SailorStar9: You ladies wanted this chapter, so here goes. This is Chapter 11 of this fic.

Disclaimers: I own nothing, except for the plot bunny and the pairing.

Chapter 11: I'll Win Even If It Kills Me

"What is this?" Kuroko wondered, looking at the buckets of ice Riko had placed in the backyard after Seirin's losses in all three of the practice matches.

"It's my special icing technique." Riko explained. "It's great for sore muscles and fatigue."

"That's cold!" Koganei winced, sinking his legs into the ice.

"We ended up losing all our games." Izuki remarked.

"Have we gotten worse?" Koganei wondered.

"Not at all." Kiyoshi chided. "You've definitely grown. Have more confidence. We're strong."

He can't do it. The freshmen trio mused. This guy can never do it. He looks so stupid.

"Guess there's one thing to learn from this," Ami chuckled. "Kiyoshi can strike 'motivational speaker' off his job list in the future."

"That's harsh, Sprite, even from you." Izuki teased.

"I've been around you for too long." Ami joked back.

"Jokes aside," Hyuuga cut in. "Is there anything you want?"

"I just dropped by to inform that I've prepared shiruko with dango for you guys." Ami replied. "Talk about no gratitude."

"But I thought…" Hyuuga blinked.

"Just because of Riko's wager yesterday doesn't mean I forgot about you guys." Ami stated plainly. "You might want to hurry before the shiruko gets cold."

"Kuroko," Riko called from the kitchen later that evening as she and Ami worked over the stove.

"Yes?" Kuroko asked, as he helped his cousin lay the tables.

"Call everyone to get ready for dinner." Riko requested.

"Yes." Kuroko nodded and left the cafeteria.

"What's gotten into you, Izuki?" Koganei asked, having been dragged out by the team's vice-captain for a night run along the beach. "Why'd you suggest we go running?"

"What did you think after watching Shutoku practice?" Izuki inquired.

"They're all good." Koganei replied. "What about you?"

"Aside from my eagle eye, I'm not particularly good at anything." Izuki admitted. "I don't think that's enough, especially not after seeing Ami's strategies. In any case, I don't know enough about basketball. As a team and individually, Shutoku has clear goals. They don't practice without focus. That must be Shutoku's strength. Even in Teiko, every member of the Generation of Miracles had their own style. Simply being skilled can't enough to be a regular of a legendary team."

"Men, they're all idiots." Riko muttered, preparing another serving of omurice over the frying pan.

"Isn't that one of the reasons why they need us women for?" Ami chuckled.

"Too true." Riko grinned.

"Everyone's here." Hyuuga declared, the group having met outside the inn the next morning.

"Thank you very much!" the group bade the innkeeper farewell.

"All right!" Koganei cheered. "I feel alive!"

"I thought I would die a few times." Tsuchida sighed.

"I want to sleep on my own bed." Furihata agreed. "I can't sleep with a different pillow."

"You were sound asleep." Hiroshi chided.

"That's it!" Izuki gasped. "Buried in pillows, buried in darkness."

"Izuki, shut up." Hyuuga retorted.

"Where do you think you're going?" Riko inquired, stopping the team from going any further once they turned around the corner.

"What?" Hyuuga blinked. "To the station."

"Why do you think we held our training camp here?" Riko chided "This year, they're holding the games here."

"I see." Izuki dug out his cellphone. "Today's quarterfinal game is between…"

"Kaijo and Touou…" Ami gaped, peering at the screen over her boyfriend's shoulder. "Ryouta versus Daiki…"

"Let's go watch the Inter-High." Riko grinned.

"Kuroko," Kagami voiced, once the team arrived at the stadium. "Who do you think will win?"

"I don't know." Kuroko admitted. "This is the first time I've seen two Generation of Miracles starters play against each other. However…"

"Daiki was the one who inspired Ryouta to play basketball in the first place." Ami continued. "Not to mention the two used to play one-on-one a lot back in their Teiko days."

"But Kise-kun has never won." Kuroko added.

"Never won?" Hyuuga echoed.

"Not even once." Ami nodded in confirmation.

SailorStar9: Now that's done, read and review.