"Momoi is still the same."
"Girls are always easier than boys to notice things that ordinary people don't notice."
Two Akashis communicated in the brain.
The move of Mayuzumi Chihiro was prepared by him before the match started.
He anticipated the course of the match. Without his threading the needle, Tōō's defense would cause great trouble for Rakuzan.
And Rakuzan could only rely on stronger individual ability to play.
Naturally, the match would be fought anxiously.
At this time, he threw Mayuzumi Chihiro onto the chessboard; Tōō couldn't win no matter what.
Because even if Momoi and Tōō weren't vigilant, Mayuzumi also had the ability to change the match result.
Of course.
"This is the best result, not exposing Chihiro-senpai's ability."
"Yuuto definitely won't guess that we found another 'Kuroko'."
"Ah, Rakuzan's victory is absolute."
Secondary Akashi completely lost his voice after saying this, hiding away.
Swish!
The ball went in, a fatal three-pointer.
Less than 1 minute left in the match, gap was 4 points—an insurmountable gap.
Momoi watched helplessly as Mibuchi Reo made this three-pointer, heart feeling like it was hit by a hammer.
It was her cleverness that put the team in a predicament.
"That big-breasted woman looks very sad." Sora didn't gloat; her expression was even somewhat worried.
"If you care about Momoi, call her later to comfort her."
"I won't do that; better if she loses miserably."
Sora hmphed, turning her head away.
Finally.
The match ended. Rakuzan defeated Tokyo's No. 2 seed Tōō by a 6-point advantage.
After hitting the fatal three, Rakuzan's morale boosted, and they defended one Tōō offense.
Pressured by time, Tōō could only adopt foul tactics.
Mibuchi Reo made two free throws, completely killing the match suspense.
After the match.
Sora didn't call to comfort, but Momoi ran over seeking comfort.
"Yu!!!"
Upon meeting, Momoi cried and pounced over.
She was truly sad, thinking her cleverness caused the team to lose.
Guilt made her tears flow uncontrollably when she saw Yuuto.
At this time, Momoi didn't look like a super spy at all, not the one who could choke Sora speechless, nor the flirtatious master.
She was like a little girl who did something wrong and was at a loss.
"You weren't wrong."
"I was; I caused the team to lose."
She cried loudly, shoulders twitching, hands clutching Yuuto's clothes tightly.
"Your intuition was right. That Mayuzumi Chihiro is not simple."
"What do you mean?"
I was right?
Momoi raised her head; her tear-stained face was pitiable.
Yuuto found a place for her to sit and calm down.
After a while, he told her, "That Mayuzumi Chihiro is very likely another Kuroko."
"Kuroko? How is that possible? How can there be another person in this world with such low presence?" Momoi was incredulous.
To some extent, she even felt Kuroko's presence was rarer than Yuuto and the others' talents.
"Otherwise, what qualifications does a player with such low ability have to enter Rakuzan's roster? Don't forget, he was discovered by Akashi."
"But..."
Momoi's intuition indeed told her that the player named Mayuzumi Chihiro wasn't simple.
Because Akashi wasn't an ordinary person; people he favored must have their uniqueness.
Just like he discovered Kuroko's possibility back then, and saw Kise's future surpassing Haizaki.
All signs proved that Akashi's vision was vicious.
However...
Yuuto and Akashi were the same; their ability to discover teammates around them was on the same level.
Just like Kuroko and Haizaki, and even Seiho's teammates now.
He helped Kuroko develop the Phantom Shot and Vanishing Drive, helped Haizaki derive Phantom Step under his talent, and developed the offensive ability Seiho needed most.
They could always see the possibilities hidden in players.
Thinking of this, Momoi believed 90% in her heart.
"Really a second Kuroko?"
"Nine out of ten."
"Then in the finals a week later, you guys..."
"I know what I'm doing."
Yuuto took out a tissue to wipe the tears from Momoi's eyes.
"Akashi thinks he hid it well, not knowing I know everything."
He laughed, with thick confidence. Momoi stared at his face, looked and looked, and suddenly stopped crying.
So good-looking!
She somewhat understood her mother, why she fell for her mediocre-looking father back then.
She had asked specifically, and her mother said, "Serious and confident men look the best; you'll know in the future."
"Hungry?"
"Full from crying just now."
"And now?"
"Coaxed by you, hungry..."
This damn woman really understands.
Yuuto was amused by her cuteness.
"Then let's go, take you to eat something."
"Okay, but this time Yu, you can't let me pay!"
She obviously still held a grudge about Yuuto freeloading that time; although Aomine did it too, a date with Yuuto was different in nature.
"Won't let you pay."
"Then I'm going."
Momoi's smile bloomed like a flower.
...
The next day.
The Nationals entered the only week of rest time.
All Rakuzan members returned to the basketball club to prepare, and Seiho also chose to stay in Kyoto for practice.
Yamashita Shio also used his connections to schedule a few practice matches for Seiho.
Mostly university students, Seiho's former seniors.
Receiving the teacher's call, they took the bus from all over the country to Kyoto to spar with their alma mater without a word.
After just one game, these old seniors began to lament.
"Coach, if we had Yuuto when I played back then, we would definitely have won."
"You're right, but your position overlaps with Yuuto, so you could only be a substitute champion."
"Hahahaha..."
The atmosphere in the gym was very good.
These players, some left Seiho three years ago, some two years, some even just one year.
Everyone grew up a bit; what didn't change was their affection for Seiho.
After all.
Seiho hadn't won a championship for many years; every year left many regrets.
Therefore.
When Yamashita Shio called, these seniors took the bus from all over the country without hesitation.
If Seiho could win the championship in the end, helping the team spar would somewhat fill those regrets in their hearts.
"Since there are many people today, I'll announce something."
Yamashita Shio called everyone together.
These players were all his disciples, his students.
Although a few years had passed and everyone changed a lot, in Yamashita Shio's heart, their appearances still stayed at the time they first joined in their first year.
Finally, his gaze rested on Yuuto, the disciple with the best talent he had ever coached in his life, and probably the one who would make him proud in the future.
He said, "Yuuto, from now on, you are the new captain of the Seiho Basketball Club."
At the moment when they were one step away from the summit.
He chose to let Yuuto take over Seiho's crown.
...
Get 20+ chapters ahead on - P.a.t.r.e.o.n "RoseWhisky"