It was a warm fall day in Naha on the island of Okinawa, it was still only about 5:00 AM but the temp was already 10 degrees Celsius outside when a lone figure left the Kurosaki residence for a morning jog. Move through the back alleys and side streets the figure made its way through the city that was the capital of the Japanese prefecture. Eventually coming to a stop at the basketball court of an elementary school, taking a deep sigh the figure pulled the hood down from his head, this was here his love of Basketball started. The figure was Keitaro Kurosaki; the second son to one of the local bathhouse owners and Judo masters, he was also the little brother of J-Rocker Shosame. Taro walked into the court at the school he and his siblings all attended, he looked up at the net less hoop that stood before him remembering being so small and the rim seeming so far away from where he was. His musing is soon broken by a whistle as an old shiba-inu tosses him a ball. The old dog was the principal of the school and remembered Taro “Take your time, the children won’t be arriving for a couple of hours.” the dog says to his former charge before walking back to the school building to prepare for the day. The Shark looked up and started to take a few practice shots, the ball bouncing off the rim more than he normally would have. “That distracted with what happened huh?” states a rather clear voice. It was Daisuke, Taro’s older brother “Maybe little bit Nii-san.” he replies as he takes a few more shots, each one bouncing off the rim. “Yeah, I think more than a little bit, little brother.” stated the older shark as he retrieved the ball and took a shot himself managing to get it in. Keitaro sighed some at this “Talk to me little brother, I want to know what has you so depressed?” asked Daisuke. Picking up the ball and passing it to his brother “It’s the Draft isn’t it.” said the elder brother nailing it on the head “Yeah, I was hoping to get drafted not sit out and not play for a year.” Taro replies. Daisuke shook his head softly “Taro it’s not the end of the world,” he says to his little brother as he takes another shot. “Honestly I think Oba-san is right about you.” he states to Keitaro. “What do you mean by that?” asked the younger male. “Just that Ba-chan has always said you were born under a lucky star, I mean you made the national teams without much effort, you have a championship ring, and you were always more team centered than self centered.” explains Daisuke. All of this information wasn’t lost on Keitaro as he listened “So you are basically saying to relax and something will come of it?” he asks is brother passing the ball back once more “Yup that is it exactly, believe me little brother I wish I had half your luck.” says Dai. “But you were in the Olympics Nii-san.” Retorted Taro as his brother switched places and let him shoot again. “True I was, but I only competed I didn’t win a metal and I had to work hard for that, yes I wasn’t happy about being eliminated when I was but do you remember mom and dad’s faces when I walked off after bowing.” Asked the elder brother. Taro shook his head some as he couldn’t make the trip. “They were proud that I even made it, and they are just as proud of you for trying to be your best.” He answers before Taro took his shot and seemed to get his stride back. “So kyodai, one more time for old time sake?” asked the elder of his younger. “To thirty this time, gives you a better chance.” Taro joked and Daisuke chuckled. With that the two brothers played a pickup game between then both, the students soon coming in, many of the older ones recognizing Keitaro and cheering him on as he soundly beat his elder brother. Once they had finished Taro signed a few autographs for the kids and told them to respect their teachers and the principal before leaving with his brother.

The two siblings walked slowly back home deciding to enter a few of their old haunts they used to terrorize as children. One such place was a sweets shop owned by an old female red panda, the woman was still there and she remembered them both even though they had stopped coming once they were in high school. The lady soon gave them both one of their favorite candies for free and told Keitaro she always prayed for his success as she saw him as a neighbor. Thanking her, the two headed back out to the old park their parents took them too on warm days like this. “I do have one bit of news that I haven’t told mom or dad about.” chimed Daisuke. Taro looking to his brother “You not telling mom something, you sure you are ok.” Teased the younger brother, Dai soon gave his little brother a swift jab in the arm as both chuckled. “Yeah, remember when I went to an audition for television?” Daisuke asked. “I remember what about it?” replied Keitaro his curiosity perked by his brother’s question. “Well I got a call back and well they want me for a series that is coming up.” Replied the elder brother. “What series?” Taro asked, now really curious as to what his brother was talking about. “The next Super sentai.” Dai answered, this drew a laugh from Keitaro. “You in spandex now there is a sight to scare mom.” He joked and received a second jab for his troubles. “No, you goofball, they want me to be the mentor of the team as weird as it sounds.” He tells Taro. “Not as weird as I would have thought an hour ago.” Kei replies with a smile and both soon got up and continued back to their parent’s home. The two eventually made it but not before seeing a head of black and purple hair enter the house ahead of them “Ok last I checked it was October, right.” Taro joked as usually the whole family was rarely all home at the same time unless it was Christmas. “Ok, wise guy come on I think we all need a little family time.” Answered Daisuke as the two walked in. The family talked and shared a breakfast together, but that was interrupted by the phone ringing, Erica picked it up and then turned to the family “Taro it’s for you.” She tells him. Keitaro soon felt things weren’t as bad anymore and got up to answer the call.