"Eh?"
"The Uncrowned Kings…"
"So this is their style of play?"
"They…"
"From Hayama Kotarō to Nebuya Eikichi to Mibuchi Reo, three straight passes among the Uncrowned Kings, and the one who actually finished the play wasn't even one of them."
"They've never played like this before, and it shouldn't even be their style. Each of them has always been the sole ace of his own team."
On the court.
Kurumiya Tosei raised his hand, signaling,
"Mine."
He had already anticipated the final pass the moment Reo let go of the ball. The ball was meant for Hayama, he was sure of it.
But…
His movement was read completely by Mibuchi Reo.
Still, impressive. Among the "Wind, Forest, Fire, Mountain, Shadow, Thunder," even though Hagioka just now had only shown the swiftness of "Lightning," to face that pressure so calmly—and with pure passing technique at that—players like him are exceedingly rare.
Last year…
It was only people like Okura Masaaki and his group.
Elsewhere.
Hagioka Kasayuki nodded slightly at Mibuchi, a genuine compliment slipping out:
"Hayama Kotarō's passing out of Thunder Dribble is average at best, Nebuya Eikichi's is a total mess… but because of you, their overall level is still above expectation."
Reo frowned.
"Senpai…"
"Your tone is way too condescending."
"Is it?"
"You're still more polite than Shigure. At least during a game, you remember to call me senpai. Unlike Shigure Akihito—he only bothers to act polite after he's already won."
"…."
Those words made Reo recall bitter memories. His frown deepened.
Back to the game.
Rakuzan's offense.
The opponent's entire defense was locked onto Hagioka, determined to shut him down from the moment he touched the ball.
At least two defenders were ready to collapse on him at all times.
Meanwhile…
Rakuzan's players were moving constantly, looking for open shots. Point guard Dendi Kaoru quickly swung the ball toward Hagioka—not for him to score, but to use his gravity to create space for others.
The moment he caught the pass
Mibuchi signaled with his eyes, and Hayama collapsed in to double. The missing coverage behind them was made up for by Nebuya and the others forming a zone.
Their eyes met—perfect understanding. In an instant, Hayama unleashed his wild instincts, Reo's aura sharpened into unshakable resolve.
Hagioka raised his brows. With a single glance, his suffocating "Shadow" aura locked onto both of their movements.
"Good," he said.
"At least your spirit is strong."
"Don't relax, Kotarō!" Reo ignored Hagioka's jab, shouting a sharp reminder.
Hayama sank lower, wild energy radiating from him as he braced against Hagioka. But just as they closed in
This man
Didn't even bother to look.
One moment, he was chatting, the next he was staring dead-on at their movements—then rifled the ball elsewhere.
Nebuya reacted quickly, rotating out of the zone to chase the pass. But his eyes widened
His opponent caught the ball and shot instantly, without a trace of hesitation.
And yet…
Nebuya's hand brushed the ball.
Proof that his defensive pressure had worked.
So why
Why wasn't this guy, Kurumiya Tosei, afraid at all?
Even after his shot was clearly disrupted?
"You're way too confident!" Nebuya barked, pivoting to crash the boards.
Tosei shook his head.
"I just have confidence… in Hagioka's rebounding."
Almost on cue, the shot clanged off the rim with a heavy bang. Nebuya cursed and shouted:
"Watch Hagioka!"
Tch!
Bad habits!
Because of Hagioka's outside skills, he had been lulled into seeing him only as a perimeter player. But this guy… he stood at a towering 203 cm, with overwhelming ability!
Sure enough
Even with Nebuya's 190 cm and raw strength as a power center, he couldn't budge him in the paint.
Not only that
With his long arms, Hagioka boxed out all three at once: Reo, Nebuya, and Hayama who had rushed over to help.
No matter how hard they shoved, that towering figure stood unmoving—like a mountain!
And then
"!?" Nebuya froze.
The black haze.
The thunder.
The crushing pressure that had always taken shape around Hagioka—this time, it shifted.
What emerged was
Mountains.
Endless, looming black mountains.
"Unmoving…"
"Like a mountain."
A brief murmur, almost like a reminder of what this ability was. From up close, the weight of it was suffocating. The three Uncrowned Kings pushed with all their might—but the very next instant—
Smack!
Their force vanished like smoke. Hagioka, carried by their shove, rose upward, arms unfolding, and pulled the rebound down into his hands.
As he landed
Shigure had once called him a larger version of Nijimura. Now, with his panoramic vision, Hagioka scanned the court in an instant.
Whoosh!
Without turning his head
Behind-the-back bounce pass!
The ball skipped from the paint across half the court, landing perfectly in Tosei's hands.
And once again, Kurumiya Tosei fired a three.
His expression, his form, his poise—it was exactly the same as before, whether open or contested.
Swish!
Pure net.
Only after the ball dropped did Tosei allow himself a faint smile.
As he jogged back on defense, he glanced at Hagioka. When Hagioka passed by, they slapped hands.
Clap!
"Nice pass."
"Good shot."
END OF CHAPTER
CROWN BEFORE THE MIRACLES
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