"The Rise of Ryonan"
Akashi Seijuro entered Seiyo Middle School and joined its basketball club in his first year.
That same year, under his guidance, Seiyo Middle School won the National Middle School Boys' Basketball Championship.
After the tournament, Seiyo's former captain retired, and Akashi Seijuro assumed the role of captain.
In his second year, Seiyo Middle School underwent a qualitative transformation in overall strength and once again swept through the tournament, claiming a second consecutive national championship.
At that point, Seiyo stood on the brink of history—one step away from an unprecedented three-peat.
Yet at the peak of glory, Akashi Seijuro chose to withdraw from the basketball club.
The reason for his withdrawal remains unknown.
In his third year, without Akashi Seijuro, Seiyo Middle School failed to defend their title.
During that same year, Akashi Seijuro vanished completely, never appearing on any basketball court.
His name resurfaced only after entering high school.
According to this reporter's investigation, Akashi Seijuro was invited by a middle school acquaintance and joined Ryonan High School's Basketball Club.
On the day he joined, he led a group of freshmen to defeat Ryonan's main roster—including Sendoh Akira and Uozumi Jun.
Three days later, Akashi defeated Ryonan's former captain Uozumi Jun in a one-on-one match.
From that point on, Akashi Seijuro became Ryonan's captain.
Since then, the Ryonan Basketball Club has undergone earth-shaking changes.
In this tournament alone, Ryonan has repeatedly defeated opponents by margins exceeding 100 points, a clear sign that the team has entered a period of rapid ascension.
(Further tactical details omitted.)
The report ended there.
Rather than a technical analysis, it read more like a chronicle—a clean, restrained narrative tracing Akashi Seijuro's path from obscurity to command.
What stood out most was what it didn't say.
His specific abilities.
His limits.
His true strength.
It was as if the author had intentionally drawn a boundary.
Kamishiro Ruri:
"I wouldn't be foolish enough to expose all of Akashi-kun's strength."
Even so, the report landed like a spark dropped into boiling oil.
Kanagawa exploded.
Every high school basketball club was stunned.
What shook people the most wasn't Ryonan's dominance—
but the revelation that Akashi Seijuro had already won two national championships in middle school.
A national title was no small matter.
Two consecutive ones?
That was the realm of monsters.
"Seiyo Middle School…"
Some older fans suddenly recalled distant memories.
"That name… yes, they were terrifying back then."
"I remember their offense—it flowed like a tide. Once it started, you couldn't stop it."
But when the conversation shifted to Akashi Seijuro, confusion spread.
"Akashi Seijuro? I don't remember anyone by that name."
"Wasn't Seiyo's ace a forward averaging twenty a game?"
"No, wasn't it their point guard? His passing was insane."
The confusion was natural.
Back then, Akashi had been an invisible core.
Jersey No. 4.
Minimal presence.
No flamboyance.
He never chased scoring titles.
Never sought the spotlight.
He passed.
Defended.
Connected teammates.
Meanwhile, Sendoh Akira dazzled crowds with effortless twenty-point performances, earning cheers and headlines.
Then someone remembered—
"Wait… wasn't Sendoh also from Seiyo Middle School?"
The realization hit like thunder.
Sendoh Akira and Akashi Seijuro had been teammates.
They had won two national championships together.
The shockwave was immediate.
"No wonder their chemistry is ridiculous!"
"This is fate-level stuff!"
"I need to see footage of those games!"
Basketball Weekly · Editorial Office
Aida Yayoi stared at the report in her hands, rubbing her eyes.
"…No way."
She prided herself on knowing Sendoh better than most.
And yet—this had slipped past her.
Her gaze fell to the signature.
Ryonan High School · Press Club — Kamishiro Ruri
"So it's a school reporter…"
That explained the tone—raw, direct, unconcerned with professional caution.
Then another thought surfaced.
This girl knows far more than she wrote.
Why did Akashi retire?
Why did he vanish?
Why does Ryonan feel so… different now?
Aida's reporter instincts flared.
"This Kamishiro Ruri… she's dangerous."
Kainan High · Basketball Gym
Shinichi Maki folded the report slowly.
His grip tightened—just slightly.
"Two consecutive championships…" Jin Soichiro murmured.
Kiyota Nobunaga froze mid-scratch.
"Seiyo… Seiyo…!"
His face suddenly twisted.
"Oh—that Seiyo!"
Everyone turned.
"You know them?" Muto Tadashi asked.
"…Yeah," Kiyota muttered. "We played them in middle school."
"And?"
"We got crushed."
Silence.
"Their passing was disgusting. Felt like the ball had eyes."
"…Did you play Akashi Seijuro?" Muto pressed.
Kiyota hesitated.
"I… don't remember."
Maki spoke calmly, "Maybe he didn't play."
Kiyota blinked.
"If they were already winning easily," Maki continued, "there was no need."
Realization dawned.
"…How annoying," Kiyota muttered.
Jin smiled faintly. "Regardless, the current Akashi is dangerous. Players who bind a team together are always the hardest to stop."
Shoyo High · Basketball Gym
Fujima Kenji set the report down.
"He's troublesome."
Hanagata nodded. "His synergy with Sendoh is our biggest threat."
Fujima's eyes sharpened.
"Talent aside—his mindset is terrifying. He hides brilliance willingly."
Then, with quiet confidence:
"But the winner… will be Shoyo."
Shohoku High · Gym
"This is insane…" Kogure whispered.
Miyagi laughed bitterly. "National champs? That's a different world."
Mitsui frowned. "This report exaggerates him too much."
Akagi said nothing.
He remembered Akashi's eyes.
Calm.
Observant.
Unshakable.
Ryonan High · Evening
Akashi Seijuro read the report.
Once.
That was enough.
His gaze paused on the signature.
Kamishiro Ruri.
"…So this is what you meant."
He set the paper aside.
Fame meant nothing.
Victory did.
"Hehehe…"
A familiar voice echoed.
Akashi stiffened.
"We are one," the voice purred. "You can't deny it."
"I seek victory," Akashi said coldly. "Not vanity."
"Victory is proof of dominance."
"…No."
"What you want is to win with them," the voice chuckled.
"What I want is to stand above all."
Silence.
Two auras collided.
Calm like still water.
Sharp like winter steel.
They clashed.
Merged.
Balanced.
Akashi opened his eyes.
His gaze was deeper than before.
Composed—yet lethal.
Perhaps…
This wasn't suppression.
Nor surrender.
But acceptance.
Perhaps… this was his true self.