The first to see him was Aomine.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxPzLY8c8tb
He was in his second year at Teikou. His raw talent was unmatched, his instinct feral. The world was starting to bore him.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbCNmdtysCW
Then one day, at practice, something changed.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWT4x7cVImP
Aomine reached out to catch a pass, only to find it redirected mid-air—perfectly, impossibly, as if the ball had been tipped by invisible fingers.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhWH30PZl01
He turned. No one was there.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡExH05Jlnku
"Yo," a voice said, quiet, cold.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX7ziRtWx32
Aomine's eyes widened.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfFGmBn41hm
Floating behind the coach, halfway in shadow, was a pale boy. Hair like sky, eyes like ice. He didn't blink. Didn't breathe.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7DR3noZQ2c
No one else reacted. They just kept playing.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYEyuYE1jNE
"You saw me," the boy said, with the hint of a smile. "Interesting."
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqx5ITVid1o
⸻
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTpHzEBNp6q
They later called him The Phantom Sixth Man, but his real name—if it could still be called that—was Kuroko Tetsuya.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH8RBFkpFIs
He had died three years before the Miracle Generation's rise. A promising player, overlooked, quiet, loyal. He had collapsed on the court one winter day. Heart failure, they said. Too much pressure. Not enough notice.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQk0S5cRTC
His ghost remained.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwm3EOP9I6m
He had loved basketball too much to leave.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaVKNI8qq3U
But there were rules to his existence. Rules even the dead must follow.
1. He could only be seen by those who had reached a certain threshold of talent.
2. He could only touch the ball.
3. He could only interact—physically and mentally—with those destined to be great: the Miracles.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLdS04qERnE
He could not scream. He could not cry. He could not touch the ground or open a door. He could only pass.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhT0NotD9eT
⸻
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjecJNBQdA7
Aomine told no one. At first, he thought he was going insane.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGqTs5vOIJS
But Kuroko kept showing up—tipping rebounds in his direction, stealing unnoticed passes, redirecting the game subtly, perfectly.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcJwza1Pojk
"You're not crazy," Kuroko said during an empty gym session. "You're just good enough to see."
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Hovm3Qn7I
Aomine stared at him. "Why me?"
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG8Yd159V2L
"Because you were the first who didn't need me," Kuroko said simply. "And the first who might."
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKPHhJRN3Zj
⸻
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡozowBPKxS5
By the time Akashi saw him, he wasn't surprised.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfiz0XcwWCn
Akashi had always known the world was more than flesh and physics. His own blood whispered secrets. His eyes saw too much.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzdKXu7noG4
"You're the ghost," Akashi said. "The one they talk about. The hidden hand."
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfUdnYIfgto
"I'm here for the game," Kuroko said. "Not for you."
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAqRsaKUNZc
Akashi smiled. "Everything is for me."
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjLv9lfu5l
Still, he allowed it. Welcomed it, even.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVWsdb0zmUV
"Stay," Akashi said, turning away. "If you're going to haunt us, at least make us invincible."
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUOqAY3SOzo
⸻
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJeIDajNT1s
And so Kuroko played.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXizdhMvUqn
He hovered at the edges. His passes were myths. When a ball went astray, it curved just right. When a player jumped too far, the ball arrived mid-air as if summoned by fate.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJ61lQEZE2
No one on the opposing teams ever saw him.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ZBF0f1sWO
They only saw the ball move as if on its own. Heard the creak of the floor where no one stood. Felt the chill of breath on their neck when they tried to drive past Akashi.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkCaoP8q5ST
They called it intuition. Or fate. Or divine punishment.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEFyg7yA6HD
But it was Kuroko.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡayr2htQviz
He was the sixth miracle—but only for those who deserved to see him.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7f4Ls4xg0s
⸻
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAup1E35xwT
"Why do you do it?" Kise asked once. He was crying.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlF7WrHqyXq
They'd won another match. Easily. Kise had seen him for the first time that week. His skills had finally caught up. "Why help us? Why stay?"
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1EcJyDWjP7
Kuroko hovered in the air, silent.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡltgHj3Rdqk
"I want to see beautiful basketball," he said eventually. "As long as I can. As long as you shine."
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡomXa8QoIps
Kise swallowed. "But you can't play."
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlHCnl9Jdsn
"I am playing," Kuroko said.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW8vDCi5Ebw
Kise never asked again.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoyPSPaGdzl
⸻
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnxnTS6ZJ3T
But not all things shine forever.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRFHcPeiXkw
The more the Miracles grew, the darker they became.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcTEtlJWm2z
Aomine stopped smiling. Midorima grew distant. Murasakibara crushed players for fun. Kise became a shadow of perfection, too fast to enjoy. And Akashi—
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx66DjLbDhG
Akashi broke.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkOgcsiScGS
Kuroko watched it all. Power corrupts, they say. And absolute talent?
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM0yFs98m4o
It warps.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmaCFrLb5wB
He tried to guide them. Tried to anchor them with his presence. Tried to remind them that basketball was a team sport.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3UMPF4xXc1
But he was just a ghost.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBDvh5Qs5nT
He couldn't yell.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4J7LSqVnvW
He couldn't stop the fighting.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJj3YrrkXFn
And worst of all, he could no longer touch them.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡedaemjVWjZ
The stronger they became, the less they needed him. And with that lack of need, his connection faded.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7B8w9lduyi
One by one, they lost the ability to see him.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgJMFBXiY2A
⸻
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLjpckuJwtt
It was Akashi who severed the last thread.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCkutaE5oNn
"You're obsolete," he said to the empty court.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPD4f4yzcq3
He knew Kuroko was still there—hovering, hoping.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZqX8xCm8Td
But Akashi didn't want to share the game anymore. He didn't want a phantom. He wanted control.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4VJMph8i2M
"You are dismissed."
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsI4kNXLDl3
And with that, Kuroko faded.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB978iA5qta
⸻
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtoN22Bvu0J
He wandered, disembodied, for months.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwggROcdqZC
No one could see him now. He couldn't touch the ball. The last connections were gone.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡliJK5xjpuT
Until...
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTU4UvEthzA
⸻
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6WP2uwjtih
A new team. Seirin.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg4I80fIhSw
A boy with fire in his hair and rage in his blood.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRrw8YQuppq
Kagami Taiga.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuIbn4RaTiz
He was raw. Wild. Incomplete.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtWJ1kHdg57
But the potential—oh, the potential blazed like a beacon.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1gWqQnXRTA
Kuroko hovered near him, cautious. Hoping.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG1y53QkVTH
And one day, in an empty gym, Kagami shot. Missed.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1NDIIQ9gni
The ball bounced—just slightly—to the side.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6M7UeJsdFo
Straight into his hands.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3qjFCunW4C
"...What the hell?" Kagami whispered, staring at the ball.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYV6rbCfj2S
Kuroko blinked. His hand was glowing faintly. The connection...
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJrH9Jtmv1C
"Hi," he said.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGNBEfXKLZ
Kagami dropped the ball and screamed.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYHT1OP89vm
⸻
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkrnACfr05w
It took weeks to convince him Kuroko wasn't a demon.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgq9vEF1pAs
"But you're a ghost!"
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIg7SGm3SYU
"Technically, yes."
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ29puEzoH8k
"And you want to play basketball?"
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡULBlnWnMwm
"Yes."
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIQ1Sc3bhs8
"That's INSANE."
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA6lGrgVHx3
"...Are you going to dunk or not?"
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOa0HSWGkHS
⸻
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfWvKmDkHZ2
Together, they forged a bond. And with that bond, Kuroko began to rematerialize.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAkHzXFZEth
Not completely—not to the world. But on the court, he mattered again.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK94edSgy71
He could touch the ball. He could direct the flow.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXqGk6qAx6E
And slowly, other players began to feel his presence.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQqXKPR0QqV
Opponents began to mutter again about haunted passes. Whispered legends of a Phantom Sixth Man rose from the ashes.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhNOquAxlbL
The Miracles began to hear rumors.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡohsSNSyq7H
And one by one, they saw him again.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAvHkNgO5aw
Not a ghost anymore.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNaWNbzq4M9
Not quite a boy.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC7Axp6uWYZ
Something new.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ543GdJ7fSX
Something that didn't belong to them anymore.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1PVcfFV5zR
⸻
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjHUANtjDN8
In the final match, when Seirin faced Rakuzan, Akashi stepped onto the court.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡle7vNbW3AY
He looked across the gym.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ26zbklPetn
And for the first time in years, he saw a pale boy standing behind Kagami. Hair like sky. Eyes like ice.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDcXbMeOhnO
"You," he said, low. "You came back."
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfLlzOZB6Dr
"I never left," Kuroko replied. "You just stopped seeing."
ns216.73.216.25da2
