Chapter 167 - The Fall, Part-One (2/2)

Shirogane: ”The harder they work to catch up to Kageyama Shun, the more they end up moving away from the general populace.

Aomine and Murasakibara overwhelmed National level teams with pure speed and strength.

Kise fooled around on the court, even that level of play outclassed other players.

Midorima just needs to shoot normally to break the spirits of other teams.

Akashi didn't even actively participate in offense or defense, he just scored his mandated twenty points, guarded his mark and set up passes for the others.”

Shirogane laughed mockingly at himself.

Shirogane: ”Those five think that they can hide it from me, but I can see their mood while playing in practice.

All of them give it their best in drills and after practice, but when it comes to in-house games, they play like they don't want to be there.”

He stared at Sanada with a serious and grave expression.

Shirogane: ”To keep the team together, we'll need to give them even more support from now on.”

Shirogane: ”The current team is in a very fragile state, and if I didn't fall sick, I would've wanted to be there for them from the moment they entered the gym to the time they left for their homes.

But, I can't, so I plead to you that you must take care of those five.

Or else, you will lose the team.”

Sanada nodded, but he didn't know that soon the words that his coach had said were about to come true, and the sad part was that he couldn't do anything about it even if he wanted.

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

Day after day, Sanada watched the five starting members of Teiko, practice in the gym and saw the things that his senior told him about.

And, just like that one day, he was called upon by the Regent Chairman.

In the office, he heard something ridiculous.

Regent Chairman: ”Those five students dubbed the Generation Of Miracles.

No matter what happens, those five must play every game full-time from here on.”

Sanada was shocked to hear that.

True, the five miracles were the starting members, but they didn't play every game.

In practice games, a maximum of three of them played, even then they only played three quarters at maximum.

Even in the preliminaries, none of the five miracles played full games and only remained on the court for a maximum of three quarters.

The only time all the miracles played the full game was Tokyo preliminary finals.

Even in the nationals, this condition remained active.

Even in the National finals, none of the miracles played more than three quarters.

Such was the measure taken by Shirogane for the sake of the team.

Sanada: ”But...”

Regent Chairman raised his hand and cut off Sanada.

Regent Chairman: ”When a hero flourishes, it's great advertising.

Moreover, I hear they haven't lost even once since joining.”

Sanada tried to protest, especially after seeing the state of his players, but he was once again cut off by the regent chairman.

Regent Chairman: ”Give them full freedom, as long as they keep winning, they won't have any restrictions placed upon them.

I'm telling you to give them special treatment. Those kids are a great promotion for the school, and whatever I said now is an order.”

Sanada bit his lip and could only resign himself to following the administration's orders, as he was but an employee, who could be replaced anytime.