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

Huh? Japan is number one, huh? They really dare to say that.

Akashi glanced at Xiangyang and said to Kuroko, "I heard you've been practicing your scoring ability lately... You know, Tetsuya, back in middle school I only had you practice passing because if a shadow is dazzling, it's no longer a shadow."

Hey?

Kuroko paused, realizing Akashi's implication. He turned to look at Xiangyang, seemingly wanting to confirm if it was true.

Looking towards the sun, eyes focused on the nose, nose focused on the heart—wow, this Coke bottle on the table is quite nice.

"However, as long as you control your presence appropriately, you can score points and mislead others at the same time."

Akashi glanced at Xiangyang again, ultimately deciding not to rule it out. After all, Dai Qianxun had indeed combined the two, but in his opinion, that slight offensive capability was worse than nothing, and there was also the risk of failure.

Kuroko nodded solemnly and said, "I want to become stronger, even if it's just a little bit, I want to help Kagami-kun."

Aomine spat inwardly, feeling truly annoyed to see his former partner now serving another person so diligently.

"Well, it's good that you know what's going on... It's getting late, how are you all getting home? Do you need me to call someone to pick you up?"

Akashi glanced at the clock on the wall; it was already eleven o'clock.

"Let's walk back together! It'll help us digest our food."

Kise spoke first, and Xiangyang glanced at him but didn't say anything.

"Someone will come to pick me up."

Midorima picked up his phone and made a call to his personal driver.

"Let's run back together! We'll get fat if we don't move around after eating so much."

"This is Momoi," she said with a smile, tugging at Aomine's arm.

"Little Red, I don't want to leave~ I'm so tired after eating."

"Me too, Akashi-kun. Thank you for your help."

……

"Why insist on walking home? Why not use a free driver?"

With his hands behind his head, Xiangyang glanced at Kise beside him and asked.

Kise didn't answer, but looked up at the moon in the sky. After a long while, he said, "Hey, Hikaru, let's win the Winter Cup together again."

Ok?

Xiangyang stopped and looked at Kise's back.

Noticing that Xiangyang had suddenly stopped, Kise turned around and saw Xiangyang holding out his fist at him.

"Isn't that obvious?"

With a light fist bump, Kise beamed; the winter championship was already theirs.

"By the way, it seems the coach wants us to go to the gym for training together next Monday."

"Next Monday...that's the day after tomorrow?? Is it really necessary to be so tense after just winning the championship? I can't stand it."

……

(There will be another chapter at noon! All of them are owed chapters. Including the one at noon, there will be exactly ten chapters left to go...)

Chapter 71 Uninvited Guest

"Faster on the left!!"

"Hurry, hurry, hurry! Run one more round trip!"

The Kaijo basketball gym was bustling with activity early in the morning, as Kasamatsu was leading the Kaijo team in a shuttle run.

"We started training right after winning the championship... just how much do we love basketball?"

While slacking off, Xiangyang complained to Kise.

Kise is full of energy, and his recent victory over his former teammates has put him in an exceptionally good mood.

"What does it matter? Besides, one championship isn't enough. We need to win the Winter Cup this year, then the Summer Cup next year, the Winter Cup next year, and the year after that..."

stop!

Xiangyang covered Kise's mouth with his hand and said irritably, "Are you going to win all the championships in our three years of high school? You might as well establish the Kaijo Dynasty."

Kise blinked: "Dynasty?"

"Oh, winning the championship for three consecutive years is called a dynasty? Oh right, I don't think you have that concept here."

The second half of Xiangyang's sentence was directed at himself, and Kise didn't hear it, but the first half alone was enough to get his blood pumping.

"That's interesting! Winning the championship for three consecutive years, that's awesome! Let's build the Kaisho Dynasty together!"

Kise's eyes lit up; he couldn't wait for the Winter Cup to start.

"Ah! I really want to play against other teams. Why hasn't the Winter Cup started yet... Hey, Xiangyang, let's go out and find some people to play practice matches with tomorrow."

The summer season has just ended... Winter is still a long way off, and besides your old teammates, who else will play scrims with us? Xiangyang doesn't think any other weak teams can compete with Haichang.

Just then, several tall, unfamiliar figures suddenly entered through the door. Kasamatsu was not surprised to see these people; instead, he went up to talk to them.

Xiangyang, who was still slacking off, happened to see this scene and narrowed his eyes.

"Genius, I think your wish has come true."

ha?

Kise turned to look at Xiangyang, and followed his gaze to the group of people who had just come in.

"who are they?"

"Who knows? But I guess they're not here to have tea with Kasamatsu-senpai."

Xiangyang stretched his neck and sized up the uninvited guests.

They were all very tall, the shortest being close to 190 cm, and their faces were relatively mature, not at all like high school students. Their eyes also lacked that innocent naiveté.

Basketball club? University basketball team?

Xiangyang had several guesses in his mind, but he rejected them one by one.

After observing them for a few minutes, Xiang Yang could tell that their physical abilities were outstanding, far beyond the level of a "basketball club".

Upon closer reflection, considering Takeuchi's status as a former national team player...

Japan's men's national basketball team?

That's not right either. Xiangyang has watched videos of the national team's matches recently, and they are all unfamiliar faces.

Xiang Yang's pupils contracted. Eliminating all the impossibilities, the remaining answer, no matter how outrageous, must be correct.

Shinjiko wa yiko mo yi dao.

Japan's national youth basketball team!

(Sports trivia: The national youth team is where talent is supplied to the national team. You can think of the national team as team 1 and the national youth team as team 2.)

At this time, there can only be one reason why the national youth team is here.

Playing practice matches against these high school national champions

It sounds a bit unrealistic, but if Coach Takeuchi was behind it all, then it all makes sense.

But would the national youth team have so much free time that they'd play against high school students? Is Takeuchi's influence so valuable that he'd come all this way just to play a training match with them?

As Xiangyang was racking his brains, pondering the reason, Kise suddenly reached out and waved his hand in front of Xiangyang's eyes, saying, "Little Xiangyang, Kasamatsu-senpai is calling us to gather over there."

!

It was a sudden realization. Seeing Kise's face, Xiang Yang instantly understood. If the national youth team's target was Kise, then it wasn't surprising. Takeuchi recommending talent to a former national team? It made perfect sense. With Kise's strength and talent, joining the national team was only a matter of time if he wanted to. After all, the national team in the world of Kuroko's Basketball wasn't like some places where you could get in by bribing someone.

Upon closer reflection, the coaches of Shutoku, Tooh, Kaijo, and Yosen are all former national team players, including the coach of Seirin High School, Aida Riko's father, Aida Kagetora, who is also a former national team player.

Xiangyang's expression suddenly became very strange. He seemed to have discovered something incredible: the Generation of Miracles were all entering the high school where former national team players were basketball coaches. If this was a coincidence, it was too much of a coincidence.

On the surface, they are a powerhouse team in high school competitions, but in essence, they are the outpost for discovering promising young basketball talents for the national youth team?

"Ryota".

Xiangyang patted Kise on the shoulder and said meaningfully, "Your opportunity has come."

Before Kise could ask a question, Kasamatsu clapped his hands and said, "The coach has arranged a training match for us. All the regular players from Kaijo, get ready to warm up. The match will start in thirty minutes. Everyone else, please clear a court."

He guessed correctly. Xiangyang's face remained expressionless, but his mind was racing.

Kise looked surprised: "Hikari, how did you know there was a match to play?"

I not only know there's a match to play, but I also know why they're here to play.

Xiangyang glanced at Kise, organizing his thoughts as he was about to explain, when Coach Takeuchi suddenly appeared at the door.

Today, Takeuchi was still wearing a black suit with a floral shirt underneath, and his leather shoes were polished to a shine. There are only two words to describe him: show-off.

"Kasamatsu, I'll blow the whistle for this match."

Takeuchi scanned the Kaijo team, his gaze lingering on Xiangyang for a moment before he continued, "You all need to take this match seriously. It's not as simple as you think; the opponent is very strong."

"The rules are the same as the normal competition rules, and Xiangyang will call the team's timeouts."

Kasamatsu had no objection to this; he had long since acknowledged his junior's exceptional football intelligence.

"Xiangyang, come here for a second."

Takeuchi waved to Xiangyang and led him to a corner of the gym. Looking into Xiangyang's eyes, he asked, "Do you want to play professional basketball?"

Xiang Yang's expression froze for a moment. Professional basketball? To be honest, he had never really considered it.

“I know beforehand that your academic performance is quite good. You don’t necessarily have to make basketball your future career, but if you want to develop in this direction, I can help you.”

Takeuchi's tone was solemn, a stark contrast to his usual carefree demeanor.

"So this training match means... it's not just about testing Ryota,

"And me?"

Xiangyang touched his nose, observing Takeuchi's reaction.

"Hmm? You're still as quick-witted as ever."