The basketball court fell into utter silence after Haizaki Shogo had left.
No one spoke, and no one continued playing. Everyone stood frozen in place, as if their souls had been sucked out.
After a while, the first to recover from the shock was the coach. He looked at the stunned players on the court, shook his head, then glanced at the dazed team captain beside him. Patting the captain on the shoulder, he said nothing.
Walking onto the court, the coach shouted loudly,
"What are you all standing around for? Such a disgrace! Everyone, run fifty laps around the basketball court!"
The roar immediately snapped the players back to reality. The overwhelming presence of a truly terrifying skill had left them breathless—and it had just happened right before their eyes.
Speed like the wind, a blur of a figure disappearing in an instant, the thunderous slam dunk… was that real or a dream?
As they ran, the more observant players began to discuss what had just happened.
"Was that real? Am I seeing things?"
"You're not seeing things… I think I'm the one seeing ghosts."
"Was that really a middle schooler? Maybe a high school senior?"
"Incredible power!"
"Did anyone get a good look at his face?"
"No."
"I feel like I've seen him somewhere before, but I can't remember."
"Is he our new teammate?"
"Impossible… we're not Teiko Junior High."
======
In the basketball club's office, the newly appointed captain looked guilty, sitting before the coach.
"Fukuda-kun, there's no need to feel guilty. What just happened had nothing to do with you. That level of skill isn't something you—or any beginner—can compare with."
"Coach, do you know that person?"
"I do. And so do you… you just forgot."
Fukuda Sasaki pointed to himself, unable to believe the coach's words. His gesture silently asked: Are you sure I know that person? Why do I have no memory of him?
The Fukuda Sogo Academy basketball coach sighed deeply and spoke slowly,
"Last year, at the national tournament quarterfinals… Teiko Junior High's starting lineup. Think about it."
Sasaki hesitated. Last year, he had been a substitute, sitting cold on the bench.
Yet he had played briefly. He recalled the scene—his school trailing by a huge margin, the seniors' morale crushed, and him being overwhelmed on the court.
It was only long after that match ended that he regained his spirit, rekindling hope and the fire of basketball.
That experience gave him the qualifications to be the current team captain.
Last year, the players from Teiko on the court had blue hair, green hair… and gray hair?
Something clicked, and Sasaki gasped,
"Coach… he's… Teiko Junior High's…"
"Haizaki Shogo! I just confirmed with the principal. He transferred last semester. Incredible… he came straight to our school, and we had no idea."
"Coach… he was part of Teiko Junior High's so-called Generation of Miracles?"
"Yes… though now, he's Fukuda Sogo's Generation of Miracles."
At this, the middle school basketball coach of Fukuda was bursting with excitement. With a player like this, maybe he could finally challenge other top schools.
======
On the school grounds, Haizaki Shogo and Shimizu Rena walked home, one after the other, backpacks slung over their shoulders.
Rena's gaze lingered on the nonchalant Shogo ahead,
The scene on the basketball court is etched deep in my mind… One person, passing ten players, running through the entire court, slamming the ball with both hands…
This is the strong player Shogo promised to show me…
So strong… truly strong.
Even though Rena hadn't joined the basketball club, she understood basic rules from observation.
Is this Shogo's true form?
He's so cool… this is what a real strong player looks like!
Shogo glanced back at Rena, who walked while staring at his back. Lazily, he said,
"Hey hey hey!! Shimizu-chan, stop staring. No matter how much you look, nothing beats your figure."
Rena's cheeks burned crimson as she quickened her pace, coming shoulder to shoulder with Shogo.
"Shogo-kun, so that's the 'strength' you were talking about? Truly amazing."
"Amazing? In this country, there are at least a few people stronger than me that I know of."
"What?! Shogo-kun… stronger than you?"
"Shimizu-chan, there's always someone stronger. Someone more talented. Someone better. Even now, I'm still weak."
"Shogo-kun, you're being too modest!"
"Shimizu-chan, do you think schools that win championships year after year have weak players?"
Rena shook her head. Of course not! The players can't be weak and still win every year.
"But Shimizu-chan, there's a school aiming for a triple crown right now. Think about how strong they must be."
Triple crown… just the thought of it made Rena imagine how formidable that school's basketball team must be.
And in any sport, a triple crown school is always the strongest in the nation, filled with elite players.
"Shogo-kun, so you transferred from that school too?"
Shogo turned to glance at Rena's curious face, then looked off into the distance, voice tinged with melancholy,
"Yes… but I was kicked out."
"Shogo-kun, you're so strong… how could you be kicked out? You're joking, right?"
Shogo remained silent, thinking, I wish I could say I'm joking, but it's true.
No matter how much he improved now, the failures of his past couldn't be erased.
So… Akashi-kun, I do have some grievances against you!
Until he let that out, the old Shogo's heart would remain trapped. It was a personal knot he needed to untangle.
So, if I don't stir things up a little, it wouldn't be Haizaki Shogo's style.
Rookies are rookies!
If it comes to it, I'll play the full game myself, go all out for points, even one versus nine. I don't mind leading four rookies to challenge five of them.
Let's see if this is really the Generation of Miracles!
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