STEPBROTHER (HAIKYUU X KUROKO NO BASKETBALL SUMMER CAMP)
76

"Sei-Chan, I've sent the list of names of the new members we discussed two days ago to their personal email. But, I think a lot of the members were disappointed that you included Henry and Carloz in the lead." Mibuchi was heard complaining to his current Captain. Akashi, who was in a good mood, did not seem to bother with Mibuchi's complaints. He was busy changing clothes in the dressing room, while tidying up his personal locker.

" Not to worry, Mibuchi-senpai. You used to be worried about Mayuzumi-senpai, too, right? So, trust me this time too." Akashi tries to calm Mibuchi's worries, as a Captain.

As usual, Akashi was no longer a Junior in front of them while on the field. He will behave and be seen as a Rakuzan Basketball Captain who will be respected by every member.

"That's right, Mibuchi. You don't have to worry, just trust Akashi." Nebuya even felt very calm at Akashi's decision this time, he did not really follow the chat of the two and was busy eating the burger in his hand.

Unknowingly, the door of the room was opened rather violently by Henry and Carloz who coincidentally came simultaneously entering the dressing room. Where the locker room is indeed the private property of Rakuzan basketball members, usually other members are not allowed to enter the room and can change clothes in public toilets provided by the Sports building.

"Can I change clothes here?" asked Henry who was holding his backpack at the time.

"Can, please." Akashi greeted him kindly and gave a polite reply. Unlike the Mibuchi and Nebuya who do not really like their presence.

"Sei-Chan, I think we're ahead." Mibuchi immediately invited Nebuya away from there, in order to avoid problems with the two new members.

Akashi himself can only nod, he can understand very well that his members are not okay at this time. However, he also could not force them to make up. For him, later also all members will play as a team as time goes on.

And once the door of the room was closed again by Mibuchi and Nebuya who had left the room, Akashi resumed his activities to tidy up the locker containing his personal equipment. He also folded his school uniform into lockers and several performance notebooks of former members' abilities last year.

"The Volleyball members seem increasingly upset with you, you've made strange rules regarding Dana for the organization." Henry is heard telling Akashi about the current state of the Volleyball Team. Even though he had left Volleyball, he still felt proud and responsible for the organization.

"That's the rules of the OSIS, Henry-san.  I'm just the head of the osis who holds full responsibility. And I'll be fair, you don't have to worry. If Basketball gives you a bad performance, then I'll make sure that we get a cut of funds like any other organization." Akashi finishes his activity tidying up the locker, he closes the locker again and smiles at Henry.

Carloz, who was not very understanding of such affairs, could only remain silent at this moment and focus on replacing his clothes.

"It's good that you can be fair" Henry's response has also been after changing clothes with a new uniform symbolized Rakuzan Basket on the back of his shirt.

"Yes, Henry-San." Akashi locked his locker. Then, he turned to Henry and Carloz, who happened to have their lockers next to each other.

"Please show your best performance from this second, because I have a busy job to explain to other members that you have the most appropriate choice for Rakuzan." Akashi closed the door after saying it, he was completely different on the field. In fact, he did not hesitate to issue sharp words to his members who had an older age than him.

Henry who had listened to Akashi's words just now seemed to grow irritated, but he also could not cover up the fact that he was just a lump of rambutan seeds when compared to Akashi. The ability between them was like the distance between Heaven and Earth that was difficult to measure, he could not imagine facing Akashi as an opponent in a different Team. Therefore, he is determined to stay in the Team and shows Akashi that Basketball is not something that easy to win. He wanted to show Akashi how determined someone who was once desperate seemed to be, he also wanted to silence the mouth of Media who had once vilified his ability worse than the Kiseki No Sedai, to make him feel lost interest in Basketball.

"You daydreaming? Let's go for the training hunt! I don't want to disappoint the Captain of the city" Carloz asked the dreamy-looking Henry. In contrast to Henry, Carloz even felt that Akashi's speech had just been a motivation for him. He is eager to be recognised by the Captain and Coach, for him that is the only reason why he wants to be back in the team.

And it seems that the determination of these two new members makes their training performance today very satisfying. They are really able to change the judgment of others to change in their appearance, including the Coach and other Team Members.

And not many of them praised both when doing excellent Slam dunk and Lay Up, as well as some basic techniques that describe the typical Rakuzan Team game should be. The style of the second game is not as unique as the Three Uncrowned Kings and the Captain Kiseki no Sedai, but at least the members were made nostalgic by the playing techniques of both and how that determination that had burned their stamina was slick enough to be a spectacle.

Today's training was very satisfying for Akashi, he felt his confidence level in the Team was increasing. Now, he becomes very confident that his Team will bring their school name to win the national High School championship and a friendly match against the former members of Kiseki no Sedai later. Indeed, Akashi has not discussed this publicly to anyone, but he has made a draft proposal that has been designed nicely with the help of secretary Kenta before it will be given to the father.

Apparently, Akashi kept his full promise to Eijun to hold the friendly match. Although it is not certain the right time to hold the race of the match.

Long story short, today's training is over and the members of OSIS have also announced that all students leave the school environment. Including Akashi who was walking home with Ushijima who had been fighting to pick him up, even though Ushijima looks a bit exhausted because of the harder training to prepare for tomorrow's friendly match against Karasuno.

"Other times, we can just take a car. Let's get home faster" said Akashi who had realized from the beginning that they both felt exhausted today, let alone both just recovered from illness.

"It will not be memorable, even if the longer the journey even more memories that we can save. And the more time we can spend together" Ushijima responded.

"Maybe you're right, Ushijima-san." Akashi seemed busy watching every corner of the city he passed by. He could see the various types of humans on the highway with the different types of uniforms they wore, it seemed like the hustle and bustle of the city in the afternoon became the hallmark that stole his attention at this time. He could see the lethargic faces of some of the adults wearing work clothes and the reluctant students grasping thick books in his arms. They all looked lethargic and jaded, but it was undeniable that some were very enthusiastic to return home immediately. It feels so nice when someone welcomes them at home, that is certainly the reason why Akashi immediately smiles.

"What's so funny? Why are you smiling, Akashi?" ask Ushijima who does not like to pay attention to anyone and anything in front of him. As long as it is not important in his life, he will feel indifferent.

Akashi turned to Ushijima, "It must have been nice, when someone was waiting for us at home."

A sentence that contains the word cleverness, but it can pierce the feelings of anyone who also feels the same way as these two boys.