The Promise

Twenty

"But what about your illness?" Kuroko asked making Shizuka smile.

"He had to go this far to convince me to leave, Te-chan?"

"If going abroad meant making you better then—"

"After we graduate from the basketball team," Shizuka cut in. "I promise I'll go and only come back once I'm better,"

They continued on with their games and spent almost all of it winning due to the extraordinary abilities of the individuals of Teiko basketball team now dubbed as the Generation of Miracles, the combined brains and incredible analyzing of both Momoi and Shizuka, and the amazing unpredictable play by their phantom Sixth Man, Kuroko.

They continued to ride to their victory even moreso after Ryota Kise joined their team and added more fuel to their fire.

"Nice pass, Tetsu!" Aomine said after Kuroko curved the ball towards Aomine where he slammed it into the hoop, making him have the most points scored for their game.

"Aah! Kuroko-cchi, you can pass to me too!" Kise whined as they ran back to defend their hoop. "I can also make incredible dunks like Aomine-cchi!"

"Idiot," Aomine said, "Kuroko's my shadow, go find your own,"

"So mean!" Kise cried.

"Ryota, can you please refrain from whining during a play?" Seijuro said, "It seriously destroys everyone's focus and you might cause us to lose,"

"Akashi-cchi is mean too!" Kise whined, "Even though we're already fifty points behind,"

"I just want to secure our victory," Seijuro said.

"Aka-cchin," Murasakibara lazily called. "Can we eat after this game?"

"When are you ever going to stop thinking about food?" Midorima asked, annoyed at his noisy teammates.

"I wasn't talking to you," Murasakibara said.

"Oi!" Midorima snapped.

Next to her, Momoi giggled after watching their team's display of strong bond.

"They act like children," Momoi said, "Right, Shizuka-san?"

Shizuka smiled. "But that's a good thing,"

Momoi nodded with a smile.

Shizuka might not have been gifted with a complete family as she and Seijuro grew older, due to the fact that Ayako died from an illness. But seeing the Teiko basketball team in action made Shizuka feel like she's home and that everytime she sees Kuroko and Aomine do their usual fist bump after a stunning play, a lump of haooiness always forms inside her throat.

But nothing stays permanent as Shizuka's departure moved earlier than she promised after experiencing another seizure from her condition. And little did she knew that the last game she saw before leaving for America, was the last the game will ever see where all of them played together and enjoyed victory together.

***

It was dark and cold and she felt paralyzed, as if something restricted her move. She was afraid and confused of where she was as she didn't see a thing and all she could ever hear was the promises they all whispered to her in the past— promises that they all failed to fulfill.

Trapped in the darkness with voices echoing and whispering inaudible things, Shizuka crumbled down in tears— afraid, hurt, and confused as the whispers grew loud enough to be deafening for her.

"Shizuka-san," a faint voice called, snapping her out of her despair and instantly silencing the whispers.

"Shizuka-san," It called again, overpowering the whispers of the dark.

In a distant, Kuroko stood, wearing his Seirin Uniform with that usual gentle smile he always showed her.

"Shizuka-san, we won," he said. "We won the Winter Cup,"

"Te-chan..." Shizuka muttered, tears falling down her face.

"We won Shizuka-san," Kuroko repeated. "I promise I'll tell you every detail once you wake up, so please... wake up, Shizuka-san,"

As fast as a speeding bullet, Shizuka remembered everything that happened as she realized she was trapped inside her own head.

They had just won against Touo Academy, against Aomine. They were slowly getting the team back. Slowly putting all the pieces back again... but Shizuka had a seizure just as they were celebrating and now she sees herself trapped inside a dark room, alone and afraid.

"I can't, Te-chan," Shizuka whispered, though she doubted that Kuroko could hear her. "I'm tired... so tired..."

"Wake up, Shizuka-san," Kuroko said.

"Please let me rest," Shizuka cried, cupping her hands over her ears, trying to shut Kuroko out.

What was the point of waking up if everything around her changed drastically that she couldn't keep up. There was no point in going back.

"Shizuka..."

Her eyes snapped open upon hearing the familiar gentle voice she longed to hear for so long.

Looking up, Seijuro smiled at her, his eyes gentle and caring like she remembered. He wore his Teiko uniform and was holding his hand out to her.

"Come," he said. "Take my hand,"

"Nee-chan..." Shizuka whispered, allowing more tears to escape.

"Please come back," Seijuro said. "I still need you,"

Shizuka looked more closely. His smile was warm and his eyes showed her every emotion he was feeling.

Kuroko had fulfilled his promise.

Smiling, Shizuka reached up to Seijuro's hand, her eyes focused on his warm ones even after physically opening them after her long slumber.