On Jinno High's very first offensive possession, the starting seniors advanced with fierce momentum, organizing the attack with precision.
From the bench, the rookie substitutes watched earnestly, whispering to each other:
"No problem!"
"We got this…"
But in the blink of an eye
The ball…
Was sent flying by Akihito Shigure's monstrous block, as if it had been swatted out of a cannon!
"W-What a ridiculous block!"
"He's too strong!"
"So this is the junior who used to be our senpai's kouhai back at Teiko?!"
After a brief silence, the crowd erupted in a roar, and even Shigure's former Teiko senpai on the court couldn't hide their astonishment.
"Don't—don't let it get to you!"
"It's fine! Stick to the plan, execute the play properly!"
Ōkura Masaaki was the first to shake off his daze. As always, he clapped his hands sharply, pulling his teammates back into focus while rallying their spirits.
Hearing their captain, the rest of Jinno snapped back to themselves.
Yes… that's right.
Against Shigure and his generation, the only way was to bridge the gap with tactics.
And yet
Under the suffocating pressure of that overwhelming aura, it felt like Shigure's very presence was burning them alive. Black flames of sheer will seemed to engulf him.
What… was that?
This guy was still the same as ever. Every time they thought they understood him, his basketball evolved to another outrageous level. Now, after all these years…
How monstrously strong had he become?
…A monster.
Tweet!
The referee's whistle cut through the noise. Jinno's possession.
Eba Masatoshi brought the ball up. Facing Kaijō's floor general, Kasamatsu Yukio, his basic triple-threat attack carried no real bite and was easily neutralized.
But that wasn't the point—he lobbed the ball inside to Ōkura Masaaki.
Instantly, Kurokami Shinji, now towering at 202 cm, stepped up to defend.
"Yo~," Masaaki chuckled, holding the ball with both hands as he backed him down. "So the kid who started in Teiko's second string actually grew up, huh?"
Against his former Teiko captain, Shinji only smirked faintly.
"Even surpassed you in height, senpai."
"Hah!"
"Surpassed?" Masaaki barked a laugh. "You saying you've beaten me in strength too?"
"Well…" Shinji tilted his head, still calm. "If senpai wants to take it that way, sure."
"You little punk!"
Thud, thud!
Masaaki's powerful post-up drove Shinji deeper toward the paint. With three years of grown-man strength, he still held the advantage. Suddenly, he gave a subtle pump fake.
Shinji didn't bite.
But in the very next moment, Masaaki accelerated his move, switching from two-handed control into a one-handed high lift.
A hook shot!
"Hmph?" Shinji narrowed his eyes. "That won't fool me. Come at me head-on, senpai!"
But Masaaki wasn't going for the hook.
Pivot—spin, spin!
A rapid sequence of feints and turns—far faster than Shinji expected.
Where was the ball?!
It was one of the signature techniques Masaaki had forged in high school to counter his eternal rival, Hagioka Kasayuki: the illusion spin and hidden layup.
Using his spin to completely obscure Shinji's view, he slipped the ball out and flicked it toward the rim in one fluid motion.
It worked—the rookie center was fooled.
But before the ball could kiss the glass, a blazing figure rocketed into the air from behind. The overhead lights flashed off his body as the sound of wind tearing and leather struck by force boomed across the gym.
The next instant, the ball was snatched away mid-flight—secured in an instant by Fukasaya Reiji's flawless hands.
When Shinji turned, what he saw froze him: Akihito Shigure, clad in Kaijō blue, eyes sharp and merciless, while every other player stared dumbstruck.
Another block.
This time, Shigure had kept it inbounds.
Kaijō's ball.
Without pause, Shigure took off in a blistering fast break. Flames seemed to trail behind him as his body blurred into streaks of speed.
Reiji hurled the ball forward.
The entire arena watched as Shigure, mid-sprint, casually tapped the ball off the glass.
Bang!
The ball ricocheted high
And then BOOM!
The blazing figure leapt, head rising above the rim itself, snatching the rebound mid-air. Just inside the free-throw line, he whirled
A thunderous windmill dunk!
The backboard shuddered. The impact rattled through Jinno's players, numbing their scalps.
On the bench, the substitutes stared, wide-eyed, as their senpai's words echoed in their heads.
It's over.
The moment we drew Kaijō, it was already over!!
Everyone: "..."
Clap!
Another possession.
Shigure's figure blurred across the court again, intercepting with impossible speed. Jinno's attack was crushed once more.
"Watch out for Shigure!" Masaaki shouted after the turnover.
But something was odd. This time, Shigure's movement seemed… lazy, almost strolling?
On the other side, Kasamatsu Yukio dribbled calmly. No matter how strong Shigure was, as Kaijō's point guard, he wouldn't recklessly force the ball only to him.
Whoosh!
The pass swung to Nijimura Shuzo.
And then
Tap.
Just like Shigure had earlier, Nijimura casually redirected the ball. Only this time, it floated toward the arc, where Shigure had just wandered to.
Everyone froze.
Because Akihito Shigure, without hesitation, launched into the air at a ridiculous height.
An alley-oop three-pointer.
Swish!
The net sang. A clean, perfect shot.
"…Am I—am I dreaming right now?!"
END OF CHAPTER
CROWN BEFORE THE MIRACLES
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