Kuroko's Basketball template: the king of slacking off, Shohoku's strongest sixth man.

An unprecedented sense of absurdity welled up inside me.

This was followed by deep self-doubt.

So who am I?

Why did I come back?

As the team leader...

Did you come back just to watch a show?

Just then.

Lin Bei on the field seemed to sense something.

He was holding the ball with one hand, preparing to throw it to Miyagi.

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught sight of two familiar figures at the entrance of the passage.

His previously cold and intimidating face underwent a complete 180-degree change in an instant.

Those dead fish eyes, which had looked somewhat fierce because of the "Murakuhara Atsushi template" being activated, suddenly shone like light bulbs.

It was like seeing a savior.

"Hey! Gorilla!"

Lin Bei suddenly waved towards the entrance of the passage.

"You're finally back!"

"Hurry up! Hurry up! Substitute someone! Substitute someone!"

Lin Bei pointed to the tiny beads of sweat on his forehead and put on the mask of pain:

"This is exhausting! This job is absolutely inhuman."

"I'm exhausted! Hurry up and take over my shift, I need to rest!"

That shout completely shattered the tense, passionate, and overwhelming atmosphere of the entire venue.

Akagi Takenori's temple throbbed twice.

That feeling of "I'm superfluous" instantly fed the dog.

Instead, there was an urge to rush up and give that kid a good punch.

"That bastard..."

Akagi gritted his teeth, but the corners of his mouth uncontrollably turned up wildly.

He took a deep breath and pushed away Ayako's support.

My ankle is still aching slightly.

But he straightened his back and strode towards the bench.

"Lin Bei..."

Akagi silently repeated the name in his heart.

……

The match was not immediately suspended because of Akagi's return.

Shohoku's counterattack continues.

Although Lin Bei complained about being tired, he didn't slack off at all in his work.

"Miyagi!"

With a flick of the wrist, a quarterback long pass that spanned the entire field.

The basketball, like a cruise missile equipped with navigation, accurately located the fast-moving Miyagi Ryota.

"Well done!"

Miyagi received the ball and charged into the heart of Ryonan in a flash.

Facing Sendoh's retreating defense, Miyagi didn't force his way in, but instead delivered a very stylish behind-the-back pass.

Rukawa Kaede catches the ball, takes off, and slams it through the rim!

"Clang!"

The point difference has widened to 14 points!

In the few minutes that Lin Bei was in charge of the inside and launching counterattacks, Lingnan's defenses had been riddled with holes.

"Beep—!"

The referee whistle blows.

Ryonan requested a suspension.

Taoka Shigeichi could no longer sit still.

If he doesn't call a timeout soon, Uozumi's mentality will truly shatter into pieces, and nothing can be glued back together.

Both teams' players leave the field.

On the Xiangbei side, the atmosphere was so enthusiastic that it seemed like they had already won the championship.

"Hahaha! Did you see that?!"

"That monkey leader was so scared of this genius that his legs went weak!"

Sakuragi Hanamichi walked along laughing wildly, not forgetting to make a face at Ryonan.

Lin Bei moved toward the bench, and as he passed Akagi, he threw the towel he was holding to him.

"then."

Akagi instinctively caught the towel, looking completely bewildered.

"Now that you're back, it's your turn to go."

Lin Bei plopped down in a chair and took a big gulp of water from the bottle.

He then collapsed into a muddy mess, looking utterly disheveled, as if his body had been hollowed out.

"The paint is too crowded, and it's all sweaty. The air on the bench is much sweeter."

Akagi clutched the towel.

Looking at this junior who had clearly done a great service but acted like he wanted to just lie down, I finally couldn't help but roar:

"Damn it! What kind of fighting style was that?!"

"Who told you to play inside?!"

Lin Bei rolled his eyes and replied lazily:

"Isn't winning all that matters?"

"Open up your perspective, Captain."

"Besides..."

Lin Bei pointed to the dejected-looking Ryonan bench across from him, a wicked smile playing on his lips:

"Look at Uozumi's expression."

"Isn't it even more satisfying than if you went up there and beat him yourself?"

Akagi looked in the direction the finger was pointing.

Uozumi Junsei had a towel over his head, clearly experiencing the biggest psychological trauma of his life.

Akagi fell silent.

It really was... awesome.

It even made him feel so good that he wondered if he was a bit of a pervert.

"Alright, everyone gather around!"

Coach Anzai stood up with a smile, his glasses reflecting a wise white light.

"Hehehe..."

"Well played."

Coach Anzai looked at Lin Bei with admiration in his eyes, and even a hint of surprise that he couldn't hide.

The sheer dominance they displayed in the paint during those few minutes was enough to make even the experienced Anzai's heart skip a beat.

That power, that reaction speed, that absolute control of the ball...

Is this really the kind of equipment a high school student should have?

"Akagi-kun, how's your foot?" Coach Anzai turned around.

Akagi immediately stood at attention, his voice booming:

"No problem, Coach! I'm ready to play!"

To prove himself, he stomped his injured foot hard.

The pain made his lips twitch, but he didn't utter a sound; he was a werewolf.

"very good."

Coach Anzai nodded, his tone becoming serious:

"Ryonan won't give up so easily."

"Sendoh-kun hasn't used his full strength yet."

"The real battle is about to begin."

At this point, Coach Anzai paused, his gaze shifting between Lin Bei and Akagi.

"Lin Bei, take a few minutes to rest."

"Akagi-kun, it's your turn."

"We must press on and completely crush Ryonan's fighting spirit!"

"yes!!!"

The roars of the Shohoku players echoed throughout the rest area.

……

The timeout has ended, and the game has resumed.

Takenori Akagi returned to the field.

When that huge figure wrapped in bandages appeared in the center circle, the entire Shohoku fan stadium erupted in thunderous applause.

"Gorilla! Gorilla!"

Akagi took a deep breath, feeling the hardness of the floor beneath his feet.

Although my ankle still hurts, I feel a sense of peace I've never felt before.

Because he knew.

Behind him, on that unassuming substitute bench.

Sitting there was a guy who was even more monstrous than a monster.

As long as that guy is around...

Xiangbei then had the resources to back them up.

Akagi looked up at Uozumi, who had stood up again, his eyes bloodshot but showing signs of regaining some fighting spirit.

"Uozumi".

Akagi's voice was deep and powerful, with a hint of mockery.

"That was a gift from our team's 'sub' to you."

"Now……"

"It's the starters' turn to play with you."

Uozumi looked at Akagi.

He glanced at Lin Bei, who was covering himself with his coat and preparing to catch up on sleep on the sidelines, and his lips twitched violently.

He suddenly realized.

Facing Takenori Akagi, it seems... he's not so scary after all?

At least, Akagi is a normal human being!

That Lin Bei just now was practically Godzilla in human skin!

"Come on, Akagi!"

Uozumi roared, as if trying to dispel the fear in his heart.

"This time, I absolutely will not lose to you!"

However, at that moment...

Lin Bei, standing on the sidelines, suddenly rolled over and muttered something:

"System, please process the task reward for the previous task first."

【Ding! 】

[Mission Complete: The Dignity of the Center]

[Congratulations, host, for completely defeating Jun Uozumi (Achievement: A Double Dimensional Strike, Both Psychological and Physiological)]

[Rewards being distributed...]

[All attribute points +2]

[Upon winning the match, you will receive: 50% unlock progress of the Akashi Seijuro template, and +1 skill point]