AN: Wow. I am really glad that many people like my story "Providence". I am really happy so I would like to share this with you. This story is a roundabout way of Kuroko befriending Seirin, facing his inner monsters, and figuring out where things went wrong. Anyways, I don't know how to delete something my account reviewed. When I asked my cousin to see my story, I hadn't expected him to use my account (which was still logged in on the computer) and review on my own story. It's embarrassing. Anyways, on with the story.

Again, like in my other story, this is GEN.

Enjoy.

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[Prologue: Progression]
"The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist" - Kevin Spacey

"That rival is going to appear someday, Aomine-kun," Kuroko stated matter-of-factly, but his eyes spoke of some different story.

"Didn't you just tell me about that before, Tetsu?" The tan teen laughed, face contorted with bitterness and no humor despite the grin of his lips. "I'm tired of waiting. There's nothing more boring than an opponent giving up halfway down the fight," He remarked a little darkly.

"That's true, isn't it?" The teal haired teen commented as he stopped walking.

Aomine looked over his shoulder as Kuroko stared at the other side of the road. Following his partner's line of sight, his eyes saw children playing on the street court. Even from where they were standing, he could hear them laughing. His eyes softened at the sight and, suddenly, watching them have fun made his chest flutter.

Kuroko might be right after all.

"You know what, Tetsu?" Aomine drawled as he rubbed the back of his neck. "Let's wait for that rival, yeah?"

Aomine didn't give up on that rival.

But many people gave up on basketball. Before third year was over, he also quitted basketball.

"Promise me, Aomine-kun," Kuroko stated fiercely, eyes alight with something that was almost desperation. "Promise me that you would never quit basketball," His grip over the other's sleeve tightened and the tan ace's eyes widened at the display of emotion.

"Tetsu, what the hell's gotten into you?" A bewildered Aomine uttered as he stared at the small teal haired boy.

"Just promise me," Kuroko insisted firmly.

For a moment, Aomine just stared at him. Then, he laughed and lightly ruffled Kuroko's hair.

"Of course, I won't, stupid! Just because no one's good enough yet to match me doesn't mean I'll quit. I'm not that weak, Tetsu." He smiled and grinned when Kuroko's face broke into one of genuine fondness but he was kind of worried at how the younger boy still looked sad and troubled.

But, Kuroko let go of his sleeve with a sort of heavy air before walking ahead.

"You were before," Kuroko muttered silently but was too far ahead to be heard by his friend.

He hadn't quit basketball.

Aomine skipped practice like before and everything played out as they did the first time with the belief that the only one who could beat him was himself. The only difference was that his friendship with Kuroko hadn't diminished.

Though, it didn't hurt any less for Kuroko to watch the same thing again.

"Say, Midorima-kun, can you shoot the ball from the half-court line?" Kuroko asked curiously with a tilt of his head.

The taller teen scoffed with a little bit of arrogance.

"I can't say I can but I haven't really tried yet," Midorima answered somewhat loftily as his eyes gleamed at the prospect of what Kuroko's words had offered.

"You should," Kuroko's eyes softened.

At that, the green haired shooting guard's eyes narrowed. Just what was the teal haired teen playing at? Ever since the end of the championship game this second year, Kuroko had been somewhat sticking to him. While he understood that things between him and Aomine hadn't been the same, it was no reason for him to cling to him. At least, Midorima thought so.

"I don't need any encouragement, I'll do it anyway," He grumbled as he watched the ball he shot from the three-point line go in.

"Do you hate me, Midorima-kun?"

For the first time in his life, he missed a shot. Kuroko had asked the question just as he had been shooting the ball. And he wasn't prepared.

"Kuroko! Look at what you've done!" Midorima hissed as he rounded on the other. "You made me miss. I never miss! And what kind of question is that? We may not get along because of our incompatible blood types but it doesn't indicate that I hate you. For the love of God, what's gotten into you?" He demanded as he watched Kuroko hunched his shoulders almost defensively, eyes skittering away to avoid his.

"I've just wanted to know if Midorima-kun hates me," Kuroko stated bluntly as he frowned. "I apologize for making you miss your shot,"

"You didn't answer my question," The verdant haired boy pointed out. "What's gotten into you? I know you and that idiot aren't getting along but what's this got to do with me?"

"I… wanted to make sure that I'm not useless in the team," The teal haired boy revealed and Midorima felt like he wanted kill Aomine. "So, I've been observing Midorima-kun. Will Midorima-kun agree to partner up with me? Even just for a short while," Kuroko pointedly looked away from him.

For a moment, Midorima stared.

Then, he huffed.

"I don't see why not," Midorima agreed somewhat gruffly. "And I'm only doing this because Aomine is being difficult. If that idiot's not utilizing your strength, then I will certainly benefit from it. Nothing more," He warned crossly.

Kuroko didn't disagree and was even touched at the other's indirect reassurance.

In the end, Midorima still grew arrogant and apathetic when it came to basketball.

But he offered Kuroko a place with him to Shuutoku.

"If you can stop this shot, then you can have my position as a regular," Kuroko stated as he held the ball.

Kise stared at him in open-mouthed shock. While he was deliberately irked that someone as weak as his instructor was one of the regulars, he also hadn't expected the other to take him up on his challenge. To his knowledge from the other string members, Kuroko's specialty was a different variety from normal basketball. The blonde couldn't see the so-called 'specialty' and all he saw was failure after failure.

He just couldn't accept that someone as weak as Kuroko was in the first string. In the regulars, no less.

"What are you talking about, Kuroko-kun?" Kise asked uncertainly.

Did the teal haired boy seriously just asked that? He, the one who couldn't even shoot the ball to save the team, just asked Kise to defend from a shot. He frowned darkly. Did Kuroko think so lowly of him?

"Just stop this shot, then you can have my position as a regular," Kuroko repeated in that same unflappable manner of his. But his eyes were hard.

So he is serious, Kise realized.

Smirking, he spread his feet apart and held up his hands, eyes locking with the other's powder blue orbs.

"Give it your best shot," He muttered confidently.

What he hadn't expected was for Kuroko to hold the ball down to his chest. What kind of stance is that? Kise had copied several plays in basketball and had even watched some professional matches in the internet. But he hadn't come across something like this before. If he didn't know any better, Kuroko was merely pulling his leg and butchering the style–

Kuroko pushed his palm upward and the ball disappeared. Kise, in a state of surprise and alarm, tried to block from where he assumed the trajectory of the ball would be.

But his hand merely met air. The next thing he knew, the swishing of the net met his ears and he whirled back in shock when he saw the ball go in.

"If you don't take things seriously, Kise-kun, then you wouldn't move forward in this club," Kuroko soft voice cut off through his thought process and Kise looked back at the teal haired boy staring at him with something almost vulnerable.

With that, Kuroko walked away from him with the regular position still secured with him.

Kuroko earned Kise's respect sooner. The blonde didn't ask why Kuroko never used that unknown shot in matches.

By third year, Kise was the only one who was enjoying basketball. But, just before the championship, he was finally able to figure out and block the shot. By then, he quickly lost interest and 'defeating' Kuroko didn't seem as much of a big deal anymore when the team fell apart and no challenge presented itself.

In the end, Kise joined Touou with Aomine.

"What are you talking about, Tetsu-kun?" Momoi fretted as she fiddled with the clipboard in her hands. "Akashi-kun isn't going to like this! You've never refused before. I don't think there's anything wrong with Kise-kun. Is there something we should know about?" She questioned worriedly, her cherry eyes staring at him with concern.

"He would never listen to me, Momoi-san," Kuroko merely replied.

"Eh?" Momoi's eyes widened. "How can you sound so sure about that? Tetsu-kun–"

"Midorima-kun can handle him better," The teal haired boy replied firmly. "I'm sorry but I will have to refuse instructing Kise-kun. Moreover, I have nothing to teach him that will make him stronger for the club. He's already strong enough on his own," He declared with firm belief.

Why did Kuroko sound so certain about his words?

Momoi was sure that he hadn't met Kise Ryouta before. But, the way he spoke sounded like he absolutely knew what he was talking about.

"I-If you say so," Momoi relented reluctantly. "I'll tell Akashi-kun and Midorin,"

Kise was able to bloom faster in Midorima's hands.

But, he also quickly grew disinterested. By the end of the championship game in second year, Kise became a new member of the tennis club.

Kuroko had stopped Murasakibara from challenging Akashi.

Even though the tension between the captain and their center grew out of control, Kuroko had successfully stopped 'that' Akashi from coming out. Akashi, with two red eyes, had forbidden Aomine from skipping practice and the pressure in the club became worse.

By the championship in their third year, the darker personality had forcefully emerged and almost killed Kuroko and Momoi.

Akashi was banned from basketball by his father due to damage control caused by loss of composure.

Kuroko woke up by April morning and, looking at his calendar, he realized that it was the first day in class of second year.

Again.

Ever since Seirin won the Winter Cup, he found himself waking up at this precise time of the day. He honestly didn't know how old he actually was by mentality. Second and third year of middle school would pass and no matter how much he changed the course of events, it all ended the same one way or another. Either one quitted basketball, or they still grew to hate it, or they all became bored of the sport.

But one thing hadn't changed, one way or another, he was always left behind.

Sitting up on his bed, same age, same smaller stature, same weariness, and same time. Kuroko honestly felt so tired that he didn't know what to do anymore. He had tried everything that he could think of but nothing changed.

And worse, time restarted after graduation. It was like it was mocking him.

Though, looking at Teikou's basketball jersey by his closet, it suddenly occurred to him what he hadn't tried yet. But, quitting meant that doing nothing and would it really help by quitting just before they could? Would it mean anything?

Did it matter?

Time was going to restart anyway.

By the end of the championship game in second year, Kuroko submitted his resignation.

The same day that he resigned, he received a call that he remembered not receiving in any of the other timelines.

So, slightly befuddled, Kuroko answered his phone.

"Ogiwara-kun?" He called out hesitantly, confusion colouring his voice.

There was a startled laugh at the other end of the line.

[Did you get your answer, Kuroko?]

The teal haired boy dropped his phone.

[End: Progression]
Everybody has a weakness.

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TBC..