Edited: March 27 (Actually, it shouldn't be 'edited'. 'Cause I practically rewrote the whole thing from scratch. Lol)

Tag: Romance, Comedy, Hurt/Comfort, Friendship. Might contain some Angst in the future.

Disclaimer: I do not own KuroBasu. Except for my plot and OCs-desu.

Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art... It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that give value to survival.

- C. S. Lewis

We Met Again

-Flashback-

"Are you sure about this?" A woman seemingly in her late twenties, asked pensively at the younger girl before her. Eyes glazing with tears.

"Yes, Alex. I'm very sure about this. Thanks for everything up till now." The woman known as 'Alex', burst into wail as she launched herself with a crushing bear-hug on the younger girl. Knocking out whatever air were inside the younger girl's lungs.

"R-Remember to give a call once you've landed safely! And check your email every single day, because I'll be spamming it! You cannot not reply! Uwaaaa~!" The younger girl sweat-dropped at the blond woman's antics. Spamming? Well, that sounded exactly what Alex would do.

Despite the snots the younger girl was getting on her shirt from Alex, she did not mind it in the least. The younger girl patted the lady's head softly and muttered, "I'm not gone forever. I'll still come back and visit you whenever there's holiday~" She cooed.

"Um... Promise?" Alex stopped her sobbing and stole a glance at the younger girl. To detect any possible sign of lie.

"Promised." The younger girl smiled mildly in return. Wiping a few stream of tears away from the woman's face. Did their roles just switched? Now Alex feels like she's the younger one instead.

"I think it's time for me to check-in."

Alex grudgingly broke the embrace they shared as the younger girl checked the time on her wrist watch. Before the both of them could exchange anymore words, the voices behind the PA system in the airport reverberated through out the place.

"I guess I really need to go." The announcement alerting the passengers to check in and board their flight was announced. Which meant the heart-wrenching parting is here.

"Izana..." Subconsciously, Alex held onto the girl's wrist. Eyes brimming with tears again.

Izanami, or known as Izana by a handful of people, sighed in resignation. Separation is always unbearing. Izanami, too, felt emotional upon parting ways with her guardian who had looked after her ever since she was a child. But what has to come, came. Inevitably.

In the end, Alex was left standing lonesomely as she watched the younger girl's retreating figure. She waved her hand in the air despite she knew Izanami wouldn't look back. She was fine with it. Because if the younger girl did look back, the blonde definitely wouldn't be able to hold herself and launch human-racket onto her.

After the silhouette of the girl disappeared in the crowds of people, Alex heaved a deep sigh while massaging her temples. "Now, how am I suppose to break the news of her departure to Taiga and Tatsuya...?"

Two years later... (Present)

"Like I said~ the weather in Japan is getting colder. Remember to wear more clothes!"

"Hmm..." Izanami hummed as she fiddled around the ring necklace hung on her neck absent-mindedly.

"Oi. Are you listening? Don't get sick!" The person on the other line was starting to get annoyed at the girl's blasé attitude.

"I'm listenin'~ You're still as naggy as ever, Alex. No wonder you're still single in your thirties-"

"Ho... You wanna have a taste of me, huh? Izana~?" Alex threatened dauntingly. It wasn't because she's single because of her nagginess. It was because there were too many guys queuing up for her that she has had a hard time choosing it! (A/N: I will leave it to you to decide whether it's such a case... Ahem!)

"Oh well, forget it. By the way, since you're in Japan, you should probably meet up with Taiga. He has gone back to Japan and will be attending high school there." Alex informed on the other line while Izanami was sipping comfortably on her milk carton. Holding the phone with another hand idly.

"Is that so? Which school did he go to?" Izanami asked as she took another sip of her drink.

"If I remember correctly, it's Seirin something... Does it ring any bell to you?"

-Pfft!

"What's wrong?"

"A-Ah... Nothing. I think I'll meet him soon. Very soon." Izanami replied as she wiped away the liquid dripping from her lips due to her spluttering. In all honesty, she never expect Kagami would enroll in Seirin. This seriously came quite a shock to her...

"Well then, that's good. I'll contact you once I've got the time then. Bye~" Alex bid her goodbye exuberantly on the other line before it went dead.

Beep

Izanami plopped down on her sofa after the long and costly international call finally ended. She massaged the nape of her sore neck, before sweeping her gaze across the room; Piles and massive numbers of packages were waiting there for her to unpack.

Izanami can't afford not to sigh at such sight. She could already feels her energy being sapped out just by looking at them. 'That's why I hated moving house...' Izanami thought solemnly.

"Well, time to start unpacking and get ready for tomorrow's school entrance ceremony~" She said as she heaved herself up. Slapping both her cheeks to pump herself for the rough and long day ahead of her.

"Taiga!" This voice-? Nah. Impossible. There's no way she'd be here-

"Bakagami." Kagami froze in his track. He gulped nervously at the voice behind him, before slowly turning his heels and came face to face with the source of the voice.

After all, only one person in this world would call him by such nickname. Much to his annoyance.

"I-Izana...?"

Said girl, who hadn't seen him or contact him for what seemed like decades, was now standing before him in flesh.

Kagami widened his eyes as he gazed into those pair of amber eyes. Which sometime could be mistaken as orange hues when displayed in sunlight. Those eyes that he so used to seeing and familiar with, were now gazing back to him.

Kagami's line of vision then traveled back and spotted the long, gray hair of hers. Tied into pigtails in the back layers of her hair. Her hair swayed gently along with the fleeting breeze.

Even though he hadn't seen her for two years, there are things couldn't be change and will continue remain the same. Her yellowish and russet tinted orbs, and those dull grayish hair are great examples.

"W-Wha!? What are you doing!? L-Let g-go... Y-You're choking m-" Kagami spluttered as Izanami suddenly head locked him. Or she attempted to. However, due to Kagami's extreme growth spurt through out the years, the gray-haired girl now wasn't tall enough to do so. Thus, she ended up choking the redhead as Kagami arched his body back in an awkward angle.

It was amazing that his body didn't snap in half with that posture.

"Don't friends who hadn't seen each other in a long time always do this?" Izanami asked as she cocked her head to a side. Blinking her long-lashed eyes innocently before finally letting the redhead go.

"They don't! Who'd do a headlock on their reunion!? Only wrestler does that!" Kagami spat. Rubbing his sore neck that nearly got strangled to death by his eccentric childhood friend.

That's right. There's one more thing Izanami hasn't changed; Her outlandishness and violence.

"Hm? They don't? Then what do they do? Hug?"

"Huh? Yeah I guess... W-Wha-!?"

Without any warning, Izanami proceeded to latch onto the redhead. Making Kagami jumped and flustered at the same time, "W-W-What are you doing!?" Kagami groused. His cheek has gone to a thousand shade of red.

As soon as they hugged, there has been something bothering Kagami and made his cheek goes as red as his hair; Her bosom were pressing against his chest.

Maybe, two years could change a lot physically. Especially more so on adolescent.

Damn! It must be Alex's influence...! Kagami thought, as he tried to pry the girl away. Because of Izanami, he feels like a pervert now! Just what the hell is she thinkin-!

"Sorry."

Kagami stopped struggling. He tilted his head down, looking at the crown of her head as she buried her face in his shirt.

Izanami couldn't look him in the eyes. How could she, after abandoning her friends and fled!? She don't yearn for forgiveness. For she knew she don't deserve it. Not after leaving him and Himuro without a word back in states...

When Izanami was taking a trip down her memory lane (which consist of nothing but guilt), she felt a large callous hand gripping her head. "Apology not accepted." Kagami said before flicking the girl's forehead with his finger. Causing Izanami to stumble backward from the force.

"Ouch!" Now it's her turn to moan in pain. Izanami rubbed at the spot where the redhead had just flicked. She could already feels the spot burning and would probably leave a mark through out the day.

"Your punishment for leaving us." Kagami intoned, before adding on. "I don't know what happened two years ago for you to vanish without a trace, or why you didn't bother to contact Tatsuya and I these whole time," As if you intended to disappear from our lives... "But knowing your personality, you must had your reason." Kagami said as he ruffled his hair frustratingly. He's never good at expressing stuff like this... Ugh.

Stupor was an understatement for Izanami. If Kagami had scolded her or blame her, she might feel at least a little better. Then... Why?

"You are not angry...?" Izanami asked incredulously. This reaction wasn't what she had expected from him. Definitely not from the hot-headed guy like Kagami Taiga.

"I was, and still am! Do you know how Tatsuya and I were so shock when we heard that you were gone!?" Kagami berated. Finally, the rage and insatisfaction that he has built up all these years were slipping out as he chided Izanami. Like how parents would after seeing their child had done something wrong.

Now, that was more normal.

A smile was then tugged onto Izanami's lips. Halting the redhead's outburst as he looked incredulously at her, "What are you smiling for? I haven't done scolding you!" Kagami quirked his brow at her expression. Is she a masochist?

"A-Ah. Sorry... I'm just glad that you're angry at me." Izanami replied sheepishly as she scratched her cheek. Chuckling at how bizarre her answer sounded, too.

"I really can't get you." Kagami sighed exasperatedly. Because of her weirdness, he has forgotten what he was about to say next. Oh god.

"Me too. Sometime I don't get myself either."

"—The hell?"

Honestly, Kagami was starting to doubt the girl's mental state. Though Izanani has always been a weird one out. Her outlandishness always never fail to make him gape or wonder whether there's a screw lose in her head. Well, he guessed he'd have to re-get used to it if they're going to attend the same school and see each other every day—

"Wait! You're enrolling in Seirin!?" Kagami gawked as he did a double take. Taking in the sight of the school uniform that was donned on the girl before him.

Izanami arched a brow at his inquiry. Looking bewilderedly at Kagami as if he had just grown another head, "You finally realized? We're even classmate too. If you had checked the class list posted on the bulletin board."

Kagami's jaw slackened. He swore he didn't knew they were going to be in the same class for the entire year...

"Oi. What kind of reaction is that? Aren't you happy that we're sharing the same class!?" Izanami beamed exuberantly as she started dancing around Kagami in circle. He, on the other hand, couldn't share the same sentiment as her. Unfortunately.

I don't...

Kagami mentally face-palmed. Yes, he was glad to see her after such a long time. But being in the same class as her and having to put up with her for a WHOLE year was another different story.

"By the way, where are you going?" Izanami asked after she had calmed down and stopped her drama. Being dramatic is one of her specialty, if she hadn't mentioned.

"I'm going to the basketball booth."

For a moment, Izanami's face fell at the mention of 'basketball'. But it was quickly masked by another one of her signature hypocritical smile before anyone could notice.

"I should've known it. Well, what're we waiting for? Let's go!"

Even though she said 'Let's go', it was only her prancing its way through the tsunami of students by herself.

Soon, her silhouette couldn't be distinguish among the horde of students. Leaving Kagami grunts frustratingly once again. "Does she even know where the booth is in the first place?"

Nope. She didn't know in the slightest.

Ever since little, Izanami has always been bad at reading map. So, screw whoever invented the map. She didn't even bother looking at the school map printed in her school handbook anymore. As long as she kept strolling and meander here and there, she'd be able to find it just fine. How big can a school be, right?

However, being only 5 feet 1 inches tall doesn't give you the luxury of finding your destination any easier. Especially among the sea of students that seemingly came out of nowhere! Curse her growth plate.

While Izanami was busy muttering some incoherent curses at her shortness, she accidentally bumped into someone. Hard. She floundered before her butts landed on the ground with a 'thud!'.

"Ouch..." She groaned. First was the forehead, now is the butt? Seemed like today she has had quite a bad luck...

"Sorry, are you alright?"

No, I'm not alright. I think my butt is bleeding. Were what Izanami wanted to retort. But she kept it in, since she knew she was at fault too. She should've looked where she was going in the first place.

Seeing the gray-haired has made no attemp of standing back up, the guy whom she had bumped into kindly extended his hand. His gesture has made Izanami ceased her grumbles and looked up at him.

What she didn't expect was, the view greeted her was a tranquil oceanic orbs. Gazing at her with a hint of imperceptible concern. She didn't know how long she had been staring at the stranger, until the bluenette broke the silence with his monotonous tone. "Um... Miss?"

"A-Ah, sorry. Thanks."

Izanami accepted the boy's help as he gently lifted her up. She dusted the dust of her skirt while the bluenette watches her. Checking if there was any injury on her with an apathetic face.

Seeing the girl is alright, he gave a curt bow to Izanami before walking off on his own.

With his back turned to her, Izanami's feet continued stood rooted to the ground. That pale blue hair... So familiar. She thought. Watching the bluenette mingled and slowly dispersed from the crowds.

She has a feeling that she had seen him somewhere before. But couldn't recall when and where... Ugh! Déjà vu much?

Even though her hair is gray, that doesn't mean her brain has deteriorated along with most of the elderly. Does it!?

"What're you doing dazing about? The booth is just up ahead." Izanami felt a nudge on her shoulder, snapping out her reverie. She cranked her neck up and glanced at the redhead towering her from behind.

"Taiga..." She called softly. Earning Kagami's attention.

"What?"

"Your brows have become much thicker." Izanami blurted out bluntly. No sarcasm intended. Really.

...

Multiples tick were plastered on Kagami's face as the corner of his lips twitched dangerously. "... Damn you, Izana! I swear I'm gonna kill-!"

"Uwoh~! The basketball booth is just right in front of me, yet I couldn't see it!" Izanami deftly adverted the subject as she began scurried over to said booth. Leaving the raging male gnashing his teeth behind.

Kagami swore one of these day, he'll die of heart attack because of her.

At the booth, two upperclassman were seated behind the counter as they busily sifted out the application forms they had been receiving from the freshmen who were keen to join the basketball club. A girl with short brown hair and a bespectacled male with short ebony hair.

The brunette was the first to notice the presence of Izanami. Rising her feet up, she said. "Hello Miss. I'm very sorry to say our basketball club only recruit male. However, if you've any male friends who play or was interested on joining a basketball club, do let them know our club is always welcome! Though our club only formed not long ago..." The last sentence sounded almost inaudible. But Izanami heard it just fine.

Izanami smiled genially at the senior before her, "The one who's joining isn't me, but him." She pointed the hot-headed man who's anger rushed in a palpable wave behind her. Glowering all the while at the gray-haired.

The brunette's gaze then trailed to the redhead who has plopped down onto the chair opposite from the bespectacled male.

Tall...!

The brunette gaped at Kagami's height. How tall was he? 6 feet tall? Or maybe over! Even her partner was stunned by his height, too.

"I'm joining the club." Kagami said. Making both seniors closed their agape mouth and reeled themselves back to reality.

"R-Right! Just fill up the form and you're good to go!" The brunette girl exclaimed in delight as she handed the freshman the registration form. If they can get this guy on their team... They might be able to make it to Interhigh!

"There."

Kagami put down the pen after he had finished filling up the necessary info. The bespectacled senior then proceeded to give a cursory glance at the content. Not long after, his brows furrowed. Seemingly unsatisfied with the redhead's context.

"There's no future goal written...?" The bespectacled senior adjusted his glasses as he inquired. Thinking that Kagami has left it out unknowingly.

"Japanese basketball is the same everywhere." Kagami pontificated. He squashed the empty canned of coke in his grip, before throwing it to the waste basket across from him. Surprisingly, it went in.

Kagami then promptly left the area. Not looking back to see whether his throw had goal in or not. Was he always that confident...?

Izanami, along with the two seniors, were left behind as they blinked owlishly at his action. The seniors were more awe-struck by his act. In contrast to Izanami who had rolled her eyes. What a show off... She thought. Now, it'd be real funny if his shot didn't goes in. It'd be great to see a few 'epic failures' from the pompous redhead once in a while though. Then, Izanami could use it to aggravate him and rub it in his face for a few months... But alas, she guessed that would be much more harder than winning a lottery.

"I'm sorry about his behavior, senpais. He's a bit of an arrogant." Being a 'kind' and well-manner girl she is, Izanami bowed apologetically at the two second-years for her childhood friend's impudence.

"N-No, it's alright! You don't have to bow." The brunette reciprocated by waving her hands dismissively. The bespectacled guy concurred by nodding his head at the junior. Both of them seemingly didn't mind Kagami's arrogance. For now, that is. They were too fascinated by his shoot accuracy than to care about his attitude issue.

"By the way, is the 'Manager' position open at the moment in your club?" Izanami asked. Her amber orbs now glinting with expectation as she waited for either one of her senior to feed her the answer.

"There is. And as of now, there's no one who has applied for this position yet. Are you perhaps...?" The glasses senior replied as he raised his brow. He guessed he knew where the conversation was going.

"If possible, can I apply for it? You see~ there has to be someone to watch over that bastard after all. Haha." Izanami said as she tittered.

The seniors sweat-dropped comically at the freshman's choice of word. Indeed. From their first encounter with the redhead, they could already forebode what the girl had meant.

"Of course! It'd be a great help for us if you join! Here's the registration form." The brunette clapped her hand jovially before handing the girl another registration form. Which Izanami gladly accepted and had filled it up instantly at the spot.

"I'm Aida Riko, the Coach. And this guy beside me is Hyuga Junpei. The captain of the team." The brunette who's now known as Riko, introduced tersely. Hyuga sent a curt nod in the direction of the newly appointed manager of their team. Which Izanami reciprocated with a benevolent smile.

"I'm Izanami Garcia. Then, I'll be in your care from now onwards." Izanami introduced while bowing her head once again. Despite the fact that she grew up in the states, Izanami was well acquainted with the Japanese culture and mannerism. After all, there's Japanese blood flowing in her veins.

"Then, I shall take my leave now. Good bye, Aida-senpai, Hyuga-senpai-"

"Riko is fine." Riko said. She has a very good feeling about this junior... But aren't she a little too polite? Well, Riko just hope the girl would warm up with them soon.

Everyone shouldn't judge a book by its cover. Soon, Riko would know how this seemingly 'kind and polite' junior of her, is just another demon in disguise. Just like her...

"Well then, Riko-senpai and Hyuga-senpai, good bye." Izanami bid her farewell to her two seniors, before chasing after Kagami.

While she was looking for any sight of red, her shoulder brushes past a certain bluenette in the process. Who was heading to the direction she had just came from.

Izanami's feet skidded to a halt. She pivoted her heels back as she thought she caught a glimpse of a familiar oceanic blue hair for a moment. But when she tried searching for it, the nest of blue has already vanished.

Strange... She scratched her scalp confusingly. Was it her imagination? Oh well, if the guy is studying in the same school as her, they'll meet again for sure.

As the gray-haired dawdled through the faceless crowd, a gentle breeze drifts by. Caressing Izanami's cheek as her hair fluttered in the air. The petals from the cherry blossom trees were carried along with the the breeze, too. Dying the whole landscape into what seemed like a land of cotton candies. Izanami paused her search and decided to admire the enchanting scene before her.

Spring, huh...

How nostalgic. The day when she 'left', were during the beginning of Spring too.

Izanami gazed wistfully at the vast blue sky that stretches out endlessly above her. Watching a few white puffy clouds accompanying the cerulean sky as it floated by idyllically.

Please... Just, let me stay by his side a little longer.

Kagami was frowning. Brows knitted tightly together. Obviously displeased at something. Or rather, someone.

On the contrary, Izanami was smiling blissfully with her eyes closed. People could even see radiance emanating from her like a divine goddess who has just descended upon Earth.

The reason behind such bipolar expression between both of them was because, Kagami never expect his childhood friend would be in the school gymnasium, where it actually reserved for basketball try-out for today. Nor did he expect said friend has joined the basketball club along with him. As a manager nonetheless!

He thought he'd only be seeing her in class. But with her joining the basketball club, that means they'd be seeing each other 365 days! C-Can he handles it? Without popping several of his veins due to her? Will he be able to survive through her violence...? Anyhow, he has a bad feeling about this.

Kagami sighed dejectedly. Don't get him wrong, he don't hate the girl or anything of the sort. It's just that she always does things unexpectedly and randomly. Which it often lead to her getting into troubles and causing headache to people around her.

"When did you signed up for the position?" Kagami decided to yield and gave up. Since she has already applied for it, there's no helping it. Is there?

"Right after you left the booth." Izanami answered casually.

"Why?"

"Because you can't live without me."

"What the hell?"

Izanami chuckled slightly. There's no way she would let the redhead know she joined because she was worried about him. Nope. Not a chance. Oh, how she felt so thankful to God whom has made Kagami's skull as thick as a encyclopedia book! He won't be able to see through her, will he?

Their railery were soon interrupted by a sound of a blowing whistle. Making both Kagami, Izanami, and a few other freshmen who has come for their first try-out to stop their prate.

Beep beep!

"Everyone gather!"

Some of the freshmen jolted up when Riko's thunderous clap resounded the whole gym.

"Firstly, I welcome all of you who have joined the basketball club. I'm Aida Riko, and I will be your coach for the remaining two years." Without further preamble, the declaration from Riko has aroused a handful of freshmen doubt as they began murmuring. Exchanging suspicious stares among themselves as they looked askant at the brunette. It's kind of hard to believe that a girl who's only older than them by a year, was claiming herself to be their coach. At first, the freshmen all thought that the brunette was a manager. They certainly didn't see this coming.

However, Izanami dissented. Being as unique as she is, it also means that she views matter differently and always see things in a different perspective compared to most folks. She believes that if a girl as young as Riko could proclaim herself to be a coach of a basketball team, that meant she has something up her sleeve. Something incredible that prove she's worthy of being a coach at such a young age.

Izanami reckoned she'd have to wait and see for herself whether that's the case.

"I'm Hyuga Junpei. And I'm your captain." Next was Hyuga. He presented himself with quite an austere pose and tone. Sending a shiver down to the freshmen's spine as they sweated nervously under his intimidating scrutiny.

The introduction continued on with the other second-year regulars on the team. Each and one of them briefly told and explained what kind of position they played in the team. Izanami has already memorized her seniors faces and names, since they would be working together from today onwards.

Mitobe; The quiet and humble guy. And everyone has never heard him talk. Not even once.

Izuki; The 'face' of the team. Handsome but tend to scare people and girls away with his pun. Another eccentric guy like Izanami. And the gray-haired has a good feeling that they'll get along very well in the future.

Koganei(aka Koga); A guy with cat-faced. Apparently, he's the only one who understand what Mitobe meant without verbal communication. The renowned Jack of all Trades.

Tsuchida; Seemingly has no redeeming qualities. But is an only guy in the group who has a girlfriend. Shockingly. And much to his friends' jealousy.

After the long introduction from the second-years were over, Izanami felt a tug on her shirt. Before she knew it, she has already been dragged to the center by the coach.

"Starting from today onwards, we will have a manager assisting the club!" Riko announced unceremoniously. Turning on the spotlight unto the gray-haired who's now officially a manager of Seirin basketball team.

Now, all eyes on Izanami.

"I-I'm Izanami Garcia. N-Nice to meet you." Izanami bowed clumsily at the group. Though she tried to act composed, she still stuttered a little at the beginning. How could she not when so many eyes were watching her? She'd never be able to cope with being in the center of attention. As if she was being see through and judged...

Everyone's mouth formed into a small 'o', before a shade of pink tinted on some of their cheeks.

Although Izanami ain't a beauty like Miss Universe, her look is still considerably decent. At least, not a face people want to punch a hole at... Okay. Bad example. But it's true that she has a charm hidden deep inside her somewhere! Though what the charm is, only time would show...

Koganei was the first to jump onto the newbie instead of exchanging greeting between senior and junior, "Finally~! A kawaii manager has descended upon us from heaven~! Nice to meet 'cha, Nami-chan!" He said as he did a pirouette(1).Afterward, Koganei shook Izanami's hand gratefully as streaks of crocodile tears streamed down his face comically.

If it wasn't for the fact that they were wearing their club's uniform, Izanami would have thought this is a drama club instead.

The gray-haired sweat-dropped at the cat-faced antics, before the other seniors flocked around the newbie. They seemed interested and fascinated that there would be a new member added to their club. Furthermore, a girl.

It's not an everyday thing to have a girl willing to stick with a bunch of basketball junks filled with nothing but sweats. For that, the sophomores were grateful for Izanami. Even if she had joined the club due to other personal reason.

Though Riko also wanted to get to know the girl a little bit more, now wasn't the time to chit-chat and enjoy a cup of tea under a parasol.

"Introduction's over! Now! Serious!" Riko's clarion voice reverberated the court once again.

Everyone immediately straightened themselves and lined up in tow. Some were sweating and gulping anxiously. While some remained unfaze by the sudden change of demeanor from the coach. Namely Kagami and an unknown boy.

The seniors began to march off and decided to resume their training. Letting Riko to lead the bunch of freshmen. And Izanami was quickly handed by a clipboard from the female coach. On the clipboard, there was a piece of paper with a list of names and class from all the freshmen attached on it.

Without Riko telling her what to do with it, Izanami has already piece everything together; They were going to do roll calling.

Riko started to call out their names one by one, and Izanami would fulfil her duty as an manager by marking the attendance with meticulous eyes. Everything has gone smoothly. That is, until they reached the last name on the list.

"Kuroko Tetsuya." Riko called. Scanning the group of junior as she waited for said guy to make himself known.

However, no 'Yes!', 'I'm here!', or a hand in the air were voiced or spotted in the gym. Now, that's strange... Could it be he's absent?

"Uhm excuse me, I'm right here." A ghostly voice sounded from behind the brunette. Startling the soul out of her in the process, "Wha-!" She gasped. W-W-When did he came behind her?

The others were also taken aback with his lack of presence. Just who is this guy?

After calming her heart down, Riko glanced warily at the boy who nearly killed her with his presence. Making sure he's a human and not a spirit.

Then, Riko fumbled around the document folder held in her hand. Once she found her desired paper, she scanned the content speedily.

"You... Y-You are f-from T-Teiko!?"

Riko's squawk was so deafening that the manager had to pull away from her lest her eardrums got blasted by her volume.

Soon, everyone became flustered and jittery with the shocking info uttered the coach. Except for Kagami and Izanami, "Oi, what is this Teiko they're talking about? Some elite school or something?" Izanami whispered as she nudged the redhead for an answer.

Though Izanami came to Japan two years earlier than the redhead. That doesn't mean that she's up to date with whatever trend Japan is trending at the moment.

"Beats me." Kagami shrugged nonchalantly. Not really interested with what the people in the gym were fussing about.

"Ouch! What did you do that for!? It hurts!"

Kagami cried. Cradling his head where it had gotten a 'chop' from the gray-haired.

"You were the one told me to beat you, didn't you?" Izanami said as she batted her eyes innocently at Kagami. She simply accord to his wishes and did what he asked, was that wrong?

If looks could kill, Izanami would be lying in a puddle of her own blood by now with Kagami's fierce baleful look.

"You're doing it purposely!" Kagami growled. He thought his head was splitting a moment ago! Damn her! Just where did she gets all those strength from!?

"My bad my bad~ I was a fool for asking a fool such foolish question. Of course you wouldn't know. After all, you only came back to Japan recently~" Izanami said with a disarming smile.

She gave a peremptory wave to their wrangling before she started to where Riko was. Leaving the fuming Kagami behind.

What was bothering Izanami now, wasn't the fact that she had intentionally pissed the tiger off, but a guy named 'Kuroko Tetsuya'.

She's definitely not mistaken. It was him. The guy she had bumped into during the school entrance ceremony a few days ago.

-At Maji Burger-

No matter how many times she had seen it, Kagami's monstrous appetite never fail to amaze Izanami.

How many was it? The fourth or fifth burger he has eaten? Either way, Izanami really envy the redhead seated across from her. With that much calories being consumed, he could still remain fit and stay in shape. How unjust...

Izanami watched idly at Kagami as he munched down his piles of burger. Propping a cheek in her hand, she drummed her fingers absent-mindedly at the table.

However, it was kind of disconcerting for Kagami with the girl's gaze trained onto him and her quietness. He wasn't used to this serene side of her. Whenever she gets like this, it only mean one thing; Something was off.

"W-What?" Kagami asked unnervingly.

"Nothing. I'm just thinking what material is your skull made of." Izanami deadpanned.

Alright. Kagami took his words back. He really regretted ever opening his mouth, or even felt worried over her.

While Kagami was sprouting some English profanity in between his mouthful of foods, Izanami tuned out most of it and occasionally cast a sideway glance to her left; Why did no one noticed him?

Unable to take it anymore, the gray-haired decided to seek for the truth. "Hello, Kuroko-kun." Izanami greeted. Smiling cordially at the bluenette seated on her left.

"It's fancy meeting you here, Garcia-san."

-Pfft!

Kagami choked on the content, before falling off his chair ever so gracefully.

"W-When did you came here!?" Kagami spluttered. J-Just what is he!? Kagami couldn't even felt him approaching the table!

"I was here before you and Garcia-san, Kagami-kun." Kuroko replied placidly as he sipped on his vanilla shake.

"Kuroko-kun, you can call me in first name basis. It's kind of weird to hear people address me in my last name." Izanami said as she tittered. Maybe it's just her, but whenever someone addresses her in her surname. She has the urge to cringe and curled her feet up. She reckoned it must be because of the pronunciation and accent.

"If you said so. Then, Izanami-san." Now, that sounded even more weird. You don't see a lot of people address someone's first name, and add the suffix '-san' behind. Oh well, the girl guessed it must be his nature for being so formal.

"Izana, you know that he's here then why hadn't you told me about it!?" Kagami bellowed. His breath came out ragged and uneven from the mini heart attack he had suffered due to a ghost-like bluenette, who was now watching the interaction between the two childhood friends with a poker face.

"I was doing a test," Izanami replied candidly, before adding on. "And I think I've gotten a conclusion judging from your earlier reaction."

So Kuroko-kun really has a low presence. Then, why am I the only one not affected by it? Izanami pondered as she pursed her lips. Kagami and her have heard about the Teiko and those Generation of Miracles from Koganei amidst the ruckus during the try-out earlier.

Kagami was thrilled after hearing that. On the contrary, Izanami felt rather perturb about it. For what reason, only she knows...

Kagami arched a brow at the gray-haired's statement. If there was anything he wasn't fond of, it'd be this trait of her; you'd never know what she's thinking behind that pretentious smile of hers.

She seemed close, yet distant at the same time. It felt just like if you aren't paying attention, she'd be gone and disappear. Like a fleeting breeze.

"By the way, Kuroko-kun, have we actually met each other before? Not at the school entrance ceremony, but somewhere else." Izanami asked curiously. She really need to get this mystery solve. Or else, she'd start to doubt that she was currently suffering from amnesia. Which isn't funny in the least.

Kuroko looked at her plainly for a moment. Then, finally he stopped sipping on his vanilla shake. "We did met before. However, it was a long time ago."

A/N: To those readers who decided to give this story a try, thank you sooooo muchie! I know there's a lot of flaws and grammatical errors in the chapter. Mainly because I'm an amateur writer; someone who don't have lots of experience in this field yet. Adding more to my handicap, English isn't my native language. So it explained pretty much? Haha~ but don't worry, I'll definitely polish my writing skills and gets better as time goes by!

Reviews, suggestion, feedbacks, constructive criticism are all welcome and gladly appreciated! It'd mean a lot to me if you could drop by a review before closing the browser! ^^

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I hope you had fun reading it. Then, until next time~! Ciao~

- Soracchin