The Second Kagami (Kuroko no Basket/Basuke)

Chapter Ten - Failure leads to Success

Sora:

'Come on! I'm nearly there!' I thought to myself rushing towards the entrance. I slammed the door open and looked down panting. 'Why's it so quiet?' I thought looking up. I noticed that all of the eyes in the stadium were aimed in one direction, all at me. I looked down at my feet my face turning red and I jogged over to my team. "Um, sorry I'm late?" I apologised scratching my neck. A fist high fived my head and I ended up with a bruise on my head. "Where the hell were you?!" Coach whispered yelling at me. "Aye let Sora off." A familiar voice said to Coach. I looked behind me and it was Aomine-kun. "Oh hello Aomine-kun." I greeted him bowing my head. The referee blew his whistle bringing everyone's attention back to the game that was supposed to be played right now. I awkwardly sat down on the bench and Aomine-kun does the same. I then noticed a presence in front of me. I looked up and it was Nii-chan. 'Well shit.'

"Come on Nii-chan, I said I'm sorry." I whined at him. He ignored me and headed to the court and Koganei-sempai walked to bench. I grabbed his bottle and handed it to him smiling. The game continued and the points so far are 39-49 Touou still in the lead. Aomine-kun walked onto the court with a cocky aura, intimidating everyone.

"Ahh Tetsu, how's life going for you?" Aomine-kun asked Kuroko-kun with a familiar tone. "I never did get to say goodbye after that last round at Teikou." Aomine-kun continued looking at Kuroko-kun. "I won't hold back." He finished.

"Yes, I was gonna say don't hold back." Kuroko-kun finally spoke up. Aomine-kun looked at Kuroko-kun smirking. "Well then, let's start." Aomine-kun smirked at Kuroko-kun. "Of course." Kuroko-kun replied in a serious tone.

Everyone started walking to their places and Aomine-kun walked past Nii-chan and whispered something to Nii-chan enraging him. "What? That's my line." Nii-chan replied back, the venom obvious in his voice.

Aomine-kun started off with the ball and the referee blew the whistle. Aomine-kun passed the ball at the speed of light to Sakurai-kun shocking a lot of people. Sakurai-kun passed it back to Aomine-kun. Nii-chan appeared in front of Aomine-kun and Aomine-kun smirked. "Well, let's see how good you are as power forward." Aomine-kun taunted Nii-kun. Aomine-kun dribbled past Nii-chan. Aomine-kun dribbled past the awaiting Hyuga-sempai. 'Wow, he's good.' I thought to myself, watching him in awe.

Aomine-kun jumped up for getting ready to dunk the ball and Nii-chan knocked it out of his hands. Aomine-kun had a shocked expression plastered on his face for those very few seconds. "Go Kagami!" Coach yelled from my right. Kuroko-kun used his invisible pass to pass the ball to Nii-chan. Nii-chan managed to catch his pass and goes for the dunk. Aomine-kun knocked the ball out of Nii-chan's hands just before the second quarter ended. "The score gap will widen in the next quarter." Aomine-kun smirked.

-

I looked down at my legs in the locker room. "I'm sorry!" I exclaimed bowing my head to the team. "Sora-san, please don't bow." Kuroko-kun whispered pleadingly. "No I'm really sorry guys." I looked down ashamed. I feel myself being lifted and I looked up. It was Nii-chan, he made eye contact with me and then looked away. "At least you made it here." He mumbled. "That's right Sora-san, we're all happy you arrived here safely." Hyuga-sempai commented sincerely. I looked up at Hyuga-sempai and smiled. I stood up straight dusting myself before smiling.

"So Coach did you make your share of the honey soaked lemons?" I asked her tilting my head to the side. She smiled confidently at me as she took out her box. I took out my box from my bag as well and remove the lid. The scent of lemons and honey fill the air and immediately the attention is all directed at me and Coach. They stared at Coach's lemons meekly before turning to my box which caused their frowns to turn upside down. Hyuga-sempai's eyes lightened up and he reached his hand in picking the medium sized lemon slice. He nibbled on the lemon slice and his expression changed to one of delight and satisfaction. "I made enough for everyone so please enjoy." I smiled at them. Everyone smiled at me excluding Nii-chan who is sulking in the corner. I placed the container on the bench smiling at everyone as I walked over to Nii-chan holding a red container. I tapped him on his shoulder making him turn over facing me. I gulped and shoved the container to him, looking down. I could feel the intensity in the air and I waited for Nii-chan to accept it. A big hand ruffles my hair and took the container off me. Nii-chan pulled me into a tight hug as if he never wanted to let me go. I could feel happiness flutter in my stomach and warmth taking up my whole body. "Don't ever scare me like that again!" Nii-chan whispered to me. I nodded and hugged him back tighter. He let me go with a smile on his face now turning into a smirk. "Hah! I got a whole container to myself, while you guys have to share." Nii-chan mocked them smirking. 'That's my Nii-chan.' I thought smiling to myself. I felt myself bubble in excitement. "Let's kick so Touou butt!" I cheered punching the air. "YEAH!" Everyone cheered in unison.

-

"So does everyone remember the information I just told you?" I asked grabbing my back pack with my water and towel ready to walk out. I looked around at everyone and they all nodded and smirked. We all walked towards our bench as the referee called out our name. I noticed Aomine-kun's eyes on me and I smiled at him. I hand my drink bottle to Kuroko-kun. "Please hold this while I'm in." I smiled at him. I go upside down tying up my hair. I cracked my knuckles loving the sensation. "Switch on."

3rd person:

Third quarter started and Aomine immediately grabbed the ball first. Aomine bounced the balls in between his legs, Taiga getting ready to steal the ball. Aomine took off past Taiga, failing to notice that Sora was just on his tail. Aomine did a fade away aiming the ball to the hoop. Sora appeared in front of him blocking Aomine front getting the points. She jumped down with the ball now in her arms and she went for the other side of the court. Aomine snapping out of his trance went after her. She went into dunking position jumping up into the air. Aomine jumped up after her attempting to block her dunk but fails as she spun around in the air and threw the ball in.

Taiga now had the ball and went for a shot but failed as Aomine once again knocked it out of his hands. Aomine had the ball and passed the ball to other player who passed it back to him when he got past Taiga. Aomine confused Taiga by bouncing the ball in between his legs. He goes for the hoop and Hyuga, Mitobe and someone else tried three man blocking Aomine. They failed as Aomine randomly threw the ball up into the air making it into the hoop.

"Aniki, step aside. I'm taking on Daiki." Sora whispered to Taiga moving past him. Aomine had the ball again and randomly threw the ball once again but doesn't manage to get it in as Sora blocked the ball and threw it towards Hyuga who catches it and threw a three pointer. Points now are 40-56, Touou was still in the lead. Hyuga was about to catch the ball when Aomine went past stealing the ball and once again going for the hoop. Taiga ignoring Sora's last remark still went to stop Aomine's shot but failed as Aomine shot it in a high arch making it into the hoop.

Taiga now has the ball and goes to shoot the ball but the ball gets knocked out of his hands by Aomine. Aomine goes past Taiga and Taiga goes after him but he isn't fast enough. Taiga ends up reaches Aomine and blocks Aomine front shooting but Aomine throws the ball up behind him managing to get the ball into the hoop. Scores now are 40-59 Touou leading. "Analysis complete." Sora muttered.

"Seirin change." Referee stated as Kuroko made his way onto the court. Kuroko got the ball and passed straight past Wakamatsu to Taiga. Aomine caught up behind him and no one realised but Sora is closing in. She signalled Taiga and he passed the ball to her. She threw a three pointer. Kuroko caught a ball meant for the other team and passed it to Mitobe who managed to get the point. 46-59, Touou. "How disappointing, you're still the same." Aomine commented on Kuroko. Kuroko is about to talk back when Sora appeared next to him patting him on the shoulder. "Please don't talk to my teammate like that Daiki." Sora glared with venom dripping from them. Aomine looked at her as she and Kuroko walk off. Aomine felt tingles of satisfaction and he licked his lips his sadist side made its way to the surface.

Kuroko used the acceleration pass but it failed as Aomine caught the ball. "Your pass will never surpass me." Aomine spat at Kuroko. As he was commenting on Kuroko's pass Sora came in and stole the ball from his grasps. Aomine went after her and pushed the ball out of her unintentionally bending her arm back from the force, the same arm that was hurt at Kise's game and long time ago. Sora's facial expression turned into a grimace. She jumped down and grabed the ball as per usual ignoring her now injured arm. She threw the ball to Taiga and managed to block off Aomine allowing Taiga to score the points. "Seirin Time Out." Referee called out.

Sora sauntered over to the bench holding her arm alarming everyone. "Sora-san, are you okay?!" Kuroko asked very worriedly. She tsks and nodded sitting down. "Sora, you're out. I can't have another injured player on court." Riko commanded. Sora sat down and breathed heavily. 'This can't be good.' Sora thought to herself.

Sora:

Ever since I got pulled out of the game, the team started losing drastically compared to when I was in. And unfortunately, we lost.

'Fuck. I knew this would happen. I'm still stuck in this mode for a while.' I thought to myself sighing. "Let's get home Aniki, you'll get your revenge at the Winter Cup." I stated sighing once again at everyone's fallen faces. "Night." I waved at the other's walking home with Aniki. I walked past Daiki's team and I ignored their smirks. A hand comes in contact with my butt and I grabbed the hand twisting it. I looked up at the person and it is Daiki's with a huge smirk on his face. "Touch me again and say rip to your hands." I glared at him walking off.