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

As Shigure and the others began the final round of training for the day, up on the second-floor balcony of the Third Gym, Sanada Naoto, coach of the first-string team, had appeared at some point without anyone noticing.

His eyes remained fixed on Shigure Akihito, deep in thought.

Now that the confirmation was in…

Everything that followed would have to be restructured from scratch.

Maybe

Just maybe

This would be the year they reclaimed the national title they'd lost for two years running.

Somewhere inside the Third Gym

During the physical training session, Kurokame Shinji, who had been unusually distracted all day, suddenly seemed to have figured something out. Out of nowhere, he heatedly began chasing after Shigure, insisting they have a one-on-one match.

The result was obvious.

A simple 11-point solo game. Shinji was dunked on so hard that even when the game ended, he could still hear the BANG-BANG echo of those dunks in his ears.

And Shigure Akihito, who had gotten into his groove

Even though he already knew that playing 1v1 against Nijimura wouldn't earn him any system rewards anymore, he still turned and shot Nijimura a teasing eyebrow raise.

Nijimura Shuzo understood him right away.

And then

Turned his back and ignored him.

Shigure Akihito: "..."

Elsewhere

Among the other first-year players in the third-string group, those who had joined at the same time as Shigure and Nijimura, more than a few kept sneaking glances in their direction.

What they saw…

Was a monster-level physique on Shigure Akihito, who could joke and laugh his way through drills while still having enough energy to shamelessly mess with Nijimura Shuzo.

As for Kurokame Shinji, who had just finished getting crushed by Shigure…

He had gone silent again, dazed. For someone as fiery and impulsive as he was, this kind of mood was rare.

Now, he and Fukaya Reiji sat together, forming what could only be described as the "gloom duo."

But it didn't last long.

Suddenly, Reiji abandoned him and walked over to Nijimura Shuzo. No one knew what he said, but shockingly, the usually icy Nijimura actually responded patiently.

A moment later,

That peaceful vibe was shattered again, by none other than Shigure.

No one knew what he did, but Nijimura's expression instantly darkened. His brows furrowed sharply, and with visible irritation, he hurled the ball back toward Shigure, like he was one second away from igniting.

And yet,

Shigure just smacked the ball away with one hand, flatly refusing the implied one-on-one challenge.

Instead, he casually turned and resumed his next round of training.

Leaving Nijimura standing there, visibly stunned.

And a little beyond them,

The rest of the first- and second-year second-string players, though going through the same drills, felt like they were living in an entirely different world from those four.

The vibe,

Was like being completely cut off, unable to blend in.

Even the first-year third-string players watching from afar could feel it clearly, the sense of distance.

Training ended.

Shigure Akihito made his way back to the First Gym.

He had been inexperienced, should've brought all his gear with him when he went to the Third.

Now, aside from a few first-stringers still wrapping things up, most had already gone home.

The sun was setting, and dusk had crept in.

After packing up his gear and heading out,

Passing through the Second Gym,

He suddenly spotted Fukaya Reiji.

Shigure still remembered, by the end of training, after everything they'd gone through, Reiji's legs had been visibly heavy.

But now, he was carrying a mop and cleaning supplies in his hands.

Clearly,

He'd drawn the short straw for gym cleanup duty.

Poor guy.

When Reiji spotted Shigure, he paused for a second. But quickly, he smiled and greeted him:

"Shigure-kun, you're still here?"

"I saw Nijimura-san leave quite a while ago."

At those words, Shigure's expression instantly darkened.

"On that crappy old bike of his, right?"

Tch, !

The moment he mentioned motorbikes the other day, that guy shows up the very next morning riding some beat-up bicycle.

Trying to clean up your image, huh?

And that fast?

But what really changed Shigure's face wasn't the bike, it was what Reiji called him.

He shook his head and sighed.

"Reiji… you call Nijimura 'Nijimura-san', but me it's just 'Shigure-kun'…"

"Why so formal all of a sudden?"

Shigure recalled how during training, Reiji had actively gone to talk to Nijimura. That stung a little, it gave him the nagging sense that he'd somehow lost to Nijimura.

Like,

Why him and not me?

Am I not stronger than he is?!

So, half-joking, Shigure narrowed his eyes and said,

"Spit it out, what'd Nijimura offer you in return?!"

Reiji clearly wasn't used to this kind of banter, but he still chuckled and said,

"To be honest, Shigure-kun… the way you played today made a lot of people feel…"

"…like you were on a completely different level."

"We haven't had many chances to talk, but among the first-years, if I'm being honest, I think everyone looks up to you even more than Nijimura-san."

"That's what we all say in private… and I guess I just got used to calling you that."

Shigure paused for a beat.

So that's how it is…

"…So basically, "

"What you're saying is, everyone thinks I'm stronger than Nijimura, "

"Right?"

Reiji: "..."

…More or less.

Yeah, probably.