Kuroko’s Basketball: Before Generation Miracles, I Already Crowned

Chapter 382: At Least That Look—Akashi… Walks the Same Path as Captain Hagioka!

Seirin vs. Rakuzan.

On the court

Hyūga Junpei cleanly cut off Chihiro's misdirection pass.

"Eh?!"

If it were Seirin's Kuroko Tetsuya, that would make sense—but why was Hyūga Junpei able to see through Rakuzan's No. 5's pass?!

Misdirection… wait—just now, I could see everything clearly?!

The spectators erupted in surprise, all thinking the same thing:

How on earth does Kuroko Tetsuya do it?

"Steal! OHHHH!! Seirin fast break!"

"Haizaki Shōgo brings it up—Kagami is supporting on the wing!"

"2-on-2 in the frontcourt!"

"Both of them are insanely fast!"

Even Hayama Kotarō, who was chasing Kagami, was visibly startled.

According to plan, Chihiro-senpai's misdirection was supposed to be broken—but not this fast.

Ever since Chihiro had mastered this ability and joined the first string, even within Rakuzan, aside from Akashi, only Hayama—with his Wildness + Lightning Dribble—could directly interrupt it.

Even Reo sometimes got caught off guard by Chihiro's sudden appearances.

Whoosh!

A lightning-quick give-and-go between Kagami and Haizaki—

Haizaki powered through Akashi off-ball to create space, read Akashi's movement with Emperor Eye, caught the pass, rose instantly—

One hand high, fading back from mid-range

Formless shot!

CLANG—SWISH!

It was good!

Seirin took the lead by one point!

"Haizaki Shōgo—his movements are exactly like Aomine Chihiroki's! And his coordination with Kagami is perfect!"

"But more importantly—Rakuzan's No. 5… his ability's been completely shut down!"

"Amazing!"

"Rakuzan unveiled a new weapon for Seirin—and Seirin dismantled it immediately!"

"The lead changes!"

Now fully matured, Kagami slapped hands with Haizaki. He glanced toward Rakuzan and muttered quietly:

"Is Akashi still observing? If this keeps up, we can end the first quarter with the lead—and we've already neutralized No. 5, Rakuzan's secret weapon."

Haizaki let out a cold chuckle, eyes flicking toward Akashi Seijūrō.

Heh… Akashi.

Sumo champion? Yeah right.

If he thought he could take his time observing me like he does against ordinary teams, I'd crush him for that arrogance.

But

Akashi wouldn't think that way.

Rakuzan's No. 5…

Was definitely part of some larger plan.

That guy—

From Nijimura Shuzo, he didn't just learn how to be a captain.

He learned how to secure victory calmly and flawlessly.

And he mastered that lesson completely.

Rakuzan's possession.

Chihiro's situation made one thing painfully clear

His misdirection had been fully exposed.

This time, he didn't even "disappear."

From the very start of his movement, Kuroko Tetsuya shut him down completely.

When Chihiro tried to redirect Hayama's pass with misdirection, Kagami slapped it away instantly.

Every move

Seen clearly by all of Seirin.

In the stands.

Imayoshi Shōichi, who had faced Seirin back in the Tokyo prelims, knew better than anyone how terrifying Kuroko's misdirection was.

Rakuzan's No. 5 was nowhere near Kuroko in development—but even as a relay passer, that ability should've been troublesome.

Wakamatsu Kōsuke frowned.

"What's with that No. 5? His ability just… stopped working? Was he not fully trained?"

Imayoshi shook his head.

"No chance. That's Rakuzan. There's only one explanation."

"…As expected of Kuroko Tetsuya. No one understands misdirection better than him."

"He dismantled it completely—right from the opening."

"But—"

"The reaction of the Generation of Miracles' captain is strange."

Wakamatsu didn't get it.

Imayoshi was already reading Akashi's intentions.

Adjusting his glasses, Imayoshi looked toward Kuroko.

"Misdirection is built on extremely low presence—like Kuroko's. From the moment he engaged Rakuzan's No. 5 one-on-one, everything Kuroko did—offense and defense alike—was deliberately amplifying Chihiro's presence."

"Under the spotlight—being evenly matched with the Phantom Sixth Man in a duel…"

"Scoring."

"Assisting."

"Driving."

"That alone makes you shine."

"And once that presence grows too bright…"

"The 'shadow' ceases to be a shadow."

"Low presence disappears."

"And then"

"Misdirection fails."

Kise Ryōta raised his hand.

"Then what about Kurokocchi? He was amazing too—wouldn't his misdirection be affected?"

Before Imayoshi could answer, Aomine shot Kise a look like he was an idiot.

"Who do you think Tetsuya is?"

Kise pouted.

Imayoshi chuckled.

"That level isn't enough to break Kuroko's misdirection. If anything, this situation suits him perfectly."

"It lets him transition smoothly from Misdirection Frame Drop to Misdirection Insert Frame, without wasting possessions or facing Rakuzan's other aces."

"When we played Seirin, his early dominance was against Aomine—boosting his presence intentionally, then reversing misdirection, leaving afterimages in the opponent's vision…"

"And then—using a spotlight like Haizaki—returning to forward misdirection."

"That's the Insert Frame technique."

"A terrifying balance of presence—like walking a tightrope."

"Only Kuroko Tetsuya can pull it off."

Aomine snorted.

"In the end, it's just Akashi's knockoff."

"Glow halfway, and you can't be a shadow anymore."

Imayoshi fell silent.

Reverse misdirection…?

Akashi Seijūrō…?

Back on the court.

Rakuzan fell behind by three.

At that moment, Akashi signaled to the sideline—Coach Shirogane.

Timeout.

Seirin bench.

Kuroko breathed lightly.

Under Nijimura Shuzo's relentless training, his physical abilities might not be outstanding—but his stamina was forged through hell.

Rakuzan bench.

The substitutes murmured.

Rakuzan—losing in the first quarter?

Unthinkable.

Chihiro-senpai had been strong—yet completely overwhelmed.

Now that his ability was broken…

Is he going to be subbed out?

Their gazes drifted to the bench's calm anchor—Inoue Natsuki.

A perfect puzzle piece, even according to Coach Shirogane.

But then

Akashi stood.

And said something no one expected.

"Chihiro-senpai. I'll be relying on your support."

"Rakuzan still needs your ability."

"And Rakuzan's victory—needs your strength."

Chihiro lowered his head slightly.

Heh… as expected of a Generation of Miracles captain.

So the plan is to discard me completely, huh? Nice words, though.

But

He looked up.

Akashi wore the same No. 4 jersey as Captain Hagioka once had.

Different build.

Different aura.

Yet

The moment their eyes met

"If you believe I still have value."

At least that look…

Akashi… walks the same path as Captain Hagioka.

"Of course," Akashi smiled faintly.

"For Rakuzan's victory, I understand your resolve. The result will prove your effort wasn't wasted."

Chihiro's vision overlapped.

In that instant, body and mind aligned perfectly—for the court.

"Kotarō."

"Eikichi."

"Reo."

"You score."

"No problem."

"ORA~!"

"Leave it to me~!"

Play resumes.

The crowd buzzed.

Rakuzan's No. 5… was still on the floor.

"Eh? He's staying in?"

"His ability's been cracked—why keep him in?"

"Unless…"

"There's something else?"

But there wasn't.

His low presence was gone—everyone could see him clearly.

At the top of the arc

Akashi faced Haizaki in a triple-threat stance, both Emperor Eyes locked.

Suddenly

The ball vanished.

Haizaki: "?!"

Next instant

Hayama Kotarō had it!

BOOM!

Lightning Dribble exploded past Kagami—he couldn't even track it!

Wild lightning flashed behind him!

"WOAH!"

"Kagami Taiga blown by!"

"But it's not over!"

"Haizaki—what speed!"

Hayama noticed the help defense.

But

I'm not alone anymore~

At the edge of the paint

Another simple Lightning Dribble change.

No full burst.

And yet

In the next second, Hayama's dribble bloomed into layered afterimages

Multiple Hayamas overlapping in Haizaki's vision!

Drive

SWISH!

Kise's eyes flew open.

"No way—?! That was Kurokocchi's Frame Drop, right?! How can Hayama-senpai use that?!"

END OF CHAPTER

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