Teiko Academy, Chairman's Office.
"Coach Sanada."
"Ever since Shigure Akihito and Nijimura Shuzo left Teiko, the public attention on our basketball club has diminished significantly, you know that, don't you?"
Sitting behind his ornate desk, the chairman—an elderly man with glasses—spoke with an expression both severe and cold.
Sanada Naoto froze for a moment. "...What exactly do you mean?"
A faint trace of contempt flickered across the chairman's gaze as he continued:
"Even in the long history of Teiko basketball, known for its strength, the Twin Stars of Teiko were exceptional. For three years in junior high, they were idolized like heroes."
Resting his chin on one hand, the chairman smiled calmly. "And their performance was an excellent advertisement for our school."
"So..."
"Now that we have the Generation of Miracles to take their place—even if not quite on the same level—using them more frequently will serve the same purpose."
"Starting this year, whether it's practice matches, Nationals, the Ten Schools Tournament, or weekly media coverage, I expect to see them constantly in the spotlight."
"That's not a problem, is it, Coach Sanada?"
The words directly violated the responsibility Kozo had entrusted to him, and Sanada Naoto immediately retorted:
"They're still junior high students! Treating them as tools for publicity will only bring them harm!"
His voice grew heated, but the chairman cut him off coldly.
"Didn't I already say it?"
"I'm only asking you to make more frequent use of them."
At that moment
Knock.
Knock.
Before anyone inside could respond, a cold and commanding voice came from outside the door.
"I am Akashi Seijūrō of the Akashi family. May I enter?"
Sanada: "...?"
He hesitated, then looked up—only to see the chairman's expression suddenly darken, his jaw clenched tight as he forced out:
"Come in, Akashi-kun."
Creaaak.
The door opened slowly.
In walked a boy Sanada knew well for his rose-red hair, yet the eyes that greeted him were strangely alien—an amber gleam burning in them, along with an oppressive aura that chilled the air.
Akashi...?
That feeling...
Impossible.
Then, in the next instant, that sinister presence receded like a tide. Red once again filled Akashi Seijūrō's irises, and his gentle, refined voice flowed into Sanada's ears.
"Coach Sanada, according to Captain Nijimura's instructions, may I handle this from here?"
Nijimura...
So that was it?
Ever since Nijimura and Shigure left last year, they hadn't returned to the Teiko gym—but Sanada had heard rumors that they often appeared in the chairman's office.
So this was why...?
Sanada clenched his fists.
Damn it.
I can't keep losing ground to my own players.
Stand firm, Naoto Sanada.
Even if it's only temporary, you're still Teiko's head coach.
"No."
"Captain Akashi."
"As the coach of the basketball club, this matter is mine to handle."
Turning toward the chairman, Sanada's gaze sharpened, his tone dropping to a cold growl:
"Forgive me, Chairman, but Teiko basketball exists for one purpose—victory."
"Everything else, even you, Chairman, have no right to interfere."
The chairman: "..."
Moments later, Akashi stepped out of the office with a serene smile, Sanada following with an unsettled expression.
Sanada still couldn't believe what had just happened. The image of Akashi grabbing the chairman by the hair, calling him nothing more than a disobedient dog, lingered vividly in his mind.
"Captain Akashi," Sanada said at last, "please, don't ever do something like that again."
Akashi only smiled lightly in response.
"This too is what our seniors taught us, Coach Sanada. And besides, the result was favorable, was it not?"
"The basketball club is Teiko's most important banner."
"But in essence..."
"It all rests on victory."
"Overwhelming victory."
"That is why in the past we could not do without Shigure and Nijimura-senpai. And that is why now we cannot do without the Generation of Miracles. This is not something outsiders have the right to meddle in."
"And even if the chairman does let his temper cloud his judgment..."
Here Akashi paused, chuckled softly, then added:
"Shigure-senpai once said—if the chairman gets too arrogant, just invite him to the Akashi household for a little chat about life."
Sanada: "..."
The Akashi family—an old, prestigious clan.
Shigure... just what kind of lessons did you leave behind before you walked away?!
While Sanada silently cursed, Akashi's smile remained untroubled.
For the noble Akashi family, victory was not an achievement—it was a duty. As the family's sole heir, Seijūrō had endured an education so merciless that even adults would crumble beneath it, robbed of nearly every trace of freedom.
In that brutal childhood, after the death of the mother who had fought to win him a few hours with basketball, the family's strictness grew only harsher, driving him to the brink—splitting his very personality.
And so
Toward the Akashi family, Seijūrō had always harbored resentment.
But now...
Now he had invoked the Akashi name to protect something irreplaceable.
Perhaps he could never be as good as Captain Nijimura or Shigure-senpai. But as long as he safeguarded this place, as long as he maintained what they had left behind, it would be enough. Because the Teiko basketball club was already strong enough.
Here he could play basketball freely.
Every day with his teammates was filled with joy.
Even though Teiko, like the Akashi family, pursued nothing but victory, under the guidance of his seniors, his desire for victory had never been without purpose.
A second self? Nothing more than another facet of who he was. That was why he believed—one day, the self who poured everything into basketball would no longer need to hide behind masks.
I look forward to meeting the real you.
Senpai.
And now, the "me" born from victory itself, the "me" who had split into another persona—after recognizing and accepting everything, after subduing the other side completely...
Never before had I understood so clearly.
What my true self is.
Akashi Seijūrō smiled warmly, easily, as he looked toward Coach Sanada.
"The Akashi family may be a cold prison, but in times like this, it still has its uses."
I...
am the King.
END OF CHAPTER
CROWN BEFORE THE MIRACLES
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