The next day.
Teiko Third Gymnasium.
Yesterday, after his showdown with Shigure Akihito, Fukaya Reiji, knowing the All-Japan Nationals were drawing near and having heard from Nijimura about the potential start of the "Kōzō Shirogane Devil's Training Month," immediately handed the gym key over to Kuroko Tetsuya.
Because he was well aware,
From here on out...
He likely wouldn't have the energy for late-night solo training, and he needed to recover his stamina fast.
But tonight, even without Fukaya Reiji's presence, the Third Gym was far from empty. Kuroko Tetsuya, still quietly exploring "Misdirection," wasn't alone.
Because this time... a more bruised and battered Haizaki Shōgo had come to accompany him.
Kuroko glanced over to the other half of the court.
"…"
Haizaki-kun.
What a mess.
…
"Boring…"
"That all you've got?"
A cold voice spilled from the mouth of Nijimura Shūzō.
Laid out before him was none other than Haizaki Shōgo, who had just been sent flying by a thunderous dunk.
Haizaki scowled as he looked up, only to meet the snickering face of Shigure Akihito on the sidelines, who couldn't help but laugh at his sorry state.
"Haizaki, man…"
"What's wrong with you?"
"Don't tell me you saw Reiji yesterday and got so fired up that you challenged Nijimura today? You think you can start as a regular just like that? What makes you think you can beat him?"
"Use your brain a little, yeah?"
"I think you should try beating Aomine first, that might be a bit more realistic."
During today's First String practice, Haizaki had repeatedly provoked Nijimura, until eventually, to avoid affecting the team's focus, the captain dragged him out for some good old-fashioned special training.
That one-on-one session…
Well, let's just say…
Shigure Akihito couldn't remember how many points Nijimura had scored, but he knew Haizaki's score was easy to track: still stuck at a glorious zero.
An absolute beatdown.
And yet…
This first-year middle schooler, who might soon be dubbed a "Miracle" in the pages of next year's magazines, was undeniably main character material. His mental resilience?
Off the charts.
Refuse to lose? That's his entire vibe.
All bark, no quit.
As for Nijimura, former delinquent that he was, he seemed especially invested in Haizaki. Shigure could see it clearly: the captain was using basketball to lead him down the right path.
It was a perfect storm: a patient, ruthless 1v1 veteran Nijimura... vs. a cocky, unyielding Haizaki.
Outside the Third Gym,
Aomine Daiki, who had been forbidden by Nijimura to attend this "special" training session, was now peeking through the door, watching Haizaki's pummeling in stunned silence.
Compared to Shigure-senpai's gentle style, Captain Nijimura's one-on-one method was full-contact combat. And for some reason, every hit landed clean.
It was like playing a video game…
…with a "Weak Point Exploit" buff turned on.
Honestly?
Aomine didn't like that grey-haired punk, but in terms of basketball ability, Haizaki wasn't weak. Aomine was confident he'd beat him, but not by much.
In other words…
If he were the one on court right now…
He'd probably be getting wrecked the same way.
Then suddenly,
He heard Shigure-senpai say: "I think you should try beating Aomine first, that might be a bit more realistic."
Which was… technically true, given the current situation. But as the one being talked about, Aomine's face darkened, and his hand instinctively gripped the door, creak,
He thought he was hiding well, but Nijimura's hawk-like vision had already spotted him.
"Hey, kid at the door. Practice is over, go home. Or did you wanna come in and get wrecked too?"
Aomine Daiki: "!?"
Shwoop,
He dipped.
Not far away, Midorima Shintarō, fully geared up in a weird hat and sunglasses, glanced at the fleeing Aomine and muttered, "Idiot."
But then,
He saw Captain Nijimura point at him through the window.
Midorima: "…"
Tch.
Holding today's lucky item, a thermos, Midorima turned and left.
After shooing away the two disobedient brats, Nijimura turned back.
The relentless training had turned Haizaki's legs to jelly. He still hadn't blocked a single shot or scored a single point. Now he lay flat on the ground, arms splayed, totally wrecked.
Silence.
Nearby, Kuroko Tetsuya, done with his bizarre exercises, went to fetch water and towels. He hesitated for a moment as he glanced at Nijimura and Haizaki,
Then quietly brought over two extra sets.
One for Captain Nijimura.
One for Haizaki.
And then he saw it: Haizaki, who should've been pissed or sulking under Nijimura's brutal training… was instead lying on his back, grinning strangely.
"…Just as I thought."
"Compared to guys like Shigure Akihito…"
"I like your style better."
"Interesting."
Shigure Akihito paused, then chuckled. "You mean you want to learn Captain Nijimura's techniques? If you ask nicely, he might actually teach you."
"If…"
"You've got the talent, that is."
Haizaki smirked at that, scoffing with a look of disdain.
"Teach me? That kind of thing…"
"If I want it, I can learn it just by watching."
"And besides…"
"Instead of being taught, "
"I'd rather steal it."
"Heh"
"'Hunger'? Don't make me laugh."
"Wolves don't fight tigers and leopards just because they're hungry. They do it because, "
"What others have…"
", always tastes better when it's stolen!"
"You just wait, Nijimura Shūzō. I, "
Before he could finish, Nijimura had already had enough of his arrogant monologue. He chopped Haizaki right on the forehead, smacking him back down flat.
From daydream...
To harsh reality.
"Wolf, huh?"
"What's a loser like you howling for?"
"You borrowed this gym today, so just like Kuroko and Reiji yesterday, clean up before you leave. And if you don't do it properly, "
"Hmph."
That cold snort from Nijimura sent a chill down Haizaki's spine.
"…Damn violent freak."
"Yo"
"Wolf"
"Too bad you're just Nijimura's little wolf cub"
And then came another annoying monster.
…
Losing the game and getting beat up physically, Haizaki had no choice but to sulkily clean the court with Kuroko.
Kuroko was a little surprised at how obedient Haizaki was being.
After all, both senpai had already left.
Apparently, Haizaki becomes weirdly well-behaved after losing.
Quite principled, actually.
But once Haizaki noticed Kuroko staring,
"What?!"
"You third-string weirdo."
"What are you looking at?"
Kuroko, as calm as a still lake, showed no signs of fear. He earnestly explained:
"That wasn't some random weird training. Captain Nijimura and Senpai Shigure taught it to me."
"Also…"
"Haizaki-kun."
"Please carry the bucket more steadily. The court's flooring might get water damage."
After a day of brutal practice, especially with Nijimura's "special care", Haizaki's arms had gone numb. Being reminded of his weakness by Kuroko, and hearing that Nijimura and Shigure had personally taught him?
Hit him right in the ego.
Clatter!
Haizaki dropped the bucket.
He turned and threw a ball at Kuroko with a glare.
"You little runt!"
"Just a third-string scrub…"
"What gives you the right?!"
"Come on!"
"Show me what those two bastards taught you!"
Caught off guard with the cleaning gear in hand, Kuroko awkwardly caught the ball.
Haizaki frowned.
Seriously?
As expected…
So weak.
But then,
Kuroko tossed the ball into the ball rack.
Haizaki scoffed, about to say something when,
Kuroko's body vanished.
And the next second,
He heard Kuroko's voice from behind him.
"Captain Nijimura and Vice-Captain Shigure…"
"Please call them senpai, Haizaki-kun."
Haizaki Shōgo: "!?"
Huh?
Did he… teleport?
…
The next morning.
When Haizaki Shōgo arrived at the First Gym locker room, he was still out of it, partly because yesterday had completely exhausted him…
But mostly,
That damn Kuroko Tetsuya…
Was like a ghost!
He still couldn't wrap his head around what happened. And that shorty definitely wasn't as meek as he looked. Definitely a black-hearted bastard. After showing him that mind-bending "teleport," he didn't even offer a word of explanation.
Too prideful to ask outright, Haizaki stewed on it all night.
As he listlessly changed into his gear…
One of the senior third-years suddenly spoke:
"Yo, Haizaki. Why the long face? The Nationals are coming up. This last month's gonna be brutal. Especially today, day one."
"Once the Kōzō Shirogane Coach shows up, First String's training load is gonna skyrocket."
"Last year around this time…"
"Even Nijimura and Shigure got wrecked."
All the third-years, and the lucky ones like Makoto and Fukaya Reiji, who were promoted last winter, froze up at the mere mention of "Kōzō Shirogane Coach."
910.
"Today…"
"Better brace yourselves…"
"The Devil is coming…"
"Nijimura and Shigure are the captains, so they're probably already with the coach. For the rest of us, better hustle!"
"…"
"No kidding!"
At that, everyone's changing speed went into overdrive, as if racing to avoid being last. Aomine stood watching, slack-jawed.
Among the first-years, smart ones like Akashi and Midorima immediately followed suit.
Sluggish ones…
Haizaki was still dragging his feet.
The carefree ones…
Aomine was just here for the show.
The gluttonous ones…
Murasakibara was busy hiding snacks in one of his two lockers, carefully selecting today's stash.
But then he turned,
Only to see a lineup of pale-faced seniors already fully dressed in their uniforms.
"Ehh?"
"Is time moving faster today or something?"
Thunk!
Murasakibara accidentally knocked something over with his foot.
"MURASAKIBARA!!"
Midorima froze mid–shoelace-tie. Especially when he saw what got crushed underfoot, his carefully chosen lucky item for the day, a daruma doll.
"…"
His morning horoscope for Cancer had already looked bleak. It took forever to find a suitable lucky charm to offset it…
And now…
Everything was ruined.
Considering the ominous vibe in First String today,
He turned to Fukaya-senpai, wearing a deep scowl, and asked politely:
"Fukaya-senpai…"
"What exactly is the Kōzō Shirogane Coach's training like?"
Before Reiji could answer, Makoto, tall and grinning, leaned in with a gleam in his eye:
"You first-years are so screwed"
"Last year, Reiji and I got promoted to Second and First String. Spent half a year getting whipped into shape."
"And after just one session with the Kōzō Shirogane Coach…"
"We barely crawled out of the gym alive."
"Nijimura put it best: 'Kōzō Shirogane Coach's training pushes you until only your pride can keep you standing.'"
"That's the nice version."
"The not-so-nice version? Shigure's."
'The Kōzō Shirogane Devil.'
'If the training doesn't kill you, he'll train you to death.'
All the first-years: "!?"
End of chapter...
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