"Helo, Kagami-kun."
"Yeah, Kuroko. I'm ready. You here already?"
"Yes. Just come downstairs."
On the busy street, a small figure stood quietly under a tree. Passersby barely seemed to notice him. A man in a rush ran straight ahead, only realizing at the last moment that someone was standing there.
Right before they collided, the figure vanished as if he had never existed.
"Huh? Did I… just imagine that?"
The man patted himself, bewildered. Kuroko, standing just behind, sighed. His lack of presence caused situations like this all the time. Today alone, three people had almost walked into him.
From the stairs nearby came the sound of hurried steps. Kuroko looked up—sure enough, it was Kagami.
"Let's go, Kuroko."
Unlike the pedestrians, Kagami spotted him instantly. It wasn't that Kagami's eyesight had leveled up—it was their growing connection. As long as Kuroko wasn't deliberately hiding his presence, Kagami could now find him with ease.
Kuroko nodded slightly and began walking only once Kagami reached his side.
"Kuroko, you said yesterday… everyone will be there, right?"
"Yes. The whole Generation of Miracles. And Kota-kun as well."
Kagami's eyes sharpened at the mention of that name.
The image of Kota's game-winning move in the Winter Cup final—those impossible footwork steps—still replayed in his mind.
Seeing his expression, Kuroko added calmly,
"Relax, Kagami-kun. Today isn't a match. It's just a gathering."
"Yeah, sure… but when it's that bunch, it's never simple."
Cold sweat rolled down Kagami's face as his imagination spiraled:
Akashi suddenly standing up at dinner, declaring "I am absolute!" before stabbing everyone?
Aomine sneering, "Only I can defeat myself—teammates are dead weight!" before flipping the table?
Midorima saying dead serious, "Cancer's lucky item today is poison" and poisoning the drinks?
Kota, fresh off his championship win, trash-talking everyone into a massive brawl??
(Kota: "???")
The more Kagami thought about it, the more terrified he became. Finally, he smacked his forehead:
"No! I have to protect Kuroko!!"
"Kagami-kun? We're here."
Kuroko tilted his head at Kagami's grim face, confused.
"Already?"
Kagami blinked around. This was… his usual burger joint? The same place he'd first met Kise and Kota, actually.
Kuroko pushed the door open. Kagami gulped and followed, ready to grab Kuroko under his arm and bolt if things turned south.
Huh? The place was empty?
Inside, the normally packed restaurant had no customers. Kagami frowned—until a cheerful voice called out:
"Oh? Kurokocchi's here. And Kagamicchi too! Looks like Akashicchi wasn't lying."
Kise peeked over a booth, waving.
"You? What are you doing here?"
Aomine gave Kuroko a nod, then glared at Kagami.
"Hah?" Kagami's temper flared instantly.
"What's your problem, huh? Wanna fight?"
"Like I'd be scared of you! You lost to me once already."
"You bastard, what'd you say—?!"
Kuroko slipped past them mid–shirt-grab and sat down, greeting the others calmly.
"Alright, alright. Quit fighting. You both lost to us anyway, what's there to argue about?"
Kise lounged on the sofa with a grin, pointing across the table.
"Save your energy. There's already a legendary battle going on over there."
"Legendary battle?"
Kagami turned—and froze.
On the far side, Kota and Akashi were locked in a silent duel… over a deck of playing cards. They were playing Old Maid.
Kota's eyes scanned Akashi's expression, trying to divine which card was the joker. But Akashi's face was unreadable, calm as always.
Suddenly, the hairs on Kota's arm stood on end.
Danger Sense
His eyes flashed, and without hesitation, he drew the card next to the one that set off the alarm.
"This will decide it—Akash—WHAT?!"
He stared in shock. He'd pulled the joker.
Kise leaned in, laughing.
"Unlucky, Kotacchi! That's the joker!"
Akashi's smile vanished, replaced with his usual cool authority.
"Unfortunate. I am absolute."
"Dammit! I was so close!" Kota slammed the table.
Kagami just stared, dumbfounded.
This… was not what he'd expected.
Guided to his seat, he glanced at the table full of fried chicken, burgers, and scattered cards. So… this is the Miracles' big gathering?
"Eh? Kagami's probably thinking, 'Why is the Miracles' party so normal?'"
Kota chuckled as he shuffled the deck with flashy flair.
"Off the court, we're just regular people, you know."
"Alright! Everyone's here—let's play UNO!"
"Yes! Finally! Old Maid is rigged anyway; Kotacchi and Akashicchi are impossible to beat!"
Kagami blinked. This wasn't the chaos he feared—but maybe that was fine.
"Heh. Don't underestimate me! I'm good at UNO!" He rolled up his sleeves, ready.
He had no idea what it meant to sit at a table with a card shark, a natural-born lucky guy, a genius, and Akashi.
Within rounds, his face was plastered with sticky notes—last year's penalty for losers. His earlier confidence drained away fast.
"Seriously?! Midorima, how are your cards always that good?!" Kagami demanded, notes covering half his face.
Midorima pushed up his glasses, light reflecting dramatically.
"Today's lucky item for Cancer is eel sushi."
He revealed a neatly wrapped sushi roll strapped to his wrist.
"To prevent Murasakibara from eating it, I tied it here. I've done all I can. Now fate decides."
Kagami: "…"
"And what about you three?! You're cheating, right??"
Kota smirked, cutting the cards with fancy flourishes.
"Sorry, been a card nerd since I was a kid."
Kagami gawked, then pointed at Kise.
"You too?"
Kise copied Kota's shuffle perfectly, grinning.
"Sorry, been a genius since I was a kid."
Kagami turned to Akashi, thought better of it, and looked away. Don't even ask. He'll just say he's absolute.
(Akashi: "???")
Of course, everyone else had sticky notes too—but before Kagami arrived, they'd agreed to always leave the "next seat" of the four masters to him. That way, no matter what happened, he'd suffer the worst.
The burger joint filled with laughter. When Kagami's face was almost completely buried in notes, he finally threw up his hands.
"Enough! I quit! I can't even see anymore!"
Then he frowned.
"By the way," Kagami muttered, "why is the shop so empty? And… aren't we gonna get kicked out for hogging the tables?"
"What are you talking about? The shop owner is right here."
Kota pointed with his chin at Akashi, grinning. "Well, not really the owner. More like… the biggest shareholder. Isn't that right, Akashi?"
"Akashi… shareholder?"
Kagami blinked, not understanding.
Kise explained with a chuckle, "Basically, more than half the businesses on this street belong to the Akashi family. And Akashicchi's the heir."
Kagami froze. "Wait… seriously? That's… that's insane!"
The others laughed, remembering they'd reacted the same way when they first found out.
Akashi finally spoke, his tone as lofty as ever. "Don't underestimate the Akashi family, Kagami. If nothing changes, I'm likely the most powerful person you'll ever meet in your lifetime."
Kagami: …
Damn. Knowing his status actually made his arrogance… kind of convincing.
For the first time, Kagami felt genuine respect for Akashi.
"Anyway, everyone's moved up to second year now. How does it feel being upperclassmen? Any interesting rookies on your teams?"
Kota shuffled again as he asked casually. He wanted to size up the new blood before the Summer Tournament.
They all knew each other's tricks by now—there were no secrets left between them. The real unknowns were the freshmen.
Instantly, the mood grew serious. Everyone sharpened their focus, waiting for someone else to speak first.
Even Kise, usually smiling, straightened his face. Winning both Inter-High and Winter Cup this year had become his short-term obsession.
"I hear Kaijo got some promising rookies this year."
The one to speak first was Akashi, sipping cola like it was fine wine. His eyes flicked toward Kota.
"He's got eyes in Kaijō?!"
Kota's expression didn't change, but inside his stomach sank.
"Who could it be? Not Yuki, not Kise, maybe Takeuchi? No… unlikely.
Definitely not any of the upperclassmen… could it be one of the freshmen?
That center… Takumi. The one who kept staring at me during practice matches…
No, can't be sure yet.
Damn it. Looks like I'll have to start cleaning house when I get back."
Kota frowned slightly, already calculating how to flush out Akashi's spy.
"Maybe… start with Takeuchi first."