The next day, after school, every club member went straight to the locker room to change from their uniforms. While changing, Hyuuga noticed a magazine on the bench. "Hmm?" Picking up the magazine, he read the title. "Monthly Basketball; Teiko, The 'Generation of Miracles' At The National Level, Three Consecutive Years", Hyuuga thought for a bit till he realized something. "This issue,", he said, catching the attention of the other boys. "Wasn't this the time that Kuroko was in Teiko?" He asked. Koganei snuck a peak and answered, "Ohhh..It's featuring articles about each of the players of the 'Generation of Miracles'." Hyuuga then opened the magazine and skimmed through to find something. "Kuroko...didn't get an article, huh?" Confusing everyone. "Even though she was the sixth player?", Izuki asked. After Izuki said that, the door suddenly slammed open, in the middle of changing his pants. Courtesy of one Aida Riko, who had one Kuroko Tetsuna beside her. All of them stood a good 30 second trying to comprehend what happened.
The girls suddenly barged in.
The guys were all mostly half-naked.
The girls are seeing them in their unmentionables.
Hyuuga finally broke the staring competition.
"W-WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?" He screamed at Riko.
"I THOUGHT YOU WERE DONE!" She screamed back, covering her eyes.
"NO WE'RE NOT! SO GET OUT!"
Riko then grabbed hold of Kuroko, promptly dragging the girl out. The guys took a moment to congest what just happened, then heavy blushes took over their faces. 'WHAT THE HELL', they all thought.
Meanwhile out side, Riko was covering her huge blush, running to the court. Kuroko, on the other hand, still looked indifferent but chased after her cousin to the court, nonetheless. After Riko regained some color back, she looked around to find her cousin, to see her expression. "How come you're not affected by that?", Riko asked. "Huh?", Kuroko uttered, confused by Riko's question.
"I mean, like, seeing guys half naked? Does that not disturb you or something?", the coach clarified. Kuroko looked at Riko's expression for a bit then looked away, answering, "No. Not really. I mean, in middle school, we just shared one locker room, me and the 'Generation of Miracles', to be quick. I'm pretty much used to seeing guys half naked.", the blue haired girl shrugged.
"Oh yeah, speaking of them. Are you really sure they don't know you're here?", Riko asked the girl.
"Yeah."
Riko raised a brow.
"...I think."
Now, Riko was looking at her in the eye.
"..I hope?"
Finally, Riko looked away from Kuroko, relieving the girl. Finally, after a few secondary, they finally got inside the court and headed straight to the bench to take a seat while waiting for the rest of the team to arrive. "Seriously though. Especially that Akashi fellow. Do you think you can keep this from him?" Kuroko looked at Riko for a moment then sighed, then found her shoes interesting. "Look, after that match with Ogiwara-kun, I stopped playing basketball." Riko looked at her cousin wide-eyed. 'I didn't know this..wait, then...'
"Why did you play again? Here?"
Everything was silent for a moment, till Kuroko broke it. "Because." Looking at Riko, she continued, "I promised you, didn't I?"
The whole room was silent as Riko was looking at Kuroko. That is, till it was broken by the rest of the players arriving. Sighing at her cousin's explanation, Riko just left it as it was seeing as it was useless of her to keep probing into Kuroko's business.
"Okay guys! You have 30 minutes warm-up!"
Kuroko got up from the bench to join the others in the warm up. Before she could start, Izuki caught up to her and told her that he had to ask her about something. "Hey, Kuroko, you were the sixth player in the Teiko team, weren't you?" Kuroko looked at Izuki strangely but humored him, nevertheless. "Yes, why do you ask senpai?" Their conversation caught the attention of the others who were there.
"We were reading a magazine a while ago and, well, we couldn't find your article. Didn't someone come to get data?"
The girl was silent for a while, thinking. "Someone did. I guess."
"Huh? What do you mean 'you guess'?" Hyuuga asked.
"They tried stalking me to get me to say something. But they always loose me so...I guess they gave up?"
Everyone deadpanned at the girl. Some pitying her and some felt sorry. 'So painful...'
"But it's okay really, they were a bother." She explained. "Besides," she continued, looking up, away from her team. "Someone like me is completely different from those five people." The team was confused. What does she mean?
"Unlike me," she started, looking back to her team. "They are true geniuses."
Meanwhile, at the Seirin High school gate. A handsome young man, with blond hair, wearing the uniform of another prestigious school, was entering the school campus. "Oohhh..so this is Seirin High..", the boy wondered, looking at the new buildings and clean surroundings of the school. "As expected from a new school, it looks nice." He walked inside, towards the school's gym, catching the attention of two bystanding girls.
"Hey, check that guy out, he's so cool." Whispered one girl to her friend, red creeping on her face.
"So tall..", mumbled her friend. Then, the girl suddenly remembered something. "Wait, that guy...Isn't he that model...?" They both looked at each other, wide-eyed, then squealed very loudly, and promptly passed out.
'Why would
Back in the gym, the club was already playing a mini-match, Seniors vs. Juniors.
Kuroko just made a pass towards Kagami, who was now holding the ball and looking for a way to pass Izuki who was guarding him. Finally founding one, he shot through, past Izuki, towards their hoop.
"Oohh.." Hyuuga uttered in awe from seeing Kagami's move. But Izuki wouldn't let down. "Not yet! I can still keep up!" Chasing after Kagami and tried blocking him.
Kagami seeing Izuki's position did a fake shot then twisted his body to turn and shoot a the opposite side where Izuki wasn't watching. Everyone was so concentrated to Kagami's moves, they didn't notice a figure enter their practice.
"Whooo!"
"Nice shot!"
"Incredible, he turned back even though he was going at full speed?! You wouldn't think that cut was made by a human..." sighed Hyuuga.
"Do you think you could beat the 'Generation of Miracles' with that..?!" Asked Koganei.
As the boys were praising Kagami, Kuroko was still panting from the game. 'Whew...It's been a while since I got tired this much...' she thought, facing down. She looked up and gazed at Kagami, 'Hmm...maybe..' she started to think but was cut off by Riko's call. "Tetsuna-chan! You okay?" Said girl looked towards Riko and answered. "Y-yeah...This is normal, since I did stop for a while.", she shrugged.
"Okay, anyway, just go to the locker rooms then come back. There's cold water there." Riko smiled.
Kuroko thanked Riko, then left to get the water.
As the boys were still commenting on how Kagami's moves might beat the Generation of Miracles, one of then realized something.
"Huh? Where's Kuroko?", asked Furihata, catching the attention of the other members.
"KUROKO! COME OUT!" The guys called out. Before they could get any louder, Riko answered them "She's exhausted, I sent her to the locker room to get some water to drink. She'll be back in a bit." The guys stopped after wards, but Riko still wasn't finished. Before the guys could start back to practice, she called the again and proceeded to tell them of their practice match.
"A practice match against Kaijo High?!" Hyuuga yelled. He knew that they were going to have a practice match against some school, but didn't expect this elite school. "Yup~!" Riko answered, with a sparkle.
"They won't be bad as an opponent. We'll be using all the freshmen too!" The coach pointed out.
"Rather than not bad, it's more like they'll be way too much..." Hyuuga said, sweating from the thought of playing against a powerhouse.
"Are they that strong?" Fukuda wondered out loud.
"They're a powerful school of national class, taking part of the Inter-High tournament every year." Hyuuga explained, shocking the freshmen.
"Eh?!"
"More importantly, Coach!" Hyuuga continued, catching the attention of everyone, "What you said when you came back last time, were you serious?" He asked.
"Of course!"
Kagami was confused, he didn't have any idea what Hyuuga was talking about. "What?" Furihata noticed Kagami's blatant confusion and asked, "Ah, Kagami, you didn't hear?" He asked. Kagami shook his head.
Before Kagami could ask anymore, Riko continued. "This year, Kaijo is one of tye schools that have a player from the 'Generation of Miracles', Kise Ryouta."
Kagami was surprised and at the same time, fired-up at the news. Meanwhile the others were just surprised and maybe slightly intimidated. The club was established not less than two years ago, isn't it a bit too early?
"Eeh!?"
"Really?!"
Meanwhile, Kagami was lost in his own world, thinking of how all this happened not even one month in the school. 'To think it'd happen so quickly.' Suddenly grinning from ear to ear from the thought of beating one of the "Generation of Miracles". 'Ha! This is great! It's raising the tension!'
"On top of that, that Kise, isn't he that rumored model?" Hyuuga pointed out, making almost everyone jaw-drop.
"Seriously!?"
"He looks good and plays basketball well?!"
"Isn't it a harsh?!"
While the rest were squawking about Kise's luck, Riko was just listening to them. Shaking her head, sighing, she commented, "That's it huh...You can't help but envying him..." this drew all the boys' attention to her.
"It's unfair!" They all yelled back.
Riko merely cocked her head down, unimpressed by her team's stupidity. "Tch. Idiots."
Suddenly the team heard loud squealing coming from the gym entrance. They all turned to see what it was. Needless to say, the view shocked them. There they were, the whole Seirin female populace, blushing and fangirling at something, bring some magazines with them.
"What?! Why are they here?!"
Before Riko could usher the girls out (more like force), someone's voice cut through. "Aaah, damn...", the basketball team looked over at the stage corner to find one Kise Ryouta giving his signature to the gaggle of fangirls in front of him. "I dined come here for this but..", he uttered, giving his autograph to another girl.
"That guy..", Hyuuga uttered in shock while the rest were just looking at him wide eyed. It's not everyday you get to see a member of the Generation of Miracles up close.
"Kise Ryouta!"
Kise just smiled sheepishly at them, "I'm really sorry about this..err..do you mind waiting for a few minutes?"
Kagami was riled up on the thought on having to play Kise earlier than expected. 'This guy is!' He thought, grinning maniacally.
Meanwhile Riko was just surprised and maybe in a bit shock that he was there. '..It's a good thing I sent her to the locker room but, what is he doing here...? I have to get him out before she gets here' she thought, gears already turning in her head.
After about 10 or so minutes, all the girls finally got their autographs and left. Kise jumped down the stage he was cornered by the girls, happy to get those harpies off his back. He started to walk towards Seirin's basketball team, once he got near them, Riko was the first to ask, "W-why are you here?"
Kise shrugged at her question but answered nonetheless. "To be honest, even I don't know. But, well...our captain and coach just sent me to check on our next opponent, even if it's a practice match. I'm just here to check on you guys."
"O-okay..?"
"Incredible...his article is just too long." Uttered Furihata in awe as he read the magazine he pulled out from nowhere.
"Even though he started basketball in second year of middle school, blessed with a great built and sense of play, he became a regular of the strongest team in the blink of an eye. His experience is still light compared to the other four members but he's an all-rounder that just keeps getting better really quickly." After Furihata read that, everyone looked at Kise wide-eyed.
"You've only been playing for two years?!" Hyuuga asked.
Kise looked at him sheepishly waving his hand, "No, well..the article is exaggerating, really." He rubbed the back of his head showing a tired expression. "I'm glad I was called one of the Generation of Miracles, but..I'm just the weakest of the bunch..." he sighed. "They actually made me take a personal trainer!" Kise grinned.
"Huh? A trainer? Don't you train with the others." Hyuuga speculated. Beside him, Riko was sweating bullets by this time. She knew a lot about the Generation of Miracles, thanks to her cousin, so she pretty much knows who this 'trainer' is.
"I did, but I couldn't catch-up to them. So, my captain that time asked our coach to let her train me till I can catch up." Kise pointed out.
"Wait, 'her'?" Hyuuga asked.
"Yeah, our sixth m-"
"Riko, I can't seem to find it, so I just bought from the vending machine." Kise was cut off by Kuroko's entry. Said girl just stood by the door, confused as to why it wasn't noisy anymore. She looked around to see familiar eyes looking at her. "I'll just...let myself out. Riko?" Riko broke from her trance once she heard Kuroko voice call her name, and went to catch-up to the girl.
Meanwhile, Kise was perplexed. Why was Kuroko in a no-name school like this? Why couldn't she have went to some veteran school like them? And more importantly, why didn't she tell them anything? He was shook out of his stupor by an orange blur heading his way. He stopped the basketball with his palm before it could hit his face. "Wha?!"
"Ouch..." Kise cried, supporting his reddening hand. Everyone turned to find who threw the ball.
"Kagami?!" Hyuuga yelped.
"You didn't come all the way here just for that right?" How about being my opponent for a bit huh, Ikemen." Kagami ginned.
Kise wasn't prepared for this. But was happy to oblige. Looking down, smirking to the thought of beating this newbie. He looked up and took off his jacket and loosened his necktie. "Alright, let's do this. As thanks for showing me something good." Then, the door opened, revealing a normally stoic Kuroko who was talking in a hushed voice with Riko.
Kuroko saw the tension in the court and judging by Kagami's grin, and Kise's expression, nothing good was going to come out from this. "Oh my." Kuroko offhandedly commented, "This is bad." Riko looked at Kuroko with an expression and sighed. "I know. Should we stop them then?" She asked. "Don't bother." Hyuuga sighed.
In the court, the one on one started. Kise was looking at Kagami's moves, awaiting for the perfect moment. When he did find an opening, a sudden burst of speed shot through him, surpassing Kagami. What he did next was a huge slap on the face to everyone, especially Kagami. Kise just copied the moves that Kagami made not long ago. Everyone was shocked that he can do that till Kuroko explained.
"One thing that made him one of the Generation of Miracles was that when he has seen a play, he can make it as his own in an instant." Just as Kuroko finished telling them that fact, Kise dunked the ball, same as what Kagami did, and ended up making Kagami fall on his bum.
"T-this is the power of the Generation of Miracles..?" Exhaled Furihata.
"Kuroko, isn't your friend way too much?" Izuki uttered.
With her bangs covering her eyes, Kuroko answered, "...I don't know that person."
"Huh?"
Everyone was confused. What does she mean? Weren't she part of the team he was in? Or was she?
"This is alarming. They are becoming better and better quicker than I thought. I haven't seen them in only 3 months and.." Kuroko sighed.
Kise stood straight and scratched his ear. "Well, you know.." he began, getting everyone's attention again. "After seeing that performance, I can't go back like this." He turned around to meet their eyes. "Please give me Tetsunacchi."
"?!"
Kise looked for Kuroko's eyes and held over his hand. "Come to our school. Let's play basketball together again." He offered, surprising Seirin. Kuroko stepped forward, towards him making him smile. The team looked at her bewildered. She stopped in front of Kise and leaned in to her ear.
"Not. A. Chance." She whispered. Kise's eyes widened. Then spluttered out, "What?! Why?! Seriously, I respect you a lot Tetsunacchi! You're just wasting your talent here!"
Kuroko looked at him blankly but inside, she was very offended. Taking a deep breath, she opened her mouth, "What would you know about my talent?" This made Kise close his mouth. "And what would you know about this school?"
The room was silent for a moment, startled on Kuroko's words. The girl sighed and looked at Kise's golden eyes, "Look, I'm honored that you think of me that was but," she looked away then suddenly, she bowed before Kise, "I have to refuse your proposal."
"Doesn't that sound weird in that context ?!" Kise said, Dismayed. "This is isn't like you at all! Wasn't winning everything to y-."
"I'm going to have to cut you there. You see, that was your belief, not mine. Beside I have a promise to my self and..someone else, that I have to keep." Kuroko smiled. "A promise to beat you, the Generation of Miracles."
Kise looked at Kuroko in a strange light after she said those words. "..This isn't like you at all..", he uttered. "Saying that kind of jokes."
"Oh, I'm pretty much serious." The girl claimed.
The tension between the two was stopped by Kagami's sudden laughter. "Damn, what the hell...Don't go stealing my lines Kuroko." Kagami said, nearing Kuroko. Once the boy was beside her, he draped him arm on her shoulder and looked at Kise directly, "The game's just begun, Ikemen!"
A/N: Hello peeps, Belated Merry Christmas and Advanced Happy New Year to you all! I know like, my story has a really really Slow progress cause 1) I'm a lazy phoqe 2) I feel like I don't wanna make it 3) MY CAT HAS BEEN GONE FOR 5 DAYS NOW SO I have to split my time looking for him, playing games and making this.
And If you have suggestions, please R & R mostly Review. That's all! See you next week! Or so. (｀_´)ゞ