"—I don't remember weak people," the purple head disinterestedly stated as he turned around to join the Yosen team, sparing the Iron Heart a condescending glance.

Ryota silently exhaled, a weak smile painting his features as he disregarded the hurt on his fellow Uncrowned King to focus on Murasakibara. How to put it, Atsushicchi definitely had no filter. He shook his head in mild defeat, a flash of nostalgia in his golden hues as he observed the match from afar, not revealing his presence to the purple head. It wasn't necessary.

Junichiro seemed full of complaints beside him, the disapproving aura oozed out of him without restraints, before Ryota felt his pair of dark brown eyes on his face. As if to scold him for badly raising his Junior and not putting him back into place for his remark. Ah, Juncchi was so easy to read, the green head mused with amusement.

While it is true, Ryota didn't feel the need to intervene despite the obvious hurt on his friend's face, it didn't mean he approved of Murasakibara's words. Simply, if Ryota had wanted to act, he would have done it years before, while Kiyoshi was in his third year of Junior High and the GOM in their second year.

After all, Ryota witnessed the match Kiyoshi spoke of, the play in which Teiko thoroughly annihilated Shoei. He was captain at the time, to scold Murasakibara now was blatant hypocrisy on his part.

Ryota wasn't a good person, honestly, had Kiyoshi not been part of Kuroko's team, he wouldn't have so much as spared the boy a glance in this new life, the same went for most of the Uncrowned Kings as they were Akashi's teammates.

In this life, Ryota held most of the cards, which relationship he should cultivate, create, or break— which one was most beneficial, he knew. He knew because he already saw the achievements they could bring, the ties they would give him to the GOM. Befriending Kiyoshi was another way to keep Kuroko close, as was associating with the other Uncrowned Kings. The fact that they did get along later on and became genuine friends was another thing.

Therefore, while it was true Ryota felt some discomfort and slight guilt at Murasakibara's attitude toward Kiyoshi, it didn't mean he didn't approve of his words. After all, there was a time when he too didn't bother to remember the ants he crushed.

Truthfully, even now he didn't care for them.

It was better to crush, annihilate, killkillkillkill— he breathed, dismissing the blazing red of his golden irises. It was better to break a man before he came back for revenge. Getting stabbed in the back or losing those precious to him because of loopholes or clemency wasn't something the current Ryota could afford. Nor was it something he was willing to risk.

His golden eyes wandered to Kuroko's figure before unknowingly flickering to the raven head beside him. This time, he wouldn't let them go. This time, he would protect them.

This time they wouldn't die.

Lost in his thoughts and preparations, Ryota's focus on the match was slightly off, as he ignored the strange gaze his friend sent him. Time went on, him barely registering what happened in the game, but before he knew it drops hit him until the rain began to fall, drenching the court and at the same time pulling him out of his musing. He was so focused he didn't hear the sound of the speakerphone calling off the match.

He blinked, his golden irises losing the foreign shine in them as he caught sight of Himuro's three-pointers, easily bypassing Kagami's defense, the ball with a beautiful arc fell into the loop. Ryota's eyes flashed indigo, and although he did not know of it, the green head clicked his tongue, instinctively knowing he copied the raven's skill.

Ah, sometimes he despised this ability of his— no, ever since he realized how lethal it could be, he came to find it uncomfortable.

Awkward.

"Are? Mika-chin-senpai?" the purple head asked with a small tilt of his head, his violet eyes easily looked past the short blue head to settle on the older green head behind.

Ryota blinked, dismissing his useless thoughts on something he couldn't— didn't want to control. "Heya, Atsushicchi!" he crisply chirped back, a plastic smile perfectly complementing the happy, carefree glint in his eyes.

The tall first year hummed in acknowledgment, observing as the second year waltzed up to him, an unknown raven head following his steps with an exasperated sigh, a worried light in his dark reddish-brown eyes.

"I didn't know you came, Atsushicchi, why didn't you tell me you dropped by Tokyo? Senpai would've cared for you," he said, a teasing smirk dancing on his lips as he looked up to the purple head.

Himuro raised an eyebrow, he didn't think both males were so close.

"Mmm, I didn't think about it," Murasakibara casually responded, shrugging his shoulders as to highlight his point. His purple eyes looked aside before momentarily settling on the plastic bag in the shorter raven head's hands beside his Senior.

Ryota laughed, his golden eyes easily following the purple's line of sight, he beamed. "Oh my, are you hungry Atsushicchi? Come, come, Juncchi and I bought tons of sweets before, I can give you some," he coaxed, grabbing the giant's arm and dragging him closer.

Ryota relished in the lack of resistance the teen displayed, truly being his Senior changed many parameters to his and Murasakibara's relationship, had it been before Murasakibara would have shrugged him off and marched to the sweet himself. Ah, the power of seniority!

Yet, a part of him couldn't help but envy this passive-aggressive attitude Murasakibara had with the man named Kise Ryota.

He dismissed the matter.

"Let's see," he sang, taking the plastic bag from the raven's hand and searching through it. His eyes wandered from bag to bag, Murasakibara's figure looming over his as the tall center easily looked into the bag from over his shoulder. "Aha, here you go Atsushicchi!" he exclaimed, pulling a bag of sweets.

Atsushi's eyes lit up when he saw the brand, already salivating he reached for the bag, an aura of silent happiness oozing out of him as he tore the pack open. "Mmm, thanks," he whispered, already stuffing one piece of candy in his mouth. The way the candy melted on his tongue was divine, he moaned his hands reaching for another piece.

"See? Had you told this awesome Senpai of yours, it's not one pack you would have right now!" he sermoned, a satisfied grin on his lips as he slyly looked up at the purple head.

Murasakibara gave a nod, his purple eyes settled on the green head for a second as he searched for his words. "Mhm, I'm sorry, Mika-chin-senpai. I'll tell you next time so buy me lots of them ne?" he asked as the group began to make their way to someplace drier.

Ryota laughed, a good-natured laugh as he nodded. "Sure, sure, just make sure to tell me a bit beforehand."

Murasakibara nodded once, munching on some sweets his eyes settled on his teammates before flickering to the Seirin players, a ghost of a smile dancing on his lips. "Okay, then I'll see you at the Winter Cup," he bade, not bothering to specify whether he talked to the players or the green head.

It was evident he addressed both, the underlying message easily understood by both parties.

"Ahaha," Kiyoshi broke the silence as he saw the Yosen players walk away, a towel to his hair he handed two clean ones to Junichiro and Mikaël. "Are you going back right away, Mika?"

Ryota questioningly hummed at the question, drying his hair before wiping his wet clothes as best as possible. "I dunno, what do you want to do Juncchi?" he asked, his golden eyes sliding to his raven-haired friend who mindlessly dried himself, not caring about his final appearance— unlike Ryota who seemed to arrange himself the more he dried himself.

"'Depends, where are you taking me tonight?" he asked back. "I didn't do any research and I already came to Tokyo, there's nowhere I want or need to go."

"I see."

"Ah," both Junichiro and Kiyoshi jumped at the phantom's interjection, Ryota who easily found the blue unsurprisingly looked at the smaller teen, a smile on his lips as he tilted his head for him to go on. "Then would you like to come to Seirin with us Mikaël-senpai? I don't think I've shown you to my school yet."

"Oh!" Ryota exclaimed, clapping his hands to show his interest, the towel hanging around his neck. "What do you think Juncchi?" he chirped, his golden eyes focusing on the raven, an undoubtedly eager light in them.

Junichiro easily read the teen, while he wasn't good at disguising his emotions, sensing other's mindset was a piece of cake to the Sun bearer. "Whatever you want," he answered, a smile lying in his tone as he casually grabbed his towel to better dry to the green's locks, messing them in the process.

"Argh, careful Juncchi!"

::

The small group reached Seirin's school ground in a bit less than thirty minutes, every member was now dry though some shivered from time time. As they neared the gymnasium also used as the club room, they noticed the lights were on.

"I wonder what Coach wants to tell us."

Every Seirin players shrugged as they led the way closer to the gym.

"Sounds like everyone's here," Furihata remarked, making Ryota brighten up. Oh, would he see every player this time around? He felt a bit excited, not as much as if it was Kaijo, but the bubbling excitement at the pit of his stomach continued to grow.

Feeling himself get pumped up by the prospect of seeing those people Kuroko esteemed so much, a spring in his step, he walked up to the front of the group, casually peeking his head from behind Kagami as the red froze from their Coach's terrifying aura.

He tilted his head, casually dismissing it. Perhaps in the past, he would be frozen stiff. But now, such a level of pressure was nothing to him he had been confronted to much scarier auras, even less when it wasn't directed at him.

Ryota made himself at home, strolling around the frozen first years, he opened the path to the other Seirin players outside, Junichiro closing the march. He could almost feel the bewildered and suspicious gaze of the Seirin second years, but he didn't pay them any mind, long used to the attention.

"Ah, Mikaël-senpai!" a high pitched voice cried as a pink-haired girl came crashing in his arms, tears beading her face as her eyes began to water once more.

Ryota momentarily froze. He hadn't expected to see Momoi yet, much less at Seirin— brushing his initial stupor aside he easily brushed the girl's hair, cradling her the way he once cradled his love as he coaxed her to calm down— then again, from what he knew Momoi had a crush on Kuroko.

Feeling the girl's sobbing recede he gently lifted her head to brush the remaining tears away. A sparkling smile on his face, one Momoi knew too well from her years at Teiko, Ryota took a tissue from his pant pocket. It was slightly damp from the rain and humidity, but it would do.

"Let's sit down and talk, yeah, Satsukicchi?" he coaxed, guiding her to the stage as he asked the invisible Kuroko to follow them with his eyes. "You can tell Senpai anything yeah? I'll always be there," he soothed, his words as genuine as they could be, momentarily stunning Junichiro who observed from aside.

He didn't think coming to Tokyo would allow him to see Mikaël so genuine. Part of him felt grateful to the discovery, yet he felt regretful he couldn't have Mika act as such in Namimori.

Riko blinked, the aura around her having entirely dissipated from the moment she caught sight of the green head. Firstly because she didn't know him and hadn't expected to see him, secondly because Momoi seemed to know him well, thirdly because despite the clothes she could see his stats.

Those weren't normals. Although it was true clothes made them slightly unreliable, they shouldn't change so much, flicker from exponentially high number to dramatically low ones in seconds. As if concealing the man's strength yet it wasn't possible to hide it perfectly, letting streams of power slip by and reveal those monstrous numbers.

She shuddered, yet— "Mikaël?" she dumbly repeated. Where had she heard this name already? She mused with a frown, her eyes glaring daggers in the green head's unbothered back.

"Ah, do you know Mika too, Reiko?"

"Mhm?" the girl answered, turning her head to look at the Iron Heart. She met his smiling face and stilled. Wait. She blinked, once, twice. Ah, wasn't some guy with a similar name and looks in a sports magazine? Also, didn't he attend Teiko? A year older than the GOM—

"Wait, Teiko's captain!" she exclaimed, her eyes flickering from Kiyoshi to Mikaël dubiously.

Teppei's grin widened. "Right, Mika was one of their captains!" he agreed. "That was in his late second year and third year if I remember correctly," he said thoughtfully.

"What is he doing here?" she whisper-shouted, stalking closer to her fellow second-year as the other second-years crept closer to eavesdrop on them.

Kiyoshi laughed. "He wanted to visit."

Riko looked at him with a deadpan. It sounded— logical?

Yet, what type of reason was that!

Thus went Ryota's first meeting with the Seirin Team! Let's say that Momoi's presence wasn't something Ryota anticipated when he thought about meeting them again.

Thanks for reading, until next time^^