"What was wrong, Akashi..." Shintaro Midorima hurried after Seijuro Akashi. Watching the figure ahead of him with concern, he said, "You usually aren't this rude."
"Nothing, Shintaro." Seijuro Akashi's voice was cold. "I just feel inexplicably angry."
"Angry?" Shintaro Midorima asked, puzzled. "Did Aomine say something stupid again? That's just how he is..."
"No, it's not some trivial offense like that." Seijuro Akashi flatly rejected Shintaro Midorima's suggestion. "I don't even know who I'm angry at, but I have this vague feeling that something has been taken from me... You, Atsushi, Tetsuya! You were all supposed to be my support!"
"Akashi..." Watching Seijuro Akashi, who looked especially frightening in his fury, Shintaro Midorima felt a chill creep over him. "Who... are you, really?"
"..." Seijuro Akashi, his imposing aura suddenly stilled, fell silent for a long while. Then he took a deep breath and slowly spoke. "Honestly, Shintaro, of course I'm Seijuro Akashi!" His voice was still so calm and gentle.
Shintaro Midorima stared blankly into Seijuro Akashi's eyes. He gazed at those familiar crimson irises for a long time, then let out a sigh without saying a word.
"Hey, Aomine, you're here too?"
The next day at lunch, Daiki Aomine showed up at the coach's office with Tetsuya Kuroko. Curious to see them arrive together, Naoto Sanada invited them to sit, ready to hear what they had to say.
"Coach, I... I came today to..." Tetsuya Kuroko drew a deep breath, but the speech he had practiced so many times came out haltingly.
"Come on, Tetsu, show some spirit! Don't make yourself look bad!" Daiki Aomine slapped Tetsuya Kuroko on the back. "Just say what Kaneki taught you!"
"Whoo..." That slap seemed to fill Tetsuya Kuroko with strength. After letting out a long breath, he spoke more smoothly.