I have no excuses. Yep, not at all unless you count school. Haha... has anyone taken AP Chem and can help me?

Thanks MysteryPT for proofreading this. Thanks to Infinite Skye for proofreading this too! Happy holidays everyone!

Chapter 11 - The Origin of Hazuki's Basketball

Kise stood outside of the steakhouse and raised a hand in greeting.

"Can we talk for a bit Kurokocchi?" Kise asked.

"...?"

Hazuki glanced up from the awestruck seniors staring at Kagami's squirrel eating and looked at the window. She spotted a familiar blonde standing near the railings of the road to an almost invisible figure near the restaurant's door. She wouldn't have been able to guess who it was if it wasn't for the telltale blue hair that was seeable from the window.

A few minutes later, Seirin walked out, relieved that they didn't have to pay a single yen.

"I think I've eaten too much," Kagami muttered and burped.

"Thanks for the meal~" Riko sang.

"Yeah. DON'T EVER COME BACK!" the owner roared.

"Incredible…" Hyuuga said.

"What a monster…" Furihata muttered.

"But you really saved us," Koganei sighed in relief.

"Okay, let's go home," Riko said. "Is everyone here?"

"...Kuroko-kun isn't here," said Hazuki.

"No way… he's gotta be at the tail of the group as usual… right…?"

"...He's not there."

I think they went in this direction… Hazuki thought, recalling what she saw outside the window then slipping off just like Kuroko did.

"Jeez, I can't believe no one noticed him leave!" Riko ranted. "I know he's got no presence, but this is ridiculous!"

"Doesn't Kuroko have a phone?" Koganei asked.

"I can't believe he just disappeared just like that!" Hyuuga said. "What is he, a puppy!?"

"Let's just hurry up and find him!" Riko said then began muttering under her breath. "Maybe I'll put him in a Boston Crab hold when we do."

"Geh!?"

"Well… it's been a while since we talked like this," Kise said as the both of them walked into a close playground. "How's… your injury?"

"I'm alright." Kuroko replied.

Kise climbed onto a park bench and sat down fiddling with a basketball. "By the way, I'm seen Midorimacchi."

Kuroko blinked and then wavered a bit. "Hmm… honestly I don't get along with him very well."

"Haha, now that you mention it, you're right. But… that left hand of his is no joke. Especially on good days for cancers."

"...Yes."

"Well, it seems like he just came to watch today's game. Anyways…" Kise leaned back and balanced himself on the backrest. "You turned me down today to join Kaijou and then I lost today's match. It's just one thing after the other in my high school life." He placed the basketball on his forehead.

"I didn't expect you to say yes, but I was serious you know?"

"You'll fall over," Kuroko pointed out.

"...Sorry."

Kise leaped down and gave an easy going smile. "I'm kidding."

"Anyways, I wanted to ask you for your reasons. Why…" Kise threw the ball to Kuroko. "Did you disappear just after the final of the middle school tournament?"

Unbeknownst to them, a familiar brown haired girl was listening quietly behind the tree.

"Sheesh," Kagami groaned in annoyance.

"Hey over here!" A student behind the fence waved at a friend for him to pass the ball.

He paused for a moment and smiled with nostalgia. Street ball huh… I haven't seen that in Japan for a while.

Kagami then blinked as he noticed Kise and Kuroko standing in the park next to the ball court.

"I'm not sure."

"Eh?" Kise asked in confusion.

"It's true that I began to question Teiko's policies because of the championship game. I felt that we lacked something," Kuroko said, telling a white lie.
"Sports are all about winning. What could be more important than that?"

"I thought the same thing until recently… so I don't know what exactly is wrong with 'just winning', but all I know is that I hated basketball at the time."

Hazuki blinked in surprise.

"The feel of the ball."

"The sound of the basketball shoes."

"The swish of the net."

"I started playing because I loved the game. That's why I really thought Kagami-kun and Fujidana-san were amazing when I met them."

"Kuroko is right there," Hazuki pointed at him, startling him.

"It's not the time to be scared. Of course it's better if the opponent is strong rather than weak, right?! Let's go!" Kagami shouted.

"I hate to say it, but it's been on my mind all day," Hazuki looked at Kagami seriously. "Why do you play basketball if you don't like it?"

Hazuki stared intently at Kagami with pondering eyes.

"Tsk, I just want to play a more serious game that really gets me going..."

"WELL, then why didn't you say so?"
"HAH?"

"It's just been on my mind. Doing something that you're talented at, but not enjoying yourself... your words have been stuck in my mind for the entire day. Well, it's a relief to know that you love basketball at least."

Kuroko recalled the first time he met the two and when they decided their goals in Seirin.

"Kagami-kun truly loves basketball from the bottom of his heart. It seems like he's had some rough times with it, but he takes it more seriously than anyone else. And Fujidana-san… I don't know her very well and I don't know why she chose to join a boy's basketball team, but she, without a doubt, loves it as much as Kagami-kun. Maybe even more so."

I remember the day when we had to declare our promises for Seirin's basketball team… and although I didn't understand what she was talking about, the reasons why she's in Seirin is definitely important to her, Kuroko thought.

Hazuki looked at the sky with a smile on her face at the thought of such praise coming from her usually deadpan friend and teammate.

"I… I don't get it," Kise lowered his head.

"But I can say one thing. Even if you think so highly of Kagami because of his attitude towards basketball there's going to be a day the two of you will part ways."

"...!?" Kagami frowned.

"The biggest difference between me and the other four isn't our physical abilities. They all have a special skill that even I can't imitate."

Hazuki frowned a bit. So he was telling the truth when he told us he was the 'weakest' of the Generation of Miracles. Still...

"I realized that during today's game that he's still learning."And just like the Generation of Miracles, he has a unique ability. For now, he's still an immature challenger. He's just playing recklessly and challenging strong players. But one day, when he reaches the level of the Generation of Miracles, he'll grow apart from his team."

Hazuki immediately began stepping out from the trees.

"When he does, do you really believe he'll stay the same person?"

Crackle. She looked at the crushed twig beneath her foot. She then looked up and saw the both of them look at her sudden arrival.

"Hey," Hazuki waved.

"You… were listening?" Kise asked.

"Well… I don't know how to explain this.

"But…"

Hazuki pointed at the opposite direction as gallantly as a cliche.

"Hueh? I'm not going to fall for that!"

"OI! You bastard!"

"EH!?"

Kagami charged in and knocked Kuroko down. "Why'd you disappear like that!? And Fujidana, why did you suddenly disappear too?"

"Well no one was looking for Kuroko-kun, so I thought I'd have a lead start…" she nodded seriously with her arms crossed then pointed at Kagami. "Just like in detective manga stories! The detective is always ahead of the police!"

"That comparison makes no sense!" Kagami chopped her on the head.

"Ow."

Kagami nodded towards Kise in greeting and nonchalance as if repudiating two of his teammates like a mother would scold her kids was normal.

"Were you listening?" Kise asked Kagami warily, refering to his earlier conversation with Kuroko.

"Like hell I was! Why the heck did you kidnap Kuroko all of a sudden!?"

"Hah?! Isn't it alright if I talk to him for a little while?!"

"We can't go home because of that! The coach won't shut up about responsibility or something!

Kuroko rubbed his back from the whap Kagami gave him while Hazuki walked over and helped him up.

While Kagami continued to rant, some high schoolers walked into the neighboring court.

"Damn it, it looks like there's some trash over there."

Kuroko glanced at the other side of the fence.

"Come on you've had enough right?" One of the thugs mocked in arrogance. Give someone else a turn."

"We just got here!" One of the original students retorted. "Wait your turn!"

"AAAH!?" Another thug 2 yelled to intimidate them. "Our turn!?"

"Now, now," Thug 3 (he seemed to be the leader of the group) patted Thug 2 on the shoulder. "...Why don't we settle this with some basketball?"

The original students looked at each other with uncertainty and some confusion.

"Who are those thugs?" Kagami glared at the group with dislike.

When the game first started, the original trio were doing well against the newcomers.

"Alright!" One shouted when he made a goal.

"Wow, not bad!" Thug 3 smirked. "We might lose."

A minute later, the trio were ready to score again.
"And BLOCK!" Thug 4 leaped in.

"Hey! What was that!" The boy who got knocked over shouted. "It's three on three!"

"What? I said we'd play basketball. I didn't say anything about three on three."
"What the hell, that's unfa—"

Thug 3 slammed his foot into the boy's stomach.

"Huh? What'd you say? Sorry… I didn't hear you! Come on, say it again!"

"What a second, where's Kurokocchi?" Kise asked.

"Where's Fujidana!?"

"No matter how you look at it, it's unfair," Kuroko said as he spun the ball and scalded Thug 3's nose with its high speeds.

"HOT!?"

"Who the hell are you!? Where'd you come from!?"

Hazuki popped out from behind Kuroko.
"Wharg!" The thugs all startled at the arrival of a second outsider.

"This isn't basketball," Kuroko stared at them.

"And violence is bad," Hazuki put her hands on her waist and huffed. "Are you guys really that desperate to pull a five on three?"

"What's your problem little girl!? Huh?!" Thug 2 yelled.

Hazuki ignored him and gave a hand to the unfortunate guy who got kicked in the stomach.

"What the hell are they doing!?"
"Kurokocchi!?"

"Haa!? What the hell are you saying bastard?" Thug 2 grabbed Kuroko's collar.

Hazuki immediately jabbed Thug 2 in the armpit. Thug 2 yelped with a high pitched squeak as he clutched the place she stabbed him, looking completely ridiculous.

"Hahaha!" Thug 3 laughed. "I can't believe there's still guys like that these days. It's alright, let's settle it with basketball. And you, girl. Don't think about running away right now like a coward."

"Mind if we play too?" Kise asked.

"Why did you two get involved, idiots?!" Kagami glared at the pair and grabbed their heads.

"H-H-H-Huge!" The thug group yelled. "What the hell!?"

"Five on three is fine. Bring it on," Kagami said.

"Wait a second!" Thug 3 hastily demanded. "This girl started this, she has to play!"

"What?" The guy who kicked down retorted. "That's not fair!"

"Yeah, yeah!" Thug 2 nodded vigorously.

"Hold on a second—" Kise began trying to argue.

"You two guys stay out of this!"

"That's right! Why did you leave me out?" Hazuki huffed.

"..."

"What?!"

Kagami turned to her immediately. "Hold on a second, which side are you on?!"

"I want to play! Why did you leave me out? Are you saying that I'm useless?"

"That's not the point here!" Kise said.

"But that's not fair."

"We're going nowhere with this!"

Somehow… I'm getting a feeling that we're being dissed… the thug group thought.

"Well," Hazuki pointed at the thug group as if everything was settled. "It looks like it's going to have to be five V.S. four. I mean, unless you guys are afraid of being beaten by a girl in basketball~"

"What'd you say!?" The thug group yelled at her.

"That's bound to get their egos…" One of the trio whispered.

"What'd you say!?"

"Wow… I don't even know what's going on anymore."
"Fujidana-san is… good at having others follow her pace isn't she?"
"Kuroko. Just shut up."

The basketball was thrown into the air and immediately stolen by Kuroko to Kagami. Kagami passed to Kise and he quickly scored. On the next round, Kise faked his way around the thugs and passed to Kuroko who tapped it to Hazuki.
"Get her! She's the weakest of the bunch!"

Three of the thugs circled around her.

I haven't practiced this for a long time... a street court has a rougher surface, but...

She immediately faked her way around Thug 2 and then slid low, getting past the other two. She then sped past the last two thugs and shot, gaining them a perfect two points.

"What was that!?"

"What the hell?"

Then in a matter of minutes, they won the game, leaving the collapsed the thugs onto the court.

"They… destroyed them…" The trio chorused in awe.

"Amazing…" One whispered as the four of them walked off.

"What were you two thinking!?" Kagami yelled. "Did you guys think you would won if it turned into a fight!?"

"No," Kuroko said. "They would have beaten me up."

"You bastard!"

"Please, look at these guns." Kuroko raised his arm and tried to flex his muscles.

"You don't have any!"

"I don't think he doesn't have any, considering the practice we do," Hazuki raised her arm and tried to compare them. "Hey, you have more than I do!"

"And how does that help the situation!?"

"Well, actually I think we'd have been fine," Hazuki pondered thoughtfully. "Kuroko-kun, you could have just used misdirection to escape if you had to."

"But Fujidana-san, I can't leave you behind," Kuroko frowned slightly at the thought.
"Well it's alright, I can run pretty fast."

"If they caught you it would be five against one!" Kagami smacked his hand against his forehead.

"Er…" Hazuki trailed off.

"Kurokocchi… you and your friends are pretty amazing."

"I thought those guys were terrible. I… just wanted to tell them that," Kuroko frowned and gave an almost invisible pout.

"You should have thought of the consequences first! Fujidana, I'm talking to you too! They wouldn't just have just beaten you up!"

"...Sorry," Hazuki pouted sheepishly since nothing serious happened. "I still think I would have been able to run away though."

"Jeez… and Kuroko!"

"I forgot to think of the consequences."

"Don't give me that crap!"

"I'm sorry."

"You even said that they would have beaten you up!"

"Sorry."

Kise chuckled at the scene of Kuroko and Hazuki getting scolded by Kagami.

"Well, I should get going," Kise flipped his jacket over his shoulder and picked up his bag. Hazuki noticed he had an actual smile on his face now, which contained a uncomplicated happiness he now understood.

"I finally got to play with Kurokocchi," Kise grinned.

"And… Fujidanacchi isn't it?"

"Yep."

"So you're the other person Kurokocchi respects."

Hazuki gave an amused sideways glance to Kuroko. "Is that so?"

"Well I hope we get to play again," Kise said lightly before changing into a slightly more serious tone. "I've been puzzled over something though, and I wanted to ask you this before I leave."

"Where… did you learn your basketball style from?"

Kagami and Kuroko looked at Hazuki with some curiosity as she never told them as well what her basketball past was like.

Hazuki leaned her head to the side thinking of the best way to explain it. "Well… the person who taught me how to play basketball was my brother. We have a hoop to practice at my house, but we usually played in park basketball courts. So you could say that helped me find that style as we went along."

"Huh, that's interesting," Kise said. "I'd like to play against that brother of yours one day."

A smile flickered on her lips.

"You will," she said softly.

"Eh?"
Hazuki shook her head, "It's nothing. See you next time."

"Yeah!" Kise grinned. "And don't think I've forgotten about my revenge Kagamicchi!"

"Keh!? Kagamicchi!?"

"Kise-kun adds 'cchi' to the names of people he respects. That's great for the both of you."

"I don't want that!"
"Don't lose in the preliminaries!" Kise waved.

"...Did you two hear my talk with Kise-kun?" Kuroko asked after Kise left.

"About us parting ways? We don't even get along in the first place," Kagami rolled his eyes and put his hands in his pockets.

"And you're the one who said it was impossible alone right? Besides, standing by the light… is your basketball right?" Kagami added gruffly.

"...Kagami-kun, you say some deep things sometimes."

"Shut up!"

"...You guys…"

They turned to Hazuki who looked positively ashamed.

"I hate to ruin this moment… but we forgot to contact coach."

A moment later, the trio walked out of the park where they finally saw Seirin again.

"There are you are! Sheesh!" Riko yelled then sprinted like a hyena towards Kuroko.

Kuroko could not help but give a mumbled squeak as she lariated him to the ground.

"Uh… Euh!?" Kagami looked in shock.

So... scary... Hazuki thought.

Riko was pulling off her terrifying Boston Crab Hold against the pitiful Kuroko whose entire body began to breaking by the stretching.

"Alright, let's all go home, we've found Kuroko." Hyuuga said as everyone grunted in agreement and calmly followed him as they passed by Kuroko, who was struggling in pain and frantic panic.

"Ka-Ka-Kagami-kun… save… save… me…"

Kagami glanced at Kuroko and gave a snort as he walked behind the others.

"Hey Coach," Hazuki bent down so she could give eye contact to Riko. "Um… how about you lay it off for today?" She pointed at her head to remind the coach that Kuroko was injured.
"Hmph," Riko huffed and got up. "Well, just for today. And don't think this is over!"

Kuroko gave an involuntary twitch on the ground as Riko skipped off.

"Ah… Kuroko-kun, you alive?"

Kuroko shook his head as he kept lying on the ground face-down.

Hazuki could not covering her mouth with a smile as she pulled Kuroko up. "Come on, let's go home."

A few minutes later, they walked to the bus stop.

"So you're alive Kuroko," Kagami said.

"Yes."

A few seconds later, Kagami clutched his armpit in pain while Kuroko patted his hands together as if he had just finished taking out the trash and was cleaning away the debris.

He took my signature move, Hazuki thought, looking at Kagami in concern.

"Kuroko… you bastard!"
"I merely was retaliating because you abandoned me."
"You—"

"Alright, alright," Hazuki interrupted, pushing them both on the bus. "We're not going to be able to get home if we argue like this…"

"You both need to stop arguing!" Hyuuga scolded.

"Haha!" Koganei laughed. "Fujidana-chan is just like a mom!"

"So we're the unruly kids?!"
"That would be you Kagami-kun."

"Hell no! Fujidana, say something!"

"...Koganei-senpai… there's no way I could have kids this big…"

"Are you actually taking him seriously?"
"First years! Sit DOWN!" Hyuuga yelled as the bus began to move.

Riko looked at briefly from the back of the bus and smiled at the bickering of Seirin as she went back to texting.

From: Aida Riko
To: Kiyoshi Teppei

Hey Teppei,

We won today: Kaijou V.S. Seirin! We have some amazing freshmen this year.

From: Kiyoshi Teppei

To: Aida Riko

Yeah~ (* ω)

That's great!

From: Aida Riko

To: Kiyoshi Teppei

Yep! Your sister really is amazing in Seirin!

I wonder where Hazuki's skills come from. Did you teach her?

A certain Kiyoshi Teppei widened his eyes as he looked at his phone.

Riko frowned at her phone. Why was he not replying?

A few seconds later, Hazuki's phone began ringing.

"Hello?" Hazuki answered while the Seirin team kept debating on the childishness of Kuroko and Kagami.

"Hazuki…"

"...Aniki?" Hazuki was slightly surprised, but happy at this unexpected call. Now she could tell him about the match today.
"How are you?" She asked, smiling.

"...Good."

"Grandma and grandpa are doing fine, we're going to visit you this weekend."

"...I'm glad to hear that. Hazuki..."

"Yes?"

"Did you seriously join the Seirin boy's basketball team?"

Ah.

Hazuki had forgotten to tell her brother that 'minor matter' of her joining the Seirin basketball team. Whether it had been an instinct or not, she didn't know, but all the same, she forgot.

"Um… I actually did forget to tell you. Er… so please don't get mad," She braced herself.

"..."

Hazuki widened her eyes. She had almost been expecting him to say something, maybe even yell at her in his funny way, but not this serious silence.

Kuroko turned to her in curiosity at her sudden quietness while the rest of Seirin kept arguing, oblivious.

"Do grandma and grandpa know?"

"...Yes, they did have to sign the papers after all."

"I'm surprised that they agreed."
"It did take a while for them to agree," Hazuki said quietly. "Grandma insisted no the whole time… until Grandpa finally agreed."

"Dear, are you serious?"
"...This is the first time she's asked something of us like this."
"But…"
"Hazuki…I'm going to ask you one thing. Are you doing this for Teppei?"

"...I—"

"How do you go to school? With your agorapho—"

"I have a shortcut."

"..."

"...Hazuki…are you doing this for—"

"Aniki," Hazuki interrupted. "I'll visit you soon. I'll call you when I get home."

"Hazuki!"

She gave a small laugh.

"Don't worry. I'm having fun~ you know?"

Hazuki pressed the end call button and closed her phone. In a hospital a couple of miles away Kiyoshi listened to the soft dial tone of his phone.

Kuroko patted her on the shoulder.

Hazuki stared at the window, lost in thought.

After a moment of consideration, Kuroko pinched her on the nose.

"Eh… Korkou-kun… I con't breath… why'd you doing tat?"

"This is our stop."

"Ah, sorry," she got up.

"Well, see all of you at school tomorrow," Hyuuga said to Seirin.

"Yes!" Everyone went their respective ways home.

Now going home with the shortcut, Hazuki thought. I haven't been home this way before…

Kuroko tapped her on the shoulder. "Fujidana-san, I'll walk you home."

"Kuroko-kun?" Fujidana asked.

"It's not safe for girls to walk home when it's this late."

Hazuki gave him an amused but grateful smile, "Thanks."

They walked in a comfortable silence as Hazuki began to lead them to the direction of her house.

"How do you feel?"
"Hmm?"

"Winning today in this game."

"Haha, It definitely was something wasn't it? It was my first basketball game ever actually." Hazuki smiled.

"Really?"

"Yep. I haven't joined a basketball team before this. Anyways, are you alright?"

"What do you mean?"

She tapped her forehead, indicated the injury again.

"The doctor said it wasn't too serious. I'll be fine."

"I see," Hazuki said. "That's good. These kind of things... always needs to be checked."

"Since coach strangled me, I'm planning to go to the doctor again tomorrow."

"That is true."

"Fujidana san, haven't we gone past your house?" Kuroko paused, indicating the apartment that he thought he walked her home to.

"Ah no. I don't live here, see?" She pointed at the door sign.

"Fujidana-san, where do you live?"

"...About around the corner."

A moment later, they arrived at a deserted grass clearing with a swing set. It was enclosed by worn cemented walls with wild vines growing around it.

"..."

"Ah... I'm not homeless."

Hazuki walked over and leaped onto the swings. She then began kicking off the ground so she could reach the wall. In one swoop, Hazuki leaped onto the wall like she had done it a thousand times.

With a moment's hesitation, she sat herself down and looked at Kuroko with a curious look.

"Kuroko-kun… you have a lot on your mind don't you?"

"..." Kuroko stared back in silence and tilted his head.

"Well, it's not like it's any of my business, but if you need anything, just ask," she said simply while swinging her legs like a little kid. "You keep to yourself a lot."

"...Thank you." Kuroko said.

"But the same goes for you too."

Hazuki looked at Kuroko, slightly surprised again.

"You're also kind of mysterious too Fujidana-san. The main one being that you won't show me where your house is."

"...I was caught huh..." ...As expected of the phantom 6th man... or rather, as expected of Kuroko-kun...

"...Sorry..." I feel like I'm getting scrutinized...

"It's alright," Kuroko got up. "See you tomorrow."

"See you."

When Kuroko finally turned around the corner, Hazuki felt a funny sense of guilt.

She stood up on the wall with her back against the clearing. Hazuki then leaped onto the other side where the closest landing was a shaky roof of a one-story house, several meters down. She landed with surprisingly little noise and balance as slid to the other side, ready to jump to the next roof.

"Sorry Kuroko-kun... but this shortcut took me a year to master..."

...And I don't think I can explain why the door sign of my house says Kiyoshi and not Fujidana...

For once, Kuroko was stumped. He'd never had this much trouble understanding a person before.

A few minutes ago...

After he left the clearing, he looked back around the corner in curiosity and concern, wondering how Hazuki would get home.

When Hazuki jumped off the wall (and Kuroko ran back into the clearing by instinct), the last he expected was his friend to begin skipping and sliding over the roofs like a ninja, as if jumping down several meters and across roofs was no cause for concern.

"Fujidana-san... is kind of strange."

Meanwhile, Hazuki's mind was on a slightly different (and in her opinion, more important) matter. She she hopped off the last roof and onto the lower concrete walls, took out her phone and gave it a long apprehensive stare.

This is bad... I can just imagine the many 'baka's' Teppei is going to rant at me...

I'm working on it... my updates. Really... I'm SORRRY! I think I'm going crazy... (SAT prep, AP classes and next year, the IB diploma... is anyone taking IB classes?) (x_x)

On a more important note, I'm seriously considering changing the title (sounds too much like a certain Taylor Swift song which is pretty misleading..) I have a couple of ideas, and might make a poll. So if you guys are up for it, I'll make a poll soon. If not, then I will 80% likely change it on my own! So hopefully you guys won't be too confused if the title in you email inbox for a fanfiction update is unfamiliar... XD