Chapter 7: I Don’t Want to Be Vice-Captain

“You’ve got to be kidding me. Our school’s starters were beaten this badly by first-years?”

“Yeah, the score gap was over thirty points!”

“What are you talking about? It was clearly a forty-one-point difference!”

“Just say it was over thirty, alright?”

“This is insane. This batch of first-years is unreal.”

“I can already see Teikō Middle School winning three consecutive championships!”

“First Team—assemble!”

The coach’s voice rang out.

Everyone quickly gathered together, waiting for his instructions.

The coach led Shuzo Nijimura to the center of the gym.

“I will now announce the official starters who will represent our school in competition.”

“Number 29, Seijuro Akashi.”

“Number 11, Shintaro Midorima.”

“Number 7, Miyamoto Tokima.”

“Number 4, Shuzo Nijimura.”

“Number 23, Atsushi Murasakibara.”

“The reserve players are as follows.”

“Number 8, Daiki Aomine.”

“Number 40…”

“That concludes this term’s roster.”

As the coach finished reading the list, the second-year starters who had just played lowered their heads in disappointment.

They already knew that their starting positions would be taken after that match, but hearing it officially still left them feeling dejected.

However, they soon adjusted their mindset. After all, the first-years really were that strong.

With them around, Teikō Middle School would be unstoppable for the next three years.

Of course, not everyone was willing to accept it.

“I don’t accept this!” Daiki Aomine shouted angrily. “Why am I a reserve?”

The coach glanced at Daiki Aomine calmly, then pointed at Shuzo Nijimura beside him.

“Because your position overlaps with Nijimura’s. However, Nijimura will hardly be playing in the upcoming matches.”

Daiki Aomine stared straight at Shuzo Nijimura.

He had heard of Shuzo Nijimura—the top power forward in middle school. He might not be able to beat him right now, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t in the future.

Daiki Aomine snorted arrogantly but said nothing more.

“There’s one more matter,” the coach continued. “It will be announced by your captain.”

He glanced at Shuzo Nijimura, signaling him to speak.

Shuzo Nijimura nodded, stepped forward, and said loudly, “After discussion between the coach and myself, we have decided—”

“—that Miyamoto Tokima will serve as the team’s vice-captain.”

As soon as the words fell, the club erupted into discussion.

“He’s only a first-year, and he’s already vice-captain?”

“He deserves it. Look at his strength. Would you dare challenge him one-on-one? If you win, you can be captain.”

“I’m just saying! Fighting him would be asking to get crushed.”

Just when everyone thought Miyamoto Tokima would accept, he raised his hand and spoke.

“I don’t want to be vice-captain.”

The moment he said that, not only the coach and Shuzo Nijimura were stunned—Daiki Aomine and the others beside him were just as shocked.

“What are you saying, Tokima?! That’s the vice-captain position!”

Daiki Aomine anxiously grabbed Miyamoto Tokima, trying his best to persuade him.

He himself couldn’t even become a starter because Shuzo Nijimura was constantly holding him back.

Yet Miyamoto Tokima had not only made the starting lineup, but was also being promoted to vice-captain—and he didn’t even want it!

This made Daiki Aomine, who hadn’t made the starting lineup, extremely anxious.

“No way, that’s vice-captain! Why wouldn’t he want it?”

“I don’t get it either. If it were me, I’d be smiling in my sleep.”

“Give it up. With your skill, who could you even beat?”

Miyamoto Tokima ignored everyone else’s opinions. He pursed his lips and said,

“I think I’m too used to being laid-back. I’m not suited to being vice-captain.”

Honestly, Miyamoto Tokima was used to taking it easy. Making him vice-captain would just be giving him more work.

Playing basketball, hanging out, spending time with his sister—wasn’t that much better?

Whoever wanted to be vice-captain could take it. He wasn’t interested.

Seeing the slightly displeased expression on the coach’s face, a new idea came to Miyamoto Tokima’s mind.

“But I can recommend someone.”

As soon as he said that, the conflicted Shuzo Nijimura asked,

“Who?”

“Seijuro Akashi,” Miyamoto Tokima replied calmly.

Seijuro Akashi looked at Miyamoto Tokima in surprise, not understanding why.

Why would this person refuse the vice-captain position himself and recommend me instead?

Miyamoto Tokima had already displayed extraordinary strength on the court. With such ability, choosing to be lazy instead of pushing himself further was something Akashi, who was currently very diligent, couldn’t quite understand.

“Can you tell me your reason?”

The coach asked coldly.

This Miyamoto Tokima—he promoted him to vice-captain, and he wasn’t even happy about it.

Seijuro Akashi’s abilities were certainly excellent, but in the coach’s eyes, he still fell short compared to Miyamoto Tokima.

“Akashi can connect the team on the court. Every teammate wants a point guard like him.”

“Moreover, Akashi can properly manage relationships between teammates off the court.”

“At the same time, Akashi has the ability to discover talent. He can clearly identify others’ weaknesses and offer suggestions for improvement.”

“Someone as capable as Akashi—if he doesn’t become vice-captain, that would be a loss for Teikō Middle School.”

“That’s why I recommend Akashi. His ability is more than enough to serve as vice-captain.”

Miyamoto Tokima spoke with such emotion that even he felt moved by his own words.

It was the kind of speech that could make even the gods shed tears.

Seijuro Akashi couldn’t withstand it either. His eyes slowly turned red.

Since childhood, his father had been extremely strict with him, demanding that he always be first.

This forged his intense pride and his belief that only victory and first place mattered.

Even so, he had never once heard praise from his father.

Now, having someone acknowledge him like this filled him with emotion—though it didn’t weaken his desire to win.

In his heart, he believed Miyamoto Tokima was only stronger than him for now. Eventually, he would catch up.

“Since Miyamoto Tokima has said so, then Seijuro Akashi will serve as vice-captain.”

The coach nodded helplessly. He had seen Akashi’s abilities as well. Since Miyamoto Tokima didn’t want the position, Akashi was the only suitable choice.

“Thank you, Coach.”

Seijuro Akashi bowed slightly in gratitude.

“No need to thank me. Thank your own ability.”

“That’s all for today’s training. Dismissed!”

As the coach finished speaking, everyone began leaving the gym.

Miyamoto Tokima did the same, turning toward Atsushi Murasakibara and Daiki Aomine.

A promise made had to be kept.

He noticed that Shintaro Midorima and Seijuro Akashi were still on the court. Thinking that a few more people wouldn’t matter—and that he could afford it anyway—he walked over and invited them.

“We’re going out to eat. Want to come with us?”

Shintaro Midorima and Seijuro Akashi looked at Miyamoto Tokima in confusion. After realizing he was inviting them to a meal, they glanced at Atsushi Murasakibara and Daiki Aomine standing behind him, then nodded.

“Alright.”

“Let’s go.”

Miyamoto Tokima led everyone out of the gym.

Once outside, a pink figure came into view.

“Huh? Tokima, Aomine?” Satsuki Momoi looked at the five walking together and asked in confusion, “Where are you guys going?”

“Satsuki, your timing’s perfect. Tokima’s treating us to a big meal. Want to come?” Daiki Aomine explained cheerfully.

Hearing that it was a big meal—and that all five of them were going—Satsuki Momoi, who had been sharp since childhood, immediately guessed that the other three were Miyamoto Tokima and Daiki Aomine’s future teammates.

She nodded and replied,

“Sure!”