TEIKO MIDDLE SCHOOL
The Teiko Middle School basketball team.
In its brilliant history, there were five once-in-a-decade prodigies in one year...
...the "Generation of Miracles."
Ryota Kise. Shintaro Midorima. Daiki Aomine.
Atsushi Murasakibara. Seijuro Akashi.
And the menace standing against them was Seirin High School...
With its shadow... and light.
That meatball is mine!
Damn you, Haizaki! If you're hungry, order extra large or go get seconds!
- Don't go stealin' stuff every time! - I don't particularly mind.
It's no big deal. I mean, you eat people's stuff a lot too.
- I only take when I'm hungry. - That's the same thing, Aomine.
Also, Haizaki, don't make sounds when eating. It lacks manners.
And fix how you hold your chopsticks, Murasakibara.
Huh?
Wait, I got roped into all this 'cause of you, 'Zaki-chin.
Your fried chicken looks good too. That's mi-
Take one takuan pickle and I'll crush you.
Your aura's more menacing now than in games...
You guys are making such a fuss. I'm always tellin' ya. It's not like I'm hungry or anything.
When people eat stuff, it looks really delicious. So I can't help it.
I hear a second year is advancing to the first-string team today.
I hear he started playing two weeks ago.
- What's his name? - Ryota Kise.
- Seems it's the fastest advance since us. - I know that guy! I've met him.
Like I care.
Hmph. Ryota Kise, huh?
Interesting, Haizaki. That you remember someone's name.
Well, it's just a hunch... But it sounds like he'll do pretty good.
And... I don't think I'll get along with him.
Now... Don't go holding me back, idiots.
Yeah, I know...
What rough treatment. He's the captain, right?
Yeah. A point guard excelling at quickness. One of the big guns regularly at nationals.
He's serious and prizes good manners.
It speaks to Haizaki's strength that he has no choice but use him...
Teiko and the Generation of Miracles are treated like gods now due to their overwhelming strength...
...but it didn't start that way.
Instead, many resented them since they were too strong.
They gave the impression of playing the heel.
What I know doesn't go beyond rumor, but perhaps Haizaki's violent nature encouraged that.
52ND Q. THIS IS MINE
KAIJO
- Whatcha doing? - Your face looks stiff.
Dunno what kinda history you share, but just play your basketball.
- Don't let him screw with your pacing. - Sure!
Okay, I'll be her hero today.
I'll do (my) best! I (won't) lose in (re)bounds!
Well, those guys take things at their own pace way too much.
As expected, their defense isn't absolute crap either... Then...
What?
- So fast! - They look sharper than in the summer!
Dammit!
- Here it is! - Kaijo scored first!
Nice shot.
Hmm... That's about it?
Gimme!
Wha...
I'm not lettin' ya go!
F-Fast! In a different league from then!
This is going nowhere.
You're in the way! Get lost!
- Seriously? - He even shoved his teammates aside!
All right!
It's 'cause you got in the way that I was late to step off.
What an attitude towards a senpai!
Sorry.
Hanamiya from Kirisaki Daiichi was an asshole but still functioned as the team's pivotal member.
He doesn't even have a shred of team play... He's the type I hate most.
I'll tell you one thing.
A senpai is to be respected!
- He got passed, but he's already... - Don't lecture me, idiot.
Who's the idiot?
"I'll tell you one thing," huh?
- Retaliation from Fukuda Sogo! - They're fast too!
All right! Bring it on!
Scoop shot!
That was the shot Seiho's Kasuga was good at!
Haizaki's teammates play well. They got this far after all.
Yeah.
Both teams are going in guns blazing from the start. But Kise hasn't had the ball much...
No... It's coming.
This is...
A scoop shot?
For real? He saw it and instantly...
The term Generation of Miracles isn't just for show after all!
Why don't you come at me more seriously? Or was that just talk earlier?
Seriously, it's impossible to get along with you after all.
'Cause your style is awfully similar to mine, ya know?
All right, looking good, Kise!
All of this was expected... But what is this sense of unease?
- I'll stop you this time! - Let's see...
Was it like this?
- What? - That's what I just...
It's like he's trying to say he can do everything Kise can.
Trying to spite us? What an ass.
Your engine's finally revved up?
I hate this, but without him we're no match for a team...
- ...with a Generation of Miracles member. - Yeah... In for a penny, in for a pound.
Looks like he's the type that gets troublesome when he's up to speed.
Then...
We don't always score from the inside!
Nice pass!
- Yes! - Nice shot, Mo(ri)yama-san!
- How does it always go in with that form... - Not much spin either...
Or rather, it was virtually still.
That form must be due to prioritizing comfort when shooting in practice.
As a result, he creates a difficult-to-block timing...
...which makes for a weapon unique to him.
You know... That's pretty good.
Blitz!
- Crap, a counterattack! - Get back!
I don't need weaklings scurrying around!
I said to pass them all to me, didn't I?
He cut off a pass to a teammate...
If he joined us, I would've started with discipline...
Can it be? Clutch time while watching a game?
- No, we can start right now! - And they're doubling up!
- Set it back for a second, Haizaki! - Don't be talkin' in your sleep!
That thing earlier... It's mine now!
- What? - That (is) Mo(ri)yama-san's!
The irregular shot?
Impossible!
No way... You're kidding, right?
Impossible... That shot of mine...
After seeing it only once...
No way... Haizaki's skill is the same as Kise's?
No... It's slightly different.
KAIJO
KAIJO FUKUDA SOGO
- Kasamatsu's drive... - It's been broken!
Dammit...
Not good... Has he been holding back till now?
It's far worse than the videos or what Kise said.
Plus, there's something wrong with our members too...
They look kind of confused... Why in the world is that?
No way... Kaijo's being pushed back?
What the hell is Kise doing?
- The other players seem lackluster too. - Yeah, something is weird...
H-Huh?
Moriyama missed a free shot?
First Kasamatsu, now Moriyama... What's going on?
We still got this!
Nice rebound, Hayakawa!
(My) te(rri)to(ry's) under the goal! I'm (doing) it! The (game's) just (start)ing!
I still don't know what the hell he's saying...
Hayakawa's rebounds are impressive.
It's not like he jumps that high. It's strange.
There are two types to what people call jumping skills.
Explosiveness and air time. Kagami, if I had to say one or the other, you'd be the latter.
The strength behind Hayakawa's rebounding is explosiveness.
His initial speed is fast, so even if he takes off later than others, he can reach the highest point first.
That means...
It means he can use that time to take off from a more favorable position.
Hmm... that's pretty good.
Oh no! My release was late!
All mine!
- Hayakawa... - ...lost in a rebound fight?
I-I'm sorry!
KAIJO FUKUDA SOGO
This is bad momentum... I have to do something!
Gonna avoid challenging me again? Well, I don't really care.
Who said such a thing?
That's...
Kagami used that when he first met Kise. A full drive into a high-speed roll and one-handed dunk!
That guy...
That thing just now is mine too.
Really... We're similar down to the bone.
Oh, right. You don't know about this.
I did say we were similar, but I'm not a cheap imitation like you.
What was that?
Okay... This time for sure!
Oh, nope, nope. It's useless no matter how many times you try. That's not your move anymore.
- No way. - To think he'd miss consecutively...
It can't be! Something's gotta be wrong. All of us are useless after Haizaki copied us!
Kuroko, you said before that Kise and Haizaki's skills were slightly different, right?
Yes.
What did you mean?
Kise-kun entered the regular lineup as if he replaced Haizaki-kun.
Haizaki-kun tended to ditch practice and was always slacking too.
He never saw an actual game, so it's no surprise Kise-kun doesn't know.
Haizaki-kun, like Kise-kun, instantly makes any move he sees his own.
But he changes the rhythm or tempo of the move ever so slightly to suit him.
Whoever sees a move that looks the same but has a slightly different rhythm...
...has his own innate rhythm broken and ends up unable to use that move.
Haizaki-kun doesn't copy... He pillages moves from others.
This is mine now.
KAIJO FUKUDA SOGO That ends the second quarter! We'll now have a 10-minute interval!
Hurry up and get going, dammit.
Kise, you think you can go?
I can go. Please let me go.
Shogo-kun... I'll make sure to defeat him!
Huh? What'd you just say, Ryota?
I mean, I want to challenge you for a spot in the starting lineup.
You just joined the team, so stop dreaming.
First of all, you can't beat me in practice... What are you planning?
The other four aside, I think I can take you on pretty soon.
I guess I've been underestimated here.
Of course I'm totally brushing things off in practice.
All right... Then I'll go full strength for just a little bit.
Is that fine, Akashi?
Man, Kise-chin is like totally sucking.
Nah, he's doing too well for a complete novice. He's simply that strong.
He may piss us off, but that's separate from how skilled he is.
Not yet. It's not over yet!
It's the same no matter how many times you come at me.
We're fundamentally different.
Well, it's true he tried too early.
I'm gonna go buy snacks.
- We're still practicing, Murasakibara-kun. - Shut up. I'll crush you.
It's true that Kise's speed of improvement is simply amazing, but...
- Shogo-kun, done with practice? - Oh, sorry, sorry... Just finished.
You're all sweaty!
I'll shower right away. Wanna come with?
Oh, you!
That bastard...
That's...
Isn't that Kise's new girlfriend?
- Huh? Ryota-kun? - Oh, he just challenged me and lost.
Serious? Man, that's so pathetic.
There ya go. See ya, Ryota-kun.
You won't sell it cheap, huh? The Generation of Miracles?
Don't make me laugh. Sayin' that at this level.
That was so easy it didn't even kill some time.
- Even Kise can get crushed? - Dammit!
It can't be... The Kaijo...
...is going to lose?
Who said he'd take responsibility and kick my ass, Ryota?
Not yet... It's not over yet!
No matter what play you use, I'll pillage it!
53RD Q. DON'T YOU GET IN MY WAY I'm the one who'll win, Shogo-kun!