On the court.
Nebuya Eikichi's performance had far exceeded Shigure Akihito's expectations—so had Reo Mibuchi's—but what shocked Shigure most… was Hayama Kotarō.
Even though
Facing Nijimura Shuzo in the Zone, Hayama was completely, utterly, and thoroughly suppressed.
Yet the fact that he had forced Nijimura to activate his Zone earlier than planned, rather than saving it for the final quarter—that alone was enough to leave Shigure astonished.
Looking toward Hayama Kotarō, especially at the man's legs—now far sturdier and more defined than during his middle school days—Shigure nodded in quiet realization.
If he remembered correctly…
That year, the Chōgen International team that made it all the way to the National Finals had a single core belief—their formula for victory:
never hesitate.
Move one foot after the other, forward, always forward.
Their entire philosophy was built on that single word—run.
It had left quite the impression on him back then.
And now
Clearly, in addition to the thunder-dribbling handwork that defined his play, what Hayama had refined in high school… was his legs.
That stubborn, relentless
Speed!
In the audience, among those watching intently, was the former captain of Chōgen International—the same man who had led his team to the national finals in Hayama's second year and had just been personally eliminated by Rakuzan this season.
He had once faced Hayama directly, and witnessed with his own eyes the magnitude of that boy's growth.
Now, reunited in the stands with Chōgen's coach and the new generation of junior players, the former captain watched as Hayama Kotarō, though currently being suppressed by Nijimura Shuzo, continued to run with everything he had.
Memories of their past flooded back vividly.
"Don't hesitate, Kotarō."
His tone remained as calm as it had been back in junior high.
Even for the young players who had never met their former captain, hearing his voice felt like a steady anchor, easing the fear and tension that Nijimura's Zone had inflicted on them.
"Just like all of Kotarō's effort," he said firmly,
"that effort will always overcome fear and doubt! Because our Chōgen's secret to victory… is to never hesitate, and keep putting one foot in front of the other!"
The younger players of Chōgen froze for a moment, then
"...!"
Yes…
That's right!
Run
Just run!
Even though Chōgen's current offensive barrage could only manage eight parts attack and two parts defense, far less effective than in Hayama's era
Even though they lacked Hayama's inborn explosiveness, his superhuman ability to turn running itself into a weapon
Still, if it were a marathon-like form of running, it didn't require instant bursts or excessive skill.
They just needed to keep stepping, one foot after another, steady and relentless.
A simple, pure act of will and stamina.
In that sense, they were all the same.
It was a contest of simplicity—of willpower and endurance.
"Ahhhh!"
"Captain!"
"Go, Hayama! Run him to death!"
"Run that monster into the ground!"
The Chōgen coach watched his players cheering wildly, waving strange bottles and cans in rhythm with Hayama Kotarō's fierce running.
Amid the rattling clatter, a gleam appeared in his eyes as he turned back to the court.
He hadn't expected it either.
Back when Shigure Akihito was still a first-year, it was Hayama who had drawn inspiration from him
to turn movement itself into power, strengthening both offense and defense through pure running.
That had eventually evolved into Chōgen's own "Distance + Energy" running philosophy.
And now Hayama had taken it to a realm even he couldn't have imagined.
Hayama was a fighter at heart, as spirited and pure as a child.
Perhaps to Teiko, where monsters gathered like gods, he was just one of many miracles.
But to Chōgen's coach
from the day Hayama first stepped into their gym
he had already been a miracle.
That national final, though they lost, had been a journey worth remembering.
And at the end of that journey, Hayama's refusal to give up—his willingness to continue challenging the twin stars of Teiko
that alone made the coach feel the story had reached a perfect, satisfying close.
That was enough.
Just then
He noticed Hayama, already falling back on defense, his eyes locked unblinking on Nijimura Shuzo.
The aura rising from Hayama's body coiled upward like steam, and deep within his pupils, something wild began to burn.
The Chōgen coach froze.
…Incredible.
Truly…
Just like a cheetah.
"Go, Kotarō. Even if you can't win, as long as you fulfill your role for the team, it's a success—it's victory for all of you. So go! Run him into the ground!"
His voice cracked as he shouted those words, making his players stare in surprise.
But he didn't care.
He grabbed one of those strange bottles himself and started shaking it with wild energy.
"Run him to death!"
On the court
Rakuzan's offensive possession began.
Hayama Kotarō glanced fiercely at Nijimura Shuzo beside him, then dropped his center of gravity low
a blur of movement close enough to skim the floor
and launched into a lightning-quick, off-ball sprint.
"THUNDERING!!"
Boom!
Boom!
CRACK!
BOOM!
The heavy rhythm of his footfalls, one after another,
was like the sound of his old thunder-dribbling
gradually, steadily
transforming into a deafening storm of thunder itself.
Hayama knew Nijimura's weaknesses were few.
If there was one difference between them, it was this:
Compared to Shigure and me—Shigure has his "Flame of Man" ability, and I have "Move Like Thunder."
But Nijimura… aside from his Wild Instinct, he lacks a transitional state between his normal form and the Zone.
And wild instinct
is exactly what you excel at.
So your job right now…
is to use your lightning to draw out his Zone early, to burn away his stamina in this third quarter.
Let him sink into that isolating, hyper-focused Zone
while our collective offense balances the scales.
Run!
To the front court!
Even once you reach the half-court
keep accelerating
3.2 Speed Burst!
How long can your lightning last?
It doesn't matter.
This quarter is the only time that belongs to me!
Hayama Kotarō poured every ounce of his strength into maintaining that lightning pace.
And within that speed, his mind grew astonishingly calm
clearly replaying, again and again, the image of facing Nijimura head-on.
"That's it…"
"Nijimura!"
BOOM!
BOOM!
THUNDER!
THE CHEETAH!
Golden fur, wrapped in flashing bolts of lightning
under that uncontrollable speed, Hayama had no time to even think about catching a pass or attacking.
He devoted his entire being to speed itself
Running fast enough to almost, almost
run alongside the Zone.
Even if…
it was only in speed.
END OF CHAPTER
CROWN BEFORE THE MIRACLES
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