Aida Riko clenched her teeth, clearly unhappy with Kagami's impulsive play.
She knew better than anyone that Kise Ryōta's ability allowed him to instantly replicate any move he'd seen—turning it into his own in just a moment.
But there was a catch…
He couldn't copy moves that were on the Miracle level.
And Kagami… though Riko could see his incredible athleticism, his raw power, and even that wild spark inside him
She hadn't yet seen anything that belonged to that realm of "miracles."
In other words
For someone like Kagami, with only the fundamentals to rely on…
Of course…
After glancing at the court, Riko sighed and rubbed her forehead in frustration.
On the court
Kise suddenly performed the exact same move Kagami had just used on Izuki moments ago.
A sudden stop, spin, and slam dunk!
"...What?!"
The first-years from Seirin stared wide-eyed at the identical move, their jaws dropping.
Even Riko, who had seen Kise's ability firsthand during training camp, looked stunned.
This was no ordinary copy.
This went way beyond the level of imitation!
Meanwhile
Kagami's eyes widened.
Don't tell me!
That was my move just now
No way!!
In that split second of disbelief, Kagami gritted his teeth and sprang upward with all his might, leaping behind Kise for the block!
But—Kise's strength blew past his expectations!
BANG!
"What!"
He's faster than me… and stronger too?!
Thrown off balance by the sheer impact, Kagami landed hard on the floor.
Kise, still hanging from the rim, looked down at him with a teasing smile.
"So this is the Generation of Miracles, huh? Kuroko—your teammate's insane!"
Kuroko looked up at Kise's back and nodded quietly.
The talent of the Generation of Miracles evolved at a rate that defied imagination.
Even Kise, the one who used to be considered the weakest among them—had been growing at an unbelievable pace since last year's camp.
That was what Shigure-senpai had called "the period right before the bloom."
That phase… had already arrived.
"Hmm~ You're not bad, you know~"
Kise grinned, tilting his head playfully.
"Wild types like you… I think you're the sixth one I've met so far?"
"But still, compared to us, you've got a little ways to go~"
"Oh, right—"
"Kuroko, why don't you come to Tōō Academy instead?"
"Let's play together again, yeah?"
The way Kise casually tried to poach Kuroko right in front of Seirin's team left everyone speechless.
"...?!"
"What did he just say?!"
Ignoring the dark expressions around him, Kise continued cheerfully,
"I've always respected Kuroko, you know? Right?"
"Here at Seirin, you can't really bring out your full potential, can you?"
"But at Tōō…"
"You'd have Aomine—he's even stronger than Haizaki—and me~"
"So what do you think?"
"Honestly…"
"With you on our side, I'd feel way more confident taking on our two senpai~"
Kuroko bowed slightly, his expression solemn.
"To receive such praise from you is an honor, Kise."
"But I must respectfully decline."
Kise blinked. For a moment, he thought Kuroko had accepted—then froze at the twist.
"Hey, that's not how conversations work!"
Kuroko gave a faint smile.
"Even if no one says it out loud, everyone must think it—that Haizaki and I are the weakest pair among the Miracles, right?"
"But even so, Haizaki and I have already made a promise."
"To defeat you all."
Kise raised an eyebrow, glancing toward Haizaki and Aomine, who were already bickering across the court.
"Heh… yeah, that sounds just like Haizaki. And you too, Kuroko."
"But you're wrong about one thing."
"None of us—Aomine, Murasakibara, Midorima, or Akashi—ever thought your combo was weak."
"After all…"
"You were guided by Shigure-senpai."
"Your skill… is terrifyingly strong."
"My offer wasn't to look down on you—it's just that you'd shine even more at Tōō."
Across the bench, Aida Riko finally let out a sigh of relief.
Meanwhile, Kagami's eyes burned with determination as he stared at Kise.
So this is the Generation of Miracles…
They're really amazing.
So amazing—it makes me want to laugh.
And that "Aomine" he mentioned… stronger than that bastard Haizaki?!
That's perfect.
Just then, Aomine and Haizaki's argument escalated
From sharp words to clashing pressure that froze the air around them.
And then
The Gray Wolf.
The Black Panther.
Both moved at once!
Whish!
Whish!
The ball that had bounced to the sideline during Kise and Kagami's duel was snatched up by Haizaki in a flash!
Their bodies darted across the court like blurs, radiating a chilling, crushing pressure that made the audience shiver.
Crack!
Aomine's cold gaze sharpened like a blade.
"Bring it on, Haizaki."
"I'll crush you right here."
The Seirin team froze
That ability, that aura…
They'd seen it before
when Shigure Akihito personally coached Aomine.
"Hmph."
With a low growl, Haizaki activated his own.
[Monster's Immersion].
Aomine's pupils shrank as a phantom identical to himself materialized behind Haizaki, dark and monstrous.
"Tch—damn copycat!"
A dangerous aura surged around Haizaki.
In Aomine's vision, there were suddenly two of himself staring him down with feral light in their eyes.
In the next instant
Haizaki's eyes gleamed, and he exploded forward!
But Aomine was ready
Under [Frozen World], his speed was razor-sharp, sliding across the court like skating on ice.
He reacted instantly, cutting Haizaki off, his body moving with flawless defensive precision.
Then
The freezing pressure of the Frozen World surged like a blizzard, and Haizaki's speed visibly dropped!
"...Tch."
Haizaki narrowed his eyes.
His dribble grew more erratic—almost wild—yet the ball never left his control.
Unpredictable.
Chaotic.
Like a dangerous dance.
His movement perfectly mirrored Aomine's streetball flair!
Aomine stood his ground, the effect of Frozen World peaking.
For a split second, everyone saw Haizaki's movements freeze midair, his entire body locked in place like an ice sculpture.
Aomine's cold voice cut through the silence
"Showing off with my own move, huh?"
"Idiot."
Vwoom!
The phantom behind Haizaki pulsed—growing more defined.
He suddenly dropped into a low stance, braking with an impossible stop, and then—burst forward again with ferocious acceleration!
The ground cracked beneath him.
He twisted in midair, body slanted, arm snapping forward as if hurling a handball.
A ridiculous stop-start rhythm—instantaneous!
Then
[Formless Shot]!
The blizzard surged violently, engulfing Haizaki in the illusion of a white void.
He saw it again
That boundless snowy world
even larger than before his graduation.
The two of them, leaping through the storm
Their hair blown aside by the same gust of wind
the invisible path of Haizaki's Formless Shot sealed
And yet
"[Monster's Immersion]..."
"[Black Hole]."
The ball slipped through Aomine's frozen defense
and slammed into the rim!
CLANG!
CLANG!
CLANG!
The violent sound echoed through the gym before the ball finally fell through the net.
For a long moment, silence.
The spectators were too stunned to react.
Only after the snow in Aomine's eyes melted away did voices begin to return.
"Eh…?"
"How—how did that go in?!"
"It looked like it went straight through Aomine's hands?!"
"I didn't even see it…"
"That jump—so high!"
"No, so fast! Wait… did his movement freeze for a second?"
"Ever since Seirin's match, I've never seen Haizaki so close to being blocked!"
On the court
Haizaki looked back at Aomine with a crooked grin.
"What's wrong? Rusty after graduation?"
"Or is that the best you've got when you're 'serious'?"
"Pathetic."
Aomine didn't reply.
He just picked up the ball from under the hoop, his aura flaring stronger by the second—and smiled.
A wide, eager, battle-hungry smile.
Meanwhile
Far from Seirin's tension-filled gym, in Akita Prefecture, Yōsen High's basketball club was just beginning its first official practice of the term.
Outside the gym
"Fukui, your shoelace is untied," said the captain, Okamura Kenichi.
He smirked. "Nervous on your first day as vice-captain?"
"Hah? You're one to talk, Captain."
Just as Fukui bent down to tie his shoe, a tall shadow passed by him.
No—huge.
"Hmm? Didn't I just pass this place?"
"Where's the gym again…?"
Okamura and Fukui froze.
Holy crap. That guy's huge!
Over two meters… no—two-ten?!
A university player? A pro?
And then, from the corner, another tall figure appeared—wearing the same Yōsen uniform.
At least… one-ninety-five.
Okamura: "..."
Fukui: "..."
Wait a sec… that's our school uniform!
"Murasakibara! Don't wander off!"
"Oh~ okay~"
Murasakibara Atsushi mumbled around a mouthful of snack sticks, his arms full of junk food bags.
"Yōsen's gym is way too far… Oh~ new flavor. Not bad~"
At the name "Murasakibara," Fukui froze mid-motion.
By the time he turned, the two giants had already entered the gym.
Okamura looked at him, puzzled. "What's wrong?"
"...Nothing."
"Just… didn't get the chance to say hi."
"To our new recruits."
Okamura blinked—then realization hit.
"Wait—those are the new guys Coach mentioned?!"
"Most likely…" Fukui nodded slowly.
"Murasakibara Atsushi…"
"The Generation of Miracles' center."
Soon after, at Yōsen's freshman orientation for the basketball club.
Okamura and Fukui confirmed it themselves.
Not only had the Miracle center joined their ranks
but alongside him was another towering recruit
a Miracle-level shooter.
A combination that could only mean one thing:
This year, Yōsen High had recruited monsters.
And even among them
Shintarō Midorima's sharp eyes narrowed slightly.
Just as I thought…
Two players over two meters tall.
A team that could crush you with height alone.
He couldn't help but murmur under his breath
"Yōsen really doesn't do things halfway…"
END OF CHAPTER
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