Kuroko's Basketball: I'm not the boss?

At this moment, Akashi, who had been silent all along, finally spoke up, his tone still as arrogant as ever: "Don't underestimate the Akashi family, Kagami. If nothing unexpected happens, I might be the person with the highest social status you've ever seen in your life."

Vulcan: ...

Damn, now that I know who this guy is, it all seems much more natural for him to act cool.

At that moment, Kagami felt a deep respect for Akashi.

"By the way, everyone's in their second year of high school now. How does it feel to be a senior? Have you seen any interesting new members in the team?"

As Xiang Yang dealt the cards again, he observed the expressions of those around him, wanting to test the fresh blood of each team before the start of the Summer Tournament.

After all, they had been fighting for a whole year and were already familiar with each other's trump cards, so there was no need for discussion or investigation.

On the contrary, the freshmen are the key element in this year's competition!

None of the people present were fools. Apart from Murasakibara Shi, who was eating in silence, everyone else's eyes sharpened, waiting for someone else to speak so they could be the first to gather information.

Suddenly, the atmosphere at the gathering changed drastically.

Even Kise, who had been laughing all the time, now had a serious expression on his face. For him, defending his title in this year's Summer Tournament and Winter Cup was already an important short-term goal in his life.

"I heard... the quality of new students at Haichang University this year is quite good."

Surprisingly, Akashi was the first to speak. He picked up the cola on the table and looked at Xiangyang with a half-smile. It was just a cheap cola from a fast food restaurant, but somehow he tasted it like red wine.

This guy... has informants in Haichang??

Xiang Yang remained outwardly calm, but his heart skipped a beat.

Who could it be? Yuuki is impossible, Kise is impossible, Takeuchi? Hmm… probably not.

It shouldn't be upperclassmen in their second or third year, could it be a freshman this year?

That guy who keeps staring at me...

Xiang Yang recalled a rookie center, Hiroshi Ohara, whom he had met briefly during a training match.

While it's true that it's strange he keeps staring at me, you can't just assume it's him...

Oh no, I'll have to clean house when I get back.

Xiang Yang frowned almost imperceptibly, already plotting how to expose Akashi's informant.

As expected... let's investigate Takeuchi first!

Chapter 134 Let's all lay our cards on the table!

"Hey, seriously? You're actually trying to figure out who my informant is?"

Surprisingly, seeing Xiangyang deep in thought without speaking, Akashi burst out laughing.

"You're overthinking it. Using this kind of business tactic in high school basketball is a huge waste of talent. I was just joking with you."

Akashi raised his hand and took a sip of his cola, giving Xiangyang a cryptic smile: "Looks like I guessed right. This year's Kaijo High School freshmen have some really good prospects."

Seriously... Akashi, would he really do something like this?? Your persona has been ruined, hasn't it?

Shocked by Xiangyang for a whole year, how could that cold-faced, chuunibyou-ish Akashi Seijuro, with a heart as hard as aluminum alloy, actually joke with him like this??

Not only Xiangyang, but the other members of Miracle also had expressions of disbelief, looking at Akashi with strange eyes, as if they were trying to get to know him again.

"Hmm? What's wrong? Did I say something inappropriate?"

Seeing the strange expressions on everyone's faces, Akashi suppressed his smile, turned around to check his appearance in front of the mirror, and after confirming that there was nothing wrong, he turned back around, waiting for everyone to explain to him.

"No... it's just that I feel like Chi-zai has changed a lot."

Momoi, sitting to the side, broke the silence first, her eyes crinkling into crescent moons with laughter. Akashi looks quite nice like this.

Midorima adjusted his glasses and looked at Akashi hesitantly, saying, "Momoko is right, you really have changed, Akashi."

Have I... changed?

Akashi blinked, turned to look at himself in the mirror, and smiled: "It's okay, this is fine, I'm quite satisfied."

After the minor incident, the atmosphere returned to harmony, but Xiangyang, who had been tricked by Akashi, was unwilling to suffer in silence.

He picked up his Coke, clinked it against Akashi's, and gave a cryptic smile, saying, "You're right, this year's first-year students at Kaijo High School are indeed impressive."

"It's not that I'm trying to brag, I just wanted to talk to you all. If none of your kids come up with any strong additions this year, then Haichang will be sweeping both championships again..."

As he said this, Xiangyang picked up his Coke and drank it all in one gulp, but his gaze swept over everyone present. That's right, he was openly provoking them!

As Xiangyang expected, everyone present except Kise changed their expression. Even Murasakibara, who was eating with his head down, looked up at Xiangyang with half a hamburger in his mouth.

The hot-tempered Aomine and Kagami couldn't hold back any longer. Aomine spoke first: "Huh? You think you're the only ones with new recruits? Let me tell you, Touou's rookie point guard this year might not be any worse than you!"

"Hey! Ah Da! This is something we can't say..."

Momoi, who was standing to the side, knew something was wrong when she saw Aomine speak, but unfortunately she was a step too slow. The fresh blood of Touou this year had already been exposed.

Xiangyang's expression remained unchanged, but he secretly pondered: Not necessarily worse than me? That's obviously nonsense, but judging from Momo's reaction, she's at least not weaker than the previous captain of Touou. Speaking of which... what was that guy's name again? Imaizumi?

Imayoshi:? ?

?

At this moment, after being reminded by Momo, Aomine also realized what was happening. However, since things had come to this, he simply snorted and leaned back on the cushion, without revealing any more information.

Xiangyang was not disappointed. Instead, he turned his gaze to Vulcan, his eyes filled with encouragement.

Not only Xiangyang, but everyone else also turned their attention to Vulcan. Even Qingfeng, who was leaning back in his chair, pricked up his ears, waiting for information to emerge.

Even the thick-skinned Vulcan sensed something was wrong. He looked at Xiang Yang and hesitated for a long time before gritting his teeth and saying, "We don't have any new students joining this year. It's still the five of us, which is enough!"

Of the five starting players in Seirin, only Kuro and Kaga are first-year students; the rest are second-year students. So, in terms of roster completeness, Seirin is the most competitive this year!

After all, while other teams were still getting to know each other, they were already setting off again with the championship-contending roster from last year!

"Yes, it seems we all have a bright future."

Realizing that Vulcan wouldn't reveal any more useful information, Xiang Yang immediately lost interest in him and turned to look at the others. Of course, what he cared about most was the fifth person from Luoshan this year!

With three uncrowned champions joining forces with Akashi, this lineup wouldn't be weak even if you added a dog. Not to mention, given Rakuzan's reputation, they've always had outstanding results during the recruitment season. Although they only reached the semi-finals in the Winter Cup, their school is still top-notch. In terms of college admission rate, Kaijo is half a head lower than Rakuzan.

"Aren't you going to say a few words, Mr. Akashi?"

Xiangyang glanced at Akashi casually, but his words were loaded with meaning.

By now, Xiangyang's meaning is quite clear: since they'll have to come clean eventually anyway, they might as well lay their cards on the table now and have everyone speak frankly.

Akashi naturally understood the implied meaning in Hikaru's words.

He glanced down at his watch and said unhurriedly, "It seems you're in high spirits, but describing it in words is too vague, isn't it?"

After speaking, Akashi stood up, placed his hands on the table, and his sharp gaze swept over everyone present before finally settling on Xiangyang.

"How about we have a match?"

"I second that."

Xiangyang immediately raised his hand in agreement. After chatting for so long, this was exactly what he had been waiting for! An opportunity to get a clear picture of the fresh blood in each team this year!

"Huh? What are you talking about? What competition?"

However, apart from Xiangyang who immediately understood Akashi's meaning, everyone else was completely bewildered, as if the two were communicating in sign language.

"Freshman Showdown".

Xiangyang smiled and said slowly. Akashi, who was standing next to him, picked up where he left off and added, "Each of our six teams has some good new players joining this year, right? After all, whether it's team performance or individual strength, we undoubtedly crush the other teams in the same cohort."

"In this situation, it's natural that many of the top students from junior high school will join us. Curious, aren't you all?"

"How strong are the other teams' freshmen this year? How do they compare to our own?"

Upon hearing this, Aomine and Kagami instantly showed interest. Even Midorima turned his gaze to Akashi.

on.

A showdown between the younger generation? I'd love to see that.

Since everyone wants to watch it so much, let's just get together and watch it to our hearts' content!

"Six teams, two players from each team, let's have a 5v5 match!"

……

"Little Xiangyang, is this really okay?"

On the street, Kise and Hikaru walked together after the Miracle Party, a familiar scene just like last year.

Hearing Kise's question, Xiangyang turned and asked, "What's wrong?"

"Well, it's not that I'm against the idea, it's just that I'm a little nervous when I think about Yuuki playing against other teams next week."

Kise scratched his head and voiced his concerns to Xiangyang.

Xiangyang glanced at Kise in surprise and couldn't help but say, "You're still worried about Yuki? You should be worried about them, right? Don't tell me you really think there's anyone in the first year who can be compared to Yuki."

With Yuuki's current strength, she could even be compared to Kise Ryota in his first year of high school! Of course, this refers to Kise before he mastered "Zone" and "Perfect Imitation." But even so, she's not one of those freshmen who can be easily compared to.

"Oh dear, I know Yuuki's skills are definitely not a problem! But I'm just a little worried, I don't know why."

Kise was a little depressed. He felt that his mentality was similar to that of parents who send their four- or five-year-old children to kindergarten. They knew that there would be no problems, but they still couldn't help but worry.

"By the way, Xiao Xiangyang, Chizai said each team needs to send two people, right? Besides Yuki, who should we choose for the other one?"

Kise rested his head on his hands and asked Xiangyang curiously. To be honest, among the freshmen this year, apart from Yuki, he didn't have much of an impression of the others. It wasn't that they were not good enough, but that Yuki's brilliance was just too dazzling!

Xiang Yang pondered for two seconds; he had been thinking about this question all along.

"That guy named Hiroshi Ohara is not bad, let's choose him."

As the team captain, unlike Kise who focused on Yuuki, he paid special attention to the other freshmen during the training matches.

"Him? He seems like a good choice too."

Kise pretended to suddenly realize something, but he didn't actually remember this freshman. He was just putting on this act to appear as a "reliable senior."

Xiang Yang glanced at him with amusement, but didn't expose him. Instead, he explained for Kise, "That newcomer has good physical attributes and a very aggressive defensive attitude. With Hayakawa-senpai gone, our power forward position is vacant. If we can develop him, the later games will be much easier."

The above are all the "fifth man" of Kaijo that Xiangyang selected after careful consideration and screening! Of course, Yuki's starting position is secure. Although Xiangyang will not give him the point guard position, it is still no problem to give Yuki the shooting guard position! After all, that kid is over 1.9 meters tall, has a very comprehensive offensive arsenal, and his basketball IQ and passing are outstanding. He is a perfect candidate who can play positions one through three!

"Oh! As expected of Xiao Xiangyang!"

Upon hearing Xiangyang's words, Kise's eyes lit up, feeling that Kaijo could still achieve a grand slam of championships this year!