CHAPTER 2

The interhigh has ended and my bestfriend Tomo told me that our school won the championship . And right now , I'm infront of the gym's door , holding a piece of paper , a paper for basketball's club entry .

I'm still confuse at myself . Why on earth am I acting like this ? Seeing that guy , urge me to enter the basketball club and I'm very sure to myself that I don't hold any feelings for him .

And there's one thing I thought , Am I returning to my past self ?

My past self who loves basketball just like my father .

My past self who is always smiling whether I'm in good or bad term .

I can see now the court that all the players was busy warming up . The others saw but they just ignore my presence . This is totally nerve wrecking but I need to be calm and act like I usually do .

" What does a young lady doing here ? ", someone popped out beside me that made me startle . Wait , I know this guy . I saw him once during the interhigh semi-finals , the one who shoot in the remaining seconds .

" I'm here to ~ ", I was suddenly cutted off .

" Wait , have we met before ? You look familiar ", the blond guy gaze at me from head to toe " Ah ! I remember . Everyone called you " stone-hearted woman " ".

" Eh ?! What ?! ", stone-hearted woman . I didn't even know it .

" Reo , Kotarou ", a deep voice called , approaching us . He is the redhaired captain " You two are suppose to warm up ".

" Yeah but we already did what we have to ", a guy named Kotarou immediately replied " Until I saw this girl wandering around in our gym ".

" Girl ? ", he shifted his gaze to mine " Ah ... I'm expecting her ".

The redhead captain shouted , good enough to heard him " LISTEN EVERYONE ! FROM NOW ON SHE IS PART OF OUR TEAM . HER NAME IS TAKASUGI ERI ! ".

Everyone's eyes were on me , examining how capable am I to be part of their team . U can't read minds but that's what I feel about their intimidating gaze . Their gaze is intimidating just like their captain . No scratch that , their captain has the most intimidating gaze in his whole team .

Then afterwards , he gazed at me " Akashi Seijuurou , I'm the team captain . I'm looking forward to work with you ".

After my work with the club , I immediately went home .

I changed my clothes , do my homework and everything what must I have to .

I did not enter the basketball club to become a best player . I did it because I wanted to become part of the team .

I just give some towels to the hardworking players , distributed some waters and put the balls into the basket when they are done practicing . More likely I was their maid or an errand girl . I was assigned in the first string .

Something urged me to go to our resident's backyard , which there was a mini basketball court . I took my father's ball in his closet .

I started to dribble the ball .

How nostalgic , It's been a years since I stop playing basketball .

I catch the ball and move forward swiftly while dribbling . I stop for a second when I was near the hoop and shoot it .

It went in !

" Awesome . I can't believe that I can still play well ", I talk to myself since I'm alone at my house . Gazing at my own hands , awed at my own skill . ( Self praise )

How many years since I stopped playing basketball with my father ? 3 years ?

Its just that ~

I smirked " Okay ! One more time ! ".

I took the ball once again and dribbled it as I run forward . But when I was about to shoot it , someone stole the ball from me .

* Gasp *

I have no idea who stole the ball and I'm sure that no one heres around except myself . I decided to searched around .

" Yo ... Eri . I'm home ", a voice of a middle-aged man said .

I was shocked because the one who stole the ball and greeted me is none other than my father . He is now dribbling the ball that he stole from me .

" Dad ", I called him , still in shocked mode but I immediately regained my composure . I half smiled " Welcome home ", and guarded him , not letting my father gain some point .

" I see ... so you turned back to your old self . What happened " , he questioned , still dribbling .

" I don't know . It all happened instantly . I realized that preventing myself to love basketball is like breaking a promise to my mother ", still guarding him with all I've got .

" Good to hear that . But let's see if you can win against me ", without hesitation , he break free against my defense swiftly then dribbled his way towards the hoop and performed a lay up shot .

" You never change , Dad . You're still amazing ", I complimented him . It's been a long time since I start a normal conversation with him .

I mean - because he was busy with his work and he rarely goes home .

About my mother , she died a long time ago due to an incident when I was in middle school .

" You still have long ways to go , Eri ", he stated as he passes the ball to me .

" Dad ... ".

" hm ?! ".

" Do you know a guy named Akashi Seijuurou ? ".

" What about him ? ", he questioned me back instead of answering my question .

" Dad ! I asked you first , so don't answer me with question ".

He chuckled " Fine . Yeah I know him . He is one of the Generation of Miracles ".

" Generation of Miracles ? What is that thing ? ", I raised my brow , bewildered .

When I asked that , he gazed at me like I know nothing about this world " I'm suprise that you don't know them . When you mention " Generation of Miracles " to other people even if they're a non-basketball fan , they immediately know what it is ".

" So you're saying that its my fault for not caring about everything aside of myself ?! ".

" Hey , I didn't say anything ", he said while preventing his laugh " Set that aside , I'll explain everything to you about Generation of Miracles ".

Somehow I feel curious about them . I just listen attentively to my father like an obedient child " Well you see , these young group of men has the same age like yours . They were discovered during their days in middle school at Teiko . Their names are Kise Ryouta , Aomine Daiki , Akashi Seijuurou , Midorima Shintarou and Murasakibara Atsushi . Each of then has unique abilities and overwhelming power . The time has passed and now they are getting stronger and stronger , they're nothing but a monster ".

Silence strike between the two of us until he decided to talk once again .

" However , there is another member of the group . He is the sixth phantom member , Kuroko Tetsuya . I don't know much about him . He is not as monstrous as the others but he is quite a skilled one ".

I don't know if Dad's words are believable because the way he described that Generation of Miracles is way too exaggerated .

I remain silent in a couple of minutes then I asked him bluntly " Is that really ... ", I paused for a bit " possible ? ".

He smile at me and move forward to reach me " I understand what you feel . You , who doesn't care about everything will not easily believe such a word unless you should go and watch them play so that you will believe in my words ", then he patted my head " Its already late at night . Get some rest , Eri ".

" Yeah . Same to you , Dad ".

Generation of Miracles ... huh ...

Just how strong they are ? Especially Akashi-kun . Just how good is he when he is inside the court . I never saw him play even once .

Inside of the redhead's room , all alone , still playing shogi alone even if its late at night .

" Sooner or later , you will know it and will see it by your own eyes . Takasugi Eri ", he talked to himself as he late out a small smile . No , rather than smile , he is smirking a little .