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

Chapter 386 386: Semifinals — First Match — Kaijō vs. Rakuzan. At the Opening Tip, Akashi Slowly Closed His Eyes!

After all IH quarterfinal matches concluded, only four teams remained.

From the upper bracket: Kirisaki Daiichi and Tōō.

From the lower bracket: Kaijō and Rakuzan.

Outside the gymnasium.

The Rakuzan players walked out together. As they neared the parking area, Hayama Kotarō suddenly sighed.

"So… we're here again."

"How many times has it been now?"

"Shigure Akihito and Nijimura…"

"Those two are standing in front of us again."

Hayama Kotarō and Mibuchi Reo, both of whom had faced Teiko in national middle school finals at different stages, felt it deeply. Even Nebuya Eikichi, though he hadn't played in a middle school final, had still been eliminated by Teiko.

And that was without even mentioning

After entering high school.

Inter-High.

National Sports Festival.

Winter Cup.

Every defeat still vivid in memory.

Mibuchi raised an eyebrow. Whenever Shigure Akihito was mentioned, his tone unconsciously reverted to how it had been back in middle school—perhaps because of that old bet.

"I wonder how it'll turn out this time."

"Time really flies…"

"We…"

"Should be strong now, right?"

As he spoke, despite always talking about revenge against Shigure and Nijimura, when truly facing those two monsters, Mibuchi could still feel a strange fluctuation in his heart.

But still…

Last year, Captain Hagioka.

This year, Akashi.

Ever since entering high school, including himself, they had always been guided forward—yet within that sense of dignity, an inexplicable belief that they could win also arose.

Contradictory, yet unified.

Shirogane Eiji noticed the team's mood.

"On a basketball court, wins and losses are never fixed. Same goes for us. Let's head back and hold a meeting."

Just then, Kaijō, who—like Rakuzan—had finished watching Tōō's quarterfinal match, exited the gym as well.

Akashi glanced in their direction.

Those seniors…

Still the same as ever.

Calm.

Composed.

Certain of victory.

The two teams looked at one another from afar. No one stepped forward. They simply exchanged a long, silent look before following their respective teams away.

But sometimes

That's just how it is.

Eyes alone were enough.

The barely contained eagerness to ignite battle simmered in their gazes—like invisible gunpowder—burning across the air the instant their eyes met.

Back at the hotel.

Shirogane Eiji brought out Kaijō's match footage again.

Rakuzan had already drafted preliminary strategies earlier, but those were based on Kaijō's previous strength.

However, in this IH, after entering Nationals and facing their first truly threatening opponent—Yōsen—Kaijō proved through action that even a powerhouse like them would still strive to reach higher.

Most notably

Kurokami Shinji.

Fukaya Reiji.

The footage played scenes from Kaijō vs. Yōsen.

No one spoke.

Because those who had witnessed the match live knew very well

This game was essentially a showcase for Fukaya Reiji and Kurokami Shinji.

Shigure Akihito and Nijimura Shuzo merely handled the cleanup.

Just like Akashi today

Those two monsters' true current level was impossible to see clearly.

Even so

This footage was immensely valuable.

To be honest

Kurokami Shinji was terrifyingly strong.

And Fukaya Reiji…

Compared to last year, he was absurdly stronger.

Especially for Hayama Kotarō

Last year, Shigure Akihito had been handled by Captain Hagioka, while his main battlefield was Nijimura Shuzo.

But this year

His primary opponent might very well be Fukaya Reiji.

That level of pressure…

Was more than enough to push him into the Zone.

After a moment

"Not much we can read…"

"Those two monsters… we can only estimate based on last year and Akashi's analysis."

"As for Kaijō… Kurokami plus Fukaya, plus those two—that lineup is just ridiculous, hahaha~"

"Kasamatsu Yukio is strong too—national-class point guard—but compared to our Inoue, Inoue still has the edge. That's about the only conclusion we can draw."

"Mm…"

"But we won't be able to create matchup advantages like Seirin did."

"Heh~"

"For some reason… I'm getting excited."

"Hey, Inoue, not excited at all? This is Kaijō! Just imagining Shigure Akihito and Nijimura Shuzo standing across from us in the semifinals makes my muscles feel like they're burning!"

"Uh…" Inoue Natsuki, who had been lost in thought, nodded awkwardly. "Yeah… a little."

At that moment

Though only a first-year, Akashi Seijūrō, already serving as captain, stood up.

He turned

Facing all of Rakuzan.

"Studying Kaijō any further is meaningless. Just trust everything we've done up to now. As long as we know we've done all we can…"

"The rest…"

"Leave it to the game."

"To be honest… I also want to see the finals—my other two teammates from the Generation of Miracles. The ace Aomine Daiki, and the genius Kise Ryōta."

"This summer's final match—I don't want it to end at Kaijō."

Everyone laughed.

"That's hard~"

"Kaijō really isn't the finals~"

"Let's go, everyone!"

IH Semifinals — First Match

Despite being from the lower bracket, the organizers scheduled Kaijō vs. Rakuzan as the morning spotlight match—continuing the trend since the Teiko Twin Stars entered high school.

Though last year ended somewhat anticlimactically after Hagioka joined U20, subsequent tournaments—the National Sports Festival and Winter Cup—still saw championships contested between Kaijō and Rakuzan.

And this year

Once again, these two teams were universally acknowledged as the championship favorites.

Before the game even began, the stadium was already packed to the brim.

Teams already eliminated gathered to watch; some coaches even brought their entire squads.

Among them

Yōsen.

Seirin.

All present.

Seirin and Yōsen happened to sit close together. As a result, Kuroko Tetsuya, Haizaki Shōgo, Midorima Shintarō, and Murasakibara Atsushi—former teammates—ended up sitting side by side.

Haizaki looked slightly awkward. When Yōsen had been eliminated, Midorima's absurd "fortune-telling" had unfortunately predicted Seirin's result perfectly—in the bathroom, no less.

And now

The green-haired oracle was at it again.

"As expected…"

"The first to reach the seniors… is Akashi."

"Completely within expectations."

Midorima's gaze fell on Rakuzan's side of the court, where Akashi Seijūrō was warming up with dribbles.

"So who's winning today?"

Haizaki glanced at Midorima's 'guaranteed victory' headband. "Why ask us? Not divining it yourself?"

"To be honest," Midorima adjusted his glasses, "even with Hagioka last year, I still think this year's Rakuzan is stronger. Against last year's Kaijō…"

"Akashi would have had a very high chance of winning."

Haizaki paused, then nodded in understanding. Around them, Seirin and Yōsen players listened intently.

"But"

"But Shigure Akihito," Haizaki continued, "that monster gets stronger every year."

"An absolute grow-as-you-fight type of monster."

Midorima nodded. "And Captain Nijimura—his pride and talent may not surpass Shigure's, but he will always keep pace with him."

"But still…"

"For some reason, compared to Kaijō, I want to see Akashi win."

At that moment, Kuroko Tetsuya said quietly:

"Because the seniors… have never lost."

Haizaki: "..."

Because they wanted to see the possibility of defeating those two monsters.

Midorima: "..."

Even if—

It wasn't them.

Tip-Off

The referee tossed the ball skyward.

Shigure Akihito and Nebuya Eikichi jumped.

Visibly, Shigure rose half an arm higher—securing the opening possession for Kaijō.

But the next second

Whistle.

"Blue No. 5! Jump-ball violation!"

Fukaya Reiji: "...?"

Kurokami Shinji: "...!"

Nijimura Shuzo: "..."

Nijimura's sharp gaze swept over him as he straightened from his crouched, lion-like stance.

"Even Murasakibara wouldn't make that mistake anymore, Shigure…"

Only half an arm of advantage?

That was strange.

Normally

Shigure should have been at least a full arm ahead.

Tch.

This idiot

Tipped the ball too early. Not even at the peak.

Too excited?

In the stands, Midorima, Haizaki, Murasakibara, and Kuroko exchanged looks.

Come to think of it…

This was the first time they'd ever seen Shigure mess up a jump ball.

On the court

Rakuzan possession.

Even if the opening was unexpected

What followed was even more shocking.

After the ball reached Rakuzan's side and was passed to Akashi

He remained completely still in the backcourt.

And then

Slowly

He closed his eyes.

END OF CHAPTER

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