AutumnXd
patreon
CHAPTER 13
🕑 Added 2025-05-09 19:25:34 +0000 UTCThe game camera zoomed out. In front of the cherry blossom tree at the school gate stood the blue-haired youth, expressionless, looking somewhat dazed.
In the distance, Donnie jogged over, closing the gap between them until they were practically face-to-face.
And yet, despite being mere inches apart, Donnie still couldn’t seem to find him.
This scene, from the perspective of the live stream viewers, was driving everyone crazy.
【He’s right next to the cherry blossom tree!】
【Donnie, turn around! He’s right behind you!】
【This is…】
【Does this sixth member of the Generation of Miracles know some kind of invisibility magic?】
Donnie saw the chat’s prompts and was a bit bewildered.
What?
Cherry blossom tree?
He had just scanned that landmark cherry blossom tree when he exited the school gate, and there was clearly no one there!
Then, he turned around and met a pair of eyes as clear and calm as the sky blue, yet seemingly unfocused, as if looking at empty space. Paired with the owner’s expressionless face, he looked completely deadpan.
That unique blue hair was unmistakable in the entire school.
This was him, one of the Generation of Miracles.
Just as Donnie was about to speak, the other youth pointed at the letter in Donnie’s hand and spoke first:
“Hello, I’m Kuroko Tetsuya.”
“This letter…”
“It should be mine.”
Donnie nodded and said, “I know. This letter probably fell on my side when we bumped into each other.”
“I’ve been chasing after you since then. I couldn’t find you anywhere on campus earlier.”
“Huh?”
“Wait a second…”
“What’s your name again?”
Kuroko Tetsuya stared directly at Donnie for a moment, then said somewhat strangely, “Kuroko Tetsuya.”
“Ethan-kun, your awareness is quite remarkable. Because my presence is very low, very few people can find me as easily as you just did.”
After noticing his name was ‘Kuroko Tetsuya,’ Donnie hadn’t paid much attention to the rest of what he said, and neither had the chat.
He casually opened a system interface to pause the game.
Donnie and his live stream viewers began to interact wildly.
“Guys! Kuroko Tetsuya! This is the real protagonist!”
【That’s right! Kuroko’s Basketball!】
【So the main character of the game is right here!】
【Then what about the character Donnie’s playing? What’s his deal?】
“Guys,” Donnie said.
“You might not feel it as strongly, but I observed him up close with my own eyes…”
“This Phantom Sixth Man… he doesn’t seem very strong, does he?”
“He’s not even 5’3”, and he’s pretty skinny.”
【Wasn’t that Akashi guy short too?】
“It might sound a bit out there,” Donnie continued, “but you can really feel it in the game. After seeing Akashi in person, you can sense that aura of a strong player. But this guy here…”
“He just exudes an aura of weakness.”
“I feel like he’s even weaker than Kenjiro Takamuro, the guy I played against on the street court.”
At this point, a chat message popped up:
【If his basketball skills aren’t strong, could it be because he has some kind of special ability?】
【Special ability… that makes sense. It is sci-fi basketball, after all.】
【Speaking of special abilities, he himself said his presence is very low? Does that count?】
【A low presence… is that useful in a basketball game…?】
After some discussion, they couldn’t reach a conclusion. The only viable theory revolved around whether Kuroko Tetsuya’s ‘low presence’ could translate into some kind of Generation of Miracles-level special ability or skill.
Returning to the game world.
Donnie handed the letter back to Kuroko, saying at the same time, “Hello, Kuroko-kun. Nice to meet you. I’m Ethan Woods.”
Having said the name a few times now, Donnie’s self-introduction felt much more natural.
Kuroko Tetsuya thanked him, but his expression and voice were completely flat. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
Donnie stared at Kuroko for a moment. “Kuroko-kun, do you bump into a lot of people usually? I saw you bump into Aomine Daiki earlier too…”
“You know, the dark-skinned classmate from before.”
Kuroko nodded. “Yes. Because my presence is low, many people don’t notice me.”
Sensing a hint of sadness in Kuroko’s expression, Donnie timely changed the subject.
“Kuroko-kun, you’re a new student, right? Me too.”
“I’m heading to join the basketball club in a bit.”
“Have you decided which club you want to join?”
Kuroko replied, “Yes, the basketball club as well.”
With that, Kuroko carefully looked Donnie up and down.
Donnie read envy in his eyes. “But I probably don’t have much talent, not like Ethan-kun. I’m not very good.”
Hearing this, Donnie probed, “Talent?”
“Everyone is born with talent. It’s just a matter of whether they can discover it.”
“The most obvious thing about you is…”
“Perhaps… have you ever considered that having a low presence could also be a pretty good ability?”
Kuroko 了一下 (froze for a moment) at his words, then looked at Donnie with a somewhat stunned expression, a clear ‘Are you kidding me?’ look on his face.
Alright.
From that expression, Donnie could confirm.
This sixth member of the Generation of Miracles was, at this moment, a truly undeveloped seedling.
Although he wasn’t sure what ability exactly would elevate Kuroko to the level of the Generation of Miracles, he had a strong feeling it was inextricably linked to his ‘low presence.’
After all, among the Generation of Miracles members introduced since the entrance ceremony, the others had mostly displayed aspects of their personality or appearance, while only Kuroko had shown a distinct physical trait.
“Shall we go sign up together then?” Donnie suggested.
“Okay.”
“Kuroko, um…”
“Can I call you Tetsuya? I don’t know, calling you Kuroko, Kuroko, Little Kuro, it just doesn’t sound right…”
“Why is calling me Kuroko not right?”
Donnie didn’t answer, changing the subject again. “Tetsuya, stick close, okay? You’re not going to just wander off and disappear on me, are you?”
Kuroko: “…”
Donnie: “?”
Donnie: “Tetsuya?”
Kuroko: “Ethan-kun, I’m over here…”
