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

Xiangyang blinked, passed the ball to Yuki with a grin, and then walked to the weak side with his hands on his hips, leaving the stage to Yuki.

With everyone in Rakuzan in "zone" mode, Yuuki is not someone Yuuki can handle right now. If this ball is given to him for a one-on-one, it will most likely be lost.

However, Xiang Yang had his own plans. Putting aside the fact that Yuki frequently made contributions in the second quarter to establish an advantage for Kaijo, even if the score was tied now, he would not refuse to give the ball to Yuki when she asked for it.

After all, what could be more gratifying for a senior than seeing their juniors go through hardships and grow?

Sorry, genius, but I think you probably won't mind, right?

Xiangyang glanced at Kise and saw that the latter was watching Yuki's attack with great interest, so he couldn't help but shake his head with amusement.

With their team atmosphere, they deserve to be a powerhouse!

Chapter 172 in Progress

At the top of the arc, Yuki watched as her seniors confidently handed her possession of the ball before standing in the corner, her face showing some emotion.

This shot...is a testament to the trust placed in me by my seniors, I must score!

With a firm resolve in her heart, Yuuki turned to look at Reo Mibuchi, whom she had pierced through completely, her eyes flashing with determination.

Soon after Yuki finished reading Reo's defense, she made her move.

Yuki's first step is incredibly fast and deadly, as she starts her crossover dribble with her left hand!

Like a gust of wind, Yuki nimbly passed by Reo, but unlike in the second quarter, Reo had been strengthened this time!

Although Yuki got past her, Reo quickly reacted, turned around and chased after Yuki. At the same time, Rakuzan's center, Eikichi Nebuya, also stepped forward to double-team Yuki.

Seeing this, Yuki, who was accelerating, frowned. Noticing that Reo was also rapidly approaching from behind, he immediately pressed down on his body and used his hips to trap Reo.

Genbu didn't immediately try to steal the ball, but instead stood leisurely around Yuki, waiting for Reo to finish her defensive duties, in a position where he could both attack and defend.

At this point in the offensive, Yuki's one-on-one play had become ineffective, and he understood this, so he immediately withdrew and returned to the three-point line.

Kise, seeing this, was about to walk to the three-point line to receive Yuki's pass when he was stopped by Xiangyang.

"What's wrong, Xiao Xiangyang?"

Kise couldn't help but ask a question, while glancing at Yuki, who was standing outside the three-point line, planning the next round of offense.

Xiangyang shook his head and gestured towards Kise, saying, "Look at Yuki's eyes right now."

Kise was taken aback, then turned to look: "Great! He's got the spirit and the determination. He must really want to put that ball in the basket!"

"However... I don't think Yuuki is at that level yet."

Kise stroked his chin. As the top commander of Kaijo, he was the most qualified to speak about the strength of the Rakuzan defense line.

After being amplified by the "team zone," the defensive capabilities generated by the mutual support among the Rakuzan members are now almost on par with Shiro Rin, who has entered the "realm beyond the zone."

Even if Kise is in great form and activates both "zone" and "perfect imitation", he wouldn't dare say that he can score at will on this Rakuzan team.

If Kise is like this, then Yuuki, whose wings are not yet fully grown, is even more so.

Xiangyang was well aware of this, but he still stopped Kise from helping Yuuki. He tugged at Kise's arm and explained, "If you ask for the ball, Yuuki will definitely pass it to you no matter what."

"While this may reduce the team's mistakes, it will also reduce the opportunities for Yuki to hone her skills."

Upon hearing this, Kise's expression became thoughtful: "So... Hikari, you did this on purpose? Wow, you're so cruel!"

Xiangyang: ? ? ?

"Come on, Yuuki, before entering high school, he probably never encountered any team of his age that could compete with him, right?"

"For the chosen ones of heaven, loss..."

The experience gained from failure far outweighs what success can provide.

Xiang Yang said meaningfully, "After all, Yuki is a talented player who is not yet an adult, but he is already frequently playing in the national youth team."

At the junior high school level, there was practically no one who could earn Yuki's respect. Fortunately, this kid had a very good personality and temperament, and he basically just coasted along in the national youth team, never thinking about showing off.

If we can use Rakuzan to broaden Yuki's horizons and make him realize his own limitations, wouldn't that be a wonderful thing?

Kise was persuaded by Xiangyang, and the two of them stood at the baseline again to watch Yuki's movements, without taking over the ball.

After waiting a while at the top of the arc, Yuki saw that her ace and captain still didn't want the ball, so she had to decide to go one-on-one again!

This time... I'm determined to score for the team!

Yuki made a silent vow in her heart, and at the same time, she took a probing step, and after a simple feint, she broke through.

His first step was still swift. Even though Reo's abilities had improved and he had defended against Yuki for more than a quarter, he still couldn't react immediately.

Fortunately, the other players from Los Angeles provided timely defensive support.

Hirakawa slipped out from the side and immediately pressed towards Yuki. However, his positioning was quite interesting. Although he was supposed to be covering for Yuki, he left a gap on the right.

Yuki's eyes sharpened. Through the gap, he saw Hiroshi Ohara, who was unguarded under the basket. If the ball was passed there, even Takeshi would be unable to provide help defense!

[This guy also made a mistake a year ago... was he too inexperienced?]

Yuki's mind was quick, and his hands moved just as fast as they could. He executed a standard scalpel pass, slamming the ball into the ground with one hand, while a smile involuntarily appeared on his face.

Two points secured!

However, at this moment... a figure suddenly darted out and blocked Yuki's passing route, thwarting Kaijo's offensive!

Yuuki's smile froze. He looked in disbelief in the direction he had passed the ball, only to see a petite figure standing there. Akashi, his face frosty, looked at Yuuki and said slowly, "You're too arrogant, young man."

"Luoshan... is not as simple as you think!"

Before he could finish speaking, Akashi threw the basketball with a swift motion, and at the same time, a figure charged forward like a cheetah.

This person is none other than Hayama Kotaro!

With Akashi's blessing, his already outstanding speed became even faster, and a gust of wind swept through the air as he ran. An excited expression appeared on his face.

"I've got this ball!"

Akashi's pass was perfectly placed, allowing Hayama to maximize his speed!

Upon receiving the basketball, Hayama looked at the empty Kaijo half of the court, leaped up, and raised the basketball high above his head, ready to unleash a spectacular dunk!

boom!

A loud bang, but it wasn't the sound of the basketball hitting the hoop, but the dull thud of someone else's hand slapping the ball!

"You're really fast, kid, but unfortunately... you're still not as fast as me."

In mid-air, Hayama stared blankly at the basketball being swatted away, and hearing the nonchalant voice behind him, he suddenly turned around.

He looked up and saw Kise looking at him with a smile on his face, his arm that had just blocked Hayama's dunk still out in front of him, as if mocking him.

The basketball went out of bounds, and the referee blew his whistle.

Haichang went out of bounds, Luoshan served.

At that moment, Akashi, who was still posing with his eyes closed, suddenly opened his eyes upon hearing the referee's ruling, and a look of surprise appeared on his face.

In his "Emperor's Eye" prediction, this goal should have been won without a doubt, unless...

"You knew all along that I would intercept the ball?"

Akashi frowned and questioned Hikaru, who was still loitering in the middle of the Rakuzan stadium. Hikaru pointed a finger at his face and looked surprised: "How is that possible? Do you think I'm like you, with the ability to see the future?"

Xiang Yang shook his finger and said, "Of course I couldn't have known that you would stop it, but I can roughly guess that the kid's attack would be stopped by you. I just don't know the specifics."

Xiang Yang wasn't lying; Kise's successful defense in this round was indeed based on his prior guess.

If Yuki is intercepted by Akashi, given Akashi's personality, he will most likely try to launch a fast break by passing the ball around the court, just like Hayamashita did with his long pass earlier. In this situation, Kise, with his outstanding athleticism, would naturally be the one to defend.

Conversely, if other members of Rakuzan make the steal, there's an 80-90% chance they'll pass to Akashi to reorganize the game. In this situation, it's suitable for Hikaru to defend.

After hearing Xiangyang's explanation, Akashi's face showed a hint of anger: "Are you using Rakuzan to train new recruits?"

Knowing full well that Yuuki would be contained, they still let him play one-on-one. Playing like this in the finals is a blatant provocation of Rakuzan and Akashi!

Noticing that Akashi was a little angry, Xiangyang quickly waved his hand and explained, "Of course not, that guy is just young. His ball skills are amazing. Actually, just now, I was still hoping that he might actually score, hahaha, but I made the wrong bet."

Akashi snorted coldly, seemingly unconvinced by Xiangyang's explanation.

Seeing this, Xiangyang revealed a cryptic smile. He pointed to the scoreboard and said to Akashi, "Mr. Akashi, if you really think I look down on you and am just training Kaijo, why don't you take a look at the score?"

At this moment, the score is 63-57, and Haichang still maintains its eight-point lead from the first half!

"If we could easily suppress you by training our troops, then the championship favorites, Rakuzan... wouldn't that be a joke?"

……

……

At the same time, on the other side of the neon lights

Inside the Basketball Association President's Office

Li Guo frantically searched for the live stream URL on his computer. Now over fifty, he no longer understood the kind of thing young people did.

Coincidentally, he was a stubborn old man with a bad temper and a strong sense of pride. Even when he realized he didn't know how to use a computer, he didn't ask his subordinates to help him at all; he just messed around with it by himself.

This resulted in him remembering to watch the game after the first quarter ended, but it wasn't until halfway through the third quarter that he successfully opened the live stream with the help of text guidance from a search engine.

"Phew...who says people get old?"

"So it's useless once it's made?"

Kuriku wiped the sweat from his forehead, a smug smile spreading across his face.

However, he didn't expect that what a normal person could do in ten seconds would take him nearly half an hour to tinker with...

Fortunately, he managed to open the live stream and watch the match.

The scene shifts back to Haichang's offensive round. Xiangyang raises his right hand to signal his teammates to make their runs, while Liguo pulls out a pair of reading glasses from a drawer, puts them on, and squints as he examines the scene closely.

"Haichang... Xiangyang..."

……

……

beep—

Los Angeles is out of bounds, Haichang has possession.

In another offensive attack, Yuki once again broke into Rakuzan's paint but was intercepted by Akashi. Fortunately, Yuki reacted quickly and slapped the ball against Nebu's foot, sending it out of bounds.