Chapter 61 - Kise Joins The First-String (2/2)

She continued after introducing herself.

Satsuki: ”From today onwards, you're to practice in the first gym with the first string members.”

Kise smiled at the news and replied.

Kise: ”Okay. Uh, I mean, all right!”

The second-string members around the two were amazed by Kise's advancement.

Member One: ”Amazing. He got moved up to the first-string, without even having to take the advancement test.”

Member Two: ”It hasn't even been two weeks since he joined the club!”

Kise followed Satsuki and thought after hearing the other's comments.

Kise: 'Well, of course. I mean, this is me we're talking about.

Even if this club is supposed to be super strong, second-string isn't good enough for me.'

As they reached the door of the first gym, Kise's line of thought was disturbed by the figure of Aomine jumping up for a dunk.

Aomine held on to the rim and suspended off it. Without getting down, he asked.

Aomine: ”Satsuki, why is Kise here with you?”

Satsuki looked up at Aomine, who was still hanging from the rim of the basket.

Satsuki: ”Starting today, Kise-kun will be practicing with the first-string.”

Aomine: ”Oh yeah? That's amazing for someone who just started playing.”

Aomine released the rim and got down.

Aomine had, of course, forgotten about the conversation about Kise, he and the others had, earlier the same day.

Kise thought while looking at Aomine.

Kise: ”You're the one that's amazing. What kind of middle schooler can dunk?”

Kise thought back to Aomine's word.

Kise: ”And seriously, aren't you acting pretty chummy when we've only met a couple of times.”

Satsuki asked Aomine while he got the ball.

Satsuki: ”Aomine-kun, do you know where Testu-kun is?”

Aomine replied while moving to the other side of the court.

Aomine: ”Nope.”

Satsuki sighed and rested her hands on her waist.

Satsuki: ”What'll we do now? Tetsu-kun is supposed to be your mentor.”

Kise tilted his head and asked.

Kise: ”My mentor?”

Satsuki looked around the gym to see if she could find Kuroko.

Satsuki: ”Yeah. You're a second year, but all the third-year students are saying that since you entered the club late, you'll still have to do chores like a first-year.

So that's why we assigned a mentor to you as a guide till you get used to the first-string.”

Kise understood the matter about a mentor and asked.

Kise: ”And he's supposed to be this Tetsu-kun?”

Out of nowhere, Kise heard a voice call out to him.

???: ”You called?”

Kise was surprised and looked around to see the one who just spoke.

There was no one behind him or at his sides. When he returned facing forward, he was shocked to see someone standing right in front of him.

Kise cried out and backed up a few steps.

Kise: ”Who're you?”

Satsuki turned back to find why Kise was shouting. She saw the person she was looking for, so she went to introduce him.

Satsuki: ”Tetsu-kun! He's the guy I told you about before, Kise Ryota-kun.”

The person introduced himself and bowed.

Kuroko: ”Hello. I'm Kuroko Tetsuya.”

Kise looked at his so-called and was not impressed.

Kise: 'This guy's gonna be my mentor?'

-*-*-*-*-*-*-

There was a game going on in the first-string.

Both teams had some high-level players.

Kise saw the players in the game and was impressed.

He saw a huge guy, who he didn't believe was a middle-schooler.

He blocked every attempt to finishing at the rim.

Then there was Aomine who passed two guys and pulled a faceup jump shot from mid-range in a third one.

Kise was impressed by the level of players in the first-string.

Kise: ”Amazing. First-string really is in a class of its own.”

He smiled and thought.

Kise: 'Well, if it wasn't, I wouldn't be here.'

While Kise was admiring the players in first-string, he heard a shout from one of his team members from his game.

Member: ”Kise!”

The ball was passed to Kise, and he immediately turned to attack.

Kise dribbled forward and was met by a defender. He passed the defender a simple left to right crossover.

He got to the paint, and there was another defender. Kise simply jumped and used a layup to score on the post defender.

The members of the first-string were impressed by Kise, who just started playing two weeks ago.

Member One: ”Nice shot, Kise!”

While some were impressed, others were shocked.

Member Two: ”Is that normal for a guy who just joined the first-string?”

Kise heard the comments made in awe and shock.

Kise: 'Well, it's me. From the looks of it, I'll become a regular sooner than I thought.'

On the other side of the gym, Kise heard a shout.

Member: ”Go on! Get going for a fast break!”

Kise looked to find the ball with his mentor, Kuroko Tetsuya.

He was in front of everybody and was attempting a finger-roll layup.

But, Kuroko missed the simple layup, and Kise was stumped seeing that.

Member: ”Come on, Kuroko! You can't miss open layups!”

While seeing that, Kise thought.

Kise: ”That's my... mentor?”