Accept Me as Your Master!

"Ma... Master?"

Shirakawa felt like his brain had crashed.

He looked down at Hanamichi Sakuragi, who was sprawled on the ground, banging his head with loud thuds, then glanced around to make sure there were no hidden cameras.

"What the hell is this? Some prank show?"

Even after living two lifetimes, this was the first time someone had knelt in the street and called him Master.

This was way too... exciting, wasn't it?

"Hey, red-haired monkey, get up!" Shirakawa said, torn between laughter and tears. "Did you hit your head during training today?"

"No!"

Hanamichi abruptly raised his head. His eyes were bloodshot, filled with determination and obsession, like a fanatic about to make a pilgrimage to holy ground.

"Master! If you refuse to take me as your disciple, I'll stay kneeling here forever!"

His voice was booming and full of vigor. Anyone who did not know better might have thought he was about to swear brotherhood on the spot.

"..."

Shirakawa was completely speechless.

He could see it now. This guy was serious.

But... why?

"Why do you want me as your master?" Shirakawa crouched down and looked at him curiously. "If I remember correctly, this afternoon you were pointing at my nose and calling me a white-haired fox, weren't you?"

"Uh..."

Hanamichi's face instantly turned bright red, and his gaze began to wander.

"Th-That was before! Before, your disciple failed to recognize greatness and offended Master! Please, Master, be magnanimous and do not hold it against your disciple!"

As he spoke, he knocked his head against the ground several more times with loud thuds.

Seeing how ridiculous he looked, Shirakawa nearly burst out laughing.

This guy changed his tune way too fast.

"Alright, alright, stop kowtowing. Keep going and that genius head of yours will turn into an idiot's." Shirakawa waved a hand and pulled him up from the ground.

"So, Master, you agreed?!" Hanamichi looked up in delight, little stars practically sparkling in his eyes.

"I never agreed." Shirakawa rolled his eyes. "I just wanted to ask what exactly you saw in me. Can't I just change it?"

"Master, you're far too modest!" Hanamichi looked at him with worship in his eyes. "Your heroic performance on the court today, your disciple saw it all!"

"Your unpredictable dribbling! Those earth-shattering dunks! Those shots that never missed! Especially those final two miraculous shots from one end of the court to the other!"

The more Hanamichi spoke, the more excited he became, waving his arms around as he gestured.

"So cool! Just insanely cool! This is real basketball! These are the skills a genius should possess!"

"Master!" Hanamichi grabbed Shirakawa's hand again, his gaze burning. "Please teach me your secret techniques! Once I learn your moves, forget dominating the nation—I'll be able to dominate the world! And then, Miss Haruko, she..."

"Oh~ I get it."

The moment Shirakawa heard the words "Miss Haruko," realization dawned on him.

So this guy had come to seek a master just to pick up girls.

The motivation certainly fit his character.

Shirakawa stroked his chin and began seriously considering whether this was feasible.

Taking Hanamichi as a disciple seemed... pretty interesting, actually.

This guy might not have much going on upstairs, but his physical talent was absolutely monstrous. He was a once-in-a-century basketball prodigy.

If Shirakawa could train him and turn him from an amateur who only knew how to grab rebounds into a true all-around warrior...

Just imagining it made his blood race!

Besides, he had the system and all kinds of Kuroko's Basketball skills. Teaching Hanamichi even the basics would benefit him endlessly.

Most importantly, training this living treasure would definitely add plenty of fun to his high school life.

"Hmm..." Shirakawa pondered for a moment, deliberately keeping Hanamichi in suspense.

"Master! Please accept me!" Seeing him hesitate, Hanamichi became so anxious he was nearly crying. "I'll listen to you from now on! If you tell me to go east, I'll never go west! If you tell me to beat a dog, I won't chase a chicken!"

"..."

What kind of nonsense was that?

Shirakawa cleared his throat and put on an inscrutable expression.

"Ahem, Sakuragi. Seeing how sincere you are, I, your master... will reluctantly accept you as my disciple."

"Really?! That's great!" Hanamichi jumped up in excitement, grabbed Shirakawa in a hug, and tried to lift him off the ground.

"Stop, stop, stop!" Shirakawa quickly broke free and disgustedly dusted off his clothes. "Keep your hands to yourself! There are rules to this!"

"Yes, yes, yes! Master is right!" Hanamichi immediately stood ramrod straight like a soldier awaiting inspection.

"However, I'm going to lay down three rules first." Shirakawa held up three fingers.

"First, when we're outside, you're not allowed to call me Master. You'll call me... Lord Shirakawa!"

Shirakawa thought "Master" sounded too old-fashioned. "Lord" sounded much more impressive.

"Yes! Lord Shirakawa!" Hanamichi instantly changed his form of address, saying it with remarkable fluency.

"Second, you must obey my orders unconditionally. No questioning them."

"Yes! Lord Shirakawa!"

"Third, and most importantly." Shirakawa's expression turned serious. "Before I teach you any secret techniques, you must first build a solid foundation. Whatever I tell you to practice, you practice. No slacking off, and no complaining."

"No problem! Lord Shirakawa!" Hanamichi patted his chest in assurance. "I, Hanamichi Sakuragi, am not afraid of hardship!"

"Very good."

Shirakawa nodded in satisfaction.

He looked at the red-haired monkey before him, whose face said, "I'm ready," and a devilish smile curled across his lips.

"Then, as the first lesson after becoming my disciple..."

"Starting tomorrow, you'll begin by practicing basic dribbling."