Fukuda Sogo Locker Room
Coach Ichiro Kudo stood before the team with a solemn expression. "This game revolves around your captain, Shogo. Everything centers around him. Use him as the spearhead and break through Yosen High's strongest defense."
He paused before looking toward the frontcourt players. "And inside the paint, keep applying pressure. Suzuran Karasu, Okawa, give it everything you've got."
Every player stared at him with burning eyes. The moment he finished speaking, everyone answered in unison.
"Yes, Coach!"
Kudo glanced toward Haizaki, who merely shook his head slightly. Nothing else needed to be said. Kudo nodded and raised his voice.
"Go. Warm up properly!"
Haizaki stood first and led the team out of the locker room. Inside the tunnel, he stared toward the bright light waiting at the end, and something stirred inside him.
Suddenly turning around, he asked in a deep voice, "What is our goal?"
Without hesitation, everyone roared back.
"CONQUER THE NATION!"
Haizaki narrowed his eyes. "Say it again."
"CONQUER THE NATION!"
A faint smile appeared on his face.
Good.
Turning around, he strode out of the tunnel. The moment Haizaki stepped onto the court, the entire arena suddenly fell silent.
Only the sweet voice of the female announcer echoed through the stadium. One by one, Fukuda Sogo's players emerged in their blood-red uniforms, instantly drawing every spectator's attention.
Across the court, Yosen High also walked out under the leadership of captain Okamura Kenichi. For a brief moment, the entire arena sank into an eerie silence.
Then countless discussions erupted throughout the stands.
Bzzzzz...
No one knew exactly what everyone was saying, but everyone knew what they were thinking.
This match was finally here.
In the front row sat a blonde woman with striking curves and sharp blue eyes.
Alexandra Garcia.
Her arms rested against the railing as she focused entirely on a single player.
No. 12.
Himuro Tatsuya.
That was her student. A gifted student, a talented student, and also a somewhat unfortunate one.
After all, she had flown all the way from America for this game specifically to watch two of her students face each other.
Tatsuya... I'm really looking forward to seeing your performance.
On the court, both teams began warming up. After sinking a basket, Haizaki turned toward Yosen's side and immediately spotted the two people he had been waiting for.
Murasakibara Atsushi. Himuro Tatsuya.
A satisfied smile appeared on his face.
As warmups neared their end, the atmosphere inside the arena grew increasingly intense. Then the male announcer's voice boomed throughout the building.
"Now introducing the starting lineups!"
Fukuda Sogo Starting Lineup
No. 6: Haizaki Shogo (Captain)
No. 7: Suzuran Karasu
No. 5: Okawa
No. 12: Kimura Tosho
No. 4: Mochizuki Kazuhiro
Yosen High Starting Lineup
No. 4: Okamura Kenichi (Captain)
No. 9: Murasakibara Atsushi
No. 12: Himuro Tatsuya
No. 11: Liu Wei
No. 5: Fukui Kensuke
Back at Yosen's bench, Murasakibara glanced toward Haizaki and spoke lazily. "Tatsuya-chin... the one guarding you will definitely be Haizaki-chin. Be careful."
Himuro smiled. "Don't worry. I'm actually pretty interested in meeting your former teammate."
Murasakibara stared at him quietly for several seconds before turning away. This time, his gaze shifted toward Coach Araki Masako.
Araki stood with a wooden practice sword in her arms while observing Haizaki from afar. Then Murasakibara spoke again.
"Masako-chin. I'm attacking this game."
"...Hm?"
The entire Yosen bench froze. Everyone stared. Even Himuro looked shocked.
Only Araki smiled. "As expected. Even if you hadn't suggested it, I would've put you into the offense."
This time, everyone's expressions changed.
Isn't Atsushi and Coach taking this way too seriously...?
The announcer's voice disappeared.
Then:
BEEEEEEP!!
Ready.
Go!
The ball flew upward as Suzuran Karasu leaped against Murasakibara. At the highest point, a giant hand suddenly appeared.
SMACK!
Murasakibara slapped the ball directly toward Himuro.
Suzuran Karasu landed and stared in shock at Murasakibara's retreating back.
This... This is the Generation of Miracles' strongest center? What jumping ability! What reflexes!
"Focus!"
Haizaki's voice snapped him awake.
Suzuran Karasu immediately recovered and rushed back. Under the basket, he and Okawa instantly battled for position against Okamura, Murasakibara, and Liu Wei.
The pressure arrived immediately.
Heavy. Crushing. Familiar.
Suzuran Karasu's expression darkened. Okawa's expression darkened. Even Kimura felt it.
Three players over two meters tall.
Three towering giants.
Against them.
At that exact moment, all three shared the same thought.
This game... Fukuda Sogo's inside game is in serious trouble.
Meanwhile, Himuro held the ball and felt something even more terrifying.
Standing in front of him was Haizaki Shogo.
Haizaki simply spread his arms in a natural defensive stance. Nothing more. Yet Himuro instantly felt his hair stand on end.
Height, strength, wingspan, and athleticism.
Everything Haizaki possessed surpassed him.
In Himuro's eyes, Haizaki looked like an endless Great Wall.
In the audience, Alexandra Garcia suddenly shot to her feet. Her eyes widened in disbelief.
"Impossible... How could Japan have a player at this level? How... T-This..."
She slowly sat back down, her eyes narrowing as she stared directly at Haizaki without blinking, as if trying to see through him completely.
Meanwhile, on the court, Himuro froze for only a brief instant.
But that instant was enough.
Haizaki's hand shot out.
SLAP!
Steal.
A blood-red figure flashed past everyone before anyone could react. No one chased him. No one even moved.
Everyone stood frozen in place as Haizaki took two light steps and casually floated the ball toward the basket.
Swish.
The ball dropped cleanly through the net.
Silence spread across the court.
Yosen froze. Coach Araki froze. Liu Wei froze.
Okamura froze. Fukui froze.
They all knew exactly how skilled Himuro Tatsuya was, yet no one had imagined he wouldn't survive even a single possession.
Not one.
Before anyone recovered, Murasakibara's giant hand landed on Himuro's shoulder.
"Told you. I said to be careful. That's Haizaki-chin. He's not weaker than me."
Himuro slowly exhaled as the shock inside his chest gradually settled.
So this... This is the Generation of Miracles? Even in America... I've never faced someone like this.
He smiled bitterly. "Atsushi... your former teammate... He's seriously terrifying."
Murasakibara nodded lazily. "Mhm." Then he narrowed his eyes. "Tatsuya-chin... you're not scared, are you?"
Himuro froze briefly before laughing. "Scared? Of course not."
Murasakibara nodded. "Good. Let's go."
"Yeah."
The battle had only just begun.