NBA Skills: Dominating Kuroko no Basket

"Here" Shiro handed the already-open drink to Momoi. He smiled gently as she took the cup carefully. Momoi took a small sip, then looked up, curious.

"Shiro, what exactly did you and Akashi talk to Kuroko about tonight?"

Shiro gave a slight smile and replied calmly:

"Actually, it wasn't anything too special. Basically, Akashi wanted to show Kuroko a way to better harness his potential. After all, with Kuroko's current skills, standing out in the main team won't be easy. So, he needs a different path to highlight his strengths."

Momoi thought for a moment and nodded. She had already noticed that Kuroko was facing difficulties on the team. Curious, she asked:

"And what would that unique path be?"

Shiro paused for a moment, looked directly at Momoi, and with a mysterious smile, he softly said:

"Using the only advantage he has to the fullest!"

Momoi's eyes lit up, and she immediately responded:

"His lack of presence!"

Shiro smiled in satisfaction.

"Exactly. You're very perceptive, Momoi! If Kuroko can use his 'invisibility' in the game, he could become a lethal weapon on the court."

As he spoke, Shiro ruffled Momoi's hair slightly, showing his admiration. She got a little embarrassed, but was clearly happy.

After that, the two walked down the street, chatting about random things and sharing stories while the city lights shimmered around them.

On another street, Aomine walked alongside Kuroko.

"So, what did you and Akashi discuss about the team?" Aomine asked, hands in his pockets, glancing sideways at his friend.

"He said my shooting ability is pretty bad, and that my strength lies in passing and making assists," Kuroko replied, tapping his chin as he thought.

Aomine nodded.

"That makes sense. Akashi may be a genius, but even he can't do everything. There must be something that only you can do, right?"

Kuroko stopped and looked at Aomine, curious.

"Like what, for example?"

Aomine started gesturing dramatically as if passing an invisible ball.

"Like those crazy assists of yours! Something like 'shoof, shoof!'"

Kuroko sighed deeply, clearly losing his patience.

"Enough for today. See you later, Aomine"

They said their goodbyes as they reached an intersection, each heading in a different direction.

Kuroko entered a bookstore, drawn by the smell of new books. He walked calmly through the aisles until something caught his eye: "The Art of Manipulating the Gaze"

His eyes widened. He reached out to grab the book, inspecting the cover and feeling an odd connection. He started reading right there, immersing himself in each page, feeling as though he had found something that could change his life.

In the following days, Kuroko began practicing the techniques he'd learned from the book, training with Shiro and Aomine. Gradually, it seemed he had found his own path.

...

During a training session at Teiko, Akashi was interrupted by a veteran from the team.

"Akashi, there's a blue-haired kid here saying he wants to see you."

Akashi turned around, spotting Kuroko. He smiled and walked up to his friend.

"It's been a while, Kuroko. Have you come to a conclusion?"

"Yes!" Kuroko replied, confidence in his voice and eyes.

"Great. Let's test it right away," Akashi said, turning to organize everything.

"Actually…" Kuroko hesitated slightly before continuing. "Could it be in a game?"

Akashi stopped, turned his head, and looked into Kuroko's eyes. Seeing his friend's confidence, he smiled and walked over to the captain, Nijimura.

"Captain, Kuroko would like to showcase his skills in a game."

Nijimura looked at Kuroko, not expecting much from someone so skinny and seemingly expressionless, but nodded with a slight gesture.

With the referee's whistle, the game began. At first, nothing seemed out of the ordinary, until a surprising play changed everything. Kuroko made a pass with an unexpected angle, the ball seemed to "disappear," and then reappeared directly in the hands of another player.

The opponents were bewildered.

"What the hell was that?!" someone shouted.

The player who received the pass, alone, made the basket.

"He was on the court this whole time?" another player asked, confused.

The opponents and teammates on the court were completely confused. They couldn't find Kuroko, who seemed to have vanished from the court!

In the stands, Nijimura was stunned.

"That was… unbelievable!"

"Hey, what was that? Not only was the pass unexpected, but it's like he disappeared from the court!!!" Nijimura couldn't hide his shock, staring at Kuroko's play with wide eyes. He turned to Akashi and Shiro beside him, visibly not understanding Kuroko's ability.

"It's a visual induction technique," Akashi replied slowly, looking at Shiro.

"Ah?" Nijimura seemed to have never heard of such a technique and looked a bit confused.

Shiro, noticing Akashi's look, continued: "It's a technique commonly used in magic, to guide people's vision."

"Magic?" Nijimura turned his head to look at Shiro, his face showing a large question mark. How could basketball have anything to do with magic?

"For example, before attempting to steal the ball, through vision and movement, the defender's eyes are guided toward the ball or toward other players," Akashi explained, pausing.

Shiro understood the idea and continued: "In this way, Kuroko, whose presence was originally very weak, can disappear from the court like a dream."

While the two were explaining, Nijimura couldn't help but move, turning his head from side to side. "Did you predict it would be like this? Can you tell me what's going on? My neck hurts!" Nijimura exclaimed.

"Sorry, sorry, hahaha!" Shiro laughed without ceremony, and Akashi also gave a small mischievous smile.

"Hahaha," Akashi also laughed involuntarily and replied, "No, it was better than we both expected!"

Then, Akashi looked at Shiro and asked with a smile: "Right?"

"Yes!" Shiro agreed, smiling. It seemed he had done the right thing, introducing Kuroko to Akashi. He then looked at the skinny boy on the court, thinking that Kuroko was now about to join the Generation of Miracles, and now only Ryota Kise was left.

...

"You're joining the first team starting today. Fortunately, you seized the opportunity!" The coach of the main team said to Kuroko the day after the game, relieved. After all, Kuroko had made it onto the first team through his own efforts.

"Alright!" Kuroko finally relaxed. Three months of hard work had paid off!

"Coach, is Kuroko here?" A sweet figure entered the office and asked the coach.

Obviously, Momoi hadn't found Kuroko yet.

"Momoi, I'm here" Kuroko replied from the side.

"Ah! I was so scared, Kuroko! Come on, I'll take you to the gym where the first team practices" Momoi was startled and took a step back, wiping her forehead.

Kuroko waved and nodded.

Then, Momoi and Kuroko walked to the first team's training center and shouted, "Everyone, I brought Kuroko here!"

"Oh, thanks" Nijimura, who was practicing on the side, responded.

"Finally, you're here, Tetsu!" Aomine looked in the direction of the two when he heard Momoi's shout.

"Yes, I've been waiting for you for a long time" Akashi smiled, sweating, clearly eager for Kuroko's arrival.

Everyone looked at Kuroko's arrival. Each with a different expression, but all welcoming.

Shiro stood up and, smiling, said what everyone was thinking: "Welcome to the Teiko Basketball Club!"

Kuroko looked around at everyone, amazed. He couldn't help but sigh internally, thinking that everyone here was so strong! Is this what it means to be a national champion?

Akashi looked at Kuroko and said: "Remember, from now on, you have one mission, and that's victory!"