STEPBROTHER (HAIKYUU X KUROKO NO BASKETBALL SUMMER CAMP)
53
"I want you back as a basketball player, Henry-San. And this time not as a backup player, I want you to be the main player to replace Miyazumi Senpai."
Henry who listened to the offer could only laugh, not knowing what he was currently thinking other than feeling fed up at Akashi's words that sounded very calm and powerful.
"I refused, I would never want to be a basketball player again. Even if I wanted to be an athlete that everyone could know and be proud of, I decided to keep him in the Volleyball World. So, you don't have to bother taking me anymore." Henry made his decision.
"As much as it's your disappointment to make you hurt yourself, you should realize how great an opportunity I'm offering to restore your image." Akashi leaned against the door of the building while folding his hands together.
"Only a fool who has the same thoughts as you, obviously being a famous athlete in a sport you're not interested in feels different to the sport you loved so much from childhood. You're as stupid as I thought you are, allowing your ego to destroy all the opportunities you can get, do you really deserve my respect?" asked Akashi who was even mocking Henry without hesitation.
"You don't deserve to insult me, you've never felt like an outcast by all those who used to adore you. I'm almost crazy when all the media is talking about me with negative comments, you and all the members of Kiseki no Sedai are also one of the reasons I get negative comments." Henry gave a look at his mutant face.
"That's no reason for someone like you to give up, you're just a coward. You're afraid to accept a reality that isn't always beautiful, Henry-San. You always curse everyone for your inability to be greater than others, you are a much worse person than Kuroko or Mayuzumi. Even if in terms of ability, you are above them. You've really been defeated by yourself" said Akashi, who was disappointed by Henry's line of thought and walked away, he did not want to spend a lot of time to recruit Henry who he considered had failed as a basketball athlete.
"Basar Junior is haughty! What do you know about failure? You just failed once from your friend, after all you were born perfect so didn't have time to feel what I felt!" henry shouted while hitting the door many times.
However, his words just now had provoked Akashi's dislike. He turned around and opened his Eyes patch which immediately exposed Akashi's right eyeball in gray. With his face emitting a sinister aura, Akashi stared intently at Henry.
"I'm not the perfect boy you think I was, I was at the bottom as you feel. I know what it's like to be in a slump, the eyes of someone who doesn't stop cornering you. So, stop complaining! If you really want to play basketball back, get out of volleyball and meet me on the basketball court today. I don't like to wait any longer, Henry-San." Akashi immediately put his Eyes patch back on and walked away, leaving Henry unable to reply at all.
And while waiting for a decision from Henry, the Rakuzan captain came back to his members while grabbing the scoring board from the table.
He occupied the seat that Mibuchi had provided and told the three members of his first team to compete against the members of Rakuzan, no one asked Akashi's departure at that time. It seemed like the tight-faced look Akashi showed upon his return made the entire members hesitate to invite the captain to speak.
And the assessment that was done also did not last long, just a blink of an eye all Rakuzan members who will be nominated as Regular Team or the second team have been defeated by the three members.
Until a member of the Mibuchi age whose name feels familiar comes into the field with neat school uniforms and round glasses that he wears.
"I was invited by Akashi via gmail yesterday, after careful consideration all night. I was a little interested in the selection of the team today" he said, laughing loudly, his personality is very reversed with his appearance and the only people who stare displeased are Nebuya because they happen to be first-class classmates.
"Hey, Nebuya! You're getting black, your body has also been filled with disgusting ripped bread. Is your appetite growing?" his banter was shameless over his current position.
Obviously Nebuya became upset, he could have attacked the person if his body was not immediately detained by several third-graders including one of them there Mibuchi.
"Calm down, you can make Akashi angry!" recall Hayama to Nebuya who made the man instantly silent for a moment.
Akashi alone immediately welcomed the arrival of the stranger, he gave the man a basketball from the basket with a satisfied smile.
"You can show your skills now, Carloz-san. Show us how great your ability is now that we regretted having backed you up two years ago."
"You see this, Captain!" carloz shouted excitedly, after successfully breaking through the Nebuya defense and scoring a winning point against Nebuya in 1 vs 1. Although actually this time it was Hayama's turn, but Nebuya's upset feelings made him to take over Hayama's turn and Hayama himself did not mind if his rations were seized by Nebuya.
"Come, Nebuya! Defeat that madman!" yelling Hayama from the sidelines, he felt Carloz and Nebuya's match looked interesting to watch.
"Just relax, real men won't lose easily!" nebuya's reaction to Hayama, he immediately refocused himself and set his breathing path that had stirred because of provoked emotions.
Instead, Akashi just put on a flat face. He was busy to focus on analysing Carloz's movements in order to provide a supportive and fair assessment. Mibuchi is impressed by Akashi's attitude, which increasingly shows a different side of him, he is increasingly convinced that Akashi will lead them to victory once again before finally giving up their high school days as third graders.
But that proud smile was a bit washed away by the nonsense and carloz yelling repeatedly at Akashi, he really wanted to be praised by the Captain.
"What do you think, Captain? Am I worthy of being your member?" tanyanya managed to break the ring Nebuya for the fourth time.
"He really is a noisy person" Mibuchi complained to Akashi.
"Hey, Akashi! What do you offer that lunatic, why is he always trying to steal your attention?" asked Hayama who was annoyed at seeing Nebuya defeated so easily by Carloz.
"Hey, Akashi! You have to choose me after this, I will be your bodyguard ready to score the victory. You no longer need to wish more on those crownless kings" his laughter roared on the basketball court, he seemed to underestimate Nebuya who began to lose energy and could not think clearly again.
"He's underestimated us, I've run out of patience." Mibuchi got upset.
"Crazy basic! He thinks he's the De Paul who always looks after Messi? He's even weaker than a strong thug like De Paul, he's the one you're going to look after, Akashi." Hayama continued to grumble next to Akashi.
"Hayama-senpai, are you also a football fan like me?" ask Shin who has been there since the beginning with his position that has been inaugurated as the captain of the Regular basketball team.
"Not really, but Fyp tiktok me it's so all. I've memorized the names of great players like Messi, Ronaldo, Mbappe and Modric.... A lot anyway. By the way, I'm a big Stephen Curry fan anyway." Hayama even invited Shin to gossip and forget his anger at that time, he even asked Shin to stay away from the field so they could gossip.
Mibuchi could only shake his head, he could not think of Hayama. Though previously he looked annoyed at Carloz and still could not forget Shin's annoying behavior, but it was as easy as it was that he could get along with Shin.
"Calm down, Senpai. You don't have to worry. And I think we can stop this game, I don't want big-headed Carloz-san and it looks like Nebuya-senpai is not doing well. Maybe we can give a half-hour break to select other members and improve Nebuya-senpai's mental state."
"Alright, Sei-Chan. I agree with you," Mibuchi went straight to the Captain's orders.
***
What do you think of Charles and Henry? who better to be Rakuzan's first team to fill the void left by Mayuzumi?