"Teach you how to play basketball well?"
On the way ho, Kuroko stated his goal clearly.
He wanted to play basketball like a normal person, not toss up embarrassing airballs whenever he attempted a layup or lose his dribble after a few steps.
"Yes, I wish I could play like you, Tendou-kun!" Kuroko said earnestly, eyes full of expectation.
Tendou stroked his chin thoughtfully.
He knew very well the hidden potential Kuroko had.
Although soone like Kuroko couldn't realistically beco a professional athlete—professional basketball's spotlight would reveal him imdiately and leave him nowhere to hide—his abilities could indeed shine brilliantly in student-level competitions.
Tendou knew exactly how to develop Kuroko's hidden talent.
But what he needed now was to figure out how he could benefit and boost his own popularity through this opportunity.
Displaying a bit of his unique insight would indeed be a clever way to impress the audience, perhaps mixing in so humblebragging along the way.
It would be sothing akin to Gojo Satoru asking Ieiri Shoko how she mastered the reverse cursed technique—lots of "you know, just whoosh and swoosh, and just like this and that…"
You wouldn't have any idea what she'd said, and she'd probably tease you about your lack of talent anyway.
It would be amusing, and entirely in line with his character.
Thinking this way, Tendou agreed cheerfully, "No problem! Let's start tomorrow, shall we?"
"I can't after school because of my part-ti job, so how about we use the lunch break instead?"
"Yes, thank you so much, Tendou-kun!" Kuroko left happily.
...
The next day, lunchti.
Tendou Kageyoshi, Kuroko, and Amanai Rika went to the basketball club together.
Amanai Rika tagged along just to see how a guy like Tendou would instruct soone else!
"Since I'll be teaching you basketball, first let
gauge your current skill level," Tendou tossed a basketball to Kuroko, motioning him to show what he could do.
Kuroko caught the ball and nodded seriously, "I'll show you everything I've got!"
Bang!
Kuroko slamd the ball hard on the floor, awkwardly dribbled like a grandma strolling through a park, and arrived under the basket. Then he raised the ball over his head, as if launching a Spirit Bomb, and threw it completely over the basket, straight to the other side—missing the rim entirely.
The ball didn't even brush against the hoop.
Clack—
Amanai Rika's chopsticks fell sharply on the wooden floor. She stared, utterly dumbfounded.
She felt even she herself—soone who had little basketball experience—could shoot better than this so-called invisible boy nad Kuroko.
Amanai Rika couldn't help herself, blurting out, "This isn't just slightly bad. You clearly can't play basketball at all!"
Before coming here, Kuroko had warned them that his level was pretty limited.
But this? This was kindergarten-level—he couldn't even dribble steadily!
"Kuroko, are you maybe athletically hopeless?" She rarely used honorifics, considering herself ntally older than these boys.
"Quiet, Rika!" Tendou interrupted imdiately. "Even people hopeless at sports have the right to play basketball!"
Ouch—
Kuroko felt like he'd just been stabbed directly through the heart.
『Classic Tendou comforting style!』
『Kuroko has completely petrified!』
『Lies don't hurt, but truth slices deep!』
"Don't talk down to
from a moral high ground. Admit it, you yourself wanted to say exactly the sa thing!" Amanai Rika retorted imdiately, pouting.
"Yes, but I managed to restrain myself—unlike you. Besides, I wouldn't say it so bluntly. You need to be subtle, you know? Emotional intelligence!"
Ouch—!
Kuroko felt stabbed in the heart again. Emotional intelligence, my foot!
He just wished these two would be subtle enough not to discuss this right in front of him!
Feeling slightly discouraged, Kuroko mustered his spirit again, "This is my current situation. Please, Tendou-kun, help
improve!"
"First of all, you have to enhance your dribbling stability. Your speed is too slow, and that kind of dribble won't threaten anyone at all. More dribbling practice is a must."
"Yes, yes! What else?"
"Next, your shooting accuracy has to improve significantly. At least you can't airball from right underneath the basket. Basketball, at its core, is a ga of points."
"Yes! Anything else?"
"Then..." Tendou started rattling off a series of basketball essentials.
Kuroko listened very carefully, but at the end of it all, he realized he'd learned absolutely nothing new.
Weren't these exactly the problems he'd sought Tendou's advice for in the first place?
Kuroko was feeling overwheld, finally asking, "Tendou-kun, how exactly do you play?"
"How do I play?" Tendou touched his chin habitually, thinking briefly. "First, you must learn to put the ball through the hoop. If soone tries to guard you, just shake him off."
"Then cos defense, which is crucial. A team's stability depends on good defense."
"Face the player holding the ball, maintain absolute focus, and clearly discern whether he's planning to drive, shoot, or pass. If he drives, steal from him. If he passes, intercept the ball. If he shoots, knock it away. Anyway, never let him succeed in whatever he's trying to do."
"Got it now?"
Got what exactly? He understood every word but nothing substantial at all!
『Ah yes, classic 'just put the ball in the basket' strategy!』
『Defense is essential,' easy for you to say—you're basically cheating!』
『Do you even hear yourself talk?』
『Such humblebragging!』
『Kuroko accidentally sought advice from a demigod, lol.』
Indeed, Tendou's casual boasting incited amused reactions from the viewers.
And this wasn't a bad thing—this enhanced his distinctive persona, further increasing his popularity.
At the end of the lunch break, Kuroko felt utterly bewildered. Tendou had said so many things, yet he couldn't recall a single valuable point clearly.
Great—he was utterly clueless now!
Later that afternoon, during club activities, he ntioned this issue to his friends in the third-string team.
One of his friends imdiately complained, "Honestly, Kuroko, I don't think Tendou was deliberately ssing with you. But let's face it—soone as gifted as him can't possibly teach well!"
"This guy created his own sword style at age eleven and nearly defeated the Sword Saint! Stuff we struggle with cos as naturally to him as breathing!"
『That's exactly it, buddy!』
『Yeah, Kuroko really shouldn't have asked Tendou for help. His talent level is simply too high!』
『To Tendou, stealing the ball is as easy as drinking water. For Kuroko, that's impossible.』
『Playing well still really depends on talent.』
『Make sure you're talking about basketball, guys!』
The words of Kuroko's teammate resonated deeply with the audience.
And once again, Tendou's genius halo grew even brighter.
Watching his popularity continuously ticking up on screen, Tendou Kageyoshi felt extrely pleased with his performance.
Of course, he still intended to coach Kuroko properly—but there was no reason not to fleece this popularity for all it was worth first!
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