Saturday.
The first preliminary match.
Seirin High faced Senshinkan High, the King of the West.
Both Shutoku High and Kirisaki Daiichi were paying close attention to this match. Naturally, both teams had brought their players to watch.
Tsugawa Tomoki from Shutoku sat right in the center of the stands, while Hanamiya Makoto led Kirisaki Daiichi to the opposite side. On a raised special viewing platform, two girls stood out like stars.
Satsuki Momoi.
Shimizu Rena.
As for Haizaki Shogo and Aomine Daiki, neither of them could be bothered to watch a match like this. However, the two girls needed data and scouting information, so they came together on their own.
The whistle blew.
Seirin struck first.
Kagami Taiga won the tip and slammed the ball toward Kuroko Tetsuya. The moment Kagami landed, he sprinted straight toward Senshinkan's paint. Kuroko instantly followed with a quick pass.
BOOM!
A powerful dunk.
Seirin scored first with overwhelming momentum.
Shimizu Rena blinked, sensing the raw intensity radiating from the court.
"Even Kagami-kun has grown a lot… his aura is much stronger now."
"Mm-hm," Momoi replied. "He's faster too, and his jump is higher. And, Shimizu-chan… don't you think Kuroko-kun is also kind of cool?"
Shimizu looked at the faint, almost invisible presence moving across the court.
"...Momoi-chan, even though Kuroko-kun hasn't visibly changed much… why does he feel stronger too?"
"Because Kagami-kun has become stronger."
"...Because Kagami-kun became stronger?"
"Yes. The stronger Kagami's light becomes, the stronger Kuroko's shadow grows."
"Unless…"
"Unless what?"
"Unless Kagami's light becomes so intense that it burns even the shadow. Then… they will eventually go their separate ways."
"...So Aomine-kun left because his light became too strong?"
"Maybe."
On the court, Kagami Taiga was now displaying the presence of someone at the Generation of Miracles' level. Senshinkan's players could clearly feel the gap in talent.
A crushing pressure.
In the stands, Tsugawa Tomoki watched Kagami carefully.
So this is his growth…
Can I stop him now?
Excitement flickered in his eyes.
"I can handle him," Tsugawa said calmly.
Shutoku's captain placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Do your best. I'm counting on you."
Meanwhile, Hanamiya Makoto of Kirisaki Daiichi clicked his tongue in irritation. Compared to last year, Seirin was no longer the same team. Kagami Taiga and Kuroko Tetsuya had completely reached another level.
Pressure was building.
"Those red eyebrows and the Phantom Sixth Man… they're troublesome," one of his teammates muttered.
"So what?" Hanamiya sneered. "If they don't obey, break them."
"Heh… that's exactly why I like you," another laughed.
Kirisaki Daiichi's players grinned darkly. As long as they kept winning, they would inevitably clash with everyone eventually.
But none of them noticed the danger hidden behind Hanamiya's words.
Except for the growing anticipation spreading among them all.
Meanwhile, Seirin's match continued, while elsewhere, Haizaki Shogo was undergoing a completely different kind of trial.
========
Private Training Facility — Same Day
Under Coach Takeuchi Taiga, Haizaki was undergoing another full-body data evaluation. By the time it ended, his entire body felt completely drained.
This kind of testing… it's not human work.
"Shogo-kun," Takeuchi said seriously, "your growth continues to shock me. Your data is the best I've ever seen."
"You're exaggerating, Coach," Haizaki replied calmly.
The coach shook his head.
"No. It's not an exaggeration. Your numbers have improved again—small, but undeniable."
"If you maintain this trajectory and continue full-body training with balanced nutrition, then when your body stops naturally progressing, we'll move on to extreme limit training."
"Understood. Thank you, Coach."
Takeuchi's words were simple, but precise. And Haizaki knew better than anyone that his status panel confirmed every one of them.
His special physique—
Exceptionally Strong Body.
Had increased from 11%...
To 12%.
It's still growing…
For my body…
For my future…
He had even chosen to suppress his own Zone ability. It was a power others would kill to possess, yet he had sealed it away without the slightest hesitation.
Because growth mattered more than momentary brilliance.
Train Station
Haizaki received a call from Shimizu Rena.
"Seirin has won. They defeated Senshinkan High."
"Expected," Haizaki replied casually. "With Kagami and Kuroko, losing to a normal team would be weird."
"Hehe, you're right. But Kagami-kun is really improving. His aura feels like a tiger coming down from the mountain."
"A tiger, huh…"
"Alright, Shogo-kun, I have to go. Momoi-chan is calling me."
"Stay safe. Call me anytime."
"Okay!"
The call ended.
Haizaki looked at the approaching train and smiled faintly.
Go ahead… light and shadow.
Show the world what you can do.
Let the Generation of Miracles witness it.
A wind had begun to rise.
No one knew where it would blow next.
The first step of the Winter Cup qualifiers had begun.
The top 32...
Still a month away.
City Center — Fencing Hall
Clang!
Haizaki deflected Coach Miyazaki's foil with a sharp strike, bringing their twenty-seven-minute sparring session to an end.
"Coach Miyazaki, I'll go change. I'll treat you to coffee afterward," he said calmly.
"Alright," she replied, slightly breathless.
She watched him leave, narrowing her eyes slightly.
He feels different lately…
Maybe I just haven't seen him in a while.
Café
Haizaki handed her a gift.
"From Paris. Bought it during summer."
She opened it immediately.
"Not bad… this 'Poison' scent suits me."
"As long as you like it."
Half an hour later, they parted ways. Coach Miyazaki watched Haizaki board the train and disappear into the distance.
Then she quietly sighed.
=============
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