With the Winter Cup bracket revealed, reactions varied across different basketball clubs. Yet one thing was unanimous among all participating teams:
Kirisaki Daiichi was now the ultimate goal.
Upon hearing they'd face Kirisaki Daiichi in the first round, Midorima immediately stayed behind for extra shooting practice. Similarly, Seirin's players instinctively picked up basketballs and resumed rigorous training.
This was the pressure Kirisaki Daiichi exerted, the intimidating aura Tendou Kageyoshi created. Against him, merely giving everything wasn't enough. To defeat him, one had to surpass all limits and perform beyond 100%.
Meanwhile, Kirisaki Daiichi was calmly preparing as usual.
"An alley-oop three-pointer, huh?"
Tendou knew all about Seirin's trump cards—and he was equally aware of Shūtoku's secret weapons.
"There won't be any issues."
...
A few days later, the Winter Cup finally commenced.
After a quiet summer break, the high school basketball world exploded with excitement once again. Fans from all over Japan packed the stadium, tens of thousands filling every seat.
"Here they come—the reigning national champions, Kirisaki Daiichi!"
As usual, a team introduction ceremony took place before the matches. Kirisaki Daiichi, as the defending champions, appeared second-to-last.
The moment they stepped onto the court, the group resembled a squad of male models, instantly sparking screams from the crowd.
There was no need to elaborate on Tendou—he was even more handsome than Kise Ryōta, crowned as the strongest high school player, and adored as a superstar by countless teenage girls.
Haizaki, though less handsome than Tendou, possessed an attractive delinquent charm that appealed to a unique audience. Meanwhile, Hanamiya Makoto, Yamazaki Hiroshi, and Hara Kazuya all had distinct, striking personalities.
As they emerged from the tunnel, they seemed less like basketball players and more like fashion models.
Aside from good looks, Kirisaki Daiichi boasted an average height exceeding 185 cm.
Pat Riley once predicted that future NBA lineups would feature five versatile forwards around two meters tall. History proved him mostly right: the NBA indeed became increasingly unkind to traditional centers, emphasizing speed and versatility over size. By 2025, basketball fans could easily name dozens of elite forwards, while true centers like Nikola Jokić were rare exceptions.
Joel Embiid? Sorry, he was more like a power forward.
Kirisaki Daiichi embodied the perfect modern basketball team—possessing both exceptional height and unmatched speed, exactly the lineup envisioned by basketball tacticians.
Such was their dominance that their mere presence overwhelmed onlookers.
"Incredible, you can feel their aura even from this far away!"
"Of course, they're the team that dethroned Rakuzan!"
All eyes fixated on Kirisaki Daiichi, who topped the latest Youth Sports Magazine power rankings. With Haizaki's addition, they were deemed invincible. Everyone saw the Winter Cup as already theirs, merely a formality.
After the organizers concluded their passionate speeches, the Winter Cup officially began.
Kirisaki Daiichi had no game scheduled on the opening day. Their match against Shūtoku was deliberately set as the dramatic finale of the first round.
Rakuzan played the inaugural game, easily defeating their opponents. Seirin, Yōsen, and Kaijō similarly cruised past their initial matchups, comfortably advancing.
...
The highly anticipated Kirisaki Daiichi versus Shūtoku match arrived on the third day.
Inside Shūtoku's locker room, Midorima meticulously removed the bandages around his left hand. He always protected his shooting hand carefully, even precisely trimming his fingernails to avoid any negative impact on his accuracy.
Beside him sat a small figurine.
"Is that today's lucky item?"
"Is it a Sailor Moon figure?"
Shūtoku's players were accustomed to Midorima's eccentricities.
"Not just any Sailor Moon figure—this is Sailor Jupiter, Kino Makoto!" Midorima seriously corrected them.
"Oh, the green one? Matches your color perfectly. Looks like luck is on our side today," Ōtsubo Taisuke smiled gently, then stood and prepared to lead his team out.
Hearing this, Midorima carefully picked up the figurine and walked out alongside his teammates.
It wasn't that Midorima was genuinely obsessed with astrology or luck. Rather, this meticulousness had become an inseparable part of his identity. He always did everything possible to achieve 100%, providing psychological assurance that let him trust his shooting completely.
This powerful psychological affirmation sustained Midorima's legendary accuracy.
...
Warm-ups quickly concluded.
Both teams met at center court, locking gazes.
This was a crucial battle between Japan's reigning national champions and Tokyo's local champions.
None of the ten players backed down.
"I expected to face you much sooner. I've waited long enough," Tendou spoke first, choosing his words carefully.
The subtle mockery in "waited" was clear. Midorima, ever perceptive, caught this immediately—Tendou was obviously ridiculing Shūtoku's early elimination at the previous Nationals.
"It's not too late. The one who laughs last laughs best," Midorima retorted.
"You're absolutely right. That's why I always keep smiling."
Midorima wisely fell silent. He was no match for Tendou verbally.
The referee blew the whistle and approached with the ball.
The game began.
Shūtoku starters: Takao Kazunari, Midorima Shintarō, Miyaji Kiyoshi, Kimura Shinsuke, Ōtsubo Taisuke.
Kirisaki Daiichi starters: Hanamiya Makoto, Yamazaki Hiroshi, Tendou Kageyoshi, Haizaki Shōgo, Seto Kentaro.
In a tactical adjustment, Tendou positioned Haizaki at power forward to better counter Shūtoku's tall frontline.
The Generation of Miracles had always been extraordinarily versatile, including Haizaki. They had height, strength, and speed, enabling them to play almost any position without disadvantage.
Well, except for Akashi, who single-handedly dragged down their average height!
In the stands, Akashi felt an inexplicable annoyance, though he didn't know why.
At tip-off, Ōtsubo Taisuke secured the first possession for Shūtoku. Standing at 198 cm and weighing 98 kg, Ōtsubo was undeniably among Tokyo's finest centers.
Right from the start, Shūtoku exhibited impressive discipline. As Takao Kazunari dribbled past half-court, a teammate always accompanied him closely, providing constant passing options—a commendable habit.
Meanwhile, Tendou had already locked onto Midorima.