Chapter One

Late Introduction

By the time I arrived, Yosen was clustered with many students, from nervous freshmen to uncaring third years.

I panted, my hands on my knees. I had been running from the train station - mind you it was very far - since 7:30 and by now it was probably around 8. A cold breeze passed, I pulled my scarf up slightly, feeling a bit cold.

My hands rubbed my shoulders, shuddering as I had stayed in the lukewarm heat in Kyoto for far too long. Better get use to it, I grumbled under my breath as I continued my way, planning an excuse for my tardiness.

That was when it struck me.

Didn't Coach Araki told me to come at Gym at exactly 8'clock!? Horror spread through me and I jolted into a run, shoving and brushing pass anyone who was in the way.

"Hey, watch where your going!"

"Excuse me!"

"Hey!"

"Sorry!"

"Geez, people these days!"

"So sorry!"

"You're late, Matsukawa!"

Coach's firm eyes stared down at me as I bowed down multiple times, saying sorry. Coach Araki was a scary woman, wielding a shinai - how is that even allowed in school - that struck fear in even the most toughest players in the basketball team.

You do not want to mess with her.

"I'm so sorry, Coach!" I hear Coach sigh heavily, bonking me in the head with her shinai. It hurt, but as far as my experience goes, it was light compared to the other hits.

"It's fine, just remember to not be late next time," She said in a strict tone but I nodded, a admired expression was plastered in my face. You have no idea just how much I really admire this lady. I'd wanna be just like her one day. "anyway, you can go ahead- I'll tell you after school about the tryouts, you can tell your homeroom teacher that your late because of me." She waved her hand in dismissal.

"Thank you so much, Coach!"

"Just go, already."

When I did arrived at my designated homeroom, Class 2-B, it looked like I interrupted an introduction.

"Uhh..." A sheepish look crossed my face as I could feel my homeroom teacher's stern eyes, my classmates curious glances and that one kid standing gaze on me.

I bowed for what seemed like the 50th time and I apologized for who knows how many time. "I'm sorry for intruding and please pardon my tardiness, I was summoned by Coa- Araki-sensei to do some errands for the club." Lies. Complete Lies, Hitomi.

Even from where I stood, even when students murmur and whispered, I could literally hear the teacher's tired sigh.

"I'm guessing your Matsukawa, Hitomi?" That question even made the whispers increase as I nodded in confirmation, the teacher then gestured to a nearby seat in the front.

"Matsukawa? Isn't she the Yankī (1) from Hoshino Middle School?"

"Huh? That's impossible, she looks completely harmless!"

"Yeah, that's true...maybe a relative?"

"Probably."

I sat down at my seat and judging by the nervous glances and my assigned seat, I can tell that I'll be on his radar for the year.

Not much of a surprise.

Basketball Tryouts always started 10 minutes after school was let out.

I arrived a few minutes earlier than the players, with the regulars already present. I made my way towards them, sitting down next to the only blonde in the group.

Fukui nodded in direction in acknowledgement, though a mischievous glint gleamed in his eyes which I nervously narrowed my eyes at him, stomach churning. Out of all the regulars, Fukui was the second least person I get along with, not because he was annoying (he's also that) but because he knew too much of me. In fact, he use to be in the same gang as me. In fact, he was the former Banchou (2).

"Ahem."

I snapped my head up to Coach's direction, hearing her clear her throat.

"Most of you already know what to do but, Wei, Matsukawa," She paused, glancing at me and the chinese boy on the far right. "You probably had no idea what to do, so I'll cut to the chaste. You two, as well as the others, will be judging the players. Matsukawa."

"Hai?" I waited for further instructions, they seem easier enough.

"As the manager, you will writing down every single analysis you as well as the boys' had made, understood?" The Coach smiled, probably at the sweat that started to appear on my forehead.

I was good writer and a good analysis, but I tend to be very forgetful - a flaw I despise - and I can tell that the Coach want these analysis detailed.

My poor hands.

Sitting on one of the bleachers, my eyes darted from one male to another, my pencil jotting down efficiently. Males varying from freshmen to sophomores, chatted away as they wondered if they were going to make it. Their hopes on the top spot, the Team. Not that hoping was going to help them get the top spot.

As my mother use to say; "One must be absolute to win."

Though only 10 students had entered this year, I can only bet that five will be chosen to enter.

One of the students, a tall, purple-haired male, stood out excessively, secretly munching on a snack. Even if I barely had any knowledge in basketball, I can tell you that he has 70% chance of actually making it, especially with his long limbs and tall height.

1. Purple haired male with eating habit: Height estimated to 200cm with extremely long limbs that seem to have great reflexes judging by the slightly muscles showing through. He would a good Center. 70% and Up chance of being a good player.

I averted my eyes away from him, seeing nothing special about the him other than his giant-like appearance. That was when I spotted the same kid from this morning, I remember his name was; Himura Tetsuya? Probably not, but I like to think I'm close.

2. Himura Tetsuya(?): Estimated height to be around 180cm, looks like to have great reflexes and judging by his limbs; he's a shooter with fakes, probably. 50% to 80% chance of getting into the team. Expect position to be a Shooting Guard.

I sighed tiredly, feeling my wrist sting slightly but before I could even silently complain about my wrist, the loud sound of a whistle rang throughout the gym, catching everyone's attention.

"I am Araki Masako, the coach of the Basketball Team. As of today, you're abilities will be tested to see if you are worthy on the spot of the team." Coach's voice boomed, eyes darting from one male student to another, calculating their reaction.

Coach is seriously cool.

Next to Coach were the actual basketball team, each of them wearing a serious look on their face. Each held an aura that gave off an strong impression on them, indicating the newbies of who they are.

I guess everyone else looks cool too, but not as cool as Coach.

"We will be having a match with freshmen vs the sophomores, then the winning team vs the Regulars. Got it?" Everyone nodded and her eyes glinted. "Be aware, even if you loss to the winning team, there is a chance that you will be in the Regular Team." She warned as the freshmen and sophomores lined up.

Ball in hand, she toss the ball high enough in the air, blowing the whistle. "START!"

I grinned, feeling excitement pump my veins.

Let the game begin.

When I was just alone in the bleachers, I found myself accompanied by the regular team. A loud and boisterous bunch in my opinion, especially the gorilla-face male, Okamura.

Okamura was the captain of the team, a sweet male but his facial features make any person - boy or girl - feel appalled. Even me, who usually defend the guy from Fukui and Wei's usual teasing that can go on through the entire time.

"There was this girl that dropped her wallet this morning so when I brought it up back to her, she immediately ran away!" Now the guy was just exaggerating there, she may have been in hurry, like I was.

"She's probably shock that their was a gorilla talking to her." Fukui interjected. No matter how mean that was, it could probably be that reason too.

"That's seriously harsh! Is that how you speak to your captain!?" In my mind of imagination, an arrow shot through Okamura's heart as he scolded Fukui who looked like he didn't even give a shit.

"Thou must get rid of that chin and side burns to get my respect..." Wei, the tall, apathetic chinese transfer said in his usual tone of voice.

"How is that even possible!? And 'Thou'!?"

Poor Okamura-kun.

I twitched, even with the intention to ignore them, the temptation was too strong and - much to my dismay - it was making me lose focus on the match. I can't really afford that.

I sighed. "Okay guys, I think that's enough..." But the banter continued on, ignoring me. It got louder and louder after every attempt I made.

Okay, these guys are just getting me angry.

I inhaled then exhaled, raising my clench fist up-

"Hey... Matsukawa-chan, have any data on those two?" Okamura suddenly spoke, stopping me in my mid punch. He blinked as he glanced at my fist. "What are you...?"

Shit. I immedietly dropped my fist, chuckling nervously. "Oh, justing flexing my arm since I wrote too fast... Haha..." There was no way I'm actually letting them know, especially Okamura. The guy is probably going to use me as shield even more than usual.

Okamura nodded slowly, furrowing his eyebrows in suspicion. "Okay... But anyway, those two right over there- that guy with the purple hair and the one with the mole- any data on them?"

Shouldn't they do make some analysis too? Why are they even shoving this workload to me, exactly? I thought with an internal grumble but decided to shrugged it off. I could always use this as some sort of black mail against them one day.

"Oh, well..." I glanced down at what I have. "The purple haired guy, his tall height and long limbs give him an advantage and his reflexes are fast, something I couldn't even believe. He seems to know the flow of the game. But," I paused, glancing at his droopy eyes,"he seems to barely have any motivation..."

Naturally talented but lacks passion. A typical but sad sight to see, really.

"Ah, I can't help but feel like I've seen the one with the purple hair before..." Fukui added, trailing as his eyes narrow, focused on the tallest person in the gym.

I couldn't blame him, his height was unbelievably, taller than Wei and Okamura even, probably skilled as well.

Then I glanced back at the court, my eyes specially on my classmate. "Himura or whatever his name is, is definitely a shooter. His fakes are considered almost perfect as well, especially that one shot against the purple haired guy, it had went pass his hand like a breeze!" I said, my voice slightly raising at the adrenaline of the game.

"Oh! I think I know this guy now!" Fukui snapped his fingers, a flicker of recognition gleamed in his eyes as he pointed at the purple haired. "He's Kiseki no Sedai's only Ceneter, Murasakibara Atsushi."

"Kiseki no Sedai?" As someone whose new to Basketball, I have no idea whose this "Kiseki no Sedai" are. I was too busy basking at my own glory to even care about them. But I'm guessing this "Kiseki no Sedai" are strong so guess that gives Murasakibara more chance to actually get in.

All that's left to find out is Himura(?).

Fukui nodded, noticing my confusion. "Yeah, Kiseki no Sedai are a group of players last year from Teikou. They all won the Middle High Winter Cup three years in row just by themselves." He paused, a sly smirk graced his lips. "What's this? Didn't you say so yourself that you know everything about Basketball?" A vein popped on his cheek, smirking at me.

He still remembers!

I flushed, averting my eyes as I remembered the conversation clear as day.

"Oh, if it isn't good ol' Mito?" A blonde haired male marched his way up to the dark-haired girl who gave him a pointed look. "Didn't expect to see you join the Basketball Club."

"I'd like to say the same thing, Bunchou." The girl said, clutching the notebook in hand.

"Why join the Basketball Club? If anything, I thought you'd still be a yankī." He grinned sly as an theory popped in his mind. "Oh? Or maybe you..."

"That's not it at all!" She interjected loudly, a dark flush on her cheeks as she noticed the male's expression. "I only joined because I thought it was interesting and I know all about it...!"

"Oh really?" He raised an eyebrow in suspicion, that was hard to believe, really. As far as he remembered, the girl can easily forget everything so it sounds impossible for her to actually know everything about Basketball.

"Yes!"

"Ya sure?"

"I am definitely sure!"

Karma seriously seems to despise me.

I glanced back at the game, the score was 27 to 18 with freshmen in the lead, thanks to Murasakibara. The latter had barely even moved outside the ring in fact, he simply stayed there, blocking every shot, destroying every attempt execpt for Himura(?)'s occasional superhuman shots as he let the freshmen show off and score for the team.

On the other side, the sophomores were panting hard from the run and gun game, as they repeatedly past to Himura, despite the fact of it was sad, he was probably their only hope of winning against the freshmen. Pride as being seniors was getting crushed at every shot. But as they go on, the freshmen finally had a grasp on what was going on and had finally slapped and intercepted the balls during passes.

Even an amateur such as myself can easily tell that the second years were to doomed to fail.

29 to 23.

As one freshmen was about to shoot the last shot, an ear-jerking sound rang the entire gymanisium.

I winced, not used to the cringe-worthy sound.

Even the others, after spending years with Coach, weren't so use to the sound as they should have been.

"I have seen enough," Coach stated, gesturing me to come over and I obliged."Matsukawa, suggestions?" She asked and I nodded, showing her the notebook which was full of notes of each and every player.

"Murasakibara Atsushi, Himura Tetsuya or was it Himuro Tatsuya? And lastly No. 7, Okouchi Ryoma." Coach nodded at my choice before giving the group of males a cold, hard stare.

Some shivered openly, some gulped, some sweated, and some; simply stayed calm under her stare. A feat that hadn't been seen since one of the old and former starters, Hanai Takuto, had graduated last year.

"Then, Murasakibara, Himuro, Okouchi, Katsuragi and Saeki- Welcome to the Basketball Club."

Thank you so much for reading!

Disclaimer: I don't own KUROKO NO BASKET.

A/N: Hello, Hello! So Sorry about the inconvenience as I decided to read the First, ORIGINAL chapter of the story I found it quite uninteresting and some of you must have also agreed with me so I decided to rewrite it in an entirely new way, I apologize once more for the inconvenience.

I APPRECIATE ALL THE CRITIQUE/REVIEWS/FAVOURITES/FOLLOWS!

NOTE: If there is anyone willing to do, I am currently in search of a Beta Reader. However do not expect to be chose you immediately.

(1) - Yanki in translation; Delinquent Youth.

(2) - Banchou or Bunchou? I don't know but I'm pretty sure it was Bunchou and I believe it means Gang Leader.

Review, please! Be it Flame, Critique or a Compliment! I appreciate all!