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

Yuki kept her head down, not daring to meet Xiangyang's gaze, but she was secretly preparing herself.

It's okay, no matter how harshly they scold me, I won't cry!

"Ryota said you have something to ask me, go ahead and ask."

Um? ?

Upon hearing Xiang Yang's words, Yuki, who was just about to be reprimanded, widened her eyes and suddenly looked up, meeting Xiang Yang's ambiguous smile.

Yuki was speechless for a moment, her brain instantly crashing, and the mental simulation she had before entering the room shattered into pieces at that moment.

"What's wrong, Yuuki? What do you want to ask me? As long as it's not something strange, it's fine."

Xiangyang's urging voice came again, interrupting Yuki's daze. He looked at Xiangyang, who was smiling, and stammered, "Xiangyang-senpai...aren't you angry with me?"

what?

Xiang Yang was slightly taken aback, and replied, "I'm angry! You left early without even saying goodbye. As the team leader, of course I'm angry!"

"Then why..."

Yuki spoke again, but this time, he was interrupted by Xiangyang's wave before he could finish his sentence.

Looking at Yuuki's current expression, Xiangyang said matter-of-factly, "You've already apologized, so I'm not angry anymore. I only called you over to confirm what you wanted to ask me. I'm just a curious person."

Once the heart is stirred, there's no stopping it!

Yuki was dumbfounded. He looked at Xiangyang's expression, which seemed to indicate that he wasn't lying and that he really wasn't angry!

"call…"

Yuuki let out a sigh of relief. He had thought he was going to get a severe scolding today, but although the crisis of being scolded was averted, however…

"Thank you, Senior Xiangyang, but I'm fine... Thank you so much!"

She bowed deeply at a 90-degree angle again, but where Xiangyang couldn't see, a look of disappointment appeared on Yuki's face.

I still couldn't bring myself to ask...

Seeking help from someone you're trying to catch up with, only to ultimately steal their position—that's utterly despicable. Anyway, Xiangyang is a really good guy. The starting point guard position… I can be one after he graduates!

Just as Yuki had composed herself and made up her mind to look up, she froze.

The gentle smile that had been on Xiangyang's face was gone, replaced by a cold expression.

Yuki froze, staring in horror at Xiangyang's expression, his hands hanging limply at his sides trembling uncontrollably.

This is the first time I've seen Senior Xiangyang with this expression. Did I say something wrong?

Just as Yuki was feeling anxious and unsure of what to say, Xiangyang spoke up.

"Hey kid, aren't you getting a little too cocky?"

Xiang Yang's tone was indifferent, but his eyes were filled with a cold light.

Yuki's body went limp, and she was about to bow again to apologize when Xiangyang grabbed her shoulder.

"Let me guess what you're thinking?"

Xiang Yang licked his lips and sneered, "If I ask this senior for advice and improve my skills by leaps and bounds to take his position, wouldn't it make me seem despicable? In that case, even if the starting point guard position is handed to me, I wouldn't feel comfortable taking it, would I?"

"Is that so, Mr. Yuki?"

This unfamiliar address made Yuki's heart tremble again. He looked at Xiangyang, who seemed to have become a different person, and bit his lip tightly without making a sound.

Xiangyang noticed the change in Yuki's expression.

Looks like we need to add more fuel to the fire...

"To be honest with you, your passing is too soft. A point guard can't just play well by blindly following his teammates."

Xiangyang picked at his ear, looked at Yuki with disdain, and continued, "Someone like you, no matter how hard you train, will never be able to surpass me."

"As for what you're worried about, it simply won't happen. Even if I impart all my point guard experience to you, I will remain the primary point guard here until I leave Haichang!"

"So, you self-important little genius, how about making a bet with your senior?"

……

……

"Hey, hey, I'm telling you, are you really sure it's okay for you to do this, Xiao Xiangyang?"

Inside the Kaijo campus, apart from security personnel and some troublemakers who had been kept after school by their teachers, only Kise and Hikaru remained.

Kise, carrying his bag in one hand, looked at Xiangyang beside him with a melancholy expression.

The scene inside the stadium just now flashed through my mind.

Xiangyang: Before I graduate, you can ask me any questions. If you eventually surpass me in ability, then you don't need to worry about me.

I will step down and make way for someone more capable. And I will apologize for everything I just said. Don't worry about me going back on my word; you, Ryota-senpai, will be my witness. Conversely, if your abilities don't surpass mine, then you can happily serve as my deputy.

"Betting on a starting position is just ridiculous! And when Yuuki left, there seemed to be tears in her eyes. You made my cute junior cry!!"

Hearing Kise's words, Xiangyang was speechless. He raised his hand and gave him a chop to the neck, saying irritably, "What can I do? With the summer season approaching, our starting shooting guard has such a big problem, and that kid Yuki keeps eyeing my position. As the captain, of course I have to step up and solve it!"

"Hmm? Xiao Xiangyang, you already knew what Xiao Youji was thinking?"

Kise asked curiously. To be honest, when he was eavesdropping in the corner of the stadium, he was quite startled by what Xiangyang said.

Xiangyang rubbed his nose and said, "Of course I could tell. During training, that kid gets really into it when he hits me, and when we're teammates, his eyes are practically glued to me! Honestly, having a junior who's always watching you is such a pain!"

Although he said it was troublesome, a smile unconsciously appeared on Xiangyang's face.

Is he a bastard junior who's eager to overthrow his position?

This is really exciting!

Looking at the smile on Xiangyang's face, Kise felt a sense of relief. Sure enough, as long as Xiangyang was there, there would be no problem!

"I'm hungry, Xiao Xiangyang, shall we go get some ramen?"

"Hmm? Not today."

The expected answer didn't come. Kise tilted his head and looked at Hikaru: "Why?"

Ok…

Xiang Yang hesitated for two seconds, then pointed to a black supercar parked at the school gate.

"I'm sorry, I told her today that I don't eat out."

Kise: ...

Goodbye!

Xiangyang turned and waved at Kise, a mocking smile on his face. Ignoring the latter's angry expression, Xiangyang hummed a little tune and got into the car.

Why are you so late today?

A clear, cool voice rang out, and Xiangyang knew without even looking that it was Yazi.

Putting aside her uniquely icy voice, the fact that such a high-profile sports car was parked in front of the high school gate undoubtedly belongs to Masako Araki!

"There was some trouble at home, the younger generation was having a disagreement, and it took some time to mediate."

While adjusting the passenger seat, Xiang Yang complained, "Being the captain of Kaijo is really tiring. Coach Takeuchi is just using me as a laborer. Taking care of the players' mentality doesn't seem like something I should be doing!"

While driving, Yako glanced at Xiangyang and chuckled softly: "You'll get used to it. A coach's job includes, but is not limited to, psychological counseling."

"The problem is, I'm not a coach. I'm just a high school student who goes to the basketball team to let loose and have fun. I don't even know what I'm busy with all day."

Having finally adjusted her seat to a comfortable angle, Xiangyang stretched and slumped back on the cushion, lazily asking, "Hey? Did your personal guard come again today? Can he sit in your seat next time?"

"When we're on the bus, don't let him adjust my seat. It's tiring to keep changing seats all the time."

Masako nodded slightly, seemingly agreeing to Xiangyang's request, and said, "Then next time, I won't let him sit in the passenger seat."

"Really? Then it's a deal!"

Xiang Yang responded with a grin. He lay half-reclined on the seat, his head resting against the window, looking at the scenery outside the car window. A wave of fatigue enveloped his eyes.

I don't know why, but I always feel sleepy when I ride in Masako's car...

"I'm going to sleep for a while, Ms. Masako. Remember to wake me up when we arrive."

Xiangyang yawned, rolled over, and fell asleep. Where he couldn't see, Yazi parted her lips slightly and uttered two words softly.

"Good night."

……

……

"arrive."

After parking and turning off the engine, Yako patted Xiangyang's head with practiced ease before getting out of the car first.

The moment she opened the car door, Xiangyang rolled over and let out a groan that was hard to understand.

Masako was already used to this. She glanced at the motionless car door on the other side, shrugged, walked over, opened the door, and pulled Xiangyang out.

Noticing that his body had been moved, Xiangyang reluctantly opened his eyes. After looking around, he immediately understood the situation: he had been forcibly "disembarked" by Yako again.

"Okay, okay, I can walk by myself. I really don't know how you, with your small frame, can carry me."

While still half-asleep and complaining, Xiangyang managed to regain his sense of walking by bracing himself on the ground with his feet. He followed Yazi unsteadily into the Shark Gym.

"Oh, Mr. Himuro, so diligent!"

Not long after entering, Xiang Yang saw Himuro Tatsuya still on the basketball court, dribbling and meditating with his head down. Ever since Xiang Yang made him withdrawn last time, he has been coming to the gym to meditate more and more often.

In the past, after Xiangyang greeted him, Himuro would always respond with a smile, but for some reason, today he seemed not to hear him and continued dribbling with his head down.

What's wrong with you, buddy? Didn't you hear me?

Xiangyang was a little surprised, but he didn't take it to heart. He walked to the water dispenser, poured himself a glass of water, and looked at Yako, who had come out of the kitchen, already wearing an apron and ready to cook. He smiled and said, "Miss Yako, I want to eat steak."

"Your indulgent meal... never mind, never mind."

Masako sighed softly, took out a hair tie, and tied her loose hair into a ponytail.

When you're frying steak, the fumes from the cooking oil get stuck in your hair, which is very uncomfortable.

Xiangyang chuckled as he watched this scene. He clicked his tongue and, while Yako was cooking, he took the opportunity to appreciate Himuro's "meditation" training.

Several tens of minutes later, when Yako came out carrying a plate, she looked up and was about to call Xiangyang to eat when she noticed that Xiangyang was staring at Himuro with a serious expression.