The two groups immediately found themselves at a standoff, the tension palpable. They stared at each other, eyes flickering with hostility and wariness. Everyone clutched their basketballs tightly, as if ready to strike at any moment.
Former members of Teiko's basketball team, now playing alongside Kagami, Kuroko's current teammate, displayed extraordinary chemistry and skill. Their passes were lightning-fast and precise, leaving their opponents dazed and struggling to keep up.
While the gang of troublemakers showed decent skills, they were no match for the synchronized and polished teamwork of Kuroko's group. Under Shiro's seamless coordination, the gangsters were quickly overwhelmed and defeated.
"Total domination!"
"That was insane!"
In the end, the gangsters could only watch in shock as Kagami and the others walked away, their skills leaving a lasting impression.
Kagami turned to Kuroko and asked, "If it came down to a real fight, do you think you could win?"
Kuroko's face remained impassive. "No, I'd have been completely knocked out. Just look at my shy little biceps" He raised his arm in mock demonstration.
"You don't even have any!" Kagami shot back, exasperated.
Their banter had the rest of the team laughing.
Kise chimed in, "Kurokocchi is impressive sometimes, isn't he?"
Kagami, however, was less amused. "But you can't just rush in like that! You should think about the consequences first!"
Kuroko replied earnestly, "I just thought they were going too far and decided to teach them a lesson."
Kagami shook his head in frustration. "You're always like this, acting without thinking about what could happen."
Kuroko blinked innocently. "I forgot..."
"You forgot? You just admitted you'd get wrecked!" Kagami exclaimed, incredulous.
"I'm sorry..." Kuroko said, lowering his head apologetically.
"Oh man, these two are like a comedy duo!" Shiro laughed, watching their back-and-forth.
"Alright, alright, Kuroko, Kagami is right" Momoi added. "It's great to help others, but you need to consider the risks first. If you got injured, it wouldn't be worth it."
Kuroko nodded in agreement, acknowledging the point.
"Well, I'm off. And Kagamicchi, I'm looking forward to your revenge!" Kise slung his bag over his shoulder and turned with a casual wave.
"Kagamicchi?" Kagami shuddered at the nickname.
"Kise likes to add 'cchi' to the names of people he respects — it's a sign of his approval. Congratulations" Kuroko explained with a rare smile.
"I don't need that kind of approval" Kagami groaned.
"Oh, and don't forget — not losing in the qualifiers is crucial!" Kise called back before finally departing.
"Well, Kuroko, Kagami, we're heading out too. See you at Interhigh!" Shiro grinned as he took Momoi's hand and waved to the others before leaving.
Nijimura and Kawamura followed suit, bidding their farewells.
Watching Shiro leave, Kagami frowned. "Kuroko, just how strong is Shiro? I can't get a read on him—he seems unfathomable."
As an athlete, Kagami's instincts told him Shiro was on an entirely different level, leagues above even Kise.
"I'm not sure how strong he is now" Kuroko admitted honestly. He knew Shiro's true abilities were far beyond what met the eye.
"And you? Are you scared?" Kuroko asked, studying Kagami.
"Scared? Never! Facing opponents like that is exhilarating. We're making it to Interhigh, no matter what!" Kagami clenched his fist, determination blazing in his eyes. For him, nothing was more thrilling than challenging the best.
Kuroko shared his teammate's resolve. Both knew they would have to push themselves harder than ever to face Shiro and the Generation of Miracles.
"Mark my words, I'll take down every Miracle and become the best in Japan!" Kagami declared.
Kuroko smiled. "I believe you."
With renewed determination, they rejoined their team and headed back to Tokyo.
...
"Coach, the qualifier bracket is ready."
A player handed over the schedule, drawing the attention of everyone in the gym.
"The Interhigh qualifiers start with elimination rounds — lose, and you're out. Every game is do-or-die. Osaka is divided into four blocks, A through D, with only the top team from each advancing to the round-robin stage. From there, only the top three schools out of 300+ will qualify for Interhigh. That's the challenge of the Interhigh!" Coach Miyamoto explained, addressing both the rookies and veterans alike.
"There are still three weeks until the qualifiers. While we're confident about making it to Interhigh, especially with Shiro and Nijimura on the team this year, remember that our ultimate goal is to win the Interhigh. The competition will be fierce, so train hard!"
Then, with a tone that sent chills down everyone's spine, Miyamoto added, "Starting today, we're doubling the training!"
The announcement caused a stir among the players, who groaned at the thought of even more grueling practices.
For Shiro, however, this was business as usual. To him, the added intensity was a welcome opportunity to grow stronger.
"The preliminaries officially begin on May 16th. Our first opponent this year will be Shuchi Academy. Although they're not particularly strong, I expect you to win decisively!" Miyamoto said with a serious expression.
He viewed the first match as critical to setting the team's morale. Despite this, he was confident in their victory, especially with Shiro, the ace of the Generation of Miracles, on their side.
As the players absorbed the news, Miyamoto's gaze fell on Shiro, who stood unwavering.
With determination in their hearts, Fukui High School's basketball team began an intense three-week training camp to prepare for the games ahead.