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Middle school days were over. Thɪs chapter is updated by novel fire.net
Tendou realized that, before he knew it, he had already spent three years in this world.
So many nights, he had complained about how slowly time was passing.
But just like that — three years were gone?
Only 24 episodes had aired, and just as the prequel wrapped up, things already felt eerily quiet.
He walked into a café. Even though he'd long since quit his part-time job there, he still came by from habit to check in.
But today, he wasn't here for coffee — he was hiding.
Hiding from the swarm of high school basketball coaches who had been bombarding him with offers.
Ever since the National Tournament ended, Teikō's basketball team had basically imploded from fame.
Each day, coaches from all over the country flew in.
Their target: the Generation of Miracles.
Their unparalleled talent was worth any effort — every elite program wanted them.
There was even a new saying circulating in the basketball world:
"Whoever gets the Generation of Miracles... returns to the throne."
Recruiting any of them was like securing a ticket to the championship.
Fans had never seen middle school players this dominant — and everyone believed they'd continue their reign in high school.
As the leader, the ace, the "Monster Star" of Teikō —
Tendou was the hottest commodity.
Coaches weren't just camping outside the gym.
They started staking out his house.
It got so bad, he had no choice but to flee to this café.
"You're really popular these days, huh, little Tendou?"
The café owner chuckled as she handed him a drink.
"Popular" was putting it mildly. The owner treated Tendou almost like family — maybe even better than her own little brother.
After all, every time they had dinner together, she'd pile chicken drumsticks on Tendou's plate... and give her brother the chicken butt.
Over time, Tendou had become part of the family.
"If they were pretty girls, I might tolerate it," Tendou sighed. "But it's a bunch of four or five old guys looking at me like I'm a debutante... I can only say, 'No thanks.'"
Just the memory of their starstruck stares made him nauseous.
The owner laughed. "So, have you decided where you'll play in high school? Still staying in Tokyo?"
"Probably," Tendou replied.
After all, Tokyo was where Seirin, the protagonist team, was based — there would be more camera time here.
"That's good. Maybe I'll still get to look after you a little."
"And what about the team? Tokyo's got a lot of strong schools — have you picked one?"
"Shūtoku? Tōō? Senshinkan? Seihō?"
She knew her stuff. After so many years watching Nationals, of course she knew the powerhouses.
"None of them are under consideration."
Tendou waved it off casually.
Shūtoku had already reached an agreement with Midorima.
Aomine had been persuaded by Harasawa Katsunori to join Tōō.
The other two — Senshinkan and Seihō — didn't even qualify as competition.
Seihō had Tsugawa Tomoki, a so-called "Generation of Miracles-level defender," but he couldn't even stop pre-awakened Kagami, and barely gave Kise trouble before puberty.
Senshinkan? They barely got mentioned in the anime.
No notable players. Nothing worth considering.
In truth, the only real high school threats in Tokyo were Shūtoku, Tōō, and Seirin.
"Then isn't staying in Tokyo a loss for you? Your teammates all chose top-tier schools, right?"
"Doesn't mean I have no options," Tendou said with a sly grin.
Indeed, there was another strong team in Tokyo that people overlooked:
Kirisaki Daiichi High.
In canon, even with Kuroko and Kagami, Seirin barely beat them 76–70 — and that was with Kagami in early-stage power-up mode.
Their core player, Hanamiya Makoto, was one of the "Uncrowned Kings."
A dirty player who loved violent basketball, but undeniably strong.
If Tendou could get Hanamiya and his crew under control... Kirisaki Daiichi would be as strong as Shūtoku or even stronger.
That is — if he could tame the wolves.
Just then, Tendou's phone buzzed.
"No, just a message from a teammate."
He casually replied, then continued chatting with the café owner.
At Teikō Basketball Club.
The club had already wrapped up activities. The graduation ceremony had been held days ago.
As per tradition, graduating third-years wouldn't show up anymore.
They were focused on high school entrance exams.
But today, Akashi had called everyone together.
"Where's Tendou?" someone asked.
"Said he had something important to handle. Won't be coming."
"Important my ass. He's probably hiding out with air conditioning."
"So, Akashi, why'd you call us here?"
"Nothing special," Akashi replied. "I just wanted to see everyone one last time before we officially part ways."
Over the past few days, all the members of the Generation of Miracles had been approached by high school coaches.
Akashi already knew where most of them would go:
Aomine — Tōō Academy.
Murasakibara, Kise, and Akashi himself — all leaving Tokyo.
Murasakibara chose Yōsen High in Akita, famous for their suffocating defense.
Kise joined Kaijō High in Kanagawa, the local powerhouse.
Akashi? No surprise — he went to Rakuzan, the reigning king of the court.
There, he planned to crush each and every one of them — to prove his worth.
The only ones who hadn't made a decision were Tendou and Kuroko.
But to Akashi, Kuroko didn't matter.
In his eyes, Kuroko's style of basketball could never win.
The only one he truly saw as a rival was Tendou.
Even now — he couldn't fully see through him.
Tendou had been dazzling enough already, but something told Akashi...
That was nowhere near his true potential.