Outside the court.
Nijimura Shuzo suddenly turned to Shigure Akihito.
Because they'd been training and mentoring the Generation of Miracles, the two had watched countless recordings of their third-year matches—discussing each player's growth trajectory and potential.
When it came to Akashi's fundamental abilities, even before confirming them firsthand, Shigure had stated firmly and without hesitation that Akashi's first personality's ultimate expression of skill would be a Zone-level pass, powerful enough to drag his teammates into a pseudo-Zone state.
"You called it again, Shigure."
"Heh~," Shigure chuckled softly, eyes gleaming.
"Once he learns Nanchiruyin from Senior Hagioka, imagine the combination—Okayama's Miracle fused with Perfect Passing. Guess what kind of monster that would create~?"
Nijimura hesitated for a moment.
"All teammates…"
"Pseudo-Zone + Perfect Passing + Emperor Eye?"
He murmured it under his breath, then shook his head.
"That'd be the ideal scenario. But realistically, using the Okayama Miracle to sustain three peak-level abilities like that—the mental strain would be far too heavy."
Shigure nodded in agreement.
"The Emperor Eye alone already demands an extreme level of focus. If Akashi tried to divide that concentration five ways, he wouldn't even be able to maintain the Zone."
"Pseudo-Zone and Perfect Passing are plenty," Shigure said calmly.
"The first enhances the individual's potential; the second amplifies the flow between teammates. Five players with even partial passing synergy could perform at a level close to Rainbow Connection—only this time, with far greater freedom."
Off to the side.
Listening quietly, Fukasaya Reiji—captain of Rakuzan—showed no surprise this time. As the outgoing leader soon to pass the torch, he felt both relieved and proud that Akashi would soon join Rakuzan's ranks.
He couldn't help but marvel at the two veterans beside him—at their insight, and at the sheer density of genius that Teiko had produced.
Meanwhile
Both Rakuzan and Seirin, having just pieced together what had actually happened, stood speechless as Kiyoshi Teppei scratched his head awkwardly, trying to explain.
"Wait, what…?"
"Isn't Zone supposed to be something only those chosen, genius-level players can enter?"
Not far away, Hayama Kotarō nodded slowly.
That realm was supposed to belong only to true prodigies. Ever since his duel with Nijimura, he hadn't been able to re-enter that state, no matter how hard he tried. He'd run himself to exhaustion trying to replicate it—only to fail every time.
"Yeah, you're right," Kiyoshi admitted, still catching his breath. "That's how it's supposed to be."
This was his first time experiencing something like that—a pass capable of drawing out a player's potential to that extent.
"I only entered for a split second," Kiyoshi continued, "and even then, it wasn't the real Zone…"
He paused, then said seriously,
"That was Akashi's own ability—his pass pulled out my concentration and latent power. Judging by the feel, the effect was about sixty to seventy percent of a true Zone."
A pass…
that could guide…
and unlock sixty to seventy percent of the Zone's output?
Even if it wasn't the real thing, Kiyoshi's temporary surge in power was undeniable.
For Mibuchi Reo and Nebuya Eikichi, even sixty to seventy percent of a full Zone—enhancing every aspect of a player's physical ability—was enough to rival Hagioka-senpai's Wind, Forest, Fire, Mountain, Lightning driven by the Okayama Miracle.
They couldn't even say for sure which was stronger.
Meanwhile
Riko Aida and Junpei Hyūga exchanged dumbfounded looks.
Hyūga: "Passing? That was your plan?"
Riko: "One of them…"
Riko: "But seriously—how could I have imagined that a pass could be this powerful?!"
Hyūga: "What now? What are we supposed to do?"
Riko shook her head, a bead of sweat sliding down her temple.
She had drawn two lots on Seirin's behalf—but truthfully, passing was the one she'd been most confident about.
The other one… was pure luck.
But now
Passing…?
She'd thought Kuroko's was already unbelievable. But the one she'd just witnessed from Teiko… was on a whole different level.
To think there were still others beyond even that, in that cursed school of prodigies…
It was absurd!
What could they even do?
At this point, there was only one answer
Leave it all to Kuroko, and hope for a miracle.
Soon after
Kuroko Tetsuya stepped onto the court.
At Teiko, his passing symbolized change; Akashi's represented effect.
When it came purely to passing ability, Kuroko was confident he could at least compete—if not match—Akashi's base form.
But both he and Haizaki knew full well
Akashi Seijūrō wasn't just any player with two personalities.
Even back in their third year, the other Akashi had already evolved into one who wielded the Emperor Eye.
And yet, the first personality, the one who had walked through every chapter of Teiko's era—from the Twin Stars to the Generation of Miracles—had never shown his true hand.
That was impossible.
As Teiko's captain, handpicked by Nijimura himself, there was no way he hadn't grown.
And now
they were finally seeing it.
Unexpected, and yet… exactly as powerful as they'd imagined.
On the court
At Kuroko's signal, the Rakuzan players spread out into no-ball movement formations, while Hayama Kotarō stood at the top of the three-point arc, holding the ball with a confused look.
"Uh…"
What's even happening right now?
Who's supposed to be passing?
"Tch~."
Though grumbling under his breath, Hayama didn't dare underestimate this so-called "phantom sixth man" of the Generation of Miracles—especially after seeing what the previous two monsters, Murasakibara and Akashi, had done.
"Just a normal pass, right? Fine, I'll handle the rest."
Alright then. Here goes nothing!
Fwoosh!
Hayama smirked faintly, then threw what seemed like a perfectly ordinary side pass.
But then
He watched, slack-jawed, as the ball bent midair
taking an impossible ninety-degree turn, slicing through the air like it defied physics, whistling past Kiyoshi Teppei's defense
and landed cleanly into Nebuya Eikichi's hands under the basket.
Nebuya's mind blanked out, but his body—muscles pounding and twitching—reacted instantly.
And of course, the memory of being challenged by Kiyoshi earlier lit the fire in his veins.
He had to repay the favor.
"Ha~!!"
"MUSCLE!"
"MUSCLE DUNK!!"
BANG!
BANG!
The rim rattled violently, echoing louder than Kiyoshi's earlier dunk attempt, which had failed despite heavy contact.
But none of the Rakuzan players were focused on that.
All eyes were locked on the ball.
"What… what just happened!?"
"How did it even move like that…!?"
"Wait—where's Kuroko Tetsuya?!"
END OF CHAPTER
4 IN 1 - BE A MEMBER, GET 4 ONGOING STORIES!!
35 CHAPTERS AHEAD!!
Starting Five - Kuroko's Basketball: Before Generation Miracles, I Already Crowned
👉 patreon.com/MrBehringer