Bweeeep!
"Substitution for Kirisaki Daiichi!"
"!"
As the referee's whistle blew, Kiyoshi Teppei immediately spotted the player stepping onto the court. His face stiffened in surprise.
"That guy…"
Noticing at once, Hyūga Junpei asked, "You know him?"
Before Kiyoshi could reply, Izuki Shun spoke up from the side.
"He's one of the Uncrowned Five Generals, same generation as Kiyoshi—Hanamiya Makoto, the 'Bad Boy.'"
Hyūga Junpei: "?"
"Someone like that, why's he only appearing now…?"
"I don't know either," Izuki muttered, his eyes narrowing as he studied Hanamiya's gentle smile. From beneath that facade, though, he caught a flicker of malice.
"I'm not sure about the details, but nothing good is ever said about him."
On the court, the game quickly resumed.
Hanamiya Makoto, playing point guard, brought the ball forward.
Izuki's expression hardened as he squared up against him.
Even if he's one of the Five Generals, I'll stop him!
Besides… there's hardly any time left. Even as a General, what can you do?
Through his "Eagle Eye" vision, Izuki noticed on the other side: Kirisaki's No. 11 set a screen for No. 7. Hyūga was blocked.
"!?"
And in that instant
What speed!
The moment the screen was set and the offensive player slipped into position, Hanamiya's pass had already arrived in his hands like a shadow glued to him.
No. 7 drove straight to the hoop, finishing the layup.
"Whoa!"
"It's in!"
"Only 8 points behind!"
"But there's less than a minute left—so it's still impossible for Kirisaki Daiichi, right?!"
On Seirin's side
Though impressed by Hanamiya's skill as a point guard, honestly… compared to Kiyoshi, his style seemed rather ordinary. Maybe we've been overestimating him?
If that's the case, as long as we don't make mistakes, with 55 seconds left and an 8-point lead—we can absolutely take this game!
Just as Izuki thought that
Suddenly.
Clap clap clap!
Applause.
Not from their own side.
But from the opponent's.
Hanamiya Makoto, newly on court, was clapping with a bright, encouraging grin.
"Alright! Defense! Just one stop, that's all we need!"
"As long as we don't give up, chances will come!!"
"Let's show them our pride!!"
In the stands
Haizaki Shōgo, who knew all too well the vile truth behind Hanamiya's facade, was speechless at the act.
This bastard… He's only here to look for a chance to pull some dirty trick, but he can still say that kind of thing with a straight face…
Shameless.
I really want to get out there and crush this bastard. Damn it!
But unlike Haizaki, the spectators bought right into Hanamiya's passionate speech.
Cheers.
Shouts.
Rallied cries filled the gym.
Meanwhile, for Hanamiya, nothing was more satisfying than manipulating the crowd like this. Of course, once he "took care" of Kiyoshi Teppei…
That would be the sweetest pleasure of all.
Heh~
When the whole world is cheering for your victory…
All I need is a little nudge~
And everything… will fall into my hands!
The twisted excitement in Hanamiya's eyes mocked everything before him. And that faintly feral glint did not escape Haizaki in the stands. He instinctively leaned forward, gripping the railing tightly.
"Whoa!"
"Seirin's run-and-gun!"
"So fast!"
"Even now they're not letting up on offense!"
"Of course… Seirin never pulls punches, not even this late!"
Izuki drove and dished, sending the ball to the often-overlooked Koganei. The latter stopped sharply for a jumper. For someone who only started playing in high school, his form was surprisingly smooth.
But…
"Ah!"
"Sorry!"
The moment he released it, Koganei felt the trajectory was off.
Under the rim, Kiyoshi Teppei locked in position, sealing off Kirisaki's center completely.
The Kirisaki center grimaced.
Damn it… This guy—there's no way he's just a first-year! I can't move him!
Fine… then let's do it Hanamiya's way. If it's him, he'll cover the ref's sightline. It'll be fine!
Clang!
Koganei's shot clanged off the rim. With Kiyoshi's superb positioning, the rebound was entirely within his zone.
"Nice box-out, Kiyoshi!!"
"We've got this one!!"
Seeing that, Seirin exhaled in relief.
Hyūga Junpei: "…With this, the game is ours."
But at that moment, from the side
He thought he heard Hanamiya's laughter.
"Ah~ amazing, Kiyoshi~"
"But…"
"Don't blame me~"
The mere thought of breaking Kiyoshi down, leaving him crushed and broken—just imagining it sent waves of ecstasy through Hanamiya.
His eyes sharpened.
Now!!
The referee's sight was blocked. Time to take him out!
At the same time, Haizaki had already sensed the danger from Hanamiya's position. And fate—damn fate—gave Kirisaki just the perfect chance!
Their center, catching Hanamiya's signal, shifted.
But Haizaki was too far.
In desperation, his instincts screamed, and he suddenly recalled Hanamiya's most humiliating memory.
So
Just as Kiyoshi sealed position and bent his knees to leap, Haizaki Shōgo, to Kuroko Tetsuya's utter shock, leapt onto the railing of the stands, cupping his hands to his mouth like a megaphone.
And he roared the strangest thing:
"Hanamiya!"
"Hanamiya!?"
"Get it together, Hanamiya!!"
Then
"IDIOT KIYOSHI!!!"
"He's aiming for your leg!"
"Move!!"
In an instant
The nightmare Hanamiya had replayed countless times in his sleep surged back at Haizaki's voice!
Face twisted in terror, he whipped toward the stands. He didn't even see clearly—just the sight of that damned Teiko jersey made his blood freeze.
"Shigure Akihito!!!"
Without realizing it, in turning his body he exposed the entire play to the referee's sightline.
On court
Kiyoshi blinked in confusion, then went up anyway for the rebound.
Thankfully
The Kirisaki center, noticing the referee's line of sight, aborted midway. Momentum carried his leg down, but instead of smashing Kiyoshi's knee, it clipped his ankle instead.
Haizaki: "...?"
Haizaki roared, veins bulging:
"Kiyoshi Teppei!! You absolute idiot—dumber than Aomine!!"
END OF CHAPTER
CROWN BEFORE THE MIRACLES
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