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

The second floor of the Teiko First Team's gym, where the coaches' and supervisors' offices were located, was a place Shigure Akihito had never stepped foot in since joining the team. But before he could even take a proper look around

A sudden thudding of footsteps echoed down the corridor.

"Coach…"

"It's me, Izawa, and…"

"Shichiki."

"Come in."

Shigure instantly recognized the voices, Teiko's starting shooting guard and power forward, Izawa Sho and Shichiki Asahi. The one responding was none other than First Team coach Sanada Naoto.

Shirogane Kozo, Shigure Akihito, and Nijimura Shuzo had just stepped onto the second floor and instinctively paused in their tracks as they saw the two starters walk into Coach Sanada's office.

Only after the door closed behind them did the three continue forward.

Inside Sanada's office,

Izawa and Shichiki entered and, seeing the coach swamped with work, hesitated for a moment before bowing slightly.

"Sorry to interrupt."

Sanada glanced up and nodded.

"Mm… It's fine."

But after that, he heard no follow-up. That was unusual in a team known for its strict discipline. Especially from starting players, communication with him was typically blunt and to the point.

Finally setting his pen down, Sanada looked up and asked:

"Shouldn't you two be at morning training? And if I'm not mistaken… isn't today's visiting team the No.1 seed from Miyazaki last year, Nagamoto International?"

"No warm-ups? If you've come to me directly, I assume it's something important?"

Izawa and Shichiki exchanged a glance, then both took a deep breath. Izawa spoke first.

"Coach, Asahi and I have been thinking about this for a while now, and we've finally come to a decision…"

"It's not just for the good of the team, "

"It's also…"

"For ourselves."

"We want to give up our starting spots in the National Middle School Preliminaries… and hand them to Shigure and Nijimura."

Outside the door,

Just passing by at that moment, Shigure Akihito and Nijimura Shuzo came to an abrupt halt.

Shirogane Kozo, ever blunt, leaned casually against the wall beside the office, listening in without a hint of guilt. The infamous "Devil Coach" of middle school basketball showed zero concern about eavesdropping, it came to him quite naturally.

Turning to the two younger players, he even put a finger to his lips with a "Shh."

Inside the room,

Coach Sanada was taken aback. He froze mid-motion and frowned deeply.

"…Do you even realize what you're saying, Izawa?"

"Shigure and Nijimura, "

"At this stage, while they certainly have the skill, they still lack the stamina and experience that a high-level tournament demands."

"The pressure, the responsibility…"

"Without having weathered these things, they're not yet ready to start in a major event like the Nationals."

"I can tell you with certainty, they're the future core once your third-year class graduates. But this year, the team will still revolve around you seniors."

"They'll support you on the road to the championship, serving as reinforcements and gaining experience along the way."

Izawa and Shichiki fell silent for a moment.

Then,

The previously quiet Shichiki finally spoke.

"Coach Sanada, we know better than anyone, Shigure and Nijimura's abilities won't be hindered by 'lack of experience.' As for stamina…"

"We're more suited to support them from the bench."

"If Shigure or Nijimura run out of steam or face any unexpected issues, we can step in."

"Coach, over the past two years, we're grateful for everything you've done for us. But it's really okay, you don't need to protect our pride."

"Even if someone says, 'Those third-years are pathetic, having to come off the bench for first-years,'"

"We really don't care."

"Before coming to you, we already spoke to the other seniors. As long as it strengthens the team, we're willing to do anything. Even if we're not starters, we'll never slack off."

Their resolve stunned Sanada.

He looked at the two boys he had coached for nearly three years, and let out a quiet sigh from deep within.

Was it because he had placed such high expectations on Shigure Akihito, and his obvious talent, that it had affected these two?

Or was it his own reluctance to part with this batch of third-years that made him waver, choosing not to name Shigure a starter so close to Nationals?

But then,

Izawa continued, "Coach Sanada, this is our final year of middle school."

"As Teiko players, players who wear the motto 'Victory is everything' on our backs, our generation of third-years has already let the school's legacy slip for two years in a row."

"If we lose again this year, we'll go down as the generation least qualified to uphold that creed."

Sanada: "!"

Hearing the words "least qualified to uphold the team motto," Sanada's fingertips twitched.

He stood up instinctively, his chair screeching sharply across the floor.

Izawa.

Shichiki.

Izawa looked him square in the eye.

"We want to win. We want this team to take back the championship at Nationals."

"If Shigure and Nijimura can help make that happen, then Coach, you shouldn't hesitate."

"I know this sounds selfish…"

"And yes, there's some shame in it…"

"But for the sake of victory, maybe this moment, right now, is the one time in our entire middle school careers that we can truly say…"

"Victory is everything."

To be continued...

Hey there, Coach!

If you've been enjoying Before the Generation of Miracles, I Was Already King, why not take your support to the next level? 🏆

By joining my Patreon and becoming a Rookie Recruit or part of the Starting Five, you're not just backing the story, you're stepping onto the court with me.

🏀 Rookie Recruit – Early Access for Advanced 15 Chapters

Get early access to new chapters, sneak peeks behind the scenes, and insights into my creative process, days before anyone else!

🏀 Starting Five – Early Access for Advanced 35 Chapters

Your support helps me write more, write better, and bring this basketball saga to life the way it deserves. If this story's been hitting you in the feels, or getting you hyped like a fourth-quarter comeback, then I'd love to have you on the squad.

Let's chase the championship together.

Join the team, wear the crown, before the miracles ever showed up.

🔗 patreon.com/MrBehringer