Kuroko Tetsuya's departure did not cause much of a stir among the Teikō Basketball Club's First Team—at least, not on the surface. Akashi Seijūrō's rule was like a cold, unyielding rock: efficient, precise, and unquestionable. Training continued as usual, with an intensity even greater than before. Aomine Daiki continued to unleash his wild, untamable talent across the court. Every drive and every shot carried an overbearing force that crushed everything in its path, as though Kuroko's departure had merely cleared away a useless obstacle. Midōrima Shintarō's three-pointers remained as accurate as guided missiles, Murasaki-bara Atsushi's presence in the paint remained terrifying, and Kise Ryōta's mimicry continued to take countless forms. Teikō remained the precision machine that pursued "Absolute Victory."
Yet Bai Ze You could clearly sense that something had changed. The air in the gym had grown more oppressive. Communication between teammates had been reduced to the cold exchange of tactical instructions. Even Aomine's signature, arrogant roar held less pure passion and more of a viciousness born from venting. The faint bond of "companionship" that had once existed among the Generation of Miracles, even when their ideals differed, seemed to have completely vanished with Kuroko's departure. Teikō's strength was moving toward an unsettling, frigid extreme.
Amid that stifling atmosphere, a challenge from distant Akita Prefecture crashed into Teikō's superficial calm like a boulder thrown into stagnant water.
"National Tournament Preliminary—Summit Challenge Match."
Opponent: Akita Prefecture's representative—Sannō Kōgyō High School.
The name Sannō Kōgyō struck every basketball fan's heart like a heavy hammer. They were perennial champions of the National Tournament, kings among kings, renowned nationwide for their iron discipline, watertight Team Defense, and never-say-die "Fukatsu Spirit." They were the ultimate touchstone for testing the quality of "Absolute Victory."
When the news arrived, even Akashi Seijūrō's perpetually frozen face showed the