“It doesn’t look domesticated.
It should be a stray kitten.
Are you going to become its cat mom?” “Mother doesn’t allow pets at home.” Yukino was very tempted and couldn’t resist the fluffy little creature.
However, the Yukinoshita family did not allow small pets.
“Hibari…” She turned to look at Hibari, pleading in her eyes.
“…Got it.
I’ll take care of it for you.” One look at her expression was enough for Hibari to know what she wanted.
He didn’t refuse.
He handed the kitten to Yukino so she could pet it for the rest of the way, then took it back only after dropping her off at home.
Hibari said goodbye to her and bought some milk on his way home.
“You’re lucky to be raised by me.
I’m a dog person, you know.” “Meow.” The kitten wasn’t afraid of strangers.
It didn’t understand Hibari’s words and simply lapped up the milk with its tiny tongue.
“Fine.
Since I’ve decided to keep you, I should at least give you a name.” Hibari thought for a while before finally deciding.
“I’ll call you Yukino.
How about that?
I’m pretty talented at naming things, aren’t I?” Not far away, No.
2 rolled its eyes in an extremely human manner.
Its gaze toward Hibari clearly said, “Idiot.” It looked at Hibari as though he were an idiot!
…
Time passed day by day.
With the national tournament approaching, many basketball clubs were training desperately during this period to achieve good results.
Teiko Middle School.
Compared to Chiba Middle School, its basketball club was far more advanced.
As one of Teiko Middle School’s greatest recruiting attractions, the basketball club received considerable attention from the school and a large amount of funding every year.
With money came advanced facilities.
Whether it was the basketball courts, locker rooms, or anything else, every aspect of Teiko Middle School’s basketball club ranked among the best in the nation.
And Kozo Shirogane was a godfather-like figure at Teiko Middle School.
He had been with the team for more than twenty years and had coached Teiko ever since retiring.
Over those twenty-plus years, he had led Teiko to ten national tournament championships, making him a truly legendary head coach.
Last year, the team had unfortunately fallen in the final and failed to claim its eleventh championship.
Their defeat was partly due to poor luck, but the greater reason was the overall lack of quality in their roster.
Shuzo Nijimura, a first-year last season, had already displayed the talent of an all-around player.
In the end, however, he had still lacked experience.
But this year was different.
After being tempered by last year’s final, Shuzo Nijimura had advanced another step.
The media claimed that Shuzo Nijimura had the potential to become the strongest middle school player.
In Kozo Shirogane’s view, there was no need to wait.
Shuzo Nijimura was already the strongest middle school player in the nation.
Moreover, the basketball club had welcomed five very special players this year.
Seijuro Akashi, Shintaro Midorima, Daiki Aomine, Atsushi Murasakibara, and Shogo Haizaki.
These five geniuses had surprised him on their very first day in the basketball club.
Their talent was absolutely among the strongest Kozo Shirogane had seen over the past ten years.
And conveniently, they covered positions one through five.
That made things very interesting.
Perhaps Teiko was about to welcome a super-platinum generation of its own.
Akashi and the others didn’t disappoint him.
They quickly displayed abilities surpassing the original starters during practice games.
This year’s Teiko was certain to astonish basketball fans across the nation.
That’s right.
He had already promoted these first-year students into the starting lineup.
Kozo Shirogane had dared to build the team around Shuzo Nijimura and challenge for the championship last year.
Why couldn’t he continue by using five newcomers?
Even if the former starters were dissatisfied, they didn’t dare say much.
Because Kozo Shirogane was the true core of Teiko.
Under his supervision, the day’s activities for Teiko’s basketball club came to an end.
The manager, Satsuki Momoi, came skipping into the basketball club at that moment.
“Basketball club activities are already over.
Why are you only arriving now?” Daiki Aomine spoke to his childhood friend while packing his things.
“I saw a rather interesting team and got delayed.” Satsuki Momoi stuck out her tongue, trying to charm her way out of trouble.
“Don’t say that.
Compared to us, Momoi works the hardest.” Seijuro Akashi wore a smile filled with warmth and grace that seemed to embrace everything.
He asked, “Momoi, you mentioned an interesting team.
Which one was it?” “Chiba Middle School!” Satsuki Momoi explained the purpose of her trip and her unexpected discovery.
“Eikichi Nebuya’s team?” Shuzo Nijimura remembered them.
Although Teiko hadn’t faced Chiba Middle School last year, Eikichi Nebuya’s reputation was well known to him.
As a first-year, Nebuya had already been the best center in Chiba Prefecture and a powerful contender for the title of strongest number five in the nation.
“Mm-hmm, that’s Nebuya-senpai’s team.
They play a very tough style of basketball and excel at destroying opponents through physical contact.” “Nebuya-senpai himself is also a center who greatly values physicality.
He and Coach Hayato Takahashi are a perfect match.” Satsuki Momoi told them every detail.
Although she was a girl, she possessed an extraordinary basketball IQ.
By examining an opponent’s roster, tactics, playing style, and more, she could predict what actions they would take during a game.
She was a super spy when it came to gathering intelligence.
She personally felt that boys who played basketball were all far too simple and easy to understand.
“They sound troublesome.” The moment Atsushi Murasakibara heard the opponent played the number-five position, he felt something was wrong.
Wasn’t that completely aimed at him?
“Hehe.
If we meet them in a game, Murasakibara, you’d better work hard.
Nebuya-senpai is a very powerful center.” “However…
Chiba Middle School doesn’t have only Nebuya-senpai this year.” “Oh?
Who else is there?” The others also became interested.
Chiba Middle School had reached the national top sixteen last year.
Even if they hadn’t played against them, Teiko had at least learned something about the team.
The second- and third-year Teiko players couldn’t remember anyone else on Chiba Middle School’s roster worth paying attention to besides that muscular brute Eikichi Nebuya.
“Hibari.
He’s a first-year at Chiba Middle School.
There are no clear records of him competing during elementary school, and he only joined the basketball club within the past month.” “No clear competition records.
Are you saying…
he’s a beginner?” “Yes.
According to members of their basketball club, Hibari’s fundamentals were very poor when he started, so he’s most likely a beginner.” “If he were simply a beginner, you wouldn’t be this concerned about him.” Shintaro Midorima adjusted his glasses.
“That’s exactly the problem.
In less than a month, Hibari has already become Chiba Middle School’s second most important player, and Coach Hayato Takahashi values him highly.” At this point, Momoi’s expression became serious.
Hibari’s unreasonable drives and finishing ability at the basket were beyond her understanding.
“A second move performed in an instant?” “Mm.
It looks extremely abrupt.
His change-of-direction drives from left to right don’t slow down at all, and many of his actions, such as switching from a dunk to a finger roll, feel strange.” “What’s so strange about that?
Doesn’t it just mean he’s fast and has quick reactions?” Aomine didn’t think there was anything special about it.
He did things like that every day.
“It feels different from you, Dai.” Satsuki Momoi didn’t know how to describe that sensation.
“I think Hibari’s way of scoring may be even more threatening than yours.” Even more threatening than Aomine?!
…
Please add this book to your library!