Chapter 31: Kuroko's first official match

"Where the heck is that guy?"

Nijimura grumbled, frustration clear in his voice as he stared at his phone.

"I'm sorry, Captain. I'm sick," came Haizaki's reply, which only deepened Nijimura's irritation. He turned to Assistant Coach Sanada and reported, "Haizaki says he's sick and can't make it today."

"..."

Sanada shook his head lightly, clearly displeased, while the other team members were left in a state of disbelief.

Tsuna found the situation rather amusing and couldn't help but chuckle to himself.

"Alright, change of plan. Let's put Kuroko's ability to the test right away. We'll catch up on points later. Kuroko, you're in," Sanada declared, turning to the starters, including Tsuna.

"Eh? Um, okay..."

Kuroko responded, a touch of nervousness evident in his voice as he grappled with the sudden change in strategy.

Their original plan was to build a comfortable lead in the score before trying new strategies.

However, this plan hinged on Haizaki's presence to disrupt the opponent's rhythm and create a dynamic combination with Tsuna's incredible dribbling skills to overpower the opposition.

"...Heh, I thought I was about to play."

Aomine, feeling rather disappointed, voiced his frustration from the bench. His complaints fell on deaf ears as Sanada remained focused on the game.

Meanwhile, Aomine turned his attention to Kuroko, who looked as pale as a sheet of paper. He clapped a nervous freshman on the back, trying to offer some encouragement. The freshman seemed to be trembling with anxiety, likely experiencing his first official match.

"Come on, I know you got this..."

Observing this, Tsuna couldn't help but shake his head. He gave the nervous player a reassuring pat on the shoulder and advised, "Kuroko, if you're this nervous, it'll be tough to play your best out there..."

"Saying that might just make him even more nervous..."

Midorima interjected. He held a remote control in his hand.

But Kuroko remained unfazed, his expression locked in that nervous state, his eyes were hollow.

The referee's whistle cut through the air, signaling them to gather at the center of the court for the customary exchange of greetings between the teams.

But the pleasantries were short-lived. The match kicked off with the ball tossed into the air once everyone had taken their positions. Murasakibara effortlessly snagged the ball and sent it to Tsuna.

Tsuna's firm grip on the ball allowed him to slice through Namabara High's defense, effortlessly netting the first two points for Teiko.

The excitement radiated from his teammates, each taking their turn to score. Murasakibara unleashed a powerful dunk, Akashi made layup shots with finesse, and Midorima displayed his deadly accuracy with a three-pointer.

However, amid this excitement, Kuroko's anxiety got the best of him, and he suddenly tumbled to the floor, startling Akashi, who was walking ahead of him.

"...Don't worry, I'm alright."

Kuroko scrambled back to his feet without missing a beat, but something was clearly off. His nose had started bleeding.

Midorima adjusted his glasses, a hint of skepticism in his voice as he remarked, "Doesn't seem convincing..."

Tsuna shook his head while looking at this and signaled for a player substitution, prompting Assistant Coach Sanada to take action.

Understanding the situation, Sanada sighed and turned to Aomine, who appeared worried for Kuroko. "Aomine, it's your turn."

Kuroko, feeling a sense of guilt for not being able to perform well, left the court, offering a quiet apology.

With Aomine's entry into the game, Teiko continued to dominate. They were playing on their home court, and victory seemed almost assured.

The game took place at Teiko's Basketball Court, and once it concluded, the team had some free time within the school grounds. Since they had another game in the afternoon, they could skip classes as part of their responsibilities as student-athletes representing the school.

"...What on earth is that?"

Tsuna stared at the bento box in Aomine's hand with sheer disbelief.

Murasakibara, seated beside him, wore an equally shocked expression. Akashi and Midorima, not far away, shared the same sentiment.

Meanwhile, Kuroko appeared to be still dwelling on the previous game, his gaze distant and unfocused.

Aomine, holding the mysterious bento, answered, "It's from Momoi."

"She might be a shaman. I heard those people still exist in Japan. This bento feels like a terrifying curse."

Tsuna couldn't help but think that Momoi might be a shaman with such an otherworldly creation.

With that, Aomine sighed and decided to make a hasty trip to the convenience store.

As Aomine left, Murasakibara noticed something amiss. He picked up an abandoned wallet on the bench nearby.

"Wait, isn't this Aomine's wallet?"

Murasakibara observed, holding the wallet in his large hand.

Kuroko, who had been lost in thought, snapped back to attention. He agreed to return it and gestured for Murasakibara to toss it over.

Murasakibara, however, threw it rather suddenly, catching Kuroko off guard. Kuroko fumbled a bit and said, "...Murasakibara, please don't toss it so suddenly."

Akashi, who had been quietly observing, sensed something intriguing. As Kuroko dashed off to catch up with Aomine, Akashi turned his attention to Tsuna.

"...You seemed to notice that too, Tsunayoshi."

Tsuna nodded, acknowledging Akashi's comment.

"Huh? Notice what?"

Murasakibara asked as he dived into his snacks without a care. Savoring the taste, his attention now fully on them as he indulged in them. Completely forget about the issue of Kuroko's play.

Midorima, on the other hand, was intrigued and listened intently to their conversation.

Tsuna sighed, explaining. "His timing was off, and his emotions were affecting his play. Skilled magicians understand their environment and control their emotions to make the trick work."

Tsuna believed that if Kuroko grasped this, his performance could significantly improve.

However, he had been observing quietly, not wanting to interfere prematurely.

"...It seems like Kuroko was fated with this type of trick."

Tsuna thought to himself. He didn't entirely agree with relying solely on this advantage without building a strong foundation first.

Tsuna believed such a trick would not bring you far enough to reach the top.

With his keen perception, Akashi had picked up on it, though.

And Midorima also came to a realization. However, Midorima remained skeptical about how much of a difference Kuroko's play would make.

The afternoon game rolled around, and Nijimura appeared with a battered Haizaki, leaving the team momentarily speechless.

Unfazed by Haizaki's condition, Assistant Coach Sanada briefed the team on the game plan, which remained largely unchanged from the previous match. Despite Kuroko's lackluster performance earlier, Sanada seemed willing to give him another chance, slotting him into the lineup for the second half.

This time, Kuroko displayed better control over his emotions, earning a small smile from Akashi. It was apparent that Akashi conversed with Kuroko, guiding him in improving his play.

With Kuroko now seamlessly syncing with the first string's fast-paced rhythm, his unpredictable passes significantly bolstered their scoring potential.

Observing this, Tsuna couldn't deny the value of such a skill for the team.

"...Unpredictable, huh? That sounds quite interesting."

He pondered the possibilities, a mischievous grin forming on his lips as he contemplated how this newfound unpredictability might be leveraged for his plans.

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