Chapter 128 - Thoughts (2/2)

Kise knew that there were bound to be many different types of players at camps like Shun was attending, and for people like Shun and him, those were akin to treasure c.h.e.s.ts.

He understood better than anyone else what an opportunity had presented itself to Shun. And, if he knew anything about Shun, he knew that Shun would take full advantage of it.

Kise clenched his fist and declared.

Kise: ”I need to work harder. More practice, I need to cut down on my modeling jobs. Let's do this!”

Even though Kise was talking to Midorima, he just said everything and then left without waiting for Midorima's reply.

And, Midorima was fine with that. Currently, he just had a single-track mind to increase his shooting and defense skills.

His performance in the finals might have been the best in the Preliminary finals against Tokiwadai.

Midorima knew that Shun wouldn't be his guard as he would've to bind Aomine, Murasakibara, and Kise on his own, and he couldn't do it from outside the three-point arc.

But, he wanted to do more than just shoot the ball. Midorima Shintaro would work his hardest for victory, but even he was human and just all of humankind, he too had pride.

So, instead of picking up something that would support the time, he chose defense to stop Shun.

Midorima thought how everyone other than him got to play head-on against Shun, and he too wanted to prove his mettle, so he picked something that would put him directly against Shun.

-*-*-*-

'Other' Akashi Seijuro's main motive in life was to be the victor. No matter what field it was, he wanted to come out on top.

Currently, his life consisted of studies and basketball, and he worked hard to achieve victory in them.

He studied hard and scored perfect grades on his report card, Akashi had never scored anything less than perfect in studies in his entire life.

On the other big part of his life was basketball. He stood near a wall of the first-string gym and took in all the happenings in the gym. He saw everything that happened here.

Kageyama Shun's effect has been both positive and negative on them. Well, it is good that they are getting stronger. The stronger we are, the easier achieving victory would be.'

Akashi turned to look at his blonde-haired teammate, who was running around the court, playing against the other first-string members.

Akashi: 'Ryota has been growing at a swift rate, but he still isn't anywhere near competing with the others. But, unlike others, he isn't focusing on one field. It seems Kageyama Shun's positionless playstyle has affected him.

But, unlike him, his level of play is progressing slowly and is not that diverse. Nevertheless, he will be an important asset.'

At last, Akashi turned to the green-haired shooter, who was practicing his shooting.

Akashi: 'Shintaro's has taken the path of a classic shooting guard. It would be remarkably helpful for our defense, we would be able to choke out our opponents' offense. Panic and despair would set in, and victory would arrive easily.'

Akashi ended the chain of thoughts about his teammates and got back to work. He wanted to be the victor, but it wasn't just against other schools and opponents, he wanted to be the victor in his own territory.

He wouldn't allow anyone to beat him, even if they were his own teammates. For that, he needed to ahead of them and to achieve that, he needed to work hard to improve himself.

He remembered his matchup against Shun, his eyes flared, just thinking about his inability to shut him out. He vowed to himself to not let that happen ever again.