From the stands.
The assistant coach of the U20 national team glanced strangely at the head coach beside him.
"That guy… that's Hagioka Kasayuki, the one you mentioned?"
"…Mm."
The scene unfolding on the court had left the U20 head coach speechless.
The assistant also fell silent for a moment.
"Well, yes, he's undeniably strong…"
"Skipping U18 and jumping straight into U20—he's absolutely ace-level."
"But…"
"What about the one opposite him?"
The head coach flipped through his notes.
"Shigure Akihito… like Nijimura Shuzo, he's one of the U18's primary targets for evaluation. Just graduated from junior high."
"…?"
"…What?"
…
On the court.
"Incredible…"
"Right, Shigure?"
"Not bad, huh?"
"What do you call that move?"
"This dribble? That's 'Showtime'~"
"Huh?"
"No, I mean that overwhelming aura of yours. It felt like I was staring into black flames—something like the Zone, a force that amplifies everything."
"Oh, that? That's called Burning."
"…Impressive."
"No wonder they call you a technician."
As they exchanged words, the two clashed all the way from the backcourt, weaving like two small boats rocking through a mighty river, their duel fierce and unrelenting!
Shigure Akihito fixed his deep gaze on Hagioka Kasayuki, eyes flashing with fiery light. A grin tugged at his lips as he accelerated his dribble with both hands, the ball dancing back and forth in dazzling rhythm.
With his physical abilities upgraded, the tricks of "Showtime" had evolved far beyond what he could do in junior high—they were on an entirely new level of ferocity!
Crossover to the left,
Behind-the-back,
Between the legs
Then Shigure exploded forward with a nutmeg, cutting past Hagioka like a beast lunging at its prey!
The sudden move left Hagioka a split-second behind. Though his instincts pushed him to shadow Shigure immediately, he hadn't anticipated such an unconventional attack—he was nutmegged clean.
But even then, Hagioka didn't panic.
Just as Shigure tried to blow by, Hagioka pivoted sharply on his left foot.
As Still as the Forest—activate.
Rustling shadows of bamboo unfurled beneath his feet in a circular domain, whipping out and entangling Shigure's legs as if binding them in place!
Shigure's speed abruptly dropped.
Shock spread across his face—only to quickly twist into exhilaration.
"What a bizarre ability… what do you call this?"
"As Still as the Forest."
"…Then I'll hand you the title of technician instead."
"Hmph, I'll take it."
What Shigure felt in that instant was a strange, suffocating pressure that clamped onto his body like a swamp, dragging him down.
But
It won't be that easy, senpai!
Roooar!
ROOOAR!!
In Hagioka's vision, the mammoth that symbolized Shigure's wild instinct rampaged, tearing at the bamboo shadows binding his legs.
His speed, though suppressed, began clawing its way back up.
With "Showtime" keeping his handles unpredictable, Shigure managed to fend off Hagioka's steal attempts even as he struggled. After five or six seconds, his speed surged upward again.
From there, at the peak of his dribbling sense, he tested the edges of Hagioka's "As Still as the Forest," probing with feints and pullbacks.
And then
He felt the shackles binding him snap!
"Oh~"
"So that's your limit."
At a step and a half outside Hagioka's range, Shigure's lips curved into a smile. He pushed forward once more, and free of the bamboo field, he went full throttle!
Hagioka lunged to reel him back in—but at that very instant, Shigure floated the ball mid-dribble and dashed again, breaking through a step and a half to Hagioka's right, beyond the reach of "As Still as the Forest"!
So fast.
Faster than before!
A burst like Kiyota Nobunaga's instant step!
To bypass the circular field centered on Hagioka, Shigure had to take a much longer driving route. It should've been risky.
But with Burning ignited and his instantaneous acceleration in play, the speed was enough to make it possible!
Hagioka: "!"
Too fast!
At his normal level, Hagioka felt just how outrageous this burst really was.
But
That was only his normal state.
His pupils narrowed sharply.
Now!
He gathered his power.
BOOM!
Thunder roared once more.
In an instant, his speed climbed a full tier, his vision sharpening, his body feather-light.
Shigure caught the disturbance in his periphery—Hagioka's bizarre sudden acceleration again!
Two heavy steps, a sharp drop in pace, exploding the ball downward. A spin, then a shot-fake, all executed in one seamless flow—Shigure's movements dazzled the court.
"Not bad at all, brat!"
For a heartbeat, even Hagioka was startled by the blinding fluidity of Shigure's chain of moves.
And at this insane speed, he could still pull off techniques as cleanly as he did back in junior high?
Boom! Boom!
"It's not over yet!"
Hagioka braked, spun, and stretched his arm to smother Shigure's shot.
A fake?
As Swift as Thunder, As Immovable as the Mountain!
Switching direction, he lunged to block Shigure's spin-driven attack.
But Shigure's choice this time was outrageous—he went head-on against Hagioka!
He rose, body twisting
A reverse scoop!
Shielding Hagioka with his torso, Shigure palmed the ball left-handed and, from behind, hooked it delicately from his blind spot.
The ball traced a perfect arc in the air
Swish!
Nothing but net.
"Heh~"
"Fooled you, didn't I?"
Hagioka: "…"
This wasn't about being fooled anymore.
Still, he muttered, "Mm. Lucky shot."
"…?"
"…?"
"Wait—how was that luck? That was skill, through and through!"
"Was it?"
"You… you're still the same as in junior high, running your mouth nonstop. Fine, keep talking—next time I'll show you what happens when you rely on luck."
"And I'll show you the full might of Wind, Forest, Fire, Mountain, Shadow, and Thunder."
"And…"
"On the court, you'd better address me properly as senpai."
"Clicking your tongue won't save you, Hagioka-senpai."
END OF CHAPTER
CROWN BEFORE THE MIRACLES
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