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

Teiko Second String Training Gym

It had been some time since the day of the freshman entrance trials. Most of the first-years had gradually adapted to Teiko's infamous hellish training regimen.

But adaptation didn't mean silence.

Complaints were still inevitable, especially today.

"Coach Omota!"

"Didn't you say we'd be able to play in the scrimmage this afternoon?!"

"With how intense the training's been, do we really have any energy left to take the court?"

"Yeah!"

"Exactly!"

Leading the chorus of complaints was Kokuna Shinji. He never held back around the assistant coaches, and with his height giving him an imposing presence, he had clearly taken it upon himself to be the loud, reckless leader of the group.

A few other first-years chimed in behind him

All except for Fukaya Reiji, who stood behind them clutching a ball, looking awkward and uncertain. He wasn't sure whether to head back into training or to stick with his teammates. In the end, he just stood there, half-participant, half-bystander.

He glanced around furtively and let out a quiet sigh of relief.

The coach isn't here…

That was something, at least.

At the edge of the court, the assistant coach, currently standing in for the head coach, looked exasperatedly at the tall, undeniably talented first-year. After all, Kokuna Shinji had defeated a Second String player during the entrance trials.

Though it had been a close match, more of an evenly matched brawl than a clear win, it had still caught the attention of Coach Ino, who was optimistic about Kokuna making it to the First String before the end of his first year.

Still… there was that personality.

Hot-headed. Impulsive. Totally undisciplined.

But at least he wasn't as much of a handful as Nijimura Shuzo, currently wreaking havoc in the First String

Or worse yet, Akihito Shigure, who was somehow even more uncontrollable than Nijimura when he lost it.

Apparently, things had started off just fine.

But after a seemingly innocuous one-on-one with the starting shooting guard during a regular training session, Akihito suddenly went off the rails. As if addicted to duels, he began challenging the First String starters every single day, one by one.

And this, despite repeated reminders from the coaching staff that no matter how many duels he won, it wouldn't affect the official starting lineup.

Akihito didn't care.

It was as if beating a starter gave him some sort of divine gacha pull.

And then, before anyone realized what was happening

Nijimura started doing it too.

Unlike Akihito, though, Nijimura's challenge style was anything but smooth. He went straight in, blunt and unfiltered. In just a few short days, the First String was in absolute chaos.

No one even knew how many fights had almost broken out because of him.

Thinking of all this, the Second String assistant coach glanced back at their own rowdy ringleader, Kokuna Shinji. For a brief moment, he even found the kid endearing by comparison. So he took the rare step of offering a little reassurance:

"Just focus on your training."

"The two First String players leading today's match had the exact same training volume this morning. Actually, because they're First String, their load was even heavier."

"And yet, you don't hear them complaining."

"What's the matter?"

"You're not gonna let the First String outdo you… are you?"

Kokuna's brows furrowed, his pride hit squarely in the chest.

"Hah?! Me, lose to them?! Just wait! I'll score more than the First String in the scrimmage this afternoon!"

The assistant coach responded with a cryptic, slightly twisted smile.

"Alright then~"

"I'm looking forward to it~"

"Oh, by the way…"

"You guys don't know yet, do you?"

He paused just long enough to make every freshman's ears perk up. Even Fukaya Reiji lifted his head slightly, sensing something important.

Fukaya: "..."

So that's it.

The two First String players leading the team today…

It's them, isn't it?

"What do you mean?" Kokuna asked suspiciously.

"The players representing Teiko's First String this afternoon," said the assistant coach, his tone growing increasingly amused, "are Akihito Shigure and Nijimura Shuzo."

"You may not have trained together on the court yet…"

"But, try to get along."

Kokuna Shinji: "..."

The rest of the Second String freshmen: "..."

Without giving them time to react, the assistant coach snapped back to business, barking commands across the gym:

"Break time's over! Start the moving dribble drills!"

"Yes, sir!"

"Yes!"

"Yes!!"

As the drills resumed, the gym filled with the sounds of sneakers squeaking and labored breathing.

At the same time

The whispering started.

Murmurs came drifting in from the Second String upperclassmen nearby.

"You heard, right?"

"Those two first-years who went straight to the First String, they're leading an external scrimmage already? That's fast."

"Well, part of it is recognition. But part of it's probably the coaches just trying to burn off their energy before they wreck the team. I heard Nijimura's already almost gotten into fights with half the First String…"

"Huh?! Seriously? What happened?"

"Believe it or not, it didn't start with Nijimura, even though he looks like a delinquent. The one who started everything…"

"Was Akihito Shigure."

Kokuna and Fukaya listened closely, their expressions shifting as the gossip continued.

While the others looked nervous or outright horrified

Kokuna looked… excited.

Like he couldn't wait to get in on the chaos.

And Fukaya Reiji?

Well…

He just looked

Unmistakably envious.