Chapter 019
After watching Kuroko attempt several shots, Akashi smiled with a mixture of sympathy and amazement: "To be completely honest, this is the first time I've encountered someone who works this hard yet shows absolutely no improvement."
Kuroko looked genuinely shocked at this blunt assessment, while Aomine bristled with displeasure: "Even if that's true, you don't have to deliberately crush Tetsuya's spirit like that, Akashi!"
"I apologize—I didn't mean to discourage him," Akashi said, waving his hand dismissively as he studied Kuroko's dejected expression. "You're quite unique. Your motor skills aren't particularly poor, your understanding of basketball shows genuine experience, and your training volume is more than sufficient. Yet I still can't sense any real basketball presence from you."
"Someone who's spent considerable time in a sport unconsciously develops a distinctive aura that experienced players recognize. But your sense of presence is so incredibly thin that all your efforts seem to yield no results whatsoever."
"Akashi, you're really not helping Tetsuya here..." Aomine's voice carried growing anxiety.
Akashi shook his head: "No, having such a weak presence is certainly a disadvantage in one sense, but it could also become a tremendous strength if utilized properly. He might become a powerful weapon for the team—the complete opposite of players like us."
Murasakibara asked with obvious confusion: "Akashi-chin, if Kuroko-chin's weak presence is why he gains nothing from playing basketball for so long, how could anyone possibly use something like that?"
Akashi chuckled knowingly: "I'm not entirely certain about the specifics. Kuroko-san, this is all I can tell you for now. If you manage to find the answer, come see me then."
"Alright, let's head back."
Murasakibara's tone grew softer: "Oh, Mine-chin, let's go home together!"
"You guys go ahead—I'll walk back with Tetsuya later," Aomine declined Murasakibara's invitation.
After leaving the gymnasium, Murasakibara immediately pressed for details: "Hey, Akashi-chin, what exactly did you mean back there? How can someone use their sense of presence? That should be something you're born with, right?"
Midorima also looked puzzled, waiting for Akashi's explanation. Akashi chuckled: "Who knows for certain? After all, I don't really understand this phenomenon myself. But tell me, Murasakibara—do you know anything about magicians?"
"Magicians?"
"Exactly. I loved watching magic shows as a child, and seeing him reminded me of that experience." Akashi smiled gently: "When I first observed him, that's the feeling I got."
"Maybe Aomine is right—he could become the sixth man capable of changing the entire team dynamic."
Murasakibara felt this was getting too complicated, and while he'd seen magic performances before, he didn't understand the mechanics at all: "Whatever, I don't really get what you're saying, but basically he might become a strong player, right?"
Akashi's expression shifted slightly as he responded: "I can't guarantee that outcome. I'm simply seeing a small possibility within him. If he can effectively utilize his weak presence, maybe there's a chance. But this is only our first meeting, he's still third-string, and his natural basketball talent isn't particularly strong. I'm just offering him a bit of hope."
"However, I don't have high expectations for him. I value solid, proven strength over such intangible possibilities."
Hearing this, Midorima's expression changed as internal shock registered: 'What's happening here? Akashi is displaying that personality shift again. This has happened several times before—what's going on?'
Despite his naturally oblivious nature, even Murasakibara sensed something off about Akashi's demeanor and felt concerned: "Akashi-chin, are you feeling alright?"
Akashi looked at Murasakibara and asked gently: "What's wrong?"
"Nothing really, just that you seemed a little different from usual just now. Kind of strange," Murasakibara said with evident confusion.
Akashi smiled warmly: "Hehe, you're overthinking things, Murasakibara."
"By the way, this is for you." Akashi pulled a box from his backpack: "Seven-Color Delicious Sticks—this is the brand you've always wanted to buy, right?"
"Oh, thanks, Akashi-chin! I didn't expect you to actually get them for me!" Murasakibara accepted the snack box with obvious excitement: "The supermarket in my neighborhood doesn't carry these at all."
Akashi responded with his gentle smile: "It's nothing special—I just happened to see them, so I picked up a box for you."
Several months later, Kuroko approached the first-string training area. Akashi looked at him with a welcoming smile: "Kuroko-san, you came here—have you found the answer you were looking for?"
"Yes, Akashi-san," Kuroko replied politely.
Aomine perked up with excitement: "Tetsuya, is that really true? Akashi, let's see how much Tetsuya has changed compared to before!"
"Certainly, no problem."
"Akashi-san," Kuroko called out as Akashi was about to turn away. "If possible, I'd like to demonstrate this through an actual game."
In the practice match between second-string and third-string teams, Kuroko employed the misdirection techniques he'd developed, making passes and steals with surprising ease. The second-string players found themselves completely overwhelmed by the third-string members.
Murasakibara looked genuinely surprised: "What kind of technique is that? Kuroko-chin is so unexpected—he just changes the ball's direction during passes. That's really impressive."
"That's misdirection—one of the most fundamental techniques used by magicians," Akashi explained calmly, though he was internally amazed. Originally, he hadn't held much hope for Kuroko's development, never expecting him to actually succeed.
"Magic?" Captain Nijimura looked slightly stunned.
Akashi elaborated: "By reading the opponent's sight lines and movements, he fixes their attention on the ball or other players, allowing him to seemingly vanish before their eyes like an illusion."
Aomine listened with growing excitement: "So that's how it works! Tetsuya really is incredible!"