That Manager - Kuroko no Basuke (Book 3)

第52Q

~Flashback~

It was lunchtime. After paying for her food, Yasu took her tray and was looking for a spot to sit until her gaze landed on the table where her friends were sitting at. She walked up to them and asked, "Is it okay if I join you guys?"

"Go ahead." said Midorima while nodding at her.

"You're free to join us, Yasu-san." said Kuroko.

"Thanks." she said before taking her seat, which was on Midorima's right and across Akashi.

"Yasu, how are the third-strings?" asked the latter.

"Honestly speaking, they're pretty slow in catching up." she replied after swallowing the food she chewed. She looked at the side while thinking back about the boys' efforts to improve themselves, and smiled while saying, "But they're working hard and have made some progress, so it's a satisfaction for me. As long as they're happy with what they do, then I'm happy."

"I see." said Akashi with a small smile on his face.

"That meatball is mine!" said Haizaki, who was suddenly behind the girl and took a meatball from her plate.

"Damn you, Haizaki!" cussed Aomine, who was clearly annoyed by what he did. "If you're hungry, order extra large or go get seconds! Don't go stealin' stuff every time!"

"It's okay, Aomine." assured Yasu.

"It's no big deal." shrugged Haizaki while chewing the meatball. "I mean, you eat people's stuff a lot too."

"I only take when I'm hungry." defended Aomine.

"That's the same thing, Aomine." scolded Midorima. "Also, Haizaki, don't make sounds when eating. It lacks manners. And fix how you hold your chopsticks, Murasakibara."

"Huh?" whined Murasakibara, who stopped eating when Midorima lectured him. "Wait, I got roped into all this 'cause of you, Zaki-chin."

"Your fried chicken looks good too." said Haizaki, ignoring what he said. "That's mi-" Before he could reach over, Murasakibara held his arm around his food, and a dark aura shrouded him.

"Take one takuan pickle, and I'll crush you." he snarled.

"Your aura's more menacing now than in games." noted Yasu with a sweat drop on the back of her head.

"You guys are making such a fuss." said Haizaki. "I'm always tellin' ya. It's not like I'm hungry or anything. When people eat stuff, it looks really delicious. So I can't help it." Akashi and Kuroko stared at him while Aomine glared.

"I hear a second-year is advancing to the first-string team today." said Midorima. "I heard he started playing two weeks ago."

"What's his name?" asked Kuroko.

"Kise Ryota." replied Yasu.

"Seems it's the fastest advance since us." added Midorima.

"I know that guy!" said Aomine when he recognised the name. "I've met him."

"Like I care." said Murasakibara before shoving rice into his mouth.

Haizaki humphed at the name. "Kise Ryota, huh?" he repeated mockingly.

"Interesting, Haizaki." said Midorima. "That you remember someone's name."

"Well, it's just a hunch." he said. "But it sounds like he'll do pretty good. And... I don't think I'll get along with him." Yasu stared at him before her gaze landed on Kise, who just entered the cafeteria.

~Flashback ends~

"Teiko and the Generation of Miracles are treated like gods now due to their overwhelming strength, but it didn't start that way." explained Hyuga to his teammates. "Instead, many of them resented them because they were too strong. They gave the impression of playing the heel. What I know doesn't go beyond rumour, but perhaps Haizaki's violent nature encouraged that."