WORDS BETWEEN -   - MEANS THOUGHTS

POV - KAGAMI TAIGA

I was walking to school after ending my phone call with (F/N). After school, us first years had a match with the second years on the team.

(F/N) was right. During the game, Kuroko was playing amazingly. His passes were incredible. -I guess I was wrong about him, huh?-

I thought as I sat down to eat my burgers. I then saw Kuroko sitting in front of me like yesterday. I choked on my burger.

As we were walking out the fast food restaurant together, I could help but ask even though (F/N) told me everything.

"How strong is the 'Generation Of Miracles'? Like, if I were to go up against them?" He turned to me.

"You will be killed." I irked. "You could have said it differently." I told him. "On top of that, they are in different high schools now and are competing for the top." Kuroko continued.

I smirked. "Hehe. I like this. I'm gonna beat them and be at the top." I commented.

"Though you won't beat our coach. I think it's impossible." The dude continued. "HEY!" I yelled.

"I don't know your capabilities but with your level, you won't win. It's impossible alone. I have decided as well. I am a supporting actor, a shadow. But a shadow will be darker if the light is brighter and will make the white of light stand out. As the shadow, I will make you the number one in Japan." Kuroko said.

I smirked again. "HAHAHA! Well said, just do what you want, I will do my best." As we continued to walk, I couldn't help but smile.

"Man, you are exactly like how she described you." I said. "'She'?" He questioned. "(F/N)." I saw Kuroko stop. "You mean (L/N) (F/N)-san, the GOM's coach?" I nodded.

"Yup. She's a childhood friend of mine. She went to middle school here while I stayed in America. Now she's there and I'm here." I told him.

Kuroko let out a small smile. "Wow. I never knew." He said. 

"She talked highly about you guys when the GOM was still, I guess you could say, normal. I came here to Japan to beat them and return back to normal for her." I told him. 

"Seems like you like her." I blushed and looked away. "I-I guess you could say that." I murmured. "Hm. You would be a nice match for her." He smiled. "T-thanks, I guess."

Apparently, I wasn't able to play in matches since I was not an official member of the team so I went to the coach and asked her to let me be on the team.

She told me to meet her on Monday at the rooftop at 8:40. And so I did. I met up with the team at the rooftop also.

"You will shout your class number, your name, and your goal this year!" The coach yelled. I sweatdropped. -Are you kidding!?-

"Isn't that too easy? It won't even be a test." I commented. -I've been through enough situations to make this seem easy.-

I shivered at the past memories. I jumped up onto the railing. 

"CLASS 1-B, SEAT 8! KAGAMI TAIGA! I WILL DEFEAT THE GOM AND BECOME NUMBER 1 IN JAPAN! I ALSO WANT TO OFFICIALLY ASK MY CRUSH TO BE MY GIRLFRIEND!" I yelled.

In the end, we got scolded. I went back to get burgers for dinner and once again, going for the 3rd day in a row, I bumped into Kuroko.

We started to talk again about the GOM. "There is something bothering me. You are considered a GOM, right? Then why not join a powerhouse school like the others? Do you have a reason to play basketball?" I asked.

He then told me how winning was everything, just like (F/N) said. How as (F/N) helped with their skills, they became arrogant and played as individuals instead of a team.

"As of right now, the reason for which I'm playing basketball is to make you keep your promise." We started to walk home.

"You wanted to ask (F/N)-san out to be your girlfriend?" He asked. I looked to the side with a huge blush on my face.

-I thought he would forget what I said at the rooftop.- "W-well, ya. I told her at the airport before I left for Japan to wait for me. She agreed anyways." I told him. "That's cute." I glared.

"S-shut up. Now drop the topic." I said. "Ok, whatever you say, tsundere." The next day, we were officially members of the team.

POV - (L/N) (F/N)

During school today, my homeroom teacher asked us 'What do you want to be when you grow up?'.

It was a stupid elementary school question but more advance since this question will determine our courses to take to what we want to be.

I wanted to be a professional basketball player just like Alex and dad. Though, I wonder, would going professional be more difficult than the training I'm receiving?

When I entered the house, it was quiet and there was not cooking going on. -Huh?- "I'm home!" I yelled. "Welcome home!" Dad shouted back.

Dad was home, though he never spoke much Japanese at home since mom only knew some Japanese. "Where's mom?" I asked.

I walked into the living room to see dad watching the TV. "She's overseas right now until next week. She left when you were in school." He told me. "I see. Where's she going?" I asked.

Dad looked at me. "She is in London, England. She's meeting up with Gordon Ramsey." My eyes went wide. 

"The chef!?" I yelled. "Ya." Dad nodded. "COOL! Anyways, I'm gonna go get cleaned up and cook dinner." I told him. "Great! Ok."

I went to my room to clean up. After that, I went downstairs and to the fridge. We had cheese. 

I went to the pantry to see if we had some pasta and we did. I made mac and cheese with some cauliflower and carrots.

After I finished cooking, I called out to dad. "DINNER'S READY!" I yelled. I placed our plates on the dinner table. We sat down, said our thanks, and started to eat.

"Hey, dad?" I started. "Hm?" He looked at me. "So today, my teacher asked us what we wanted to be when we grow up." He looked at me weirdly.

"That's kinda childish." He commented. 

"I know, but more in depth. Like, what courses, which school, and what we need to graduate with to become what we want to be. I want to be a professional basketball player like yourself and Alex but I want to know how hard it is." I explained.

Dad wiped his mouth and looked at me. "It is hard but you will get used to it. You have the potential to be one. You would do well in that field." Dad told me. "I see." I nodded. "Wait here."

Dad got up and went upstairs to his room that he shares with mom. Later, he came down with a photo album.

"What's that?" I asked. "It's a photo album of when I was a professional basketball player." Dad started to flip through the photos while telling me the stories.

The last photo was him and the team. "Who are they?" I asked him.

"That's me, Shirogane Eiji; Eiji-chan, Aida Kagetora; Tora-chan, Nakatani Masaaki; Masa-chan, Takeuchi Genta; Genta, and Harasawa Katsunori; Katsu-chan. We used to be teammates. The female is Araki Masako; Sako-chan."

I thought for a little. "Hm. Their names are familiar. Besides being former basketball players." I commented. "They are now coaches or trainers." I snapped my fingers.

"Shirogane-san is related to the former head coach of Teiko, Shirogane Kozo. He also coaches Rakuzan High. Aida-san is an athletic trainer, Nakatani-san coaches Shutoku High, Takeuchi-san coaches Kaijo High, Harasawa-san coaches Too Academy, and Araki-san coaches Yosen High." Dad smiled at me.

"Seems like you still know your stuff." He commented. "Duh! And either way, the GOM went to most of those schools. Tetsuya went to Seirin High along with Taiga." I told dad.

"Hm? Seirin High? I'm pretty sure Tora-chan's daughter goes there and is the coach of their basketball team." He told me. "Really?"

Dad opened his phone and did something. "Yup. She's just a year older than you." Dad said. "I see. So she has the same eyes as me." I commented. "Impressive." Dad nodded his head.

I got up and started to do the dishes and dad helped. "Do you still talk to your former teammates?" I asked. "Of course!" Dad smiled.

Dad showed me his phone and his chatroom with the older males. It seems like dad was bragging about my achievements to them. I sighed.

"Dad, why brag about my achievements?" I looked at him. "What? Can't I be happy about my only daughter's achievements?" Dad looked at me. "It's just... Nevermind."

The next day, after school, I asked Alex what I asked dad the other day as we trained together.

"Hm. You dad is right. You have to also know about how your life would be more crowded and you have less privacy with paparazzi around." Alex said. "I see."

These past few weeks, Alex started to make me join tournaments around LA. I always had fun at the tournaments. Especially with Alex, mom, dad, and Shuzo cheering me on.

They met Shuzo when he started to walk me home. Not to brag but I always won the tournaments that I even got a nickname.

'The Empress Of The Court' is what they call me. I even told Tatsu and Taiga when we got to call.

It happens randomly since we have busy schedules and are in different time zones. 

Tatsu told me about Atsushi and how they are now friends. I wish they were here in America with me right now.