Author's Note: Thanks for all the positive reviews! I will do my best to keep up with your high expectations. ^^

Just as a reference for future chapters, this will be the classroom assignment for the GoM and Shoko!

2-1 : Akashi and Midorima

2-2: Kuroko and Aomine

2-3: Kise, Momoi, and Shoko

2-4: Murasakibara

2-5: Haisaki (Shougo)

I based their class assignment on what ranking they would be considered in school. In some schools, class assignments are based on your academic level.

Another note is that this story takes place just before summer vacation – which is when basketball tournament starts. However, the games will not be written in detail and will probably appear in conversations between Momoi and Shoko.

Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Reign of the Champions

"We are not trying to be. We will be." – Kagami Taiga

[02]

"Go where?"

"Please, Shoko! This is the only favor I will ask from you!" Momoi pleaded, grabbing the grey haired girl's hand in desperation. "I'm asking you as your best friend to help me with this!"

Shoko knitted her eyebrows in confusion. School had ended for the day and while Shoko was looking forward to a relaxing evening in Ginza, Momoi had other plans.

Basketball practice was canceled because the floors in the gym had to be repaired, so Momoi had asked Shoko to tag along with her and the team to a local game arcade.

"I don't see what the arcade has to do with basketball." Shoko said, struggling out of the data analyst's grip.

"It's supposed to be a team activity!" Momoi exclaimed. Ah, she remembered her brother mentioning the 'stupid team bonding events' held every time practice was canceled. It was supposed to hold their teamwork and bring them closer together.

Shoko honestly thought it was just an excuse to spend the school's budget on frivolous activities. "I'm not on the basketball team." She pointed out, "So there wouldn't be a reason for me to go in the first place."

Momoi pouted. "Please, Shoko? I know you don't like going to game arcades in the first place, but. .well. ." A flush crept on the pink haired girl's cheeks. "I think. .I have a crush on someone on the team."

Shoko raised a curious brow. "Aomine?"

The data analyst looked disgusted and appalled that Shoko would suggest such a hideous idea. "Dai-chan? Ew, no!" She exclaimed, rising to her feet. Shoko blinked at Momoi's exaggerated reaction.

After the pink haired girl calmed down, she sat back down in her seat and cleared her throat. "It's. .well. .Tetsu-kun. ." She stared down at her desk bashfully, pushing her two index fingers together.

Tetsu? Shoko furrowed her eyebrows. Momoi had a habit of giving people she was close with nicknames, which made it hard for Shoko to identify Momoi's mysterious crush.

After a long thoughtful pause, the blue haired boy from the basketball team flashed in her mind. "Kuroko?" Shoko guessed.

The blush on Momoi's face intensified and she fidgeted nervously in her seat.

Well, that was certainly surprising. Ever since Shoko met Momoi her first year at Teiko, she never saw her look at the opposite sex with much interest. She never would have thought Momoi would fall for the misdirection expert.

Shoko pursed her lips. 'What an odd choice.' She thought, trying to imagine the quiet basketball player and Momoi on a date. Come to think of it, she never really saw Momoi interact with Kuroko – who was in the class next door – outside of practice.

"Okay, fine." Shoko finally agreed, picking up the paper that had the address of the arcade written on it. Momoi lifted her head and stared at her friend with sparkling eyes.

Shoko continued, "But only if you treat me to Sweets Paradise afterwards." The sweets buffet was around the corner from the game arcade.

Momoi nodded her head furiously. "Of course!" The girl beamed. "I'll treat you to whatever you want!" She gave a girlish shriek as began to fanaticize about the misdirection expert.

Shoko remained unfazed as the Generation of Miracles stared at her as if she had an extra head. After Momoi had snapped out of her daydream, she dragged Shoko to the school gates where the members were waiting.

As soon as she arrived, the members stopped their individual conversations and stared at her like she was an exotic creature. Shoko didn't blame them; if someone suddenly turned up uninvited to one of her club events, she would give them the same expression.

"Everyone, this is Haisaki Shoko!" Momoi introduced, latching her arm with the grey haired girl. "She'll be joining us today!" Her introduction was unnecessary; Shoko was certain that they knew about her especially after the notorious reputation her brother left behind, but greeted the members with a dull wave.

Kise was the first one to speak. "Eh~I didn't know you liked going to the arcade too, Shoko-chan!"

'I don't.' Shoko replied mentally, ignoring the model's questions. No one moved from the school gate; they were all waiting for Akashi's response.

After a long deliberate pause, the short red haired captain spoke. "I suppose she can come along." Momoi beamed as he gave his permission while the rest of the members grudgingly accepted her presence.

"Let's just go to the arcade already. I have my eyes set on this game and I know I'm going to kick your ass at it, Tetsu." Aomine nudged the smaller blue haired boy – whom Shoko just noticed was standing next to the ace – and grinned.

Akashi and Midorima lead the group, exchanging Shogi tips and basketball tactics. Aomine, Kuroko, and Kise were in the middle. It seemed as if Kise and Aomine were arguing over something trivial while Kuroko quietly watched.

Murasakibara brought up the rear, silently munching on his second bag of chips.

Shoko closed her eyes, feeling an impending headache growing. "Satsuki, why aren't you with Kuroko?" More importantly, why the hell was she there if Satsuki wasn't going to talk to her crush?

"It's because Dai-chan is there!" She whined, sticking out a tongue at her childhood friend. "I can't talk to Tetsu-kun when Dai-chan is breathing down my back." Shoko didn't feel like bringing up the fact that the ace and the misdirection expert were always together.

It was a short walk from the school to the game arcade, but there were a lot of stares from students from other schools. The Generation of Miracles remained blissfully unaware of the obvious stares, but Shoko gave a long, deliberate stare back to one of the students who gawked at the group.

The student ducked his head in embarrassment and scurried off. Shoko frowned. What made the Generation of Miracles so feared by others? They were just a weird group.

As soon as they arrived to the arcade, Aomine excused himself to the bathroom and Momoi leaped at the chance to be alone with her crush. Shoko stood at the doorway idly as the other members went towards their respective games.

After a few minutes, Shoko inserted a few coins in the machine nearest to her and started the game. She might as well try to have fun at the arcade; Shoko didn't know when she would leave after seeing Momoi trailing behind Kuroko like a lovesick puppy.

Shoko pushed the joystick forward on the UFO game and watched as the claw began moving. She didn't have a particular interest in any of the items, so she chose to aim for the purple alpaca plush (1) situated near the ledge.

"Haisaki," Shoko jumped at turned to see Midorima standing behind her. In his left hand was a small plush tanuki (2). Shoko chose not to comment on the strange object and stared at him with an equally blank expression. "You're an Aquarius, am I correct?"

"What of it?" She replied evenly. She turned her attention back on the game and pressed the button. Shoko watched as the claw descended on the plush and successfully pulled it towards the dispense tray.

Midorima clicked his tongue and pushed his glasses up his nose. "Just as I thought, we are incompatible."

Shoko grimaced at his comment, but out of curiosity, remained silent.

The green haired shooter continued. "Satsuki is an Taurus, which makes her incompatible with you as well." Shoko frown deepened; she didn't like where this confrontation was going. "So I suggest that you-"

"Stop talking to Satsuki?" Shoko cut him off. She watched as the claw dropped the alpaca in the box. "I don't base my friendship off of meaningless readings."

Shoko picked up the soft plush, "If you're suggesting me to break my friendship with her simply because we are 'incompatible', I suggest you try a different approach."

The grey haired girl paused. Momoi had just called her name and motioned her to join her, Kise, and Kuroko at another machine. "Have a good day, Midorima." Shoko stared at the stuffed tanuki with a raised eyebrow and left without another word.

Midorima watched as the grey haired girl joined Momoi at another UFO catcher. Akashi soon joined him as soon as Shoko was out of hearing distance. "How did things go?" The captain sounded amused.

The shooter pushed his glasses up nose with his right hand. The familiar weight of the tanuki in his left hand was reassuring. "Just as I thought," He murmured. "We are not compatible at all."

(1) – Alpaca toys are very popular in Japan right now. They come in all different sizes and shapes.

(2) – A tanuki is a Japanese raccoon dog.