The Fall, Part-Two

It was the evening, and after club practice, Kuroko and Satsuki walked home.

Kuroko had decided not to do his after-club practice, and Satsuki usually didn't stick around after the club practice ended.

Satsuki looked at Kuroko and asked in a quiet voice.

Satsuki: "Tetsu-kun, have you talked with Aomine-kun lately?"

After the Nationals, Satsuki could feel the atmosphere of the club change, there was no more laughter among the team, no longer could see smiles on the faces of her friends.

Little by little, the grim feeling of the club started to get to her, she felt that they had lost something.

And, something beneath the surface that had been held back came out after Coach Shirogane left the club.

The conversation between club members died down, and no one spoke to each other anymore.

Kuroko shook his head and replied.

Kuroko: "Not since the Nationals ended..."

Kuroko wasn't dense, he knew the state of the team.

Kuroko: "I do feel like that I need to do something, but honestly, I don't know what to do right now."

Satsuki didn't say anything else and lowered her head.

She didn't know what to do about the club and her friends.

Both of them walked in silence, drowning in thoughts about the place that they used to look forward to going every day.

They didn't know that the club was about to go under a huge change.

-*-*-*-*-*-*-

Sarada relayed the instruction of Regent Chairman to the five miracles.

And, all five of them gave their own response.

Aomine, with a bored expression on his face, spoke.

Aomine: "I am not going to participate in in-house games.

They aren't any fun, and I end up beating everyone.

They are frustrating to play in every day."

Murasakibara yawned and said.

Murasakibara: "I will do that too, playing in those games every day is boring beyond the limit.

I would end up crushing others if I try even a little bit.

You don't want club members getting hurt, right?"

Kise, with his hands behind his head, smiled, and replied.

Kise: "If that is the case, then maybe I will schedule some of my photoshoots during the in-house games.

Coach, thank you, this will make my life a lot easier."

Sanada frowned and tried to stop them, but Akashi interrupted him and said.

Akashi: "That is fine.

At our level, it is more of a waste of time to force everyone to get in step.

It is more efficient to stop adjusting."

He turned to see all the players present and announced.

Akashi: "Anybody here can do anything as long as they keep their performance the same as usual.

Do as you like.

All our actions will be glossed over as long as we win the games."

Since the preliminary finals, the other Akashi had permanently taken over the body as the primary personality.

And this personality, he didn't care about anything other than victory.

To other Akashi, victory was everything.

Sanada was shocked as he snapped.

Sanada: "But, Akashi-kun! Without participating in the in-house games, you won't be able to practice your teamwork."

Akashi looked at Sanada and stated.

Akashi: "Coach, for the Generation Of Miracles, team play is nothing but a hindrance.

You don't have to worry about our results.

We all know that Teiko's principle is to win, and we will provide the school with the victory."

Midorima pushed his glasses up and said in displeasure.

Midorima: "I will continue as usual.

I will do everything humanly possible to lead the team to victory.

If giving us this level of freedom is the new course set for the team, I will follow it."

Sanada stared at the five players with wide-eyes.

He noticed that none of them disagreed with the plan to discard team play.

He closed his eyes as he felt that he had failed Shirogane and the players that he promised to support and guide.

Sanada: 'How did it come to this happen?'

-*-*-*-*-*-*-

A few days after the freedom appointed to the Generation Of Miracles, Kuroko cornered Aomine in the basketball club's locker room.

Kuroko: "Aomine-kun, please return to participating in in-house games."

Aomine snorted as he changed his shirt.

Aomine: "Why should I?

For what purpose do I need to practice team play?"

Aomine scoffed and continued.

Aomine: "You realize our team will win even if we don't have a single ounce of team play.

Do you want us to crush down our opponents that have lost the will to fight even further?"

Kuroko was startled and asked loudly.

Kuroko: "Aomine-kun! What about Tokiwadai? We need to work together to stop Kageyama Shun."

Aomine started to laugh as he turned to Kuroko. He stared at Kuroko and said.

Aomine: "You really don't understand it, do you?"

Kuroko was taken aback by the sudden laughter.

Kuroko: "Aomine-kun...?"

Aomine's laughter dies down, and he spoke at the end of it.

Aomine: "None of us five want to beat Kageyama with somebody's help.

We all want to beat him one-on-one without any doubt.

The current system works best for all of us.

The five of us can't seriously compete with each other, and there is no competition for us five, so the only way to find who is the best is using Kageyama.

The one who performs the best against him and defeats him will be the best."

Kuroko lowered his head and spoke in a depressed voice.

Kuroko: "I understand how you feel, but..."

Aomine mockingly laughed as he cut off Kuroko.

Aomine: "Understand? Hah!

What part of it do you understand? Tell me!

How could someone who can't do anything by himself understand this?

Kuroko, you realize that you aren't necessary to the team?"

Kuroko felt shocked to his core.

Kuroko: "...What?"

Aomine shook his head and explained.

Aomine: "The team doesn't need your passing skills to win against normal teams.

We are too strong.

And, against Kageyama?

The first time, Kageyama was able to bind you, and that made your pass technique obsolete, but Akashi was able to draw some use out of it.

But, this year, Tokiwadai had a first-year that was able to bind you.

That means the first-year will be playing again next year, and you would once again be of no use to the team."

Then Aomine said something that horrified Kuroko.

Aomine: "It was so recent that I got passes regularly from you, but that changed in the Nationals.

Kuroko, I've already forgotten how to receive your passes."

After saying that, Aomine picked up his bag and left without a word, leaving behind an astonished Kuroko alone in the locker room.