A/N: Hello, readers! So, I'm gonna be brutally honest with ya'll for a hot minute, because I'm an author who doesn't make excuses.

I had completely forgotten about this book. I generally wanted to delete this book so bad, because it's honestly a whole fucking mess. I also wanted to write a Kise Ryouta fanfiction, but I don't think it will happen as I've moved on to writing about better anime.

But uh, you guys seem to enjoy this book, so I guess I'll make it my mission to finish it?

edited on january 24th, 2022 @ 3:26am

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CHAPTER SEVEN - ENTER KIYOSHI TEPPEI

SEIRIN HAD BEEN KICKED OUT of the Inter-High after their loses. Now, the Winter Cup was their final shot at being the best. Kagami was currently not talking to Kuroko. Daigo thought about the events of the Inter-High as he balanced a basketball on his forearm.

"Figured I'd find you here."

Daigo looked up to see Kagami sitting down next to him. "Still upset over our lost?" Kagami questioned.

"Are you saying you're not?"

Kagami sighed as he entangled his fingers with Daigo's as they held hands and the dark-blue haired male rested his head on his shoulder. "I'm sorry." He apologized.

"The hell you apologizing to me for?" Daigo asked.

"For not defeating your twin brother. I wanted to win not just for the team, but for you as well." Kagami replied. "Perhaps I'm not the player you're looking for to defeat your brother."

"We still have the Winter Cup, right?" Daigo reminded him. "We didn't win simply because we weren't strong enough."

"Putting that aside, I think you shouldn't give up on Tetsu." Daigo continued.

"Huh?"

"Taiga, back in Teiko, I had to watch Daiki abandon Tetsu because he wanted to fight on his own. When the beginning of his phase, the only one who can beat me is me, came into play." Daigo snorted at the mention of his twin's phase. "You're repeating history. I don't want Tetsu to go through that again."

"I'm not saying you two have to be attached at the hip. In fact, I think it's better for you both to focus on your own strengths and weaknesses. Just... Don't abandon him forever, all right?"

"Yeah. I won't." Kagami promised. "You really care about Kuroko, do you?"

"Of course I do. He's the only one who knows how it was being on the same team with all the other Generation of Miracles." Daigo replied. "Being on that team was suffocating. But it wasn't always like that. The seven of us were all friends even if they won't admit it. Until that bastard Akashi decided to have everyone turn against each other. It's something I can't forgive him for."

Daigo then decided to change the subject. "How are your legs?" He then asked.

"Doctor says I need two weeks of complete rest." Kagami responded.

Daigo hummed in thought. "You're not weak, you know." He told him. "Who gives a shit if you couldn't go up against Daiki? Figure out what you did wrong and get stronger."

"Are you trying to reassure me, or yourself?"

"Both." Daigo admited, sighing as he did so. "Truth is, I'm pissed, Taiga. And I've never been pissed after a game. Well, because I was on a team full of dipshits who only cared about themselves — excluding Tetsu of course."

Daigo then released his hand from Kagami's as he stood up. "I know you're hurt, but you should still come to practice. Hyuga-san is really scary when he's mad." He informed.

"Yeah."

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"Gather 'round, everyone!" Hyuga called out as everyone gathered around their captain. "Where's Kuroko? Is he skipping practice?"

"I'm not skipping." Kuroko replied, making Hyuga flinch back in surprise as did the rest of the second-years. Daigo seemed unfazed.

"Oh, okay." Hyuga said, pushing up his glasses. "I haven't experienced that in a while! And Number 2!"

"Today's the day!" Koganei exclaimed.

"We'll stop you, Kuroko, Aomine!" Tsuchida finished.

"Didn't I tell you not to—" Daigo began before realizing there was no point. "Never mind."

Kuroko just blinked at them as practice soon began. "Hey! Tsucchi, stop them!" Koganei shouted.

"Koga, you're the one who said you'd stop them today!" Tsuchida fired back.

"No, it was you!"

"Damn it!"

"Actually, it was the both of you." Daigo retorted.

"Butt out, Aomine!"

Daigo let out a sigh in frustration. "Why do I even bother..." He wondered.

Practice then continued as the ball suddenly dropped onto the court. Riko then blew the whistle, gathering everyone around.

"Do you remember what you said when you first joined the team?" Riko questioned as the rest of the first-years widened their eyes.

"We're really..."

"...going to do that?"

"You don't want to lose the next one. Know why?" Riko continued on. "Winter's going to be cold."

"Winter?"

"That's right! The best high school is determined at the summer Inter-High. Then there's the winter championship! The year's biggest and last title to determine the year's strongest team. The Winter Cup! That's where we'll put it all on the line!" Riko declared.

"It's our last chance of the year." Izuki informed.

"If we can't win this winter, she'll really make us go naked." Hyuga added on as Riko had sparkles around her, making the team get taken aback while both Daigo and Kuroko were unfazed.

"But isn't it the same level as the Inter-High?"

"This is going to be tough."

"About that, Hyuga-kun. Teppei should be coming home soon." Riko told the captain.

"What? Seriously?" Hyuga asked.

"We might see a lot happen." Izuki stated.

"Uh, who's Teppei-san?" Furihata questioned.

"I was wondering the same thing." Daigo thought.

"Oh, right. The first-years haven't met him yet." Izuki remembered. "He's No. 7, our ace."

After practice, the team was in the locker room. "What about Kagami? Is he going to be okay?" Izuki questioned.

"He's resting, but I told him to come watch us play." Hyuga replied.

"I haven't seen him in a week." Koganei added on.

Hyuga then had an irked expression as he was covered with an intense aura. "He might be hurt, but he's got some balls to not show up." He said with irritation. "I'll hit him the next time I see him!"

"Kuroko, Aomine, you're both in his class, aren't you?" Koganei asked. "Do either of you know anything?"

"No. I haven't spoken to him." Kuroko replied.

"You could've asked him something!" Hyuga complained.

"Sorry. Recently, it's been a little difficult for me to talk to Kagami-kun. Good work." Kuroko said, picking up his gym bag as Number 2 followed him out of the locker room.

"Is he okay?"

"He'll be fine."

"Oh, speaking of which, I did speak to Taiga." Daigo informed, causing his seniors and fellow first-years to look at him.

"Did you have any luck with him?" Hyuga questioned.

"All I told him was that he should still come to practice, otherwise you'd get mad." Daigo replied. "I'm heading out."

Daigo picked up his gym bag before swinging it over his shoulder and following Kuroko out of the locker room.

Daigo was walking by himself as he thought back to his twin brother's words.

"Seems like things never change, do they, Daigo? You'll never find a player better than me. The only one who can beat me is me. Not even you."

Daigo gritted his teeth in frustration. "He friggin' pisses me off!" He exclaimed in his head. He then recalled about the new player that his seniors were talking about.

"He's the ace of the team, huh? I wonder what the guy is like. More or less, I wonder how Taiga will react." Daigo then snorted at the thought.

"Knowing him, he'd probably want to challenge him to keep his ace position."

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The next day, Daigo was in the gym when Kagami entered in practice clothes. "Hey." He greeted.

"There he is."

"We were worried about you."

"Kagami, you bastard." Hyuga began, turning around to face the red head. "You really didn't show up after that."

Kagami bowed. "Sorry." He apologized. Hyuga sweat dropped as he was taken aback.

"I-If you're going to apologize, just come in the first place." Hyuga informed.

Daigo then heard the sounds of shoes squeaking soon after. "Hey." An unfamiliar voice greeted. "Let's practice."

The gym was silent as Riko deadpanned. "Good to see you, Kiyoshi." Koganei told him.

"Yeah!"

"Don't give me that. Why are you wearing your uniform?" Hyuga questioned.

"I got excited about coming to practice again." Kiyoshi replied.

"Are you serious? Are you?"

"Yeah!"

"Are you?"

"I've been in the hospital since last summer. Because of my surgery and rehab, I've been taking a break. Kiyoshi Teppei, 193 centimeters, 81 kilos. My position is center. Nice to meet you." Kiyoshi introduced himself.

"Kiyoshi... Teppei?" Daigo repeated in his head as he blinked. "Where have I heard that name before?"

"Teppei, you're sure you're okay now?" Riko asked.

"Yeah! I'm completely healed." Kiyoshi reassured. "I've forgotten some stuff, but I wasn't doing nothing in the hospital."

"Did you learn something?" Izuki questioned.

"Yeah... Card games." Kiyoshi responded. "The old man sharing my room taught me."

"So?"

"It's fun."

"That's got nothing to do with basketball!" Hyuga and Izuki shouted in unison.

"Also, one more thing. I'm putting my undefeated three year high school career on the line. I'm serious about doing this. My goal is, of course... Where is it?" Kiyoshi asked, making everyone confused.

"What?"

"Where's the Inter-High being held?" Kiyoshi questioned.

"It changes every year, and we already lost!" Izuki exclaimed. "We've got our sights set on the Winter Cup now!"

"Where is that this year?"

"In Tokyo, every year!" Hyuga replied.

"Anyway, if you're going to climb a mountain, you've got to aim for the top. But let's not forget to enjoy the scenery." Kiyoshi announced.

Practice soon started as Kagami dunked the ball. "That's a foul, Kagami-kun." Riko shouted out. "You're too forceful! Pay more attention to your surroundings!"

Kagami walked away in frustration, making Daigo glance over at him in worry. "Doesn't he seem especially on edge?" Koganei asked.

"Yeah, at first I thought it was because he's focusing, but I was wrong. He's acting like he did when he first joined. He doesn't try to rely on anyone else. He's playing basketball by himself." Izuki answered.

"Hey, Kagami-kun." Kiyoshi spoke. "I want to play soon too, but I don't think it's fair for me to ask to play just because I'm an upperclassman. So... Why don't we play some one-on-one for the starting position?"

"I expected something like this from Taiga. But... Is he serious?" Daigo asked himself.

"Kiyoshi..." Koganei trailed off.

Hyuga sighed. "He hasn't changed." He commented. "This is why I can't stand the guy. He always plays hard, is obsessed with basketball, acts stupid, and..."

Kiyoshi then smirked. "He's always up to something." Hyuga finished.

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A/N: Yahoo! I'm back ig. Hopefully it won't be another two years until I update this again. I'm really sorry you guys :(

Thanks for reading!

Word Count: 1868 words.