"Kuroko Tetsuya…"
"I wish you success."
Coach Daigo Matsuoka's final words weren't lengthy, yet his voice, for the first time, carried the depth of a still, unfathomable lake, quietly seeping into Kuroko's heart.
It was the very first acknowledgment he had ever received from a coach.
Joy welled up in Kuroko's chest, and he sincerely believed that what his senior Shigure had given him was something irreplaceable—an eternal, shining treasure of immeasurable value.
Not misdirection.
But rather…
That unwavering conviction, the kind that no longer accepted "They're amazing" as an unquestionable truth, no longer yielded to the belief that "They were simply born this way," and thus gave up competing.
It was the strength of heart.
The self he wanted to become…
Was someone who believed, My strength is not limited to this alone, and would continue to walk forward, unwavering, along the path he had chosen.
And in that rare moment of excitement for Kuroko Tetsuya
Not far away, before the class corridor's public bulletin board, a crowd of students had gathered without his noticing. Low whispers buzzed from the cluster.
As the "invisible man," Kuroko slipped easily through the crowd.
And then…
He saw the board, plastered with cutouts from Basketball Monthly.
It was Teiko's championship feature.
Each photo vividly captured the energy of the moment.
In one, first-year Aomine Daiki had just claimed victory, tossing the ball high into the air before bouncing across the court in exhilaration.
Why emphasize "first-year"? Because the captions in the magazine made it clear—Aomine was not the only one.
"Teiko First-Year — the Miracle Ace in the Making: Aomine Daiki."
Just beside it, another clipping:
Midorima Shintarō, cradling his "Godzilla" plush, conversed earnestly with senior Fukaya Reiji. Not far away, Haizaki Shōgo could be seen sneaking curious glances their way.
"Teiko First-Year — the Miracle Sharpshooter: Midorima Shintarō."
"Teiko Second-Year — The Hidden Twin Star's Shadow: Fukaya Reiji."
Kuroko, who had read this issue countless times, still couldn't help marveling at the phrase Hidden Twin Star's Shadow. But when he recalled Fukaya's clash with Vice-Captain Shigure, and his record of toppling one of the "Five Generals, the Demon Yasha" at Nationals, that understated yet undeniable aura suddenly made sense—a quiet, mysterious strength.
Moving further along the board
There was Murasakibara Atsushi, making many students chuckle.
Towering as always, Murasakibara stood beside the equally tall senior Kurokami Shinji, holding snacks in one hand while absentmindedly digging at his ear as he listened to his senior.
Yet…
The look in his eyes as he stared toward the stands betrayed his calm façade.
"Teiko First-Year — the Miracle's Towering Center: Murasakibara Atsushi."
"Teiko Second-Year — National-Class Center: Kurokami Shinji."
And further still
Haizaki Shōgo appeared again, this time in a photo featuring Akashi.
"Teiko First-Year — the Miracle's Starting Point Guard: Akashi Seijūrō."
"Teiko First-Year — the Miracle's Versatile Scorer: Haizaki Shōgo."
Haizaki's gaze at Akashi was… peculiar.
In Kuroko's memory, Haizaki had often sneered, claiming he couldn't stand serious types like Akashi and Midorima.
But here, in the photo, he leaned toward Akashi, scowling as he spoke. Akashi, in turn, answered only with his signature polite smile.
And then
At the very center of the board, the most prominent of them all:
Surrounded by the other clippings, as though every player's gaze in the photos was drawn toward it.
"The Strongest! Shigure Akihito!"
"The First King's Shield! Nijimura Shuzo!"
Two silhouettes stood before the roaring stands, jerseys marked 4 and 5, their backs turned. Both raised their arms in triumph, as though their voices of victory still echoed from the frozen image.
Through their backs
The photo seemed to gaze directly at the students gathered before the board. Behind them, on Teiko's cheering stand, hung a banner:
"Invincible. Unconquerable."
The sheer spirit, carried by those four bold characters, through Shigure and Nijimura, carved itself clearly into the hearts and minds of everyone watching.
It etched itself deeply—like a brand.
"Heh…"
"The Generation of Miracles, huh?"
"What a fitting name. Don't you think so, Sanada?"
Kuroko instinctively turned at the voice
And froze.
Behind him stood none other than Teiko's Head Coach, Shirogane, and Assistant Coach Sanada Naoto.
At that moment
Sanada's gaze lingered at the very bottom of the board, at the one photo not clipped from Basketball Monthly, but developed directly from negatives he himself had provided. A high-resolution team photo taken after their championship.
Though his lips said, "Coach Shirogane, Kaijō's Coach Takeuchi is still waiting for you," his mind inevitably drifted back to that day.
…
After the National Finals, during the team photo session, the players had crowded onto Teiko's cheering stand.
"Hey! Aomine, quit pushing! I'm getting shoved out!"
"Ah? Not my fault!"
"Murasakibara! Why do you have so many snacks on you?!"
…
"Damn it, Midorima! You seriously brought that ridiculous doll into the photo? A championship picture ruined by something so stupid?!"
"Haizaki, quiet down."
"And this 'Godzilla' is today's lucky charm. It's part of our victory."
"…First-years! Look at the camera!"
Click.
The moment froze.
In the picture, Shigure and Nijimura sat on either side of the trophy, just as they had the year before, though the team behind them was entirely new—only the coaches had changed.
All but their same-year comrades, Fukaya Reiji and Kurokami Shinji, were first-years.
Akashi, smaller in stature, stood closest to Shigure and Nijimura, his smile perfectly poised for the camera.
Behind him stretched a line of rookies—Aomine grappling with Murasakibara, Midorima and Haizaki locked in a glare, Godzilla plush caught helplessly between them.
Murasakibara remained immovable under Aomine's shove, chewing snacks as his wide eyes stayed fixed on the camera.
And squeezed at the edge, two substitute first-years struggled not to be pushed out of frame.
…
Recalling this, Sanada Naoto chuckled softly as he followed behind Coach Shirogane.
And at the very back, Kuroko Tetsuya stared intently at the bold lettering beneath the photo, crafted by the board's maker to fit the size and echo the magazine's title:
"Teiko Basketball Club — The Generation of Miracles!"
END OF CHAPTER
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Kise Ryota Arc is coming guys....