A/N: I hope that my beloved readers hasn't forgotten about me yet... but being away for half a year is really hard to say. SO SORRY minna-san!

2014 was a hectic year. My motivation and ideas for the stories has hit bottom pit. Not to mention I was overwhelmed with stress and other stuff, enough to make me go bald. It was only until recently that I've gained a little motivation and inspiration for the next chapter. I'm sorry that it took so long...

After my sincere apology, here are huge muacks and thanks for those who have reviewed/faved/followed! You guys are awesome. And not to forget those amazing readers who have stuck with me since the beginning of Gray Memory! Despite my irregular updates and hiatus, if you're still reading this author's note and this chapter, you have my utmost gratitude. -bow-

But hey. The good news is, I'm back on the writing track. So here I present thou the newest update y'all have all waited so long for. Happy reading! (The below infos are inferred from KnB wikipedia by the way)

Midorima Shintarou

Age: 16

Gender: Male

Horoscope: Cancer

Birthday: July 7

Blood type: B

Height: 195cm

Weight: 79kg

Position: Shooting guard

Talent: Long range shots, Perfect accuracy

Former school/team: Teikou

Currently enroll in Shuutoku High and his position on the team is a shooting guard.

It's a veteran school who's been competing for 11 years straight with its unswaying, immortal spirit that rings true to its name: Legendary King.

Izanami skimmed through the datas in her laptop with calculating eyes. After she had done finished flitting through the contents, the gray head pursed her lips. Her brows creased in as if deep in thought. Who'd have thought he was part of the Generation of Miracles... Izanami sighed. Pinching the bridge of her nose in exasperation.

No.

She should have realized it sooner, if she thinks about it. It was obvious the verdant head has some sort of connection with Kise and Kuroko. Whatsmore, Kuroko did mentioned about all his former teammates each went their separate ways. All were now enrolled in different schools and on different teams.

If only she had done her research properly in the beginning...

Izanami shrugged off her glasses and put it away in her pocket. Leaning back, she cracked some bones on her stiff shoulders and stretched her arms habitually. She could distinctively hear the buzzing and chatters from the crowds who have came to watch the preliminary match of the interhigh from the gymnasium, all the way to the garden located outside.

While the semi-finals were over, the preliminary finals wasn't.

If it wasn't for the fact that Izanami caught sight of Midorima wearing his jersey right after the semi-finals were over, she wouldn't have guessed they were rival and will be facing off in the preliminary finals later on, which won't be commence until the break was over.

Taking advantage of the recess in-between, Izanami decided to further research Midorima on the internet. Thus, she brought along her laptop and went to the quiant garden situated next to the gymnasium by herself. At there, no one would come and disturb her. An ideal place for concentration and information gathering. Since almost everyone were cooped up in the building instead of going out of their way to the deserted garden.

Now that the manager becomes aware of Midorima's identity, Seirin would need a well-versed strategy.

They can't be careless while facing off a member from Generation of Miracles. And neither cheap nor third-rate plans are going to work. The gray-haired knew that fact well after meeting Kise; Those guys were monster.

If someone says that they were NBA players, then that's understandable. But no. They were just a bunch of high schoolers who are still going through puberty! Where the hell could you find a high schooler capable of copying all the basketball plays and techniques like a copy machine? Where could someone find a teen capable of consecutive long range shots with 100% accuracy!? That's nuts!

And here in Japan, the wildest and the craziest do exist.

Upon thinking about it, Izanami let out a long exasperated sigh. Then, she shut her laptop and stood up from the bench. The manager tucked the device under her arm safely and stared at the time on her wristwatch.

2.25P.M.

"Wha-! It's already this late!?" gaped Izanami. She was sure when she left the gymnasium earlier, it was only two. Did she really took that long from just gathering information? Good grief.

"I've gotta regroup with the guys and tell them about this..."

As her pace quicken towards the large gymnasium, the gray head felt an unpleasant feelings settled in the pit of her stomach.

She just hoped she'd make it back in time before the match begin.

"Kagami-kun," Riko called. The redhead paused in tying his shoe lace as he tilted his head up to look at the brunnette before him. "Yes, Coach?"

"Have you seen Nami-chan?"

Kagami quirked a brow at this. "Izana? No, I haven't seen her around... why did you ask?"

Riko sighed exasperatedly. Displeasure settled upon her features as she frowned at the news of their MIA manager. The gray head did said something about information gathering, before dashing off to somewhere with her laptop in tow. And now, only a few minutes left before their match against Shuutoku are going to start. Yet, their manager was nowhere to be seen.

Just where did she go?

"If it's about Izanami-san, I saw her went off to the garden at the back."

"Wha-!" Riko and Kagami both jumped at the third person's voice. They whipped around, only to sigh in relief once they recognized the voice belonged to none other than the phantom sixth man.

"No matter how many times this take, I doubt I could get used to it..." Riko said as she clutched her chest tightly, where her heart almost leapt out from the heart attack Kuroko has caused (of course he didn't mean it). "You took the words out of my mouth, Coach." Kagami concurred from aside. Being one of the very few who constantly (and by constantly, he means everyday) falls victim to the bluenette's lack of presence, the redhead understood the meaning behind Riko's words all too well.

After the mini heart attack has quelled, Kagami trained his attention on his partner and asked. "Why would she go there?"

"I have no idea either. But she said she won't take too long," Kuroko replied calmly.

Right after the break was given when the semi-finals has ended, Kuroko has caught a glimpse of their manager having a short staring contest with Midorima. Although they didn't spoke a word, anyone could see from the mild differ of expressions from those two that they were acquainted. Sooner, Izanami sped towards their locker room, grabbed her laptop (actually, no one in their team knows she had brought one) and skedaddled. Not after Kuroko has stopped her mid-way and asked her what was wrong.

"Well. I think she'd be back anytime by now. There's nothing to worry about~" Koga chipped in. Mitobe wordlessly bobbed his head beside him in addemdum.

Hyuuga, who has finished his warm up and had changed into his jersey, piped in. "Besides," the captain stole a glance at the court across from theirs, "we have more pressing issue to worry about instead."

Standing on the courts which would soon be the Interhigh preliminary finals stage, was a renowned team widely known as one of the Three Kings of Tokyo. The same title holder as Seiho, and was a veteran who has been competing in the basketball tournaments for eleven years-

The Shuutoku High.

The starters from Shuutoku begun to wrap up their warm ups. Doing the same as Seirin as they took a water break to rehydrate themselves.

Kuroko's azure eyes zeroed in on a certain verdant head. His face devoid of any perceptible emotions as his gaze lingered on the bespectacled teen for a few moments. As if having a third eye on his back, Midorima swiveled around and looked askance at his former teammate then. His spectacles glinted as he pushed it up on the bridge of his nose. Unbeknownst to the others, an unspoken tension virtually whirled past between the Generation of Miracles.

For a fleeting while, Kuroko's mind rewinded to a few days before. When Seirin has just finished their match against Meijo academy, and had an unexpected run-in with the Shuutoku's team.

-Flashback-

Kagami panted heavily. His breathing labor from just having finished the match against Meijo academy. The redhead stared at the score board on the screen with sweat trickled in streams down his face and glistened upon his skins. After registering the scores in his head, a triumphant grin broke out on his perspiring face.

The fourth round against Meijo was easier than he thought, to be honest. Since it were those thugs that harrassed the middle-schooler and Izana on the street basketball court previously he was talking about here.

So, imagine the gawks and sputters from them when they realized who exactly they were playing against with. Although Kuroko kept his usual poker face on, the redhead could clearly tells that the bluenette was actually feeling smug inside. Heh.

What a shame though. That eccentric manager of theirs wasn't around to witness it. She loved drama and plot-twist like these the most.

Naturally, Seirin managed to smoothly advanced to the next round of Interhigh preliminaries. And after the game between Seirin and Meijo has ended, another match would be taking place right after the interval at the same courts.

Kinka High versus Shuutoku High.

And that was where two of the Generation of Miracles had a short reunion.

"It has been a while, Midorima-kun," greeted Kuroko first. His facial remained unchanging. Exactly like what Midorima has always known him to be.

Midorima stared at his former teammate, before regarding the man stonily with a mirthless glint. "Kuroko," the shooter said. A scornful look adopting his previous stoic face next, "Out of so many schools, I never expect you to have chosen Seirin."

It was clear from the beginning that neither of them - the Generation of Miracles, would be attending the same high school or being together on the same team again upon graduated. Even Akashi has said so himself. So naturally, everyone has split up and went on different paths. It wasn't until later that Midorima has known all five of them has enrolled into schools renowned for their basketball teams/sports facilities.

As a former teammate, Midorima knew about Kuroko's strength. He has played along side with him for three years. The verdant head knew how much potential lie in the placid man.

However, he miscalculated.

Midorima would never have guessed Kuroko to choose Seirin - a school that he has barely heard of, and joining its rookie club which established only two years ago.

With someone of Kuroko's caliber, it was totally wasted on a team like Seirin.

Although the shooter wasn't at all close or chummy with the bluenette, he at least acknowledged him. His peculiar strength - that is.

So, imagined the shock when the bespectacled teen has got wind of the news.

Midorima could never figure out what goes through in Kuroko's brain. Why'd he chose a school that couldn't fully utilize his strength and would just hold him back? Well, it wasn't a surprise. Kuroko was never one to be able to figure out with in the first place. He should know better than to ask.

If Midorima dared say, he was a little disappointed in Kuroko at his decision.

"You're Midorima Shintarou, right?"

The unfamiliar voice has snapped the shooter out of his train of thoughts. He cast a look through his shades at a certain redhead who had approached him with a simpering smile. Midorima took in the sight of his jersey; this man was one of the starter from Seirin.

"I am," Midorima acknowledged coolly. His right hand carried his lucky item of the day while his left went and adjusted his glasses, "but I do not know you."

Standing behind the tall shooter, Takao was clutching his abdomen as he held his laugh at Midorima's pretense. There it goes... the 'tsuntarou' has emerged.

Kagami shot a toothy grin with his hand outstretched, as if he had not hear his last statement. Midorima raised his brow. But it quickly melted away as the bespectacled teen realized the redhead was asking for a handshake. "A handshake, huh."

Although social manners like handshakes and words of courtesy weren't his style, Midorima sees no qualm in accepting and returning the gesture. The shooter viewed it as more of a formality than necessity.

Just when Midorima was about to shake Kagami's hand, the redhead did the most unexpected and incredulous thing (from Midorima's point of view). He flipped Midorima's hand, with his palm facing up.

Like a magician, Kagami pulled out a marker from nowhere, and started to scribble something on the verdant head's hand. Midorima quirk a brow at his antic. Just what was he planning?

Before Midorima could question Kagami his purpose, the redhead was already done. A satisfied grin spread across his face. Midorima scanned the writing with a hint of curiosity, before a deep scowl crawled its way up to his face. Anger slowly flaring up.

'Kagami Taiga. Jersey no.10. Seirin High'

This brat... Midorima internally fumed. He clenched his vandalized fist tight after he'd finished examining the handiwork from Kagami. Takao slide up from behind the shooter. The hawk-eyed barked a laugh once he'd caught a glimpse of Kagami's work. "Bwahaha-!" Midorima shot him a death glare, which promptly shut Takao up as he toned down his boisterous laugh with his hand, "sorry. It was just too fascinating."

The redhead has guts, Takao could give him that. As far as he knows, no one had attenpted - or even dare to pull such stunts in front of a member of the Generation of Miracles. They were all too intimidated and scared shitless from their presence alone to do anything though. So it was refreshing- um, a first for him to see a person other than him managed to crack open Midorima's stoic mask with ticks.

Maybe not his first, since Nami also succeeded in getting under his skin effortlessly last time. That girl was really something too.

Wait. Talking about the gray headed girl...

The hawk-eyed scanned the courts in search of a certain gray head. However to his disappointment, she was nowhere to be found. "Hm? Ne, Shin-chan. I thought you said Nami-chan was a manager on Seirin... how come I don't see her around?" pouted Takao.

Midorima resisted the urge to roll his eyes at him. Even though he could care less about where the weird girl was, he replied nonetheless. "I don't see why her wherabouts has any concern with us."

"C'mon, Shin-chan. Don't be so cold~ Don't you want to see her reaction once she found out about us?" Takao chanted excitedly, as the raven-haired thought about all sorts of scenerios and expressions that would possibly happen. Truth to be told, Nami has the best reaction when it comes to it. Her dramatic and wide range of expressions were a hilarity. Worthy of becoming a comedian. (although most of her countenance comes from sarcasm)

Midorima sighed irritably. "No, I am not interested and I have more important stuff to tend to than to bother about what she thinks." Midorima peremptory turned his back. Putting an end to all topics surrounding the eccentric girl. Neither did the shooter bothered to mask the annoyance now plastered on his face. Just by mentioning the eccentric alien, it was enough to make his head ache... For goodness sake.

The verdant head shook his head. A futile attempt to rid of the thoughts of Seirin's manager from his mind. Instead, he quickly re-focused on his priority; the match.

Midorima calmly started towards their captain, who was overlooking all the members with crossed arms. "Captain," Ootsubo blinked, his attention darted towards the shooter now standing before him. He examined the teen with a quirk eyebrow, an indication for Midorima to continue, "please let me play in this match."

-Later in the audience stands-

"... What do you think, Hyuuga?" asked Izumi. Baffled by the overwhelming displays from one of The Three Kings of Tokyo. The bespectacled captain adjusted his glasses habitually. His expression unreadable from behind his shades. But Izumi knew better. His friend probably felt the same too.

After a few seconds of organizing his thoughts into words, Hyuuga finally answered. "To be honest, I just experienced a goosebumps spreading through my body." Izumi sighed, "me too."

Seated on the same row, Kagami and Kuroko watched the match with a neutral face (more for Kuroko's case) while the redhead was stunned. The overwhelming win from Shuutoku has robbed him off of words. Really. He knew they had a Generation of Miracles on their team, but he never expected the strength to be so vast compared to their opponent.

If a hundred more points wasn't overwhelming, then Kagami has no idea what is.

"So this is the Generation of Miracles... Tsk. What a monster," muttered Kagami.

The bluenette cast a glance at his partner. Kuroko thought maybe, the redhead would be feeling unnerve after witnessing the true strength of the Generation of Miracles. However, the expression worn on his partner face wasn't worry, unease, or anything of the sort.

He was grinning.

Kagami's body trembled. Not from fear- but from anticipation and excitement.

Finally, in a few days from now, he and his team are going to be playing against Midorima Shintarou; the shooter with 100% accuracy. (Why yes. He has already assumed Seirin would make it to the finals for sure)

Damn. How he wanted to play basketball now...

While Kagami was suppresing his urge to play against a strong opponent, he failed to notice a pair of oceanic eyes rested on his profile with a ghost of a smile beside him.

Well. If that's the case, Kuroko has nothing to worry about.

"Midorima Shintarou... another tricky one appears." Riko mumbled with a frown. Biting her nail as she tried to take note of every details displayed by the Shuutoku's team. Now, that was a team to be reckon with. If Seirin wants to scale this enormous mountain, they really have to come up with a strategy. And not just any third-rate strategies; ones that must guarantee their victory.

The usual ones probably won't work against one of the Generation of Miracles. Even if it does, it won't work as effective as it do compared to those mediocre players. There's also Kuroko's misdirection and its limit to worry about.

They ought to prepare a few trump cards up their sleeves...

"By the way, are we missing someone here?" Tsuchida looked around his teammates and scratched his head. He has a feeling someone who's supposed to be here, wasn't present though.

"If you're asking about Nami-chan, she is currently doing her part-time work. She has already phoned me about it, saying she will be excuse from her manager duty today," stated Riko before anyone else could question further.

Kagami's ears perked up upon hearing the news for the first time.

"I didn't know Izanami-san works part-time." Kuroko joined in the conversation circling their absence manager. Izanami has never mentioned it before to any of them. Perhaps that was why everyone all seemed a little surprise at the new information.

"Ne Kagami, do you know anything about it?" Koga nudged the freshman at his left.

Kagami frowned thoughtfully. "No... I don't."

A hint of bitterness rolled off his tongue along with his words. When did she get a part-time job anyways? Kagami thought sourly. No. She might had had already a part-time herself since the beginning. Who knows? In fact, it was his first time hearing something about the gray head that he has zero knowledge of. Normally, you'd think he knows everything there is to know about Izana since they were childhood friends. Well, sorry to say, but that's totally not the case here. At least not for the two of them.

They might have known each other for years. Others might have thought they knew each other's so well as if they could read each other on the palm of their hands. While in actuality, Kagami knew little about his eccentric friend.

It has always been this way; she knows everything about him. His thoughts. His favorite food. His favorite color. His mood. Even the color of his underwear for the day. (don't ask him how she knows, he'd like to ask her that too.)

On the other hand, the redhead don't.

For years, Kagami has tried to figure out her as if she was an unknown species. Always clad and shrouded in mystery. Just when he thought he had started to know her a little better - only to have his hope deflated.

When you thought you have gotten closer to her, only to have her pull away from within your reach. And drifts further away from your grasp...

Lost in his thought, Kagami barely hears the calling from a certain bluenette. "-kun... Kagami-kun?"

"Huh?"

"Is something wrong?"

"N-No. Nothing. Sorry, what did you said?"

Kuroko's lips settled into a thin line as he regarded the redhead plainly. And if Kagami hadn't drowned himself in his thought before, he'd have noticed a miniscule quirk brow from the impassive boy.

"We were talking about returning to our school and review all the matches Shuutoku has played thus far," reiterated Kuroko.

Kagami blinked as the new development sunk in. "Ah... Okay."

The redhead then trained his eyes on the match before him, though the result were pretty much decided by now seeing the vast difference in both team's scores. Now, Kagami stared at the courts with indifference, as his mind has already left and wandered off elsewhere.

And Kuroko didn't talk again through out the rest of the quarter either.

-Present-

Izanami wheezed. She brought her hand up and swiped away the sweats cascading down her face like a waterfall. "Shit," she cussed. Obviously, she didn't appreciate what she was seeing after having sprinted to the gymnasium as if her life was bet on it.

Dread slowly crept into the manager's nerves as she stared wide-eyed at the scene with trepidation. What she fears the most was happening right before her eyes.

"I was a step too late."

The match has already begun, and Bakagami was not acting like himself.

I wonder how many sorrys is gonna suffice for the decades of waiting I've caused all of you. Okay. Enough with the apologies! I am sure everyone is getting annoyed by it now. Haha.

Before any of you ask, yes. Izanami is nearsighted. She usually wears contact lens and only uses glasses when she's at the comfort of her home. Unless circumstances call for it which requires her to replace her CL with eyeglasses. Another new characteristic I've added here.

Anyways. I know this chapter was no good. And the terrible excuse for my horrible writings is because I have been away from reading and writing for so long, my circuits has died. But fret not, it is being revive in the process. Although the success rate is incredibly low.

That's why, if you can show some love and pity for this pitiful human being (gosh. I am seriously degrading myself here.) by leaving a review, it'd seriously help a lot. It doesn't matter the content or even if it's just one word. I want to know what people think about the story so far. And if you have any ideas or suggestions to the plot, don't be shy to express them. I am more than glad to listen and consider what majority/minority suggest. *thumbs up*