Kaiga's P.o.V

A week after I wake up, I went to visit the gym. I'm not yet in the mood to go to school nor practice and Dr. Midorima forbid me. Too. But I plead him to let me see the progress in the practice.

Dad resigned from being our coach and now the former Head Coach is replaced as I heard. I am on my way to Teiko inside our limo while it was raining outside. Mom and Dad doesn't let me walk on my own yet and it bum me out a lot. They are too paranoid to let me walk outside on my own.

On the way, I dialed Mikka's number and tried calling her. Once she answered it, I traced sadness and worry in her voice.

"Hello?"

"Mikka? What's wrong?" I asked as I heard her sigh heavily. Something's going on. And it's not good.

"Ao-kun...stopped going to practice," I widened my eyes and it seems like she's not finish yet, "And Murasaki-kun and Aka-kun is having a one-on-one right now."

"What?!" I exclaimed and dashed towards the driver and clutched his shoulder, surprising him, "Please hurry up! I need to get there, fast!"

"Y-Yes, Young Master!" He said and quick up the pace. I went back to my seat, as near to the door as possible. I knew this will happened sooner or later.

"I have to hung up, Mikka. See you later," I said and hung up on her. In a few moments, my vehicle stopped in front of the gate and I jumped out of the limo.

"Young Master! Come back!" One of my bodyguards said, but I didn't listened and ran towards the gym as fast as possible, not minding the heavy rains. The gym finally came into view and I ran faster.

Once I was in front of the gym do, I slid it open in loud bang, but I think they are too focus on the game that's been going on than to notice me. I widened my eyes at what I am seeing, right before me.

I saw the look in Sei-kun's eyes and the shock expression in everyone's faces. Atsu-kun is now on the floor with a petrified look on his face.

"What...What's going on?" I muttered as I watch Sei-kun crush Atsu-kun. I noticed one of his eyes changed colors with a pair of halo surrounding his pupils. The Emperor's Eyes.

Five shots later, Sei-kun fglanced towards me, but I did all I can to keep a blank face to show him. I can't be swayed. The other Akashi Seijouro has surfaced.

"Well, well. It's such a sight to see the Puppeteer here," he said as he walk towards me. I started walking towards him too and look at him in the eye with my own special Eyes.

We attracted attention from the other members as we stare at each other.

"What the heck happened, Seijouro?" I asked using his full name. He suddenly used his eyes to try making me fall, but I didn't swayed and countered it.

"And who are you to ask me that, peasant?" He asked and did it again, this time, succeeding. Damn it! I'm to weak to continue it.

"Go back, Seijouro," I told him, but he didn't listened and send me a stare that shows his authority.

"You have no rights to tell me that, Kaiga. I am Absolute and from now on, you cannot defy me anymore," he said as I clicked my tongue and stood up again, but he instantly pushed me down.

"Urgh! Sei--"

"It is best if you don't talk anymore, Kaiga," he said--no. Commanded, rather. I looked away towards Atsu-kun with a click of my tongue and he kicked something.

"I'm done for the day. Good work," he said, starting to walk away, but he was stopped by Satsu-chan.

"Wait up, Mukkun!"

"I'm tellin' ya, it's fine if I show up to practice like usual tomorrow, right?" Atsushi said as he walk away. So that's the point of the game?! To decide whether he'll come to practice or not? How absurd! That can't control your will in so many... Who am I to talk....?

"No, I'm calling that off," Sei-kun suddenly said making everyone stop on what they are doing, "Do as you like. As long as we win our games," I widened my eyes and slowly stood up to watch them. As long as we win in games?

"The same goes for Shintaro, Ryouta, Kaiga. Especially Kaiga who still have secrets to reveal" he said as I was about to protest when Mikka stopped me and shook her head.

"Tch."

"All actions will be glossed over as long as we win our games. At our level, it is more of a waste of time to force everyone to get in step. It is more efficient to stop adjusting," Sei-kun said as I clutch my fist p, restraining myself from breaking things. Such as faces.

"Impossible...that sounds like you don't want to have team okay anymore..." One member said as I lowered my head, starting to bite my lower lip.

"That is correct. For the Generation of Miracles, team play is nothing but a hindrance. That is what I said," Seijouro explained further as I stop myself further.

I see now. My hunch was right. Since the six of us have immense power inside the court, someday we'll all change and turn our back on each other. Maybe right now, it's just Daiki, Atsu-kun and Sei-kun. But someday, Shin-kun and Ryo-kun will too. And I have to act quick.

---

I stayed in the gym after the mebers left and my bodyguards did not found me because I used my misdirection to fool them. I need to talk to Tetsu-kun. I need to know what happened to Daiki.

I was in the darkest edge of the gym when Tetsu-kun arrive, drench in rain as Sei-kun handed him a towel.

"Looks like it was no good," Seijouro said as Tetsuya took the towel with a disappointed expression.

"Right.

"Then, there's nothing we can do. You should give up on Aomine," Tetsuya raised his head, eyes widened and stared at Seijouro like he's talking nonsense.

"A plate can never he fully restored once it has a crack," he even quoted, "But if it is still usable, what we have now will suffice."

"Akashi-kun?"

"Seijouro..."

"What are you talking about? No...Who are you?" I decided to step in p, but I experienced cold feet.

Whenever I tried going near my cousin, my knees feel weak and can't manage to do it. I was too startled at what happened earlier. I am too... Scared of Seijouro right now. Since...he's not the Sei-kun I can defy anymore. He's the other one.

"Of course, I'm Akashi Seijouro, Tetsuya..."

Within Seijouro, there is another Akashi Sejouro. One that is completely different from the usual Sei-kun we all know. I've seen him couple of times, but this time...he will be resurfacing more often.

---

I attended practice and classes again and what is happening is not on my good thing list. Atsushi and Daiki...they re really not attending practices.

"I just hate this," I said and Ryouta looks at me. The usual noisiness and liveliness in the gym dispersed. I even lost my appetite to eat since At sushi is gone and my ability to cause trouble since Daiki is gone too.

"Yeah. It really has changed a bit," Ryouta said

"What has, in fact?" I looked at Shintaro with bored expression and sighed.

"It feels a bit cutthroat. Like, there's less of that feeling that we're all buddies. It's like that since the coach and Akashjcchi changed course," Ryouta answered as I nodded and pick up a ball.

"It feels like I'm gonna die if the usual stuff don't happen in a few days," I commented and stared at the ball.

"I mean, you're a bit irritated yourself, Midorimacchi. And you're too lifeless, Kaigacchi," I looked at the floor and dribbled the ball slowly, but didn't answered. I'm lifeless like a zombie.

"No matter what the form, if it is the course set for the team, I follow it," Shinataro said and I stared at him.

"The course set for the team? Even if we have to break apart?" I asked and he sighed.

"More or less," he asnwered, "What I find disagreeable is with Aomine and Murasakibara as they stand down now. No matter the reason, not showing up just because you were told you didn't have to... The nerve of then I find hard to comprehend, in fact."

"I cannot behave amiably to those that refuse to do everything in their powers," he finshed as I clicked my tongue and shot the ball from this distance and went in.

"Is that so?" I muttered and sighed. It's like that is also directed to me.

---

"I stayed by the gym since I wanted to keep Tetsuya company. And since I wanted to speak with him, also. As he practice shooting I think about how much this team fall apart in a short time period. It's true. With great power, comes great responsibility, but Teiko has no responsibility. The Miracles rather.

"It's unusual for you to practice shooting," I raised my head to see Seijouro. I adjusted to his change in the past days and now I can stand near him, but I stop myself from ever talking to him.

"Akashi-kun," I just nodded, letting him know I acknowledge his presence.

"That is practice that you no longer have a need for, isn't it?" He asked Tetsuya.

"I guess so," Tetsuya said with a bitter smile. I took one ball and Seijouro looked at me.

"It actually surprise me that you come to practice even though I said you have the liberty not to come," he said, but all I did was to throw the ball in the air, letting in go down the hoop, "Is that so?"

"Akashi-kun, do you like basketball?" Now that's an interesting question, although I already know the answer.

"I fail to understand the meaning of that question. This emotion of "liking"...is it necessary in order to win?" Seijouro asked. In my opinion, it is. However, emotion in the game is practically only 10% needed.

"I...really don't know anymore. The current team is definitely different than before. From around when you changed, Akashi-kun." Tetsuya said, by the looks of it, he is about to cry from the sadness of what is happening. Seijouro laughs upon hearing the word change.

"That again. I have not changed at all. There were two of me to begin with. It was merely a swap between us," Seijouro said with a smile. I was about to say something when I stopped once again. Tetsuya gasped upon hearing this fact.

"I have no intent on hiding this. Whether or not you believe it, it is up to you,Tetsuya. However, if you want want to call it 'change,' then that was because it was necessary," Seijouro said as I closed my eyes trying to stop the headache I am experiencing, but I only see the changes inside my head.

"The team did not change because I changed. I changed because the team changed," he continued and took a glance at me as I glared at him, "As everyone prominent talents started to show, we no longer had any external enemies. If there are enemies, they're all internal."

Again, he seem to direct that statement to me.

"If I try to round up powers that are too strong...there is the possibility that everything will cruble from the inside. We would no longer be combining our forces together," Tetsuya was shock by this theory of Seijouro, but I only sighed.

"Impossible...what are you talking about?"

"But I realize, that is what happened to you and Daiki," Seijouro said and look at me for warning on what he will say next, "Even you two, the light and its shadow...because the light is too strong, it started to go out of balance. And if it's between a light and another light...it is as clear as day"

Just as I suspected, he is directing it to me. I can't stop myself right now. I need to speak up.

"So there is isn't anything more important that to win?" Tetsuya asked in a tone that I recognize as disappointment and sadness.

"There is not. Obscure ideals are powerless and nothing else," my outside are calm p, but my inside is burning with rage. I can't digest what Seijouro is just saying. Then, I noticed Tetsuya's eyes is in the brink of crying.

"Perhaps...that is exactly the case... As people grow, they change....yet I...perhaps I just desperately wanted to go back to those days before we won the national championship," Tetsya confessed and it flashbacked to me everything that happened. The bitter moments and fun moments. All of it...suddenly go to waste somehow.

"If you want to resign, I will not stop you, but if you want to continue, accept it. From herein, you want to continue being the sixth man for Teiko," Seijouro said and then looked at me, "And Kaiga being the Secret Ace for Teiko."

---

We are are walking home in utter silence between us. Funny. Usually, everything around me is noisy and trouble, but all that's left is trouble.

"Tetsuya," I said and he looked at me, his emotionless face back on. I had mine on as well and the girls decided to come along, but dalso decided to start quiet.

"Yes, Kaiga-kun?" He asked and I surpressed a bitter smile.

"I'll stop calling you Tetsuya or Tetsu-kun from now on," I said, surprising him for a bit then he composed himself, "Everyone else. I'll be calling them with there family name again."

"Why, Kaigan?" Momoi asked as I sighed.

"As long as this change continue, I have to keep this up. I'll...I have to try on getting the team back together," I said and Mikka suddenly ran in front of me and spread her arms.

"What craziness are you trying to do now, Kaiga?" Mikka asked and I stared at her blankly, making us stop from walking, right in front of a street court.

"I started this sudden change when I, myself evolve unknowingly. I already predicted this will happened, yet I just sat there doing my own selfish things and end it in vain. I kept my true potential from everyone and I think that triggered the sudden change in Dai--Aomine. He's been playing with a phony such as me."

"Kaiga," Mikka said and I smiled at her and ruffled her hair, making her drop her arms down to her side, "Baka."

"Yes. I'm a big idiot," I said and turned to Tetsuya at Momoi, "But can you help this big idiot?"

"Yes, of course! You're our friend, Kaigan," Momoi said and Tetsuya nodded.

"But you can't take all on your shoulders. It's not your fault," he said as I smiled at them. Is it or is it not really?

---

A/N: this book will soon end. I hope you all stay until then. Actually, the Princes is just a variable in the story to show the Miracles what the main character is really capable of.

My original plan for this chapter is a beach bonding, but I just remembered that the conflict of the Miracles started after the championship so I need to make the context.

Plus, I'm very inspired right now after watching W: 2 Worlds.  From now on, you will read about the conflict between the team and how Kaiga resolve them or much less, make it worst.

~RSE out