Chapter 138: The Difference Between [Pillage] and [Copying]
Ignoring everyone’s expressions, Seijuro Akashi spoke to Shogo Haizaki in a calm, indifferent tone.
“What’s wrong, Shogo? Don’t tell me you don’t even have the confidence to beat me.”
Haizaki’s face darkened. Listening to the surrounding discussion, resentment surged in his chest.
Weren’t they basically saying he couldn’t defeat Seijuro Akashi?
Overcome by anger, Shogo Haizaki shouted,
“Fight! Who do you think you are?!”
Seijuro Akashi stepped onto the court, tossed the basketball to Shogo Haizaki, and said flatly,
“Begin.”
...
“H-how is this possible… Haizaki… he didn’t score a single point…”
Ryota Kise stared at the court in disbelief, muttering under his breath.
Daiki Aomine frowned deeply, confusion filling his mind.
The Seijuro Akashi he sensed now felt completely different. If the Akashi from before had been gentle,
then the current Akashi was utterly cold—detached from everything, indifferent to all things.
Holding the basketball in both hands, Seijuro Akashi looked down at the fallen Shogo Haizaki from above and said calmly,
“Shogo, submit your withdrawal request to the coach yourself.”
Daiki Aomine’s eyes widened as he shouted,
“Seijuro!”
Seijuro Akashi snapped his head around, his gaze locking onto Daiki Aomine, his voice icy.
“Daiki, are you planning to defy orders as well?”
Daiki Aomine opened his mouth to say something, but Shintaro Midorima beside him grabbed his arm.
Daiki Aomine turned his head and snapped,
“Midorima! What are you doing?!”
Shintaro Midorima shook his head calmly.
“This was a wager Haizaki agreed to himself. Neither you nor I have the right to interfere. Before taking action, you must consider the consequences you’ll have to bear.”
Daiki Aomine fell silent.
Shogo Haizaki slumped on the floor, watching everything unfold. Gritting his teeth, he stood up, clinging to the last shred of his pride.
“I don’t need you people lecturing me! I’m not someone who can’t accept a loss!”
With that, Shogo Haizaki turned and walked toward the exit of the gym, his retreating figure unbearably desolate.
Back to the present...
“So that’s how you got kicked out of the basketball club?”
Miyamoto Tokima twitched the corner of his mouth and asked, speechless.
Shogo Haizaki nodded, his face full of dejection.
“Yeah. I handed in my withdrawal request to the coach the very next day.”
Smack!
“Ow! Nijimura-senpai, what was that for?!”
Shogo Haizaki clutched his head, his face twisting in pain.
Shuzo Nijimura’s forehead bulged with veins as he scolded him in frustration,
“Are you an idiot?! Akashi told you to be Kise’s backup, so you should’ve challenged Kise one-on-one! Why the hell did you challenge Akashi instead?!”
“If you beat Kise, wouldn’t you’ve become a starter?!”
Shogo Haizaki froze. Thinking about it carefully, it actually did make sense.
“Huh… that’s true!”
Smack!
“Ow! Tokima-san, why’d you hit me?!”
Shogo Haizaki took another hit to the head and asked miserably.
Miyamoto Tokima sighed and dusted off his hands.
“You’re dreaming too sweetly. Even if you really did challenge Kise one-on-one and even if you won, Akashi still wouldn’t have made you a starter.”
“Why?” ×3
Shuzo Nijimura, Shogo Haizaki, and Satsuki Momoi asked at the same time.
Satsuki Momoi held Miyamoto Tokima’s hand and asked in confusion,
“Tokima, why? I remember Akashi-kun isn’t that kind of person.”
Shuzo Nijimura was just as puzzled.
“Yeah, Tokima. If Haizaki beat Kise, Akashi shouldn’t have kept him on the bench.”
Miyamoto Tokima shook his head and explained,
“Akashi already gave the reason. Compared to them, Haizaki’s talent was weaker.”
“Because of Kise’s talent, Akashi believed Kise could keep up with their pace. That’s why Haizaki was pushed to the bench.”
“Even if Haizaki had beaten Kise back then, Akashi still would’ve made Kise the starter. That’s the difference in talent.”
“Akashi looks at the future, not the present. But I think the future he sees… is far too narrow.”
“He pushed Haizaki out of the team just to pave the way for Kise. In my opinion, that was a mistake.”
Shogo Haizaki’s eyes lit up. He nodded repeatedly, a shy smile spreading across his face.
“Exactly, Tokima-san. You’re absolutely right.”
Shuzo Nijimura shot him a sideways glance and said bluntly,
“Do you know something? The expression you’re making right now is seriously disgusting.”
Shogo Haizaki’s face instantly stiffened.
Seeing this, Satsuki Momoi couldn’t help but laugh quietly.
“By the way, Haizaki, what exactly is that Kise’s ability? For Akashi to think his talent is on the same level as theirs.”
Shuzo Nijimura asked.
Shogo Haizaki thought for a moment before answering,
“[Copying].”
“Kise’s ability is [Copying]. He can perfectly replicate any movement he sees.”
Shuzo Nijimura paused, then said after thinking it over,
“Isn’t that basically the same as your ability, Haizaki?”
Miyamoto Tokima cut in,
“It’s not the same.”
Shuzo Nijimura asked in confusion,
“How is it different? Aren’t they both [Copying]?”
Miyamoto Tokima explained,
“According to what Haizaki said, Kise’s copying reproduces every movement he sees exactly as it is.”
“In other words, even the rhythm of the movement is identical to the original user’s.”
“That’s where it differs from Haizaki’s [Pillage]. Although Haizaki also reproduces others’ movements,”
“the rhythm is different. He performs those movements at his own pace.”
“And it’s precisely because of this that Haizaki’s [Pillage] creates a sense of oppression, increasing psychological pressure and making others unable to use the skills that were [pillaged].”
Shuzo Nijimura immediately understood, his expression clearing.
“I see… wait!”
Suddenly, a terrifying thought struck him.
“If what Tokima says is true, then that Kise guy wouldn’t he be able to imitate Akashi and the others’…”
The thought alone sent a chill down Shuzo Nijimura’s spine.
Miyamoto Tokima nodded.
“Under normal circumstances, yes. It’s entirely possible.”
Shuzo Nijimura reached out and patted Shogo Haizaki’s shoulder in consolation.
“Haizaki… my condolences.”
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