Hi Hi! Welcome back!
So no new announcements today…
But did you read the newest manga chapters?
Wee, exciting and a great match I guess
Pretty serious chapter today...
Oh well, let's start!
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Chapter 3: Winners Gain, Losers Vain
The game continued between the regulars and the first years and eventually, the gap grew wider and wider as the regulars lost their tempo and their patience. The game ended up being 21 – 8, with the first years win. Everyone in the gym just stared in awe at the score board as though their eyes were lying to them. They couldn't believe that the first years had won, the first years (fy#1 and #2) couldn't believe they won, though they knew that they didn't do much to contribute to the victory.
"It's... an upset?" Someone on the bench said with glazed eyes.
"An upset?" Akashi stood up and looked at the first and second string. "Don't make me laugh, this was a pre-set victory for my team." Everyone didn't dare say anything to the boy as everyone looked at the disheartened regulars.
"I... I'm sure that they weren't trying." A third year insisted.
"Don't be stupid, they're sweating like dogs." Another said.
"Won't you guys just shut up, they'll hear you." A third silenced them.
"Get up." Kaibara said to his team as they all just raised their heads towards him. "We should show pride in this loss and accept defeat." He said just like a good captain should.
"But Taishou, they weren't playing by the..." Yagami was about to protest on Akashi's involvement or lack thereof but the glance that he received from the captain made him turn away with regret. The regulars then stood up and lined up with the first year team.
"It's our loss." Kaibara put on a smile as he faced them. The first year pair couldn't help but feel a bit bad for defeating their sempai this badly but it wasn't their doing that had caused this. "Good job in this game." He said as they all took it to be dismissed from the court and allow the second game to commence. Most of the third years glared at Akashi but he took no notice to it as he focused on the court. The two first year teams lined up and bowed before starting the game and getting into position. The team had decided to let Aomine take the jump ball while the others just stood back.
People on the sidelines observed the two teams as they prepared themselves for the start of the match. This time around, both teams seemed pretty normal and wondered if this would be worth watching at all. Many second and third years were chatting about whether it was a good idea to waste time like this but still simply watched the match. Murasakibara looked onto the court and noticed a small, blue haired boy and smiled when he remembered who it was.
"Ahh~ that little kid... I forgot he went to our school." Murasakibara said with a sigh as he took out a snack from his bag. Momoi just looked at the taller boy who was still taller than her even when he sat on the bench.
"You mean Kuroko-kun?" She askd him.
"Yeah, that was him." He said and took another piece from his bag and munched on it.
"I hope he'll be alright." She said with worry. She knew that he knew how to play, however, there was something odd about the small boy. It was like there was a whole other side to him that they didn't really know or have seen. She wondered if it had something to do with the way he played basketball and thought that it may have a great impact on the game. The pink haired girl just shrugged it off and decied that the only way that was going to find out was to watch the game, and she did just that while waiting for Aomine to get started with the jump ball.
Aomine was getting pumped for this game since it was his first at Teiko. He didn't mind the side comments that the audience said out of boredom and let them slip out of his mind as he focused on his opponent across from him. "Let's have a good game." Aomine smiled at his contender who looked at him a bit taken aback but then nodded and returned his words. They both waited in anticipation as the ball was then thrown into the air. They both jumped eagerly in order to snag the ball for their respective teams but Aomine turned out to have won and his team had taken control of the ball.
The dark skinned boy had just passed it on to a first year with green hair. "Shoot it dude!" Aomine said as he blocked off a defender to keep from blocking him. The green haired boy looked down at the ball, then at the basket and tried for a shot. He widened his eyes as the ball left his fingertips and watched as the ball hit the rim then just barely bounced in.
"Alright! That was an awesome shot! What's your name again?" Aomine ran up to the other and asked him.
"Midorima Shintaro." Aomine smiled at the straight faced other and just patted his shoulder. "You know, if you practice more, you'll make a perfect shot one day." Aomine said and ran back to their defense. Midorima just hid behind the glare of his eye glasses as he thought of the other's words. "I only thought of basketball as a mandatory club activity. But I guess there are guys that take this seriously." He thought before joining his team on the other side of the half court line.
The team looked around for openings as they passed the ball around, trying to get it near the goal. Aomine guarded one while the others each took their own respective check. The one with the ball however appeared to be free and decided to try and drive the ball in for a layup. Checking around to make sure he was absolutely clear, he took the ball and charged forward but he was suddenly hit and the whistle blew for a foul and declared it to be the other team's ball as the ball bounced out of bounds.
"What was that?" The guy shook his head and looked up to see Kuroko across from in the same position. "Oh, was that you that hit me or... that I hit, I guess? Either way, I'm sorry." The first year stood up and offered Kuroko a hand.
"Arigato." Kuroko said as everyone sweatdropped.
"Man, that kid's invisible."
"Yeah, was he even in the game at all?"
"How long has it been?"
"About 3 minutes into the game." Akashi just stared indifferently and watched the game continue on while the others chatted to their hearts content about the boy in question. Momoi facepalmed inwardly as she saw what had happened. "Yeah, he made an impact in the game alright." They went on from then as Aomine passed the ball to his teammate and they continued to score more points. And throughout the game, Kuroko fumbled the ball, got passed a lot and didn't make a single basket.
"Momoi might've been mistaken about this kid." Aomine thought as he covered for the boy's mistakes and kept his team ahead by two baskets. The game ended with a 10 – 14 and the regulars all then got up and told them that they'll get to see the coach the next day at practice after school and with that, they were dismissed.
"Man, these kids are harsh this year." Hibiki scratched the back of his head as he glared at the backs of the new recruits.
"Yes but they'll be the future for Teiko's basketball team and the key to victory." Another voice said.
"So coach, what do you think?" Kaibara asked the man who walked into the gym.
"It seems to me that instead of knocking the first years, they knocked some into you." The coach replied calmly but they could feel the malice that his words had meant. He crossed his arms and looked at each of them individually before sighing to himself. "However, they are still first years so there's still room for improvement. After all, you know what this school's motto is." They all nodded and got the silent hint to recite it out loud.
"The winners gain, the losers vain! Don't maintain, improve through pain!" They exclaimed as the coach nodded in approval.
"That is the school motto; that is the rule I live by. If you are unable to keep up with the winners, then you will be thrown out from the high position that I put you in. Make sure to tell this to the younger years and make sure you never forget this." The coach said sternly as he once again eyed them individually. "Dismissed!" His exclamation echoed throughout the gym as they exited and headed to the change rooms. Once the regulars were all gone, he then started to walk around the gym floor and glanced up at the hoops. "Interesting first years..." He said before taking his leave.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The next day had come and gone as the boys from the basketball club thought about the game that had happened yesterday. Meeting once again in the gym, all the first years were split into the first string, second string and finally a third string. Once they found out which string they were part of, they all lined up and waited for the captain's word to start practice. The regulars entered and looked at each other as they remembered the words that their coach had told them the day before and turned towards the large group of people.
"As you all now know, we have sorted you all out into first through third string. However, today, you must learn this team's motto for games and practices. Memorize this and keep this with you no matter what you do, disobey this and you will receive punishment." Kaibara announced as the regulars stated the motto once again.
"The Winners Gain, the Losers Vain! Don't Maintain, Improve through Pain!" They exclaimed as everyone was shocked by the intimidating words. No one could say a word and there was an awkward silence that filled the gym. The only person that moved was none other than Akashi.
"Those are some nice words there. I agree completely with this however, due to this, I believe you are all unfit to lead the team to victory this season." He said boldly which shocked everyone even more, hearing them murmuring in the background. "In fact, I believe your time as a regular as of now is over."
"You wanna challenge us brat?" Hibiki spat at the boy.
"Not right now." Akashi waved him off and smirked at him, making him even angrier.
"Then what was the point of bringing this up, Akashi-kun?" Kaibara-taichou had to hold Hibiki back in order to prevent him from giving the other exactly what was coming to him.
"I've decided to let you sempai have your fun in your last year of victory and allow you to start off the year. That way, you may take with you the pride of assisting the number one, victorious team in Japan." All of the regulars then glared daggers at the red headed first year who wasn't even fazed by them. This was when the coach decided to step into the gym to the surprise of every single being in the gym.
"Coach." Shiba looked at the man but he ignored the regulars and walked up to the first year who still had his smirk on his face.
"You think you can win against the regulars in an all-out match?" He asked him simply.
"With the right pawns, I think I'll obtain victory." Akashi said with confidence. "However, as they are now, I believe that they'll need a few weeks before they'll be ready."
"Is that so, then they'll take on your challenge and after a month, we'll put the position of regular at stake. This will happen after the first match of the Interhigh and if you are able to beat them before the next match, which would be in the next two days afterwards, then consider yourselves regulars."
"Why give two days, coach. Why not make this a sudden death? Loser of the match walks, after all the motto does state that 'winners gain and losers vain...' no mercy on the battlefield, desu ne, kan-toku?(right, coach?)"
"Yeah, you're right. Very well, the day after the Interhigh will be the challenge match for regular." The coach shook on it. "You may pick those whom you deem worthy to be your team, but remember this, if you lose, you will all be dismissed from the club. You did disrespect your sempai after all." The coach said with a hint of amusement in his tone. Akashi grinned and immediately picked his team, "Murasakibara, Aomine, Midorima, Haizaki... you all come with me." He said as he then walked off with the four of them trailing behind.
Momoi just watched as the conversation unravelled and she couldn't help but sigh in relief that it was over. She then checked over the list to see who was in which string and found that each of the players that Akashi had picked were all chosen for first string. She then noticed a third page and turned to find that it was a third string group list, if you could call it a list. She glanced at it wide eyed and found that only a single person was put in the very first ever third string and it was Kuroko Tetsuya. She looked at the page and then looked at the boy who looked indifferent even after finding out that he was the only one admitted to the group, though no one took much notice to the boy as they all were then sent to their own respective gymnasiums. The first string and regulars all stayed as the second stringers were led to the one next door. Kuroko was then directed by Kaibara to go and join the other second stringers for practice despite being the only third stringer. The boy only nodded and walked off by himself with a basketball at hand. Momoi couldn't help but feel guilty but there was nothing that she could do about it. She then turned her attention towards Aomine who didn't seem as thrilled about being part of a team that could potentially get kicked out of the club but he didn't seem as fazed by it; in fact, neither did the others.
"So why were we picked to become the ones to potentially get kicked out of the club, Aka-chin?" Murasakibara asked the boy.
"We aren't going to be the ones to leave this club, I can assure you that even as we stand, we'll be able to beat them however, I not only want to beat them, I want to crush them." Akashi said sadistically.
"Wouldn't that be going a bit far?" Aomine wondered out loud only to get a glare from Akashi which freaked him a bit.
"The motto of this school speaks the truth, only the strong prevail and thrive upon victory while the rest are unneeded, excess baggage." Akashi said in a wide eyed, monotone voice. "Victory is preordained and it is left for us to take." Midorima, upon hear this, just pushed his glasses up his face and looked at Akashi. He wasn't sure about taking this basketball thing seriously as it was only a mandatory club activity in his eyes but he didn't want to speak against the red head as he seemed to be unsafe when defied.
"Well whatever the result, I'll be good either way." Haizaki shrugged as he threw the ball around a bit. "But if we could be them now, then why wait till they play the first round?" He questioned.
"I'll allow the sempai one last game and provide other snooping schools a small preview of what our school is capable of and once we hit the court the next game, we'll take them all by surprise." Akashi "For now, Murasakibara, center; Aomine, power forward; Haizaki, small forward; Midorima, shooting guard and I, point guard. With this, we'll crush them and take on the rest of the tournament."
Hey, hope you guys liked it
Pretty serious stuff isn't it
Not much humor today but that's okay sometimes right?
Oh well, thanks again for your responses to this story
I'll be back next time
And no omake today sorry -.-
~Owari desu