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

Sanada Naoto closed his eyes for a long moment before finally nodding. But just before he opened his mouth, he couldn't help but add,

"I just hope the choice you two made today won't become something you'll regret when you look back on your junior high days."

Iza Sho and Nanaki Asahi both smiled faintly. Asahi let out a sigh of relief and said,

"If we don't win the championship this year, I'm sure we'll regret it more than a few times~"

Iza Sho glanced at him and chuckled as well.

"Hah~"

"Then when the time comes, we'll have to give these two juniors a proper lecture~"

For the sake of what we gave up today, this so-called pride that's not even worth a dime.

Sanada Naoto: "..."

Sanada Naoto said softly,

"I understand. In that case…"

"I'll speak to Coach Hakkin for you."

Hearing this, the lighthearted expression Iza and Nanaki had been putting on disappeared. In silence, the two bowed deeply to Sanada.

"Coach Sanada…"

"We're sorry."

"We…"

Sanada stepped forward and cut them off before they could finish.

"Iza, Nanaki, without a doubt, in the past two years, you've grown into exceptional players, and more importantly, you've never lost your hunger for victory."

Perhaps your talents weren't the flashiest, but Sanada believed that so long as that hunger remained, the world would eventually notice them.

"In my eyes, you're definitely not players who've failed to embody the team's creed."

Fierce competition.

The legacy of upperclassmen.

The crushing weight of expectation.

Anyone who's made it this far under that pressure, without crumbling, has already proven themselves as a true Teikō player.

Coach Hakkin…

It's in this one thing that you were wrong.

"…Good work."

"Iza, Nanaki."

Still bowing, both Iza Sho and Nanaki Asahi blinked back the wetness in their eyes. When they finally looked up, Sanada Naoto had already turned and walked out of the office, leaving the space behind for the two of them.

And then,

The moment he pushed the door open, he was greeted by the sight of Coach Hakkin's group… and Nijimura Shuzo standing in front of the door, cold expression on his face, holding Coach Hakkin by the wrist.

Nijimura…

Was he trying to stop Coach Hakkin from entering?

Sanada Naoto froze for a second, wearing the exact same startled look as Shigure Akihito standing beside him.

Click,

The door closed.

"Old man, stay out of this…"

Nijimura's voice was cold, but it was also steady and serious.

In the face of his rudeness, Coach Hakkin simply smiled.

"You saw it too, Nijimura, didn't you? That bitter moment… That too is part of basketball. That helpless feeling, when giving it your all still isn't enough to scale the wall before you."

"And hearing what they just said… what do you think that was?"

"A dream."

"A passion."

"A shred of dignity."

"Everything they were willing to cast aside for the sake of victory."

"In that moment, they weren't thinking of themselves. They were thinking of what the team needed to win."

"'Victory is everything', you've already begun to understand what that truly means the moment you grabbed my wrist. Even if your understanding differs from mine, remember them…"

"And then stand at the very front of victory."

Coach Hakkin finished his monologue and turned away, his signature smile still on his face. In Shigure Akihito's eyes, the old man actually seemed rather satisfied.

As for Shigure himself, someone who'd weathered a fair amount of life's realities, it would take a lot more than that to move him.

But when he turned to look at Nijimura…

He had every reason to believe that Coach Hakkin had deliberately timed everything for them to witness. After all, the old man was supposed to have a chat with him and Nijimura, yet he just up and left on his own.

Tch,

He wasn't even pretending anymore.

And the way he handled it? Remarkably precise. He barely gave Shigure a glance and instead poured all his attention into "CPU-ing" Nijimura.

Hmm…

Judging from the look on the kid's face…

Yep, totally got CPU'd.

Creak,

As Coach Hakkin walked away, Iza Sho and Nanaki Asahi also stepped out of the room, causing an awkward silence to hang in the air.

Even though the conversation just now had started with Nijimura's cold tone, clearly both Iza and Nanaki had heard everything.

As they closed the door, Iza looked "surprised" to see Shigure and Nijimura standing outside.

"Oh, it's you guys…"

"Hmm…"

"You heard all that?"

Though it came out as a question, his tone left little doubt.

Nijimura remained silent, while Shigure played along and replied,

"Heard just a little."

Iza scratched his head with an embarrassed smile. If not for the redness around his eyes, he actually looked rather composed.

"That's how it is. From here on out, the starting lineup's in your hands."

Nijimura frowned as soon as he heard that and was about to say something, but then he remembered Coach Hakkin's words.

He gritted his teeth and forced himself to hold back,

But failed.

"…It hasn't been finalized yet, senpai."

Nanaki Asahi shook his head and said,

"No. If Coach Hakkin didn't object, then it's already decided."

"From now on…"

"We're counting on you."

"Nijimura."

"Shigure."

Nijimura Shuzo: "…"

"…Understood."

Shigure Akihito: "Leave it to me."

End of chapter