Kuroko’s Basketball: Before Generation Miracles, I Already Crowned Chapter 188: In Their Excitement, Aomine and Haizaki Unconsc

Aomine Daiki took a deep breath.

"…Haizaki."

Haizaki Shōgo lowered his gaze, his breathing ragged after such a high-speed clash. It was unbelievable how quickly fatigue set in. Then, hearing Aomine's voice, he lifted his eyes

And sohow, as if by instinct, he understood the look in Aomine's eyes.

Just as he was about to speak, the ace opened his mouth first.

"Hah…"

"It feels just like back then, doesn't it~?"

But it wasn't the sa anymore. This ti, Aomine wasn't the boy who only knew how to take everything on his own. He had already shown change—before there had been monts when he'd actually chosen to pass, even when he could have gone all the way himself.

Yet now, against Shigure, he was so completely locked down that even passing was no longer an option. Of course, part of it was because they were in a 2v1, with their passing lanes sealed off. But still—to be forced into such a helpless state…

Back then, the thought had been simple:

"Shigure-senpai is strong!

So… in those dangerous monts,

if I pass it to him… it'll work!"

It was a lesson Aomine had learned the hard way, when Captain Nijimura had mocked Haizaki on the rooftop court and dragged him into that argunt, and when the lesson turned into experience.

And now, in this instant, Aomine saw sothing more fundantal.

When passing—sothing he had always dismissed—was suddenly stripped away, he realized, more than ever, the true power of the pass.

"On my own, it's way harder than I imagined. More exhausting than I thought."

"Sorry…"

"Haizaki."

"Until now, I never really thought about passing to you."

Haizaki froze for just a second.

Then, as always, his lips curled into a mocking grin.

"Your play is as raw as a beginner's."

"In this area…"

"You and Aomine… are probably on the sa level."

Recalling what Nijimura had once sneered, Haizaki raised a brow.

"Idiot."

"I have no idea what you're babbling about."

Hmph.

I'll accept your apology, but don't get it twisted—I've been thinking things through all along. That already puts way ahead of you.

Stupid bastard.

"Let's go!"

"…Yeah."

It was their turn to attack again.

By their usual pattern, it should have been Aomine with the ball, facing down Shigure head-on.

But this ti, Haizaki was the one dribbling forward. Aomine? He'd already pulled into the corner three, his expression serious, without the slightest hint of frustration.

"Oh?"

"Let see then, 'Miracles'…"

Shigure's tone was light, almost teasing, as if he were toying with juniors. Haizaki's eyes widened in defiance, his arms lowering as a storm of gray intensity erupted around him, burning straight toward Shigure.

And at the sa ti, from the opposite side, another presence rose.

Aomine's aura.

The two surged together, hemming Shigure in.

"…!?" Shigure stiffened.

Wild instinct?

It wasn't strange for Aomine to show it.

But Haizaki…

This was

A wolf?

In that instant, Shigure's mind raced. Teiko arc… countless thoughts flashed

And then

Shoom!

Haizaki's body snapped forward, crossing dribble—feint!

Then

A sudden step back!

"…!?" Shigure's eyes narrowed.

That move

The Step-back of Tomokazu Goshidai · Mochizuki Style!

Crude, yes.

Not yet sharp or smooth as it should be.

But Haizaki had pulled it off.

Sshht!

As he finished the step back, Haizaki used the recoil to launch a sudden fadeaway. Shigure, a split-second late, sprang with his Shunpō chase block to close the distance.

Yet midair, Shigure froze.

That arc…

It was the sa soaring parabola Midorima had used at Nationals against Reo Mibuchi's defense.

Has Haizaki really already grown to this level…?

Landing, Shigure whipped his head around

Of course.

Haizaki wasn't at that level yet.

"…I see."

It wasn't a shot.

That fadeaway and high arc—it was a pass. A bank pass, no less.

Clearly, he'd thought this through.

If it were only a disguised lob, it would have been quicker and simpler. But using the bank, the ball's rebound angle beca unpredictable, as if a "third man" had joined the play. That way, it wouldn't just be a one-ti trick.

It also gave Aomine extra ti—from the three-point line to the basket, to move without revealing his intent too early.

With the bank's sharp rebound angle, the ball would drop closer to the paint, pulling Shigure further from the play.

Smack!

The ball carod off the backboard edge, slicing out at a perfect angle, right into the hands of Aomine, who had already cut to the paint.

"Haizaki…!"

"Beautiful pass!"

This guy…

So he was that smart after all?!

Already prepared for the catch, Aomine grabbed the ball midair and scored swiftly under the rim.

"It's in!"

"Finally a basket!"

Kuroko's sudden shout rang across the court.

Haizaki, though secretly exhilarated, forced a scowl and shot a glance back.

"Second-stringer, why are you so surprised?"

"From here on, we'll keep scoring."

"…," Kuroko was speechless.

But deep inside, he couldn't help admiring Haizaki's back. That pass—its concept and precision—was brilliant.

And Haizaki kept it up.

Bank passes, rim bounces—each ti, a different trajectory, each one leading to a basket.

The effect was imdiate.

But on defense, against Shigure Akihito, they still had no answers.

And soon

Even their hard-earned passing rhythm would be dismantled.

Smack!

Another basket.

Excitent surged, and without thinking, Aomine and Haizaki slapped their palms together in a high-five.

Then

The awkwardness set in.

Across from them, Shigure simply shook his head.

"You two… who do you think is the best passer in Teiko?"

END OF CHAPTER

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