Flashback

"Testu. What happened?" Aomine asked.

"Oh, I forgot to tell you. Tetsuya was kicked off the team" Momoi said nonchalantly.

"Wait how did all this happen?" Aomine asked.

"I'd have to tell you what happened in the last three months," Kuroko said "So, this year, at Seirin, I was kicked off the team for lack of physical strength and stamina. After all I had done for the team, they just threw me out after one incident. I was frustrated. Not because they threw me out, but because I couldn't do anything about it. So I went to Momoi and asked her to train me in secret. At first, I didn't like the training, because I had to run 5 miles a day within 20 minutes as a warm-up, and I generally focused on my legs so that I could zip past opponents easily and jump high. Over the three months, I abandoned my old style of playing. I would never be anyone's shadow. Seirin betrayed me. That was never going to happen to me again. I felt horrible. Useless, powerless, hopeless. I couldn't do anything so I became someone who could. I am no longer the 'phantom sixth man'. I am Kuroko Tetsuya. And Higashi Kiyoshi is my shadow."

"Woah. That's tough. I can't ever imagine being kicked off my team. But Tetsu, you're like the ultimate team member Seirin is stupid for kicking you out. Now I can no longer have you as my shadow. But that doesn't explain why you asked our manager." Aomine said.

"Okay, so I asked Momoi to train me. Momoi composed a dietary schedule and workout plan to me, sending salt to the enemy. Momoi was always there when I was at Teiko and even at my ugliest, she stood by my side. Over the three months, I gained respect for her and told that to her at the end of the training."Kuroko answered.

"So you said someone called Higashi Kiyoshi is your shadow. Who is he?" Aomine asked.

"After Seirin, I joined an external basketball team called Hokushou Basketball Institute(HBI). When I joined, I acted a little cocky just to see how good they were and we played a match. Kiyoshi passed the ball the way I do to the power forward: Sazama Sora. I could tell he was holding back. I asked some questions about him and it seemed like he got all his moves from me. I didn't even see him at first. He was like my fanboy. So over about two weeks, I trained him and made him just like the old me." Kuroko confessed.

"Wait. So you basically recreated the 'phantom sixth man' and made him your shadow? Just what kind of training did you give him?" Aomine asked

"Oh, I just taught him my moves and made him follow me everywhere like my actual shadow," Kuroko explained

"Yeah, you didn't do that much you just made two new threats to Tou that's all." Aomine joked

They both laughed.

"I have to get going. We're having a training camp. Bye Aomine." Kuroko said

He hugged Aomine and Momoi goodbye and left.