Kuroko no Basket: The Phantom Ace Chapter 17: Honey on the Tongue

Novel: Kuroko no Basket: The Phantom Ace Author: Veltoria Updated: Jun 02, 2026

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Now reading: Chapter 17: Honey on the Tongue from Kuroko no Basket: The Phantom Ace, a Action novel by Veltoria.

"Huh?"

Matsumoto Yukinori noticed the sharp stares from the white team's rookies and felt a jolt of unease.

"Don't tell ... those brats noticed?"

Even he was startled by his own thoughts. But a mont later, he shook it off.

No way.

This was their first ti seeing Seiho's kobujutsu-based style. If the rookies could pick apart their weakness this quickly, then Seiho would've been crushed by their opponents long ago.

Unless… soone had studied Seiho's techniques thoroughly before enrolling.

But that's too far-fetched.

After all, if you already decided to join Seiho, what's the point in analyzing their weaknesses? It would make no sense.

No way, right?

No way a junior higher would be that bored, right?

============

On the court.

A rookie fixated on Kasuga Ryuhei's toes, trying to spot the flaw Akashi Asuka had ntioned. But the mont Kasuga exploded into motion, the rookie didn't even have ti to react, Kasuga had already vanished from in front of him.

"Damn! That fast? With that kind of speed, even reading the move ahead of ti doesn't help!"

The plan was solid in theory, but in reality, it didn't hold up.

The physical gap between the black team veterans and the white team rookies was massive.

First, high schoolers are in their growth phase.

Second, the black team's Seiho starters were mostly third-years, with two full years of extra training.

Unless you were an absurdly talented rookie, the combination of those two factors was enough to put senior players several leagues ahead.

So even if the white team rookies knew the opponent's weak point, it was still incredibly hard to capitalize on it.

Of course, Akashi Asuka never pinned his hopes on the rookies.

Tsugawa Tomoki stepped up to help on defense.

Compared to the others, Tsugawa's defensive intensity was on a whole different level, so much so that he could almost stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the Generation of Miracles when it ca to defense alone.

Kasuga tried a series of crossovers, faking left and right, but no matter how many tis he shook, he couldn't shake Tsugawa off.

"Tch. So this year's rookies have more than one pain in the ass, huh?"

Clicking his tongue in frustration, Kasuga passed the ball. Omuro Yoshikasu received it and went for a mid-range jumper.

But just as he released the ball, a massive hand suddenly appeared above him.

"Yo, senpai. Don't you think you're standing a little too close to the rim?"

Smack!

A powerful block sent the ball flying across the court.

Everyone on the floor was left stunned. Especially Omuro Yoshikasu, his pupils reflected nothing but raw shock.

"You've gotta be kidding. That guy isn't just tall, his vertical is unreal!"

Tsugawa recovered the ball and launched a fast break without hesitation. At first, he wanted to push the tempo, but Akashi Asuka's earlier words echoed in his mind: Seiho's starters excel in drawn-out, back-and-forth battles thanks to their unique movent. So Tsugawa slowed it down.

Once his teammates were in position, he jogged past the three-point line and pulled up for a shot.

Clang!

A crisp iron bounce echoed through the gym.

Akashi boxed out with textbook form and claid the rebound with ease. He didn't go for a put-back but instead kicked it back out.

Tsugawa shot again.

Clang!

Another beautiful miss.

Akashi gently leaped and snatched the rebound again, yet again, he kicked it out to the periter.

Watching those two shots, the black team's players, both inside and out, twitched uncontrollably. They could practically feel the murderous aura bubbling up around them.

"Bastards! Are you mocking us!?"

Even team captain Tsutomu Iwamura was losing it. Are you even acknowledging as a center? Is this even basketball anymore? This was psychological warfare!

When Tsugawa pulled up for another three, both Iwamura and Omuro snapped and leaped early to contest the shot.

And this ti, Tsugawa made it.

Swish!

The soft whisper of the net only made the scene more awkward.

11:2.

After landing, silence fell across the court.

The tension was thick. So of the white team rookies looked like they wanted to say sothing, but before they could, Tsugawa opened his honey-coated mouth again.

"Wow, senpai, I'm impressed. You actually figured out we were provoking you?"

"But I an, even if you knew, so what? It's not like you guys are getting those rebounds anyway."

"Honestly, I always thought Akashi's plan was kinda overkill. Even if we didn't provoke you, you wouldn't win. So why bother? Sa outco either way."

The other white team rookies looked like they'd turned green from secondhand embarrassnt.

Even Akashi Asuka's expression stiffened slightly.

He knew Tsugawa was blunt, but he hadn't expected this guy to go full blast. It was like a damn area-of-effect nuke, roasting everyone in range!

Was Akashi provoking the black team?

Absolutely.

In fact, not just in this match, but even before the school year began, Akashi had already made a plan for himself.

Thanks to his cheat-like past life mories, his training thods would always be different from the norm. Even after enrollnt, he was destined to stand out as a "special" player.

But to be seen as soone special, he first had to prove he was special.

That's why from the very beginning, Akashi had resolved to crush his opponents completely, no holding back.

And "tactical provocation" was a perfectly valid strategy in any competitive sport.

That said,

As a high schooler, Akashi had originally planned to provoke the black team in a more subtle, elegant fashion.

But looking at things now…

Ehhh... well, mission accomplished, right?

Anyway, since Tsugawa was the one running his mouth, Akashi was just an accomplice at most.

When this match ends and Seiho's upperclassn explode in rage, Tsugawa will be the first one in the blast zone.

So really, this wasn't the best ti to shut him up.

"Wait… hold up. Since when did I beco this scheming?"

Suddenly, Akashi paused. He used to be a pretty straightforward, decent guy.