The first to see him was Aomine.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJoGgF6RK40
He was in his second year at Teikou. His raw talent was unmatched, his instinct feral. The world was starting to bore him.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPpv1ImrRTF
Then one day, at practice, something changed.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGgDTAFgbJA
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.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAUdQ690KO5
He turned. No one was there.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBMKn7rgw7l
"Yo," a voice said, quiet, cold.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMpIwDE1KKt
Aomine's eyes widened.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBzL3Cx732z
Floating behind the coach, halfway in shadow, was a pale boy. Hair like sky, eyes like ice. He didn't blink. Didn't breathe.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQjgzpjoMCO
No one else reacted. They just kept playing.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXXsdTY6Ans
"You saw me," the boy said, with the hint of a smile. "Interesting."
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ0mMsv1kiT
⸻
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHTW18tBAup
They later called him The Phantom Sixth Man, but his real name—if it could still be called that—was Kuroko Tetsuya.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoczYh3JFv6
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.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFZeYG9ynuF
His ghost remained.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRRNF1sWR0m
He had loved basketball too much to leave.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL6cqqwtTL3
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.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN7Pat0bN16
He could not scream. He could not cry. He could not touch the ground or open a door. He could only pass.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgdpIL22r2g
⸻
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9oID8XIKjz
Aomine told no one. At first, he thought he was going insane.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoPGw2DRwXx
But Kuroko kept showing up—tipping rebounds in his direction, stealing unnoticed passes, redirecting the game subtly, perfectly.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr6bVgues15
"You're not crazy," Kuroko said during an empty gym session. "You're just good enough to see."
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsTg6PSD99T
Aomine stared at him. "Why me?"
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQISZtAnQ3
"Because you were the first who didn't need me," Kuroko said simply. "And the first who might."
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmuJYvJbF8Z
⸻
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrZbfyKmcRU
By the time Akashi saw him, he wasn't surprised.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfxx40skRhN
Akashi had always known the world was more than flesh and physics. His own blood whispered secrets. His eyes saw too much.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSgCFsO89Js
"You're the ghost," Akashi said. "The one they talk about. The hidden hand."
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAEdabtb0dN
"I'm here for the game," Kuroko said. "Not for you."
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuz9ZxqEHCZ
Akashi smiled. "Everything is for me."
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbQyzholrMu
Still, he allowed it. Welcomed it, even.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMlmQP8woex
"Stay," Akashi said, turning away. "If you're going to haunt us, at least make us invincible."
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlfMgl0ILFU
⸻
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY2iIYUBuoJ
And so Kuroko played.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfbebUw3O0e
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.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdqTwgbSs4A
No one on the opposing teams ever saw him.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1FK2MbMWK2
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.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm686rINZHc
They called it intuition. Or fate. Or divine punishment.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe41375WoDS
But it was Kuroko.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4vTj69xnim
He was the sixth miracle—but only for those who deserved to see him.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVK114uy6C3
⸻
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHkbax3PXW1
"Why do you do it?" Kise asked once. He was crying.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYTrgmVdUvE
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?"
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4GNsb8UCMe
Kuroko hovered in the air, silent.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1yTV6ZxVYu
"I want to see beautiful basketball," he said eventually. "As long as I can. As long as you shine."
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIA5W3qSCSx
Kise swallowed. "But you can't play."
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMAtz8DQp2U
"I am playing," Kuroko said.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCHEmxNtDpt
Kise never asked again.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEW5WcptFj2
⸻
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRL4szK8BUR
But not all things shine forever.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Ep5j1Uc24
The more the Miracles grew, the darker they became.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXXtiC52x79
Aomine stopped smiling. Midorima grew distant. Murasakibara crushed players for fun. Kise became a shadow of perfection, too fast to enjoy. And Akashi—
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLVvOWSlwE5
Akashi broke.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtGS4GCG1DO
Kuroko watched it all. Power corrupts, they say. And absolute talent?
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJCC3N6bY3
It warps.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcT6sHga9cX
He tried to guide them. Tried to anchor them with his presence. Tried to remind them that basketball was a team sport.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUGA6JG2YLy
But he was just a ghost.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfKuBhi3QYu
He couldn't yell.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZG7O7tYD8e
He couldn't stop the fighting.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPaBOSSaHCU
And worst of all, he could no longer touch them.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtnsPfM91yM
The stronger they became, the less they needed him. And with that lack of need, his connection faded.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKRG3lQNdfD
One by one, they lost the ability to see him.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHe8vokyyGY
⸻
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHc4RzDLjaR
It was Akashi who severed the last thread.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRApskTxpXA
"You're obsolete," he said to the empty court.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHGZYcFCkc5
He knew Kuroko was still there—hovering, hoping.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY4Or3KzM9P
But Akashi didn't want to share the game anymore. He didn't want a phantom. He wanted control.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7IPCMy2JFh
"You are dismissed."
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNnhNroCvm
And with that, Kuroko faded.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8482CFdHdQ
⸻
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQ92oliROO
He wandered, disembodied, for months.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrsvRomRDgt
No one could see him now. He couldn't touch the ball. The last connections were gone.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLQCGAnZqUK
Until...
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhSgLH3OTNz
⸻
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjtPVc5Ydsw
A new team. Seirin.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuD7g5B0uzM
A boy with fire in his hair and rage in his blood.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibdI31r6RB
Kagami Taiga.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgptbuTwyx3
He was raw. Wild. Incomplete.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxMSazFEq9R
But the potential—oh, the potential blazed like a beacon.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXDufDTj2VC
Kuroko hovered near him, cautious. Hoping.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTb9qtemxBF
And one day, in an empty gym, Kagami shot. Missed.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLq0gavG6Oh
The ball bounced—just slightly—to the side.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLank8IXJfv
Straight into his hands.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ60Rul8CQkI
"...What the hell?" Kagami whispered, staring at the ball.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdxv7eeRDXb
Kuroko blinked. His hand was glowing faintly. The connection...
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvSoA7SZz4Y
"Hi," he said.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF2Y41Xl6Xx
Kagami dropped the ball and screamed.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfdt4Je9sV8
⸻
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdgxquPnC1t
It took weeks to convince him Kuroko wasn't a demon.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq8KaCu6j90
"But you're a ghost!"
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJhedUzU8y9
"Technically, yes."
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1rmz3eI0zj
"And you want to play basketball?"
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc5y4kJCmbx
"Yes."
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpsaAcZHy5Q
"That's INSANE."
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYGQ2ZZPGSu
"...Are you going to dunk or not?"
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ071KMzG4fZ
⸻
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUelq1hVVZ1
Together, they forged a bond. And with that bond, Kuroko began to rematerialize.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjFhqMFqcs2
Not completely—not to the world. But on the court, he mattered again.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJgXPH4BT1m
He could touch the ball. He could direct the flow.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqmUEtjeCP
And slowly, other players began to feel his presence.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCiqkUD8GT7
Opponents began to mutter again about haunted passes. Whispered legends of a Phantom Sixth Man rose from the ashes.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfBASCFUTEn
The Miracles began to hear rumors.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2WAGdnshHu
And one by one, they saw him again.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpswFkRjP7X
Not a ghost anymore.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx2vJLcTqvW
Not quite a boy.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU4CL5nIMxT
Something new.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmQtkmegPDo
Something that didn't belong to them anymore.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJzTFe6f6y0
⸻
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7nJgZmWtC9
In the final match, when Seirin faced Rakuzan, Akashi stepped onto the court.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpM0A2NXsB2
He looked across the gym.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe1d8u3kdvB
And for the first time in years, he saw a pale boy standing behind Kagami. Hair like sky. Eyes like ice.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYtNLkKVRfU
"You," he said, low. "You came back."
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkz54Da4An4
"I never left," Kuroko replied. "You just stopped seeing."
ns216.73.216.82da2
and then Add to home screen.