"A pleasure to have you today Lamarre-san," the journalist greeted as he guided the teen inside the studio. "Thank you again for accepting our invitation."

Mikaël returned the greeting with a smile. He lightly dipped his head. "The pleasure's all mine, but please call me Mikaël. Thank you for the invitation."

Laughing good-naturedly the reporter shook his head. He took a seat across the green head, a low table separating them. "Then Mikaël-san, or should I say The Wizard," he introduced as he laid a microphone on the table. Taking a block note from his bag, he leaned in his seat. Ready to begin his interview.

"First of all, congratulations for your last Nationals and for successfully graduating," Mikaël hummed, nodding in thanks. "As the rising Generation of Miracles' Captain, you must feel quite proud of them for their achievements, right?"

"Of course, but I think that even without me they would have managed," Mikaël humbly replied, already used to these interviews and how to manipulate the flow of the conversation from his past life.

"You shouldn't be so modest. Even the best soldiers would be useless without a good leader," the brown head casually admonished. "Though, this leads me to our main point, the rumor of your retirement."

Gold pupils darkened for a second before brightening once more. To leave basketball behind eh? Such thoughts would have never crossed his mind before.

"As a promising basketball player, the one dubbed The Wizard or Le Magicien, for your prowesses and impressive skills in the sport, could you tell us more on these rumors?"

Gently rubbing his jewelry's gem, he bashfully smiled. A chuckle, he whispered. "Ah, well this nickname is a bit..." doesn't it make me seem like a total virgin? Refraining these thoughts, he cleared his throat. "Thank you for the compliment."

The man grinned. "From the information, we gathered it seems you didn't transfer to any High School famous for its basketball team. Much like The Iron Heart," he added. "Do you perhaps plan to create a team from scratch?"

"Ah, no," Mikaël denied calmly. "I transferred to Namimori Senior High School specifically because it didn't have a renown basketball team. Or club in general."

"Is that so... Then why not enter one of Tokyo's High School instead of one from the suburbs. I do not intend to be rude, but I think our city offers a wide range of schools, don't you have your modeling career too?"

"Ah, I suppose I wanted to distance myself from the capital. Get a bit farther away from Teiko and basketball, a small pause," he explained, his voice trailing off as he went.

"I see, then do you perhaps plan on going back to it after some time?"

"Time will tell."

The man laughed. "Of course, of course. Now, could you tell us more about your old juniors—"

::

As he gazed at the club registration paper, a pen twirling in his hand, Mikaël contemplated his possibilities. He didn't have any club in mind, so long as it wasn't basketball, he was okay with it.

His mind wandered aimlessly in search of something interesting to do. He closed his golden pupils and found himself looking at the television, in his old apartment, with his love.

A genuine smile was painted on his face as he rested his chin in the other's fluffy hair. The strands gently brushed against his face, making him a bit ticklish but rendering the situation all the more comfortable.

The two lovers didn't live together, and this not-so-cheap condo was one Kise had bought a year after getting his license as a pilot. It wasn't particularly spacious, but it gave off a nice cozy feeling. It was, added to the person in his arms, the feeling of home. Ryota loved it.

It soothed his body and mind to great extents.

He doesn't remember what day it was, but he knows they were watching a baseball match. More like his partner was while he looked at them from above. The twinkling in those mesmerizing pupils, the slight curl of their lips, the undivided attention they gave to the television.

At the time, though happy to spend time with his lover, Kise was a bit regretful not to know how to play baseball. His golden eyes had trailed to the TV, and he remembers thinking perhaps he should learn how to play.

Right, he fluttered his golden eyes open, didn't he want to learn baseball?

Humming to himself, he let his eyes trail to the registration paper. He saw the baseball field on his way to class, so theoretically speaking, they should have a baseball club.

Leaning on his chair, he turned his face to see his classmate who sat behind him. "Say, Jun," he called out, picking the raven's attention. "Do we have a baseball club?"

"Baseball? Yeah, there's one. Why? You're interested Mika?"

He hummed, nodding in agreement as he turned to face his paper. "I suppose yeah, I've always wanted to try it," he said as he began to file out his registration sheet.

The boy leaned on his desk, his face just above the other's shoulder he looked over his club choice. "Shouldn't you apply for basketball though? I mean our team's not that strong but don't you like the sport?" He inquired thoughtfully.

"Nah, I'm doing a pause."

"'S that so?"

He hummed. "Yeah, I'm waiting for my Juniors to grow up," he added with a laugh.

::

"So you guys are the first-years," the captain drawled as he went over his files, the said first-years standing in a row before him. The situation was a bit nostalgic to Mika who had been on the other side of the roster these past years.

"Most of you were in the club last year, though some not," he trailed off, lifting his head to look at the students before him. "Listen up, I don't think that's the case, but just to make sure. Have some of you never played? If so lift your hand."

Not bothering to look around him, Mikaël casually raised his hand. He was sure he was the only one. After all, though some weren't in the club, they must have played with some friends before. Sadly, or not, for Kise, the Generation of Miracles was more into basketball than baseball.

Except at the sports shop he had never touched a baseball bat or ball in his life. Both past and present. A quick glance around confirmed his suspicion. He sighed, those looks were painful.

The captain stopped, he rubbed his temples before sighing. "Okay, everyone except," he flipped through his files before stopping at the picture of a green head. "Except Lamarre, can go pass the tests. Lamarre, you stay behind."

"Yes, captain!"

"You're from Teiko, impressive I suppose," he paused. "You were their basketball club's first-string captain, went to the Nationals, won. The number of trophies you acquired with the club in Junor High is quite remarkable."

Mikaël smiled, rubbing his left earlobe.

"So, why would you join our baseball team, which has never gone to the Nationals, and doesn't aim to? I'll be clear Lamarre. If you came here to have fun, you'd better reconsider. Namimori isn't your playground."

He nodded. "Of course, that's why I came."

The captain's eyes narrowed, he snorted. "Do you take me for a fool? Listen up, you may be a genius, I don't give a shit about that. Here you're nothing, got that?"

Mikaël's smile brightened, turning more genuine. "Exactly. That's why I chose Namimori, but don't worry, I'm a quick learner."

"Do you think I'm an idiot—"

"I'm not aiming for the Nationals either. So don't worry, I won't do my Diva. Also, though it may seem prideful, I do not intend on joining the regulars."

The captain defeatedly sighed. "Alright. Watch and learn."

Mikaël smiled. Sure, watch and learn. His eyes glinted.

::

"Is it me, or has the neighborhood become more agitated these days?" Mikaël inquired as he leaned against the class' windowsill, his eyes laid on the school gate as he stared at the students.

"Nah, apparently some first-year student in Junior High's been going on a rampage. They said he confessed naked to the cutest girl in his year before beating the kendo club's rising champion in a match."

He hummed, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah, also he supposedly saved another student from suicide. I'm not too sure on this info, to be honest—"

"You mean Takeshi?"

Jun paused, his eyes flickered to the green, he whistled. "Oh yeah, don't you have practice with the Junior High students sometimes?"

He hummed. "Yeah, he's been away these days. Apparently, he broke his arm."

"'That so, anyway. I heard the first-years also got a transfer student from Italy. Heard he's a real catch, even the girls in our grade find him charming."

"From Italy?"

"Yeah, he's a foreigner like you. Maybe it's in your foreigners' blood to have so many fangirls yeah?" He said, jokingly as he patted the other's back.

A faint smile. "Maybe, but I think that on my part it's my awesome personality," he boasted, flipping his hair.

Jun sent him an incredulous look. "As if. You'd lose more than half of your fan if not for your looks."

"Ow, your words hurt me, Jun."

The boy rolled his eyes.

::

On the baseball field, Mikaël stretched. Taking special care of his knees and legs, as usual, he lifted his head to meet a pair of brown eyes. "You're better already Takeshi?" He asked as he saw the other boy stretch his arms in front of him.

"Yeah, thanks for worrying Senpai," the teen replied as he rubbed his neck bashfully.

Mikaël smiled, standing up before whacking the teen's forehead. "Yeah, but be careful next time. An athlete's body is precious," he sermoned, eyes narrowed in reminiscence as he remembered his legs.

"Haha, right my bad, I'll be more careful."

"You better be!"

Shaking his head, Mika went to get the baseball equipment, Takeshi right behind as they were charged with taking the material out.

Pushing the ball cart, Mikaël caught sight of some teens he had never seen before. He raised an eyebrow. "Say Takeshi, are those your friends?"

Turning his head to look at the direction the other indicated, he waved at the group before nodding. "Yeah! That's Tsuna and Gokudera," he introduced.

Mikaël nodded, his eyes widened slightly. "Ah, you mean the transfer student and the guy who confessed naked?"

Takeshi tilted his head. "Naked? Haha, I don't know about that. But yes, Gokudera's the transfer student."

"I see."

Eyes narrowed, Reborn looked at Yamamoto from his student's shoulder. "Tell me Dame-Tsuna, who's that student next to Yamamoto?"

The teen tilted his head, his eyes flickered from his friend's form to the taller student next to him. "I think he's a Senior High school student, I've never seen him in our building before."

Reborn didn't answer, his eyes followed the green's figure until they reached the playing field.

"You ready Takeshi?" Mikaël asked as he jungled with a baseball, his eyes were on the first-year student who waited, a bat in hand. It was Friday, and as usual, the Senior High school and Junior High school students had a practice match against one another.

Yamamoto nodded, eyes sharp as he took his position to intercept the ball.

Mikaël smiled, his eyes glinted. Though he wasn't as addicted to baseball as he was to basketball, the desire to win was still present. Exhaling, he readied himself.

Takeshi followed the other's move, his body a bit tense.

The sound of the ball hitting the ground came to his ears, and he blinked. A wry laugh escaped his lips.

Reborn's eyes narrowed, he dipped his fedora. Had his eyes seen wrong?

::

Hands stuffed in his pockets Mikaël strolled out of the Arena. His golden eyes held a bit of sadness as they veiled themselves in melancholy. He sighed. Though he knew things would turn out this way, he hadn't expected it to be so similar to his former life.

In the end, Teiko was "ever victorious." There was nothing he could do about it. The light buzzing of his phone brought his attention back to his surrounding.

"Yes, Tetsuyacchi?" He said as he answered the call.

"Mhm, I saw. Congratulations. Though it was all within my expectations!" He chirped with a chuckle.

Mikaël's smile faltered, his laughter died down. He blinked a few times, intently listening to his friend and junior on the other side of the line. His feet guided him to a wooden bench, and he sat. His eyes faced the sky, it was a clear day, devoid of any cloud and the sun shone brightly. A brilliant day, for a glorious victory.

He fluttered his lashes, his eyes squinting at the sun as his lips curled down. "I saw."

A curt answer made him pause. He snickered. "Would you despise me if I told you I expected it? I expected but didn't do anything despite that?"

The silence before the younger's answer was enough of a response for the teen. Nonetheless, upon hearing his friend's denial he smiled, chuckling.

"I see, thanks Tetsuyacchi."

He hummed, his head fell to the side, letting his gaze rest on the Gymnasium's eastern exit. He simpered. Standing up he patted the nonexistent dust off his pants.

"Yeah, I see you. Would you like to talk some more Tetsuyacchi?"

Closing his eyes, he hanged up upon hearing the shorter's words. His demeanor was languid yet full of confidence and charisma from his years as both a model and player, he joined the blue-haired teen.

"Heya Tetsuyacchi!"

His eyes landed on the blue's blank face, and he smiled, casually ruffling the other's locks before his hand got swatted away. He simpered, eyes slightly narrowed as he gazed at the other's pools of blue. Cold grief-inducing blue.

"Let's get going," he said leading the way and keeping his smile on.

The phantom player mutely nodded, holding his duffle bag over his shoulder, he followed the taller green head to the parking lot. He didn't know when he got his license or his car but didn't ask questions. His Senpai had always been a bit peculiar, doing things his own way, speaking dumbly but always with a certain level of hidden wisdom.

Kuroko didn't know why he felt the other sometimes seemed wise while other times he looked utterly simple-minded.

Taking his cart's— something he barely managed to afford with his model wage last holidays— keys out of his pocket, he turned his vehicle on. The small inconspicuous black car blinked its light once as he turned to face the silent teen.

"Should we go to Maji Burger first then?"

Kuroko faintly smiled, humming.

I finished my exams, I'm in a great mood, so here's an update.

We are slowly going back to having Mikaël named as both Mikaël and Ryota since Teiko arc has ended. As for how the "current" Kise will be addressed, it will be Kise.

Thank you for reading, until next time^^