The crowd gradually dispersed as the opening ceremony came to an end. Before long, the first matches of the Winter Cup would begin. Haizaki Shogo led his teammates toward the spectator stands and found seats to watch the upcoming game.
Many players from other schools had done the same. After all, there were thirty-two participating teams, but only four games were scheduled across the two courts that morning. Most of the players who had nothing to do naturally came to watch.
And this match, in particular, had drawn plenty of attention. One side had Hanamiya Makoto, one of the Uncrowned Kings. The other had Kuroko Tetsuya, the Phantom Sixth Man. That alone was enough to stir everyone's interest.
Less than five minutes later, Seirin High emerged from the locker room. Their black-and-white jerseys, accented with crimson trim, looked sharp and striking beneath the arena lights. Across the court, Kirisaki Daiichi also walked out, their black-and-green uniforms giving off a darker atmosphere as they stepped onto the court and began warming up.
At that moment, the arena speakers crackled to life. A clear female voice rang out, announcing the rules and introducing the starting lineups.
Seirin High Starting Lineup:
No. 4 Hyuga Junpei (Captain)
No. 11 Kuroko Tetsuya
No. 10 Kagami Taiga
No. 5 Izuki Shun
No. 7 Kiyoshi Teppei
Kirisaki Daiichi Starting Lineup:
No. 4 Hanamiya Makoto (Captain)
No. 7 Hara Kazuya
No. 10 Seto Kentaro
No. 8 Yamazaki Hiroshi
No. 12 Matsumoto Itsuki
On the court, Hyuga Junpei narrowed his eyes behind his glasses. He had just watched Kiyoshi finish a shot and turn around, yet something felt wrong—very wrong. Kiyoshi's steps looked unnatural. It lasted only for a moment before Kiyoshi concealed it again, but Hyuga's expression still stiffened slightly.
No way... Please don't tell me it's happening again...
Warm-ups ended, and Seirin returned to the locker room for their final preparations. Coach Aida Riko looked at everyone with a determined expression, her voice echoing throughout the room.
"Everyone, Kirisaki Daiichi is our sworn enemy. I want you to crush them. Understood?"
"We'll crush them!"
"Absolutely!"
"We're going to win!"
Only after hearing her team's spirited responses did Riko finally nod in satisfaction and open the door. As everyone filed out, Hyuga suddenly reached out and grabbed Kiyoshi's shoulder.
"Kiyoshi... your leg's okay, right?"
Kiyoshi smiled. "Don't worry. I'll definitely stay with everyone until the end of this season."
Hyuga frowned. "Be careful. Those Kirisaki guys are definitely going to pull dirty tricks again."
Kiyoshi's eyes sharpened. "That just means I have to play. We're going to win."
Silence followed.
Outside the locker room, Kuroko and Kagami had heard everything. They immediately understood that Kiyoshi's injury still hadn't healed. To keep up with the team's pace, he had pushed himself through intense summer training and survived two weeks of grueling training camp. His old injury had relapsed, and he'd hidden it from everyone.
Kagami immediately turned around.
"Kiyoshi, don't play. Leave the rest to us."
Kiyoshi laughed as he placed a hand on Kagami's shoulder. "What are you talking about? Just you alone won't be enough. This year is our chance. How could I give up now?"
"Kiyoshi, you..."
The conversation ended there.
Kuroko and Kagami quietly walked away. As they reached the tunnel leading onto the court, Kuroko suddenly spoke.
"Kagami-kun... for our seniors' dreams... for the championship... we absolutely have to win this game."
Kagami's eyes grew serious.
"Of course we do!"
Smack.
He lightly slapped Kuroko on the head with a grin before pushing him toward the court.
Meanwhile, in Kirisaki Daiichi's bench area, Hanamiya sat lazily in his chair with an ugly smile spreading across his face.
"Matsumoto..." He rested his chin on one hand, a sinister gleam flashing in his eyes. "Kiyoshi Teppei's yours. Give him a warm welcome. Let's make him collapse again. Turn his Iron Heart into rotten wood."
"Hehehe..."
"Leave it to us."
"We'll drag him back into those painful memories."
"Ahahaha! I can't wait to see Iron Heart fall again."
Someone nearby frowned.
"Hanamiya... you're getting more disgusting every year."
"Tch." Hanamiya stood up. "Let's go. We'll earn victory our way."
The whistle sounded as players from both teams stepped onto the court. The opening tip was about to begin.
Kirisaki Daiichi sent out Matsumoto Itsuki, while Seirin countered with Kiyoshi Teppei.
PAH!
Kiyoshi won the jump ball cleanly and tapped it toward Kuroko. The instant Kuroko secured possession, his hands moved without hesitation. A long-distance Ignite Pass shot forward like a cannon blast.
The ball flew straight beneath Kirisaki's basket, where Kagami had already sprinted ahead at full speed. He caught the ball cleanly, then slammed it down with one hand.
BOOM!!
The basket shook violently.
Seirin struck first.
2–0.
In the audience seats, Haizaki had already narrowed his eyes. Ignoring his teammates' chatter, he silently watched.
Seirin should be at full strength now. Interesting. Let's see what Hanamiya can pull out.
Don't disappoint me.
At this moment, many eyes in the arena held the same expectation. Haizaki, Kise, Midorima, and players from the Generation of Miracles—as well as those at their level—all wanted to know one thing.
Just how much had Kagami Taiga improved after his training in America?
Everyone was waiting.
After Seirin scored first, Hanamiya showed no reaction. There was no anger and no irritation. He simply organized the offense and calmly advanced upcourt.
As he crossed half-court, a cruel smile slowly curved across his lips.
His gaze shifted.
Toward Kiyoshi Teppei.
Hanamiya launched the ball.
Miss.
The rebound flew upward.
Everyone reacted instinctively.
Kiyoshi jumped.
At the same instant, Kirisaki's interior players moved. Three bodies shifted into position—not to grab the rebound, but to block the referee's line of sight.
Then—
THUD! THUD!
Two heavy impacts struck Kiyoshi simultaneously. Sharp elbows drove into both sides of his waist, and pain exploded through his body.
A vicious, piercing pain.
Kiyoshi's face twisted instantly, but he endured it. He forced himself not to cry out as the rebound slipped away. Yamazaki Hiroshi grabbed it and immediately passed it back out.
Hanamiya caught the ball.
A soft floater rose into the air.
Swish.
2–2.
"Teppei!" Hyuga rushed over. "You okay? Need a break?"
Kiyoshi gritted his teeth and smiled. "I'm fine. We keep playing. I can handle it."
Kagami stood nearby, looking confused. He hadn't seen anything and didn't understand why Hyuga had suddenly asked that.
But Kuroko had seen everything.
Every second.
His expression darkened.
This wasn't Kuroko's first time facing Hanamiya. Back in Teiko days, however, Hanamiya's tricks had never amounted to anything. Against monsters like Murasakibara Atsushi, schemes like this only invited disaster.
But now...
Seeing it happen firsthand...
Kuroko finally understood.
For ordinary players, Hanamiya's methods were vile.
Cruel.
Terrifying.
For the first time in a while, Kuroko felt anger.
And shock.
Without a word, he walked to the baseline and prepared to inbound. Kagami saw Kuroko's posture, and his eyes immediately lit up as he exploded forward.
Kuroko thrust both palms ahead.
The basketball shot through the air like a falling star.
Kagami received it beneath the basket.
Then instantly rose into the air.
BOOM!!
Another dunk.
Another score.