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

Bzzzt!

The game was over.

With Shigure Akihito's thunderous, storm-like outburst in the first half of the final quarter, followed by Nijimura Shuzo's calm and composed finish in the second half, Teiko Middle School crushed last year's champions, Okayama, by a wide margin.

They had fought all the way to the finals, the championship within reach, only to have it all shattered by one decisive blow. That bitter taste of having everything ripped away… who could bear it?

As the final buzzer echoed through the stadium, everyone on Okayama's side froze. Even the substitutes on the bench wore grim expressions.

In stark contrast, the stands exploded with noise. Cheers, shouts, and roars erupted wave after wave like rolling thunder.

In the midst of it all, the graduating third-years of Teiko, who had stood on the brink of leaving junior high basketball, were finally crowned kings for the first time. Though they were no longer the ones steering the ship, their emotions overflowed. Amid raised fists and jubilant shouts, tears of joy streamed down their faces.

On the other side of the court,

Hagioka Kasayuki gasped for air, his breath ragged. His thoughts, once clear and orderly, dissolved into a hazy blank the moment he heard Teiko's ecstatic celebrations… the moment he saw their unrestrained joy.

Blank.

Hagioka Kasayuki: "…"

We lost…

Process-wise, he had no regrets.

The only decision he second-guessed was identifying Shigure Akihito's potential to awaken his "wild instinct," bumping him up the threat list and targeting him accordingly,

But in hindsight…

He hadn't made the wrong call.

Hah…

He tried to think. Was there anything he hadn't done?

Nothing comes to mind…

Shigure Akihito broke free from the warm embrace of his upperclassmen and, for reasons he couldn't quite explain, instinctively looked toward Hagioka Kasayuki. Maybe it was the first time, or maybe the second time,

That after defeating someone, he didn't derive any joy from their weakness or insignificance.

"Senpai…"

"Are you alright?"

He noticed immediately that Hagioka looked terrible.

Unlike him, who could come off the court after running out of gas, Hagioka had no such luxury. Down by a wide margin, he'd fought to the bitter end. His eyes were half-lidded, his body soaked in sweat like he'd just come out of a sauna.

When Shigure approached, Hagioka forced a faint smile.

"…I'm fine."

"At the very least…"

"I'm still stronger than you, right~?"

"..."

"…Senpai really is, doesn't say much, but damn, your pride is something else."

"Oh? Now you remember to call me senpai? If you'd left it at that without the sarcasm, I might've thought you were actually being polite."

"..."

At that moment, the referee's voice cut through.

"The game is decided!"

"Teams, line up!"

"Teiko versus Okayama!"

"129 to 103, Teiko wins!"

With the official declaration, Teiko Middle School was crowned this year's national junior high champion.

Though the score hadn't been close, the game itself had been full of surprises. So much so that when the final whistle blew, not a single person in the audience or among the players of other teams rose from their seats.

Their gazes,

Were all focused on the court.

On Shigure Akihito and Hagioka Kasayuki, standing at center court.

They approached each other, extended their hands,

And continued their conversation where they had left off.

Hagioka took a deep breath, steadying himself. "With the kind of energy you burned through… you didn't crash from exhaustion, did you?"

"Thanks to senpai helping out earlier, I made it. Otherwise… yeah, it would've been ugly."

They kept the conversation light, as if to keep emotions in check.

Eventually, Hagioka couldn't help but glance at the scoreboard.

"I lost," he said.

"…Shigure."

Seeing the subtle drop in Hagioka's tone and expression, Shigure couldn't help but respond:

"Yeah… but no one wins forever."

"Besides, senpai, you've already tasted victory."

"We'll play again, won't we?"

"There'll be a next time."

At that, Hagioka looked at Shigure with a seriousness that seemed to cut through him, then relaxed slightly and said,

"Up to now, I've always been that so-called 'foundational ace.' But with junior high over, high school's up next."

"…Time I became a true ace."

"And when that happens, I'll show you… there's always someone stronger waiting."

He paused briefly, then added:

"In this paradise called junior high, you've been too much of a mammoth."

"So don't you dare slack off."

Shigure gave him a confident grin. "Senpai, you're actually a nice guy, huh? But don't worry, I'm not the type of idiot who thinks 'the only one who can beat me is myself.'"

"Hah…"

"'The only one who can beat me is myself?'"

"There are people like that?"

"There are~"

Hagioka chuckled and shook his head.

"Gotta keep yourself in top shape at all times. Then when victory's within reach, be the first to grab it."

"I'll be waiting for you in high school."

"Mm." Shigure nodded, raising an eyebrow playfully. "Senpai, once you hit high school, better start gunning for that championship from year one…"

"Otherwise…"

"You'll miss your shot at a second straight title~"

Hagioka paused, then gave a knowing nod.

"Because by third year, I'll be facing you again, huh?"

"…But next time, it won't be this easy."

"…Go."

"Your teammates are waiting."

"Enjoy the victory. I've still got my duties as captain."

Shigure glanced at his teammates waving him over, then turned to leave.

But just before walking off, he suddenly remembered something,

He looked back.

"Senpai…"

"Do you know which high school you want to go to?"

Hagioka blinked, slightly surprised.

"Yeah."

"Where?"

"Rakuzan in Kyoto. They reached out to me back in my first year."

"..."

"…Huh?!"

Shigure wasn't shocked because Hagioka chose Rakuzan.

With Hagioka's strength, Shigure couldn't imagine him not winning a high school championship.

No, what shocked him was how shameless the Uncrowned Five really were.

Hayama Kotarō.

Nebuya Eikichi.

And even Mibuchi Reo?!

A superteam was one thing, but they'd already roped in Hagioka back then?!

So… first year of high school, he'd be up against three Uncrowned Kings… plus Hagioka?

Shigure instinctively glanced at Nijimura Shuzo,

No way. No matter what, you're not going to America!

The thought hit hard, and Shigure's gaze at Hagioka suddenly turned a little hostile.

"Next time… I'll be the one saying 'I won.'"

Hagioka turned without replying, only waved.

As if to say:

Once you hit high school, be careful not to lose too badly.

But as the loser today, he said nothing more.

Still,

What would today's loser become tomorrow?

Hah…

Burn this pain, this "never again" kind of pain, deep into your soul.

Now that he'd faced the harsh truth of still being weak, it was time to forge every weapon he could use.

Draw lessons from defeat. Sharpen his mastered skills through training.

Wasn't that how he'd always walked this path?

"Tch… the mood's getting heavy."

"Later… I should probably talk to the guys too, huh?"

"Hmm…"

"Should I use Shigure Akihito as a little motivation for them?"

As Hagioka fretted over his duties as captain,

On the other side of the court,

Shigure Akihito was being tossed into the air by a wave of joy.

Literally tossed.

The third-years were the most excited, laughing as they hoisted him up and down. Their joy also carried heartfelt gratitude toward this year's Twin Stars, Shigure Akihito and Nijimura Shuzo.

If not for them, this year's Teiko might've fallen to that Okayama monster team.

But now,

The third-years…

Had seized their final shot at glory!

After throwing Shigure around a few times, they turned toward Nijimura,

But under his cold, death-glare…

None of the seniors dared make a move.

In the end,

It was Shigure again.

He launched himself like a wild animal, tackled Nijimura full-force, locked him in a headlock,

Only to get flipped and pinned instantly.

Shigure: "...!?"

Everyone else: "..."

Ōkura Masaaki pretended he saw nothing, leading the team toward the stands to thank the classmates who came all the way to support them.

"Thank you for your support!"

"Really…"

"Thank you so much!"

"OOOOHHHH!!!"

"Champions!"

"Teiko Champions!"

Nijimura finally let go of Shigure, and just then,

From the Teiko side of the crowd came a unified chant.

For a moment…

Even Nijimura was stunned.

"Undefeated! Undefeated!"

"…Ha."

"That's a perfect match."

"What do you think?"

Shigure Akihito stood with hands on hips, staring at the massive Teiko banner that read Undefeated.

Nijimura caught his gaze and smirked faintly.

"What do I think?"

"This view, we earned it!"

"Through sheer exhaustion, right?"

"…Tch."

"You and Hagioka… in a way, you're surprisingly similar."

"…"

"Still not even close."

There was something different in the way he said it this time.

At that moment, the two upperclassmen who had once given up their starting spots to Shigure and Nijimura approached.

Seeing them, Nijimura's smile became genuine.

Even Shigure was surprised as he watched Nijimura bump fists with Asahi Nanaki and Shō Izawa.

"Shigure, "

"Huh?"

Nijimura turned to him, fist extended.

Shigure hesitated for a second, then bumped it.

"Let's come back and see this view again next year."

"…And the year after!"

"…And the year after that!"

"…?"

Nijimura raised a brow, puzzled, but Shigure didn't explain. He wasn't about to reveal he had plans to drag Nijimura into high school basketball too.

Not yet.

Instead, he just joined in the celebration.

The award ceremony came to a close.

Everyone gathered at center court, surrounding the championship trophy.

Coach Sanada Naoto of the first team held up a camera, one they had kept ready for two years but never used, preparing to take their victory shot.

"Damn, Captain, you're huge, I'm getting squished!"

"Hah?!"

"Just crouch!"

"Front row should be reserved for the Twin Stars~"

"Alright…"

"Everyone ready? Smile!"

Click!

The photo captured Teiko's championship squad, with first-year Shigure Akihito and Nijimura Shuzo seated at the very front, flanking the half-height trophy. Behind them stood Coach Hakugin and Coach Sanada, surrounded by their senior teammates, a bit chaotic, but every face wore a bright, joyful smile.

Even Nijimura.

Shō Izawa playfully ruffled his hair from behind. One hand gripping the trophy, the other awkwardly resting on the court, Nijimura turned,

Only to find Shigure clinging to the trophy like he'd never let go.

Then…

He smirked again.

At the same time, the basketball journalists present captured every moment.

Among them, the chief editor of Basketball Weekly finally penned an official headline,

Using the term "Teiko's Twin Stars" for the first time.

And with the rise of Teiko's Twin Stars this year,

The era of Teiko's return to junior high basketball dominance…

Had officially begun.

End of chapter...

To be continued...

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