With the end of this summer, Shigure Akihito's second journey through the Nationals concluded even more smoothly and dominantly than the year before.
Not long after, upon returning to school, under the watchful eyes of every member of Teiko's basketball team, yet another championship trophy was placed on display.
The school administration wasted no time spreading the news of the team's victory. Though in truth, they hardly needed to. Teiko's back-to-back championship run was already the hottest topic of the summer.
And only a short while after returning
Shigure Akihito's desk and shoe locker were once again overflowing with pink love notes, their numbers far surpassing last year's, much to the envy of everyone around him. The sight also left Momoi Satsuki, newly appointed as team manager, pouting endlessly in frustration.
This second consecutive championship carried even greater heat than the first.
The reason lay in the most prestigious Basketball Monthly. After waiting for the conclusion of the high school Interhigh, they released a special issue featuring both middle school and high school champions.
In it…
Shigure Akihito and Hagioka Kasayuki stood as the two shining pillars.
One, who entered middle school and claimed consecutive championships.
The other, who upon entering high school, led Rakuzan to overwhelming, unrivaled dominance.
Coupled with the history of their rivalry, first-year versus third-year during middle school
This special issue broke records, reaching the peak sales ever achieved by a basketball magazine aimed at junior players.
Teiko Basketball Club, Gym No. 847
With summer break behind them, it was time for the second and third string players to undergo their autumn promotion tests.
Ordinarily, given his limited physical ability, Kuroko Tetsuya was expected to once again fall short.
However, unlike in the original timeline, this time he had already received early guidance from Shigure and Nijimura. And because of that, the coach noticed Kuroko's unique passing ability far earlier.
So, a special 5v5 test was arranged.
And then
"Autumn promotion test results," Coach Daigo Matsuoka announced.
"This time, promoted to Second String is… Kuroko Tetsuya!"
The gym went silent for a moment. But those who had seen his uncanny passing were hardly surprised.
The boy who had always seemed invisible, even among the Third String, suddenly rose in one leap thanks to his remarkable, special ability.
A player who had once been consistently among the bottom five…
Well, in terms of raw physical ability and basketball skill beyond that singular talent, Kuroko was still firmly at the bottom.
"…Kuroko, step over here for a moment."
"Eh?"
"Y-Yes, sir!"
Eyes wide with surprise, torn between joy and disbelief, Kuroko walked toward Coach Daigo amidst the envious stares of his peers. Yet his happiness quickly gave way to gravity as the coach's first words struck him.
"Kuroko Tetsuya, to be honest, I've always felt the basketball club wasn't suited for you."
"…"
"Eh?"
Seeing Kuroko's eyes widen in alarm, clearly misunderstanding, Daigo shook his head.
"Don't tense up. With the ability you've just displayed, your promotion to Second String is more than deserved."
He paused for a moment before continuing.
"You know this well, but compared to other clubs at Teiko, the basketball team is enormous. Yet only a handful of players ever get to compete, even for the Third String."
"So…"
"We've always recommended that the five lowest-ranked players withdraw."
"And before now, that was you, Kuroko."
"I know you've been working hard, staying late to practice every night, but your ranking still fell behind. Honestly… if you hadn't awakened this ability, I would have worried that with harsher competition and tougher training, you might rise now, only to fall even harder."
"Do you understand what I mean, Kuroko?"
He finished.
But to Daigo's surprise
Instead of looking crushed by the blunt words, the boy in front of him exhaled, as if a weight had been lifted.
And then…
On that usually expressionless face, appeared the faintest of smiles.
"Coach…"
"Shigure-senpai once told me"
"'Relentless running' is a kind of talent too."
"With this talent that everyone is born with, I'll chase after them. I'll catch up, and I'll surpass them. It may be a painful road…"
"But I'll make it happen."
In that moment, Kuroko couldn't help but think of Vice-Captain Shigure, whose encouragement had always carried him forward.
'Do your best, Kuroko Tetsuya. I'll be waiting in the First String. Don't make me wait too long.'
Nagumura gazed at Kuroko in silence.
For in the boy's calm smile and tightly clenched fists, he saw it—the light of conviction, carved so deeply into his heart that it illuminated the path ahead.
"…No," the coach thought to himself, "perhaps it isn't even darkness anymore…"
Shigure Akihito… truly remarkable.
"Kuroko Tetsuya," he said aloud at last, "I wish you success."
Kuroko met his eyes, his sky-blue irises shining with unwavering determination, and nodded firmly.
In his first year of middle school, Kuroko Tetsuya had joined Teiko's basketball club, just as he'd always envisioned.
Months later, as the summer heat faded and Teiko once again claimed the national championship, unnoticed by most, a quiet breakthrough occurred in the Third String.
For the first time in his basketball journey, Kuroko achieved real progress.
With Misdirection.
He earned his promotion to the Second String.
He defeated opponents with his passing, gaining his coach's recognition.
His effort was finally rewarded.
Though the journey was painful, remembering his senpai's encouragement, his friends' promises, and the joy of creating something out of nothing
Working hard…
No matter how many times he repeated it, never seemed dull.
And in this moment
Kuroko Tetsuya could see his future more clearly than ever before.
END OF CHAPTER
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