Clang… clang… clang.
Swish.
After bouncing high three times, the basketball finally dropped through the hoop.
4–1.
It went in?
That lucky?
Miyamoto Tokima froze for a moment, not expecting Daiki Aomine to score off something like that.
"Huff… huff… huff…"
Daiki Aomine gasped for air, his body feeling as heavy as if he were carrying a mountain on his back.
"Again!"
He struggled to his feet, determined to keep going.
"Aomine! You can't keep playing! If you go on, you'll get hurt!"
Satsuki Momoi rushed over, trying to stop him.
"No! I'm fine right now!"
Daiki Aomine said stubbornly, his legs trembling.
Not the Zone?
No—this is definitely the Zone. It looks like he forced open a crack in that door when he was pushed to the brink.
He probably didn't even realize it himself.
Miyamoto Tokima sighed inwardly. Daiki Aomine's talent was truly terrifying—his awakening came earlier than anyone else's, and he could even grow under extreme pressure.
That kind of talent was frightening.
He snapped back to reality, looked at the stubborn Aomine, and waved his hand.
"You should rest. In your current condition, you can't keep playing."
"No!"
He had finally found an opponent like this. If he couldn't play him, then what meaning did basketball even have?
Daiki Aomine refused to give up.
"We can play anytime. Your body comes first—there's no need to decide the outcome right now,"
Miyamoto Tokima said casually.
"And look at yourself. Forget basketball—can you even walk properly?"
"Then where am I supposed to find you later?"
Daiki Aomine tried to lift his foot, only to realize he really had no strength left. He asked unwillingly.
The black-haired boy in front of him looked absent-minded, yet his strength was terrifying.
Casual clothes. No warm-up.
And he had still completely suppressed him.
Daiki Aomine had never seen a peer like this before.
If Miyamoto Tokima hadn't deliberately given him chances to attack, he would have been shut out completely.
"I… I don't know. I guess we'll leave it to fate,"
Miyamoto Tokima said honestly. He really didn't know where they might meet again.
"Do you have a school?" Satsuki Momoi suddenly asked.
"No," Miyamoto Tokima replied.
It wasn't enrollment season yet, and he hadn't decided where to go.
"Then how about coming to Teikō with us?"
Momoi smiled and held out her hand.
Miyamoto Tokima paused as he looked at her outstretched hand.
It had to be said—at this stage, Momoi's ambition was already beginning to show.
Teikō…
The Teikō Middle School basketball club was full of monsters. Seijuro Akashi, Atsushi Murasakibara, Shintaro Midorima—soon, they would all gather there.
The future Generation of Miracles.
If he joined, his boring days would certainly become a lot more interesting.
Miyamoto Tokima reached out and shook Momoi's hand.
"Alright. I'll go with you."
"Really?! Then we can have one-on-ones every day!"
Daiki Aomine said excitedly.
"We'll see. You're still too weak right now,"
Miyamoto Tokima said helplessly, shaking his head.
"Hmph! That's only for now! One day, I'll beat you!"
Daiki Aomine shot back.
"I'll be waiting,"
Miyamoto Tokima replied with a smile.
"Then we'll see you when school starts," Momoi said cheerfully.
"Alright."
...
"System, open my panel."
On the way home, Miyamoto Tokima checked his status.
Host: Miyamoto Tokima
Age: 12
Height: 176 cm
Weight: 70 kg
Wingspan: 192 cm
(Slacking off continues to strengthen stats)
Looking at the panel, there was nothing but bare numbers—no skills listed.
He knew that skills were no longer important to him.
He had already fused them into his body itself. Any movement he made was a skill.
And as long as he kept slacking off, his stats would continue to grow.
————
A gentle breeze swept through the air, carrying the intoxicating scent of unknown flowers. At the same time, it shook cherry blossoms loose from the branches, sending countless petals dancing through the wind like layers of pink gauze, making it feel almost dreamlike.
On both sides of the campus paths, various clubs shouted enthusiastically, hoping to recruit new students.
Miyamoto Tokima walked aimlessly along the path, admiring the cherry blossoms.
And admiring the many beautiful legs around campus—
and a head of blue hair.
Wait. Blue hair?
"Hey! Miyamoto Tokima!"
Daiki Aomine jumped and waved from afar, shouting Miyamoto Tokima's name at the top of his lungs.
Passersby immediately turned to look.
Satsuki Momoi stood quietly beside Aomine, wearing a helpless smile.
Why is this idiot here…
Miyamoto Tokima turned around and walked away without the slightest hesitation.
"Hey! Why're you running, Miyamoto Tokima?"
Daiki Aomine looked confused as he watched him leave.
He couldn't understand why Miyamoto Tokima had turned around and walked off the moment he saw him.
"Uh… maybe Aomine is just a bit too—"
Momoi stared at him speechlessly.
People around them were already staring, watching them like zoo animals.
"Let's go!!"
Momoi shoved Daiki Aomine away, not wanting him to embarrass himself any further.
That afternoon, Miyamoto Tokima entered the basketball club alone.
The first thing he saw—
Blue hair.
Why is it you again…
"Hey! Miyamoto Tokima, what a coincidence! We met again!"
Daiki Aomine said cheerfully.
Miyamoto Tokima stared at him in silence, wondering why this guy was everywhere.
"Miyamoto Tokima, let's have a one-on-one!"
Aomine said, his eyes burning with fighting spirit.
"Let's talk after I officially join the club,"
Miyamoto Tokima replied dismissively.
"At the start, we'll conduct group evaluations. Only those who make the First Team will be official regulars,"
a voice announced.
"I heard almost nobody makes the First Team this time."
"Seriously? Then Second Team is probably the best we can hope for."
"That tough? Then let's aim for Second Team—good luck!"
"Hey, Miyamoto Tokima, do you think we can make the First Team?"
Daiki Aomine asked casually, clearly not worried at all.
Miyamoto Tokima glanced at him helplessly.
"You can."
After the afternoon tests, the assistant coach stepped forward with a list.
"We'll now announce the team assignments."
"Starting with the Third Team. Anyone whose name is called, step forward."
"Number 2, Saito Nobuo. Number 4…"
"Number 31, Tetsuya Kuroko. That's all."
In the crowd, a short blue-haired boy with almost no presence lowered his head in silence.
Recalling the promise he had made with his friend, he quietly walked over to the Third Team.
"Next, the Second Team."
"Yes! I made Second Team!"
Several players let out relieved cheers.
"Number 14, Kuroki Dai. Number 35, Yagi Masao…"
"Finally, the First Team."
"Did he just say First Team?"
"No way… right?"
Gasps echoed through the gym. No one expected anyone here to make the First Team.
"Number 8, Daiki Aomine."
Standing beside Miyamoto Tokima, Aomine grinned proudly.
"Miyamoto Tokima, did you hear that? I'm First Team!"
"Yeah, yeah. I heard,"
Miyamoto Tokima replied casually.
"Number 11, Shintaro Midorima."
"Number 23, Atsushi Murasakibara."
"Number 29, Seijuro Akashi."
"Number 7, Miyamoto Tokima. That's all."
"No way—they're First Team?!"
"Are they really that strong?"
"What do you think? Of course they are."
"Those who didn't make Second Team, keep working hard."
"Yes."
Standing in the crowd, Tetsuya Kuroko lowered his head, quietly dejected.