Chapter Forty: I Won't Play Basketball Anymore
Yagami Sorato crouched beside Murasakibara Atsushi, listening carefully for a moment. He definitely heard an extremely faint, suppressed sniffling sound.
"No way, actually crying?" Yagami tilted his head curiously, addressing the purple "towel head." "Just like Kise—losing and crying about it."
The purple "towel head" suddenly froze.
"I thought a cocky kid like you would have a more dramatic reaction to losing." Yagami asked with investigative curiosity.
"You bastard!! What do you want?!"
"Get away from Atsushi!"
Yosen players who'd been giving Murasakibara space to calm down suddenly noticed this "uninvited guest." Everyone instantly surrounded him, staring at Yagami with unfriendly expressions, looking ready to fight at the slightest provocation.
"Relax, relax everyone." Yagami showed no concern for the surrounding hostility, innocently raising both hands. "I haven't done anything yet."
"Just came to check on him. After all, he's the legendary 'Generation of Miracles.'" Yagami said with a smiling expression.
"Next time we meet, we'll win." Himuro Tatsuya blocked Murasakibara's front. "Losing this game wasn't Atsushi's fault."
"Hmm?" Yagami's expression became serious. "Are you joking?"
"Win or lose, the game relates to every player."
"You—"
"He's right." Murasakibara yanked the towel off his head. "Losing this game was my problem."
"Atsushi!"
"So I won't play basketball anymore."
"What?!" Yosen players turned their heads almost simultaneously, looking at their ace with disbelief.
"I wasn't that interested in basketball to begin with," Murasakibara's eyes were slightly red, yet he forced an indifferent expression. "Someone just happened to call me to play at the start."
"Basketball was just a sport that suited me, but as expected—"
"It's a boring sport."
"Now that I've lost, there's no reason to keep playing."
"Pfft—" Yagami, listening from the side, finally couldn't hold back his laughter. "That's why I say you're a childish brat."
"You bastard! What the hell do you want?!" Okamura Kenichi instantly exploded with rage, stepping forward and angrily pushing Yagami away.
Yosen players subtly protected Murasakibara from the front.
Yagami stepped back half a pace with the momentum, but his face still wore that infuriatingly relaxed smile.
"Those words you just said..." He deliberately drew out his tone, pointing at the corner of his own eye. "If you hadn't said them while crying, they might have been a bit more convincing."
Before Yosen could erupt again, Yagami casually waved his hand, turning to leave. After two steps, as if remembering something, he half-turned back, his gaze sweeping across Yosen's entire team before settling on Murasakibara.
"Next time we meet," he said with a smile, though his eyes grew serious, "I hope you've gotten stronger."
"Otherwise, we'll really be bored."
After the "uninvited guest" left, Yosen's rest area fell into brief silence.
"Next time," Himuro spoke first, "we absolutely have to win back, Atsushi."
"Yeah," Murasakibara buried his head in the towel, his voice muffled. "Sorry."
"Idiot, we're only just getting started now." Captain Okamura vigorously rubbed Murasakibara's head. "Let's work hard together!"
Yagami returned to Ryonan's rest area.
"You didn't do anything inappropriate, did you?" Seeing his pleased expression, Sendoh couldn't help asking.
"Of course not. I just kindly offered some advice." Yagami said matter-of-factly.
"I thought you went to provoke them. Almost worried you'd get in a fight." Aida muttered quietly. "Uozumi-senpai was about to call everyone to rescue you, but thinking about it being someone else's school, if we really fought, we'd most likely have to collectively flee in the end..."
"Why would I do something like that?" Yagami smiled with a sunshine-filled appearance. "You know I'm a Generation of Miracles fan. Rarely meeting one in person, I was just a bit curious."
"Oh right, I heard you mention that before." Aida immediately believed Yagami's explanation, turning to ask curiously: "So what do you think of him? He's not as brutal as on court, is he?"
"Haha, not at all." Yagami said breezily. "Anyway, watching him cry was pretty interesting."
"Cry?" That word instantly piqued Sendoh's interest. He raised his eyebrows curiously, instinctively glancing toward Yosen's rest area.
However, several opposing players immediately cast vigilant, guarded looks, as if facing some dangerous person. Seeing this, Sendoh could only smile and elegantly withdraw his gaze, abandoning his thought of investigating further.
"Everyone performed excellently today. Of course, the problems exposed were equally numerous." Coach Taoka stood before his players, conducting the post-game preliminary summary. "We'll carefully review the specifics after returning to Ryonan."
He paused briefly, his tone softening: "This afternoon is yours for free activities. You can explore Akita city, relax a bit. Consider it a small reward for your hard training during Golden Week."
"Eh—? The reward is just some free time?" The players immediately cast pitiful looks.
"..." Coach Taoka felt somewhat uncomfortable under their stares, coughing and adding irritably: "After the review session... I'll add a big meal! Will that work?"
"YEAH!!!" The players' eyes instantly lit up, erupting in enthusiastic cheers.
"But!" Coach Taoka raised his volume, straightening his face to emphasize discipline. "During free time, absolutely no causing trouble! Move in groups of at least two, keep phones on!"
"Yes!"
With this rare break, Yagami suddenly remembered the "mission" Chika Yuuki had assigned him. Unexpectedly, he actually had time to pick out Akita specialties for that girl.
Just as he pondered what to buy, Sendoh walked over, his face wearing that habitual relaxed smile. "Sorato, got plans?"
"Planning to pick out some local specialties. Nothing else."
"Perfect," Sendoh smiled. "Come meet a friend with me."
"Friend?" Yagami felt somewhat surprised. He'd never heard Sendoh had friends in Akita.
"Don't forget, the strongest team in Akita isn't Yosen." Sendoh's tone carried a meaningful note. "Let's visit Sannoh Industrial. I already contacted Sawakita."
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