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

"I...I'm fine, thank you."

Yuki responded very politely, but after responding, he regained his nervous expression.

Lingyang didn't think much of it, assuming that the first-year student from Kaijo simply lacked experience on the court. He turned to look at the Kaijo twins in the high post, wondering whether he should help his teammates defend out of the way later.

After all… Yuki is so nervous right now, and she looks completely harmless. Instead of wasting time here, it’s better to help her teammates.

Time passed second by second.

Everyone present held their breath, even Bobo, who had been talking nonstop in the live broadcast room, stopped and focused intently on the final round of offense and defense on the court.

Tick-tock...

Just as the timer reached ten seconds, Xiangyang raised his hand to signal Xiaojue to set a screen, officially starting the final battle!

Kobo immediately set a screen, while Ohara Hiroshi walked to Kise's side and set a screen for him at the same time. Kise and Mukayo immediately took over the screen and ran together towards the top of the key.

Akashi's eyes sharpened, and he turned around to avoid the screen, chasing after Kise first, shouting, "Hidamari! Get over there!" At the same time, his pupils kept moving, analyzing Kaijo's intentions in this offensive.

[Two people run to the top of the key at the same time... and pass the ball hand-off?]

The next second, just as Akashi had predicted, as Hikaru brushed past Kise, he passed the basketball, and possession of the ball fell into Kise's hands.

Akashi's eyes lit up, and as he followed Kise, he reminded his teammates, "Keep an eye on Hikaru! Keep an eye on Hikaru!"

Pingchuan didn't dare to delay and immediately raised his arms and ran to Xiangyang's side. But this time, he hesitated and turned to look at Xiangyang.

[This time...was he much slower?]

Before Hirakawa could think it through, Xiangyang made another counter-run and ran towards Kise again.

"How could I possibly let you get rid of me so easily!"

With a roar, Pingchuan put aside his doubts and took off running, chasing after Xiangyang again. At the same time, he secretly vowed that he would stop Xiangyang even if he had to run until his legs broke!

At the same time, the timer reached its final 5 seconds.

Kise was driven to the left corner by Akashi, and Xiangyang followed, running to the left wing at a 45-degree angle.

It seems that Kaijo's offensive round has failed. After the double pick-and-roll, the handoff pass forced both Xiangyang, the initiator of the play, and Kise, the ball handler, to the same side, each with a defender in front of them.

As Akashi turned his head to confirm, he didn't forget to glance at Kise's expression. At that moment, the sense of relief in his heart plummeted to freezing point!

Despite the fact that time was running out and Kise's current position was ridiculously bad, he had no intention of forcing a one-on-one fight. Instead, he turned his attention to the other side.

Akashi's heart skipped a beat, and a bad premonition instantly swept over him.

[Kise is here, and Hikaru is nearby; there's no space to pass... So who else could be on the other side of the court?]

"Yuki!!!"

With a roar, Kise answered Akashi's question.

In a swift long pass, Kise even imitated Kuroko in order to minimize the probability of a mistake.

Bullet speedrun!

The basketball, like a streak of orange light, instantly reached the other side of the court, landing in Yuki's hands.

To defend against Kise and Hida, Rakuzan's two inside players were positioned on the left side to provide immediate help defense, leaving only Reo Mibuchi on the right side.

Lingyang: "Huh?"

As for the result of Reo's single-handed defense against Yuki, the answer was already given in the second quarter.

"Foul!!"

Before Reo could react, Yuki had already dribbled the ball and charged toward the paint. Facing the empty Rakuzan restricted area, Yuki's eyes sharpened, and she took a big step with her left foot and jumped up from the spot!

It was too late. Reo, who was a beat too slow to react, could only stand behind and, as if in a death struggle, reach out her right hand towards Yuki in an attempt to pull him down, but... it was all in vain.

With a clang, the basketball struck the rim, and Yuki scored! The final whistle blew at that moment!

The score is now 105-104, with Haichang winning.

Chapter 179 Speaker Li Guoguo's Visit

Click click click click click!

A dazzling burst of camera flashes.

Dressed in a suit, Takeuchi remained calm and composed despite being interviewed and photographed by numerous reporters; he was used to this kind of thing.

Two players sat next to him, but this time Xiangyang wasn't there; Kise and Yuki were sitting there instead.

Kise, who was also familiar with the interview process, was not at all shy in front of the camera. He smiled generously and even waved and made funny faces at the camera.

As for Yuki, things weren't so easy. The shy little guy sat there awkwardly, his hands unconsciously clutching the hem of his clothes. When faced with questions from reporters, he could only look at Kise with pleading eyes most of the time, but fortunately, the latter didn't seem to mind.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, my lovely junior is new here and doesn't know any better. If you have any questions about the team, just ask me, I know everything!"

Kise reached out and ruffled Yuki's hair, then took the microphone from the reporter, looking eager to try it out.

The reporters, of course, wouldn't be so tactless as to bombard Yuuki with questions; compared to him, the eloquent Kise was clearly a better interviewee.

"Mr. Kise, having won the national championship once again, how are you feeling right now? If it's convenient, I'd also like to ask what your secret to success is!"

The person who asked the question was a female reporter, who looked to be in her early twenties, very young.

Kise glanced at the female reporter briefly, and after noticing that she was somewhat attractive, he gave her a perfect smile and replied, "The feeling after winning the game is the best. Well, to be honest, I'm in a great mood right now, and... I'd like to find something else to celebrate, something outside of basketball, of course."

After speaking, Kise made a meaningful eye contact with the female reporter for a moment, and when he noticed that her cheeks were slightly flushed, his smile widened.

"As for the secret to our success... it's obvious. We have the best captain in the world, and we are the best team in the world. Every one of us on this team is the best player!"

As Kise spoke, he glanced at Takeuchi not far away. The champion coach, who had won three championship titles, was currently under the spotlight, striking poses and exuding his charm.

"Well...we also have the best coach in the world, something like that..."

Kise touched his nose, and his eyes darted around a little when he said the second half of his sentence. Fortunately, the reporters didn't notice and instead asked the next question.

"Isn't Mr. Xiangyang coming for the interview today? Mr. Takeuchi usually brings him along."

Kise thought for a moment and replied, "Who knows? Maybe he doesn't want to talk much today? But even if he doesn't come for the interview, that kid won't be alone..."

"He might be spending time with his girlfriend or something!"

……

……

"Ah!"

Inside the restroom, Xiangyang glanced suspiciously at the door, rubbing his nose and wondering if someone was talking about him.

At the sink, Akashi carefully wiped the dirt off his hands. Although the Tokyo Basketball Arena has very high-level indoor facilities, even for games...

There wasn't much dust on the field, but after the whole match, his hands were covered in some black residue.

"You have a cold?"

Akashi asked casually, his tone calm.

Xiangyang shook his head, feeling something was off: "I've been sneezing a lot lately, but I don't think I have a cold?"

Akashi didn't respond, but instead turned on the tap again and rinsed his little hands.

"Congratulations on winning another championship with Kaijo."

Xiang Yang paused for a moment, then slowly walked behind Akashi and asked with a sly look, "Oh my, these kinds of blessings sound so cheesy coming from you, Mr. Akashi?"

Noticing that Xiangyang was standing right behind him, Akashi rolled his eyes at the mirror and said irritably, "I sincerely wished you well. If you don't want it, then forget I said anything."

"Of course I want it, why wouldn't I?"

Xiang Yang yawned and continued, "But to be honest, playing against you guys is really tiring. After this match, I feel like I've used up all my energy from the two matches. I'm so sleepy."

"Hey, Akashi, do you remember what question I asked you last time we were here?"

Akashi paused in washing his hands, then calmly replied, "You asked me who the best point guard in Japan is."

"Hey, you've got a good memory."

Xiang Yang's mouth gaped slightly in surprise, but he quickly regained his composure and said, "Back then, you actually managed to say your own name without batting an eye. That really surprised me. As expected, heirs to conglomerates are no ordinary people..."

"However, Akashi, I acknowledge your strength."

Xiang Yang's face showed a hint of resentment, but even more so, admiration.

In today's match, Akashi, who possesses two personalities simultaneously and uses them alternately, was indeed suppressed by Akashi in terms of individual performance, whether Xiangyang is willing to admit it or not.

However, what Xiangyang considered a statement of conceding defeat sounded somewhat ironic to Akashi.

"Having been defeated by you twice in a row, and even losing to Shiro Rin a year ago, do I really deserve the title of Japan's number one?"

Akashi looked up at himself in the mirror. His hair was a little messy from sweating during exercise, and his usually calm and confident gaze now carried a hint of mockery.

However, before he could speak again, Xiang Yang suddenly delivered a chop to the back of his head.

"Ow!"

Akashi winced in pain, clutching his head, then turned to look at Xiangyang in shock. As the heir to the Akashi family conglomerate, he had never been treated like this before.

Even with his elders at home, Akashi has had very few physical contacts with anyone else, let alone been hit by anyone!

"You...you!"

"What do you mean, 'you'?! I'm not trying to be mean, Akashi, but your personality is really not likable."

Xiangyang clicked his tongue, pressed down Akashi's finger pointing at him, and said with exasperation, "When I used to compete with you for the best point guard, you absolutely refused. Now that I acknowledge you as the best in Japan, you're still going against me, aren't you?"

"Seriously, I'm about to go plant flowers. If you're not the number one point guard in Japan after I leave..."

"I'd be really annoyed."

After hearing this, Akashi's face, which had been filled with shock, calmed down. He looked at Xiangyang and asked, "When are you going to the Chinese family?"

"Probably next week, after I turn 18 I'll go."

Due to policy arrangements, only adults have the right to change their nationality. As a result, although Xiangyang has already reserved a spot in the Chinese national youth team, he still cannot officially join, which means that his main quest is still incomplete.

"Prepare yourself, Akashi. I will be stronger after returning from China."

Xiang Yang grinned, his eyes revealing confidence.

The main quest is finally about to be completed after a year... If he doesn't get something real, he's going to uninstall this stupid system!