Hi, guys, sorry for the delay. Hopefully, I can continue this story but my interest in it has been kind of diminishing... Sorry to you all who have been waiting for a new chapter for so long. I made this one longer than usual~
xXChikiXx: Yep~! Kuroko-kun is finally ready to make his debut! Hint, hint. Thanks for commenting on all of my chapters!
Monkey D. Writer: I know, personally, Daiki-kun is my bias, so I dunno what I would do if he died. *tears* I haven't seen/read Hetalia... But I've heard lots about it, should I read/watch it?
Guest-chan: You're wish is my command! Here's a new chapter, just for you, my lovely reader!
Mimi: I apologize for the delay. Experiencing one of the worst writer's block in the history of writer's blocks... It's terrible...
i love athrun: And... updated! Hope you like it! Btw, who's 'athrun'?
Starbright's path: Haha, I'm glad you're excited! I am, too! It's just your luck coz this chapter is all about Kuroko-kun!
XYZ27: Thank you so much! I'm glad you like it!
Shinome Akira: Coming right up!
Happy readings~
"... Kon'nichiwa, Kuroko-kun." Akashi smiles faintly.
"Ne! You made me wait, Kuroko!" Shirogane bounces up next to Akashi, grinning widely at the quiet boy. "Three months is too long!" she whines, holding up three fingers.
"Did you find the answer?" Akashi asks quietly.
"Hai." Kuroko nods.
"Well what are you waiting for?" the white-haired girl beckons the boy to enter.
"Ano... I have a request, please. If possible, is it alright not to show it before there is a match?" he asks politely. Shirogane peers at him closely. Akashi shoots her a slightly worried glance, hoping she wouldn't scare the boy off for demanding a request from her. He opens his mouth to reply, only to be cut off by his captain.
"Okay, I'll listen to you request." she answers with an angelic smile. There's a collective sigh of relief from the courts. A small anger vein throbs on Shirogane's neck as her smile becomes visibly strained.
"Are you sure you don't want to see it now, Riyeko-hime?" Akashi inquires after Kuroko leaves, concerned.
"He did make you wait for quite a long time, which is very rude." Midorima adds, walking up to the pair. Shirogane assures them with a satisfied nod.
"I'll be expecting something exceptional from him, then." she concludes.
"It'll be pretty pathetic if it isn't." Murasakibara comments lazily.
"Hey! Believe in Tetsu. He's been working hard to make it!" Aomine protests, defending his friend.
"See? Then there's no worry at all!" Shirogane reasons before bending down to pick up a ball. "Now, let's get back to practice."
"Hey, isn't the first-strong coach?"
"Yeah, and the captain and vice-captain are here, too."
"What are they doing here...?"
"Today is the combination training day for the second- and third-string players." Kobayashi explains to the gathered player. "This test will be a game between the two strings, five versus five. Show us what you can do."
"First, win. Also, the coach and captain will assess your playing. These are the passing conditions." the third-string coach, Tanaka, adds. "This is the last chance for everyone."
"Good luck."
The designated players shuffle onto the court, ready to start the game. Shirogane drags Akashi to one of the benches offering them a full view of the players.
"Are you excited, Seijurō? Kuroko is finally going to show us what he's been working on these past few months!" the white-haired girl bounces enthusiastically in her seat, clapping her hands together lightly. A few of the watching upperclassmen blush at the innocent sight.
"Very." he replies emotionlessly, contradicting his words. Shirogane pays no mind and continues to beam gleefully.
"Let's start the match between the second- and third-strings!" Kobayashi throws the ball high into the air for the tip off, igniting the match.
Not even ten seconds into the game, a basket is made by the third-string players.
"He made it!"
"What the hell just happened?!"
"The pass suddenly curved!"
"No... someone changed it course with a tap. Eh... that guy with no presence."
The gym clamors with confusion and shock. No one had ever expected this from the lowest string members.
Akashi shifts his gaze downwards, feeling pressure on his left hand. He notes Shirogane's fingers around his, clenching tightly. Her face is filled with excitement, eyes bright with adrenaline.
"Heh! Looks like we're in for a shocker, eh?" She turns to face the redhead, a smile threatening to engulf her entire face. "Kuroko just disappears out of sight. Good use of his low presence, indeed." Akashi nods, red eyes blank.
The game continues with the third-stringers evenly matched, something that has never happened before.
"Misdirection." Akashi abruptly realizes, voicing his thought aloud. Shirogane giggles with a bob of her head, causing her white curls to bounce. "It's a technique that people use when performing magic tricks to manipulate the audience's gaze." Words spill out of his mouth one after another during the redhead's epiphanic moment.
Kobayashi and Tanaka listen in astonishment at the first-years intelligence. Shirogane merely hums in agreement, a proud grin plastered on her face.
"Did you know he would turn out like this?" Kobayashi questions mildly, arms crossed.
"Not exactly. He went in the direction we predicted... but this misdirection thing is new." the captain answers for the both of them with a nonchalant shrug. "In fact... he went beyond my expectations..."
She smirks.
The game ends, 31-25. In favor of the third-string.
"So? How did he do, hime? Huh? Did he impress ya?" Aomine demands, impatiently bouncing a basketball. He's desperately curious if Kuroko had made the first-string or not, internally cheering for his friend.
"Calm down. Having a new player is nothing to get this overworked about." Midorima says, harshly bursting Aomine's bubble.
"Oi! Tetsu's my friend! Of course it's important!" the blue-haired player argues with a scowl.
"Ne, ne. Calm down. We'll just see when Satsuki-chan gets back." Shirogane smirks.
"Hah?"
"Excuse me! Is Kuroko-kun in here?" a pink-haired girl bursts into the third-string gym. Her rose colored irises search the gym for this mysterious new player.
"Eto... That's me." the light blue-haired player steps forward with a hand raised.
"EH?! Ah... Wait, what?!" the manager quickly recomposes herself. "You'll be joining the first-string as of today." Riyeko-chan didn't make a mistake, did she?! This guy seriously has no presence! "I'll guide you to the gymnasium."
"Hai.
"Excuse me, I brought Kuroko Tetsuya." Momoi announces, pushing open the door. All of the players inside stop to stare curiously at the new player.
"Hey, you finally made it, Tetsu!" Aomine shouts gleefully from the bench.
"I was waiting for you, Tetsuya!" Shirogane waves, perching precariously on Murasakibara's shoulders.
"... Tetsuya...?" the pale, blue-haired player mumbles quietly to himself as Momoi leads him over to the team.
"Eh, she calls us first years by our first names. You'll get used to it." Aomine grins broadly, playfully smacking his friend on the shoulder. The shorter boy lurches forward to face the other members.
Kuroko gulps at the intense atmosphere, widening his pale blue eyes.
"Huh? He actually came?" Murasakibara asks bluntly with a deadpan look, raising his captain off of his shoulders and onto the bench beside him.
Midorima frowns at the newcomer. He apparently passed the special test and was approved by the coach, but I still can't believe it...
A loud voice cuts through the stifling tension. "Yo!" Haizaki appears at the entrance, slipping off his outdoor shoes.
"You're late again, Haizaki..." the white-haired girl frowns, hands on her tiny waist. Standing on the bench, she's face to face with the second-year.
"Hai, hai, I'll be more prompt next time." he replies dismissively. Shirogane shakes her head, not believing a single word. He always says that...
Haizaki bumps into Kuroko as he walk past, apologizing out of reflex. He suddenly jerks to a stop. "What the- Who the fuck are you?!" he demands, finally noticing the first year's presence.
"I'm Kuroko Tetsuya, I joined the first-string today. It's a pleasure to meet you." Kuroko greets blankly.
"Are you fucking kidding me?!" Haizaki scowls. A kid like you?!
His captain sighs with a shake of her head. "If you had showed up to practice more, you would've known."
"Oi you-"
"Alright, we're starting practice. After stretches, we'll go into footwork." Shirogane swiftly cuts her senpai off in mid sentence, turning to the others. They grumble under their breath but reluctantly obey.
"Hai, hime..."
"Hime...?" Kuroko echoes, lining up with the others on one side of the court. A third year trades glances with him.
"Oh, right. You sure don't know a lot about the way things are around here. Most of us call the captain "hime" because she's known as the Princess of Basketball. She doesn't really like it, but it's funnier that way." he chuckles lightly. Kuroko nods numbly, not really getting it.
"Start!" the white-haired girl blows sharply on the whistle.
"Oi! Pick up your feet!"
"Five minute break is up! Get back to position!"
"Shoot from there, don't just pass!"
"Man, hime sure is working us hard, today."
"Hah... It's probably coz of that newbie. He's got to learn how tough it is."
"Right."
"Aomine-kun... are the first-string practices always this hard?" Kuroko pants heavily, his hands on his knees. Sweat coats his entire body, drenching his clothes immediately.
"Eh, they are?" Aomine glances over his shoulder at the shorter boy's exhausted form. "Well, I guess... There's a lot on the menu, and because there aren't as many players, so rotations are fast as well..."
"It's much harder than the third-str-" he cuts himself off by gagging. The pale boy doubles over on the gymnasium floor, heaving.
"Woah, Tetsu! Don't throw up!" Aomine spazzes. "Hey, Satsuki! Bring a bucket and a towel!"
"... Eh? AH!"
"Yosh! We'll end here for today! Good work!" Shirogane cheers, wiping the sweat off her face with the back of her hand.
"Sweet." Aomine swivels around to face his friend. "Hey, Tetsu! You're staying behind to practice today, too, right?"
"Gomen, I think I'll go home for today." Kuroko whispers hoarsely, face paler than usually. He pushes down the bile that rises in his throat.
"Ah, got it, right..." the tanned player replies hesitantly, noting the other boy's condition.
"Do you think he's going to be alright?" Momoi asks, passing by Aomine. She's carrying a bundle of used towels in her arms, ready to dispose of them.
"He'll be fine, he'll get used to it pretty soon." he replies with a sweatdrop, dribbling a ball lazily.
"Iie... He's no good." Murasakibara drawls, reaching in his locker to grab a packaged goodie. "Even though it was his first day, he was still pathetic. I kept thinking about crushing him."
"Heh, me, too. Watching him pisses me off." Haizaki agrees, pulling off his shirt.
"I wasn't really talking to Zaki-chin, you know." the purple-haired boy comments around a bar sticking out of his mouth.
"Hah?! You picking a fight, shithead?!"
"Stop it." Midorima scowls at the ruckus they're making. He tightens the tie on his uniform, adjusting it a bit. "Although, I can't help agree when it comes to Kuroko. Is he really going to be alright, Akashi?" He glances at the red head.
"Of course he will!" Shirogane butts in, poking her head out from behind a row of lockers. The boys freeze, some half dressed.
"Augh! When did you get here?!" Haizaki shouts, hurriedly tugging on his slacks to preserve his dignity.
The captain shrugs breezily before replying to Midorima's question. "I thought it might turn out like this... We'll just have to work him hard! Other than that, he'll just have to prove himself in real matches." She steps out from behind the wall of metal, tapping her chin with a finger.
"... Real matches? Are you actually letting him play?" the shooting guard asks, slightly miffed.
"Nani? You haven't told them yet, Seijurō?"
The vice-captain shakes his head apologetically. She waves him off lightly.
"This time of year, our district always has the top ten schools compete in a tournament together. It's an informal competition, but the games get more heated than a normal practice match." the white-haired girl explains matter-of-factly.
"I already know that... It's next week, isn't it?" Midorima questions.
"Hai... But Teikō has a tradition. We place limiters on ourselves to make the competition more exciting. The coach has decided that it's going to be you four and Haizaki, the newer members. And since Kuroko just arrived, he's going to play as the sixth man."
"I see..." Midorima grunts, pushing up his glasses.
"However, if we can't use him, he'll be demoted immediately."
The other members shiver at the implications.
"Wah..."
"... here they come..."
"... the strongest team..."
"... Teikō Junior High...!"
"Did someone get in contact with Haizaki yet?" Shirogane growls, leading the train of players.
"Not yet, hime..." a second-year replies before retreating back to the end of the line with the other reserve players.
"That guy..." she trails off darkly.
"There are some teams here we haven't played against yet, but they don't look very strong." Murasakibara notes, chomping noisily on a chip.
"Stop eating snacks, Murasakibara." Midorima grits his teeth.
"Still, don't let your guard down. We'll be playing without Riyeko-hime." Akashi warns.
"But you know... it doesn't look like there should be any problems even if it's just us playing!" Aomine adds. "So, don't be so tense, Tetsu!" His azure eyes flicker over to Kuroko's stiff gait.
"... Eh? Did you say something just now, Aomine-kun?" Kuroko asks, his mind wandering elsewhere.
"Like I said, relax... Get a hold of yourself! Didn't you pass the test even though you only had one shot?!"
"You could say I mentally prepared myself back then."
"The third-string had matches with other schools as well, but all I ever did was cheer on the sidelines. And now, I'm suddenly in a uniform and on the bench." pause "You know... this is the first time in my life I've been in a m-match."
"Don't stutter. Matte... Seriously?!"
"Just don't drag us down..." Murasakibara joins the conversation.
"... Really." Midorima sighs.
Akashi's phone goes off, vibrating in his bag. He takes it out and peers at the lighted screen. "It's Haizaki."
"Hah?! Let me see that!" Shirogane snatches Akashi's phone from his hands and answers the call. "Oi! Where are you?!"
"'Sup. Gomen. I caught a cold..." a lazy voice drawls from the other end. She can faintly hear the noise of guns shooting and raucous music in the background. Her eye twitches slightly.
"Nani?! A cold?!"
"Seriously, I've got a fever over thirty-nine degrees... and a cough, too." He proceeds to lamely hack up a lung into the phone. Shirogane snaps the cell phone shut, ending the call abruptly. The others watch their captain nervously, noting the dark aura floating around her.
"He slept in and is faking sickness. Punish him later and don't hesitate in being hard on him."
"I understand." Akashi nods. The tension cools.
"Haizaki is absent. Therefore, we will have to change the starting members." Sanada says, towering over the seated players. He beings to read from a clipboard. "The starting members will be: Akashi, Aomine, Midorima, Murasakibara, and in place of Haizaki, Kuroko. That's all."
Kuroko stiffens, glued to his seat in shock as the others get to their feet.
"Get out there!" Shirogane grins, gently pushing him forward. His legs automatically begin to move on their own while his mind is still blank.
"Teikō's match is starting. Their opponent, Nambara, hasn't been able to take the Championships these past few years, but they're a strong school that always ranks high in the preliminaries."
"Hey... is it just me or does Teikō only have four starting members on the line?"
"Chotto matte... There's one more person... The hell?! He's go no presence!"
"Eh...? Wah! That guy?! A starting member!?"
"Let's have a good match!" They bow.
Aomine glances at Kuroko, who's shaking uncontrollably. Tetsu, relax... It's no good! He's shaking like a newborn lamb or something!
Shirogane facepalms. Newbies... They're always something... She peeks at Sanada's face through her fingers, noting his unimpressed expression. C'mon, Kuroko! Get your act together... or else you'll be demoted!
The referee throws up the ball with Murasakibara taking the tip off easily.
"It's begun! Teikō starts with the ball!"
Akashi grasps the ball and begins to dribble it with the grace of a well-seasoned player. "Calm down, Kuroko-kun. Start of slow at first."
The strange sound of a body hitting the ground interrupts the redhead. Akashi turns to check up on Kuroko, only to find him sprawled on the ground, face down. Everyone on the court sweatdrops, even the opposing team.
"Gomensai, I tripped." He slowly picks himself up off the ground. "I'm alright." As if to contradict his words, blood begins to drip from his nose.
"No... You're really not!"
"Eh... Ah."
"Referee, stop!"
"I can't believe him! Rather than dragging us down, I feel like he's dragged my pants right off." Murasakibara growls, an anger vein pulsing on the back of his head.
"What's wrong with him?" Midorima mutters.
"He was subbed out in a second..." Aomine trails off with a dumbfounded expression. "How do you do that?!"
"Well... this is kind of unexpected..." Akashi admits.
Sanada sighs in disappointment. "We've got no choice. I'm counting on you, Shirogane."
"Hai." The white-haired girl tugs off her outer jacket, revealing a Teikō jersey with the number four on it.
"Teikō member substitution." the referee announces.
"Sugoi... It's her... Teikō's captain, Shirogane Riyeko!"
"Hah? What's so good about a girl?"
"Baka! Don't you know? People say she's the strongest power forward player in Junior High right now!"
"Sōka?!"
"She's world famous!"
"Ne, ne, minna. I thought I wouldn't have to play today... Oh well, let's win." She bumps fists with Aomine before setting up.
Akashi throws the ball in, passing it to Shirogane. She easily cuts through the other team's defenses, showing off some flashy moves to confuse her marker before quickly tipping the ball in.
"So fast! Defense could barely move!"
"Have you forgotten the restriction?! You can't play all out, today!" Sanada scolds as she jogs past. The white-haired girl smiles guiltily before saluting the coach.
"Eheheh... Whoops!" she giggles. Akashi shoots her an amused smirk.
"Has your nosebleed stopped?" Sanada asks, turning to the light blue-haired player seated beside him.
"Hai."
Sanada motions towards the referee who pauses the game. "Teikō member substitution."
Shirogane skips off the court, brushing past Kuroko on the way. "Good luck, Tetsuya! Don't let me down, okay?" The boy can only nod numbly, too nervous to reply to her cryptic message.
Kuroko proceeds to pass the ball out of bounds instead of to Murasakibara, costing Teikō the ball.
"Hey, you... What was that? Are you messing around?" the purple-haired giant grips Kuroko's head with a large hand.
"I'm not messing around." he replies unflinchingly.
"I'll crush you."
"Please don't crush me."
"Stop it, Murasakibara." Midorima orders. Aomine shoots the invisible player a worried look. Pull it together, Tetsu!
"Calm down and observe your surroundings." Akashi advises Kuroko solemnly. It'll be bad if things keep going on like this.