Aira: Sorry for the long update! I'm kind of busy and some other personal problem.

Anna : What kind of problem?

Arif : Yeah! ! I want to know! !

Kuroko : Me to Aira-kun

Kagami : Count me in.

Aira : Ehhhh! ! ? ? W. . Why you guy's want to know? *blush*

Everyone : (Kawaiii. . .)

Aira : *Blush harder* A. .Anyway continue with the story.

Chapter 9 : LITTLE BY LITTLE

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"Neh, Riko-san. . . Why can't I play in the first match against Josei? I'm eager to play", Riko sweat drop when the blue eyes staring at her intensely.

"An. . Arif. . We will need you later. So be patient. Well.. You still not fully heal right? Your injury back then", Riko try to console the boy.

"Soo?. What am I supposed to do now?", he ask again.

"Until the preliminary match finish. You'll on the bench. But you'll play in winter cup. For now just watch and support them okay?"

Arif just nod and close his eyes and back to Anna. She complain when Arif don't wear her favorite shawl, making the others sweat drop. She then walk side by side with Kuroko and Kagami. She stare at both of them, making the freshman duo uncomfortable.

"What is it Anna-kun?", Kuroko ask her.

"What Shun-san said is really true!", Arif suddenly pop out when Anna staring at them.

". . . . . . . . .", Kuroko deadpanned.

"W. .What! What Izuki-senpai said?", Kagami

"You guys are cute as a couple!", Arif said loudly and grin innocence.

It's like a lightning just struck both of them and they distance themselves from each other. Anna that float in a form of spirit next to Arif face palm herself. The other member at back sweat drop heavily cause they are outside now. Everyone at the street keep watching their actions.

"Hehehe. . You both really cutee! ! Hey. . Can I keep you two?", he take both Kagami and Kuroko hand. Dragging them like a parent holding their children. Kagami not resisted this time like he always do but obey Arif. His face really is red. Kuroko by the way just silence and looking at the soft hand that holding his rough hand.

"I think my heart beat fast", Riko said with a flush face seeing them.

"Are you already mad?", Hyuuga sweat drop.

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"You know I can't believe that broccoli guy and Taiga have a good terms. I love looking at them", Arif said to Kuroko.

"Arif-kun, it's Midorima Shintarou, not broccoli. Let's continue our search for Niguo", Kuroko deadpanned.

"Found it! Tetsuya!", he yell from a group of people.

"How did he go there?", Kuroko wondered starting to walk towards them.

"Nee. . Broccoli. . You can't shoot our little dog. It kind of cruel you know. Oh, Hi, Ryota, and . . Emnn. . I often see you with Daiki. But I don't know your name", he said playing his shawl with his hand.

"Who you called Broccoli! Want to pick a fight! !", he yell to Arif. Arif quickly close his ears with his palm.

"Diam lah. Rambut awak hijau macam brokoli. Sebab itu la saya panggil Brokoli. ("Shut up. Your hair color just like Broccoli. That's why I call you broccoli"), Midorima glare intensely at him. Kise and the pink haired girl sweat drop when hear the boy language.

Niguo jump from the pink haired girl arms towards Kuroko and lick his cheek. The girl faint because of cuteness aura that come from Kuroko and Niguo. Kise yelling the girl name trying to wake the girl up. Not long after that a raven haired boy called the green haired boy. Arif stand next to Kuroko when he past them and telling them to play again in Winter cup and Kuroko nod. They all separate and Arif wear back his shawl properly before Anna appear. Anna sigh. . "I want to play once I totally recover", she look at her hand.

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"I'll make you regret it for the rest of your lives. Next time, I'll crush you", Hanamiya said with anger. Kyoshi trying to speak but stop when the little boy interrupt.

"Ma. . Ma. . Don't be so angry. Give them a break. You already make Teppei-san injured. Well.. He still not fully heal after all", Arif heads up and smile to the older boy.

"Arif!", the other Seirin teammates shout in worries.

"Shut up! Who the hell are you?!", he glare at the boy.

"Oh. . I'm Ukihiku Arif. Just join in the club recently. Really! I like your last teardrop shot! You really have to teach me!", he said with sparkly eyes.

"What's wrong with you! I injured Kyoshi! Why you saying like that?!', Hanamiya yell.

"It's true, but you also The Uncrowned King just like Teppei-san. So I have a great expectation of you. But. . There are some of your play style I don't like", he show a sad face.

"Tch!"

"However, if you trying to hurts my teammates in the future. .", his smile death and his eyes changing to darken red "I'll kill you myself" , and back to blue sky colour.

Hanamiya and the others feel chill rush through their vein. "See you again senpai!", Arif smile leaving the dark feeling that they feel.

They went back to the changing room. A minute later, some of them realize that Kuroko already vanish. . 'AGAIN'. . and Kagami on his way searching for him. Anna walking away from the room after she change to her usual school 'uniform'. Of course she don't change along with her senpai. She is a girl. Riko definitely will kill the others if they do that or even try to peek on her. Her senpai didn't even realize that she already gone. She sigh remembering what her other self been done while he use her body along the time.

She closed her eyes and tried to connect with 'Arif', but it's looks like her other self already fall asleep. Even if she knock his mind door he still not responding. She really frustrated and eager to know what there behind 'Arif' door. His words still in her mind. [" If you can open my door in the future. You'll know who are you and who am I"]. Those words is the key, the trigger of her past memories.

"I'll find the key. . . Arif",she whisper closing her eyes and averted her sight to the Seirin duo first year talking to each other. She join them after Kagami and Kuroko started to play one-on-one. She want to release herself from all of the confusion. What she need is some time to calm herself down. Being able to play with them can clear her mind. They continue playing happily, when Anna don't even realize she show a sweets smile towards them. Making the duo froze immediately. Anna tilt her head to the side still not understand. She take this opportunity to dribble the ball past them and shoot it. They still froze until Anna shoot an intense glare at them.

"What are you looking at?", Anna twitched.

". . . . . Anna-kun. . . . You smile. . .", Kuroko widen his eyes.

"How come Anna smile like that?! Only Arif smile. . Errr. . Maybe more to grin or smirk", Kagami watch her with horror. He think that Anna is the same species as Kuroko. Never show their emotion.

"Arif is Arif. . I'm me. . Never forget that but I'm kind of refresh now after beat you guys", she said with arrogant kind of voice.

A vein pop on Kagami head , "Youu!. .", he tried to protest.

"Kuroko, please step back", Anna warned him and he did just like her said. Kagami still in angry form blink then Anna close her eyes when out of nowhere Kagami being fly kick by someone who apparently in bad mood. Kuroko deadpan looking at the scene. Anna tried not to laugh.

"Don't give me that! Why are you playing one-on-one with him, you idiot! ", the glasses captain show his irritated face while doing the flying kick stance.

"It's two-on-one senpai", Kuroko deadpan.

"You don't even realize I'm gone and don't see me at all don't you? Aren't you a cruel captain", Anna whisper behind with a Hyuuga and making him jump and almost lost his soul.

"Haha. . It's better than being scared", Kiyoshi said.

They turn around to see others of Seirin member are there. Anna look at Riko who still looking at her. She wear back her hood and let her long shawl out. She want to walk away alone to home but stop when her shawl being grab by someone who have an annoyed look at her face.

"We're going home together. . . . No excuse!", Riko show her devil side making Anna double sweat drop when she feel it. But at least she going to play after this. Her injury completely recover. Looking at her teammates as she going to be Arif after this. She feel really comfortable around them. They are her first family since she arrived here. Her encounter with them, generation of miracle, Arif appearance and all of that starting to change her life. She believe them.

"Let's go! The winter Cup's is next!"

"Let's beat them all and become best in Japan!"

"The best in Japan, huh?", she close her eyes "then . . We should help senpai and others to achieve that", she show her determine eyes and the floating figure behind her shows a long smirk.

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Aira : *bow* I'm really sorry! ! If my story getting bored. I'm trying as hard as I can. . But I keep stuck in some point. . *sob*

Anna : There. . There. . All going to be okay.

Arif : But it's kind of more to me and Anna than the rest of them. .

Kuroko : That's right Aira-kun. . It's not fare at all.

Aira : Sorry. . *starting to cry*

Kagami : *Panic* It. . It's okay. . Just do your best. *smile*

Aira : Okay! ! ! *smile and skipping away happily*

Everyone : *deadpan* Did she just lied to us? ?