"No! Y-you can't do that Akashi! Seriously I thought you didn't want me around. I'll be out of your hair in literally 10 days! Why keep me around for a stupid promise that I wasn't even around to make!" I cried. My short talk with Akashi turned out to be a very long 2 and a half hour debate with the grandfather clock now reading 11:30 pm. The tiredness and frustration was starting to catch up with me and with the news I had just received was replaying in my mind like a broken record.

"Oh but I can. It's all in the contract your father signed, you really don't have a choice, unless of course you want your sister to suddenly become... homeless?" Akashi replied in an ever monotonous voice "Keeping you around is merely for the sake of the promise, however you could possibly be of use to me, that is if probability is in my favour."

6 popsicle sticks placed were placed in the jar in front of me, taunting me.

I ran an impatient hand over my face to try and stop my surroundings from blurring together. All the mystic crap Akashi had been spouting was starting to get to my head. He explained to me everything that had happened after I left Teiko and the oath the Miracles had made with each other when they left middle school to go their separate ways. He also told me the reason why I was here.

"At the end of our middle school career we emerged undefeated and victorious. The truth is the Generation of miracles have always been in a league of their own, it truly was a matter of time until everyone would start seeking more. Something more exciting and satisfying than beating someone who is below you in every skill form. On our final day at Teiko we all gathered together as a team one last time and made an oath that we would all meet during highschool for the ultimate battle, to see who the strongest really is so I took it upon myself to rid our basketball league of anyone that could jeopardise the future of our battle.Tetsuya was not there to make this oath with us, however it was always inevitable that he would join us, but you? You are the hidden ace that fate had up its sleeve."

"Ace? What the hell does that mean? Could you stop speaking so cryptically for like five seconds and explain whatever you're trying to say properly, my head hurts! I really wanna sleep!" I groaned

"You're still not the brightest spark are you Shoyo?"

"Oh shut up and just explain already!" By this time Akashi seemed to have become accustomed to me endlessly answering back in a manner that I never would have 3 years ago.

Akashi chuckled, the same smug look plastered on his face. "As I said my goal was to rid our basketball league of anyone that had the slightest chance of ruining our competition. The return of a former miracle, someone who was once classed as one of the most skilled in our squad at one point would be considered a threat to my oath being successfully carried out."

"I swear, I won't do anything to get in the way of that, I promise Akashi. I'm here for volleyball and only that I never want to step into the basketball world again. If that's all you want I'll be out of your way, you have my word." I stood up to get ready to leave, pulling my jacket on quickly. But the moment I took a step towards the door I was forcefully pulled back by the wrist and shoved back into the chair I was on.

"GAH!"

"I don't believe I dismissed you Shoyo," Akashi said warningly as his right eye quickly flashed between yellow and red. I visibly gulped and made myself as comfortable as possible in the chair I was shoved back into.

"As I was saying, having you around could put our competition at risk. If you chose to challenge one of the Miracles what would happen? The more I thought about it the more what if situations unfolded which led me to believe that I had to get rid of you," He sighed, resting his cheek on his closed fist smiling at me patronisingly "That would have been a shame now wouldn't it? Lucky for you another idea came to mind. For you to join the competition. With you joining in with our little game we would truly be able to draw out everyone's full strength. The rest is history really; I made a few calls, wrote up a contract and well here you are. What better way for all miracles, former and current, to meet again."

"S-so that's it? You want me to join your little tournament. I mean I'm in, when is it? Is it at the local courts?" I asked, the feeling of relief flooding into my chest.

Maybe I won't have to leave Karasuno after all. It's just a silly competition between them.

Akashi clapped his hands together, clearly satisfied with my answer.

"I'm so glad you agreed! Our tournament will be taking place at the Winter Cup."

Ohh the Winter Cup... huh wait

"THE WINTER CUP! Wha! Uh! How is that even possible I don't have a team! I haven't played in ages! How does this even work! Ughhh it's too late for this shit. Akashi, you can't do this." I spluttered.

"Ah ah ah that's not what the contract says. We wouldn't want anything to happen to those precious Karasuno Crows now would we?"

"So you're pretty much saying that each of these sticks has one of the schools that each GOM goes to and whatever school I pick out is the school that I am playing for. What sort of twisted game is this?" I deadpan while one hand mindlessly playing with the hem of my shirt while the other had a tight grasp around the jar of popsicle sticks.

"It's not twisted Shoyo, it's probability. The choice for a school is almost entirely in your hands. It's just the luck of the draw and the fairest way for this to work out. One team will inherit you and take you under their wing right through the tournament and during the lead up to help you get back on the right path. When the tournament comes we'll see what difference you make to the team and if I was right to take such precautions."

At that comment I roll my eyes. I werily looked down at the jar in my hands and sighed. I really don't have a choice do I? These popsicles were the team's favourite whenever we went to the convenience store. Way to put me off...

Reluctantly I forced my hand into the jar, pulling out a random stick after swirling my hand around. I handed Akashi the stick for him to read while I pushed myself deeper into the leather chair making myself comfortable.

A disturbing chuckle reverberated from Akashi as he looked at the stick, seemingly pleased yet disappointed at the same time.

"Heh What's so funny? Is something wrong with the stick or something?" I slurred as sleep started winning the invisible battle we were having.

"Oh nothing, it's just I hope you're ready for a blast from the past."