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

After hearing Fukaya Reiji's explanation, a faint smile crept across Shigure Akihito's face. Then, as if probing deeper, he followed up with a question:

"So, what do you think?"

"Between me and Nijimura, who's stronger?"

Fukaya fell into brief thought before responding hesitantly:

"Shigure-san, your talent is exceptional. And it's not just your physical gifts, your three-point shooting, your drives, steals, blocks... when it comes to skills that require polish, you're on another level among our year."

"As for Nijimura-san…"

"One thing's certain: in terms of raw physical attributes, what he's shown so far doesn't quite compare to you."

"But technique-wise, Nijimura-san is still stronger. And when he's on the court, I think you've noticed it more than anyone, whether it's offense or defense, everything just feels easier."

"Nijimura is truly incredible. It's a whole different side of him than we usually see, on the court, he chases victory with a kind of feverish focus."

"Once he identifies the path to victory, he's willing to do whatever it takes, even, like today, when you two were racking up points. He could've gone on the offensive too, but instead, he made himself the decoy and created scoring chances for you, who he thought had the better odds."

Shigure Akihito: "..."

Hah?

Made himself the decoy?

You're kidding me, right…?

"I've been completely played, haven't I…"

Fukaya blinked, confused. "Shigure-san, what do you mean by that…?"

"Ha~"

Shigure couldn't help but laugh.

"That lofty, detached attitude of his, passing the ball like he's commanding everything from on high, how does that look like someone using himself as a decoy?"

"That bastard…"

"He was drawing the bow and using me as the arrow!"

Back at the beginning, Nijimura had tried using Shinji too, but the moment Shinji made a single mistake, Nijimura lost all patience and just dropped him altogether.

In fact…

After Shinji fumbled a pass and ruined an assist, Nijimura didn't just abandon him, he essentially tossed the entire second-string lineup into the sewer.

Of course,

That part, Shigure left unsaid.

After all, saying that out loud would just sound like he was gossiping behind someone's back.

Still,

Even though Shigure didn't spell it out, Fukaya seemed to pick up on the undercurrent in his words, the quiet frustration Shigure felt on behalf of Kurome Shinji. Fukaya simply smiled, not taking it too seriously.

"I understand what you mean, Shigure-san. I think Kurome does too."

"After the match, even someone as cheerful as him seemed genuinely bothered."

"Because the gap was undeniable…"

Kurome was only just now beginning to see it clearly.

As for Fukaya himself,

He had known for a long time.

From the very moment he stepped onto the same court as Shigure Akihito, that short distance between them had felt like an uncrossable chasm. It was like a chance encounter with a monster.

Everyone not named Nijimura Shuzo was just a mortal who'd accidentally stumbled into a banquet for beasts.

And in that moment,

Shigure caught the subtle shift in Fukaya's expression.

With everything the boy had said earlier, it wasn't hard to guess the source of that emotion.

Junior high students…

Man, they really are sensitive.

If just by being himself, he was breaking another young player's confidence, that'd practically make him a villain. Damn it… when had he started walking the same path as those "Generation of Miracles" freaks?

Shigure was never good at comforting people.

Even earlier, when he helped cheer up a friend, his solution had been a 1v1 beatdown, clean and brutal.

Of course, that only worked because he really knew that person.

With someone like Fukaya, whom he didn't know well, pulling that kind of stunt might just break him for good.

But…

Now it all made sense.

Fukaya's earlier conversation with Nijimura probably had the same purpose as Shigure's own 1v1 with Kurome.

Shigure Akihito: "..."

He didn't know why,

But Nijimura, that guy… he's surprisingly kind, huh? Patient enough to sit down and talk seriously with Fukaya Reiji?

At this point, Nijimura's character was veering so far from his manga debut that even Shigure was losing track of who he really was.

Just then,

Shigure, completely inept at comforting people, chose the most natural response: changing the subject.

"Stuff like distance… it's way too early for us to worry about that, isn't it?"

"Don't get hung up on what's right in front of you…"

"This world, there's no one who hasn't failed or chased after something. As long as you keep moving forward, that's enough~"

"Besides… who's to say today's loser won't become tomorrow's rising star?"

"You've gotta believe in yourself. Only then will the future hold endless possibilities~"

He claimed he didn't know how to console people,

Yet here he was, saying far more than he intended.

And in the end,

After running out of things to say,

He awkwardly circled back to his original question.

"Welp~ Anyway, between me and Nijimura, who's stronger? Pick one, Reiji~"

Fukaya looked up, eyes burning with sincerity as he met Shigure's gaze.

After a long pause, he answered,

"As things stand now, Shigure-san is the best scorer we have. But if I had to choose the team's ace…"

"I'd choose Nijimura-san."

Shigure Akihito: "..."

All that comforting, wasted!

You really are the picture of fairness and objectivity, huh?

Fukaya-kun!