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On the court, Akashi dribbled the ball, unfazed by the defense of two Nishihara players.
He lowered his center of gravity, executing a series of quick hand switches and shaking off one of them.
Just as the other player was about to reach him, Akashi forcefully tossed the ball past him.
However, to everyone's eyes, there was no one behind the two Nishihara players. This left everyone on the court utterly bewildered.
But quickly, their bewilderment turned to astonishment.
Their eyes widened in disbelief as the basketball seemed to have suddenly hit a wall, then bounced off in the opposite direction.
"The basketball actually changed direction?" This was the thought in everyone's mind.
Despite these thoughts, the game continued.
Suddenly, Midorima Shintaro appeared where the ball had landed. No, that's not how it works; it would be more accurate to say the basketball automatically came to Midorima Shintaro.
Midorima also looked shocked; with just a slight lift of his hand, the basketball landed in his grasp.
"This feeling…" Midorima Shintaro stared at the basketball in his hand with disbelief.
Off the court, the Teiko group was also dumbfounded.
"What is that?"
"That should be a basketball!"
"The basketball actually turned by itself."
"Is this the kid's ability?"
Listening to their shouts and exclamations, Ryu remained relatively calm.
This scene was entirely within his expectations.
But to be honest, witnessing such a pass firsthand was truly unbelievable.
Stopping such a pass is extremely difficult if you don't take it seriously.
Kuroko doesn't even have the ball, and it's hard to predict where he'll pass it.
"Is this Kuroko's ability? Amazing!" Momoi Satsuki couldn't help but praise.
Nijimura Shuzo had seen him once before during the test, but to see such a miraculous pass again, a slight ripple stirred within him.
As for the assistant coach... he always wore a serious expression, revealing nothing.
As Ryu would say, he was a "poker-faced assistant coach."
The scene shifts back to the court.
Midorima received the ball, his eyes filled with shock.
Then, facing the Nishihara shooting guard, he jumped and shot.
The basketball shot through the air like an arrow, plummeting downwards like a falling meteor.
Swish…
The Nishihara rim created a brilliant net effect, adding 3 points to the scoreboard.
"Can it really make such a big difference once it takes effect?" Midorima Shintaro stared at Kuroko Tetsuya in disbelief.
The Nishihara players were equally bewildered, but the game had to continue.
They inbounded the ball again.
However, the opposing point guard had barely crossed half-court when Akashi intercepted the ball.
The Nishihara center, seeing this, tried to help defend.
Sensing movement behind him, Akashi tossed the ball to his right.
What was he doing? There was no one there! The Nishihara center and point guard were completely dumbfounded.
But soon, they heard a snap.
The basketball suddenly changed direction and was caught by Atsushi Murasakibara.
Without hesitation, Murasakibara stepped into the paint and leaped for a two-handed dunk.
Landing on the ground, Murasakibara looked at the unguarded Kuroko.
He thought to himself strangely, 'The ball actually changed direction? Passing it to him at a time when Akashi wouldn't have passed... so easy.' He had never played a game so easily before, and he felt like he was about to get hyped.
Aomine Daiki felt the same way.
He received the most passes from Kuroko.
Most of the passes in the second half were made to Aomine.
The two seemed to have a natural understanding, forcing Nishihara into a losing battle.
At the end of the game, the score on the scoreboard was 104 to 51. Teiko won by a landslide.
The next day, at the Teiko Basketball Club, First Army Gymnasium, the assistant coach looked at Kuroko with a somewhat complicated expression.
"Kuroko Tetsuya, starting from this year's competition, you'll officially become a substitute player, wearing number 15. I'm really looking forward to your performance."
Kuroko was taken aback, then gave a hearty smile of relief. "Yes."
Ryu spoke up at this moment, "Congratulations, Kuroko."
"I knew you could do it, Tetsuya! We're on the same team now, that's great!" Aomine Daiki said excitedly.
Akashi, Murasakibara, and Midorima also offered their congratulations to Kuroko.
Afterwards, Kuroko received congratulations from the first-team members one after another.
That evening, after finishing their practice for the day, Ryu and the others gathered together.
Ryu, Aomine, Midorima, Akashi, Murasakibara, Satsuki, and Kuroko—the seven of them walked slowly in one direction.
It was ostensibly a "welcome party for Kuroko joining the team." Everyone chatted and laughed along the way.
It was ostensibly a "welcome party for Kuroko joining the team." Everyone chatted and laughed along the way.
Because Murasakibara was constantly snacking, Midorima disapproved of this.
The two started arguing after only a few words.
Kuroko was a little worried that they might fight.
However, seeing that Ryu and Aomine seemed unfazed, he didn't say anything.
Momoi Satsuki followed behind the group, carrying Karupin.
Looking at the pure friendship of the six people before her, she unconsciously revealed a charming smile.
Soon, Kuroko was led by the group to a convenience store, looking completely bewildered.
Kuroko looked at the convenience store, filled with questions. Wasn't this supposed to be a celebration of my joining the First Army? Shouldn't a celebration involve finding a place to eat? Why are we here? These three questions left Kuroko confused.
Before he could even react, the group pooled their money to buy a box of ice cream. Each person got one. Kuroko stared blankly at the ice cream in his hand.
Ryu, watching Kuroko, ate his ice cream as he spoke, "Kuroko, it's going to melt if you don't eat it soon!"
"Huh? Oh!" Kuroko tore off the wrapper and ate it with the others.
"Isn't it strange?"
Kuroko nodded at Ryu's question.
It was indeed strange.
However, he felt genuinely comfortable in this atmosphere.
Ryu's eyes were unusually deep, as if he were recalling something, or perhaps telling a story. "This is youth, a crucial period in one's life."
"What?" Kuroko stared at Ryu with a bewildered look.
Ahem...Ryu coughed twice, then said, "It's nothing. Those people have strange personalities. You'll get used to it."
"Oh." Kuroko nodded, seemingly understanding.
After finishing their popsicles, everyone said their goodbyes.
Akashi, Midorima, and Murasakibara went in one direction.
Aomine, Kuroko, and Satsuki went in another.
Ryu went in his own direction.
No, there was Karupin.
Meow...
Accompanied by a meow, Ryu and Karupin walked home together.
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