"Ahh, here it is again… what a perfect view~"
"What did Hagioka-senpai say to you?"
"He said a lot. Mostly… that he was grateful to have met me. Oh, and—"
"From the way he talked, I think he won't be joining the National Sports Meet or the Winter Cup."
"Ah… what a shame."
"Yeah, it really is."
Standing in the champion's post-game interview spot—right in front of Kaijō's cheering section—Shigure Akihito and Nijimura Shuzo spoke quietly to each other, their gazes burning with intensity as they looked out at the dazzling scene before them.
"No matter how you look at it, Teiko's white uniforms still feel more commanding, don't they?"
"I saw them," Nijimura said, a faint grin forming. "Those little punks."
"Haha~ yeah, I saw them too. Their faces looked pretty grim~. Oh, wait, isn't that Reiji's old elementary school team over there?"
"Must be. The one coached by Harasawa Katsunori—he used to talk about him all the time."
"Hah, so that's him in person, huh? Back in first year, Reiji wouldn't shut up about 'Coach Harasawa said this, Coach Harasawa said that.' I heard it so often my ears grew calluses."
Nijimura laughed softly. "Well, as a mentor, to have nurtured someone like Reiji… you'd have to say that's a pretty amazing coach."
"Huh? What's that supposed to mean? You saying Reiji's not talented?"
Shigure shot him a teasing glare, then turned his gaze toward the other side of the court.
Amid the high-pitched cheers of a group of elementary kids waving banners for Tōō Sakura Elementary Basketball Club, Fukasaya Reiji stood there—visibly embarrassed—pulling off his hair tie so his bangs fell once again over his eyes, the very picture of gloomy calm.
But that only made the kids cheer louder.
On the sidelines, Kurokami Shinji (Kaijō's assistant) was even helping them clap to the beat.
Shigure could faintly hear some of the kids shouting things like, "He looks so cool with his eyes covered! I wanna do that too!"
"Hah~ that's bad news," Shigure chuckled. "If they all grow up playing like Reiji, they'll turn into a whole team of 'eye-covering zombies.' But thinking about it—Reiji really was something else, huh? Playing all those games back then with his eyes half covered…"
"..."
"I don't underestimate anyone," Nijimura said quietly.
Shigure blinked, catching the serious tone in his partner's voice.
It wasn't in reply to his jokes—it was an answer to the earlier topic.
Then he smiled knowingly.
"Got it~"
"Even on a stage like this, to hold himself back until the fourth quarter and then secure the win… that's the kind of player he is."
"Man, Nijimura, you're scary."
"Tch."
"Maybe look in a mirror before saying that."
Courtside.
The Generation of Miracles sat watching Kaijō High's players in silence, each with a solemn glint in their eyes.
Kise Ryōta was still stretching his neck, trying to wave at Shigure-senpai on the court—only to get smacked on the head by Aomine Daiki.
"Your 'perfect copy' still not done yet?"
"Eh?"
"What do you mean, eh?"
"I mean—it's still in the concept stage, y'know, just… theory."
"The guy you're trying to copy is standing right there, showing you how it's done. And you still can't pull it off? If all you've got is mimicry, then you're not worth much at all."
Kise frowned. "Hah?!"
"What about you then?"
"You're the so-called ace of the Generation of Miracles, right? Both senpai from Teiko had Zone—don't tell me you can't even enter it?"
"Ha! Unlike you, I can enter whenever I want."
"?!"
"?"
Even Akashi, Midorima, Kuroko—and yes, even Murasakibara—turned in surprise toward Aomine.
But it was Haizaki Shōgo whose eyes flickered most sharply at those words.
Akashi Seijūrō remained silent.
(So that's how it is… Against Shigure and Nijimura, even that level of performance would just be the foundation—not enough on its own. To stand on their level, Zone has to be just the start point, not the end.)
He thought quietly to himself.
If Aomine wanted to challenge them, he'd need something more—another form, another evolution.
And knowing Aomine's nature, it wouldn't be anything that involved teamwork.
Still…
If anyone could move forward first—it would be him.
And as a duo, their potential might just be the greatest of all.
If—he could truly bring that next ability into being.
Kise clenched his fists, face growing serious. "I might never reach Shigure-senpai's level, but… if it's Aomine, then I can copy him. I'll make it work!"
"And another thing"
"Who are you calling unwanted, huh?!"
Aomine just gave him a look that said figure it out yourself.
But inwardly, his thoughts flickered toward Kuroko and Haizaki.
Sure, Tetsuya's passes were amazing…
But from a pure talent standpoint, it was still Kise who shone the brightest.
Midorima suddenly turned toward Murasakibara.
"Murasakibara."
"Eh?" The purple giant blinked lazily, chewing on his snack.
Under Midorima's death glare, he tilted his head. "What's up, Midorin?"
"You don't have anything you want to say?"
"Uhh…"
He thought about it for a moment. "You want one of my Umai-bō?"
"Who wants that junk?!" Midorima snapped, adjusting his glasses.
"When we get back, we're starting that training I mentioned!"
Murasakibara nodded absentmindedly. "You mean that alley-oop three-point thing? But even if you pull it off, I don't think you'll beat Smiley-senpai~"
"..."
"There are… other things too," Midorima muttered.
"Like what~?"
"None of your business."
"Oh… okay."
"Midorin~"
"What?"
"I don't really care that much, but I won't lose, you know? Even if those senpai are crazy strong, if I can move faster, jump higher, get stronger… then I can just block all their shots and dunks, right?"
"…That's assuming you can move faster, jump higher, and get stronger."
"Yeah."
"I can't keep running around forever, but on defense—my legs are long, and my reaction time's improving. In half-court defense, fewer steps, faster reaction… that might work. As for height and power… I think I can handle it."
"What about offense?"
"That's what you're for, Midorin."
"..."
"You really are a genius…" Midorima sighed.
(He's got the wrong idea—but at least he's thinking seriously for once.)
He glanced at the snack bag in Murasakibara's lap. "Give me one."
Reluctantly, Murasakibara handed over an Umai-bō.
Midorima bit into it, his face stern. "Even that won't be enough.
For me, ultra-long-range shooting plus Zone… that's just the foundation."
"To move forward, we each need at least one new ability."
"You too."
Nearby, Haizaki Shōgo glanced at Kuroko, who was quietly clenching his fists.
"Hmph. Just passing the ball, huh?"
"That's all I need."
Because Kuroko Tetsuya…
was never just a passer.
And as all this unfolded, Akashi Seijūrō wasn't truly alone.
Because deep in his heart,
he was already having a calm, familiar conversation
with the other him.
END OF CHAPTER
CROWN BEFORE THE MIRACLES
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