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

Shigure Akihito raised his arm, facing the sloped pedestrian overpass that had become a natural viewing platform. But contrary to what he'd expected, contrary to what had happened so many times before, this time, that earth-shaking roar of cheers didn't come.

Not a sound.

Shigure Akihito: "...?"

He followed the stunned gazes of the crowd and turned slightly to the side,

Just moments ago, his "Imperial Drive" block had swatted Nikaidō clean off the court. Somehow, during the collision, the guy had smashed his face somewhere, and now blood was pouring out of his nose in torrents.

So much that his uniform was already soaked red at the collar.

Seeing his opponent's face drenched in blood, Shigure froze completely. It was the first time he'd encountered something like this, and for a moment, his expression was pure confusion.

It had all happened too fast.

In just a single offensive-defensive exchange, Shigure had ended the play with a shocking twist, nothing like what the delinquents around had been hoping for. His block on Nikaidō didn't just reject the shot, it sent the guy flying like a basketball himself.

Sure, the crowd was full of rough-and-tumble types, but even they had never seen a basketball move that caused actual bloodshed.

Just then, a calm voice broke the silence.

It was Nijimura Shuzo.

"Step aside."

He walked up to Nikaidō and carefully checked his condition.

Thanks to his extensive experience, Nijimura quickly made a call: aside from the heavy bleeding, it was just a minor flesh wound. Once the platelets did their job, the bleeding would stop, nothing too serious.

After stating this…

Nijimura turned to face the still-stunned Shigure Akihito.

Their eyes met, and in that brief moment, an unspoken exchange passed between them.

Nijimura: "I told you, not to use 'Wild Instinct' here."

Shigure: "Didn't you use it last time…?"

Nijimura glanced at the bloodied Nikaidō, then arched an eyebrow at Shigure:

"Do you really think a lion and a mammoth have the same destructive power?"

Shigure: "…"

Never mind how they managed to exchange so many layers of meaning with just their eyes, they both understood each other perfectly.

In the past, this might have slid. But now, as Teiko's captain, Nijimura had to take responsibility. To avoid further incidents, he suggested Nikaidō go to the hospital for a full check-up.

But,

Nikaidō didn't appreciate the concern.

In fact, his pride as a high schooler, bruised from being shut down in just one play, refused to accept reality.

"No need!"

"Just give me five minutes...!"

"I just need to stop the bleeding!"

"We agreed to settle this with a full-court match, didn't we? Then at the very least, we need four people…"

However,

Five minutes passed.

Though the bleeding had stopped, Nikaidō was clearly out of it. Never mind the risk of reopening the wound, he could barely focus enough to shoot or pass.

Nijimura turned toward Shigure, who'd just claimed first blood of the year, and sighed.

"Forget it. Guys like Haizaki Shōgo... probably didn't need to be recruited into Teiko at all."

"Among the first-years this year, there are four stronger than him."

"There's no need to keep playing."

Haizaki Shōgo: "?!"

Four people…?

Sure, Haizaki had never taken basketball seriously. To him, it was just a tool to pick up girls.

But,

That didn't mean he could just stand being looked down on.

Tch!

Basketball might be simple, but it wasn't something just any random dog could beat him at. (Well, except this cold-faced monster in front of him.)

Damn it!

Just then…

A bright, sunny-looking boy slid down the slope from the far end of the overpass.

Wearing a clean basketball team uniform, track pants and a zip-up jacket, neat and tidy.

And surprisingly, like the Generation of Miracles, this guy had colored hair too. Except in Shigure's mind, if you weren't one of them, dyed hair in middle school just meant one thing: vain.

That went for this new guy, and for Haizaki with his ash-gray hair too.

Yep…

That was totally dyed.

"Hello!"

"Nijimura-senpai, Shigure-senpai!"

"My name is Tomoya Inoue, first year from Kamizaki Middle School."

To Shigure, Inoue looked like he stepped straight out of the same mold as Kise Ryōta, handsome and clearly main character material. But the name didn't ring any bells.

Even after he introduced himself in full.

But Inoue,

When he looked at Nijimura, there was unmistakable admiration in his eyes.

And when he looked at Shigure, one of Teiko's Twin Stars, the awe on his face was mixed with just a bit of lingering fear from witnessing that brutal block earlier.

"Senpai… if you're short one player… can I join?"

"I know I'm just a first-year, but…"

"I made the first string!"

At this, Inoue scratched his cheek, slightly embarrassed.

After all, he was just a regular starter for an unknown Tokyo school. These two were starters at Teiko, the powerhouse that won a national title in their first year.

Haizaki sneered when he heard "first-year," but Shigure's eyes suddenly lit up.

Wait a minute…

Kamizaki Middle…

Inoue…

Wasn't this the guy from that rumor, the one who went toe-to-toe with Aomine Daiki in their first year, but got crushed in their second year…?

The very same defeat that supposedly pushed Aomine to embrace full-on "lone wolf" mode?

"So you're that guy..."

Nijimura looked confused as Shigure suddenly got this complicated expression.

"Sure, that works. Actually, it looks like both teams are short one."

"How about you join our side, ?"

Before he could finish the sentence, Inoue's eyes lit up, and he nodded eagerly.

But then,

"Teiko's full already!"

"Senpai!"

Shigure turned to look,

Speak of the devil and he shall appear.

Aomine Daiki came sprinting up, clearly worried that Inoue would take his spot.

Inoue: "…"

Wait,

That guy's from Teiko too?

So dark…

Looks to be about the same height as me. That green-haired guy next to Nijimura-senpai too.

Didn't see them in last year's tournament. So they must be the new first-years?

Inoue's momentary disappointment quickly turned back into eagerness.

If that's the case…

Then this was the perfect chance to test himself against Teiko's first-years.

Shigure scratched his head awkwardly at the sight of Aomine.

This Tomoya Inoue…

Given what happened in canon…

He didn't exactly seem like the most mentally resilient type. And now, with Nijimura, Midorima, Aomine, and himself all on one team,

Yikes.

Wouldn't that just break the guy on day one?

Aomine noticed the hesitation in Shigure's eyes, and his face grew darker.

"Senpai… you're not gonna pick me?"

"Because I lost to you earlier…?"

"I'm just a first-year…"

"Senpai!"

Shigure: "…"

Aomine…

Do you realize you sound like you're sulking?

"Um…"

"Shigure-senpai, it's fine. I can join the other team. Honestly, I kind of want to try going up against you guys…"

Nijimura studied Inoue for a moment, then said:

"Aomine, switch to the other side. Tomoya Inoue, you're with us."

"...Huh?!"

"Why?!"

"Because this first-year actually has manners."

"…But…"

"I did call you senpai…"

"I'll waive your extra conditioning today. Go."

"Yessir!!"

…

Moments later, both sides took the court.

4-on-4.

Full court.

Haizaki was clearly annoyed. So was Aomine.

"If you drag me down, I'll kill you!"

"Hah?!"

"I'm on Teiko's starting lineup!"

"Like I care what lineup you're on!"

"Tch."

"Damn ash-head."

"Stupid dark-face."

Meanwhile, Tomoya Inoue, who got his wish to team up with the Teiko Twin Stars, never took his eyes off…

Not Shigure Akihito, but Nijimura Shuzo.

His gaze was locked in. Admiration. Reverence. Unfiltered awe.

Inoue: "…"

Incredible.

That aura…

No wonder he's Nijimura Shuzo.

From the moment he stepped on the court, Inoue felt a chill like a predator approaching. And in the next second,

Another, equally fearsome presence descended from across the court,

Shigure Akihito!

Bzzzt!

Center court.

Temporary referee.

A spiky-haired middle schooler respectfully greeted Nijimura, then tiptoed over to Shigure to do the same.

Very... streetball etiquette.

Nijimura glanced at Shigure and said:

"No violations on the jump this time, alright? Don't do what you did last year."

"Relax!"

"I rock at jump balls!"

"…."

And he really did.

As the ball left the ref's hand, not exactly by the book,

Screeeee!

The sound of sneakers biting the floor tore through the court.

Inoue blinked, then caught a flash of black darting forward, then straight up,

Shigure launched himself from a standstill like a spring-loaded beast!

In the split second the ball reached its peak, right before it started to drop,

He seemed to freeze in the air!

Smack!

The ball landed in Inoue's hands.

He stared in awe, dumbstruck. His entire body locked up.

A first-year, freshly out of elementary school,

Had never seen anything like that!

"Yo~"

"First-year~"

"It's started~"

"Want to take the first shot?"

Inoue hesitated. He glanced toward Nijimura, but the monstrous point guard from last year's nationals was already streaking ahead.

Which meant…

He…

He was the one holding the ball?

In a team with Teiko's Twin Stars on the floor, he was the point guard?

"Want to take the first shot?"

If that's how it is…

Then I'm going for it!

Senpai!

Stepping up to meet him was, Aomine Daiki!

"Bring it on!"

"You seat-stealing bastard!"

Inoue crossed over swiftly, and Aomine's eyes sharpened.

That crossover, clean and crisp. Technically sound.

This guy…

Is serious.

Whsst!

The speed,

Was more than Aomine expected.

From the dribble, it was clear Inoue was a speed-based slasher, and Aomine prepared to mirror his pace.

But,

Inoue's attack wasn't just physically fast. It was technically fast.

Lightning-fast crossovers. Instant gather. Immediate lift into the shot.

Everything was clean, efficient, and explosive.

From Nijimura's perspective, Inoue's entire movement, including his breathing, flowed in rhythm with the drive, stop, and jumper.

But in Shigure's eyes…

He saw something else.

During the crossover,

The split-second physical contact. The faint body bump that created just enough space.

And then,

Without hesitation, Inoue pulled up for the stop-and-pop!

Perfect timing!

Blazing speed!

Even his shooting form, from gather to release, was smooth and sharp. That hesitation-free pull-up jumper…

It had the faint echo of Shinzō Ichirō's Time Freeze Jumper!

Swish!

Nothing but net.

"Whoa…"

Who would've thought?

Tomoya Inoue's playstyle,

Looked so… basic.

But the way he used those simple, efficient fundamentals, you could almost see Nijimura's style in him.

And at the moment of execution,

Shigure even saw a glimpse of himself.

Even if it was just a little bit…

That was impressive enough.

End of chapter...

To be continued...

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