Kuroko no Basket : Before the Generation of Miracles Formed

After seeing Shigure Akito's incredible block, the scene went silent for a moment before breaking into loud exclamations.

Actually, Nijimura Shuzo had performed really well earlier. Until Shigure Akito exploded with that block, he had completely controlled the offensive rhythm.

But Akito's dunk and block were just too explosive.

When comparing the two, it was easy to overlook the process, and in the crash of the dunk and the thud of the block, the superiority had already been decided.

"This guy jumps so high!"

"Aside from the high school IH final I watched, this is the first time I've seen a player like this, and he's still just a first-year..."

"The explosive jump step and the final block height completely made up for the earlier defensive breakdown and the distance Nijimura had pulled away."

"That's terrifying."

"Where did this guy even come from?"

On the sidelines.

The first-team coach, Sanada Naoto, glanced hesitantly at Shirogane Kozo, the supervisor.

He knew very well the effort Shirogane had put in to recruit Nijimura Shuzo for Teiko. But honestly, before seeing Nijimura Shuzo's abilities with his own eyes, he couldn't quite understand it.

After all, according to the stereotype...

No matter how talented, he was just a first-year rookie.

For a prestigious team like Teiko, having the coach personally invite a first-year student to join the team was unprecedented. 

Normally, they would only send out coaches responsible for player selection. But after seeing Nijimura Shuzo's abilities, he had to admit...

This was a talent beyond the ordinary.

The most remarkable thing was not his natural athletic ability, but the fact that, at this age, his skills were far beyond the level of a middle schooler — his playstyle, especially in analyzing and targeting his opponent's weaknesses, was rock-solid and reliable, much more so than expected.

This was a player who perfectly matched Teiko's needs, and someone who could serve as the cornerstone of the team for the next three years.

However...

Sanada Naoto turned his gaze to Shigure Akito on the court.

This rookie, too...

Although his abilities had clear weaknesses compared to Nijimura's all-around skills, his strengths were so strong that they could make up for, and even surpass, all his shortcomings.

At least, in Sanada Naoto's opinion...

This was a genius with talent that might even surpass Nijimura Shuzo.

Thinking of this, he glanced at Shirogane Kozo again.

The player he had worked so hard to bring in was defeated by a talent who had come to them voluntarily. Sanada Naoto wondered what Shirogane Kozo was thinking now.

Noticing Sanada Naoto's gaze, Shirogane Kozo suddenly smiled slightly.

"Sanada..."

"In all the years I've been supervising the Teiko basketball team, this is the first time I've personally invited a player. Nijimura... what do you think of him?"

Sanada Naoto nodded. "He's strong, definitely a player worthy of the supervisor's attention, but..."

"But, it seems he's not quite on the same level as this Shigure Akito..."

"You think that, don't you?"

Shirogane Kozo filled in the rest of the sentence for Sanada Naoto, and after a brief hesitation, Sanada Naoto nodded. He understood that Shirogane Kozo's mindset was not the kind to care about losing face over something like this.

"Sanada..." Shirogane Kozo pointed toward the second-floor stands where the team motto 'Victory in Every Battle' was displayed, and then spoke.

"The absolute belief that Teiko holds, 'Victory is everything'..."

"How many people in Teiko can truly live by that?"

Shirogane Kozo looked at Shigure Akito on the court, who was smiling confidently, then at Nijimura Shuzo, who had lost a full offensive and defensive round but was becoming increasingly fired up.

"Nijimura Shuzo..."

"Since I first started watching him, his strength has already been impressive."

"But what actually drew me in, aside from his talent that far exceeds his peers, was that seemingly reckless but intense desire for victory."

"This is a weapon that is completely different from the natural abilities, the excellent basketball skills, and all the other things that come either by birth or training."

No one can win forever, everyone faces defeat somewhere, but despite knowing that, Teiko Middle School's philosophy is still 'Victory is everything'.

Why is that?

Aside from pride, what else could it be?

In Shirogane Kozo's mind, the image of a certain scene began to form clearly.

The scene of a player losing to high school players at the park...

But then coming back every night, without fail, to keep practicing.

"One more shot!"

"One more shot!"

"One more shot!"

No matter how many times he hit a wall, Nijimura Shuzo remained persistent and never backed down or got discouraged, all while having the talent and skills to secure victory.

In that moment, Shirogane Kozo saw the blood and spirit of Teiko in that child, and he firmly believed that Nijimura Shuzo would lead Teiko's "brain" to function at full speed, without any obstacles.

"Watch carefully, Sanada."

"Maybe in the next round, Nijimura will find a way to counter."

For the sake of victory.

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