Always a Step Ahead [Akashi Seijūrō x OC]

[ 04: happiness ]

A/N: I was on zerochan.net looking for some Kiseki no Sedai pics when they're in Teikō and literally my heart aches whenever I see them happy together. Ughhh some of these fanarts really hit you in the feels and I was about to cry and GAH. WHY DID THE SHOW HAVE TO END SO SOON. I need more. Can't they all get together with their teams and have some bigass basketball picnic day or some shit? 。・゜・(ノД')・゜・。

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It was hard to believe that such a small and frail looking boy possessed the abilities to catch Akashi's eye. It was hard to believe he, of all people, would move up to the first string just like that.

But for Kuroko Tetsuya, it was a dream come true. He couldn't believe that the Akashi Seijūrō, the genius behind Teikō's Generation of Miracles, had found that small flame inside him. He was going to fulfill his promise, he would make sure of it.

A year had passed. Teikō won the National Championship with ease all thanks to the Generation of Mircales. Aomine had met Kuroko and the two formed a special bond together. The team was growing closer, spending more time together now that Kuroko had joined. It was strange really, how a small boy with little presence could bring a group of oddballs together.

Tsukiko sighed as she watched Kuroko pass out from exhaustion again. It seemed like nothing Momoi came up with to improve his physical condition was working. She found that it was amazing that he would always get back up no matter what happened, no matter what anyone said. Tsukiko admired that trait of Kuroko's; his optimism.

"Shiroita-san."

"Ah, Tetsu-chan! There you are!"

"I've been here the whole time, Shiroita-san."

Tsukiko blinked. "Eh? Since when...?"

"Since you first called me."

"Why didn't you say anything..?"

"I assumed you were staring directly at me. My apologies for not saying something sooner."

Tsukiko sighed again and shook her head. "Nevermind... Anyways! We have got to do something about your lack of stamina."

"Like what?"

"That's what we're trying to figure out..."

"Yo, Tetsu!"

The two of them turned to see Aomine with a big smile on his face and a basketball in hand. "Don't tell me your slackin' off!"

"I'm no--"

"But I still can't believe you almost puked from that run earlier!" Aomine laughed out loud, clutching his stomach.

"I don't think it's funny, Aomine-kun," Kuroko frowned.

"Tetsu-chan's right! Stop laughing, Dai-chan!" Tsukiko scolded.

"Don't call me that!" Aomine flushed at the nickname. "Oi, Satsuki! Did you tell her about that name?"

"Of course not, Aomine-kun!" Momoi shouted back. "Haven't you noticed that Tsu-chan gives everyone nicknames?"

"...She does?"

"Your hopeless, Aomine-kun," Kuroko told him.

"Hey hey, you bunch over there!" A stern looking Nijimura Shūzō shouted as he came over to join the bunch. "Hurry up and get back to work!"

"Y-Yes, sir!"

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The boys were in the lockeroom, stripping themselves of their basketball clothes and changing back into their uniforms. They did whatever they had to do in perfect silence, cooling off and drying off swea--