"RUN FASTER! OR I'LL TRIPLE THE NUMBER OF RUNS YOU HAVE TO MAKE!"

The bellowing voice of Seirin High's student-coach Aida Riko could be heard screaming at her players as they did their usual drills and warm-ups around the court before they actually got to the real training.

"I-Isn't she even more tedious than usual?" Koganei Shinji wheezed, trying to force his aching legs to press on even faster as he jumped to catch the ball before throwing it to Mitobe.

"Don't let Riko hear you say that." Hyuuga warned in a whisper.

"By the way, where's Kuroko?" Izuki Shun asked, glancing around and checking the entire gym just in case. One will never know in the case of Kuroko after all. "I hadn't seen her around yet."

"Oh, she took the day off today for some reason. Something about school project," Hyuga informed his teammates.

"School project!? At time like this!" Koganei said, surprised and shocked. "The match with Kaijo High School is just three days away after all." He said as Hyuuga merely shrugged.

-xXx-

The day of Seirin's match with Kaijo High dawned bright and clear.

The entire Seirin team was all on time, all looking refreshed and eager for their match against a National-level team, and also against a member of the legendary basketball team – the Generation of Miracles.

And as they walked through Kaijo High in search of the gym, the players marveled at the size of the school as well as how big it was. Seirin pales in comparison to Kaijo, as Kaijo is easily nearly three times the size of Seirin.

It could quite easily pass off as a college campus.

"This place is huge." Hyuuga commented as they walked through the school, admiring the different buildings in the school.

Apparently, the sports facilities of Kaijo were in a separate building from the classrooms, unlike Seirin where the sports facilities and classrooms were all in the same building.

"You can really tell when a school is devoted to its facilities." The captain commented, spotting several athletes running on the treadmills in a gym that they've passed by. The gym itself had several on-the-top equipment as well.

Kagami had looked scarier than usual when he had joined up with the rest of the team at Seirin before they had headed to Kaijo High together.

For some reason, his eyes are more bloodshot than usual, and he had bags beneath his eyes.

"You look terrible," Kuroko commented, looking up at Kagami's face.

His eyes are bloodshot and dark, as if some kind of tragedy had happened the night before. Kagami looks away, mumbling. "What was that, Kagami-kun?"

Scowling, Kagami says louder, "I couldn't sleep because I was too excited!" He says, flushing, and Kuroko shakes her head slightly.

POKE

"Itai!" Kagami touched his head as he was just being poked by Kuroko who looked at her with her blue eyes.

"Please be careful with your body more Kagami-kun, you are after all very precious for me." Kuroko said with a very cute emotionless face as Kagami blushed at Kuroko remark.

'T-This girl… S-She is really unbelievab-'

"And please the others too, ok?" Kuroko quickly added, ruining the atmosphere between the two.

'Damn it… Why is this feels so heavy and hurt?' Kagami thought while crying anime tears and grabbing her chest.

Suddenly, Hyuuga groaned. "Oh man, here comes the welcoming committee," he muttered tiredly while looking cross.

Kuroko looked up, only to see Kise running forward extremely fast, still looking like a model in his plain black basketball shorts and his orange tank top.

"Hey~! Kurokocchi~!" He yells, latching onto Kuroko with a quick hug before balancing an arm over her shoulders. "The school grounds of Kaijou are super huge, not to mention totally impossible to navigate. I get lost sometimes! So I came here to show you to the right gym~!" He explains, and Hyuuga grunts.

"Thank you," Aida says in his stead, and Kagami crosses his arms, glaring at him.

"Oi, Kise, I'll beat you today, so you'd better-"

"Kurokocchi, you know my offer is still on the table right this very second, right?" Kise asks, completely disregarding Kagami.

Smoke blows from Kagami's ears as Kise looks at Kuroko seriously.

"I know, Kise-kun," she says honestly. Kise sighs, tears building in his eyes.

"I've cried myself to sleep for the past few days, due to your cruel denial to my wonderful proposal! You know, I've never been denied, especially not by females!" He sobs and wails, clutching onto Kuroko for support.

For her part, Kuroko simply walks, not seeming to pay much attention to the model attached to her hip.

TWITCH

"EXCUSE ME!" Kagami suddenly said, taking Kuroko away from the model.

"Hey~ What's wrong with you?" Kise asked as Kagami glared at the model with angry face.

"I'm sorry, but it seems that you didn't realize but our manager is a bit uncomfortable there, so can you please a bit move away…" He said as sparks flying between their eyes with the teal haired girl between them sighed.

-xXx-

"This is it."

It had been a rather long walk from the school's entrance to the gymnasium where the basketball team always practiced, and like what Kise had mentioned earlier, this is just one of the three gymnasiums that Kaijo High had, since they're a nationally renowned school for their sports teams.

Sounds of shouts and sneakers squeaking on the courts could be heard as they approached the gymnasium.

Seirin was soon greeted with the sight of Kaijo players practicing on one side of the court, with the other side being occupied by some Kaijo players who are obviously their opponents, chatting among themselves.

"We're…playing on half a court?" Riko echoed. "The other side's being used for practice?"

A rather portly looking man in his late forties that is inspecting a clipboard noticed their group just then and approached them. Kuroko recognized the man from Kise's talks about his new high school, and that this man is the basketball coach, Takeuchi Genta.

"You're here. Welcome." Takeuchi greeted them. "I'm the coach, Takeuchi." He then raised a semi-confused eyebrow as he scanned the group, but spotted no one whom he thinks is the coach. "By the way, which one of you is the coach?"

He glanced over the Seirin players. It isn't uncommon for high school teams these days to have player-coaches, usually players that are at National level, as not every school could afford to hire a professional coach to coach the students.

Hence, Takeuchi was very surprised when the girl whom he thinks is the team manager introduced herself as the coach.

"You're not the manager?" Takeuchi spluttered.

Riko frowned. This isn't the first time that an opposing school had mistaken her as a manager, but seriously, this is getting a little old.

"I'm the coach, Aida Riko," she proclaimed. "We look forward to playing with you today!" She gave a polite bow. "By the way, what is this?" She glanced over at the half-court that Kaijo's players were practicing their drills on.

"Exactly what it looks like." Takeuchi stated. "We've only made simple arrangements for today's game."

"Arrangements?" Riko asked, trying to keep her cool.

Takeuchi sighed, "There won't be enough to learn from this game to make it worth watching for the guys sitting out. We're having the other players practice as usual so we don't waste time." He continued on absent-mindedly, apparently missing the looks of anger reflected on the faces of all of the Seirin players. "Despite the arrangements, you'll be playing our regulars. I hope you won't let us triple your score."

A black aura surrounds all the members of the opposing team, but it was mostly centered around Riko and Kuroko.

"They think we suck!" Kagami roared quietly to Kuroko. "They're treating us like a sideshow to their practice!"

Kuroko, while angry herself, placed a hand on the red head back. "Calm down, Kagami-kun. We need to play as a team, or there is not point playing at all. When you get angry, you play like it is yourself against the other team."

Kagami took a deep breath. "Yes, ma'am." He said as the others seirin members sighed.

Kise was in the middle of putting on the top of his basketball uniform, when Takeuchi suddenly shouted at him, "Why are you putting on your uniform? You won't be playing today!"

"Eh, but coach…" Kise began protesting, but the older male cut him off.

"You're on a completely different level from the other aces we've recruited from middle school. It's already unfair with the other players, so if you play, it won't even be a match!" He shouted, and Aida's jaw clenches. She can almost hear Hyuuga's glasses snap and Kagami's fists clench.

Kise turned around to face his opponents, "Sorry, I'm really sorry, but it seems I'll be on the bench! If you just rattle coach a bit, I'm sure he'll put me into play! Sorry if that sounds selfish, but if you can't even get me to play, then you have no right to say that you want to defeat the Generation of Miracles!"

Kagami narrowed his eyes and Kuroko still stayed impassively as she walked toward the coach, "Excuse me, but can we start the game now... Because they are already very warm up now." She said as behind her Seirin members were giving him their killing intent.

-xXx-

"I can't believe these guys! Do they really think they're so much better than us?!" Hyuuga shouted while changing, tapping his foot in annoyance while watching Izuki stalk back and forth on the floor of the locker room.

"Well, they do make it to the Inter high every single year. Also, even though we made it... we got destroyed in the first round. They have every reason to underestimate us," Koganei justified, although even the usually happy cat-boy looks put down.

"That's no excuse for how disrespectful they're being," Izuki stated with a frown, looking deeply upset.

If there's one think Kuroko admires about her admitted favorite senpai, other than his good puns, then it's his empathy and social skills. It makes him extremely respectful and honest; loyal, too.

It's obvious that this situation would upset him.

"There is nothing to it," Kuroko said suddenly, drawing all attention to her-self. "We will just have to show them how incorrect they are through the way we play basketball." A terrifying grin spreads across Riko's face.

"So you have a plan, Kuroko-chan…" RIko asked as Kuroko nodded.

"I have one," Kuroko said as she looked toward Izuki. "Izuki-senpai, first I want you to steal the ball from Kaijou and then Kagami I want you to dunked as hard as you can, that's all."

"That seems a little harsh, says Mitobe," Koganei pipes up, and Riko crosses her arms, clipboard held firmly in her left hand.

"It may seem that way, Mitobe, but did you see the way they acted around us? They think they're going to be able to walk all over us, walk all over Seirin, and encounter no problems on the way. Is that what you want to happen?" She asked calmly, knowing how gentle the silent teenager is.

He looks down, then looks at Koganei and makes a few strange hand gestures.

"Mitobe says that he understands, and that you can go on with Kuroko's plan," Koganei said while smiling, and Kuroko coughed to regain her teammate attention toward her.

"Okay! After they sub Kise-kun in, Kagami-kun will show off the skills that we've been honing for the past week." She said emotionlessly as the Seirin cheered and walked from the changing room.

"Kuroko-chan…" Riko called the manager. "I want you to warm up… If Kagami-kun can't handle Kise alone then it means we must sub you in."

"So we are going with plan-S?" Kuroko asked as Riko nodded, remembering at what happens that day.

-xXx-

SWOSH

Kuroko suddenly took the ball from Riko's hand as her eyes widened in surprise with the skill that the teal haired manager showed.

"Kuroko-chan, as I thought you are really him." Riko said, smiling excitedly. "You are really the phantom sixth player!"

Kuroko nodded her head as she looked down while smiling thinly, "As I thought, I can't deceive your eyes coach…" She said as Riko looked at her.

"Then why?" Riko asked. "You have a skill that was far more than amazing! Hell even I haven't seen any player like you in my life! So why? Why don't you play as player and take a manager position?" She asked as Kuroko looked down as she opened her mouth.

-xXx-

PAT

The hand stopped Kuroko from her thought as she looked at the older girl.

"I'm sorry to force you like this…" She mumbled as the teal haired girl smiled at the older girl.

"It's okay… I already getting used to that." Kuroko said while smiling.

-xXx-

"With that, let the practice game between Seirin High and Kaijo High begin."

The starting players from both teams were quick to line up at the center line, and the referee looked between both teams in confusion as he held the ball under one arm.

Riko had made the team promise that the game would start off with a gigantic bang in revenge for having Seirin play on only half a normal basketball court.

Of course, all the starting players were nervous and scared of her, so they hastily agreed. Kuroko was standing next to brown-haired coach by the bench, clipboard in hand. Just taking one glance at the players of Kaijou's team, Riko could tell that Seirin was outmatched in terms of physical stats.

She grimaced and thought, 'Crap, this doesn't look too good. Their stats are all way above ours! This is a national-level team…'

At tip-off time, the referee blew his whistle and being the tallest player on the court, Kobori was able to throw the ball to Kasamatsu.

The captain of the opposing team casually dribbled and gave out directions to his teammates, but Izuki took the opportunity to quickly steal the basketball. He jogged in the direction of Kaijou's hoop and performed a pass to Seirin's newest player.

Once the ball was in his hands, Kagami dashed forward and dunked it in powerfully–so powerful that when he landed back on the group, he took the hoop down with him. He cheered, pumping his fists in the air, not realizing that he was holding a little something extra. Everyone in the immediate vicinity stared incredulously at the fiery redhead.

"He… took the hoop down…" One of the members of Kaijou's basketball club, who was currently warming up, muttered. Hearing this, Kagami glanced at his hands.

"GWOH!" He looked just as shocked as everyone else, "Whoa, this thing is bigger than my head!"

Izuki analyzed the backboard and noted, "The screws are rusted… this means we're screwed."

Off on the side, Kuroko looked slightly worried and ran over with Riko to apologize to Kaijou's coach.

Riko mischievously smiled as she spoke, "Sorry, but I'm afraid we won't be able to play like this. Could we use the full court?"

"We truly are sorry for the inconvenience." The blue-haired girl added, even as she pushed down Kagami's head in a bow – not an easy thing to do, considering the fact that Kagami is at least two heads taller than she is. "Since we can't play like this, could we use the full court?"

At this moment, Takeuchi looked as if he were about to burst a nerve.

-xXx-

Meanwhile, Kise was laughing his ass off even as he watched the other players of Kaijo clean up the court to continue the practice game, with Takeuchi finally using the full court for the match instead of a half-court.

"Now that's what I call a beating." Kise finally managed to stop himself laughing long enough to say. "I've never seen the coach like that before."

Kagami growled. "You should tell him that that's what he gets for underestimating us!"

Kuroko looked between the two boys before turning towards Kagami. "Kagami-kun, how much do you think that a replacement hoop will cost?" she asked emotionlessly, walking away to take her position on the court.

Kagami stared at her with wide eyes, obviously having never thought of that. "E-Eh? We have to pay for that?"

"If we do, it is coming out of your pocket." Kuroko replied. "You're the one who broke it after all."

Kagami looked as if someone had just kicked his puppy, whilst Takeuchi looked as if he is about to burst a blood vessel as he roared for Kise.

"With that, let the game resume!" The referee shouted as the courts was ready for the continuation of the game. The players on both teams have also settled back on the court, all in their positions. The reserve players of Kaijo were all in the stands, all looking excited.

Kagami grinned as he saw Kise entering the courts. Kise smirked at the redhead. "Sorry to keep you waiting."

"You're finally in."

"You're way too intense for a model when you're on." Hyuuga commented.

"All of you be careful," Kuroko warned. "He is not just putting the show."

To herself, Riko thought, Now that I see him again… He's a monster! His stats are through the roof!

All of a sudden, all that could be heard throughout Kaijou's gym was "KYAAA, KISE-KUN!"

Hyuuga jumped in surprise again, "Whoa, what the hell?"

Kasamatsu, who was standing nearby, was the one to reply, "Oh, that? That always happens whenever he's playing. Actually… How long are you going to keep waving at them?!"

While saying this, the dark-haired captain kicked Kise on the back. Kise muttered several apologies, as he was wincing in pain.

"I'll hit you if you continue!" Kasamatsu growled and the taller teen could only whimper out, "You already did…"

Kasamatsu smacked him again, except this time his target was the other's shoulder, "Do you even understand the situation right now, Kise? Since they introduced themselves in such a spectacular way, it would be rude if we don't return the favour!"

As Kasamatsu was scolding their freshman ace, Moriyama was busy scanning the girls that had gathered in the area. Sadly, no one caught his eye, until he looked over to Seirin's bench and noticed a fair-skinned female with beautiful azure hair and matching eyes.

"Ah~ I've found the maiden I want to play for today!" The shooting guard for Kaijou exclaimed with great enthusiasm. Kasamatsu and Kise turned their attention to their teammate.

When the blonde player saw that Moriyama was full on staring at Kuroko, he scowled, a dark look passing over his face. However, no one noticed the one-sided interaction.

The game begins again with a bang, and Kagami reaches the ball first again. Again, he finds himself reveling on the noticeable change in his jumps. He passes toward Izuki, who, equipped with his Eagle Eyes, can always discern the best pass courses. But, much to his surprise, somebody is already waiting.

Too late, he realizes. The ball has already left his hands, flying toward Kise Ryouta's outstretched arm. Kagami internally swears and Riko eyes widened. 'Fast! How fast is that guy!?' She thought.

Kise bursts through Seirin's lines, eyes slightly narrowed and sharpened to deadly points. "Watch and learn!" Kise shouts, voice darker than Kagami has ever heard it. He jumps, and the ball flies into the hoop, with both of his hands firmly grasping the basket. The entire hoop groans, the bolts pulling taut and straining not to snap.

Kise falls to the ground with a thump. Kagami swallows. He isn't an idiot; Kise's dunk was much more powerful than his own. Shut up! He yells at the small part of his brain that still retains the 'flight' instinct. You've prepared for this! You've begun the training Kuroko gave you, haven't you? So stop being so pathetic! Fight for what you want!

"Tch. Hey, it was pretty good, I'll give you that," Kagami says nonchalantly, yawning. Kise frowns, and Kasamatsu kicks him lightly. The blond winces, more in surprise than pain.

"You idiot! I told you to return the favor! They ripped off our hoop!" He exclaims, and Kise laughs sheepishly.

"Yeah, well... that one isn't rusted. But Kasamatsucchi, we wouldn't be able to play if I had done that! Shouldn't you be happy that I didn't take off the hoop?" He asks, and Kasamatsu scowls.

"Whatever," he mumbles, still looking slightly irked.

-xXx-

The players of both teams were panting like crazy, and currently trying to cool themselves down with the two minute time out asked by Riko.

With how tired that they all are, one wouldn't even guess that they've only been playing for five minutes. It had been an intense five minutes, with the pace at which both teams have been switching between offense and defense.

The current score is now at 25:22, with Kaijo in the lead.

"Seriously, this isn't easy." Yoshitaka commented, glancing at Kasamatsu.

"Yeah, that freshmen duo is brutal." Kasamatsu agreed. "You should be able to handle Kagami." He added, glancing at Kise who is sitting beside him. "But what's with that invisible girl? That isn't normal."

Kise grinned goofily like an idiot at the mere mention of his former teammate. "I know, right?" Kise grinned like some lunatic. "Kurokochi's actually—"

"Why the hell are you so happy?" Kasamatsu shouted, pissed, as he punched Kise in the stomach.

"It's okay." Kise stated, removing Kasamatsu's fist from his stomach. "Because with the score like this then she doesn't have any choice except to do that." He said while smiling as he fixed his eyes at the red haired player.

'He is playing too good today, hell! He even qualified to stand in the same spot as uncrowned Kings or other players at their caliber…' Kise thought as he smiled. 'Well it is not weird if we calculate that Kuroko is his personal trainer…'

Kise narrowed his eyes, 'But you should know this Kuroko-chi… Your team will be annihilated if you didn't come out soon…'

-xXx-

Over with Seirin, Riko was trying to come up with an effective enough plan with the two minutes that they have in order to counter Kise, as Kagami alone apparently isn't enough to stop the blonde.

"Anyway, we have to deal with Kise-kun first," said Riko.

"I can't believe that Kagami can't handle the guy by himself." Hyuuga commented. "Should we put another guy on him?"

"Huh? Hey, wait a damn…" Kagami caught himself in mid-sentence. "Please."

"Please?" Riko echoed in confusion.

Before Kagami can say anything, Kuroko suddenly said. "No, there is a way." Kuroko said, and all eyes were now on her. Everyone, Kagami and Riko especially, have their full attention on her. "That guy has a weakness."

"Eh?"