Chapter 17

The freshmen worth looking forward to this year are only Tiandao Tiandao Jingyan Tiandao and the others.

By the way, where are Tiandao and Aomine?

Kozo Shirogane urged the members to train, only to find that Tiandao Tiandao Jingyan Tiandao and Aomine were not in the team.

Scanning the gym, he found that the two idiots were still chatting, and Aomine was laughing like a fool.

"Tiandao, Aomine, return to the team immediately."

"Understood!"

Tiandao Tiandao Jingyan Tiandao withdrew his gaze and went to practice.

These few segments of daily training really didn’t have any screen time to sponge off.

Being a warm-hearted big brother accompanying Kuroko to run didn’t fit his character design either.

But even if he didn’t sponge off, barrages still flew past from time to time.

Tiandao Tiandao Jingyan Tiandao knew that Kuroko’s gaze would look over here from time to time.

Club activities ended.

Coming out of the locker room in a change of clothes, he saw Riko Amanai standing there with her hands on her hips.

"Making a beautiful girl wait so long, do you have any gentlemanly demeanor at all?"

"Making a teenager who aims to conquer the nation give up club activities, are you stupid?"

Riko Amanai glared.

Tiandao Tiandao Jingyan Tiandao rolled his eyes.

The simple bickering between the two caused barrages to float past.

Huh, why are there barrages?

Tiandao Tiandao Jingyan Tiandao turned his head to see if Kuroko was peeking at him.

As a result, just as he turned his head, he found that Kuroko had already arrived beside him at some point.

"Ghost!"

Riko Amanai and Tiandao Tiandao Jingyan Tiandao jumped out the door in horror, with a synchronization rate as high as 99%.

"Kuroko!!!"

"Tiandao-kun, and..." Kuroko looked at Riko Amanai, not knowing her name, he could only say, "Hello!"

"Hello what hello, don’t scare people and then ask how they are as if nothing happened."

"But I’ve been here the whole time."

'Kuroko didn’t lie, I can testify.'

'That’s right, he came to find Tiandao to go home together.'

'Hahaha, no matter how many times I watch it, this reaction is still so funny!'

'Tiandao’s heart rate accelerated 10086!'

"If I don’t live past 100 years old in the future, it must be your problem, Kuroko!" Tiandao Tiandao Jingyan Tiandao opened his mouth with a ruthless roast, "This level of presence can already be called stealth, right? You wouldn’t have a friend named Harry Potter, would you!"

"Stupid, how could it be Harry Potter? He doesn’t even need an invisibility cloak to be invisible; he must have the blood of the Invisible Woman!"

Tiandao Tiandao Jingyan Tiandao and Riko Amanai both stared at Kuroko, both scared.

Kuroko raised a corner of his mouth and said, "You guys have a really good relationship; are you boyfriend and girlfriend?"

Really good relationship?

Are you blind?

Riko Amanai rolled her eyes at Kuroko, and only after coming to her senses did she realize that because she was too scared just now, she had unconsciously hugged Tiandao Tiandao Jingyan Tiandao, and they hadn’t separated yet.

"Stay away from me, you scumbag!"

"Stupid woman, don’t hug me casually!"

"Teach me, how can I play basketball well?"

On the way home, Kuroko stated his purpose.

He longed to be able to play basketball normally, just like an ordinary person.

Instead of air-balling every layup and losing the ball after dribbling two steps.

"Yes, I want to play like Tendo-kun!" Kuroko said, his face full of anticipation.

Tendo Keiyan rubbed his chin.

He was perfectly clear about the hidden potential within Kuroko.

A player like this could never become a professional. For Kuroko, the spotlight of a professional arena was too blinding, leaving him nowhere to hide.

But in student-level competitions, his abilities could shine and generate heat.

He knew very well how to develop Kuroko's abilities.

What he needed to consider now was how to increase his own popularity from this.

Showing off his unique insight was a good direction, and he could add a little flavor to the process.

Like, say, some "Versailles" style humble-bragging.

Just like how Gojo Satoru asked Ieiri Shoko for advice on how to master the Reverse Cursed Technique from Geto Suguru.

*Whoosh* like this, *shoo* like that, *whoosh-shoo* like this...

You couldn't understand a word she said, and in turn, you'd get roasted by her for having no talent.

It was quite fun, and it fit his persona.

Thinking of this, Tendo Keiyan agreed, "No problem, let's start tomorrow."

"I don't have time after school because I have a part-time job. How about we set it during lunch break?"

"Okay, thank you, Tendo-kun." Kuroko left happily.

The next day, lunch break.

Tendo Keiyan, Kuroko, and Amanai Riko went to the basketball club together.

Amanai Riko was there to see how a guy like Tendo Keiyan would teach someone else!

"Since I'm going to teach you how to play, let's first see what level you're at." Tendo Keiyan tossed a ball to Kuroko, letting him show what he could do.

Kuroko caught the ball and nodded seriously, "I promise I'll give it my all!"

*Thump~*

Kuroko dribbled the ball hard, brought it to the basket like an old lady taking a stroll, lifted both hands in a pose like he was holding up a Spirit Bomb, and threw the ball from one basket to the other.

Throughout the entire process, the ball didn't even touch the rim.

*Clatter~*

Chopsticks fell onto the floor with a crisp sound; Amanai Riko was left staring in a daze.

She remarked that even she could shoot better than this invisible guy named Kuroko.

Amanai Riko couldn't help but roast him, "This isn't just 'a bit bad,' you're completely incapable of playing basketball, aren't you?"

Kuroko had told them before he came that his level was limited.

Seeing it now, it was completely kindergarten level; he couldn't even dribble the ball steadily.

"Kuroko, are you a sports idiot?" She rarely used honorifics, as her mental age was older than Kuroko and the others.

"Shut up, Riko!" Tendo Keiyan told her to be quiet, then said, "Even a sports idiot has the right to play basketball."

*Pfft~*

Kuroko felt like he’d been stabbed in the chest.

'As expected of you, you really know how to comfort people!'

'Kuroko has turned to stone, hey!'

'Lies don't hurt, the truth is the sharp blade.'

"Don't stand on the moral high ground and talk big; don't you want to roast him too?" Amanai Riko pouted.

"I held back, you didn't. And I wouldn't be so blunt; be a bit more tactful, understand? Emotional intelligence!"

*Pfft~*

Kuroko was stabbed in the chest again. To hell with your emotional intelligence.

I really wish you two could be tactful enough not to discuss this in front of me.