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

"Besides, who said you don't have any talent, Kuroko-kun? This unique 'presence' of yours… you might come to realize someday that having low presence might just be a pretty amazing talent too."

Kuroko was momentarily stunned, then turned toward Shigure Akihito with a look that plainly said, What are you even talking about?

Shigure raised a brow ever so slightly.

This version of Kuroko…

Was still far too weak.

No, even weaker than he had imagined.

If this guy could manage to survive in the Third String, or no, at least the Second String, once he made it through that level of training, then maybe Shigure would go ahead and hand him a whole beginner's guide to magic tricks.

He glanced over at the school gate, he and Nijimura still had somewhere to be. Turning back to Kuroko to say goodbye…

Shigure Akihito: "…!?"

Huh?

Where'd he go?

Kuroko Tetsuya: "I'm right here, Shigure-senpai…"

Shigure Akihito: "Oh… right."

Shigure Akihito: "See, what did I just say? Low presence might really be a useful ability."

Shigure Akihito: "I'll head off then."

Kuroko Tetsuya: "Goodbye, senpai."

Just as he was about to leave,

Shigure suddenly turned back around.

Facing the story's true protagonist...

Compared to the version of Kuroko who originally debuted in canon with unwavering determination and the dream of defeating the Generation of Miracles, this one, this one definitely had hesitation in his eyes.

So,

He couldn't help but say one more thing.

"Those who believe, 'My strength is not limited to this', and continue walking down the path they've chosen, compared to those who sigh, 'I can't possibly compare to geniuses', and give up without a fight…"

"They'll walk a much harder road."

"But I believe, someone will make it in the end."

"Don't you?"

"Keep going, Kuroko Tetsuya. I'll be waiting for you in the First String, don't make me wait too long."

Watching Shigure's figure disappear into the distance,

Kuroko Tetsuya: "…"

'Unrelenting effort is a kind of talent too.'

Because of what that upperclassman had just said, behind Kuroko's normally calm, emotionless face, a storm of emotions churned beneath his pale blue eyes. He gripped the letter in his hand even tighter.

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

"Hehe~ I'm definitely joining the basketball club! I bet you are too, right?"

"Let's both work hard and meet on the court one day, just like we promised!"

A few moments later, Kuroko clenched his fist.

"Ogiwara-kun… even if it takes a long time for that promise to come true on the court, I'll never give up, and I'll never lose!"

Beneath the cherry blossom tree at Teiko's front gate,

Nijimura Shuzo stood by his bike with two backpacks slung over one shoulder. Nearby, first, second, and third-year students, especially flocks of fashionable JKs, slowed their steps to stare.

But none dared approach, held back by the icy, terrifying aura on Nijimura's face.

That is, until Shigure Akihito arrived,

"Hello~"

"Shigure-senpai~!"

"Ah~ it's Shigure! Are you free Saturday? Wanna go out? Some of the Teiko graduates are getting together, there'll even be college students~!"

"Can you give this to Nijimura-kun for me?"

"Ah…!"

"Thanks, really, thank you so much!"

Nijimura watched Shigure weave effortlessly through the crowd of girls, even shooting smug looks his way as he did so. He shook his head in exasperation.

"Here~"

"Princess-hair over there gave you this."

He tossed one of the backpacks to Shigure, who caught it smoothly.

"Hop on!"

Of course, he also took the letter, more to prevent Shigure from keeping it and telling embarrassing stories around the team the next day than out of any intent to respond to the sender.

He couldn't deal with this guy.

"Once we deal with Haizaki, let's rest up. We've got training tomorrow."

"OK~"

Snap!

Shigure hopped onto the back of Nijimura's bike like it was routine.

"Say, this Haizaki guy, he acted all high and mighty. Who do you think he's calling in to help? Some high school player? Even if it is, shouldn't be a problem, right…"

"I kinda wanna see what high schoolers are made of these days."

"None of them could possibly be stronger than Hagioka-senpai, right?"

"Speaking of which…"

"Captain Ōkura and his crew are screwed. Hagioka-senpai's probably gonna dominate two straight years in high school too. I heard Rakuzan's even scarier than old Teiko now."

"Hagioka Kasayuki… don't tell me he only went to Kyoto because Rakuzan sounds like Okayama?"

Shigure chattered on to himself, but something felt off. Nijimura wasn't usually this quiet, he might be cold, sure, but he'd still respond when Shigure talked about basketball.

At the very least,

Names like Hagioka Kasayuki.

Captain Ōkura Masaaki.

Should've caught his attention.

But just now, Shigure had been doing all the talking by himself. Nijimura hadn't said a word. In fact… wasn't the bike speeding up?

Even speeding up too much?

Whoosh, !

Holy crap!

So fast!

Are we drag racing now?!

Near Teiko Junior High, one white bicycle carrying two boys in school uniforms raced forward, just behind them, a second one with a basket on the front kept pace like a rocket.

Both bikes were flying.

Until,

SCREEEEECH, !

They were forced to stop at a red light.

The instant the bike stopped, Shigure leapt off Nijimura's back and turned to the side, where Midorima Shintarō was calmly adjusting the angle of his raccoon plush in the basket.

"Midorima Shintarō!"

"What the hell?!"

"Were you drag racing?!"

Yep, the one racing Nijimura had actually been Midorima, something Shigure absolutely did not see coming. Their personalities were complete opposites.

"Drag racing…?"

"Shigure-senpai…"

"I was just riding normally."

Shigure squinted, whipped out his phone, and snapped a photo of Midorima's windblown hair, spiked up like a Super Saiyan.

"Look at this and try again."

Midorima: "…"

He frowned, turned away stiffly, and began straightening his hair.

"In any case…" Shigure saw the light turn green, "I don't know what madness suddenly took you guys over, but please, ride safely."

"I'm supposed to teach Haizaki a lesson today! Don't go sending yourselves to the hospital before I get the chance!"

Ding!

The light changed. Under Shigure's sharp glare, Midorima slowed down… and so did Nijimura.

But it didn't last long…

Soon, they were picking up speed again.

And Shigure finally realized,

Midorima, like a challenger, kept riding just slightly ahead of Nijimura. Every time Nijimura caught up, Midorima would edge forward a little more. And so it continued,

Faster.

And faster.

Shigure Akihito: "…"

Shigure Akihito: "Midorima… what are you even doing…?"

The wind drowned out his voice as the speed surged.

But he could barely hear Midorima's totally in-character mumbling as he leaned forward, pedaling like mad: "Today's morning horoscope… Cancer… lucky item… I absolutely won't lose!"

"Even in a bike race!"

Shigure Akihito: "…"

You've got to be kidding me.

That line, in front of a competition-obsessed maniac like Nijimura, was like lighting a stick of dynamite.

"Oh yeah?"

"You little first-year…"

"Your first lesson in the First String, from your captain today…"

"Victory…"

"Comes from strength, !"

"Not from horoscopes or astrology!"

BOOM!

The wild lion exploded, Nijimura, still carrying a 184cm Shigure, suddenly launched forward with a brutal stomp, sending the chain screaming under the strain.

"Hmph!"

"As a Cancer, "

"I! Won't! Lose!"

Midorima pushed harder too, his girly bike somehow had multiple gears, and with a click-clack, he shifted up to try and keep pace.

Whoosh, !

Whoosh, !

In the distance,

Aomine Daiki, excitedly chatting with Momoi Satsuki about the entrance tests, suddenly heard a strange noise approaching from afar. He turned,

And saw two bikes swerving wildly at full speed toward them.

Aomine reacted instantly,

But Momoi,

WHOOSH, !

Shigure braced himself on the pegs, leapt into the air, and snatched Momoi out of the way just in time. With a spin,

"Goda Yutaka: Full Acceleration!"

WHOOSH, !

Despite standing at 184cm and having enhanced speed, Shigure couldn't keep up, not with Nijimura lightened behind him and sprinting on wheels.

But Midorima,

Catching up was child's play for him.

CLUNK, !

With one final burst of speed, Shigure managed to leap onto Midorima's rear seat.

Midorima felt the sudden weight increase, his legs struggling under the new pressure, finally realizing just how much weight Nijimura had been hauling during their race.

Staring at Nijimura's figure shrinking in the distance, Midorima was stunned.

He turned to the grinning Shigure behind him and asked, dumbfounded:

"Captain Nijimura… what's his star sign?"

"Hmm?"

"I don't know much about that stuff…"

"I just know his birthday's July 10th."

"…?"

"I see…"

So he's a Cancer too…

But if I had the lucky item boosting my fortunes today, why did I still lose?

Suddenly,

"What about you, Shigure-senpai?"

"What?"

"Your birthday…"

"March 5th."

"…Pisces… Cancer's best match… no wonder you're the Teiko Twin Stars…"

Midorima slowed down, he'd spotted Nijimura up ahead, waiting. When Nijimura turned back, there was a… peculiar look on his face.

Exasperation.

Frustration.

"Oh~"

"Our captain's fired up again…"

"Guess the only thing that can calm you down is the court, huh?"

"Shut up, Shigure."

"Was that Aomine back there? Is Momoi okay?"

"Great eyes as always~ don't worry, I caught her."

Midorima, silent now, pedaled slowly behind them, clearly not planning to part ways just yet.

Shigure gave him a strange look, they were heading to a sandlot court. Not far, but it was in a completely uninhabited area.

Not exactly on Midorima's way home.

Noticing Shigure's glance, Midorima looked away.

"You guys are going to play, huh…"

"I heard you mention something about gray hair earlier…"

"Oh? Interested?"

"No…"

"I just want to observe… because today's horoscope seems to have gone all wrong when it comes to you two…"

Shigure Akihito: "…"

Well, that was unexpected.

He didn't think Midorima had been this obsessed with horoscopes since first year.

"Alright, you can tag along if you want. Think of it as a chance to meet another First String rookie early, though you might not like him."

"First String?"

"Yeah, I think he's First String material. But that guy never keeps his word. He lost to Nijimura, said he'd come to the tryouts, and then just didn't show."

"Now he's bringing backup. Guess we'll have to teach him a lesson."

At that moment,

Shigure shot Midorima a bright glance.

"Hey, you showed up just in time. Wanna team up with us? You just hang outside and wait for the pass, then drain the three."

Midorima hesitated… but eventually nodded.

"Understood, senpai."

Even if they hadn't played together yet,

As teammates, this would be a chance to observe more closely.

End of chapter...

To be continued...

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