In Shadows
Epilogue
On and Off the Court

It was funny to think that the Interhigh was already approaching again.

Well, for Gina, it would be her first Interhigh. Everyone else would be going through it again.

These past few months at Seirin had been among the best of her life. She loved walking into the gym everyday to be greeted instantly by Riko, watch Kagami continue to evolve leaps and bounds and hang out with him later, both of them teasing each other mercilessly. She (begrudgingly) loved to listen to Izuki tell another stupid pun she couldn't help but smile at and hear Hyuga yell at him to shut up straight afterwards. She loved laughing with Koganei and listening to him translate everything Mitobe wanted to say, settle in for a steady talk with Tsuchida, loved watching Furihata, Kawahara and Fukata continue to grow. She loved getting to know the new first years they'd scouted and watch as their potential was added to the team. Kiyoshi was in America receiving his treatment, but Gina and the others kept in contact often - they'd gotten accounts on social media so they could talk often, and Kiyoshi's rehab looked like it was going well, and he might even be able to return to them for the Winter Cup if things progressed the way they were. Gina had come to love hearing how Kiyoshi was doing, and keeping in contact would bring a smile to her face.

But most of all, she loved the way Kuroko would materialise beside her in practice with his soft smile, how she'd hold his hand or hug him or kiss him at random times during their practice. Everyone was used to it by now, and they'd receive teasing comments all the time, but Gina wouldn't have it any other way.

She'd truly come to fall in love with this team.

Her skills as a manager were growing; she hadn't had much time during the half month before the Winter Cup, but now they had ample time on their hands Riko was talking to her about statistics and analysing, and she was getting new skills under her belt. She sometimes missed practice sessions to go and scout future opponents, and that would cut down her time with the team, but she almost always got to make up for it with Kuroko later when they spent long nights just curled into each other, talking softly and watching movies and just basking in the other's company.

She might not be playing in an active sport anymore like she had in Australia, but she'd come to fall in life with her teammates, and come to love basketball as well. Coming in to the gym each day brought a smile to her face - even if she'd been having a terrible day beforehand, her team was always there to cheer her up, and Kuroko and Kagami would take her out to Maji Burger afterward.

Even Saki was coming closer to them; by some miracle, the four of them round up in the same class again for their second year of high school. They'd all chosen desks next to each other, and Saki was coming closer to Kuroko and Kagami. Their time was limited by Saki's long-hour cello practices, but whenever she performed she ensured to give the three of them tickets.

And it wasn't just Seirin Gina was growing closer to; thanks to Kuroko, Momoi, and Akane (with whom she was spending a lot more time with now - whenever Momoi organised a girls night, Akane was always there too, and Gina found herself growing closer to the other girl), she found herself meeting more and more with the other members of the Generaion of Miracles. They'd occasionally meet up, all of them from Teiko, and just hang out. It was hard, with Akashi in Kyoto and Murasakibara in Akita.

Gina found herself slipping easily into the mix. She'd discuss books with Akashi, who almost was almost accompanied by Akane (Everyone had celebrated like they'd all won a basketball tournament when those two finally sorted themselves out and got together - Gina wondered if that's how everyone else had felt when she and Kuroko finally became an item), laugh at Aomine and Momoi's constant bickering, talk fashion with Kise, indulge Midorima's constant horoscope talk, share some of Murasakibara's sweets - but that was on the rare occasion. Occasionally friends from other schools would join - Kagami would sometimes join them, as would Himuro and Takao.

Playing any sort of game with them was hazardous, though. Everyone grew highly competitive over the smallest of things, whether someone would stupidly suggest a game of Mario Kart (They often wouldn't talk to each other for days afterward, especially when Kise insisted on choosing Rainbow Road every single time), and even Monopoly could start some heated debates. Days when they decided to play quick mini games of basketball were the most chaotic of all, especially when it came down to choosing teams. Gina had given up on any of their gatherings ever being normal, but she didn't care. Their meetings might be chaotic, but they were fun.

But what she loved most was how she and Kuroko would just hang out, talking about sweet nothing and watch movies and playing games together, or going out to eat at cafes and just spending time together. Sometimes they'd go out the basketball courts and Kuroko would teach her basketball, and Gina would teach him netball, and they'd just spend hours outside passing the ball to each other and shooting and talking and ignoring anything that wasn't the other. 

They had crashed after one such practice now. The morning air was warm, but relieved by the occasional cool breeze that Gina loved. They sat leaning against the mesh of the fence encircling the basketball courts, Gina's head resting on Kuroko's shoulder and his arm around her waist, pulling her into his warmth. They'd been talking softly about the past day, and how Riko had nearly murdered everyone in practice. Her hand had stretched out and found his, and he occasionally rubbed circles over the top of her palm. It sent small, delighted shivers down Gina's spine whenever he did.

They were now talking about basketball, and Gina frowned, recalling something she'd been seeing on the news. "Say, do you think those American guys will come to Japan?" she asked, squeezing his hand. "They've made showings in quite a few countries."

"The streetball team?" Gina nodded. Kuroko thought about it. "Maybe. It's a possibility, at least."

"That would be cool," she mused. She shifted so she could curl more into Kuroko's side. "If only netball teams would come over here."

"You still miss it?"

"Occasionally. It was a big part of my life. But I love basketball now, too." 

Kuroko pushed a stray strand of hair from her eyes. "Would you go back?"

"To Australia?" Gina paused, thinking it over. "Maybe for a short while," she said. "But I couldn't leave Japan, at least not for long periods of time. I'd miss you, and Satsuki, and Kagami, and Saki..." She sighed, trying to imagine living in Australia when she wasn't surrounded by the colours of the rainbow each day, where she couldn't attend basketball matches and not see any of her friends participating in the games. "I'd pretty much miss everyone. I've pretty much fallen out of contact with everyone back there, anyway."

"I see," he hummed. Gina looked back enough to see the expression briefly pass his face

Gina pressed a kiss to his cheek. "Don't feel bad about it. I love it here in Japan. And I love you, Kuroko."

He smiled. "I love you too."

They were so close, Gina could feel his breath on her face. She closed her eyes and leaned closer to him. "Hey, Kuroko," she whispered. "Would you mind... if I called you by your first name?"

It had been weighing on her for some time now. They were so close, and she was feeling out of place just calling him by his last name, especially when he called her by her first name. It was something she wanted to change.

There was a light dusting of colour on his cheeks, and he took her hand. "I'd love that."

"Tetsuya. No, Tetsu." She smiled as the shortened version of his name rolled so easily off her lips. "That's better," she breathed. Their faces were so close, and Gina couldn't help but close the distance between them, pressing her lips to his.

When they parted Gina was gasping, her cheeks flushed. She didn't know how it was possible to fall even more in love with Kuroko but she was, every day. Every day she noticed something else about him that just made her fall even more in love. 

"We need to get going to make it to practice," Kuroko said eventually, though he sounded reluctant.

Gina pouted. She loved Seirin, but she also loved spending time alone with Kuroko, which was something that didn't happen too often. She held her friend's hand tightly as though that would stop him from getting up. "Riko won't kill us over five extra minutes."

"I doubt it," he said, a frown on his lips.

"Come on, Kuroko. You're the phantom sixth man, and I'm her trusted manager. It'll make more then a few minutes for Riko to get rid of us."

They stared at each other, and then Kuroko smiled. "Okay. Five minutes would be nice." He rested his head atop of Gina's, gently pressing a kiss to the top of her head.

And they just sat there for those next five minutes, closing their eyes and feeling the warmth of the other.

Gina didn't want the moment to end. She wanted to stay there with Kuroko, peaceful and content forever. But there was so much more waiting for them, both on the court and off it. 

She couldn't see the future but, if things could continue like this, then she knew that they'd all be okay.

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*cough* totally not setting up for a sequel taking place during extra game *cough*

so this is the end of in shadows! i've had a blast writing this guys, and kurokina has been such a fun ship to write! honestly these two are going to make my teeth rot they're so sweet...

it may be the end of the story, but it's definitely not the end of kurokina! watch out for more of them in akane's story, and there's definitely going to be a series of one-shots following these two! 

thank you for sticking with me until the end, guys. this wouldn't have been possible without you all, and i mean it. you guys are amazing and i love you all for sticking with me <3

until then, watch out for more kurokina, or get dragged into seikane like me and ThatNoobMcCormick in looking for a miracle if you're curious about akane!

thanks again, guys, it's been a blast :D