Kuroko’s Basketball: Before Generation Miracles, I Already Crowned Chapter 223: 200

The breathtaking clash between the two forr captains finally ca to an end.

Lying on the floor by the basket stanchion, the two seniors muttered to each other as if competing to see who could stand up first. Watching them with sparkling eyes, Aomine Daiki suddenly elbowed Haizaki Shōgo—who was still frozen in shock and unable to co back to his senses.

"Hey, hey!"

"You think…"

"In high school, how many opponents will there be like those two senpai? They're still only in middle school now, but in high school—won't there be many players like that?!"

Haizaki Shōgo: "!?"

"You…"

"Are you really an idiot?"

"Impossible…"

"Even in high school, those two will still be the strongest."

Akashi Seijūrō clenched his fist, then turned toward them and spoke:

"In high school, there might be one other opponent. His na is Hagioka Kasayuki, now regarded as the future of Japanese basketball. By the ti we were first-years, he had already advanced to high school. We saw him once when he ca to watch senpai's match."

"But…"

"We'll probably never have the chance to face him."

In that instant

Aomine.

Haizaki.

And even Midorima, who had quietly pricked up his ears.

All of them recalled that scene.

That towering figure of Hagioka Kasayuki, already over two ters tall back when they were still in their first year.

It was the first ti they had ever seen such a tall player. And it was also the first ti they saw soone who, as a high school freshman, already wore the No. 4 jersey.

Of course…

That was in his first year of high school.

And back then, Hagioka Kasayuki had said sothing that Aomine and Murasakibara still rembered vividly—a line that left them shocked when he spoke to Shigure-senpai:

"Right now, at Rakuzan, my position is shooting guard."

As everyone sank into the mory of that fleeting encounter with Hagioka during their first year, Akashi suddenly continued:

"The outco of this duel ans that when Captain Nijimura enters high school, he'll join Shigure-senpai's team—the one that kept chasing after Teiko last year and refused to let go: Kaijō."

"The result is already decided…"

"In high school…"

"The two of them will still be on the sa team."

At that mont

Midorima Shintarō frowned. "If I'm not mistaken, that day when training was delayed because of Kaijō's coach, even Fukasaya and Kuroko-senpai went along as well."

Beside him, Fukasaya Reiji nodded.

"Yeah."

"It's been decided."

"I'll be going to Kaijō too."

"I once thought about trying to beco the core of a team in high school, like Shigure and Nijimura. But thinking it over, Teiko's philosophy has already seeped deeply into ."

"With both Shigure and Nijimura on the sa team, I can't imagine any other conclusion."

"And …"

"I really don't want to lose."

Though he had half-expected it, Midorima still frowned at Fukasaya's words.

If even the iron-willed Fukasaya chose this path under the combined pull of Shigure-senpai and Nijimura's leadership… what about himself?

The dream he once envisioned—standing alone on the high school stage, challenging the world by himself—had already been shattered. To cling to that idea now would only be arrogance.

Then perhaps…

It should be two people.

But who was the right choice?

Midorima's gaze swept across his teammates before finally landing on an answer he had never once considered.

"Eh?"

"Midorin~"

"Why are you staring at like that~?"

Midorima Shintarō: "…"

…Perhaps it was possible.

If it were Murasakibara, then he could still lead with his own style of play. And the inside-outside combination would be the most natural pairing.

At the sa ti

Aside from Aomine and Murasakibara, who weren't thinking about such matters at all, Haizaki and Akashi both fell into silence. Yet unlike Midorima, who fixed his choice on Murasakibara, their gazes locked on different targets.

One looked at Kuroko Tetsuya.

The other…

Lightly stroked his left eye, where a faint orange glow was beginning to erge, and whispered to himself:

"We don't need to worry about that. After all…"

"We've always been two in one."

…

August.

The scorching heat still lingered in the air.

The All-Japan Junior High Basketball Tournant—commonly called "Zenchu"—opened under the blazing sumr sun.

As one team entered the arena with overwhelming montum, reporters and nearby spectators lining the aisle all wore expressions of shock.

Soon after, the national tournant's opening round began. Teiko's ga, along with another match beside it, tipped off simultaneously on two different courts.

During the match

Unlike the fiery atmosphere of the neighboring court, Teiko's ga…

Whether on the court or off, referees, opponents, even spectators—everyone was left shaken and terrified.

And within that eerie silence, the ga ended.

"…Unbelievable. Ever since losing to Shigure-senpai, Captain Nijimura seems completely unleashed now…" Kise Ryōta's tone was heavy as he squinted against the glaring arena lights.

Murasakibara let out a lazy yawn. "Right~?"

Looking at the defeated opponents sprawled across the floor, Aomine scratched his head and clicked his tongue.

"Tch. As I thought, this year's opponents are way too weak. I heard the Five Generals didn't even make it to Nationals? What the hell?"

"Against teams like this, I can only compete with myself on scoring."

"Heh~"

"With yourself?"

"Why not compete with those two monsters instead?"

"…"

"Haizaki…"

"You scored six fewer points than . Shut up."

Glancing at his teammates' lightly sweat-stained yet relaxed faces, Akashi's gentle smile didn't waver. As captain, he was the first to step onto the court's center line.

"Let's go line up."

On the sidelines, the reporters' caras swung toward the scoreboard.

Teiko vs. Urayasu

200 : 0

"I don't even know what to say anymore… Even if high schoolers played elentary kids, they'd at least give up a few points, right?"

"A shutout…"

"Teiko just keeps getting more outrageous."

"What's up with Nijimura Shuzo today? He played like a man possessed!"

"Let's spare a mont of pity for their opponents~"

Sweat trickled down Sanada Naoto's forehead.

Had the duel between Shigure and Nijimura really ended? Sohow it felt even fiercer than before. With Shigure and Nijimura both going all out, and the Generation of Miracles alongside them, they were even stronger than he could have imagined.

No…

They were far too strong!

And now, as second-years, the Miracles carried none of the crushing burden of "never losing under their seniors' glory."

Their overwhelming power had shattered such pressure completely.

For a team this terrifying… did they even need a coach anymore?

END OF CHAPTER

CROWN BEFORE THE MIRACLES

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