Chapter 1

Dear Seirin Basketball Team,

When you read this letter, I have resigned from the basketball team. I do not want to feel any pain like I did back at Teiko. I decided to be a step ahead of what life has for me and quit the team before it is too late.

I am sorry for any inconvenience I have caused.

Good luck for the Inter-High and the Winter Cup next year.

Your Ex-Phantom Player,

Kuroko Tetsuya.

...

The entire Seirin team, excluding Kiyoshi, who is getting treatment for his knee, stared at the letter in shock and disbelief. They all had the same thought.

'Why would he think that we will cause him pain?'

Riko's face turned red with anger despite tears falling down her face.

"KUROKO! Once I find you I will put you in a BOSTON CRAB HOLD!"

…

While he was walking down the pavement towards his house, he felt a shiver down his spine, like he had just been threatened by someone. He shook his head and ignored the feeling as he carried on travelling at his own pace.

'Should I have done that?'

Kuroko kept that thought in his head, contemplating whether to change his mind and take that resignation letter back.

His thoughts were soon interrupted by the sound of a guitar. He looked around for only a few seconds before he was able to see someone holding the instrument that create those sounds. The owner of the guitar is the former captain of Kaijo, Kasamatsu Yukio. Kasamatsu was playing the guitar while laying underneath the tree, in the shade.

Kuroko just kept his gaze on the way Yukio's fingers were smoothly moving from string to string.

Meanwhile, Yukio now feels a presence near him. He knows that someone is watching him play and it is making him uncomfortable. He stopped playing and starts trying to find the person that is staring at him. It didn't take long before he found Kuroko staring at his performance in interest.

'Him… Shouldn't he be with his team for practice?'

Yukio kept that thought, so he would be able to ask Kuroko if he comes over.

Just as he predicted, Kuroko did come over to him after being exposed by the former captain.

"Hello Kasamatsu-senpai." Kuroko greeted Yukio with his usual politeness.

"Hello Kuroko. Doesn't your basketball team have practice?" Yukio replied with the same politeness.

However, that question cause Kuroko to flinch and reply in a darker and more depressed tone.

"How should I know? I left the basketball team."

The last statement left Yukio in shock as he processed the words. The next question left his mouth like it had a mind of its own.

"Why?" Yukio had regretted saying that question the second after he said it.

Kuroko didn't react physically to that question. As he planted himself next to Yukio, he began to explain what happened in Teiko and the psychological pain he suffered. Yukio was shocked by the story but then did the unexpected.

He wrapped his arms around Kuroko and held him.

Kuroko's eyes widened as he tried to register the circumstances. As soon as he felt more comfortable within Yukio's arms, he placed his head on the other's shoulder, trying his best to hold the sapphire jewels back.

Seeing his predicament, he knew the words he was going to say.

"Let it out Kuroko. It will make you feel better. Trust me."

He then began to feel his shoulder getting wet at a rapid pace and heard sobs escaping Kuroko's mouth with the volume increasing by the second. Thankfully there was no one else around them, so there would be no weird looks directed to them.

After staying in that position for what felt like hours (even though it was only 5 minutes), Kuroko stopped sobbing and pulled himself away from the wet clothing. Yukio felt the pressure leave his shoulder and looked at the state of Kuroko.

Kuroko's eyes were puffy, red and bloodshot from the continuous sobbing. Tear stains were painting his cheeks. He was on the verge of falling asleep as well even though he has yet to say his reason for leaving the basketball club at Seirin. Yukio can already guess the reason why.

'He must have done it to avoid the pain before it is too late.'

Yukio felt the pressure on his shoulder again just to see Kuroko with his eyes closed, finally looking peaceful ever since their encounter. Trying not to wake him up, he placed his guitar in the case, carefully moved Kuroko off of his shoulder (just to place him on the ground) and stood up. He picked up Kuroko up and carried him bridal style to his house.

He opened the door and quickly moved upstairs and to the bedroom where he placed the case next to his desk and laying Kuroko on the bed.

Yukio carefully studied the bluenette. He didn't believe that someone so polite and innocent would be betrayed like that. How can anyone be that horrible to a young adult like Kuroko? Yukio doesn't understand the reasons behind this.

He walked away from the sleeping figure and carried on downstairs to finally get something to eat. He placed the protein in the oven. As he waited for the meat to cook at the right temperature for him, he looked over at a poster that he took earlier in the day.

Annual Tokyo Singing Competition!

Must contain at least 2 people in each group, 1 singer and 1 musician.

Age and Experience doesn't affect the rankings of the groups.

Winner has the chance of becoming a Singing Group SENSATION!

Enjoy the competition and perform to the BEST of your ability!

Yukio is the musician but he hasn't been able to find a singer who is willing to participate.

'Could I…? Would he appreciate it? Can Kuroko even sing?' Yukio thought with slight hesitation.

"Kasamatsu-senpai… Where am I?" The bluenette's voice startled Yukio and he turned around to see Kuroko with the same atrocious bed hair that almost made Yukio burst out in laughter. Almost.

"You're at my house. I don't really know your house address, so this was the best option." Yukio replied as casual as he can, trying to ignore the bird's nest on top of his guest's head.

Kuroko accepted the answer and looked over Yukio's shoulder to see the competition poster lying on the counter.

"You're thinking about joining that?"

Kasamatsu followed the bluenette's gaze to the poster as well. Now would be the best time to ask Kuroko.

"Yeah. I need to find a singer though. The teams must have at least 2 people in."

"I could be the singer."

"Is it alright if I can hear you sing?"

Kuroko looked at the former captain in disbelief. People would normally laugh and deny him straight away, not even bothering to give him a chance to prove them wrong. He nodded at his senpai's request and began to sing as Yukio listened with patience.

As each word came out of Kuroko's mouth in a singing voice, Yukio's eyes widened in disbelief.

How could someone who barely speaks have a voice so powerful?

"Kuroko?"

The bluenette's voice faded as he listened to what the noirette wanted to say.

"Do you want to be my singer?"

Tetsuya's eyes brightened at Yukio's request. He eagerly nodded.

"Do you know how to play any instruments Kuroko?"

Yukio received another nod.

"I can play the guitar, both acoustic and electric, and the violin." Kuroko listed off with confidence.

Both former basketball players smiled.

Even if they didn't win, they knew that they would have a lot of fun together.