On the TV, the quarterfinal match was being broadcast live.
The teams on screen: Rakuzan High vs Fukuda Sōgō.
Tendou set down the basketball in his hand, interest piqued.
He made his way into the clubroom and joined the others in front of the TV.
"Oh? You're interested in this match, Tendou?"
"Well, it's Rakuzan. And their captain… is none other than Akashi Seijūrō."
Rakuzan had serious weight in the high school basketball world.
Their current roster boasted three Uncrowned Kings, which alone was enough to demand attention.
But this year, they had also added the Generation of Miracles' greatest playmaker—Akashi himself.
To many, this version of Rakuzan looked like a flawless team.
They were at the top of the tournant power rankings.
And rightly so.
This year's Rakuzan had completely dominated the Kyoto region.
Under Akashi's precise orchestration, Hayama Kotarō, Nebuya Eikichi, and Reo Mibuchi were each playing at peak performance.
Compared to last year, their stats and efficiency had improved dramatically.
The team ranked first nationwide in scoring, and their defensive efficiency was elite.
Rakuzan's numbers were at the top of every major category—all thanks to the influence of a world-class point guard.
Tendou had his eyes on the championship.
So it made sense for him to keep an eye on Rakuzan.
But that wasn't what he was watching for.
"I'm not interested in Rakuzan," Tendou said plainly.
"I'm watching for the other guy."
The cara panned to a player with dark dreadlocks and a hostile aura.
Haizaki Shōgo.
He had dyed his hair black and changed his look.
He looked like trouble.
"Haizaki Shōgo? What's so special about him?" Yamasaki Hiroshi asked, confused.
It was rare for Tendou to show interest in any player.
Their proud captain was usually too self-assured to care about others.
"What's special?" Tendou mused.
"He's a forr teammate. Does that count?"
"Wait, he was your teammate?"
Everyone froze.
"Hold on—if he was on your team, that ans he was at Teikō?"
"But the Generation of Miracles only had six mbers. Even if you count Kuroko the Phantom, that's still just six…"
"His case is special," Tendou explained calmly.
"He quit the team during our second year."
No one pressed further, but Tendou kept his eyes fixed on the screen.
That was a surprise.
He hadn't expected Haizaki to appear this early.
In the original storyline, Haizaki didn't show up until the Winter Cup.
Under normal circumstances, that probably would've been the case here too.
But after Tendou reappeared in his life… sothing must have reignited Haizaki's will to play.
He wanted to prove to the one who once dismissed him—that he didn't need Tendou to shine.
...
"Yo, long ti no see, Akashi."
Haizaki stared across the court, smirking provocatively.
To him, Akashi still looked as infuriating as ever.
"Didn't expect to run into you again... especially not here."
"It's been a while, Haizaki," Akashi replied with a polite smile.
To the uninford, they might've seed like old friends.
But anyone who knew Akashi well understood his language.
With close comrades, Akashi always called them by their first nas—
Seijūrō called Tendou "Kageyoshi
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