Early in the morning, Haizaki Shogo stood in front of the mirror in his room, staring silently at the white Teiko Junior High uniform he was wearing.
Today, he would personally handle his transfer procedures. This would also be the last time he ever wore Teiko's uniform. The complicated emotions swirling inside him felt strangely interesting.
Haizaki Shogo kept looking at his reflection in the mirror. His hair was still long and ash-gray—exceptionally handsome.
"Such a shame. Wearing this for the last time… it really does feel different."
The former Haizaki Shogo might have skipped training and relied on violence, but when it came to his love and passion for basketball, he was second to none.
The fact that he had developed a technique like Pillage on his own was proof enough of Haizaki Shogo's talent and devotion to basketball.
Akashi had said that his talent was inferior to Kise Ryouta's and had forced him to leave the club.
On one hand, the former rarely trained and negatively affected team morale.
On the other hand, the talent he had displayed was indeed inferior to Kise's—honestly speaking, that reasoning wasn't unreasonable.
And besides, Haizaki Shogo had always been fiercely proud. Leaving early was far more dignified than being pushed off the main stage later.
What a pity, Akashi-kun. The previous Haizaki Shogo's talent might not have surpassed Kise Ryouta's… but now?
Just you wait.
After tying his tie, Haizaki Shogo strode out of his room with a carefree air.
"Mom, I'm going to handle my transfer procedures."
"Alright, Shogo-kun. Go early and come back early!"
Shaking his head and waving his hand, Haizaki Shogo smiled. His mother—just like every other mother—was gentle, virtuous, and endlessly nagging.
But that was fine. Living a second life, the warmer things like family, friendship, and love were, the better.
Leaving the house, he headed toward Teiko Junior High.
At the gates of Teiko Junior High.
Haizaki Shogo looked at the school entrance and felt as though something was slowly drifting away from him. The Generation of Miracles was drifting away as well.
From today onward, after his departure, the Generation of Miracles would rise to fame. Then Aomine would bloom, and eventually, the team would fracture.
Akashi-kun, you never dreamed of this, did you?
Forcing me out was partly for my own good—but wasn't it also for the basketball club?
You sacrificed me to elevate Kise Ryouta, to strengthen the team, to perfect all of you…
And yet in the end, the team still split apart.
Isn't this what they call karma?
Just as Haizaki Shogo was lost in thought at the school gate, a gentle voice came from behind him.
"Shogo-kun, aren't you going in?"
Haizaki Shogo turned around. The moment he saw her—long pink hair, rose-colored eyes, and a beautiful face—his gaze filled with amazement and appreciation.
Naturally, what he was amazed by and what he appreciated… the readers surely understood.
"Yo, it's you, Satsuki-chan. Where's Aomine?"
"Aomine-kun went to the basketball club first. Shogo-kun… is it true that you really quit the club?"
"It's true. I'm here today to handle my transfer. Satsuki-chan, this is goodbye for us."
"Shogo-kun, you really—"
Haizaki Shogo interrupted Satsuki Momoi before she could finish and pointed behind her.
"Satsuki-chan, look—why is Aomine over there?"
Satsuki Momoi froze and immediately turned around. There was no sign of Aomine at all. The street behind her was empty except for passing cars.
She was still confused and about to turn back and ask why Haizaki Shogo had lied—
When she turned around, a pair of lips suddenly pressed against hers.
Satsuki Momoi froze completely, her eyes wide open as she stared at Haizaki Shogo in disbelief.
Haizaki Shogo figured he had pushed his luck enough. If he went any further, things would definitely get messy.
So he pulled back, waved his hand in front of her face, urging the stunned girl to snap out of it.
"Shogo-kun, y-you… you… you…"
"You what? Wasn't that our first kiss? Since I'm leaving, I'll say it seriously—I really do like you."
After saying that, Haizaki Shogo turned around and quickly walked into Teiko Junior High, heading straight for the principal's office.
He left behind Satsuki Momoi, rooted to the spot, her face a chaotic mix of shock, disbelief, shyness, and utter confusion.
With the Haizaki family's background, the transfer procedures were handled effortlessly. Haizaki Shogo soon walked out of the principal's office just as easily.
He then headed toward the basketball club's training room, packed up a few of his personal belongings, picked up his pair of foul-smelling basketball shoes, and walked toward the trash bin to throw them away.
Just as Haizaki Shogo reached the bin, a hesitant voice spoke up behind him.
"I heard you're really quitting the basketball club… is that true, Shogo-kun?"
Haizaki Shogo turned his head lazily and looked at the boy—someone he wasn't particularly close to. Blue hair, blue eyes, and a frail-looking body.
"Yeah."
"You're clearly so talented. Why?"
Haizaki Shogo nearly laughed. He really wanted to laugh. A classic anime scene was unfolding right in front of him.
Looking at the boy's short, slender frame, Haizaki Shogo still spoke.
"Hahaha. Kuroko, there's no banquet that doesn't end. You guys will split up sooner or later—I'm just leaving a step early. By the way, why are you even here asking me this stuff? Are you stupid?"
"Shogo-kun, that's not what I'm asking."
Haizaki Shogo looked at Kuroko. To be honest, he acknowledged Kuroko's basketball. Teamwork was important—but the prerequisite for teamwork was being acknowledged by your teammates.
Once those people bloomed, Kuroko would inevitably clash with them. Because in their eyes—
even in Haizaki Shogo's eyes—Kuroko would never truly be acknowledged.
You are not the chosen one.
You are not someone who can keep advancing into the future.
Even if you are a shadow.
Even if you possess that noble spirit of self-sacrifice.
Even if you have protagonist-level plot armor.
You still can't do it. You simply can't.
Your innate physical limitations determine that you can't reach higher levels of basketball. You can only play around in middle school or high school—maybe fool a few elementary kids at best.
"Annoying. I just lost interest in basketball, that's all. Idiot. Training until you're dead tired, covered in sweat that reeks—going out and having fun with girls is way more interesting."
After saying that classic anime line, Haizaki Shogo put on a satisfied now? expression and looked at Kuroko.
"Do you really think that way?"
"If I didn't, how else should I think, Tetsuya? You really are an idiot. Grow a bit more awareness. There are truly bad people—and truly terrifying people—in this world."
With that, Haizaki Shogo tossed his smelly basketball shoes into the trash, waved his hand, and left Teiko Junior High.
On the way home, Haizaki Shogo recalled a line from the anime:
The truly pitiful ones might actually be you people! Those who stay behind are the most pitiful of all!
How unfortunate, Akashi-kun.
Your ending was prophetically predicted by the former Haizaki Shogo.
Knowing this—would you still dare say that Haizaki Shogo's talent was inferior to Kise Ryouta's?
Judging from this analysis of the situation alone—and from such far-reaching foresight—could Haizaki Shogo really be called untalented?
Thinking about this, Haizaki Shogo suddenly burst out laughing—
"Hahahaha… hehehe…"
causing pedestrians on the street to look at him as if he'd suddenly had a seizure.
What a show.
It's finally about to begin.
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150 Power Stones = Bonus Chapter
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