After the first day of school came the first basketball practice. Kuroko took his time in the locker room, watching third-years greeting each other with an easy familiarity, second-years greeting third-years with unforced deference, first-years milling about looking nervous and excited, greeting classmates and eyeing the regulars with expressions varying from awe to envy. This was how it had been in the beginning, back when Kuroko had first joined Teikou. He felt his chest constrict unexpectedly.

When Kise opened the door and walked in, all heads turned. Kise smiled the smile Kuroko had internally dubbed Kise Ryouta Greets The Masses. "Hi, everyone! Nice to meet you! Does anyone know which locker is mine, or are they free?"

"That's Kise Ryouta from my class," a first-year near Kuroko groaned. "He's one of Teikou's Generation of Miracles."

"Wait, isn't he a model?" another one asked in a hushed whisper. "Is he modeling and doing this too?"

The upperclassmen glanced around, and then in silent agreement looked towards a tall regular. It was a moment before Kuroko remembered him as Kobori, the center Kasamatsu had faced on the court. Kobori paused, seemed to realize people were looking at him, and glanced around the room briefly. He didn't seem to find what he had been looking for, but he smiled, shrugged, and said, "They're free. Find one you like that doesn't already have a lock on it, and it's yours."

"Thanks!" Kise said. He moved in slowly, looking around the room intently, and then his eyes met Kuroko's. Kise visibly brightened. "KUROKOCCHI! You're really here!"

Kuroko watched impassively as everyone craned their necks, looking around as Kise bounced towards him. It wasn't until Kise stopped in front of Kuroko that the others managed to fix their glances on him. A few of the students near Kuroko did double-takes, one of them actually drawing back in surprise. Kuroko restrained the urge to roll his eyes. "Please stop calling me that, Kise-kun," he said.

"So Momoicchi wasn't playing a joke on me when she messaged me just now!" Kise put his bag down and scanned the lockers, opening the one next to Kuroko that was also free. "Why didn't you tell me? Was the entrance exam easy? Why did you choose Kaijou-oh, it's not that far from your home, right? Almost the same as Teikou was! Wait, could it be you choose me? Is that why you're here at Kaijou?"

"No, Kise-kun."

"I KNEW IT! Even though you deny it, we're best friends after all!" Kise beamed at Kuroko.

"You're the only one who thinks so, Kise-kun."

"Hah, take that, Aominecchi! Kurokocchi's on my side!"

Kuroko cleared his throat and then said clearly, "Kise-kun, I was scouted too."

"Ehhh?"

"What?"

"Really?"

Kise hadn't said any of the above things; he was gaping at Kuroko speechlessly.

Kuroko gave the nearby offenders a look. They turned away, quickly pretending they hadn't been eavesdropping. When Kuroko faced Kise again, Kise was hurriedly composing his features into his Never-Fail Get Out Of Trouble Smile. "I knew someone would recognize how amazing you were!" Kise beamed. "Kaijou's coach must have a really discerning eye, to have picked us both out of Teikou!"

Kuroko couldn't deny that he was somewhat intrigued too, since Coach Takeuchi had actually been able to spot Kuroko without Kuroko being pointed out to him. Before he could say anything, however, the room fell silent.

"All right, what's the ruckus?"

Kuroko and Kise both turned to see Kasamatsu standing in the doorway. "Please excuse us, Captain," Kuroko said, dipping his head in apology. "Kise-kun can be somewhat excitable."

Near Kasamatsu, a lanky good-looking boy (Kuroko recognized him as the shooter Kasamatsu had passed to in the match) chuckled and nudged Kobori. "There's one every year, hmm?" Kobori smiled. Both of them turned towards Hayakawa.

Hayakawa, heading towards the door, paused mid-stride as he met their glances. "WHY A(R)E YOU (L)OOKING AT ME, SENPAI?"

"QUIET, Hayakawa," Kasamatsu said. "Save the reunion for later, first-years. Practice is in five minutes; latecomers run twenty extra laps." He gave Kise a once-over, and then transferred his gaze to Kuroko. "Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, captain," Kuroko said, bowing before resuming his pre-practice preparations.

"Oh, so you're the captain?" Kise said, looking at Kasamatsu curiously, and then looking back at Kuroko. "Wait, how did you know that, Kurokocchi?"

"Kise-kun, even if you'd like to run twenty extra laps on the first day of practice, I would prefer not to," Kuroko said, checking to make sure he had his bottle and towel. "I'll see you on the court."

"Wait, Kurokocchi-!" Kise began, but Kuroko was already walking out of the locker room.

Kise ran into the gym just as Coach Takeuchi blew his whistle. Kuroko caught sight of the V-sign Kise flashed him, but looked away, concentrating on the upperclassmen, who'd gathered around the coach. "First-years!" Kasamatsu shouted, pointing to a spot in front of them. "Line up and introduce yourselves to the rest of the club! Name, middle school, and position!"

None of the names were familiar to Kuroko. Finally there was just Kise and Kuroko left. Kise grinned at Kuroko, and then raised his voice. "Since we've saved the best for last-no offense, Kurokocchi, you're included in 'the best'-I'm Kise Ryouta, a freshman! My hobby is basketball, and my speciality is karaoke! Ah, wait a sec, I got that backwards! I'm from Teikou Middle School! I'm okay with any position! I also work as a model, so I might not be able to make practice very often, but I'm looking forward to playing with everyone!"

"So that's him from the Generation of Miracles!"

A movement caught Kuroko's eyes. He didn't think he was in any real danger of getting hit, but it was probably safer to get out of the way regardless; he stepped aside as Kasamatsu rushed up, whirled, and delivered a kick to Kise's head.

"SHUT UP! I ONLY ASKED FOR YOUR NAME, MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND POSITION! ANSWER ONLY WHAT YOU'VE BEEN ASKED, YOU SHALLOW LITTLE TWIT!"

Kise had clearly not been expecting that; he hit the ground with a loud smack. Kuroko secretly sympathized-that had looked painful. On the other hand, it was rather unfair how Kise managed to look good even while pathetically sniveling on the floor.

Kise whined, holding his head. "HEY! I'm the highly-anticipated rookie that you guys scouted-what's with this treatment?! And I introduced myself with so much enthusiasm too..."

"LIKE I CARE!" Kasamatsu managed to tower over Kise. "You're a freshman either way. When a senpai gives an order, a freshman has no right to talk back!"

Kise got up slowly, pulling himself to his full height until he was looking down at Kasamatsu. "I really don't like stuff like that... stiff formalities and the like. What's so great about being born one or two years earlier?" He took a step towards Kasamatsu. "And anyway, when it comes to basketball, I'm probably better than you, you know?"

Kasamatsu didn't flinch. He planted himself squarely in front of Kise, looking up at Kise with narrowed eyes. "I'll tell you what's so great about it."

Kise's eyes widened.

"Before you even factor in being good or bad, this is Kaijou High School's basketball club." Kasamatsu jerked his chin towards the second-years and third-years behind him. "It's not because we were born earlier. The second and third years here have been working hard on this team longer than you have. I'm telling you to have respect for that experience. Doesn't matter if you're from the 'Generation of Miracles' or anything else. You're now a freshman at Kaijou, Kise Ryouta. And I'm a senior here, the captain, Kasamatsu Yukio. Got any complaints?"

Kise opened his mouth. Kuroko stepped hard on Kise's foot.

"OW!"

"It's my turn now, Kise-kun." As Kise whimpered, Kuroko said, "Kuroko Tetsuya, originally from Teikou Middle School. I'm a sixth man."

He could hear the whispering. Kuroko checked his facial expression, keeping it carefully neutral.

"Two from the Generation of Miracles!?"

"What's a sixth man?"

"I've heard of Kise, but who's this other kid?"

"Maybe he was a bench-warmer?"

Kasamatsu glanced pointedly at Kuroko's foot and then met Kuroko's eyes and raised an eyebrow. Kuroko lifted his foot, face steadfastly neutral. Kise shuffled out of Kuroko's reach.

"I'm a model, you know," Kise said, giving Kuroko an injured look. "Even my feet have to look pretty!"

"It serves you right for causing a disturbance, Kise-kun," Kuroko said. "Captain is right. You should listen to your senpai."

Kise pouted, but after a glance at both Kasamatsu and Kuroko, he kept quiet, instead sitting on the floor and rubbing his foot.

"Well, they were clearly teammates at the very least," the lanky good-looking boy said.

"Shut up, Moriyama," Kasamatsu said, not even bothering to turn around. He glanced at Coach Takeuchi, who was watching the proceedings with a beatific expression. Kasamatsu scowled and pointed to the open courts. "All right, everyone, practice is starting! Ten laps around the courts, now!"

The upperclassmen fell in behind Kasamatsu neatly, and the freshmen took up positions behind them. Kuroko found himself at the very rear of the pack. Kise jogged along lightly beside him, his stride even and graceful; clearly he'd just been making a fuss about his foot earlier. "So mean, Kurokocchi," Kise said. "That hurt!"

"You were about to say something you would have regretted."

"And the captain! He kicked me!"

"Sometimes that seems like the only way to get you to listen, Kise-kun."

Kise pouted. "I was so happy when Momoicchi told me you were here. I thought we'd have fun again like we used to! Instead, you're being horribly mean to me."

"I can't talk and run, Kise-kun," Kuroko said. He was already beginning to breathe hard, and yet Kise was still moving easily. "I'm going to ignore you now."

The upperclassmen had set a rather punishing pace for the first day of practice. As Kuroko expected, the gap between him and the rest of the club widened with every lap. "Kurokocchi, I'm sorry," Kise said in the middle of the third lap, "I wanted to run with you, but everyone else is leaving us behind. I'm going to go ahead now."

Kuroko couldn't respond, but he waved his hand weakly.

Kise sped up and caught up with the seniors, pulling up level with Kasamatsu. Kise said something, causing Kasamatsu to glare and run a little faster. Kuroko watched as Kise pulled a step ahead of Kasamatsu and stayed there.

Some time during the eighth circuit around the courts, the rest of the club lapped Kuroko, who pulled to the side and jogged a little slower so the others could pass him more easily. Although the upperclassmen at the very front glanced at Kuroko (Kasamatsu doing so with narrowed eyes and a glance at Kise), the rest of the club barely noticed him. Kuroko let the pack pass, and then continued at his own pace.

He had only just begun his last lap when the rest of the team began peeling off the pack and spreading themselves out through the open space in the middle of the court. The upperclassmen were panting, but some of the freshmen looked like they were ready to throw up. Standing in the center of the gym, Kise was barely breathing hard. For the umpteenth time since he'd first met Kise, Kuroko said a silent protest in his heart for the gene lottery that had given Kise so much raw athletic talent and left Kuroko out.

Kasamatsu, standing not far from Kise, looked around, surveying the club members. His gaze swept over Kuroko, and then doubled back. Their eyes met. Kasamatsu glanced at Kise, then Coach Takeuchi, before looking back at Kuroko with an expression of concern.

Kise looked up, followed Kasamatsu's gaze, and said something Kuroko couldn't hear. Kasamatsu scowled and hit Kise. Kuroko noted Kise's apparent masochism and kept running.

After the laps came shuttle runs, ball passing, and more running. When they got to the jumping jacks, Kuroko lost the battle against his nausea, but he was in good company-a couple of the other freshmen were retching along beside him. Kasamatsu ordered them to clean up after themselves. Kobori, who was apparently vice captain, showed them where to get buckets, mops, and cleaning cloths, and then stayed to supervise. Kuroko wondered why a good club like Kaijou didn't have a manager or two, and missed Momoi while he mopped up his mostly-digested lunch.

At the end of the drills, most of the freshmen were sprawled on the gym floor with their eyes closed. Kuroko wasn't doing much better, though he was at least propped up against the gym wall. Kise was the only freshman still standing, and even he looked a little winded.

Kobori raised his voice. "All right, everyone, I know you're tired, but clear the courts. I hope you practiced over your break, because we're going to have a couple of games."

Some of the freshmen, including Kise, perked up; they all obeyed. Kuroko sipped from his bottle and watched to make sure no one sat on him (the last time that had happened, it had not been pleasant for either party.) Coach Takeuchi stepped up with a clipboard and showed it to Kasamatsu and Kobori.

Kasamatsu's eyes narrowed at the clipboard. He glanced up at Coach Takeuchi, and then turned to the rest of the club. "First round, on my team: Hayakawa, PF, Nishiya, SF. Moriyama, SG, Tomita, C. On Kobori's team: Akino, PF, Uchida, SF. Nakamura, SG, Kuroko, PG. Ten-minute match. Get ready!"

Kuroko climbed to his feet, his tiredness beginning to fade as his heart beat a little faster. It had been a while since he'd last played in a game. He glanced at Kise, who was pouting on the sidelines, and then he turned his attention to Kobori, who had become the focal point of his impromptu team. As far as Kuroko could tell, the other members were returning upperclassmen; none of them had introduced themselves at the beginning of practice.

One of them, tall and wiry, looked around. "Where's that freshman? Just because he's from Teikou, doesn't mean he gets to dawdle and keep his senpai waiting!"

Kuroko shifted his approach a little so he'd be just beside the wiry boy's elbow. "I'm right here, senpai."

The boy jumped, and then groaned. "Oh man," he said. "Talk about a lack of presence! Will you be okay?"

Kuroko nodded, and turned his attention to Kobori. "Before we start, senpai, may I please say something?"

Kobori smiled down at Kuroko. "What is it?"

"Please don't take your eyes off the ball," Kuroko said, pulling his wristbands out of his pockets and putting them on. "It may appear when you least expect it."

All four of Kuroko's teammates looked confused. Nakamura frowned and looked at Kobori. Kobori scratched his head and said, "I'm not sure what you mean."

"It'll become clear when we play," Kuroko said. "Until then, please take good care of me."

A compactly-built third-year chuckled and patted Kuroko on the shoulder. "Well, I don't quite get what you're trying to say, but that's what senpai are for," he said. "Come on, let's play! I'm dying to show Nishiya who's the better SF."

Kuroko remembered the name Kasamatsu had read out for SF. That meant the wiry one was Akino. "I'll do my best to help you, Uchida-senpai."

Uchida patted Kuroko's shoulder again. "That's the spirit." He glanced at Kobori. "So, what's our strategy?"

Kobori looked at Kuroko. "You're PG. Do you have something you'd like to try?"

Kuroko shook his head. "Play as you always do, senpai. I'll fit in."

Kobori studied Kuroko, scratching the back of his neck this time as he did so. He shifted his gaze towards the other side of the court, where Kasamatsu was speaking to his team. "All right... man-to-man, then, and if you get a chance, go for it."

The whistle blew, and they filed onto the court.

Kobori won the tip-off, easily beating the other center, Tomita, for the ball. Kuroko stayed on the side, circling around Moriyama and Hayakawa, who were both focused on the ball. Kobori passed to Akino, who drove quickly down the center of the court.

"Like I'd let you!" Hayakawa shouted as he rushed in front of Akino. Akino stopped, glanced around, and passed back to Kobori-

-Kuroko tapped the ball before it was intercepted by Kasamatsu. It landed in front of Uchida, who gaped and grabbed it reflexively. "What- How-" he said, looking around.

"Dammit, pass or go, DON'T JUST STAND THERE!" Akino shouted.

It was too late-Kasamatsu and Moriyama were right there, and Uchida was forced to pass backwards. Hayakawa jumped in between Uchida and his target, Nakamura. "Thanks for the ba(ll)!" he cried, turning to drive.

"How rude! Kouhai shouldn't steal the ball and run," Akino said, stepping in front of Hayakawa.

"Senpai can't stop me," Hayakawa said, grinning. He dribbled, waiting for his teammates to run up. Kuroko saw his chance and went for it. A tap from behind, and Hayakawa's fingers swiped down into empty air as the ball bounced towards Akino. "Huh?" Hayakawa looked around frantically. "How'd I miss it-"

Akino dodged Hayakawa quickly, driving the ball down the court. Kasamatsu stepped up, cutting in front of Akino and stealing the ball. "Moriyama!" Kasamatsu shouted, passing-

-Kuroko shoved the ball towards Nakamura, who was ready for it. Nakamura didn't hesitate; he shot towards the other hoop.

Kuroko ran; he didn't think Nakamura was going to make it-they were at center court, and even Midorima used those long-range shots sparingly-but then he saw Uchida and Tomita angling for position at the top of the key.

"Get closer, Uchida-senpai!" Kuroko shouted.

After only a moment's pause, Uchida broke off, and while Tomita was off-balance, got a head start towards the hoop. Kuroko ran as fast as he could; he only needed to make the ball bounce-

-he made it, and the ball soared over Tomita's head towards the goal. Uchida was ready; he grabbed the ball and easily made an unguarded lay-up. The whistle blew.

"Yes, first point to Kurokocchi!" Kise called from the sidelines, cheering. Kuroko looked over to see Kise giving him a thumbs-up. "Show them your basketball!"

It wouldn't be very nice of Kuroko not to acknowledge the thumbs-up. He nodded at Kise shortly before running back towards the center of the court as Tomita threw the ball in.

The game ended in Kuroko's team's favor, though it wasn't by a large margin. Kasamatsu had kept a sharp eye on Kuroko after that first basket, but in the heat of the game Kuroko had managed to slip away just enough times to make it count. As they walked off the court, Kuroko saw Kasamatsu and Kobori exchange glances. Kobori smiled. Kasamatsu grinned back at him.

"You won, Kurokocchi!" Kise said; he'd been waiting for Kuroko on the side with Kuroko's bottle. Kuroko took it with a quick thank you. Kise shifted his weight from one side to the other, eyeing the Coach and the two seniors. "It's too bad I wasn't on the court with you, though. They'd really notice a triple score!"

Kuroko drank deeply and ignored Kise's words. His knees were beginning to feel shaky; he found a spot near the gym doors and sat down with his back to the wall again. It had been a long time since he'd played seriously, and he could tell he was out of practice. At Teikou, playing a couple of games after the main drills was routine for first-stringers, but it had been a while since the last time Kuroko had put himself through the rigor of a serious basketball practice. He was glad that had only been a ten-minute match.

Kobori consulted the clipboard Coach Takeuchi held out, and then announced, "For the next round, on my team is Hiratsuka, PG, Moriyama, SG. Hayakawa, PF, Uchida, SF."

Kasamatsu said, "Tomita, C. Kise, PF, Nishiya, SF. Nakamura, SG. Again, ten-minute game. You guys can wear the vests this time." He pulled his off and handed it to Kobori.

"And it's my turn!" Kise grinned at Kuroko, moving towards the court. "Watch, Kurokocchi, I'm going to double their score!" Kise waved back to Kuroko as he stepped up beside Kasamatsu. He said something that caused Moriyama to laugh and Hayakawa to splutter. Kasamatsu said something in reply, and Kise's face lit up as he turned towards Kasamatsu with a huge smile.

Kuroko imagined perked ears and a wagging tail; it wasn't difficult.

Coach Takeuchi blew his whistle. "Teams, on the court."

Tomita and Kobori faced each other on the tip-off again. Kobori won this one too, his height coupling with a powerful jump that edged out slightly-smaller Tomita. Kobori passed to Hayakawa, who roared as he drove down the court and stopped short when Kise cut in front of him with a grin. "Kiseeee!" Hayakawa roared, dodging to the left. Kise mirrored him. "Nice t(r)y, but you can't catch meeeee!" Hayakawa shouted, jerking to the right, breaking away from Kise-

-and running two steps before he realized the ball was gone. "What!?"

"Sorry, Hayakawa-senpai," Kise said, pulling away. "Better luck next time!"

"Nooooo!" Hayakawa said, giving chase.

Hiratsuka stepped in front of Kise. Without breaking his stride, Kise wove, dodging past Hiratsuka to where Moriyama and Uchida were waiting. Kise paused before them, and Hayakawa ran up behind him.

"I'm taking that back!" Hayakawa cried.

Kise smiled, crouched, and then blurred into a left-right-left. Hayakawa dashed past Kise, hand reaching into thin air where the ball had been only a split second ago. Moriyama turned, tracking Kise, and Uchida edged sideways towards the ball. Kise winked at them. "Watch this!" he said, and he spun, bringing the ball with him, around and behind, dodging out of range of Uchida's last-minute swipe, ducking under Moriyama's high block, dashing into the key to face Kobori. Kise jumped, and so did Kobori... but mid-air, Kise flicked his wrist, and the ball sailed over Kobori's fingers into the goal.

Kuroko blinked. For a moment, it had felt as if that had been Aomine on the court.

Kobori was looking at Kise with wide eyes. Kise grinned at him, then turned and flashed a V at the rest of his team, who'd only just caught up. "Hehe, we'll definitely win this one, Kasamatsu-senpai!" he cried joyfully.

Kasamatsu punched Kise's shoulder. "Slow down and give the rest of your team time to catch up and support you!"

"What?" Kise winced, rubbing his shoulder, and moved out of Kasamatsu's reach, wailing. "Weren't you watching, senpai? Don't worry about something like that! I took them all on and made the basket!"

"And what if you'd lost the ball?" Kasamatsu said.

"No offense, senpai, but I'm pretty sure I won't lose in a one-on-one to anyone here."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Hayakawa shouted.

"Oh dear," said a female voice Kuroko recognized instantly. "Ki-chan's gotten better over the break. Not that I hadn't known he would, but I was sort of hoping he hadn't."

Kuroko got up, because it wasn't polite to be sitting down when the hem of Momoi's skirt was at his eye level. "Hello, Momoi-san," he said.

"Tetsu-kun!" Momoi flung her arms around him and hugged him tightly. "I haven't seen you all vacation! Why haven't you been responding to my e-mails? I had to work really hard to find out you were coming here! Are you and Ki-chan having fun?"

"Momoicchi?" Kise said. Kasamatsu turned, paled, and dropped the ball. Coach Takeuchi blew his whistle, ending the match prematurely.

Over in a corner, Momoi was deep in discussion with Coach Takeuchi, Kasamatsu, and Kobori. Kuroko watched with interest as Kasamatsu occasionally shifted to ensure that either Coach Takeuchi or Kobori was between Momoi and himself at all times.

"Kuroko, right? So, who is she?"

Kuroko glanced at Moriyama, who had sidled up and had been hovering next to Kuroko and Kise. "Moriyama-senpai," he said in greeting. "Momoi-san is a good friend."

"A good friend," Moriyama said, almost to himself. He addressed Kuroko again. "How did you do it?"

Kuroko blinked. "Do what?"

"Why, how did you get such a beautiful girlfriend, of course!" Moriyama frowned. "As your senpai, I insist you let me in on the secret."

"But she's not my girlfriend," Kuroko said.

"Don't lie to your senpai," Moriyama said, waggling a finger at Kuroko. "There's no need to be shy! We don't have any rules against dating, so you can be honest."

Kise laughed. "Momoicchi's had a crush on Kurokocchi since the second year of middle school, but Kurokocchi's been playing hard to get."

Moriyama's jaw dropped. "She's pursuing him?" Kise nodded. Moriyama's eyes widened. "Truly, you are a member of the Generation of Miracles."

Kuroko sighed internally. He was saved from having to respond when Momoi ran up. "Tetsu-kun, Ki-chan, I'm glad I got to see you, but I have to get back to Touou," she said. "I just know Aomine-kun skipped the first day of practice because I wasn't there to make sure he went!"

"Speaking of which, why are you here, Momoicchi?" Kise asked.

Momoi pouted. "Can't a girl just drop by and visit her old friends?"

"Not during Touou's basketball practice," Kuroko said. Kise nodded.

"Ah, Tetsu-kun knows me so well!" Momoi beamed at Kuroko. "You're right." She hugged Kuroko, gave him a squeeze, and then let go, walking to the gym doors before she turned. "I came to set up a practice match between Kaijou and Touou. We'll see you in two weeks, so be prepared!" And with a wave, she was gone.