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

Shigure Akihito held the ball, calmly studying the defender in front of him.

Perhaps it was the huge lead his team was sitting on, but the Seiho player had completely dropped the usual caution they showed against Teiko's first-stringers. Even now, facing an elite starting player, he still had the nerve to speak up:

"Just made it onto Teiko's starting lineup? Never seen you before. Didn't get any playtime when you were in the second string?"

The No. 7 from Seiho Middle School had a tone laced with mockery.

But

Shigure couldn't care less.

Hmm...

All he was thinking about was testing a new move on this guy.

In that instant, Shigure's expression sharpened. Knees bent slightly, and under the stunned eyes of the entire Teiko bench, he suddenly executed a jab step crossover feint at the top of the arc!

Everyone from Teiko knew what this meant.

Whenever Shigure made that move, what always followed… was his signature: the stepback.

But this was outside the three-point line, where exactly was he planning to step back to?

So then...

Was he going to drive forward instead?

As his teammates pondered this, Shigure suddenly executed the "Mochizuki Stepback", only this time, it was a micro-step, subtle to the point of barely moving. It was what one might call an illusionary retreat.

He gathered strength.

Rose up.

And under the stunned gaze of the crowd,

launched into a powerful fadeaway!

"No way, "

"A fadeaway?!"

"From beyond the arc?!"

"What a beautiful shot!"

Even the Teiko players, seeing Shigure pull off this new stepback-into-fadeaway, were completely mesmerized by the fluidity and elegance of the move.

In mid-air, his fading form seemed like a painting.

A painting come to life.

Swish!

The ball soared in a high arc, much steeper than Shigure's usual three-point shots thanks to the angle of his fade.

And then...

Swish!

A crisp net sound.

Three points, clean.

Shigure pumped a fist. With his 105 three-point rating, the fadeaway had completely evaded the defender's contest, making the shot feel almost like practice.

But even so, based on recent experience, Shigure knew that with this kind of stat line, even in training, not every shot goes in.

After all, there's only one freak like Midorima, who can hit threes at 100% as long as his form is unbroken.

On the other side,

Seiho's No. 7 had a flash of disbelief in his eyes.

He hadn't expected this guy to be capable of something like that. For a middle schooler to maintain accuracy with that kind of power and control from deep range was already impressive.

But a fadeaway three?

To pull that off, you'd need serious control over your core strength and release mechanics.

Even the spectators on the second floor of Seiho's gym gasped in awe when the shot went in. But as soon as they realized what they were doing, they quickly went silent, pretending nothing had happened.

"...Tch, whatever."

"It's just a three-pointer."

"Doesn't change a thing."

"I mean, they're only scoring now because we've been relaxing. It's the start of the fourth quarter and we're up big, who wouldn't let up a little?"

Meanwhile,

The Seiho coach's face was dark with frustration.

"..."

Of course.

He had known something was off from the start.

There was no way Platinum Shiraishi would show up to a minor practice match like this without a specific purpose, and that purpose definitely wasn't Seiho Middle School itself.

Now it was clear,

It was that No. 12 on the court.

That player…

was Shiraishi's secret weapon this year.

Back on the court,

"That was a fluke," No. 7 from Seiho said as they squared off again. "Next time, I'll shut you down before you even get the shot off!"

Shigure glanced at him with a blank expression.

"...Are you Nijimura Shuzo?"

Seiho No. 7: "Huh?"

"If not, then what fantasy are you living in? And where exactly was your defense just now? I must've missed it." Shigure even raised a hand to shield his eyes, squinting as if searching the air, completely ignoring his opponent, without even sparing him a glance.

The vein on Seiho No. 7's forehead bulged.

"You're the one who's still trailing!"

"What are you even being cocky about?!"

Fueled by anger, he waved for the ball from his teammate, determined to settle the score right here and now, not with trash talk, but with skills.

Swish,

Slap!

Ball in hand.

He began to dribble, shifting his weight and trying to throw Shigure off balance, hoping to break past with a burst of speed,

But then,

Shigure's eyes narrowed.

He lunged,

Steal!

Whap, !

A lightning-fast reach!

The timing was surgical.

[Uekusa Tomoyuki – Possession Steal: When near the ball handler, crouch low to conceal your motion and launch a quick, precise steal.]

"...Huh?!"

Seiho No. 7 stared at his suddenly empty hands in stunned disbelief.

He turned,

Only to see Shigure sprinting ahead of everyone, the ball already in his control, speeding down the court.

And just when Teiko needed points the most,

Shigure suddenly came to a hard stop outside the three-point line.

[Godai Tomokazu – Stationary Soft-Release Three!]

To be continued...

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