Chapter 13
Back to Hiroyuki PoV
After hearing Yoshida-san -and the chief editor's condition, I think for a bit about the pros and cons of the condition, and nod my head, agreeing with the demand. While I can't publish any manga until next summer, I still have a chance to get money from two Tezuka Awards that I will definitely join in the future.
The plan to get Assassination Classroom as my first serial manga is also still going on. My first thought is to submit it as a one-shot for Akamaru Jump next year to test the water. If it's really good, I will ask Yoshida-san to submit it for the serialization meeting. But now, I will try to submit Assassination Classroom to Tezuka Award in the summer of next year.
After finishing the discussion with Yoshida-san, I take a look at the clock. 4.00 p.m. Wow. That means we had a discussion for six hours. That is very productive, I thought. Now, it's only one hour before Kiyoko is back, and I start to prepare our dinner.
One hour later
"Yuki-nii, I am back." I hear Kiyoko's sound from the door. She arrives at the right time because I have already prepared the dinner.
"Welcome back Kiyo-chan, how is your day?"
"It's fine. Is there any guest today? This room smells a cigarette." She asks.
"Yup, there is some work I need to do. He asks for something and I think I can do what he asks for." I lied. Well, not exactly lying though, it is more like giving a half-truth, considering Yoshida-san asked me to submit my work to their competition and I agreed to his demand. But for now, I will keep it quiet, and make a surprise for Kiyoko when the manga wins something next month.
"Hmm.. What is the job that you are taking now?" She asks again, curiously.
"Well, I have been writing for a lot of people in high school, and since I set my price cheaper than standard and people have already known how good my work is, so I have a few clients right now." Well, this is not a lie. I have already done this kind of work since I was in the final year of high school for the additional money.
We continue our conversation for a while before she goes back to her room.
Well, that is the summary of my life in a month. I will wake up early and prepare breakfast for both of us, do the chores, and then write another good manga from my first life, and just one hour before Kiyoko arrives at home, I will start preparing dinner. After Kiyoko arrives, we will talk for a while before we come back to our room.
"Hey Yuki-nii, we had a game against Aoba Johsai two days ago and we managed to win 2-1 against them." Said Kiyoko a dinner, one week before the announcement of the Tezuka Award winner.
"Wait, the game was yesterday? And Karasuno win against Oikawa's team?" I frowned a little. While the one who set up the game was me, I didn't know the schedule of the game. I think I lost track of time. Moreover, I cannot believe Karasuno win the game against Aoba Johsai. Not that Karasuno is a weak team. However, from what Kiyoko talks about, Karasuno is still playing without their ace and libero, and that game was the first time their rookie played together with their senior. For Karasuno's incomplete team to win the game against Miyagi's top team, Aoba Johsai, with a motivated Oikawa as their captain is simply unbelievable.
"Well, we won the game. But Oikawa-san was not playing in the game either. I heard from one of Oikawa-san's fangirls that he sprained his ankle in one of their practice session. He will probably be able to play again next week. Iwaizumi-san also only played for one set before he was substituted by the second year. I think they have already started to think about next year's team. However, the one set that Iwaizumi-san played ended up as a win for Aoba Johsai. So I don't believe we can win against Aoba Johsai's full team."
I hummed at her explanation. Well, if I remember correctly from the manga in my first life, Oikawa indeed is having a small injury for that game. However, he was able to play for a few minutes before the end of the game to show off his ability to Karasuno's team.
"So, what do you think about the performance of your team?" I decided to ask.
"Well, the first year had a hard time adapting with their senior. Hinata-kun's nervousness was a disaster at the beginning of the game. Tsukishima-kun and Kageyama-kun were having a hard time working together. The team also lacks the defense and power to break through the wall. So, I think when our libero and ace are coming back to the team, that will boost the team's confidence.
However, I don't want the team to get overconfident. In the last game, I slightly hope that we lose against Aoba Johsai with Oikawa for the team to know how strong the opponent is. Now that we won the game without two of our best players against Miyagi's second place, we need to lose a game for us to realize that we are still not good enough. Better lose a game now than in the tournament.
So Yuki-nii.. Do you think you can arrange a game between Karasuno and Nekoma?" She gives me a puppy eyes look after a very long analysis. Damn, who can resist the puppy eyes technique, I cursed. That looks will be the end of me in the future.
"Okay, stop giving me that eyes. I have promised you from the start, right? I will make a call with a few people to arrange the game. When do you want to play? I also want to meet my old teammates so I will be there for the game, okay?"
"Yay! Thanks, Yuki-nii.. As for the game, can you arrange it for next week?"
"Well, I have to ask the team before confirming it. What about your team? Are they okay with you scheduling a game like this?" I ask curiously. A manager usually didn't have a lot to say when it comes to arranging a game, so it is a bit odd for Kiyoko to make a plan like this.
"You don't have to worry about it. The team's advisor and I have a plan to invite Coach Ukai's grandson to the team for the coach position. It is a bit embarrassing, but after Coach Ukai retired, we didn't have a coach so all practices and game schedules were arranged by me and the third years.
However, this time, I have an agreement with coach Ukai's grandson to coach us until the game against Nekoma. With the arrival of coach Ukai's grandson and the comeback of our libero and ace to the team, we will be very confident, bordering overconfident this time.
That is when Nekoma comes around. My team only knows that Nekoma is the defending champion and our old rival, but we didn't know how strong they are right now. I know if we played against Nekoma right now, we didn't have a chance to win. But the team didn't know about it.
So, losing against Nekoma will make them realize their own strength and work harder for the next tournament. Losing against Nekoma will also be like a big slap for Coach Ukai's grandson, so he will want revenge in the future. That will secure us a coach position in the team. What do you think, Yuki-nii?"
My mouth gaped after hearing her plan. What the hell? She makes an agreement for the coach to help the team until the game against Nekoma even before the game itself was arranged? Looking at her innocent smile, I cannot help but chuckle,
"Fine, you win. I will call Kuroo now. Just wait a minute if you want to know if Nekoma wants to have a part of your plan." I grab my phone and make a call. After waiting for a little, I can hear someone on the phone. Looking at Kiyoko's curious look, I cannot help but activate the loudspeaker.
"Yo, Kuroo!"
[Oya? Yuki-senpai? It is rare for you to make a call. What is the problem you are going to make this time?]
"You hurt me Kuroo! You know I never created a problem right?" I faked a hurt sound while ignoring the deadpanned look from Kiyoko.
[....]
[Do I have to list all of the problems you created for the team?] He said in a flat tone. I chuckled remembering the memories of old Hiroyuki's prank that almost get the team disqualified at one moment.
"Nah, you don't have to. However, this time, I need a favor from you as the captain."
[Oya? It is the first time for you. What is this about?] I can hear the curious tone from him.
"You remember my little sister Kiyoko-chan right?"
[Of course, I remember. You talked about her all the time last year. What is the problem?]
"Well you see, she is the manager of Karasuno team, and she asks me if I have a recommendation for a strong opponent. So, I thought with my brilliant mind, how about asking my old team and re-create the old trash battle? Moreover, I heard that Karasuno's new coach is coach Ukai's grandson. I know that Nekomata-sensei will gladly come here just to show off our team to coach Ukai. So, what do you think about arranging a friendly game?" I ask with an innocent tone.
[.....]
[This is not one of your wicked schemes to get coach Nekomata trained us like crazy right?]
"Of course not! Do you think of me so lowly? I still have a heart for my old teammates you know?" After a minute of silence,
[*sigh* I know I will regret this decision, but I will arrange the game with coach Nekomata. When do you want to have the game?]
"That's the spirit Kuroo!! Can you arrange it for next week? Maybe we can have a fun time beati-*cough* teaching the team some lessons like the old time, you know?"
[Oh, I am starting to like the plan now. Okay, I will arrange the game. See you next week, Yuki-senpai] I ignored the evil chuckle from the phone before the call ended and smile innocently at the deadpanned Kiyoko.
"What?"
"....."
......
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Author note:
The next chapter will be the start of Karasuno vs Nekoma! What do you think about this chapter?
You can also read five more chapters at my patreon account, pat_reon.com/zwolf1 (without '_' ). Thank you.