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

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"Match over."

"3–0."

"Shigure Akihito wins!"

With the second-string referee's announcement, the Teiko coaching staff began offering final comments on Aomine Daiki's performance. Aside from that wild last shot, what he'd shown on the court was, undeniably, monstrous.

To the point that when they reported their observations to Sanada Naoto, their voices trembled slightly.

Because aside from Aomine, there were three more with talent on his level.

"Coach Sanada, this Aomine Daiki definitely has the same caliber as last year's Shigure and Nijimura. Whether it's his physical gifts or his unique playing style as a first-year…"

"He's just like them, too much like them!"

"And there's also that #2 court player, Murasakibara Atsushi!"

"#3 court, Midorima Shintarō!"

"#4 court, Akashi Seijūrō!"

"No doubt about it. From what we've seen, further testing isn't necessary. With last year's Shigure and Nijimura as precedent..."

"These four are more than qualified for First String."

Sanada Naoto's heart pounded like a drum. He'd never expected this, hadn't dared to imagine it. This year's entrance tests…

Had produced four more monsters all at once.

What was this? Two years without a championship, and now fate was repaying them double?

No, more than double.

With second-years Shigure and Nijimura locking down this year and the next, and this batch of first-years developing under their guidance… even after those two graduated, they'd still have the firepower to take another title.

That would mean…

Four straight national championships?

After the explosive showcase from Aomine and the others, the rest of the entrance trials seemed dull by comparison, just like last year.

"All right, now we'll announce the results of the First-Year Evaluation."

"We'll be listing names by assignment: Third String, Second String, and First String."

"Let's begin…"

"Third String…"

Due to the record 29 applicants this year, all new recruits wore numbered blue training jerseys. Sanada Naoto read the numbers aloud in order, matching them to names.

"Number 7, Mitake Kazunobu."

"Number 14…"

…

"Number 33, Iwade Hiroaki."

…

"Number 59, Namida Takashi."

"Number 68, Kuroko Tetsuya."

"All the above have been assigned to Third String."

Kuroko's pupils contracted at the announcement. A moment later, his whole body seemed to drain of spirit. Silently, he trailed behind the rest of the Third String as they lined up.

As that group moved away from the crowd, most of them began to relax.

After all, Third String was followed by Second String. Even in a powerhouse like Teiko, newcomers weren't usually turned away outright.

At worst, even total beginners just got placed in Third String.

"Yesss! I made Second String!"

"Ahaha, me too!"

"This is Teiko, man! Making Second String right off the bat… that's gotta mean we're actually decent, right?"

"No doubt!"

"Awesome!"

The Second String announcements came quickly after that, and those called responded with noticeably more excitement than their Third String peers.

The crowd of unassigned players dwindled rapidly.

Until only four remained,

Midorima Shintarō.

Murasakibara Atsushi.

Aomine Daiki.

Akashi Seijūrō.

Four new faces, each with eye-catching hair and a distinct aura. Their mere presence on the court drew every gaze, the low hum of murmurs growing louder.

"The Second String list… that's the end, right?"

"Eh? Then doesn't that mean…"

"First String?!"

"All four of them? I thought Aomine got totally wrecked by the vice-captain… did he still make it?"

"What about the others?"

At center court, Sanada Naoto finished reading the final name for Second String, then turned to the four remaining players. His voice solemn, he continued:

"That concludes Second String."

"Next is…"

"First String."

Everyone: "!!"

So it was true!

After Shigure Akihito and Nijimura Shuzo broke history last year by entering directly into First String as freshmen…

This year, the tradition continued.

Sanada had been through this once before. The rising noise around him didn't faze his delivery.

"Number 1, Murasakibara Atsushi."

Murasakibara scratched his head and walked out lazily, eyes half-lidded with disinterest.

"Number 2, Midorima Shintarō."

He adjusted his glasses and held up his lucky item, a small raccoon plushie. He looked more composed than Murasakibara, but the item in his hand was just as bizarre.

"Number 3, Akashi Seijūrō."

A calm, confident smile rested on Akashi's face, his every movement radiating quiet authority.

And finally,

Among all the newcomers, the two most explosively talented players, Murasakibara and Aomine.

But among the Second String players, Aomine's performance against Shigure was even more highly rated than Murasakibara's visible gifts.

"Number 4, Aomine Daiki."

"That concludes the list."

Aomine, now fully recovered from his loss to Shigure, didn't seem dispirited at all. On the contrary, he looked even more fired up.

As soon as he stepped forward, he shot Shigure a cocky grin.

"Shigure Akihito…"

"Joining First String means I can challenge you anytime, right?"

Before Shigure could answer, Nijimura Shuzo's cold voice cut in, "Aomine Daiki. First day in First String means double training."

"Until you learn how to properly address your senpai."

Aomine blinked, confused. His streetball habits had left him oblivious to the issue, and the look he gave Nijimura only made things worse.

The next moment, Nijimura stepped forward.

That savage presence, feral, swept toward Aomine like a tsunami, even affecting the others nearby: Murasakibara, Midorima, and Akashi.

"You are now Teiko's First-String freshman, Aomine Daiki."

"You can challenge us all you like, but every Second- and Third-Year here has worked longer and bled harder for this team than you have."

"You'll respect that."

"And one more thing, "

"I am Nijimura Shuzo, Second-Year Captain of Teiko."

"Got a problem with that?"

Faced with raw power for the first time, Aomine gulped hard. What the hell? I didn't even do anything… why's he so scary?

Still,

Being called Teiko's Aomine Daiki…

Kind of felt nice.

Beside him, Midorima frowned and nodded, "Understood, Captain Nijimura."

Murasakibara clutched the snack in his pocket nervously.

"…This captain guy's scary."

He much preferred the always-smiling vice-captain.

Akashi simply nodded, "Understood, Captain."

After that brief but intense moment, Sanada informed the recruits of their training schedules and venues.

The meeting was over.

Immediately, Shigure Akihito began looking for Kuroko Tetsuya.

But…

He'd vanished.

Shigure fished a letter from his jacket pocket, the same one Akashi had picked up on the day of the entrance ceremony.

Figuring it would be better handled by a Second-Year, Akashi had passed it to Shigure. And Shigure, always the efficient type, had planned to just return it on test day.

But who would've thought, despite not having learned Misdirection yet, Kuroko Tetsuya was already a ghost in a crowd.

As for how Shigure was sure the letter belonged to Kuroko?

Not just from that one brief encounter…

Shigure had read it.

Of course, he didn't mean to. It wasn't sealed, and it was only a few lines long. One glance, and the contents stuck with him.

"Tetsuya, have you decided which club to join?"

"I'm definitely picking basketball! I'm sure you will too!"

"Let's work hard together, and meet in the junior high tournament, just like we promised!"

Simple lines, but with the doodled basketball face on the back, it was clear who the sender was and what kind of person they were.

After asking around a bit and guessing the most likely places, Shigure finally found Kuroko near the second-string gym's outdoor pool.

The sky-blue-haired boy had just splashed his face with cold water and looked up, dazed and lost.

Right into the shadow of someone tall and imposing,

Teiko's prodigy, the vice-captain…

Shigure Akihito.

The two locked eyes. Shigure was immediately struck by the boy's pure blue gaze, clear, yet completely devoid of emotion.

Eyes that stared right at him, but held no focus.

With that blank face…

Shigure stiffened.

Then, suddenly, Kuroko's expression lit up.

"Senpai… I think this is mine."

Shigure exhaled in relief and nodded, "No doubt about it. You dropped it when we bumped into each other at the entrance ceremony."

"Actually, it was Akashi who found it and gave it to me to return."

He handed the letter back.

Kuroko had obviously read it before, but still examined it intently, as if committing it to memory again.

Shigure said nothing.

Instead,

He observed the boy in front of him with full attention.

This… was the main character of this world.

First impression?

Definitely "looks weak at first glance."

Was he even 160cm tall? Barely. Physically frail too…

Akashi was short too, but radiated something quietly formidable.

But this boy?

Completely unnoticeable in a crowd.

No doubt about it.

This was Kuroko Tetsuya.

And seeing him in person…

Was kind of amazing.

That low presence, honestly more interesting than the raw power of Aomine.

"I'm Shigure Akihito. Nice to meet you, Kuroko Tetsuya."

Kuroko's face finally showed some emotion, "Shigure-senpai… you remembered my name?"

Shigure nodded.

"Of course."

"As a player, someone with such low presence is pretty rare, after all."

"Oh right, "

"Welcome to Teiko."

Kuroko could tell Shigure was genuinely intrigued by his low presence, though he didn't quite understand why.

"I only barely made Third String…"

His eyes drifted.

"After watching Aomine today… honestly, I'm not sure if I can keep up here at Teiko."

"That kind of talent…"

"I've never seen anything like it before."

And even he couldn't score on Shigure-senpai.

In that moment, during the tryouts, Kuroko had seen an unimaginable chasm.

But then,

"No, Kuroko."

"Don't give up."

"Yes, some people are born with gifts. That's just how the world works."

"There are people out there who seem ridiculously strong, and it's only natural to think 'wow, they're amazing.'"

"But assuming they were born perfect and giving up without even trying? That's just disrespectful."

"Because, 'Relentless effort' is a kind of talent too."

"To use that one gift we all have… to chase them down and surpass them, that's the coolest thing of all, isn't it?"

End of chapter...

To be continued...

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