Akashi Becomes Captain

It took mere days for the team management to decide and finalize Nijimura's request to change the captaincy from him to Akashi.

The third-year members of the first-string were called to talk with the head coach about if Akashi Seijuro was ready for taking the lead of the first-string.

The result of the meeting was that even if the third-years wanted Nijimura to stay as captain, but because he had declined to stay as the captain and would resign as the captain even if they didn't choose Akashi, they were fine with Akashi as the new captain.

In short, none of the third-years wanted the captaincy, and they were satisfied with Akashi as the captain.

The meeting was kept as a secret as the head coach took a day to decide if Akashi was ready.

The next day after the meeting, the Head Coach Shirogane Kozo went down to the first-string gym and announced the transfer of the captaincy.

All of the members gathered around for the Head coach's announcement.

The head coach had asked Nijimura to address the first-string that he was withdrawing as the captain.

He stepped forward and faced his club mates and teammates.

Nijimura: "This might be sudden, but due to some personal matters, I will be resigning as the captain of the first-string."

The single statement from Nijimura turned the second-year and first-year members of the first-string into a crowd of members questioning his decision.

Nijimura yelled to subdue the crowd's questioning.

Nijiumura: "QUIET!"

One word from Nijimura made the whole crowd quiet down.

Nijimura was a strict captain who scared almost everyone in the club. No one dared to go against him, of course, other than Hiazaki and Haizaki got beaten up pretty much every time he did something that warranted a beating.

Nijimura continued when he saw the members quiet down.

Nijimura: "I know this is sudden, but it is final. I will not be a captain from now on. The coach will now announce my replacement."

Shirogane stepped forward as the crowd turned their eyes to him.

Shirogane: "As Nijimura-kun said, he will be withdrawing from the captaincy. Now, I have already asked the rest of the third-years, and they have refused to take captaincy."

Everybody looked at the third-years, and then their eyes went to Akashi as he was the vice-captain.

Shirogane noticed that and continued.

Shirogane: "As some of you have already guessed, the new captain for the first-string will be Akashi Seijuro. Akashi-kun, step forward."

Akashi did as he was told and stepped forward as the members clapped and congratulated him for his promotion.

The first-string had no problems with Akashi as the captain. Akashi was a starter on the team, plus he was the point guard and made the plays for the team. He was polite and didn't have problems communicating with other members.

Akashi faced his club mates and addressed them.

Akashi: "I look forward to this new responsibility. Please take care of me from now on."

The speech was short, but it was enough. Everybody knew about Akashi, and any other words weren't needed.

Shirogane once again addressed the members.

Shirogane: "Now we need a vice-captain. Now that we have a young captain, the vice-captain will also be a second-year. The new vice-captain will be Midorima Shintaro."

Midorima was congratulated, and once again, nobody was surprised. Midorima and Akashi were close, and Midorima was suitable for the position of vice-captain as he kept his teammates in line on a daily basis.

The discussion ended with that, and everybody returned to the practice.

Shirogane asked Nijimura about the team.

Shirogane: "Do you think that the team will be fine from now on?"

Nijimura nodded and replied.

Nijimura: "Akashi might be polite, but he can be much more terrifying than me when needed. He is, without a doubt, a good leader. With the second-years in charge of the team and bench, the team will develop even stronger."

Shirogane looked at the second-year regulars and thought about the future of the team.

-*-*-*-*-*-*-

After the practice, Midorima and Akashi were walking home after practice.

Midorima spoke about the changes in the club.

Midorima: "Kise and Aomine have been giving it their all in practice, going as far as to stay as late as possible."

Midorima was satisfied with his teammates' tenacity and hard work. Midorima was a follower of hard work, and he approved of people who gave it there all.

He also sighed as he remembered about another of his teammates.

Midorima: "Kise plays his position..."

Akashi looked at his friend and spoke.

Akashi: "You mean Haizaki? Now that I think about it..."

Midorima nodded and affirmed.

Midorima: "Yeah. That idiot ditched once again. But unfortunately, he has skill."

Midorima thought about the structure of the team and said.

Midorima: "So he's the started, and Kise's the substitute..."

Akashi stopped Midorima from speaking and denied his thinking.

Akashi: "No, that's not true."

Akashi's expression became cold and calculative.

Akashi: "Kise's potential and speed of growth outclass Haizaki's. It has become even more prominent after the hard work he has been putting after getting beaten by Kageyama Shun.

Further, Nijimura-san will be converted to the backup player."

Midorima gasped as heard Akashi's plan to make Nijimura a backup player.

He looked at Akashi and found the same cold look that he had seen a few times before.

Akashi continued and delivered another drastic blow.

Akashi: "Haizaki's misbehavior can't be tolerated. From here on, it's only a demerit.

We're done with him. Let's suggest that he resigns."

Midorima once again gasped as he heard about kicking Haizaki out of the club altogether.

A line of thought went through Midorima's mind as he remembered some observations.

Midorima: "Akashi is calm yet mild-mannered usually. He had skills and popularity.

Yet at times, his eyes are so cold, that he looks like someone else.

At least it looks like someone completely different to me."

A question stuck inside Midorima as he wondered.

Midorima: 'If that is so, which of them is the true Akashi.'