doing.
Somehow, Kagami and Kuroko both met at the same place, or rather, Kuroko was already there when Kagami sat at the same table, not knowing that Kuroko was there. Once he realized that he did, in fact, have company, Kagami yelped in surprise while Kuroko just continued to sip his milkshake.
"Why are you here? Get out. It's my table." Kagami said but Kuroko did not budge.
"I don't feel the need to. I was here the whole time and it was Kagami-kun who sat down." Kuroko explained and sipped his drink. Kagami sighed, knowing that this would become a regular thing, and tossed a hamburger to him.
Kuroko caught it with shock and Kagami smirked.
"I'm normally not interested in weak players but I'll admit it, you have some potential with you. Who would have known you would use your weak presence to make such passes?" Kagami asked himself while Kuroko unwrapped the hamburger.
Once finished with their food, they started walking to their homes and stopped at a stoplight. Kagami itched to ask something but refrained from doing so until Kuroko piped up.
"You can ask me whatever you want, Kagami-kun. You do not have to refrain yourself." He said and Kagami was taken aback. How did he know?
"Uh, how did you know?"
"Your feet seem restless." Kuroko answered simply and Kagami wondered how Kuroko was able to know that if he was staring forward.
"I want to know more about this so called Generation of Miracles." Kagami said and Kuroko seemed quiet for a second before answering.
"They are, simply put, five geniuses who all excel in different areas. They, after realizing how powerful they have become, decided to go their separate ways in high school, in hopes of fighting each other instead of weak schools." Kagami couldn't help but notice the strain of anger that radiated from Kuroko's answer and it was then that Kagami decided to become partners with Kuroko.
"I'll take them down." He stated and Kuroko, without even looking at him, asked what he meant by that. "It means we're going to become partners and become number one in Japan." Though it was difficult to see, Kagami knew that Kuroko was smiling.
"So will you accept becoming the light to my shadow?" Kuroko asked and Kagami spluttered.
"What the hell? That sounds like a love confession, Kuroko, you bastard." He stuttered but Kuroko did not look affected at all.
"Kagami-kun, I am a supporting actor, a shadow that lies in the darkness. Where there is darkness, there is also light. The stronger the light becomes, the darker the shadow becomes as well. Individually they are strong but put them together and you get something even more powerful. This is a promise, Kagami-kun. As you become my light, I will become you supporting shadow and I will help you take down the Generation of Miracles and become number one." Kuroko stated and Kagami smiled brightly, ignoring the fact that Kuroko had stressed the last part of the Generation of Miracles.
The stoplight turned green and both Kagami and Kuroko when their separate ways. Kagami, while walking, couldn't help but think of the teal-haired boy. It wasn't his words that were affecting him – he was all out for it and didn't have to dwell on it anymore – but it was Kuroko in general that seemed to annoy his thoughts. His movements, actions, and the way he was always careful with his clothes and hair confused him greatly.
Just what was Kuroko hiding from him?
The next morning, Kagami frantically searched for the coach in hopes of becoming an official member of the Seirin basketball club. Once he found the room, he barged in and disrupted Riko's daydream, stating that he would become an official basketball player. Riko looked skeptically but gave the application sheet. He grasped it hopefully but was hesitant when Riko told him that she would only accept the application tomorrow at 8:40 sharp at the roof.
Kagami looked at her suspiciously but concluded that the coach did not really have a motive for the deadline. He was about to leave when he bumped into a person. He was about to say sorry but jumped back in shock at the person he bumped into.
"I'm sorry." The person said and Kagami realized that it was the ghost girl in his class, Kuroko Terumi. It was amazing how similar she and Kuroko had in appearance, hair, and personality. She strode across him and stood in front of Riko who spit out her milk in shock.
"Who are you?" She asked, confused that a freshman girl would be in front of her. The girl bowed formally in return.
"Hello, my name is Kuroko Terumi, twin sister to my brother, Kuroko Tetsuya. He is busy at the moment and asked me to come here to formally request an application to become an official member." The girl said and Riko looked her skeptically. So, she could understand if this girl and Kuroko were twins but this was freaky beyond comparison. These two were completely alike in every way possible. They had the same hair style where their bangs would cover their eyes and it was a shockingly beautiful sky-colored hair. They were both formal to the point of awkwardness and they both did not even bother to look at Riko in the face and only faced forward.
Riko was silent while giving the application to Kuroko Terumi. She, in turn, bowed respectfully and left without another word.
Both Kagami and Riko both had the same suspicion in mind once the mysterious girl left.
The next morning, five of the freshmen entered the roof and saw that the coach was waiting for them, smirking while doing so. Kagami gripped the application sheet in his hand while looking at Kuroko Terumi, who also had the application sheet with her.
'What is she doing here? She doesn't play basketball, her brother does.' Kagami thought as Riko crossed her arms in anticipation.
"Ok, so I didn't think much of it when you said to be here at 8:40 but now I realize that there is freaking assembly at this time!" Kagami exploded but Riko just laughed evilly.
"You can all leave after this. I'm thinking of making this into a ritual, actually. Last year, I made a promise when the captain appointed me as coach. You will yell out your name, class, and goal for this club. And no 'I'll do my best' or 'I will put all my effort in this' kind of goal. I want a concrete objective that you will fulfill no matter what." She said and the three freshmen looked very doubtful and unsure of this. Riko then narrowed her eyes in gleam.
"And for those who believe that they can't do this here, I'll make sure you'll do it anyways, but mind you, you will also confess to the girl you like completely naked." She added sardonically and suddenly, the boys all froze in fear.
Kagami, on the other hand, smirked as he confidently walked up to the metal bars.
"That's all? How easy can this be?" He said to himself as he jumped and stood in the metal bars. He, with his loudest voice, claimed that he was Kagami Taiga from class 1- B, and he would become Japan's number one basketball player by destroying the Generation of Miracles.
Everyone down below the roof stared at the boy in curiosity while the basketball people wondered if Riko was going to make this an annual thing.
One by one, the three freshmen went up although one of them ended up telling their whole biography while the other decided that he would become best and end up getting a girlfriend.
The last one left was Kuroko but the only person left in the roof who hadn't spoken was his twin sister, Kuroko Terumi.
"I'm sorry, but my brother could not make it today because he had to go somewhere this morning. He asked me to take his place." She explained and Riko just glared at her skeptically. The girl did not bother to even look up.
"Kuroko-kun sure seems to be busy." Riko finally said and the girl shrugged.
"Our mother is sick and there was an emergency. My brother naturally went because they have a bigger bond than I have with our mother. He said he would be back for practice, though." She said and Riko, feeling a bit of pity for Kuroko, finally decided to let it slide.
"Well then, Kuroko-san, if you are to take your brother's place, you might as well say something meaningful." Riko suggested and the girl nodded. She then took out a bullhorn out of nowhere and all the people stared.
"May I use this to portray my brother's feelings? I do not have a loud voice and it is not meaningful at all if the people cannot hear you." She said and Riko gestured to go on. When the girl did not move from her spot, Riko glanced at her confused.
"You can go, Kuroko-san." She said and the girl nodded. Riko stared at the girl's retreating form and suddenly, she thought of a ridiculous thought that made her want to laugh. There was no way the girl had that disability. There was no way. Because she did have it, then that would mean Kuroko would also have it as well, and that was impossible, seeing as he was amazing during the practice match.
The girl finally reached the edge of the roof and turned on the bullhorn. Just when she was about to say the first word, the doors to the roof opened and an angry teacher emerged. Riko groaned in annoyance as they were so close to finishing.
The morning ended with the teacher scolding the basketball club.
School ended quickly and soon, Kagami entered the locker room to change. However, he noticed a second too soon the person who had just closed his locker. Kagami yelped as his eyes met Kuroko's bangs.
"Kuroko, you bastard… Stop appearing out of nowhere!" He growled but Kuroko did not as much twitch.
"I was here first, Kagami-kun. You are the one who did not notice me." He said and Kagami just let it go. He knew that this would become a regular thing for him. He quickly changed and they both went out to the court where the seniors were waiting for them. They had worried looks on their faces.
"What's wrong? Where's coach?" Kagami voiced and Hyuuga glanced at him before pacing once more.
"Coach is skipping." He said and Kagami was confused.
"Coach is skipping? But isn't she the one who always tells us that if we skip, we'll end up with a training menu from hell?" He asked.
"Not that kind of skipping, idiot! She's skipping, as in she's jumping while walking. This is not good, not good at all. The opponent must be dangerous this time." Hyuuga said and all the seniors shivered because at that moment, the doors opened and entered a very happy Riko.
"I'm back!" She sang and Hyuuga momentarily saw the devil himself.
"So, who's the school for the practice match?" Izuki piped and Riko smiled bigly.
"I got a match with Kaijo High, who, may I add, has one of the Generation of Miracles with them!" She said happily and everyone in the room was shocked except Kagami, who was grinning like an idiot, and Kuroko, who already knew who was the opponent was.
"Kise Ryouta." Riko announced once she was back from changing into her coach outfit. Everyone gaped at the name and realized that they, indeed, had a strong opponent.
Suddenly, they heard a rumbling sound and soon enough, the whole gym was filled with girls with a paper and pen.
"What the –" Hyuuga started to say when all eyes landed on the blond haired person who was currently signing the paper and winking at every girl.
"Is that –" Izuki started to ask when Riko beat him to it.
"Kise Ryouta?" She shouted in shock and the blond model looked up with a guilty look on his face.
"I'm sorry, but would you mind waiting five minutes?" He requested and began to sign autographs at maximum speed.
Once every girl had gotten their piece of Kise Ryouta, the famous part time model and Generation of Miracles member, he jumped off from the stage and walked up to the Seirin team.
"What are you doing here?" Hyuuga asked in confusion and Kise just smiled.
"Well, when I heard that our next opponent for our practice match was Seirin, I remembered that Kurokocchi went there, so I decided to pay a little visit." He said while trying to find the so called 'Kurokocchi.' Once he found the person, he glided towards Kuroko and hugged him but because of the overwhelming height difference, it looked like Kise was engulfing him.
"Hi Kurokocchi!" Kise said happily while Kuroko just stared forward impassively.
"Hello Kise-kun. I did not think I would get to see you so early into the school year." Kuroko said and Kise just smiled.
"I see you're still in the get up." Kise then whispered and Kuroko nodded subtly. "Does anyone know yet?" He asked worriedly but he was given a short shake, confirming that no one knew.
"Good. I'm glad you're doing fine Kurokocchi. How's the head?" He asked and Kuroko gave him a shake. So, Kuroko's memories did not come back yet. Kise sighed before finally letting go. And it was the right moment because the moment he let go of Kuroko, a ball came flying at him with immense force. Kise let out his hand to stop the ball and winced slightly at the pain.
"What was that for?" He whined as all directed at Kagami. The seniors looked annoyed while Kuroko just twitched at the whistling wind.
"Sorry to ruin your reunion but I know you didn't come all the way here just to say hi to Kuroko. How about, for the time being, you play a bit of one-on-one with me?" Kagami proposed and Kise smirked.
"Well, it is a bit unexpected but…" He glanced at Kuroko for a second before grinning, "Alright, let's do this!" He said and he took of jacket. The two went into their stances and Kagami made the first move. He gave a quick fadeway and twisted his body quickly. He then jumped up and landed the first two points. Kagami felt proud that he scored but the faltered when he saw Kise smirking.
The game resumed and this time, Kise took the ball. The people all gazed at the two and were amazed and shocked when they saw that Kise had done the same technique Kagami had done to score the points. However, it was evident that he had done with more ease, more speed, and definitely more power. Even Kagami was left speechless.
"Kise-kun has the ability to perfect anything he sees only once. He can make it his own in an instant." Kuroko commented and Riko stared in shock as the game kept going. Although Riko acknowledged Kagami as the ace, there was no doubt that Kise was obviously the better player. Kise's imitation skills were off the chain as he easily perfected the moves Kagami had made only seconds ago. In the end, Kise won the game breezily.
"I had no idea Kise-kun improved this much during the break. If he improved, that must surely mean the others have as well." Kuroko said with his own way of portraying his awe. Kagami was shocked as well.
'So this is what the Generation of Miracles can do.' He thought before smiling eagerly. 'I can't wait for the practice match now. I will win!'
Kise walked up to Kuroko and gave him – or her, to Kise's perspective – a huge grin.
"Well, now I've seen the basketball club, Kurokocchi. It's obvious they won't be able to handle you. Come to Kaijo. I respect you too much for you to be here. You can bring out so much more potential at my school. And you'll be much safer there, I promise." Kise proclaimed and the Seirin basketball team suddenly had the urge to drown the blonde in the most torturous way possible.
Kuroko bowed formally at Kise's direction. "I am honored that you respect me Kise-kun but I will have to decline your offer. I like being in Seirin." Kuroko answered and while Seirin's faces broke out in grins, Kise ended up fake-crying.
"But why? It's obvious that my school is much stronger than this! Why didn't you go to a stronger school anyway?" Kise asked and Kuroko was silent for a moment.
"My way of thinking has changed since that time. And I cannot abandon Kagami-kun and the others now. I made a promise that we would beat the Generation of Miracles and become number one. I intend to fulfill it." Kuroko added and Kise's eyes narrowed while smirking.
"It's not like you to say these kinds of things. I wonder who changed Kurokocchi's mind like that." Kise drawled and looked Kagami, who at the time, was extremely proud to have a partner like Kuroko. Kagami went up to Kuroko and messed up his hair while Kuroko, still looking stoic, cringed his lips very subtly.
"Don't go stealing my lines, Kuroko." Kagami said and then looked up to Kise, who looked at him with equally determined eyes. "We will beat you." Kagami declared and Kise smirked before nodding breezily.
"Bye, Kurokocchi. I'll make you see how wrong you are." Kise said before blushing at his choice of words. Kuroko did not look amused at all.
"See you then, Kise-kun." Kuroko simply returned and Kise gave one last look at Kuroko before leaving the Seirin gym.
As soon as Terumi finished her bath at home, she heard her phone ring and judging by the song it was playing, she knew immediately that it was Kise. She sighed before answering.
"Hello?" She asked tiredly and she was met with various wails that sounded like a combination between Kise and a dying whale.
"Kurokocchi, I'm so sorry I said that! I'm so sorry! Why didn't you pick up sooner?" He cried sorrowfully and she had to wait until Kise had calmed down before answering.
"I was in the shower, Kise-kun. I am sorry I could not reach you sooner." She said and Kise stopped his whimpering immediately. She could literally feel Kise's blush from the other side. He must have remembered an incident that had happened in the past.
"Oh, uh well, I'm sorry Kurokocchi!" He cried once more and Terumi had to wait once more until he calmed down.
"It is alright, Kise-kun. I do not take your words at heart. I know that you do not mean it." She replied and Kise sighed in relief.
"Thank god. Are you sure you don't want to transfer to Kaijo? I mean, sure, we have a mean senior as a captain but I'm sure he can go easy on you."
"As I said before, I will have to humbly decline, Kise-kun. I like Seirin." She said and Kise mumbled to himself that even Terumi had trouble hearing because of the phone static.
"Ok then. I guess I'll just have to convince you when I win the practice match." Kise said and Terumi felt her eyes narrowing when he said 'I' instead of 'we', as in the whole team.
"Well, goodbye then, Kise-kun. Have a good night." She said and Kise told her the same thing before she got off the phone. She then stretched her worn out muscles and went to bed immediately. It would be a big day tomorrow.
So, I hope you liked this chapter :)
Next chapter is going to be, as you might have guessed, the practice match against Kaijo and Seirin. Since this follows the same plotline as the manga and anime, you will probably all know what happens. However, since Kuroko is a girl and blind in this story, I have planned out many things to include in this plotline, so stay tune!
Also, does anyone have a feeling they know this technique Kuroko is using? Because I modeled this Kuroko after one of my favorite characters. If you don't know yet, you'll understand next chapter.
But a hint: four
Please review and thank you for your support!
Peace,
FlyAndDontLookBack