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After lunch, everyone returned to the stadium.
Ryu was petting Karupin, waiting for the game to begin.
Just then, Kuroko Tetsuya approached him and said,
"Thank you, Ryu."
"Huh?" Ryu looked at Kuroko and chuckled.
"I didn't do anything, why are you thanking me?"
Kuroko said seriously,
"Anyway, thank you very much."
Ryu just smiled slightly and pointed to the empty bench next to him.
Kuroko smiled and sat down.
Just then, a voice came from behind Ryu and the others:
"Come on, say hello."
Ryu and the others turned around at the sound and saw Nijimura Shuzo standing behind them.
He was carrying a gray-haired boy who looked like a "pig's head."
Although he looked like a "pig's head," everyone recognized him at a glance:
Haizaki Shogo.
That signature gray hair—not just in the basketball club, but in the entire Teiko High School, he was the only one with it.
What? You mean Ryu? Ryu's hair is silver-white, much more elegant than gray.
It's also natural and not dyed like Haizaki Shogo
Haizaki Shogo, his lips swollen like sausages, uttered a mumbled, indistinct sentence:
"Hello everyone."
"Oh dear!"
That was everyone's first thought.
Nijimura Shuzo grinned, then wrapped his arm around Haizaki Shogo's neck, giving everyone a half-smile.
"The Second Army found this guy at the amusement park. He has a bit of a cold, but he seemed to be in pretty good spirits, so I brought him over."
The Teiko members' eyes twitched uncontrollably.
Looking at Haizaki Shogo's dying state, their eyes were filled with sympathy.
Ryu thought to himself,
"How can this guy even play in this state?"
He seriously doubted whether the guy would suddenly die.
Time flew by, and 30 minutes had passed.
The start time of the match was drawing ever closer.
At this moment, the assistant coach approached the group and announced,
"The starting lineup for this afternoon's game is decided: Akashi, Murasakibara, Midorima, Aomine..."
He glanced at Kuroko, then at Ryu, and finally fixed his gaze on Haizaki Shogo.
"And Haizaki."
He then looked at Kuroko.
"Kuroko, you're coming in the second half, is that alright?"
Kuroko nodded seriously.
"Yes..."
"Go for it, Tetsuya, you can do it!"
Aomine Daiki cheered for Kuroko.
Momoi Satsuki echoed,
"Yeah, yeah, Kuroko, you have to do your best!"
"Yeah!"
Kuroko nodded to the two of them.
Ryu noticed Kuroko's tense muscles and smiled slightly.
"You seem a little nervous!"
Kuroko was silent for a moment, then nodded in reply.
"Yeah, I am a little nervous. Because..."
At this point, Kuroko looked at his hands, lost in thought.
Ryu chuckled and said,
"You're not needed for offense or defense, so what's there to be nervous about?"
Hearing Ryu's words, Kuroko smiled bitterly to himself, but said aloud,
"Although I don't have your kind of offensive and defensive abilities, I really want to help the team win, but..."
Kuroko clenched his fists, speaking with some resentment.
"But I don't know why, it wasn't like this before."
"So that's what's bothering you!"
Ryu looked at Kuroko meaningfully.
"Have you thought about why it turned out this way?"
Kuroko nodded.
"I have, but I haven't found the right way."
Ryu smiled slightly, then let out a long sigh.
"Sigh... sitting for too long makes me feel uncomfortable. I see their match is almost over, and it'll be your turn in the second half! I'll warm you up then."
"Huh?"
Kuroko was slightly taken aback.
Seeing Ryu get up and walk to the side, he could only stand up and follow.
The assistant coach and Nijimura Shuzo also noticed this.
However, they didn't ask.
They both had a very high opinion of Ryu; they wouldn't question what he was planning to do.
Ryu held a basketball in his hand.
He looked at Kuroko and asked,
"Kuroko, do you think there's any difference between the first team and the second and third teams?"
Kuroko was a little confused, but still replied,
"The first team is very strong. The second and third team players simply can't compare to the first team."
"Hmm, isn't that a very clear summary?"
With that, Ryu raised his hand, lifted the basketball, and then flicked his wrist.
The basketball, as if aimed precisely, flew directly towards Kuroko's face.
Kuroko's pupils contracted, his heart tightened, and he quickly raised his hand to block.
"Ryu-kun, could you please tell me before passing the ball? Don't just pass it to me suddenly."
"Oh, is it sudden? But this is the normal passing speed of the first team!"
Hearing this, Kuroko was stunned.
He stood there, lost in thought.
Seeing Kuroko deep in thought, Ryu didn't disturb him, simply standing there quietly waiting.
Whistle...
The whistle blew.
The first half of the match between Teiko and Nishihara ended.
The score was 33-31.
Teiko was only leading by 2 points.
Seeing the score, Ryu fell into deep thought.
"These guys..."
He looked at the five players walking off the court.
Although he didn't know what was going on, they seemed to have reached some kind of agreement.
Ryu's gaze fell on Aomine Daiki.
Thinking about the relationship between Aomine and Kuroko, he felt there was something fishy going on.
But none of that mattered to Ryu.
Just then, the assistant coach's voice reached Ryu and Kuroko's ears.
"Kuroko, you'll be replacing Haizaki next."
Kuroko snapped out of his reverie, turned to the assistant coach, and nodded in agreement.
Ryu looked at Kuroko and asked,
"So, have you thought of a solution?"
Hearing Ryu's question, Kuroko nodded.
"I've thought of something, but I'm not sure if it's right. We'll have to try it out in the match."
Ryu patted him on the shoulder and said,
"Alright, that's enough warm-up. The match is about to start. If you want to know the answer, go try it out!"
Kuroko remained standing still.
He looked at Ryu and asked,
"Ryu-kun, is your first team very fast?"
Ryu looked at him like he was an idiot.
"What do you think? Anyone can see that!"
Hearing Ryu's words, Kuroko seemed to have been reborn.
He bowed slightly to Ryu.
"Thank you, Ryu-kun. I've found the key."
Ryu waved his hand.
"Good. Now I look forward to your performance."
"Yes."
Feeling Kuroko's burning gaze, Ryu felt uneasy all over.
He quickly waved his hand and said,
"Alright, alright, go on!"
Toot...
The whistle blew.
The third period of the match officially began.
Kuroko, wearing Teiko's number 16 jersey, stepped onto the court.
Ryu saw Akashi walk up to Kuroko and say something.
He clearly sensed that Kuroko was a different person.
Although he could still see him clearly, he could hardly see any emotion in Kuroko anymore.
"Well, that's fine. In that case, let me see the true Phantom Sixth Player!"
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