Chapter 1

He's doing it again – shadowing that alleged criminal when he knew that he shouldn't. But really, he promised himself that he'd get to the bottom of this. And he's not doing it for himself; he's doing it for them. Because even if he strongly believes that someone like him could no longer be of any importance to any of them, they are his friends. And he will not let them get hurt.

...X...

Winter that year came quick; already, Momoi could feel the cold tang of the winter breeze. She wrapped her coat around her like a cocoon then glanced at the bullet train station platform. It was practically empty, save for her mother and an old couple sitting by the vending machine. She would've found it peaceful, if she weren't feeling so alone.

Momoi was expecting her friends to come see her off, but it was one in the morning, and it was chilly. She shouldn't blame them for bailing, should they fail to arrive. The keychain they gave her as a farewell gift was more than enough. If anything, she should be thanking them for giving her such wonderful memories to hold on to.

"It's almost time, Satsuki-chan," her mother, a fair woman in her late-thirties, said, glancing at he wristwatch. Momoi's heart dropped, and she found herself fumbling with her keychain – a small, silver frame with a picture of her friends. She opened her mouth to reply, but before she could, she heard a sound that she had been looking forward to. Someone from across the platform had cried out "Satsuki!" and she immediately knew who it was.

Whirling around, eyes gleaming in expectation, the girl caught sight of Ayane Saito – clumsy and hasty as she always has been. She was staggering towards Momoi, pink hat nearly unseated. Behind her, Hana Nakamori smiled, giving Momoi a silent greeting.

Suddenly lively, she made her way towards the two. "Whoa there, Ayane-chan! Breath!" Then, Momoi turned to Hana. "I'm surprised you guys managed to make it!"

"Of course." Hana wiped her glasses with her scarf then sighed. "We don't know when we'll be seeing you again. It's only right for us to see you off."

"But you'll be going to Teiko, Satsuki," Ayane piped in. "Although it pains us to see you leave, we're happy for you."

Teiko High was a school that every parent wanted to enroll their kids in. It was elite and adored by all of Japan – the Oxford of the continent. Known for its discipline and excelling students, people's expectations for Teiko were very high. They are also known for being the best of the best – winning every kind of competition that stood their way; their motto: "A hundred battles, a hundred victories," was carved into their very soul. However, for someone that's attending such a privileged school, Momoi was the very opposite of glad.

"It's here," Ayane whimpered, staring at the sudden flash of light from inside the tunnel. At that moment, the rickety tracks of the train became heard. It grew louder and louder as it pedaled forward, stopping just beside the platform's edge. When the doors opened, Momoi's face grew dull.

She didn't want to leave.

She wanted to stay with Ayane and Hana and all of her friends.

Slowly, she turned around and looked at the two. "Don't forget to send messages."

"You too," Hana whispered, giving a sad smile.

Suddenly, Ayane's eyes glassed over. She had to blink to keep tears from falling. Nonetheless, the dam broke when Momoi came to hug her. "I'll visit, you guys."

"Yeah, you'd better," Ayane teased shakily through the tears. "But call us in case you can't come. Teiko is really something. You might be too busy to find time."

"I will."

It only took a few seconds for the doors to close after Momoi got in. Then, just like that, it zoomed forward – way too fast for her to even see her two friends' expressions as it left.

Now, "What the hell is going on," you ask? Well, it all started about two months ago. Momoi's father had lost his job, and let me tell you, those were among her most miserable days. Her father, after months of being unemployed, with no lead nor luck for a new job, had to change their lifestyle. Her mother decided to sell most of their furniture and find a cheaper alternative for all their meals. Ramen became miso soup. Pork cutlets became seaweed.

Fortunately, her father – a skilled businessman – managed to start something in Osaka. Their sales grew, and before she knew it she was slurping ramen again. Her life eventually fell back into place. And although her father had to live away from them to continue his job, she was happy. Afterall, Satsuki Momoi was the adored class representative. Top of her class, gorgeous muse and on the board of every important school club, there was no one in her small private school that didn't know who she was. Besides these, she had Ayane and Hana – the best of friends that she could ever ask for.

Those days, her spirits have been high. Those were the weeks that everything seemed to be going right. She didn't think that anything could ruin the steady pace. But then it had to happen.

Her mother had called her down, her smile making her look somewhat like a light bulb wearing an apron. Then she said in a way that Momoi could only describe as maniac, "Satsuki-chan! Congratulations!"

"Huh?"

"Your grades are very good, and we are so proud of you!"

"I know…"

"And you've got an offer!"

"Offer?"

"From Teiko High!"

"Teiko High?!"

"You've been granted a scholarship!"

"Scholarship?" Her face fell. Now, don't get me wrong; the girl was pleased to be getting an offer from such a wonderful school. Yet you've heard about her absolutely fantastic school life. There's no way she could leave all that behind! No! Not even for a big-name school like Teiko High! "M-mom, I can't. It's in Osaka. It'll take me three hours to get there."

"Oh that's easily solved, dearie. We're moving to Osaka, actually. We can finally live with your father again!"

Momoi's blood ran cold. "B-but I like my school school here," she tried. Her mother gave her a disapproving look then stated, "Honey, it's Teiko High. Their basketball team is superb!"

"That's because their players are monsters. And I don't even play basketball."

"You'll be surrounded by such shining students! Their influences will rub in on you within a week!"

"I like my friends here."

"Universities will be fighting over anyone who graduates from Teiko. They'll be fighting over you!"

"But–"

"Honey," her mother said, her voice dripping with venom, "think about it."

And thus, her fate was sealed. Bollocks.

A few days later, a red car was speeding down a street in Osaka. Within it, Momoi sat, bored eyes gazing blankly at the things their car zoomed past.

"Come on, Satsuki! It's your first day in a new school! Put on a smile!" Her dad, a lavishly-dressed man, cried from the driver's seat. She did as she was told, feeling bad for being so pessimistic. If anything, she should be thrilled to be going to Teiko. Only kids with brilliant academic records had a chance of being considered, and the school rarely offered scholarships.

How ungrateful, she thought to herself. Why are you being like this?

Her trail of thoughts has been cut off when the car came to an abrupt stop. She barely had to wonder what was going on because her dad had rolled down his window then poked his head out – whistling at the magnificent building that stood before them.

"Look at that," he said, "it's beautiful."

Teiko High was, indeed, beautiful – even Momoi had to bitterly admit; a brick wall of snow-kissed vines and a classy, gleaming gate plated in marble, the very scenery from outside was enough to leave her with childlike wonder.

After scuttling off the car and bidding her father goodbye, she slowly made her way towards the school. She barely had time to appreciate the surroundings once inside, however, because at that moment, a boy had walked before her, blocking her field of vision.

"Well hello there! You must be Momoi-san! I've been expecting you," he said, black hair swishing as he tilted his head to the side. She hadn't expected the greeting, much more for the guy to actually know her name. Because of this, Momoi was left slack jawed. Before she could ask the boy questions, however, he introduced himself. "My name is Shuzo Nijimura – an alumni of Teiko. And I've been requested to show you around before taking you to class."

"Satsuki," the girl stated, extending a hand. "My name is Satsuki Momoi, though you clearly already know that." Nijimura took her hand and squeezed it, giving her his silent salutations.

Then, he led her towards the rather spacious school grounds.

What finesse, she thought as she wordlessly followed Nijimura past the snow-frosted garden patch. Transferees are actually greeted and toured before going to class.

Momoi had to grudgingly admit that she was beginning to like Teiko. It was big, and it seemed promising. She could see herself living a good life here without throwing away her friendship with Hana and Ayane.

They walked the halls even during the morning class hour, and she was thoroughly impressed by the students' display of discipline and determination. The tiles and corridors were all waxed and spotless; the entire building itself was completely trash-free. Eventually, however, the tour was becoming tiring. The school had a huge population, so the corridors' stretches were very long and wide. Already, Nijimura had shown her several school facilities, and she knew that there was more to come.

However, as they passed the trophy hall, exhaustion died down because the displays were so stunning – she felt like she had stepped into a completely different world. The walls were lined up with an abundance of mahogany shelves, protected by glass that glistened next to the large windows, which allowed the warm rays of sunlight to stream in.

"Momoi-san, are you familiar with the school's motto?"

She nodded curtly while staring in awe at the countless trophies that surrounded the hall. The trophies, she noticed, was a range of different fortes – arts, academics, sports; under the sports category, something caught her eye: a glass case that stood out from the rest, partly because it had the most number of trophies, and partly because it was the most well-maintained.

"'A hundred matches, a hundred victories,' am I right?" she smiled, glancing at Nijimura.

"Yes, you are correct," the boy smiled back, before making his way towards the prominent glass case. It contained several awards from the basketball club alone. Now just like the rest of the country – maybe even the world – Momoi is aware of the Teiko basketball club's winning streak. However, it was still a different thing to actually see such a large display of championship trophies. What she knew about the sport, she learned from becoming the manager of her old school's basketball club for a month after their real manager got sick; and she knew how difficult it was to get just one championship trophy. She knew how big of a deal the Inter High and Winter Cup is in Japanese basketball.

Teiko had about a hundred of each. And for that, she was seriously thrilled – and terrified. Suddenly, she could feel the pressure of the school's motto weighing heavily on her shoulders. She is now a Teiko student; she must bear the weight of that motto. She cannot fail. She must always, always win.

"Momoi-san, are you okay?" Nijimura asked, noticing how pale the peach-haired girl has become. She glanced at him then nodded. "I'm just…amazed. Teiko's basketball club is so strong."

Maybe Momoi was too distracted at that time, because even her sharp gaze failed to notice the sad look that pooled over Nijimura's face as he gently brushed his fingers against the glass. "Yes, they are," he whispered. "I was once a part of this club. I wish I could've stayed a little longer."

There was a moment of silence as Momoi allowed the thought to settle. Then, she suddenly backed away from him, looking utterly star-struck.

"O-oh my gosh!" she gasped, her face reddening. Then she bowed. "It's an honor!"

"No! No!" Nijimura cried, looking a bit embarrassed. "I'm nothing compared to my teammates – my kohai!"

Still, Momoi thought, brain convulsing, I've been walking around with a star this whole time! Oh my gosh, I need to tell Ayane and Hana-chan! I should take a picture with him! Could he maybe be one of the 'Generation of Wonders' one of my basketball-fanatic classmates keep talking about?

Suddenly, the school bell rang, and Nijimura winced. Nothing could ever prepare Momoi for the frenzy of hollers and screams – the students all leaving their classrooms, displaying a very unTeiko-ish scenario as they screeched, pulled at each other's hair, clawed at each other's faces and jumped on each other's backs – all of them whirlpooling into the cafeteria while screaming very vulgar and disturbing things that children their age must never think, much more say.

Their teachers all looked like they were about to cry as the sea of Teiko students flooded them at all sides, making them look like drowning cats. It was a downright horrifying scene – like a calamity at its peak.

Divine Teiko! Great Teiko! Elite Teiko! What happened to all that? Where's the peace? The harmony? The discipline? Where're the excelling students? Where are the absolutely positive things that this school was known for? All Momoi could see is a blue and white tsunami of catastrophe!

"Momoi-san," Nijimura said, mustering the most realistic smile he could fake, "welcome to Teiko High!"

I realized a few weeks ago that my whole life was a lie when I found out that Kuroko's surname was, indeed, Kuroko – and that it wasn't Tetsuya. Then I realized that this also applied to the rest of the Generation of Miracles, players, and characters in general. I was seriously considering using 'Satsuki' instead of 'Momoi' when referring to Momoi in the narration because her friends are addressed by their first names. But then that would mean having to use every other character's first name too. (Daiki, Seijuuro, Teppei, Ryouta, Yukio, etc, I ask you: Could you get used to that?)

Aherm* Anyway, I hope that this story is…well…okay. It's my second fanfiction, so hopefully, it doesn't completely stray away from the rules (unspoken ones included). Oh, and I hope that you guys forgive me for the title. Never was good at making one.