“Is Kuroko-kun still in the hospital?” Koganei mumbled, munching his banana. Don’t ask where he got that from, I also have no idea.

“Maybe. I still haven’t seen him.” Hyuuga replied, wiping his sweat with his towel.

“Hey, it looks like your towel is already wet with your sweat, wanna borrow mine?” Kiyoshi offered.

“D’aho! No way! Besides, yours looks wetter than mine!” Hyuuga complained.

“When will you two talk with each other without fighting?” Izuki blurted out.

“Hyuuga started it~” Kiyoshi singsang.

“Shut up or I’ll kill you.” Hyuuga threatened.

“Uwaa! I miss Kuroko!” Tsuchida yawned, stretching his arms in the air.

The heard a ball made an impact into the ground. They all stiffened and turned their heads slowly.

“Waah! Ghost!” Fukuda shouted, clinging into Furihata.

“Anou…I’m right here and I’m not a ghost.” A hand was suddenly raised and in front of them—Kuorko suddenly appeared, wearing his jersey.

“...KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!” Everyone in the gym gasped, running away in shock.

Kiyoshi laughed. “Long time no see, Kuroko.”

Kuroko bowed. “Long time no see, senpai.”

“How many times did we say that you should speak when you’re with us or else we’ll all die with heart attack!!!” Riko complained.

“Ah, sorry.” The teal-haired teen apologized, his face emotionless.

Riko facepalmed. “Anyway, are your arm and leg alright now? Can you do your usual training menu?” She queried, analyzing each body parts of Kuroko.

The blue-head nodded. “Yes. I’m fine now…Uhm, where’s Kagami-kun?”

“He texted me saying he’ll be here after—“

The door burst open and Kagami began to run around the court as Nigou playfully chased after him. “Make him stop or I’ll die!!!” The red-head cried. “I hate him! I hate him!”

Nigou stopped. Kuroko picked him up and they both faced Kagami. “Kagami-kun.”

The red-head turned, teary-eyed. “What is it?”

“Don’t say you hate Nigou. It also hurts me.” The phantom player made his puppy eyes, and Nigou also did his. “Here, try carrying him. He’s cute, look, look.”

“No!” Kagami shouted.

Kuroko started chasing after his light as the latter runs away from both him and his dog. “Kagami-kun!”

“NO! NO! NO!!!” Kagami shouted and ran as fast as he can.

“I suddenly felt envious of Kagamicchi~” A familiar (and also annoying) voice commented from behind Mitobe.

“What are you, kids?” a cold voice complained.

“That looks fun, I want to join~” A small voice mumbled.

“Don’t even think so, Murasakibara. You’ll crash the two of them. Besides, it’ll be unfair with how long your legs are.” A tsundere responded.

“No, actually, I will allow it. Atsushi, Kise, get inside the court and try cornering Kagami Taiga and near him the dog.” Akashi ordered.

“Yay~” Kise celebrated and ran inside the court.

“O~kay.” Murasakibara replied and walked slowly inside the court.

Riko and the other members of Seirin turned and found the Generation of Miracles behind them. “Why do you always appear?” Hyuuga demanded.

“We’re protagonists in this story too, that’s why.” Aomine replied.

“Do you mean that we’re the antagonists here?!” Hyuuga complained.

“Nope, I didn’t say that.” The dark blue-head responded. Aomine flinched upon seeing the face Hyuuga made as he stares at him.

“Remember that I’m a senior and you should know how to answer properly and respect your seniors, d’aho or I’ll throw you at the drainage and kill you.” Seirin’s captain threatened.

“Uh…”

“You turned on captain’s clutch time switch, Daiki-kun,” Kuroko sighed and wiped his sweat.

“Clutch time?”

“He’s becoming more gangster-like when a kouhai of his disrespect him.”  Izuki explained.

“I respect that of you, Hyuuga Junpei. That’s something I also hate—when someone’s disobeying me.” Akashi offered a hand.

Hyuuga shook it. “I agree with what you just said, Akashi Seijuro.”

“Sheesh, two sadists were combined together.” Midorima grunted and adjusted his glasses.

Kise and Murasakibara continued chasing after Kagami. When the latter tried to run away, Murasakibara tackled him from behind and Kise neared Nigou to the red-head’s face.

“Success.” Riko mumbled, grinning. “Uh, Kuroko-kun, I think you’ve had enough training for today. You’re arm and leg are still healing, you shouldn’t force them and the running and some shooting you did earlier were enough. You can start the real practice tomorrow.” She added.

“But—“

“Try saying your complain, Tetsuya, and I’ll order you to wear any princess costume we can get from the theatre club of your school and then I’ll command Daiki to carry your princess-like until we reach your house. We’ll also take a picture of you and print out hundred copies of it and spread it to everyone we knows.” Akashi threatened, smiling.

The phantom player flinched before nodding. “Understood. I will head back now.”

“No, you’ll come with us. We’re going to the park and talk about some things you need to know.” Midorima countered.

“Hey, by the way, Kuroko.” Hyuuga interrupted.

“Yes?”

“We’re going to have a match with Awase High School two weeks from now. They’re super strong, so we’re going to train hard starting tomorrow.” Seirin’s captain replied.

“Awase Gakuen…hm.” Akashi murmured, thinking.

“Let’s go, Kurokocchi!”

Right after the six disappeared, the members of Seirin exchanged looks, nodded at one another, took their bags and followed the six ex-members of Teiko Middle School to find out what their phantom player’s secret is.

“…That’s the way how to wrap your injury with the bandage. You should always change it, especially when it has already been there for almost 4 hours or so.” Midorima informed as he cut the bandage.

“Is that how you tape your fingers too, Midorimacchi?”

“Shut up, Kise. That’s none of your business.”

“I’m hungry~” the baby of their group complained sitting on the ground then placing his chin on top of his folded arms on top of the sitting Akashi’s lap. “Aka-chin, buy me potato sticks.”

“But, you just ate, Atsushi.”

“I’m hungry~ I want to call Muro-chin and ask him to buy me snacks~”

“Actually, me too, Akashicchi. I still haven’t eaten yet because my fangirls didn’t stop chasing me until I disguised.” Kise sighed.

“We’ve been here for almost half an hour already, Akashi. Let’s buy some food to satisfy our stomachs. Come on, man.” Aomine grumbled.

“They’re being too noisy, Akashi. Can’t you just give them your consent already?” Midorima muttered.

“Fine. Buy some snacks and buy some for me, Tetsuya and Atsushi too. We’re going to stay here to guard our things and Tetsuya.” The red-head hissed.

They –except out tsundere- jumped in joy and ran towards the nearest convenience store.

“They can be kids, sometimes.” Akashi sighed.

“Hm.” Kuroko replied, leaned his head on the headrest and closed his eyes before covering them with his arm.  “I bet we, ourselves, act like kids sometimes too, Akashi-kun.”

“I guess that’s true.” Akashi replied and glanced at the teal-haired teen. “Is something wrong, Tetsuya?”

The blue-head shook his head. “Sometimes I wonder how my life would be if that thing didn’t happen to me two years ago.”

“You might be enjoying another practice match against another team right now without any hesitation and fear to face any stranger. You might be enjoying with your new light and forget about us. Truth be told, without us being bonded with you through that incident—I might be feeling a little lonely right now.” The red-head responded and patted the phantom player’s forehead. Everything will be fine. We’ll find a way how to eliminate those who gave you such memories.”

The violet-head snored silently as he fell asleep.

“Remember the day when I suddenly blinked and my eyes suddenly became teray when we were studying at the library?” Akashi mumbled.

Kuroko removed the arm covering his eyes and looked at his ex-captain. “Yes?”

The red-head smirked. “That was few days before the final exam of our third year in Teiko, right? I tried analyzing how you act, the way you socialize, the way you enjoy your time with other people to see how you five will be when we separate ways…and I saw it.  I don’t know how but my mind flashed images. An image of Atsushi being treated ice cream by a black-head with a mole under his right eye while wearing Yosen’s jersey. An image of Shintarou smiling secretly as a black-head bugs him about the thing he’s holding. An image of Ryouta being smacked by another black-head with the jersey of number 4 of Kaijo. An image of Daiki being called by Satsuki to go to practice and a brown-head bowing at him. I also saw an image of Ryouta having fun with Daiki, by the way. And you, you’re with a red-head, you two were bumping fists and smiling at each other.” He admitted and sighed.

“And those images came true…?”

“Yes. They did come true. That’s the reason I suddenly thought, ‘They’re all going to leave and forget all the times we had together. They’ll all forget and leave me.’ And I suddenly felt so sad and lonely…”

“But, Akashicchi, we’ll never leave you.” A sweet voice interrupted from behind them.

“Yeah, besides, with or without the oath, we respect you as our captain and as our friend, Akashi.” A badass voice added.

“Do you think we’re going to be here if we really did forget about you?” A cold-tsundereish voice finished.

The red-head and teal-head turned; the violet-head opened his eyes and looked up and found the other three standing smiling behind them, holding sando bags of snacks.

“Whatever happens, wherever we are, we’ll always be the one and only Generation of Miracles.” Kise, Aomine, Murasakibara, Midorima and Kuroko said in unison to their former captain.

Akashi’s eyes widened a fraction before he smiled. “And that’s also the reason why I will also never forget and can leave any of you.”

Kise licked his vanilla ice cream. “It’s too bad they do not have chocolate.”

“Here, Tetsu.” Aomine handed the tea-head a piece of popsicle before he opened his own popsicle and ate it.

“Here, Murasakibara, Akashi.” Midorima handed the violet-head a bag of snacks as he handed the red-head a can of soda.

Kuroko started to lick his popsicle. “The same flavor?”

“Yeah, the same flavor you placed on my back, Tetsu.” Aomine sarcastically countered.

“I wonder what you’re talking about, Aomine-kun.” Kuroko replied, pretending innocent.

“Why you…!”

“The way you lick your popsicle is so erotic, Tetsuya. Wants me to lean mine with it and bite it until you cry in pain.” A sadistic voice commented coming out of the shadow of the tree behind the six.

The teal-haired teen’s hands trembled as his popsicle dropped into the ground. “No…You…What are you doing here?”

Isshin smiled. “Don’t be so afraid, my Tetsuya. I just missed you; we haven’t seen each other for almost three weeks—it makes me want to pin you in my bed and make you cry in pain like few years ago.”

“Isshin Toshita, you.” Akashi whispered with his cold voice as he stood up with the others to block their phantom player.

“Don’t take all the fun, Isshin~” A voice grumbled and another three stood beside Isshin. “So, where’s the one you were talking about?”

“Behind the five.”

“Idiot. There’s no there.”

“There is. Just focus. He has little presence.”

The three narrowed their eyes then blinked. “Waah! So cute! So that’s why you chose him.”

“Isshin…you…”

“If you remember Isshin then you must also remember me?” A new voice asked.

The Generation of Miracles turned their heads as the person who just spoke came from behind the tree on their right and united with the other four.

“You…!” Kuroko gasped, his hands –which are holding onto Akashi’s and Aomine’s sleeves- started to tremble.

“Do you know them, Kuroko?” Midorima asked.

“They’re called ‘New Era’s Generation’ just like the Uncrowned Generals, their also overshadowed by the Generation of Miracles that’s why they were not as known as us. New Era of Generation consists of Yuuta Fujiyama, Hurio Kotiyo, Touma Hiika, Isshin Toshita and its own version of Seijuro-kun: Kotarou Shin. Hyuuga-kun just said them to me, I didn’t know they exist and I didn’t know that Isshin Toshita’s with them. Izuki-kun told me that they’re like the opposite of you five.”

“Their different version of me?” Akashi repeated.

The smiling Kotarou opened his eyelids which revealed one brown and one golden eye. “I posses the ‘King’s Eye’. An eye which almost has the same abilities as yours, Akashi Seijuro.” He mumbled and smiled. “Nice meeting you. Now, we’re finished with the introductions—let us take Tetsuya Kuroko.”

“What do you want with him?”

“He’s the main light of Seirin and Generation of Miracles, if he’s gone, we’ll be the number one team in the world. If he’s gone—he can finally repay the death of Rio, his friend who died for him two years ago. Just like the saying: a life for a life.” Kotarou replied with a smile.

“Are you sure about this, Tetsu-kun?”

“There’s no other way. The other path is blocked.”

“But still…You know the rumors here.”

“I’m your best friend, remember? You’re the first one to talk to me and know what I’m really feeling without asking me –beside Akashi-kun though—You always protect me and I’ll do the same whatever happens, Rio-kun.”

“A-Alright then.”

TIME SKIP…

“You said you’ll do anything to protect me?!”

“I—“

“Try making another step, my Tetsuya and your throat will be cut into two.”

“Rio—“

*sounds of handcuffs*

“No! Let me go! Tetsu-kun! Tetsu-kun! NOOO!”

“Rio-kun!”

“Tetsu-kun…you liar…”

“No…I...”

“Now, what should I do with you next?”

“Tetsuya, hang on! Tetsuya, wake up! Don’t let it take you away! It’s in the past!” Akashi shook his shoulders which took him back in the present.

“A…kasha-kun…?” The teal-haired teen’s tears finally dropped in his hands and he collapsed in the arms of Aomine.

“Tetsu…Hang in there. Tetsu!”

“What kind of ability does your eye possesses?” Akashi demanded.

“Well, your eyes can see every movement of your opponent, right? Your eyes can see the physical weakness of someone. My eyes can see through other people’s eyes and see their psychological weakness. Just like Kuroko Tetsuya’s. His weakness is the past. I just say a single word about a person’s weakness and it can crash that person’s sanity into pieces. Though, I can’t actually pinpoint yours, Akashi Seijuro.” Kotarou replied, narrowing his eyes.

“Then that’s too bad.”

“But, I know that without the Generation of Miracles, especially Kuroko Tetsuya—you’ll be nothing.” Kotarou, the lime-head murmured, grinning.

Akashi narrowed his eyes as he clenched his fists. “With your conclusion, you truly don’t know me well yet, Kotarou Shin.”

“Do you mean you can sacrifice your friends just to win and to follow your plans?”

“Like my motto: I am always absolute.” Akashi retorted.

Isshin glanced at the teal-haired teen. “I suddenly remembered the way he looked when he’s under my orders. The way he cried, he screamed, he sobbed. It was such a pleasant memory.”

The latter gasped when a pocket knife was unexpectedly pointed in his throat, ready to cut it into half. “Say another thing about that and I won’t hesitate to kill you, Isshin Toshita.” Aomine whispered menacingly.

“H-Hey, anyone, help me?”

“We can’t…”

Isshin averted his eyes and gasped. The other three were being pinned in the back by Midorima, Kise and Murasakibara.

“Where’s Kotarou Shin?” Aomine gasped.

“No!” They heard someone yell and found Kuroko in his knees, covering his ears.

“Don’t go near him!” Akashi shouted.

“Let me go! No, don’t!!!” A voice shouted from a cellphone beside the teal-haired teen. “Stop it…I beg you. Please…Plea—Nooo!”

Kotarou lifted the phone from the ground and neared it at Kuroko’s ear. “Hear this. The way your friend screamed when he was dying painfully, but you did nothing? You promised to protect him, but failed. You’re a liar. You’re not fit to be anyone’s friend. You’re not even fit to be still alive. No one needs you. Your mother and father don’t care about you. Your brother ignores you. You’re too invisible that no one notices you. You’re just a shadow. An unimportant person lingering in the world.” He whispered.

“Didn’t you hear me?” The red-head menacingly demanded and Kotarou suddenly fell on the ground as Akashi tower over him. “My orders are absolute. Know that. Now, leave or you’ll go home without legs and arms.”

Kotarou stood up and snapped his fingers. “Let my people go. We’ll leave for now.”

The other four were released.

“Bye bye, Tetsuya. We’ll see each other again~”

And the New Era’s Generation disappeared into the forest.

“We shouldn’t have let them go, Akashi.” Aomine grunted.

“That’s not the important thing right now, Daiki. Get Tetsuya in the car. We’re taking him back in his house.” Akashi ordered.

“Don’t you think what he said was right?” Kuroko suddenly mumbled after few minutes of silence.

“What…?”

“That I shouldn’t have been saved. That I should repay Rio’s death…? That I am just a shadow lingering without a purpose in the world…?” The teal-haired teen murmured, leaning his head against Aomine’s shoulder. “Maybe I should have died back then.”

“Kurokocchi—“

“Stop talking nonsense or I’ll punish you!” Akashi snapped.

The other five stiffened with how harsh he sounded.

“Do you think I can just ignore the words you just said? Every decision I make is absolute. When I called the others to see what happened back then—I knew that you’re involved. If it’s someone else, I might have ignored it. I never regretted being with you back then, Tetsuya. So, if you are, then go call Isshin and tell him that you want to get killed by them right now. I won’t stop you!”

Kuroko’s tears dropped one by one. “I…No…I’m sorry. That’s not what I meant…I was just…I’m sorry everyone. I didn’t mean it to offend you…” He sobbed.

“Take the wheels, Shintarou. Let’s change places.” The red-head commanded, sat beside the teal-head teen as the green-head took the wheels and drove them towards the Kuroko’s.

“I’m scared…I’m scared…What if he’s there, Akashi-kun? What if he grabs me again and hurt me again? The scars might have healed but the memories still haunt me…” He whispered, trembling more.

Akashi wrapped the teal-haired teen with his jersey. “I won’t let that happen.”

They arrived at Kuroko’s at about 7 pm and they rang the doorbell.

A furious Takumi Kuroko came out.

“Tetsuya!”

“N-Niisan?”

“I was calling you since earlier? Why didn’t you say that you’re going out with your friends until this time of the day?! Do you know how I felt?! Didn’t I already say to ask my consent first before going anywhere?!” Takumi snarled.

Kuroko stiffened before bowing his head. “S-Sorry.”

“W-Wait, it’s not Kurokocchi’s fault. We were the ones who—“

Kuroko looked at Kise before smiling and shaking his head.

“Demo, Kuro-chin…”

“You’ll be locked up in your room without dinner tonight, Tetsuya. You better remember what I’m saying to you. You’re my responsibility so know your place.” Takumi complained as Kuroko nodded a goodbye to the GoM and went inside the house.

“You too, go home now.” Takumi ordered to the other five.

“Someday, you’ll realize what you have when you have finally lost it. And soon, I know, you’ll realize how important your brother is. And how incomplete you feel when he’s gone. I know, karma’s on the way.” Akashi murmured as he turned and went inside his car with the others. “And something lost will never ever return.”

Takumi’s eyes widened and as he wnet inside their house, he unconsciously glanced upstairs.

Kuroko curled up into a ball in his bed as his trembled. His phone vibrated and only one name registered as caller ID: Isshin Toshita.

You’re just a shadow. An unimportant person lingering in the world.

He looked at his wrists which he always covers with wristbands. It has cuts. Tears dropped into his bedsheet. “It was just like yesterday when I badly wanted to die.”

A/N: Ah, done!

Finally!

Sorry for any mistake!

I’m in a hurry, bye!