Inside the locker room of Tōō Academy, the coach, Harasawa Katsunori, stood with his arms crossed. His left hand supported his right arm while his right thumb and index finger slowly rubbed his chin, as if carefully calculating something.
After a long silence, he finally spoke.
"Aomine… you will not start in this game."
"What… Coach…"
"Don't rush to object. Listen first. I have my own plan."
Aomine Daiki did not respond.
The rest of the stunned team also remained silent, all of them staring at their coach in disbelief.
Harasawa's expression did not change. Calm. Composed. Almost detached. As if everything was already under control.
"Rakuzan's Generation of Miracles captain, Akashi Seijuro, will not be playing. I don't know whether that information is true, but since you all believe it, there is no problem letting Aomine sit out the first half."
He paused briefly.
"If Akashi does not appear, Aomine will also rest for the first two quarters. Against a team like Rakuzan, this is the best possible test for us. The three Uncrowned Kings alone are more than enough as a sharpening stone."
"Imayoshi, Sakurai, Wakamatsu, Susa—you will use the first half to test the strength of the Uncrowned Kings. I believe you are capable of cutting them down where they stand."
BOOM.
The locker room fell into absolute silence.
The words were too bold. Too outrageous.
The players of Tōō were completely stunned.
Harasawa Katsunori, a former national team player, was now fully revealing the commanding presence he had long hidden beneath his calm, polite exterior.
Beneath that composure lay ambition… and a fierce, almost ruthless confidence.
His intention was clear.
Without the Generation of Miracles on the floor, he wanted his personally developed players to prove themselves—and prove his system right.
Aomine finally spoke, his eyes slowly opening. A faint blue light flickered within them.
"So that's how it is… interesting."
He smirked.
"Hey, glasses guy… don't embarrass yourselves."
With that single sentence, the atmosphere in the room shifted.
The earlier shock faded, replaced by rising competitive fire.
"Oi, coach… this is a pretty bold move you're making."
"Can I really do it?"
"The chance is here!"
"Let's go!"
Imayoshi Shoichi spoke first, followed by Sakurai Ryo, Wakamatsu Kousuke, and Susa Yoshinori.
Each voice carried excitement, tension, and anticipation.
Harasawa nodded in satisfaction.
"Good. We are the rising tyrants. Championships are what define us. If necessary, Aomine will come in later to finish things."
"Understood!"
"Understood!"
"Understood!"
======
On the opposite side, inside Rakuzan's locker room…
"Reo-nii… even if Captain isn't playing, shouldn't he at least be here? What's going on?"
"He already said it on Friday."
"He told us to experience the strength of the Generation of Miracles ourselves."
"…I see."
Mibuchi Reo sighed as he answered Hayama Kotaro. Even he did not fully understand Akashi Seijuro's intentions—but the moment Akashi's name was mentioned, resistance naturally faded.
Then Nebuya Eikichi, usually simple-minded and direct, suddenly spoke.
"Back when we lost to the Generation of Miracles… were you satisfied with that?"
"Now the chance is here. Shouldn't we be happy?"
"And don't forget—we are three players. They only have one."
That single statement struck deep.
The Uncrowned Kings.
A title born from being overshadowed by the Generation of Miracles.
And now—only one Miracle stood before them.
This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Reo and Hayama's expressions changed.
"A big guy… when did you get this sharp?"
"Gorilla… you're actually right."
"Hahaha! That's more like it! We were champions before—and we'll be champions again!"
Coach Eiji Shirogane watched with satisfaction. Even without Akashi, their fighting spirit remained intact. That was exactly what he expected from the Uncrowned Kings.
=====
Inside the arena, the crowd buzzed with anticipation. Every corner was filled with noise, discussion, and excitement.
Then the announcer's voice echoed across the stadium, revealing the starting lineups.
Rakuzan High: Mibuchi Reo (6), Eikichi Nebuya (8), Hayama Kotaro (7), Mayuzumi Chihiro (5), Jiro Hanazawa (11)
Tōō Academy: Imayoshi Shoichi (4), Sakurai Ryo (9), Wakamatsu Kousuke (6), Yoshinori Susa (7), Takahiro Fujiwara (12)
A wave of confusion swept through the audience.
No Akashi. No Aomine.
"What are they thinking…?"
Even Hanamiya Makoto clicked his tongue in annoyance.
"Tch… no Miracles starting? What kind of boring script is this?"
Nearby, Takao Kazunari teased him.
"You're also an Uncrowned King, right? Any idea what they're doing?"
"Shut up. Think for yourself."
Hanamiya turned away, eyes locked on the court, mind already calculating possibilities.
Elsewhere, Haizaki Shogo and Midorima Shintaro also remained silent, analyzing the situation.
Across the stands, similar confusion spread everywhere.
"Do you know why Aomine isn't playing?" Coach Aida Riko asked.
"I don't… I don't understand either," Kuroko replied quietly.
Riko sighed deeply, gripping her hair.
"When we actually need answers… my brain just doesn't feel big enough…"
======
On the court, the game continued with shifting momentum.
Imayoshi drove the ball forward against Hayama Kotaro. A sudden burst of speed. A feint. A layup.
SWISH.
But Hayama answered immediately with explosive dribbling and a lightning-fast drive.
BOOM!
The battle escalated rapidly.
Three-pointers, drives, counterattacks—each possession became a direct challenge.
Even from the stands, Haizaki and Midorima watched intently.
"Did you figure anything out?" Haizaki asked casually.
Midorima adjusted his glasses.
"Not clearly. But it feels similar to your match against Tōō before."
Haizaki frowned slightly.
"Don't tell me… Tōō's coach is really playing like this in an official match?"
"He is Tōō's coach, right? Harasawa Katsunori?" Midorima asked.
"Yeah."
"Then it makes sense," Shimizu Rena interjected calmly. "He was a former national team captain. His judgment and boldness are unquestionable."
At that, both Haizaki and Midorima fell silent.
Then Haizaki spoke again.
"So why would he do this?"
Midorima asked first.
"I don't understand the purpose."
Haizaki shrugged.
"Simple. Either he's training his players… or there's a special objective. And both require one thing—players strong enough to handle it."
He glanced at the court, scanning each player carefully.
Then he smiled faintly.
"Tōō's players are excited. Rakuzan's Uncrowned Kings are too. That's your answer."
"I think Harasawa just wants to take something for himself… titles, reputation, maybe even pride."
A pause.
"Like the 'Uncrowned Kings' label."
Midorima narrowed his eyes.
"That's a bold assumption."
"Maybe," Haizaki said lightly. "Or maybe Aomine's just having a lazy day."
"…That's unlikely," Midorima replied.
But behind them, the Fukuda Sogo players were now staring at both Haizaki and Midorima like monsters.
In their eyes, the two silhouettes suddenly felt enormous… almost like towering beasts radiating pressure.
Like something far beyond human.
Like Godzilla itself standing in the stands.
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