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

Coach Sanada had mentioned earlier that the number one seed from Miyazaki, Chōgen International Junior High, would be visiting today. Naturally, the topic shifted toward today's training session and the upcoming match schedule.

And from the venue they were using...

Shigure Akihito could tell.

This Chōgen International team was clearly recognized by Teikō. After all, today's match was being held in the first-string training gym.

As the group made their way back down to the training court on the first floor, Shigure suddenly heard a loud, cheerful, no, overly cheerful to the point of being cocky, voice echoing across the court.

"Oh~

So this is the legendary Teikō, huh? I heard you guys haven't won the championship these last two years~

Guess that makes us kind of alike, doesn't it?"

"No wonder you're called a powerhouse, so many gyms, I got lost just trying to find the right one.

Since it's rare to visit another school, I'll go ahead and introduce myself!"

Right after that came a barrage of dribbling sounds, rapid, relentless, and unusually crisp.

"I'm Hayama Kotarō, first-year starter at Chōgen.

I'm good at basketball, into skateboarding, and my special move is Lightning-Fast Dribbling!

I just used it on your second-string guys, not even a challenge~"

As Shigure followed the sound, the first thing he saw was,

A head of bright yellow hair.

But it wasn't the dazzling, almost golden yellow like Kise Ryōta's. No, it was more like the shade of a cheetah's pelt, wild, sharp.

In the world of Kuroko no Basket, there weren't many players with hair like that. Unless it was dyed, this kind of yellow could only belong to one person:

One of the Uncrowned Kings, known as the "Thunder Beast", Hayama Kotarō.

Of course...

At this point, he was still just a first-year, same as Shigure.

And judging by his self-introduction and that so-called "Lightning-Fast Dribbling," it was clear he hadn't yet developed his signature Thunder Dribble.

The Uncrowned Kings had surnames associated with nature: Flower (Hana), Tree (Ki), Root (Ne), Fruit (Mi), and Leaf (Ha).

Meanwhile, Teikō's naming tradition followed colors: Red, Yellow, Green, Purple, Blue, Indigo, and Platinum.

Following that logic...

Hayama's hair was definitely dyed.

Back in the gym.

Everyone frowned slightly at Hayama's flamboyant introduction.

"He's a first-year too, like Shigure and Nijimura?"

"Did you hear him?"

"He just said he played against the second string?"

"Said he walked into the wrong gym or whatever. Hah, so what if he beat a few second-string guys?

Shigure's already gone toe-to-toe with the first string, beat everyone except the captain, and that was just a matter of size."

"Nijimura's about the same."

Nearby, the Chōgen coach and players, who had been letting Hayama show off, started sensing that something was off.

They'd expected this Tokyo out-of-district exhibition match to be like any other, but...

Despite their first-year starter showing off after beating Teikō's second string, none of the Teikō first-string players even flinched.

"Shigure..."

"Nijimura?"

Who were they?

The Chōgen coach never even considered that they might also be first-years.

After all, players who could beat almost the entire Teikō first string, except the captain?

First-years?

Two of them?

Impossible.

Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!

Hayama, now the center of attention, kept dribbling away without a care. To be fair, his dribbling was impressive, absurdly fast.

But everything about him, his attitude, his flashy play, felt completely out of place at Teikō.

Especially since this was Teikō's home court, the first one to snap was,

Nanaki Asahi, the quiet third-year who usually followed Iza Sho around.

Nanaki walked straight up to Hayama, sharp-eyed, and said coldly,

"Here, introductions only need name, school, and position. Got it?"

Hayama looked him up and down, grinned broadly, and asked cheerfully,

"You're also... first-string?"

"Shooting guard?"

"You're also first-string?"

A vein bulged on Nanaki's forehead.

"Even if we're not from the same school, I'm a third-year, two years your senior.

Show some respect and use proper honorifics, you first-year brat."

Hearing that, Hayama's grin faded a little.

"I really hate those stiff rules. So what if you were born a year or two earlier?

Big deal."

"Besides..."

BOOM!

Suddenly, Hayama's dribbling exploded in speed!

The thunderous echo of the ball hitting the floor shook the gym like a taiko drum.

In a blink, he was behind Nanaki. Caught off guard, Nanaki had just begun turning around when,

"If we're talking basketball, I think I'm still, "

WHAM!

Hayama's voice was cut off mid-sentence by a sharp strike from a basketball.

Even though he dodged at the last second, Nijimura Shuzō's ball still managed to strike directly at the point where Hayama's dribble landed.

Thump!

Both balls collided in mid-air and bounced away.

Hayama's eyes widened. He looked at Nijimura and broke into the exact kind of overly cheerful grin that Nijimura despised.

"Hah~ you're strong!

So there are still beasts here, huh?

Hey~ are you playing today?"

"No? Then how about we play right now?"

Shigure's ears perked up the moment he heard that.

A one-on-one?

And against a future Uncrowned King?

If he could take this guy down, it would definitely be a power-up event!

Fwoosh!

Shigure Akihito shot his hand into the air!

"Teikō Junior High!"

"First-year!"

"Shooting guard!"

"First-string player, Shigure Akihito, requests to play!"

Everyone in Teikō:

"…?!"

This guy...

After a few quiet days, he's back to being insane again?

But...

That was fine.

Time to teach that first-year from the other school a real lesson.

End of chapter...

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