"What did you just say?"
Tsutomu Iwamura's eyes narrowed sharply, his expression hardening. "You're saying Kiyoshi's injury was intentional, done by Hanamiya?"
"That's right." Akashi Asuka nodded calmly. "Although Seirin didn't make it public, and there's no conclusive evidence, I've reviewed the footage of that game over and over. By now, I can say with near certainty that Kiyoshi Teppei's injury was the result of Hanamiya Makoto's deliberate foul play."
"Whaaat?!"
"That's awful!"
"How could someone like that even exist?"
Perhaps in professional sports, underhanded tactics might sometimes be excused or even praised by certain people. But in high school competitions, such behavior was nothing short of disgraceful, utterly unforgivable.
Akashi listened to their indignant reactions, his own expression unchanging.
He hadn't revealed this information to defend Kiyoshi Teppei or demand justice. No, he had said it to teach Seiho a lesson, one called "Reality."
He waited until the noise of moral outrage finally subsided before speaking again, his voice even and detached.
"I think you all have a clearer image of Hanamiya Makoto now. But let me tell you one more thing, the aftermath of that incident."
He paused deliberately for a few seconds, letting tension build as everyone looked at him expectantly.
"After that match," Akashi continued, "Kiyoshi Teppei underwent surgery and was hospitalized. To this day, he still hasn't fully recovered. As for Hanamiya Makoto…"
He paused again, then said softly, "He was never punished."
"What?!"
"Are you telling me the referees were blind that day?!"
Angry shouts erupted among the first-years. The third-years, however, merely frowned and exchanged quiet glances, they had already guessed as much.
"It's not that the referees didn't see anything," Akashi explained flatly. "Even with video review, it was impossible to prove Hanamiya's actions were intentional. Without solid evidence, the most they could do was call a technical foul."
"But by that point," he continued, "it was already the end of the game. One technical foul meant nothing to him. So…"
He exhaled slowly.
"Unfortunately, that's reality."
His voice carried no emotion, no anger, no sadness, just cold, hard facts. His calm, mechanical tone was so unnerving that even Coach Matsumoto Yukinori couldn't help glancing at him with surprise.
It was hard to believe such clear-eyed realism could come from a first-year high school student.
The gym fell silent.
Everyone's faces were mixed with disbelief, frustration, and contemplation.
"It's not just what happens on the court that decides the outcome of a game," Akashi continued. "Information gathering, physical conditioning before the match, body management, and self-protection… all of it together determines the final strength of a team."
"If you can't even guarantee your own physical safety, then no matter how strong you are, you'll never win in the end."
============
Time passed, and May arrived.
The National Tournament Qualifiers had officially begun.
As one of the Three Kings of Tokyo, Seiho High didn't need to participate in the first preliminary round.
Their first opponent was Fujiyama High.
A prestigious old school in Tokyo, known for its excellent academic record and decent athletic clubs, but not for basketball.
Their real pride was baseball.
So while Akashi Asuka started the game, most of Seiho's main players were already subbed out by halftime, clocking out early after a comfortable lead.
After an easy win in the first round, Seiho's players returned to school to rest, refocus, and continue their training, especially in Body Management and Self-Protection.
Two weeks earlier, Akashi Asuka had given the team a wake-up call with his blunt, unforgettable lecture.
And without a doubt,
In the arena of national competition, expecting mercy from your opponents was nothing but a fantasy.
Competitive sports cared only about one thing, results.
As long as it wasn't caught by the rules, good or evil, right or wrong… none of it mattered.
Akashi remained the lead instructor for Body Management and Self-Protection Training.
Coach Matsumoto would assist on the side, but for this kind of hands-on class, words alone didn't mean much,
BAM!
"Ugh! A-Akashi-kun! Not so hard! You're going too rough, I can't take it!"
"Are you sure no one's watching this?!"
"This is way too brutal, it hurts!"
============
On Seiho's basketball court, cries of pain and groans echoed one after another.
Today's training was one-on-one combat drills. Every single Seiho player, starters and substitutes alike, had to take turns facing off against Akashi Asuka himself.
He wasn't just the instructor today. He was their reality check.
He would show them, physically, just how dangerous a basketball player could be when things got rough.
Right now, Akashi was up against Kasuga Ryuhei.
According to the rules, they would play three possessions.
Regardless of who scored more, the match would end there.
When the players first heard those rules, they thought it would be over quickly. After all, three plays shouldn't take long, maybe under a minute per person.
But Akashi was about to show them just how long "three possessions" could feel… when you were up against him.
He held the ball at the perimeter, facing Kasuga.
With his athletic ability, Akashi could've easily bulldozed his way into the paint and dunked by now.
But instead, he didn't move.
He toyed with him, circling, feinting, drawing contact, dragging out the possession for over ten seconds. Every time he got the chance to break through, he'd suddenly pull back, resetting to the perimeter.
And every time he pulled back, he'd "accidentally" drive an elbow into Kasuga's ribs.
From the angle and motion, it looked natural, like a normal shielding move. Even if a referee saw it, it'd be almost impossible to call.
Why?
Because Akashi's movements were too fast.
Each blow was subtle, fleeting, just a "brushing motion" from his off-hand. Even though the players on the sidelines knew he was fouling on purpose, they still couldn't confidently say whether it counted as a violation.
But if someone lifted Kasuga's jersey right now…
They'd see at least five or six dark red bruises blooming across his side.
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