That's what he said, but when Tendou Kageyoshi actually got up to leave, Riko Amanai immediately tugged him back down, clearly displeased, and made him keep watching the drama with her.
"Why does this feel like I'm stuck in the MV for Fairy Tale?" he sighed, feeling more and more like he was filming some over-the-top melodrama.
"I never should've agreed to this. Caving over a measly month of housework… At the very least, I should've bargained for an extra half-month's wages!"
...
The Next Day.
As the national tournament approached, training demands in the basketball club steadily ramped up.
Never mind the technical drills—when it came to physical conditioning, they were leveling up every week.
Tendou could feel it himself—his body was starting to put on muscle.
That went for Aomine and the others too—their builds were noticeably sturdier than when they first joined.
Of course, the growth wasn't drastic.
Shirogane Kōzō's training was meant to nurture the future of Japanese basketball. He wouldn't overtrain them just to chase a single championship. At their age, their bodies were still developing. Even bulking up for better physicality had to be done in moderation.
No wonder the high school basketball world had a saying:
"If it's from Teikō, it's guaranteed quality!"
Every year, countless high school coaches reached out to Shirogane Kōzō—or even visited in person—hoping to recruit Teikō's players into their programs.
Shuzō Nijimura, for example, had been approached by high school teams as early as his first national tournament. They were eager to sign him the moment he graduated from middle school.
With no formal draft system, the only way to recruit talent was to chase them down yourself—especially for weaker schools.
Top-tier programs could rely on name recognition to attract talent, but lesser-known schools had to do it the Tanaka Moeichi way: find a player they liked and go visit in person.
Even then, they'd often get the door slammed in their faces.
In that regard, Shirogane Kōzō was undoubtedly a master recruiter.
If all went well, after this year's national tournament, Tendou and Akashi would be getting those same offers—meeting with countless coaches, especially from lesser-known teams.
Those schools, unable to attract talent with prestige alone, would have no choice but to appeal with sincerity.
The big-name schools? They could afford to play it cool... at least for now.
But once these "Generation of Miracles" prodigies matured in their second year, that might all change.
Their talent was historic. No school would be able to resist this batch of prime-grade tea leaves.
...
Afternoon.
Teikō Middle School basketball gym.
Tendou was still helping Kuroko every day, trying to find a way to solve the problems holding him back.
Kuroko was touched—but also increasingly disheartened.
In his eyes, Tendou was the most talented player he'd ever seen. And if even someone like him couldn't help…
"Maybe coach was right. Maybe I really have no talent for basketball."
"Maybe instead of wasting time here, I should go do something that actually matters."
Tendou, who had been casually watching the comment feed and farming popularity, immediately perked up. This was it—a golden opportunity to deepen his character persona.
Under the basket, Kuroko clutched the ball in both hands, staring at it with downcast eyes. His expression was full of reluctant sorrow.
To him, basketball was something fun—something that made him happy.
But maybe… it was time to let it go.
He took a deep breath, turned to Tendou, and said, "Tendou-kun, these past few days—"
"What counts as something meaningful?" Tendou cut him off. "Do you actually know what truly matters in life, Kuroko?"
"...I don't," Kuroko admitted quietly after a pause.
"Of course you don't." Tendou slung an arm around his shoulders and flashed a smile brighter than the sun. "Because what you're doing right now—that is meaningful."
"Life isn't all smooth sailing. Wins and success are the rare joys. Failure and setbacks? That's the default."
"But that's exactly why we have to fight for those wins—fight for the joy. Only after the storm can you see the rainbow. And when you've gone through the pain and failure… that joy becomes so much more vivid and unforgettable."
"..."
Kuroko was at a loss for words. He was overwhelmed with emotion.
Unbeknownst to Tendou, the camera was zoomed in on him in that exact moment, capturing a dramatic close-up.
That impossibly handsome, anime-level face, paired with such a deeply philosophical speech—his popularity bar spiked on the spot.
『Cat-cat is amazing!』
『So cool, I love him, he's gorgeous!』
『Now I get it. The reason I keep failing at confessions… It's not that I'm unlucky. It's because my true love just hasn't shown up yet. My big surprise is still waiting!』
『Bro, wake up. It's not your 'true love' that's the issue—it's that you're ugly and broke.』
『Damn, that's brutal!』
『That guy has a point though. But still—none of us are out here becoming sword saints at eleven!』
Tendou had long since grown used to these ridiculous comments. He didn't even blink as he comforted Kuroko with one eye and skimmed the feed with the other.
Once he'd milked this popularity surge, he decided it was time to drop the real hook.
Taking the ball from Kuroko's hands, he said, "Basketball isn't just about scoring. Some people stand in the spotlight—they're the stars, the aces."
"But no team wins games with just one ace, just one star."
"We need people who stand in the shadows, out of the spotlight, quietly supporting the team from behind the scenes."
Tendou spun the ball on his fingertip with a flick, then said, "Kuroko, try becoming that shadow."
Shadow?
Kuroko's mind suddenly lit up.
It was like someone had flipped a switch in his consciousness. He didn't fully grasp it yet—but the seed had been planted.
"How do I do that?" he asked.
"I don't know."
Tendou didn't hand over an answer. He just offered a direction.
"But I believe your innate talent will lead you there."
"My talent?" Kuroko gave a wry smile. "I don't think I have any. My presence is so weak, people barely notice I'm even there."
"That is your talent, Kuroko. It's because people don't notice you… that you can become the perfect shadow."
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