_Kuroko no basket ball_

Kagami lunged after Kuroko, but the phantom player had already disappeared into his blind spot, smoothly weaving past him like a ghost.

"Dammit—Kuroko-kun!" Kagami turned on his heel, trying to keep up, but Luin had already stepped in to block his path.

Luin's stance was solid this time—more awake, more present. His golden eyes were sharp, no longer clouded over. Kagami noticed immediately.

"Oh? Now you're serious?" Kagami smirked, lowering into a stance of his own. "Good. Because I love crushing serious opponents."

Luin didn't reply—he just moved.

A quick pivot, a sudden feint, and he was already behind Kagami before the redhead could react. With a smooth stride, Luin cut into the paint, his focus locked on the basket.

Kuroko saw it instantly. Without hesitation, he flicked his wrist, sending an Ignite Pass directly to Luin's waiting hands.

The moment the ball touched Luin's fingers, everything clicked. He leaped, twisting in mid-air, and released the ball just as Kagami's outstretched hand came up to block it.

For a second, time seemed to freeze.

Then—

Swish.

The ball dropped through the net cleanly.

Kagami landed hard, blinking up at the hoop. "Tch… Seriously?"

Luin exhaled, a small smile forming. "That one felt good."

Kuroko nodded. "It looked good."

Kagami groaned, rubbing his forehead. "Okay, that's it. I'm going all out now."

He turned to Kuroko, who tilted his head in mock innocence.

"Kuroko-kun, pass to me next."

Kuroko blinked. "I would, but Luin-san is more open."

Kagami twitched. "Oi. I'm right here."

"Exactly."

Luin let out a short laugh, shaking his head. He could feel it now—the familiar rhythm of the game, the flow of movement, the steady pulse of competition.

His grandfather was gone. That wouldn't change.

But here, on the court, surrounded by the sound of bouncing rubber and the familiar voices of his teammates—he wasn't alone.

Time Skip – Mitobe's House

The warm scent of home-cooked food filled the air as Seirin's basketball team gathered at Mitobe's house, celebrating his youngest sibling's birthday. The small but cozy home buzzed with life—Mitobe's many younger siblings darted around excitedly, their laughter mixing with the occasional shouts of Seirin's players.

Kagami looked overwhelmed, holding a paper plate loaded with food as a group of Mitobe's siblings tugged at his arm. "O-Oi! One at a time, seriously—Kuroko, help me out here!" he pleaded, but Kuroko had somehow managed to blend into the background, expertly dodging the chaos.

"I believe in you, Kagami-kun," Kuroko said flatly, taking a sip of juice as he watched the scene unfold.

Hyuuga sighed, adjusting his glasses as he observed the lively party. "Mitobe, how do you survive with so many younger siblings?" he asked, shaking his head in disbelief. Mitobe, as always, simply smiled in response while handing out plates of food.

"Mitobe's amazing," Koganei chimed in, grinning as he ruffled one of the younger kids' hair. "Honestly, if I had this many siblings, I'd lose my mind."

Meanwhile, Luin sat quietly near the window, staring at the children playing with a somewhat distant look. The lively atmosphere contrasted with the quiet grief still lingering in his heart, but there was something warm about the scene that made it easier to breathe.

Riko, ever the observant coach, approached him with a casual smile. "How are you holding up, Luin-kun?" she asked gently.

Luin blinked and turned to her. "…It's nice," he admitted after a pause, his voice softer than usual. "Loud, but… nice."

Riko smiled, patting his shoulder. "Mitobe's house has that effect. You don't have to force yourself to be cheerful, but if you ever need a distraction, you know we're all here, right?"

Luin nodded slightly, his fingers tightening around the cup he held. He wasn't used to this kind of open support, but there was something reassuring about it.

"Alright, everyone!" Hyuuga suddenly called, clapping his hands together. "Let's get ready for the birthday song! No slacking!"

As everyone gathered around the birthday cake, Kagami—finally free from the children's grasp—stood beside Kuroko, leaning down slightly. "Hey," he muttered, "did you see how many dishes they made? I'm gonna die trying to eat all this."

Kuroko blinked. "You're going to die because of food, Kagami-kun?"

"That's not the point!" Kagami grumbled, but before he could continue, the room filled with voices as everyone began singing.

Mitobe's youngest sibling grinned widely, eyes sparkling as they prepared to blow out the candles. The energy in the room was infectious, and even Luin found himself caught in the warmth of the moment.

As the candles were blown out and cheers erupted, Kagami glanced at Luin from the corner of his eye. He wasn't smiling completely, but the quiet weight that had hung over him earlier seemed a little lighter.

Mitobe's House – After the Party

The celebration had finally started to wind down. The younger kids, full of cake and energy, had been ushered to bed by Mitobe's parents, leaving Seirin's team lounging around the living room. Empty plates and cups were scattered across the table, and the warmth of a home-cooked meal still lingered in the air.

Kagami stretched with a satisfied groan. "Man, I think I ate too much."

"You did eat too much," Kuroko pointed out. "Mitobe's mother kept serving you, and you didn't refuse."

"I couldn't! She looked so happy every time I took another plate!" Kagami defended himself, resting a hand on his stomach. "And besides, it was really good…"

Hyuuga sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Typical. You're going to regret it when you try running in practice tomorrow."

Koganei, who was sitting cross-legged on the floor, smirked. "Or he'll just pass out halfway through."

"Hey! I'm not that weak!" Kagami shot back.

Meanwhile, Luin sat quietly on the couch, absentmindedly watching the team banter. The remnants of his earlier melancholy still clung to him, but there was something grounding about being surrounded by their voices.

Izuki, ever perceptive, leaned over. "How are you holding up, Luin-kun?" he asked with an easy smile. "Mitobe's house can be overwhelming, but it's a nice kind of overwhelming, don't you think?"

Luin hesitated, then gave a small nod. "It is," he admitted. "It reminds me of…" He trailed off, his fingers curling slightly around the fabric of his sleeve.

Izuki didn't press him. Instead, he offered a lighthearted joke. "You know, if you ever need to escape from emotional conversations, just stick close to Kagami-kun. He causes enough chaos to be a distraction."

Kuroko, overhearing, nodded. "That's true."

Kagami, who had been drinking water, choked. "Hah?! What's that supposed to mean?!"

The room burst into laughter, and even Luin found himself smiling just a little.

As the night continued, the team slowly started cleaning up, stacking dishes and wiping down the table. Mitobe, ever the silent caretaker, worked efficiently, and even without words, he somehow managed to direct everyone around the kitchen.

Riko clapped her hands together. "Alright, since we're all here, we should start heading back soon. Tomorrow's practice is still happening, and I don't want any complaints about being tired."

Groans immediately filled the room.

"C'mon, coach, have a heart," Kagami whined.

"I do. That's why I'm making sure you guys stay in shape," Riko countered with a smirk. "Now, let's get moving."

With that, the team began gathering their things, exchanging casual goodbyes with Mitobe's family. As they stepped outside into the cool night air, the energy from the party still lingered between them.

Luin glanced up at the stars, exhaling softly. The ache of loss was still there, but it wasn't as suffocating as before.

Time Skip – Practice Match vs. Kaijō

The gym was buzzing with energy as Seirin prepared to face Kaijō in a practice match. With Kise Ryōta leading the opposing team, everyone knew this would be no ordinary scrimmage. But the biggest surprise of the day came when Yukio Kasamatsu, Kaijō's captain, approached Luin during warm-ups.

"Luin, I didn't expect to see you here," Kasamatsu said, raising an eyebrow.

Luin smirked. "Well, cousin, it looks like we're opponents today. Try to keep up."

Kasamatsu scoffed, crossing his arms. "You better not embarrass me, got it?"

Kagami, overhearing the conversation, nudged Kuroko. "Wait, they're cousins? Why didn't I know this?"

"You never asked, Kagami-kun," Kuroko deadpanned.

With tensions rising and the competitive fire burning bright in both teams, the whistle blew, signaling the start of an intense match.

As the teams gathered on the court, Kise Ryōta greeted them with his usual charm. "Yo, Kurokocchi! Kagamicchi! Long time no see!" he grinned, his golden eyes gleaming with excitement.

Kagami scoffed, rolling his eyes. "Don't call me that. And don't think we're going to take it easy on you just because it's a practice match."

Kuroko, standing beside him, gave a small nod. "We won't lose."

Luin, stretching his arms, looked toward the opposing team, With the tension rising and anticipation in the air, the whistle blew, signaling the start of the match. Kise was quick on his feet, copying Kagami's movements with his Perfect Copy, while Kasamatsu led Kaijō with his sharp plays. Seirin, however, was prepared, with Kuroko's misdirection and Luin's speed countering their strategies.

The game was intense, back and forth, each side refusing to back down. Seirin's teamwork shone through, but Kaijō wasn't letting up either. With every steal, pass, and dunk, the match pushed both teams to their limits, and the rivalry between Kagami and Kise burned fiercely on the court.

As the match continued, it became clear that neither side was willing to give an inch. Luin, back to his full strength, was in his element, playing just as fiercely as the rest of his team. This wasn't just a practice match—it was a battle to see who would come out on top. .....