Chapter 9

Amidst the chaotic footsteps outside the infirmary, Momoi suddenly burst in. “Tetsu-kun!”

“小Momo, shh—” Ryota Kise, following closely behind, quickly signaled Momoi Satsuki to be quiet, pointing discreetly at the sign forbidding loud noises.

Momoi immediately covered her mouth but still caught a sharp glare from the nearby doctor.

“So, from Teiko, right?” The doctor glanced at Kise and Momoi before handing a medical report to Kise. “There are some abrasions and swelling on his head. We’ve already applied ice packs. The bone should be intact, but he’ll need a CT scan at a proper hospital later.”

Since this gymnasium hosted many events, the doctor was familiar with these two, having treated athletes here for years. Especially since Aomine Daiki had come several times for sprains, the doctor and Momoi were quite acquainted.

Kise couldn’t make heads or tails of the report but grew anxious upon hearing about the hospital visit. “A CT scan?! Kuroko hasn’t woken up yet. Could he have hurt his brain?”

The doctor tapped Kise’s hand with some papers. “Nonsense. He’s probably just under a lot of stress lately. A good sleep should fix it. Most likely, nothing’s seriously wrong with his head. The scan is just a precaution.”

“That’s a relief, that’s a relief.” Kise exhaled deeply and, following the doctor’s guidance, approached Kuroko’s bedside.

Seiho Ogiwara, who had been bent over messaging his teammates, looked up to see two familiar faces approaching.

He had just skimmed through earlier reports about Teiko and realized he had misunderstood—the owner of that phone was indeed a boy.

“I’m Seiho Ogiwara. I’m really sorry; I accidentally bumped into him just now,” Ogiwara stood up, his tone full of apology.

Kise ignored him, leaning over the bed to pull Kuroko out from under the blanket. “Kuroko, how many times have I told you not to sleep with your head covered...”

Seeing that Kuroko was truly asleep, Momoi breathed a quiet sigh of relief and then turned to Ogiwara. “Hello, I’m Momoi Satsuki, Teiko’s manager. That’s player Ryota Kise. By the way, I heard you were childhood friends with Tetsu-kun?”

“Yes, we went to the same elementary school. We even played basketball together and promised to join the basketball club in middle school,” Ogiwara scratched his head.

They hadn’t seen each other much since he moved away but kept in touch via messages. When he learned Kuroko had made the first team at Teiko, he was happier than anyone.

Last year, after his own school lost in the regional preliminaries, he had been downhearted for a long while. After all, meeting on the national stage had been their pact.

“So, childhood friends,” Momoi was momentarily surprised. She had never heard Kuroko mention this before. “Is Ogiwara-kun still studying in Tokyo?”

Because Kuroko’s presence was so low-key, he had few friends. Even his acquaintance with Aomine had been accidental.

At that moment, Momoi suddenly realized Kuroko’s life wasn’t entirely centered on Teiko. He had other friends, other parts of his life.

Ogiwara was one. And that young man from Sendai she had briefly met as well.

“I moved away when I was in sixth grade. Now I’m at Meiko Middle School’s basketball club in the adjacent prefecture,” Ogiwara explained simply.

Momoi, who had researched all the national tournament teams in advance, immediately formed a preliminary impression.

Meiko Middle School was in District D. They had defeated last year’s runner-up seed in the second-round elimination and were currently undefeated in the group stage.

If they kept winning... they might face Teiko in the finals.

Ogiwara didn’t notice Momoi’s slight change in expression and continued, “Thanks to you all for looking after Kuroko. He’s always been pretty stubborn since he was young.”

Momoi smiled softly. “Indeed, Tetsu-kun can be difficult to reason with sometimes.”

“By the way, there’s something I’m worried about. When I saw Kuroko today, he didn’t seem in a good mood. Did something happen?”

Momoi fell silent. They didn’t want outsiders to know about Teiko’s internal issues—those were meant to stay within the team.

But Kuroko’s recent state had been so poor, his psychological struggles were affecting his physical condition...

“It’s nothing, just a quarrel among friends,” Momoi finally brushed it off.

“I see...” Ogiwara didn’t entirely believe her, but seeing Momoi’s expression, he knew she wouldn’t tell him now. Better to ask Kuroko later.

Checking the time on his phone, he realized he’d stayed longer than intended. “Ah, my school meeting is about to start. Sorry, I have to go! Please take care of Kuroko!”

With only two minutes left, Ogiwara hurried off toward the arena after making sure Kuroko was in good hands.

On a bench opposite the infirmary’s door, Seijuro Akashi sat quietly. Watching Ogiwara leave, his eyes darkened with an unreadable expression.

“Gone?” Kise looked up at the doctor, who was leaving with a stack of materials and then collapsed onto a chair, relieved.

Since entering, Kise hadn’t spared Ogiwara a glance. From the first moment, he knew they weren’t on the same wavelength.

Kise stared at the ceiling for a long while, lost in thought.

“A promise... how wonderful...” he murmured.

A familiar ringtone sounded. Kise glanced sideways and saw a call notification from “Senpai Oikawa” on Kuroko’s phone.

Seeing Kuroko still asleep, Kise, under Momoi’s disapproving gaze, declined the call.

After sitting in the infirmary for some time, Kise finally looked up at Momoi. “Is the fourth round of Teiko’s group matches about to start?”

“Yes. How about grabbing something to eat first? Playing on an empty stomach is risky,” Momoi sighed. “I’ll stay here with Kuroko.”

She had long ceased to trust the thought processes or emotional intelligence of those involved. If this wasn’t handled well, Kuroko might lose all hope in them.

Kise was momentarily stunned, but before he could speak, Akashi’s voice came from the entrance. “Ryota, go eat. Satsuki, Shintaro just said Daiki is missing. Go look for him.”

“Akashi-kun!” Hearing this obvious attempt to send her away, Momoi panicked.

“Satsuki.” Akashi’s tone was calm but firm as he called her name again.

Momoi bit her lip, refusing to move.

Akashi’s expression darkened, his voice tinged with irritation. “Satsuki.”

Momoi froze, intimidated. She hesitated but clenched her fists, about to protest.

Realizing Akashi was genuinely angry, Kise grabbed Momoi, trying to pull her out.

But Momoi somehow found strength to shake off Kise. “Akashi-kun! Please let me—”

“What’s all this noise? This is an infirmary. If you want to argue, take it outside,” the doctor, who had returned unnoticed, rapped on the door with a rolled-up report.

Including Akashi, all three were brusquely ushered out.

Looking at the firmly closed door, Kise stared at Akashi in disbelief, his expression saying, “You actually got kicked out?”

Akashi pinched the bridge of his nose, clearly troubled. “Dr. Oshtsuki is a friend of my mother’s...”

Implying that out of respect for elders, they must behave politely.

“She won’t let us back in anytime soon. We’ll come back later,” Kise sighed, giving up on knocking again.

No other reason—just hoping Kuroko could get some good rest.

Good rest?

Actually, Kuroko had already woken up when Akashi spoke but didn’t know how to face him, so he kept pretending to sleep.

When the doctor asked everyone to leave, Kuroko slowly sat up.

He reached out to touch the medicated area on his head but was stopped by a voice beside him, “Don’t touch it.”

Dr. Oshtsuki rummaged through a drawer before handing Kuroko a triangular pill. “Since you’re awake, take this.”

Kuroko stared at it for a moment. “What is this?”

“Vitamin C, harmless.” The doctor took one himself. “It’s just that I don’t have any candy here. This stuff is sweet, so you’ll manage.”

“Kids shouldn’t worry so much; it’ll make you age faster.”

Kuroko took the vitamin, unsure what to say. The pill dissolved in his mouth with a fruity sweetness.

He felt he needed to calm down and think carefully about what was happening at Teiko now.

His phone rang. He glanced at the screen and answered. “Senpai Oikawa?”

“Kuro! You scared me. You hung up earlier, and I thought something was wrong,” Oikawa Tetsuya’s voice carried a hint of panic.

Hearing the noisy background on Oikawa’s end, Kuroko gradually came back to himself. “Senpai Oikawa, you’re already in Tokyo?”

“Yeah, I’m at the gym entrance you told me about.” Oikawa was still concerned about the earlier incident. “So what happened? You haven’t started the afternoon match already, have you?”

That was the only explanation he could think of.

“I accidentally bumped my head while walking and was dizzy for a bit. I’m fine now,” Kuroko explained.

Wait, who was it that bumped into him...?

He couldn’t quite recall but the voice sounded familiar.

“Bumped your head?!” Oikawa instantly grew worried. “Where are you now? I’ll come get you.”

“I’m at—”

Kuroko froze, unsure of his whereabouts.

Seeing this, Dr. Oshtsuki stretched out his hand, signaling Kuroko to give him the phone.

After taking the phone, Oshtsuki said, “You’re at the infirmary near Gate 3.”

Upon receiving the location, Oikawa arrived shortly. Carrying the bag he usually used for basketball shoes, now filled with souvenirs for Kuroko.

“How’s your head? Let me take a look.” As someone who had been a team leader for rowdy kids at Kitagawa First, Oikawa could at least assess the injury.

Oshtsuki replied, “Not serious, but a thorough hospital check is necessary.”

“Teiko has a match this afternoon. If you’re a guardian, maybe you should take him to the hospital?”

Early examination is always better.

“Okay, let’s go now.” Oikawa didn’t hesitate.

Since Kuroko was injured, he wouldn’t participate in the afternoon match, and possibly not even tomorrow’s. It was best to get checked out promptly.

Wanting to avoid the Miracle Generation, Kuroko didn’t resist. After messaging the team leader, he changed clothes and headed to the hospital with Oikawa.

As for Teiko’s final group match?

He no longer felt any desire to participate or witness it.