Taiga-chan starts bouncing the ball. The atmosphere grew tense. Just as Taiga-chan was about to shoot, Tetsuya-chan appeared out of nowhere, stopping him. I stare at the match in shock. This guy...Tetsuya-chan, you're really bad...I sweat drop as I continue watching Tetsuya-chan struggle. "You've got to be kidding me, bastard." Taiga-chan scoffs. "Weren't you listening? How much do you have to overestimate your own abilities to think that you could beat me?" He starts pointing at Tetsuya-chan. "I can't believe how arrogantly you challenged me!" "You can't be serious." Tetsuya-chan starts. "Of course you're stronger than me. I knew that before we even started." Taiga-chan suddenly grabs Tetsuya-chan's collar. I stand up from the bench and walk to the 2. "Oi, Taiga-chan! Put him down!" He ignores me and continues. "You wanna fight? What the hell do you think you're doing?" "I wanted to see how good you are myself." "Hah?" He lets Tetsuya-chan go and facepalms. "Um..." Tetsuya-chan lifts the ball. "Ah, enough. I'm not interested in the weak." He walks over to his bag, and I hand him his gakuran jacket. "Wasn't that a bit harsh?" I ask him. "Not really." He faces Tetsuya-chan. "Let me tell you one last thing. You should quit basketball." "Oi, now, Taiga-chan! That's uncalled for!" He ignores me again and continues. "No matter how much you try to cover it up with nice words like 'effort', raw talent is a fact of life. You have no talent for basketball." As he was walking off, Tetsuya-chan starts talking. "I don't accept that." "Hah?" Taiga-chan turns his head to look at Tetsuya-chan. "First of all, I love basketball. And also, I don't share your opinion. I don't care who's strong or who's weak." "What did you say?" Taiga-chan asks threateningly. "I'm not like you. I'm a shadow."
~The next day~
"Rain, rain, it's a way of life! You could say it's the sky's spiiiiiiice!" I sing as I dance in the rain with an umbrella. "Oi! Get in, you're already late!" Riko-chan yells. I giggle. "Yes, yes."
"Fight! Fight!" I shout while swinging pompoms. Today was a upperclassmen vs. underclassmen mini-game, and I was cheering for my team. "Nijikō-kun, that's more distracting than it is helpful..." Junpei-chan states. I pout. "Stop being so mean and let me cheer you! Hooray! Hooray! 2nd years!" Riko-chan pulls my collar and drags me off the court to the side with her.
As I was watching the game, I noticed how strong Taiga-chan really was. I mean, I knew he was strong, but dang...I look at the scoreboard and gawk at the score. 11-08!? I scoot over to the 1st years side and wave my pompoms. "Hooray! Hooray! Q
1st years!" "GET BACK HERE, YOU TRAITOR!" Riko-chan screams. I ignore her and watch the game.
Soon Riko-chan blows her whistle. "It's time to put them in their place." Junpei-chan says. "It's on." Shun-chan comments. Soon Junpei-chan, Shun-chan and Shinji-chan surrounded Taiga-chan. All 3 of them? I see...Shun-chan and Shinji-chan are double-teaming him even though he doesn't have the ball. They have no intention of letting him touch it!
The current score was 15-31. Rigt now, Taiga-chan was screaming at Tetsuya-cha - eh? Has he been here the whole time? "Was he in the game?" Shun-chan asks. "Kuroko? I dunno." Riko-chan sweat drops. She probably forgot as well. Wait a minute...my eyes widen. "Riko-chan...how long has Tetsuya-chan been in?" She looked as baffled as I did.
The game resumed. Hiroshi-chan passes the ball to Tetsuya-chan. Then...something happened. In a flash the ball went to Kōki-chan, who scored a basket. "It just went...Riko-chan?" "I can't explain this either." She looked as shocked as I was. We both had our eyes on Tetsuya-chan. Another second later, the ball suddenly goes to him, and he tosses it to Hiroshi-chan. "Go for it! Shoot!"
It kept on happening again and again. The ball was just flying by the 2nd years. What in the world is going on? I gasp, and my eyes widen. "Tetsuya-chan..." "Hm?" Riko-chan looks at me. "It's Tetsuya-chan! He's using his lack of presence to pass! He doesn't even touch the ball for very lon...g? What a minute, wait a second." I watch the game more intently. Could he be diminishing his already weak presence even more? "Misdirection." "Eh?" "A technique used in sleight of hand tricks. He's drawing his opponent's attention away from himself." "Are you serious?" She asks. I nod. "To be more accurate, he's not using his lack of presence, rather, he's directing his opponent's attention elsewhere. But...if that's his technique, then-" "He's the invisible regular of Teikō who excelled at passing." Riko-chan finishes my sentence. I stare at Tetsuya-chan in shock. I'd heard rumors about him. The phantom sixth member of the Generation of Miracles! Tetsuya-chan got the ball, and was running to the hoop with it. "Go, Tetsuya-chan!" I cheer. But...he misses it. I sweat drop at that, but Taiga-chan comes in just in time. "That's why I hate the weak!" He shouts as he scores. I stare at the duo. Those 2...are unbelievable!
~Timeskip~
I watch Taiga-chan walk to a booth with a tray full of burgers. I sweat drop. T-Taiga-chan, is that not a bit excessive? I think wearily. He puts his bag down and bites into one. Tetsuya-chan appears out of nowhere, casually drinking a shake. Taiga-chan chokes. "Dōmo." Tetsuya-chan says in his trademark stoic voice. "Where'd you come from! What are you doing?" "I was here first. I like this place's vanilla shakes." He answers calmly. Taiga-chan smirks. "Go somewhere else." Tetsuya-chan takes a sip before answering, "I don't want to." "If someone sees us, they'll think we're friends." He whispers. Before I could hear anything else, my cover was blown. "Good evening, Nijikō-senpai." I wave and slowly move from my hiding space and walk over to the duo. "Y-you stalker! How long have you been there?!" Taiga-chan shouts as I grab a chair. "Just a few minutes. Ne, Taiga-chan..." "What?" "Are you..." I eye his burgers. "Gonna eat all of those?" He grunts and throws one to me. Instead of catching it, it falls right on my face. He tosses one to Tetsuya-chan as well. "I don't like guys who suck at basketball, but you've earned yourself one of those." Tetsuya-chan flashes a tiny smile. "Dōmo."
~Timeskip~
"Just how strong is the Generation of Miracles?" Taiga-chan asks as all 3 of us leave the restaurant. "If I played them now, how would I do?" "You'd be destroyed instantly." A tick mark grows on Taiga-chan's head. "Do you have to put it like that?" I giggle at Tetsuya-chan's straightforward answer. "The 5 prodigies have each gone on to play for their own schools. One of those schools will stand at the top." I nod and continue jotting down notes. "You seriously taking all this down?" Taiga-chan sweat drops. I nod. "Of course! As the manager, I need to know what to expect!" Soon Taiga-chan laughs. "That's great. That's the kind of thing that lights a fire in me. I've decided. I'll crush all of them and become the best player in Japan." I stare at Taiga-chan's smug features. "I don't think that's possible." Another tick mark grows on Taiga-chan's head. "Oi!" Tetsuya-chan ignores his shouting and continues. "I don't know if you have a hidden talent or not, but you won't even be able to reach their feet as you are now. You can't do it alone." He pauses. "I've also decided. I'm a shadow. But the stronger the light, the darker the shadow, and the more it accentuates the light." Both Taiga-chan and I look at Tetsuya-chan in confusion. "I will be the shadow to your light and make you the best player in Japan." Taiga-chan's eyes widen, and he smirks. "Look who's talking. Do whatever you want." "Wait, you 2." They both turn to look at me. "You can't do all of this by yourselves, you know. I'll help too. I'll be your personal manager, and the sky that envelops both the light and the shadows." "Whatever. Like I said to this bastard, do as you please." "I look forward to working with you, Nijikō-senpai."
As expected...
These 2 are interesting!
A/N: SHOULD I CONTINUE WITH THIS STORY? MY FINGERS ACHE FROM TYPING BOTH PARTS, AND YOU GUYS DON'T REALLY TELL ME YOUR THOUGHTS.
YOU ARE READING
Taiga Kagami x uke! Male Reader
Fanfiction(Y/n) Nijikō has been Seirin High School's Basketball Club's manager since his first year. Being childhood friends with Riko Aida, he's seen all there is and knows what to expect. That is, until an ambitious red head walks into the picture...
