Another spring, another season of cherry blossoms in full bloom.
Third year.
The beginning of the final year of middle school for Shigure Akihito and Nijimura Shuzo.
With the crisp sound of the bell echoing across Teiko Junior High, the day's lessons came to an end. It was the moment everyone had been waiting for—the start of club activities.
"Yo~"
"Midorima~"
"Wanna come with the three of us?"
Midorima Shintarō had just stepped out of his classroom when he heard the call. Turning his head, he saw Aomine Daiki and Haizaki Shōgo—though, wait… three of them?
Tch.
That third one must be Kuroko Tetsuya again.
After all this time, Midorima had finally gotten somewhat used to his presence.
They were all first-years. Except for Haizaki and Kuroko, they weren't in the same class, but their classrooms were close enough that it was common for them to meet the moment the bell rang.
"Hey!"
"Look at Kuroko—did he shrink?!"
Aomine suddenly squinted at the top of Kuroko's head. Kuroko's polite smile froze for a moment, then his expression turned faintly dark.
"Aomine-kun… is it possible that you just got taller? And… Midorima-kun and Haizaki-kun as well."
Kuroko's gaze swept resentfully over the three. Just last year, they'd all been about the same height. But after autumn, winter, and the long break, every one of them had broken past 180 cm.
Midorima Shintarō, in particular, had shot up to 184 cm—the same as Shigure Akihito in his third year.
As for the other two
Aomine Daiki: 183 cm.
Haizaki Shōgo: 181 cm.
A mere centimeter or two didn't mean much, but Haizaki still looked sour at being shorter than Aomine and Midorima. Standing beside Kuroko, the two of them each stared at the taller pair in their own characteristic way, clearly dissatisfied.
Aomine blinked at Kuroko's words, then glanced between Midorima and Haizaki.
He hadn't noticed before, but… it was true.
He'd been 178 cm before winter break, so in just one holiday he'd grown 5 cm. Not bad. That meant he had already overtaken Captain Nijimura. Next target: Vice-Captain Shigure!
Suddenly
From the second-year corridor's open walkway, a flashy-looking girl in delinquent style came storming straight toward Haizaki. Midorima immediately noticed the earrings on her ears—exactly the same design Haizaki wore.
"Haizaki Shōgo, you bastard! Where the hell did you disappear to during the break?! No calls, no messages—you trying to break up with me?!"
"Didn't I tell you I was practicing, stupid woman? Don't you listen?"
"Liar! The basketball team doesn't have official training during vacation!"
"Cheh."
Haizaki turned his head, giving Aomine a cold side glance. "Yeah, there weren't official practices, but who said that means no basketball? That crew at Tenbashi Court, I hunted them plenty."
His eyes gleamed with a predatory grin.
"Aomine… Midorima… better wash your necks. You're next."
With that, Haizaki dragged his girlfriend away.
By the time Aomine realized, it was already too late.
"Damn it! Leaving after throwing down a challenge—how cheap is that?! And what's worse, does this mean he's gonna skip training now that he's got a girlfriend?!"
Of the three left behind, two were too carefree and one simply didn't care. None of them felt jealous or bitter about Haizaki's relationship.
If anything, Aomine just worried he'd show up late for practice.
After all, Captain Nijimura was no joke.
"Relax," Midorima adjusted his glasses.
"That guy's just eager to show off."
"Hmph. Overconfident as always, Haizaki."
Kuroko glanced at Aomine, then at Midorima. Nijimura's worries were unfounded—despite Haizaki's foul personality, these two only cared about his strength as a player. They treated him as a teammate, not an outcast.
He wouldn't be friendless.
At that moment
"Oh no, we're late!" Aomine suddenly shouted. "Midorima, Tetsu—run!"
As they sprinted through the halls, Midorima caught a flash of golden hair passing by in the crowd—swift, agile, leaving him with a strange impression.
Teiko First-String Gymnasium
Ball in hand, Aomine Daiki glared at Haizaki Shōgo with his sharp panther-like eyes. The next instant, a dazzling flurry of dribbles broke past Haizaki's defense.
But Haizaki was just as feral in his pursuit, chasing hard.
In midair
Bodies clashed.
Aomine leaned toward the basket, falling back more and more, until it seemed he would crash to the floor. At the very last instant, his arm extended—an impossible underhand scoop!
Clang!
The ball rattled against both sides of the rim before finally dropping through the net.
"Ha! See that?! You're nothing but 'Thunder Dribble.' Don't get cocky, Haizaki Shōgo!"
"…Is that so? It's more than just 'Thunder Dribble,' idiot."
Next possession.
"Void!"
Aomine froze. "!?"
His body… wouldn't move?!
That technique—it was the same as called "Void."
Haizaki's skill…
It was incredible.
Swish!
The shot fell clean through.
"Hahaha!"
"Again! Come on, Haizaki!"
"Faster this time!"
"Ha~"
Aomine drove from the three-point arc, his speed exploding in an instant from zero to full.
Near the free-throw line, he stopped on a dime.
Haizaki was still there, shadowing him, but Aomine simply leaned back, flinging the ball with one arm like tossing a sandbag—wild, reckless, but just like before…
Clang, clang swish!
The ball dropped through again.
"Yes! That went in too!"
Aomine pumped his fist with excitement.
The rest of the first-string froze, stunned for several seconds—especially the new regulars and those freshly promoted to the squad.
"Whoa!"
"Unbelievable, Aomine!"
"Insane… it looks ridiculous, but after watching Vice-Captain Shigure all this time, even this feels… normal? Am I getting arrogant?"
"Don't compare anyone to Vice-Captain Shigure. Not here, not ever," one player muttered grimly.
END OF CHAPTER
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