Chapter 15

The "Generation of MIrales" amounts to the strongest ever starting members rumoured to be from Teioku and who have had sweeping victories in the district preliminaries straight from the opening match. After that, they've continued gaining easy victories. And at all their tournaments, would clinch victory without fail. Even so, with all of this, it seems wind wasn't in their favour… This is what will be told now. This story starts on the next day after Teikou's qualification in their opening match.

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Currently, all of them are eating inside the cafeteria celebrating, sort of. "For qualifying on the preliminaries opening match without breaking a sweat! Congratulations-!" Satsuki's happy mood is instantly destroyed by the lack of energy of their responses "Thanks." Was Aomine's lazy reply "That's right." Midorima just followed Aomine's reply and said in the same tone of voice. "Why are you so downhearted!?" Satsuki's chargined face clearly told them that she was unhappy. "Rather, why are you so high- spirited?" 'The team even won the championship last year, you know.' Thought Aomine while looking at Satsuki "It's also something normal." Aomine finished, completely raining on Satsuki's parade.

"…"

"Even though, Kurokocchi, Hanakocchi and Harukocchi have been all happy since yesterday…" Kise said looking at the three, who was practically glowing in happiness. "It's because it was their first time experiencing winning in a regular game after all…" Aomine said sweatdropping, thinking 'Tetsu's been in severe practice games before after all.' Akashi turns to look at Haruko who is still in her own little world , he couldn't help but look at her with sadness and loneliness in his eyes that if you weren't looking would completely miss them, none of them aside from Satsuki caught the look in his eyes and frowned in confusion. 'Haruko, I'm sorry but there will come a time where I have to leave you, because of HIM' Akashi thought while clenching his fist before replying to Aomine's earlier comment "Well' of course we should be happy to have won, but it doesn't mean we should relax. Also let me finish with this, I have a proposition. It's obvious that right now our team is strong, according to the senpai, it'd be safe to say we are the strongest ever." Akashi pauses to let it sink in. "? Is there a problem with that?"

Akashi continued and ignored the question for now "We were told that by always clinching victory in games, our motivation might start to fall down, even so the director told us it was common courtesy to always give our best against our opponents." Akashi started, remembering their conversation earlier. "Therefore, I want to assign some assignments. I'd say those will prove pretty simple for us. It might change aaccording to the opponent but, on a one game basic, each of us can only score 20 points maximum." Akashi finished, looking at each of them to show how serious he is. "This seems interesting? It'll be fun, Right, Aominecchi!" Kise broke the silence with his cheerful voice, and turns to look at Aomine grinning "Ah… somehow it seems it'll be a real drag…" Aomine said lazily, meanwhile Haruko and Satsuki was struck in a sudden feeling of comprehension and dread. Their worst fears are beginning, something they didn't know, yet. "Huh? It seems like this doesn't please you? Usually you'd be fired up of such a prospect." Kise asked Aomine, confusion lining his voice. "It's because I don't really care as long as we win…" Aomine drawled while eating.

"You're free to decline if want to do it." Akashi began, as Aomine turned to him looking chargined. "But let me tell you, I'd say that right now, the person who'd be most likely candidate for drop in motivation would be you. It shows in the manner of your playing. As a scorer who doesn't attach importance to the points you've obtained, your mood might affect the team's morale too." Akashi finished, ignoring Aomine's look.

Aomine just look sadly to the side and let out a sigh. "…alright. I'll agree to your deal." Kuroko, Hanako, and Haruko took a look at Aomine noticing the slight change in him, but kept quiet for now. The three sent queasy looks at each other but kept quiet. Haruko remembered something or rather someone so she turns to ask Hanako when she didn't see him. "Hana-chan, where is Shigure?" Hanako nearly choked on her drink. Concerned, Haruko quickly pat Hanako behind. After she finished, Hanako turned her incredulous eyes to Haruko, testing if she was joking, however she only received a raised eyebrow. Sighing in defeat she answered "Haru-chan, just how dense are you? Shigure-san transferred to other school a week after you and Akashi-kun became an item." Haruko look shocked, wondering why "Eh? Why would he transfer, isn't he happy here?" Hanako gave up, that girl really is dense, hell, the aliens might already be roaming on Earth that whereas everyone already knows, and she is the only one who didn't. "He said his father wants to move out and he wants Shigure-san to come." Haruko still looks confused but only just a little. "Why didn't he tell me?" Hanako just shrugged, having a hint of the reason why, but stayed silent.

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After that, Teikou clinched the victory in the tournament preliminaries without breaking a sweat, their scores ranging from 90 to 101. However, one day everything is about to change.

"Aomine-kun isn't coming…?" Kuroko said, surprised "Did he catch a cold or something?" he asked Kise who shrugged "How should I know? I can't join him by phone." Behind them stood Hanako and Haruko; the latter holding a clipboard, sent each other worried looks, they couldn't help the feeling that something bad is going to happen, soon. Midorima who watched this silent exchange turned to Satsuki "Momoi, have you heard anything about this?" however Satsuki also looked troubled "Sorry, I have also no idea of what's going on…" it was silent before Akashi broke it "Anyway, he'll eventually tell us the reason, he'll spill the beans." But they still look worried so Haruko turned to Akashi "It's just… it's just unusual for Aomine-kun to skip on training… he loves basketball right?" Haruko said softly but it was still heard by everyone.

It turned quiet again, everyone deep in thought before Murasakibara offered lazily with just barely a hint of worry "Maybe he'll be coming soon?" Haruko didn't answer, the feeling of something bad going to happen is growing worse, so she just nodded but still looking uneasy; specially Kuroko.

However the actual reason was that he'd played hooky. After that, he attracted even more attention on himself. Little by little, the times he came to training grew more and more spare.

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"Prrrrrr… Prrrrrr…" the sound of phone ringing as Kuroko calls his childhood friend, Haruko was together with Akashi to take her home, he kept walking until "Oh, Kuroko! It's unusual for you to call me instead of sending a mail." A male voice on the other end said, sounding surprised "Can I talk to you now?" Kuroko wasted no time in beating-around-the-bush as he quickly said what he wanted "Yeah! What's wrong?" the male quickly replied "The thing is…"

And so Kuroko quickly told his friend what happened, while sitting on a bench near the park. "…sigh… your ace is playing hooky, huh." "What do you think about it?" Kuroko asked, sounding a little worried. The male didn't reply for a while, thinking but coming up with nothing. "I don't really know… it's quite complicated… why did you ask me?" he said the last sentence with a sweatdrop. "You're strangely similar to Aomine-kun, that's why…" Kuroko answered bluntly "What are you saying!? Don't compare me to him!" he almost yelled to Kuroko while adding silently in his mind 'I don't even know him.' He whined childishly before turning serious once again. "…hm. I don't know all the specifics, but from what I've heard it seems to be a different situation than with Haizaki. I don't think he's come to hate basketball, right? Rather, I think he loves it more than anyone, so, why do you think he doesn't come to training?" the serious talk was brought down by Kuroko who still didn't have a clue "? What do you mean…" his voice clearly said how puzzled he is. "It's a lead to his reason for skipping! I'd said this is quite obvious. Until now how many has he helped you? This time, it's your time to help him. That's what you should do as his teammate." Kuroko remained quiet as his friend continued "… yes. Ah, also, I only have 2 matches left to win. After that, like I promised you, I won't lose! ... Though I wonder if it's feasible against Teikou?" for a moment Kuroko didn't answer, however when he did he quickly said goodbye "Yes' of course. Thank you very much. … see ya." Ogiwara Shigehiro, Communication end.

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Haruko and Akashi are walking towards her house, though the route is different from the one she and Kuroko always walked to. It was quiet as neither of them said anything, Haruko wants to ask Akashi badly but she didn't have the courage, noticing that they're almost at her house she takes a deep breath, turning to Akashi she hesitantly asked "S-sei? What is our relationship now? Do you still love me? What happened?" after she asked the first question, the courage to ask him grew stronger and by the end of it she looks expectantly at Akashi. Akashi didn't immediately answer, not at all surprised by her outburst. He knows that she will ask him sooner or later for he began acting coldly towards her, it hurt him but as long as she's not safe from HIM, he will continue to be cold to everyone; her specifically and slowly avoid her. Until then, he will plan something that there is no way HE can refuse.

As they reached her front door, Akashi still didn't answer. By the time they were there she was almost giving up, the two of them stand there for a bit before Akashi spun around walking away while saying "It's none of your business." Haruko had tears running down her cheeks, hurt by how cold Akashi's voice is when he spoke to her. The only thought running through her mind is; when did it become like this?

The next day, the GoM are playing again like the other times they did yet, this time, is the time where they'll know something, and that something will start to cut the bond they have with each other, slowly. The ball is in Murasakibara's possession, seeing as he was blocked he passed it to Kuroko who passed it to Aomine. As Aomine shot the ball using his formless shot, instead of his face wearing a smile like each time he played, it was emotionless like the light from his eyes was sapped away by some unknown force. "Whaaaat-!? How could he make such a shot!?" the audience was flabbergasted by the play Aomine showed. "Hmph…" Shirogane's face was thoughtful even when he said that. 'Will it proved to be perfect in the end?'

'This is… impressive, Aomine's serious playing.' The other members thoughts; the ones from second and third string. Having never seen Aomine play so seriously before.

'Even so… why…? Aomine-kun…' Satsuki's face was troubled along with Haruko and Hanako. 'Why is it that you don't look happy at all…?'

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Midorima and Kise are walking on their way home; it was mostly silent until Kise asked a strange question "Lately, hasn't Aominecchi been really scary? He's been playing basketball but didn't seem to have fun!" the last part was exclaimed by Kise; who was feeling frustrated at Aomine. Midorima took a moment to answer Kise "… you've got it all wrong." Kise looks at Midorima in surprise, he thought that Midorima will side with him about Aomine not having fun at basketball, it seems he was wrong. He mused "Ha? What do you mean?" he was a little confused, so Midorima cleared it up for him "He loves basketball more than anyone else, as such there is something he wants more than anyone. That is…" Midorima paused for dramatic effect "A rival that can compete with him on equal terms. Up to now, he's been too strong for others… so, he's been thinking that right now, he's too strong, being overwhelming, he's definitely searching for a rival now. That's why… he must be trying his best with that; he's probably finding basketball boring for now."

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*With Haruko, Aomine and Kuroko*

Aomine, Haruko and Kuroko just finished buying some popsicles and are now on their way to their house when Kuroko finally voiced his concerns "Aomine-kun…" before Kuroko can continue he was cut off by Aomine "Well, in the end, playing basketball isn't that fun anymore, even with all those limitations, I'll need to find something more fitted…" Kuroko and Haruko just stayed silent, upon hearing his last sentence they both looked up with the same determined eyes staring at Aomine's back. "I won't allow this." Kuroko suddenly announced, sticking his uneaten Popsicle into Aomine's uniform. Haruko stifled her laughter; already imagining the look on Aomine's face

"Whaa-!?"

"I'm always doing my best with everyone else, I don't know what you're feeling right now, Aomine-kun… but regardless of your power, you can go easy on other or even make mistakes, but, I'm also an opponent, I won't ever allow it." Hearing Kuroko's words made Haruko want to smack some sense into Aomine. "Kuroko-kun's right, Aomine-kun. No matter who your opponent is, they'll always want to give their best and not be underestimated. The feeling of being underestimated while you're playing seriously is… shameful. After all, who would want to be underestimated?"

"Time up-!" everyone was shouting, the shouts were deafening and yet they couldn't find themselves to care. "Teikou wins-! They've maintained they're rank of strongest by winning all of the matches-!" everyone was happy, even if they're tired they couldn't contain it, specially Kise, Kuroko, Hanako and Haruko as its their first time. While the rest just finds it normal.

*FLASHBACK*

"Regardless of your power, you can go easy on other or even make mistakes, but, I'm also an opponent, I won't ever allow it." Hearing Kuroko's words made Haruko want to smack some sense into Aomine. "Kuroko-kun's right, Aomine-kun. No matter who your opponent is, they'll always want to give their best and not be underestimated. The feeling of being underestimated while you're playing seriously is… shameful. After all, who would want to be underestimated?"

"… Tetsu, Haruko"

Kuroko smile before adding "After all' someone stronger than you will definitely appear one day." The light that was missing in his eyes began to flicker in life again as he grins 'They're impossible' he thought fondly while laughing "…. Ha ha ha"

*FLASHBACK END*

Aomine smiled when he remembered that, so he turned to Kuroko and fist bumped with him, while Haruko, Hanako and Satsuki watched them, the scene warming their hearts and temporarily easing their worries.

On the other side of town, a boy named Ogiwara Shigehiro just received a text from his childhood friend Kuroko Tetsuya. It read: We've won all of our matches. Let's meet in in summer. Ogiwara smiles, glad that his friend won. "Hey, what are you doing, hurry up, Shige!" one of the boy's teammate shouted, breaking him from his thoughts. "Yes, coming right away!" he followed his teammate. They walked for a while before he started complaining. "Ah, it's so hot… summer… it's already feels like summer. It'll come very soon! That time I'll be a starting member, Kuroko." His eyes burned with determination "I'm looking forward to it!"

Then, right at this moment, begins the story of hardships they will face, the sounds of bonds being cut after being played cruelly by fate. The start of everyone's suffering, the start of everyone's nightmare, if only they knew what will happen, then maybe they could prevent it.

Finally finished! So do you like it? Reviews are appreciated as always, if you're confused feel free to ask! Who do you think is "HIM"? What do you think will happen? Though you already know right? Reviews, reviews and reviews! Need them to keep motivated :D

Bye bye~