Chapter 020 -
After the game concluded, Captain Nijimura looked at Akashi—this guy who was a full year younger than himself—feeling like those perceptive eyes could see through everything. He asked: "Akashi, did you already predict that Kuroko would achieve this kind of result?"
"That would be impossible," Akashi chuckled in response. "This outcome far exceeded my expectations."
Akashi glanced at Murasakibara and smiled: "What do you think about Kuroko's abilities, Murasakibara?"
"Tch, it's just fancy passing! In a one-on-one situation, I could definitely crush him," Murasakibara replied with obvious arrogance, turning his head away. He'd been the most opposed to Kuroko joining the team, but even he felt genuinely surprised witnessing Kuroko's newfound skills.
Akashi chuckled, knowing that Murasakibara possessed tremendous individual strength and had always believed his natural talent made him superior at basketball: "Indeed, in a current one-on-one matchup, even Captain Nijimura might struggle against you. But basketball is fundamentally a team sport, wouldn't you agree, Murasakibara?"
"Tch," Murasakibara responded with clear dissatisfaction.
Aomine looked on with obvious pride: "See that, Atsushi? Tetsuya's strength is incredible! Akashi, with abilities like this, Tetsuya should definitely be able to join the first-string, right?"
"Well, I'll need to discuss this with Coach Shirogane first," Akashi replied with a chuckle, not committing to a definitive answer.
A few days later, Kuroko officially joined the first-string roster. However, regarding his addition to the team, only Aomine showed genuine enthusiasm among the first-string players. The others maintained lukewarm attitudes toward Kuroko, while Murasakibara and Haizaki occupied themselves with a casual one-on-one match.
The score reached 10-3, with Haizaki suffering complete defeat against Murasakibara.
"Seriously, I don't want to play anymore—your shot-blocking is absolutely ridiculous," Haizaki said, clearly demoralized. The last time he'd played against Aomine, he'd only lost by two points, but against Murasakibara, whether he attempted regular shots, layups, or even dunks, everything got blocked. This guy's defensive abilities were simply too exaggerated.
Murasakibara looked at Haizaki's deflated expression and yawned: "That was really boring, Haizaki-chin. You're genuinely weak."
"Damn it! If those techniques of yours weren't so overpowered that I couldn't steal them, there's no way I would have lost!" Haizaki immediately protested upon hearing this dismissal. While he had indeed lost, it was partly because Murasakibara's natural abilities somewhat countered his own stealing technique.
Haizaki's shots were typically two-pointers, and Murasakibara was the strongest defensive player at Teiko Middle School due to his incredible height. Even Captain Nijimura would struggle to score against Murasakibara's defense, so managing three baskets was actually quite respectable.
"Haizaki-chin, you need to grow taller quickly, or you'll never be able to beat me," Murasakibara said jokingly while patting Haizaki's head.
"Don't pat my head, you bastard," Haizaki responded with obvious irritation at being treated like a child.
Suddenly, his expression shifted as a calculating gleam entered his eyes: "By the way, Atsushi, speaking of strong opponents, I know a few interesting guys. Want to come play against them sometime?"
"I don't want to," Murasakibara refused immediately.
"Why did you turn me down so quickly? Don't you want to fight against really skilled players?" Haizaki protested loudly.
Murasakibara looked at Haizaki and pouted: "It's true that I do, but Haizaki-chin's eyes have a shifty quality to them, so I don't want to get sold out by you and then help you count the money!"
Haizaki felt stress lines appear on his forehead and sighed: "Fine, let me be completely honest with you."
"The day before yesterday, I was playing basketball with some of my buddies at the street court when suddenly a few guys from some unknown school showed up to challenge our turf."
"And then what?" Murasakibara listened with growing interest. While he'd never played street basketball himself, both Haizaki and Aomine had been involved in street ball since childhood, so he'd naturally heard stories about it from them.
"There was this really obnoxious guy called Hanamiya among them—his basketball skills were legitimately good, though of course I won in the end," Haizaki said with obvious pride.
Murasakibara nodded slightly: "Since you already won, what else is there to talk about?"
Haizaki looked at Murasakibara's obtuse expression with growing frustration: "Here comes the important part—after that guy lost the game, he told me he'd come back for a rematch in a week."
"Oh, so just go fight him again, right? You won last time anyway," Murasakibara replied with his characteristic slow delivery.
Haizaki immediately exploded with anger—how could Murasakibara not understand the obvious implications? He shouted: "Don't you get it? There's no way he's coming alone this time! He'll definitely bring several basketball-skilled friends with him, and then I'll be outnumbered. If I end up losing..."
"Eh, that's a lot of complications," Murasakibara said, sounding confused.
"Listen! That guy made a bet with me—whoever loses has to kneel down and kowtow in apology. Everyone heard him say this, so if I back down now, how could I call myself a man? That's why I absolutely need your help this time, Atsushi," Haizaki said with desperate conviction.
"Oh, so that's how it is," Murasakibara responded with his typical vacant expression.
Haizaki felt a vein pulse on his forehead: "If we win, I'll treat you to dinner."
Hearing this offer, Murasakibara, who had seemed drowsy moments before, suddenly perked up completely. Looking at Haizaki's serious expression, he began making mental calculations: "Ten bags of potato chips."
"Deal," Haizaki immediately agreed, afraid that hesitation might make Murasakibara change his mind. Hanamiya had a notoriously bad reputation in street basketball circles, so this situation could get ugly fast.
Now that he had Atsushi committed, as long as he could get Aomine to join as well, having two first-string members would make victory practically guaranteed.
anteed.
....
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