Vengeance of the Phantom

Chapter 22

Not So Ordinary

"Yes!" Xzavier cheered gleefully. He was really excited about getting Tetsuya serious so he could go 1v1 in the middle of a 5v5 match. I figured Tetsuya was back to his better self but I didn't actually know how well he was playing compared to last time. "Yo kid!" Xzavier shouted towards the kid that was guarding Tetsuya before.

Xzavier was most likely switching people to guard, the guy looked at Xzavier like he was crazy, due to the fact Xzavier was guarding the 6 foot guy on the other team.

We all got into our positions and I saw Tetsuya walking up the court dribbling the ball with his head slightly down, but when he looked up at us all, I turned pale. I looked over at Xzavier to see his eyes full of fear, however he wasn't backing down from the challenge. "Bring it, Suya!" He shouted and Tetsuya began dribbling faster. All of a sudden, he was past Xzavier and heading towards the basket. Our center and forward came running up to get him but the ball disappeared from his hands.

I look to see that the ball was passed into the hands of the super tall guy on their team, he looked shocked and confused but made a simple lay-up due to the fact he was already there.

Tetsuya began jogging back with his teammates and I ran up to a frozen Xzavier, "Ogiwara," Xzavier began, "H-he...He disappeared again."

Kuroko can control it even more now? His presence was noticeable now, very noticeable that it stood out, however he could still disappear.

God, just what kind of training did Tetsuya do to get back on track.

Riko's POV

Kuroko has definitely gotten better within the skill range but his stats are to advanced for his playing style right now, how? A bunch of the boys were talking when Kuroko's friend began smiling for some odd reason and running over to the guy who was guarding Kuroko and began talking in English with him about something.

Suddenly, I look back at Kuroko when everyone is set up and my eyes widen. Kuroko Tetsuya, can go into the zone willingly?

He whooshed past that Xzavier kid but the ball disappeared from his hands going to Hase who was by the basket. They scored.

"I thought that Kuroko seemed too ordinary," Kinjo said walking up next to me.

"Well he was. Actually he was below but I guess he changed. What do you mean by seemed?" I asked.

"What do you mean by below average?"

I sighed and thought back to THAT day but pushed it away. "When Kuroko played for Seirin over a year ago, Kuroko wasn't a normal player. Yes, he wasn't normal not just because he was part of the Generation of Miracles, but also his presences and ability. Kuroko was basically like a ghost or phantom, as well as terrible at any of the basketball basics. However, it passing was full of technique and intelligence. Though, something happened to make him move away, I think it might have been for the best for him though. So what did you mean?" I asked Kinjo who has a slightly shocked expression his face.

"I mean, how his friends seemed to have talk to him about playing each other, they seemed as if they were saying he's amazing at basketball but when we began, he seemed ordinary at everything."

"Well, that's not technically true, you really can tell." Ida said walking up to us. The tall male simply continued to watch the court while speaking. "You see, Kuroko has taken many shots, but have you noticed they all went in. Even before how he's playing now."

My eyes widened. I ran over to the manager we have that keeps stats and looked at what she wrote down, yes we have a manager. She completely new but not a novice about basketball. Thankfully she kept track of how Kuroko, his friend, and Ogiwara were doing. "What's Kuroko's shooting percentile?" I asked quickly as if in a hurry.

"Oh, well at the moment he has shot 12 for 12, so 100 I presume, Riko-senpai. All of them were outside the three." My eyes widened and I looked out or the court were a serious Kuroko Tetsuya was playing in the zone.

Well shoot.

"I'll be right back!" I yelled running out the gym and Miso, our manager, looked confused when I ran out. I kept looking and look all around our scjooo until I finally saw him, "Junpei!" I screamed causing him to turn around from talking to some friend of his.

"Hey, Riko. What's uuuuu...hey!" I began dragging him back the way I came. "What's the hurry!"

"No time to talk, just come on!" I ran letting him go and hoping he was following me.

He was.

We entered the gym I left 15 minutes ago and saw they were taking a break. "Riko-Senpai, you're back. Are you alright?" Miso asked me and I nodded reassuring her. "Hello, Hyuga-Senpai," Miso bowed to him.

Hello," he slightly waved.

"Alright, let's go!" Someone shouted in English.

That Xzavier kid and Ogiwara began walking on the court, as well as Kuroko but Junpei noticed the other two first. "Why is Ogiwara here? And who's that kid?"

"They are here because of him." I pointed towards Kuroko causing Junpei to follow where I was pointing his eyes widened with shock as soon as they went into play.

"N-no way. Is that? No! It can't be." Junpei was lost for words.

"It is, he came in about an hour ago. Said he was in town for a little bit to get a milkshake and Ogiwara was with him. That other guy, the American one, he's his best friend. Xzavier Hoose, abnormally talented, almost similar to Kise Ryota or Aomine Daichi. Basically those two put together." Junpei watched the boy dare fully and nodding when he understood.

"Outstanding player," he said when Xzavier stole the ball from a play that people usually don't see coming.

"Indeed, however, he isn't the amazing one," I began and suddenly Xzavier no longer had the ball causing his shot to be blocked. "He is."

Within an instant, dribbling between the legs, spinning, speed up and slowing down his pace, getting past every defender in his way, he made it to the other side and made a shot from the elbow. "Snooze you loose!" He laughed yelling in English.

"What..was that? Kuroko was just, but he just. Huh?"

I nodded. "Kuroko isn't the same boy we used to know," I explained and got serious, "he's become the true generation of Miracle he was always meant to be."

Junpei and so looked out on Kuroko's smiling and laughing face, however he was still in the 'zone'. He's been in zone for over 20 minutes now.

"Kuroko!" Junpei yelled out shocking the younger boy on the court. He'll

Kuroko looked over at us and saw Junpei, he waved with a small smile and went back to playing basketball.

"He's changed," Junpei said.

"I think for the better." I smiled watching them all continue playing.