Kuroko’s Basketball: Before Generation Miracles, I Already Crowned

After watching that last play, Kozo gave a near-imperceptible nod.

In moments like this, when someone steps up to carry the fight head-on, everyone around him begins to rise with him. Their energy surges, their play sharpens, even if it's through small, grimy tasks that no one notices. They fight, sweat, and grind their way forward, desperate to prove their worth in his presence.

And to prove that all the pressure he's bearing alone… is worth it.

On the court, the players from Seiho Junior High wore expressions of utter despair.

Even though they still held a 5-point lead, their body language was that of a team down by fifteen. In stark contrast, Teiko's players were laughing, high-fiving, and brimming with confidence.

On the bench, Teiko's substitutes were already on their feet, waving towels in the air.

Some of them couldn't help but shout at the top of their lungs, swept up in the momentum.

At the team's darkest moment, Shigure Akihito had appeared like a ray of dawn, illuminating everything.

Still, even in the grip of despair, Seiho clung to their pride as basketball players, even if it was just a final gasp of defiance.

They began rotating double-teams with increasing urgency. One trap would be broken, and the next would immediately spring into place, tightly surrounding Shigure, trying to seal off any chance of him receiving the ball.

But just like before, Shigure only needed a simple hand-off to get the ball.

However…

In this situation, forcing it would be downright foolish.

With the defenders swarming to stop him at all costs, the pressure on the rest of Teiko's lineup dropped to almost nothing.

Shigure simply waved them forward, go run, play the numbers.

And his teammates seized the moment.

Clean execution.

Back-to-back buckets.

83:82.

Before the final minutes even arrived, Teiko had narrowed the gap to a single point.

Whatever Teiko's past may have been, they were now one step away from pulling off their biggest comeback of the season, led by Shigure Akihito in just one quarter.

Realizing this, everyone on Teiko turned their eyes toward Seiho, eyes glowing with hunger, like wolves ready to feast.

Seiho's turn.

Their point guard drove into the paint and dished to Takahama Ryo, who trailed behind. Under immense pressure, Takahama managed to rise and score with a floater, pushing the lead back to 3.

But after the shot, he didn't even dare look in Shigure's direction. He just clenched his fist and ran back on defense.

The atmosphere in the gym had turned suffocating. It felt like even the air could be wrung out.

Because everyone knew,

The conclusion was near.

Teiko's possession.

Shigure received the inbound at the baseline. With both Hekurai Ryuhisa and Takahama Ryo trapping him, he judged their spacing and, out of nowhere, unleashed a step-back shot with perfect timing and deadly calm.

Fadeaway.

Three-pointer.

Swish!

85:85.

Seiho rushed a fast baseline inbound.

Takahama got the bailout pass at the top of the arc. His teammates were tightly guarded. Left with no choice, he tried to make something happen on his own.

But at that very moment,

Shigure suddenly ditched the man he was guarding, Hekurai Ryuhisa.

Godai Tomokazu · Full Acceleration, Activated!

"Ryo!"

"Look out, !"

Uekusa Tomoyuki · Possession Steal!

Smack!

Takahama had already started his drive when the ball was stripped clean from his hands, textbook-perfect steal.

His face darkened. Regret gnawed at him. He had underestimated that No.12 for even a second, and now he was paying the price.

But then again…

You had to watch him on defense…

And offense…

Even the slightest lapse on either end, and this No.12 would pounce.

Who could possibly keep up with that?

Worse still, this turnover… might just cost them the game.

Takahama turned and chased, desperate to make up for his mistake.

But Shigure was already gone, bursting ahead the instant he stole the ball. With no defensive delay, everyone else was left inhaling the dust from his heels.

Bam!

Slam dunk!

85:87.

At last, Teiko had taken the lead.

The gym fell into dead silence.

In this final quarter, Seiho had lost count of how many times this scene had repeated.

That No.12 from Teiko, he was like a human mute button. The moment he turned it on, the entire arena dropped into a pit of despair.

Seiho's coach was soaked in sweat, pure panic in his eyes.

He was about to call their final timeout,

But what happened next froze him on the spot.

Smack!

That white-clad figure,

Just as he dropped from the rim after the dunk, still facing away from the court…

The moment Seiho began the inbound, it was as if he had spider-sense!

Without even looking over his shoulder,

Sudden movement!

[Pass Intercept – Triggered]: A player with heightened defensive instincts can sense and intercept passes from nearby positions without needing to face the passer. (Passive activation in defensive state, when near passing lanes.)

Whack!

Shigure lunged sideways, leaping into the air with one hand stretched flat across the passing lane!

His sharp expression, his black hair whipping upward in midair, and the number 12 flashing on his jersey, all of it burned into Seiho's memory in that moment.

The Seiho player nearest to Shigure, their captain and point guard, was left frozen for a beat.

Then, pure panic.

He launched himself at Shigure, desperate to stop him.

He knew that if Teiko scored again… the game would be over.

No matter what, this,

Before he could even form the thought completely,

He suddenly realized that his body, reacting to Shigure's stutter-step drive, had become unstable, like standing in a boat about to capsize.

And then,

It capsized.

[Ultimate: Frozen Frame]: A sudden forward burst that halts mid-motion, followed by a large step-back. Instantly topples any nearby opponent within range who's susceptible to fakes.

Thud!

As the Seiho point guard toppled to the floor like a baby learning to walk,

Shigure's three-pointer was already in the air.

A clean, uncontested shot.

Pure form.

Soft arc.

Splash!

Thud,

Thud,

Thud...

As the ball dropped through the net and bounced hard on the court, echoing faster and faster,

The hearts of every player on Seiho began to pound wildly in unison.

85:90.

It was over.

(End of chapter)