With the Inter-High preliminaries underway across the country, a week had passed since the first round. After hearing the results of the Generation of Miracles' opening matches, everyone was collectively stunned.
Originally
Most high school teams believed that since middle school had already produced monsters like Hagioka Kasayuki, and two years later the Twin Stars, it was unlikely that another freak would emerge this year.
Not to mention those always-arrogant teams—the ones who believed only in training, not in so-called "miracles," and insisted on relying on their seasoned third-year lineups.
Now, they regretted it to death.
Basketball magazines across Japan released nearly identical front-page spreads:
[Unprecedented Miracle Explosion!]
[150–0!! The Strongest Duo—Midorima Shintarō & Murasakibara Atsushi!]
[Tokyo's Ultra-Offensive Basketball—Aomine Daiki Drops 60 in Debut!]
[Kise Ryōta: "Aomine and I combined for 90!"]
[One Quarter Blowout! The Most Low-Key Miracle Duo—Haizaki Shōgo & Kuroko Tetsuya!]
[Exclusive Interview with Rakuzan's First-Year Captain — Akashi Seijūrō, who rotated lineups nonstop and still won by triple digits]
[...]
A week later.
Seirin High School Gymnasium.
Before the whole team had even arrived, Aida Riko couldn't hold back the shocking news.
"What?!"
"Huh?!"
"No way?!"
"150 to 0?!"
A wave of disbelief echoed through the gym.
Hyuga Junpei frowned. "What about the others?"
Riko replied, "Exactly what you think. Every single Miracle's first match ended in a massive blowout. Today's new magazines? All the covers belong to them…"
She puffed her cheeks.
"But!"
"We're in it too~"
"It's actually a first!"
"Last year we reached Winter Cup Nationals and still didn't get this treatment. This year it only took one match to impress them."
Hyuga: "…"
Honestly…
Even though he expected this, his heart tightened as he flipped through the reports. The most frightening was the clearly-full-power Midorima and Murasakibara.
150–0.
A score unimaginable even in dreams.
Then Hyuga suddenly paused. "Wait. Why isn't Kaijō's 277-point headline here…?"
Riko nodded. "I checked with Momoi. Kaijō mainly let Kurokami and Fukaya carry the team during prelims."
"But even so—"
"Even with just the two of them and substitutes—"
"They still crushed everyone."
"Kaijō is absurdly strong in Kanagawa."
Meanwhile
Across Japan, the Miracles were steamrolling their districts.
Paired up in their duos, they simply had no opponents capable of competing. And barring some miracle, this wouldn't change before prelims ended.
Except
For one district.
Tokyo.
Because Tokyo had:
Aomine + Kise
vs.
Haizaki + Kuroko.
And finally, the first day of the Tokyo Block Round-Robin arrived.
Today was the opening match—but undeniably the most anticipated match of the entire round-robin.
Tōō Academy vs. Seirin High.
"They're here! Tōō vs. Seirin!"
"Can Aomine still score that many on Seirin?"
"Aomine's one-on-one is insane. Who can stop him?!"
"Haizaki Shōgo can. He can even run point, and he uses the same moves as Aomine."
"Don't be stupid—Haizaki only copies Aomine. There's no way he's exactly the same!"
On Tōō's bench
Seeing Aomine still absent, Wakamatsu Kōsuke's eyebrows were practically on fire. He glared at Kise.
"Don't tell me Aomine's bad habit is acting up again?!"
Coach Harasawa normally tolerated Aomine, but today even he looked uneasy. Kise smiled:
"Don't worry. Today's opponent is little Haizaki. Aomine's been looking forward to this~"
Just then
Aomine emerged from the corridor, drenched in sweat, exuding more killing intent than he'd shown since joining Tōō.
The team froze.
He warmed up early?
And that aura…
"Hasn't the game started yet?!"
"How long do we have to wait?"
He pulled a towel from Sakurai's hands and tossed it over his head, his presence like a beast ready to explode.
Luckily, tip-off wasn't far away.
Under the referee's call, both teams lined up. Haizaki looked up to find Aomine approaching—eyes burning like wildfire.
Haizaki: "…"
Exhale.
Opponent: Aomine Daiki.
Of course he's excited.
Aomine stared at him. "Hmph. Ready to taste defeat again?"
Haizaki pushed up his slicked-back hair, grinning. "You won by a tiny bit in that practice match. Don't get cocky."
Aomine: "…"
"You still know how to make people laugh, Haizaki."
"Heh~ Don't disappoint me, Aomine."
Wakamatsu passed by the pair and secretly nodded. As expected, someone capable of challenging Aomine had a similarly awful attitude.
Little punks, the both of them.
But up close
They were terrifying.
Not because of their expressions, but because since that practice match, Haizaki had already revealed new abilities during prelims.
Aomine closed his eyes, memories of their battles—from middle school to now—flashing through his mind.
His heartbeat quickened.
Excitement building like flames pumping through his veins.
When he opened his eyes:
"This time—let's settle this. No interruptions. A full, complete battle! Haizaki!"
Haizaki nodded calmly. "As long as you don't run away before I find you."
Aomine blinked
Then laughed.
"Fine, bastard."
Earlier that morning
In an ordinary residential neighborhood, two unusually tall students struggled with a rickety cargo tricycle.
"Ugh, so unlucky~ Mido-chin~ Green light again—now we wait for red~! We said we'd switch pedaling by rock-paper-scissors, but why haven't you pedaled once~?"
"Mido-chin…"
"Are you cheating~?"
Murasakibara kept whining at Midorima while waiting for the light.
"Of course not," Midorima declared proudly. "My Cancer fortune is number one today."
"Unless…"
Murasakibara cut him off. "Who cares~? Let's go again!"
"Hmm?"
"Fine."
"Doesn't matter. I'll win anyway."
Midorima confidently extended his hand.
Scissors.
Murasakibara
Rock.
Both froze.
Then
"OOOH~! 1ucky~ I won! Mido-chin pedals now~!"
CRACK.
The overloaded wooden seat gave a tragic groan.
Midorima turned
Face instantly darkening.
"Senpai. Of course it's you…"
Sitting behind him, smiling like sunlight
Shigure Akihito.
Murasakibara blinked. "No wonder it suddenly got heavy~ Senpai! Long time no see~"
Midorima muttered, "My fortune said meeting my unlucky sign would ruin the day. Of course."
Shigure laughed. "You're still obsessed with horoscopes? What's today's lucky item?"
Murasakibara cheerfully answered for him: "A frog plushie~"
Midorima glared a hole through him.
Shigure: "By the way, Mu… didn't Mido-chin lose? Why are you still pedaling?"
"…Oh. True~!"
Minutes later
Midorima was pedaling resentfully, while Shigure and Murasakibara lounged comfortably on the cart.
"Senpaaai~ What about Nijimura-captain? Is he not coming today~?"
"Can't. Kanagawa's round-robin is today too. You know how serious he is about winning. And you two—Akita plays in two days, right?"
"Right. But it doesn't matter if we go or not~ Our opponents are weak. I'm jealous of Aomine—they get to play already~"
By the time they reached the gym
Seirin vs. Tōō was moments from tip-off.
At center court, Hyuga and Imayoshi shook hands.
"Please take care of us."
"Likewise."
Imayoshi glanced past him, eyes curving slyly as he observed Kiyoshi and Kagami.
Heh.
What a scary team.
Miracles, the Uncrowned Kings, and a mysterious super rookie.
With both teams ready, the arena erupted with thunderous cheers.
This year, Seirin and Tōō were visibly on a different level from every other Tokyo team. This battle—lightning striking the earth—was the match everyone refused to blink through.
Even during tip-off, Aomine never looked away from Haizaki, his killing intent intensifying.
Whistle
Ball tossed up.
Kiyoshi won the tip.
Seirin ball!
"Match start!"
Hyuga grabbed the ball—and immediately looked for Haizaki.
But
Imayoshi slid in front of him instantly, smirking.
"Oh my~ Going for Haizaki right away?"
He blocked Hyuga before he could take a single dribble.
Hyuga froze.
This pressure
His intention was completely read?!
The crowd roared:
"Whoa—what pressure!!"
"They're already playing like it's a final!!"
"Tōō looks totally different today!!"
Hyuga's passing lane was cut off.
Bad!
A crisp slap—Kise intercepted the pass intended for Kagami.
Then
A dark blur sprinted forward.
Aomine.
And right behind him
Haizaki.
Aomine reached Seirin's paint, ready to dunk—
But Haizaki erupted beside him!
SLAM!
A one-handed block pinning the ball to the glass!
The entire gym exploded.
"HE BLOCKED AOMINE?!"
"That jump was crazy!"
"Speed's almost the same!"
"He pinned it clean… terrifying!"
Landing gracefully, Haizaki smirked.
"What? Slow reaction because it's still early? Even Ice World didn't activate. Should I call it relaxed—or arrogant?"
"Tch."
Aomine grinned. "Guess I can be serious now?"
"We'll see how serious you get," Haizaki replied. "Preferably before you lose."
Aomine blinked
Then laughed.
"You bastard."
END OF CHAPTER
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