The group followed the coach into Shimanami Academy.
They headed straight for the basketball gym. Shigure Akihito could immediately feel that it wasn't as large as Teiko's. Of course, that wasn't to say Shimanami's gym was small—rather, Teiko, as the top team in Tokyo, had facilities built larger and grander than most schools.
The moment they stepped inside, Shigure and the others were greeted by Shimanami's unique brand of basketball culture.
"Move faster, you idiot!"
"What, scared already, bastard?!"
"Hahaha!!"
"Why don't you step outside the gym and show some guts!"
Both teams' starting players took the court. No one knew what Shimanami's players had said, but Teiko's second-stringers glared back murderously, the air thick with gunpowder.
And soon enough
The game officially began!
The referee stood at center court, tossed the ball upward, and the two jumpers leapt simultaneously.
The battle between Teiko's Second Army and their opponents had started.
Sitting on the bench, Kise turned his head to glance at the chaotic crowd. Their mouths hadn't stopped moving since tip-off.
So this was supposed to be a strong team, huh…?
"Come on, crush them!"
"Break them apart!"
The vicious shouts of the spectators made it all too easy to imagine what kind of dirty playing style Shimanami must have.
Tch… pathetic.
Sure enough, the game unfolded exactly as Kise expected.
Teiko's number 12 was tightly guarding Shimanami's number 6.
"Ah!"
Suddenly, the Shimanami player spun and drove his elbow into number 12's chest. The defense immediately collapsed.
It was a blatant foul.
But the referee—clearly from Shimanami—didn't even flinch.
Number 6 scored with an easy layup.
"So this is Teiko's Second Army? That's all?"
"Ha!"
"Let's show them the power of Shimanami!"
From the second-floor stands, the heckling only grew louder.
As the game progressed, the Second Army's coach grew increasingly grim.
The scoreboard now read 48–64.
Teiko was behind.
"They fouled again, didn't they?!"
"These referees are a joke!"
On the bench, Kise couldn't stop grumbling.
Meanwhile, Shigure Akihito watched Shimanami's repeated dirty fouls, his eyes burning with anticipation.
But he knew the order of priority: of the three First Army players present, the first to see court time would be the newcomer, Kise Ryōta. Next would be the regular, Kuroko Tetsuya. Only last would be him.
Sure enough
The coach patted Kise's shoulder.
"Kise, you're up!"
"Teiko—substitution!"
As Kise entered the game, he glanced back at Shigure and Kuroko. So First Army players don't go on together?
Well, fine—if it were Shigure, he could understand. But Kuroko? Even if he went on, it wouldn't make any difference.
The game resumed.
Teiko's number 10 caught the ball in triple-threat stance, searching for a gap in the defense. But Shimanami's pressure was too heavy—he couldn't find a chance.
"Kise!"
Number 10 passed the ball off.
But Shimanami was well prepared. Even though they didn't know Kise, they knew Teiko's tradition—players subbed in at this stage were likely from the First Army.
Two defenders immediately trapped Kise!
He pivoted hard, trying to break free, but their defense was airtight, accompanied by heavy, excessive body contact. Pain spread across his arms and chest.
"Hey!"
"Doesn't matter if you're First Army!"
"If it's just one guy, no matter how strong, as long as we shut you down, it's over!"
Enraged, Kise lowered his stance and forced a drive.
But one of the Shimanami defenders suddenly flopped!
Thud!
Tweet!
"Teiko number 16—offensive foul!"
Kise clearly saw the player smirking at him from the floor.
Damn it! A flop?!
And the refs still call me for it?!
From his movements alone, it was clear that Kise's ability was on another level compared to anyone else on the floor.
But just as Kuroko had said before—basketball wasn't a one-man game. At least, not with the level Kise was at now.
By the fourth quarter
The score was 61–75.
Even with Kise, Teiko hadn't closed the gap. They were still trailing.
Damn… we can't cut down the lead.
Kise wiped the sweat off his forehead, frustrated. The opponents' dirty style made the loss sting even more.
In this situation… surely only Shigure-senpai could turn the tide, right?
Even though Kuroko had lectured him earlier, at this critical moment, Kise's mind instinctively turned to Shigure Akihito.
But when he glanced toward the bench, he saw Shigure calmly chatting with the coach, with no sign of wanting to sub in.
It's already the fourth quarter! Why aren't they panicking? Don't tell me… he's not planning to play at all?!
If so, then we're doomed for sure…
"Damn it… I just made First Army, and if I get demoted after one game, that's too humiliating…"
Just then
Tweet!
The whistle blew.
"Teiko substitution!"
The Shimanami players looked confused.
"A sub?"
"Where? Who?"
"Wait… you don't mean that guy?"
"So small!"
"Hahaha!"
"They're putting in a weakling!"
"Can that guy even play basketball? Don't get hurt out there!"
When Kise saw it was Kuroko Tetsuya, disappointment welled up. His gaze shifted toward Shigure Akihito—but Shigure wasn't worried at all. He simply smiled and fist-bumped Kuroko.
Kuroko jogged onto the court and came straight to Kise.
"Sorry, but please lend me your strength."
"Eh? Me? Aren't you the regular?!"
"I'm the shadow. The light that scores… is you."
Kuroko's azure eyes shone with a quiet brilliance that stunned Kise for a moment.
But still—what did that even mean?!
Sure, it sounded cool, but… what could a guy with such little presence actually do?
Under heavy double-teaming, Kise glanced through the crowd and spotted Kuroko—completely unguarded.
He's just standing there?! At least move around like me to draw defenders!
Kise blinked. Once. Twice.
And in those two blinks
Kuroko vanished.
Where did he go?!
Teiko's number 12 swung a pass into the paint.
But suddenly, the ball made an impossible right-angle turn—flying straight toward Kise, dragging two defenders along!
The ball came directly at his face, shocking him into catching it on reflex.
"What?!"
Kise froze. How did that pass even get here?!
Not just him—Shimanami's players were equally baffled.
Teiko's pass had been aimed at the paint; their defense had collapsed toward it. Yet out of nowhere, the ball had redirected to the free-throw line, landing in Kise's hands!
The two defenders trailing him whipped their heads around, mouths agape.
What happened?! Why is the ball with him?!
Taking advantage of their momentary lapse, Kise rose and calmly drained the jumper.
Two points.
"Wait, what was that just now?!"
"The ball… it looked like it got sucked straight into that blond guy's hands!"
The players were shocked. Even the crowd couldn't figure it out.
But as the game continued
Everyone finally understood.
It was Teiko's number 15—the one they had completely ignored!
If they hadn't noticed Teiko seemed short a man, they might have forgotten he was even on the floor.
Here one moment, gone the next.
That was the only way to describe him.
Number 15 was slow, yet somehow he would vanish mid-run. And then, out of nowhere, a routine Teiko pass would suddenly shift direction, landing in the hands of an open teammate.
With Kuroko Tetsuya at the helm, Teiko seemed revitalized. They circulated the ball constantly, setting up opportunities for his "misdirection passes."
Shimanami's defense, lulled by normal ball movement, was then shredded by a sudden, impossible redirection—Kuroko cutting in like a phantom, altering the passing lane by force.
The impact was devastating.
Especially when the passes went to Kise.
Because the balls Kuroko sent him carried extra weight and speed.
Even with Kise's elite athleticism and reflexes, each pass felt like catching a cannonball.
But seeing the way Kuroko delivered them—it wasn't surprising. His passes weren't simple flicks of the wrist. They were like punches—thrust out with explosive force.
Now, Kise could only sit there, dazed.
From the moment Kuroko subbed in, less than half a quarter had passed, and he had already scored 12 points!
The offense feels so unbelievably smooth… so effortless!
Using his lack of presence—and other techniques Kise couldn't even comprehend—Kuroko had practically erased himself from the court, emerging as the "shadow" that sent lethal cannonballs to his teammates.
For someone to actually pull this off… it's like magic!
END OF CHAPTER
CROWN BEFORE THE MIRACLES
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