Chapter Twenty-Four: Beating You Will Be Easy
The street basketball court on Ryonan High School's east side, enclosed by chain-link fencing, always filled with nearby students and the sound of bouncing basketballs on rest days.
Today differed slightly from usual. On the sideline bench, an unfamiliar figure had appeared at some point.
Aomine Daiki leaned back casually. After watching the court action for a while, he yawned hugely with complete disinterest. After another stretch, he simply adjusted his position and dozed off courtside.
"Hey, can you play basketball?" A low voice woke him.
Aomine cracked his eyes open impatiently, tone full of irritation. "Hah?"
Fukuda Kicchou pointed at the court. "We're one short. Join us—three-on-three needs someone to fill in."
"Not interested."
As Aomine finished speaking and was about to close his eyes again, hand barely raised halfway, Fukuda reached out to stop him.
"Kid, what year are you?"
"First-year. Why?" Aomine responded lazily.
"I'm a second-year," Fukuda raised an eyebrow, deliberately emphasizing "second-year." "You should listen to your upperclassman. Come join the team."
"Boring." Aomine scoffed. "I'm not interested in your kindergarten-level scrimmages."
"Kindergarten?" Fukuda's tone turned unfriendly.
"Satsuki's prediction was actually wrong," Aomine muttered to himself, completely ignoring the weirdo in front of him. "Where'd all the Ryonan guys disappear to?"
"Ryonan?" Fukuda's eyes flickered slightly.
"Oh? You know them?" Aomine finally showed a hint of interest, sitting up straighter with hands braced on the bench. "Can you find Sendoh Akira and Yagami Sorato?"
"I'm a Ryonan player." Fukuda said. Though he didn't know who Yagami Sorato was, probably just some first-year punk.
"If you want to find Sendoh, why not try me first."
"I already said I'm not interested." Aomine helplessly cleaned his ear with his pinky. "But if you really want to embarrass yourself..."
Aomine stood up, rotating his shoulders.
"Fine then. I'll use you to warm up. Got a feeling the people I'm waiting for will show up soon anyway."
"I'll teach you how to respect your upperclassmen." Fukuda said seriously.
"Yagami, this is the last basketball court near school," Aida wiped his sweat, tone somewhat discouraged. "Maybe... Fukuda-senpai didn't come out to practice today."
"No," Yagami's gaze locked onto center court. "I think we've found him."
When Yagami and Aida reached the basketball court, the scene before them showed Fukuda getting completely broken down—a dark-skinned opponent with effortless movement had used just a simple between-the-legs stop into a massive crossover to completely destroy Fukuda's balance, sending him sprawling awkwardly to the ground.
"Offense is mediocre, but your defense is worse than an elementary schooler's."
Aomine casually tossed the ball toward the rim. The basketball bounced twice on the iron before dropping through the net.
"Are you really a Ryonan player? Pathetic. This kind of team beat Kise?"
Aida immediately recognized Fukuda sitting on the ground—exactly as Sendoh-senpai described, very distinctive features.
But who was that guy across from him?!
"Yo, hello there, Aomine-kun." Yagami only paused briefly before greeting Aomine quite naturally.
"...Huh? Who are you?" Aomine frowned. Wasn't he supposed to be finding people today? Why did people keep approaching him?
"I'm just a nobody, not nearly as eye-catching as Aomine Daiki from the Generation of Miracles." Yagami wore a brilliant smile, speaking cheerfully.
"Generation of Miracles? Aomine Daiki?"
Aida studied the dark-skinned guy carefully. He really did resemble that person from Weekly Basketball!
Wait, they were definitely the same person!
"Your tone really pisses me off." Aomine slowly walked to the basket, picking up the ball. "You want to entertain me too?"
"I'd like to say the same." Yagami glanced at the still somewhat dazed Fukuda. "Only I feel like I'm not your match right now. What a shame."
"Heh, putting on airs with empty words—you're even more boring than this guy on the ground." Aomine prepared to leave with zero interest.
"However, in three-on-three, I feel beating you wouldn't be particularly difficult." Yagami said calmly. "Yagami Sorato. Make sure you remember my name after you lose."
"Ha, ha, ha ha ha ha..." Aomine laughed as if hearing the world's biggest joke, growing louder. "So you're Yagami Sorato."
That bored expression finally faded from his face, replaced by a spark of piqued interest. His lazy demeanor instantly gave way to a vaguely sharp edge.
"You think relying on numbers can defeat me?" Aomine said disdainfully. "But your arrogance that knows no bounds does bring me pleasure."
"So tell me, which three people do you want?"
"You, Sendoh, and who else?"
"That center named whatever-zumi? I can wait here for you all, but hurry up. Don't let my interest fade."
"What are you talking about? There are plenty of people right here, aren't there?" Yagami said, then pointed at the two beside him. "I choose them. You quickly pick two as well and let's start."
"Them? Don't make me laugh!"
Aomine looked at the two Yagami indicated—one was his defeated opponent, the other a sidekick probably only five-foot-six.
"Me? You mean me?" Aida pointed at himself. "I can't do anything!"
"Tch, if you're joking, don't bother." Aomine looked completely unmotivated. "This guy doesn't even qualify as a player."
"Even if I beat you three-on-one, I don't see anything to celebrate."
"Are you looking down on him because of his height and build?" Yagami asked seriously. "Kuroko is only this tall too."
"You bastard." Aomine's tone clearly carried anger.
"I don't know how you learned about Tetsu's existence, but how can this kind of guy compare to him!"
"Kuroko? Tetsu?" Aida, the topic's center, couldn't understand what these two were saying. He could only tremble between them.
"Try it and we'll know." Yagami said with an indifferent attitude. "I never said Hikoichi was better than Kuroko. I only said—"
"Three-on-three, beating you will be easy."
patreon.com/Twilightsky588 - 40 advanced chapters