I will be honest. I'm not sure how many people out there that's not my friend in real life will understand my sense of humor, so I'm really really sorry if this was boring ;;_;; plus I was having a hard time thinking of ideas OTLll some parts are even rushed OTL

I do hope this is at least a little amusing ;;w;; I'm sorry for disappointing you guys if its not though T^T

Also, I apologize for the late update. I'm actually in the middle of my exams right now lol /shot

I'll try harder with chapter 3 to make up for everything QAQ and hopefully I can get it done a little faster.

and before I forget, thank you so much for the follows, faves and reviews! ;;A;; though its making me feel kinda guilty..

Excuse my mistakes. KuroBasu is not mine.

Kuroko stood alone in the locker room, wondering where had the rest of the basketball team run off to after being called by Hyuuga.

Maybe it just doesn't concern me, he thought, not negatively. Or maybe they just thought he was there, unnoticed like he always was. Kuroko tried not to feel left out, but it wasn't easy. It was a little harsh to just leave him there by himself. Standing there, Kuroko unconsciously felt something he hadn't felt in a long time.

He felt lonely.

The pale boy heaved a soft sigh. Who was he kidding. He was the 'Phantom Sixth Man', the invisible player. He was and had been almost invisible for most of his life. He should've gotten used to it already.

Kuroko pulled off his sweat drenched shirt and put on a fresh one, pushing the annoying thoughts out of his mind. He then slung his sports bag over one shoulder, and headed home.

xXx

Kuroko raised his eyebrows slightly as he sat on the gym bench, a towel around his neck. He faced the fellow first years of his team as he took a drink from his bottle to replace the moisture he'd lost while running around the gym during practice. He had no idea what was happening, but apparently they were trying to tell him a joke that they've suddenly thought up of in class.

Why were they trying it on him of all people, Kuroko did not want to know.

"Errr.. so here's how it goes.." Furihata mumbled as he pulled out a hastily folded piece of paper from his back pocket.

Kuroko's face did not even twitch as he listened silently.

"So.. what do you think?" Kawahara tried to sound upbeat when they'd finished, but Kuroko's keen observation skills helped him notice that his teammates were sweating up a storm, and it definitely wasn't from their practice session. A third of their 10-minute break was spent on that gag attempt. There was no way they would be sweating by just standing there, and the weather wasn't even that hot since it was only the beginning of spring. Besides, the trio looked strangely fidgety and nervous.

"..I'm sorry," Kuroko said in a straight manner with his usual blank face, quite unable to help himself. "But I could not really understand what the three of you were trying to tell me."

Kuroko hadn't meant to be mean, but he honestly failed to get what they were saying to him. His mind stopped processing the joke after the third time the word 'chicken' was mentioned.

Seeing their crestfallen expression as soon as they got his response, the slender boy reluctantly added; ".. Can you repeat it?"

There was a pause, and as if practiced, the three first-years simultaneously heaved a sigh.

"Nah, it's okay," Fukuda said, putting on a tortured smile. "I guess it was just too lame after all."

Before Kuroko could think of anything else to say, Riko blew her whistle, signaling the end of their short break. Kuroko sat just a while longer to watch his team gather before standing up to join them, a single question lingering in his confused mind.

What on earth just happened?

xXx

After seeing the first years' utter failure, Tsuchida wasn't exactly any keener to make Kuroko laugh.

Heck, he wouldn't have even participated in this stupid bet if he could, but knowing the coach, he would probably be forced to do double his training if he backed out now. Or worst. Riko would make him run another ten rounds besides the punishment she had in mind for the team if they fail. Naked.

Tsuchida shuddered at the thought. Embarrassing himself by saying a stupid joke in front of his junior was still a better choice than running around the school wearing nothing but his birthday suit. The only problem now was the awkwardness. He wasn't close to Kuroko in the first place, and pulling him aside suddenly to tell him a joke as what the other first-years had done during practice the day before would be weird.

Wait. The sophomore stopped rolling his mechanical pencil on his empty notebook. An idea popped into his head. He only had to make him laugh, right?

Before he could decide whether or not to go with what he had in mind, the bell rang, indicating recess. Tsuchida exhaled in exasperation before standing up. He didn't care anymore. He trudged out of his classroom, heading towards the first years'. He prayed that he could find a suitable situation to make his attempt as he walked.

The first year classrooms were just a floor below the second's, but it seemed like he had travelled miles before he could reach there. Tsuchida peeked cautiously from behind a wall, focusing his concentration so that he will not miss the boy he was looking for. Several passing juniors gave him strange looks as they walked pass him. He couldn't blame them. The dark haired teen figured he looked pretty much like a typical stalker.

He waited, all the while muttering "Please, please, please come out," under his breath. The shyer side of his personality was taking over. The curious stares and murmurs from passer bys were making him self-conscious. Tsuchida was on the verge of giving up when someone caught his eye.

With that outstanding blue hair, Kuroko was actually hard to miss once you see him, especially when he was walking among students with natural colored locks. Kagami was there too - a giant among normal heighted people.

Tsuchida took in a breath to steel his nerves, before emerging from behind the wall and walking towards them. He counted his steps, trying his best to estimate the distance to put between himself and his juniors. Kagami raised his eyebrows when he saw him, but otherwise said nothing.

The upperclassman was about 2 meters away from them when he decided that it was time. He looked up, trying to not force on a smile.

"Morning, Kagami, Kuroko-" And as if it was the most natural thing in the world, he deliberately tripped, bounced a couple of steps on one leg, and spectacularly kissed the floor.

Several students in the area snickered. Some looked concerned. Kagami and Kuroko immediately bent down, helping their senior back on his legs. Kagami was having trouble keeping a straight face. The only change in Kuroko's expression was that his eyes were slightly wide with worry.

"Are you alright, senpai?" he asked as he pulled him up with the help of the taller boy. Tsuchida nodded, rubbing his aching forehead.

"Y-Yeah.. I guess."

"What are you doing around the first years' classrooms, anyway?" Kagami inquired though he knew full well of the true answer.

"Just doing some errands for the coach," Tsuchida lied. "Anyway, gotta go. See you guys later during practice!"

And with that he walked off, feeling miserable. Not only did he fail his objective, that fall hurt more than he expected it would.

Well, at least he tried.

xXx

Koganei was starting to wonder why he'd even suggested the idea in the first place.

Heck, he was curious. Besides, everything would've been fine if Riko hadn't got so into it that she'd practically threatened to rob them of their lives if they failed. And if by some cruel twist of fate that they actually did fail this, Koganei was sure Hyuuga was going to make him run triple the coach's punishment as a reward for opening his big mouth.

The cat-eyed boy sighed as he chucked his bag onto the floor, feeling Mitobe staring at him silently from behind.

"Eh? Oh, it'll be fine~" Koganei looked up and said, though the tall boy had never spoken a word. He bent down and dug into his bag, pulling out an old crumpled paper box the size of a small present. Mitobe only raised his eyebrows a little as Koganei turned and showed him its contents.

"Nothing better than classic old-school style, don'cha think?" the shorter grinned. "Now let's just wait here until he comes along."

…

Koganei was dreaming about cute managers when he felt someone frantically shaking his shoulders.

"Wh-Wha-" he slurped drool from the side of his mouth. Gross. "What-how-when-"

Mitobe answered by jabbing his finger towards the door, his calm composure replaced with something similar to panic. Koganei jolted upright the second he understood his message. Without wasting any more time, he reached into the box he'd put right next to him, fished out several items, and threw one at his taller friend.

Kuroko walked in a split second after the upperclassmen put on their gear. The pale boy abruptly paused at the entrance to the locker room as soon as he saw his seniors, mildly surprised. Koganei had an outrageously big pair of spiral glasses, a fake red nose, and a comical moustache - not unlike that of Mr. Potato's - on his face. Mitobe was wearing the same thing - minus the nose and glasses.

"Ack- Kuroko!?" Koganei pretended to have just noticed him. Mitobe gave the same type of reaction by widening his eyes.

Kuroko blinked at the two sophomores, his brain processing the images of the two seniors wearing such accessories as if it was the most normal thing in the world. He'd expected Koganei to do something like that as soon as he had the mood, but he never would have imagined Mitobe following suit, even if it's just a matter of putting on a big fat moustache.

A ghost of a smile tugged the corners of Kuroko's lips. Koganei saw it and was about to use it as a chance, but it vanished as soon as Kagami appeared behind the pale boy, cursing him for blocking the way into the locker room.

"Oi don't just stand there and.." the redhead trailed off as soon as he noticed what his seniors were wearing.

And then he cracked up.

Kuroko tried to ignore his teammate's futile attempts to not laugh hysterically as he asked, still not stepping into the room; "..What are you two doing?"

Koganei grinned at him through his spiral glasses. He had this sorted out. "You see, Mitobe and I had been invited by some kindergarten belonging to my mum's friend to entertain the kids abit, so I thought of my old collection of practical jokes that I'd left here, wondering if I could still use them or something." He paused for a breath. "And so, we found them and tried them on and now we're just doing some practicing for it."

Mitobe agreed to everything he said by just a nod of his head.

"What do you think, Kuroko?" Koganei took his chance. "Do you think the kids will like it? Especially if we do weird faces like this?" He made a face, or at least Kuroko thought he made one behind those enormous accessories.

"..I think," Kuroko paused for a second, wondering how he should put it before finally deciding to set foot inside. Kagami tailed behind him. "I think the children will like the moustaches and stuff, but I guess even if you make faces, they won't be able to see you considering the size of them." An idea came into his mind. "But you could do some small magic tricks or something similar. That would definitely captivate them."

There was a strange twinkle in his eye when he said it. Koganei found himself unnecessarily taking down notes.

"Anyway, practice's gonna start soon, you know," Kagami mumbled helpfully as he changed out of his school uniform, stuffing everything lazily into his locker.

"Eh?" Koganei turned to the clock hanging high on the wall just above the door frame. Practice was starting in fifteen minutes.

He almost slapped himself in frustration. They were so, so close, yet they couldn't do it. Mitobe looked at him sympathetically, taking off the ridiculous moustache to prepare for their daily training. If Kuroko noticed anything out of place with his seniors' behavior, he said nothing. Quietly, he placed his folded uniform into his bag, kept it in his locker, and slipped out.

Koganei heaved a defeated sigh as soon as the pale boy disappeared outside.

"This is impossible," he whined softly. He sighed once more before finally deciding to accept reality. "Meh.. anyway, time for practice~"

He did not sound the least excited about it.

xXx

Teppei decided to use the most straightforward way there is.

First of all, he hadn't the creativity to think of ways to even make Kuroko smile - he wasn't denying that. He could barely make normal people do the same thing. Second of all, the challenge was practically impossible. He'd seen and heard of his teammate's attempts. Most of them - if not all - failed miserably. And he was sure the pale boy was already suspecting something.

Jokes weren't his specialty either. He could barely get most of them himself.

So Teppei made up his mind to try the easiest and most practical way. The usual drill had already ended, but there were still familiar sounds of a basketball bouncing against the wooden floor of the gym even when everyone had left for the showers. He knew Kuroko would once in a while stay behind for some extra practice alone, and that day was one of those days.

At first glance, one would think that the gym is haunted as he would only see an orange ball bouncing around the court as if maneuvered by some kind of invisible force. But with a little concentration, he would be able to make out a moving figure. And if he tries a little harder, he would see a pale blue-haired boy practicing his life out.

Teppei stood by the entrance doors as he watched Kuroko practice his Phantom Shot, still awed by the technique despite the many times he'd seen it during games. Even by looking from another angle, the ball still seemed to disappear as soon as it leaves Kuroko's hands. Teppei could never stop wondering if the pale boy really had some kind of magic powers to make things - as well as himself - appear and disappear at will.

When Kuroko stopped to catch his breath, the he took the opportunity.

"You shouldn't push yourself too hard," Teppei said cheerily as he stepped in, breaking the silence that had formed. That seemed to startle the freshman a little.

"Please don't scare me like that, senpai," Kuroko breathed, his expression deadpanned as usual. Teppei grinned apologetically.

"Sorry," he said. "Taking a break?"

Kuroko nodded.

Teppei went straight to the point. "Can I ask you something?"

The shorter boy glanced up at him. "Yes?"

"Do you ever laugh?"

Kuroko blinked blankly at the sudden question. "..Excuse me?"

"It's just that you always seem so serious," Teppei said honestly. "I was thinking that maybe you should smile a little more sometimes."

Kuroko stared at him, eyebrows knitted slightly in confusion. "But what's the point of smiling if there's no reason to?"

Teppei was about to blurt out that he'd never thought of that, but he figured that would just ruin the mood.

"Well.. smiling does make you happier.." he replied, almost sounding hesitant. "Not to mention it also relieves stress."

Kuroko stared at him some more.

"Aww c'mon~~" Teppei whined. "Just try it! It's fun~"

And to prove his point, he flashed him a blinding grin. Kuroko continued staring at his senior incredulously.

"Senpai," he finally said. "Are you sure you're okay today?"

Teppei's expression did not change as he regarded him. "Huh? What do you mean?"

Kuroko shifted his weight, developing an interest in the basketball he was holding. "Well.. you did asked me a weird question out of nowhere before suddenly beaming like that."

"And what's wrong with being happy?" The upperclassman's expression changed to something that resembled a slight pout.

Kuroko wasn't sure why, but at that moment he felt the corners of his lips twitching into a small smile. Maybe it was Teppei's childishness. Or maybe it was just his fondness towards the senior who was like everyone's dependable big brother.

"I guess you're right," he decided. "There's nothing wrong with that."

Teppei's eyes widened at the sight of Kuroko's change in facial expression.

"See~" he spread his arms. "You can smile after all!"

Kuroko had nothing to sat to that, so he only nodded.

"Now try laughing!" Teppei urged.

To his dismay, Kuroko took a quick glance at the big clock on the wall of the gym and shook his head politely. "I should really go back to training. I'll be leaving in a while and I want to make the most out of my time."

Teppei wanted to argue, but decided otherwise. Kuroko's passion for the game was incredible, and he respected that. Not many people out there were willing to stay behind until late evenings just for some extra practice time alone. Let Kuroko do what he wants to do.

"Well, if you insist," he sighed inaudibly, stepping out of the pale boy's way as he resumed his training. "But like I said; don't push yourself, okay? And remember to lock up when you're done or Riko will skin you alive if she gets any reports on unlocked gyms tomorrow."

Kuroko made a shot. "Alright, senpai."

"Don't be too late," Teppei said as he made his way towards the exit. "And be careful on your way home!"

The last thing he heard before he closed the doors behind him was a soft "I will and thank you" from the first year inside.

Teppei thought of Riko's punishment as he strode towards the school gates, and he shrugged to himself.

Maybe she'll let me have it a little easier because of his knee condition, he thought wistfully.

xXx

Hyuuga decided to partner up with Izuki. Not that he was afraid of losing or anything.

He just figured that he had higher chances of succeeding with that 108 volumes of pun jokes.

Unless Izuki was really that terrible at them.

Hyuuga made a face as he flipped through the 68th volume of his friend's pun collection. They were both trying to pick out the best ones, and Hyuuga's eyes were burning from the utter stupidity most of them. He would've appreciated it if Izuki had actually compiled a 'Best Of Shun's Pun Collection' or something like that.

Ugh. That sounded pun-like. The team captain blanched involuntarily, leafing through another page. Those books must be brainwashing him or something.

A yawn escaped his lips. It was about three in the morning, and his brain was shutting down. His page markers were running out. His will to stay awake to read those shitty jokes was fading at an alarming rate.

Snap out of it, Hyuuga told himself firmly. There's not much time left.

Indeed five days have passed since Koganei proposed the idea, and no one had succeeded just yet, though a few came very close. Hyuuga was getting demoralized. Their school perimeter was huge, and running ten laps around it could be fatal. Pride be dammed - he was willing to make a fool out of himself to escape that tragic fate. Or at least he thought he was.

But who could blame him when he woke up the next morning with a pool of drool on Izuki's pun book?

…

Izuki was pissed off.

Puns were his pride, and he spent his whole life compiling 108 (and ongoing) volumes of it. And then Hyuuga just comes along to ask for his cooperation in saving their lives from Riko's hell-like punishment before casually announcing that his puns were shit.

If Izuki wasn't afraid of losing his legs, he wouldn't have even bothered to take part in this stupid game. And damn Hyuuga for insulting his hard work like that. It was fine with the few occasional ones he'd blurt out of nowhere, but all 108 volumes? That was going too far. He even had the nerve to leave a spot of drool on his 68th volume.

Izuki inhaled, trying to calm his raging nerves. Anger isn't going to help anything, he told himself. Calm down. Think. Puns.

"Seven days without a pun makes one weak*," Hyuuga was saying, referring to his notebook before and trying his best not to flinch from the bad pun after reading out about ten of them. Kuroko was listening with confusion, obviously not quite getting why he was standing there listening to the team captain reciting jokes with a very tortured face.

"To write with a broken pencil is pointless," Izuki offered. "The magician was so mad he pulled his hare out."

"..eh?" Kuroko confused look did not change.

That's it. Hyuuga was frustrated with all this. He was sure the pale boy was doing it on purpose. He'd had enough. He was sleep deprived and stressed out. In one last desperate attempt (or not), he raised his hand as if waving, and yelled "BITCH SLAP!" before planting one not-so-hard-yet-not-so-gentle pat on Izuki's face.

Kuroko watched in even more bewilderment as the bespectacled senior stormed off right after that, fuming that he should've known it was a waste of time and that he was going to kill Koga or something. Izuki muttered some not so polite curses before excusing himself and running off - probably to return Hyuuga's 'favor'.

Kuroko blinked several times, still unable to comprehend the turn of events before finally continuing his way home, wondering why the heck was everyone in the Seirin basketball team acting so strange for the last week.

xXx

Kagami dreaded doing was he was going to do, but hell, it was his only chance.

And he really wanted to see Kuroko laugh, not that he would ever admit even if he was forced to give up his manhood.

Kagami scrolled through the list of contacts in his phone, coming to a stop before the one he was looking for. His thumb hovered above the green button for an eternity, before he finally worked up the courage to dial.

"..Moshi moshi?" a cheery voice answered after a few beeps.

Kagami took in a deep breath. "Kise?"

"Oh hi there Kagamicchi~!" the blonde's voice boomed over the phone. Kagami held it a little further from his ear.

"What's up? You don't call often," Kise continued in his rapid-fire speech. "Did something happen? Is Kurokocchi okay? He didn't faint or anything, did he?"

Kagami clenched his teeth, resisting the urge to end the call. "Kise."

Either he did it to be an annoyance, or Kise did not hear him. The blonde continued blabbering on the other side of the line.

"DAMMIT KISE SHUT UP AND LISTEN TO ME YOU RETARD!" Kagami snapped. He immediately got the silence he wanted.

"Look," Kagami huffed, raking his free hand through his messy red hair. "First of all, don't call me Kagamicchi or I'll kick your ass the next time we meet. Second of all, nothing's happened to Kuroko, but what I'm about to say has got something to do with him."

There was a short pause before Kise spoke up again. "I'm listening."

"I.." Kagami hesitated. "I have a favour to ask. Meet me before school starts tomorrow at the basketball court near Maji," This was it. He still couldn't believe he was going to ask.

"And bring the rest of the Generation of Miracles with you. There's something I would like to talk about."

*stolen from www. punoftheday . com (all three of them) I'm terrible at making puns that are understandable to people other than my close friends and family OTL

Again, I'm so sorry if this was a disappointment. Thank you so much for reading!