NBA Skills: Dominating Kuroko no Basket

At night, the entire campus was shrouded in silence, except for one brightly lit office at Teiko.

"It seems like everything has come to a pause for now" said Sanada, standing upright like a steadfast pine tree before Coach Shirogane. His tone was calm.

"Yes, indeed" Shirogane nodded slightly, a trace of fatigue crossing his face. Leaning back in his chair, he seemed to be trying to ease his strained nerves.

Sanada continued, "Even though Nijimura and the others are stepping down, there's no need to worry. As long as the Generation of Miracles remains, the team won't face any significant issues."

A rare smile tugged at the corner of his usually stern lips.

However, Shirogane's voice cut through the moment: "It's not that simple" His words made Sanada pause, caught off guard.

Turning to gaze out of the window, Shirogane's expression grew heavy. "Their talent is immense—too immense. To manage a team of this caliber, we must give it our all in support."

He finished with a slight cough, his pallor becoming more apparent.

"Still, as long as you're here, there's nothing to worry about..." Sanada began to reassure him, but before he could finish, a heavy thud broke through the quiet.

Thud.

The sound was like something collapsing. Alarmed, Sanada turned to see Shirogane lying on the ground.

"Coach!" he exclaimed, his voice tinged with panic. He rushed forward to check on him.

Shirogane's face was as pale as paper, his eyes closed as though he had lost consciousness. A sinking feeling filled Sanada's chest as he fumbled to dial for emergency services.

"Hello? This is Teiko Junior High. Someone has collapsed—please send an ambulance immediately!" Sanada's voice was desperate.

Minutes passed like hours as Sanada anxiously waited. Finally, the ambulance arrived, and paramedics swiftly loaded Shirogane into the vehicle, heading to the nearest hospital.

...

The Next Day

"He's not in critical condition, but unfortunately, he won't be able to return as coach" During practice, Sanada gathered the first-string players and broke the news. Their faces immediately darkened with worry.

"From today, I'll be taking over as interim coach," Sanada continued firmly. "We'll stick to the training plan as outlined. Any objections?"

Reluctantly, the players nodded in agreement and returned to practice, though concern lingered in their eyes.

On the court, Aomine passed the ball to Murasakibara, who was stationed in the paint but immediately faced a double-team.

Under normal circumstances, Murasakibara should have passed the ball to Akashi, who was open and ready nearby.

Instead, Murasakibara glanced briefly at Akashi but chose to rise for a dunk. A powerful gust of wind seemed to accompany him as he leapt.

Boom!

The two defenders collapsed under Murasakibara's raw power as the ball thundered through the hoop. The spectators gasped, their jaws practically hitting the floor.

Meanwhile, the Generation of Miracles began a swift transition back on defense.

Trailing close behind Murasakibara, Akashi's expression was stern. "Scoring is fine, but there were two defenders on you. Passing to me would have been the better choice in that situation."

"Really? Doesn't matter. I scored anyway" Murasakibara replied nonchalantly, his indifferent attitude causing Akashi's brows to knit together.

Akashi's sharp gaze lingered on Murasakibara, flickering with both anger and unease.

Off-court, Momoi watched anxiously. Her keen observation skills had caught on to Murasakibara's change.

"Murasakibara is so powerful now — it's like he's a completely different person" she thought. "Just like Aomine... But that's what frightens me most about this sudden growth"

Her gaze drifted from Murasakibara to Shiro. Though she had glanced briefly at Murasakibara, most of her focus was on Shiro.

"Will you change too, Shiro?" she thought fearfully.

As if sensing her gaze, Shiro turned and gave her a reassuring smile, a silent promise that he wouldn't lose himself.

Relieved, Momoi smiled back faintly. She trusted her Shiro wouldn't fall into the same abyss.

...

Later That Night

In the brightly lit gymnasium, Midorima stood several paces beyond the three-point line, tirelessly practicing his shots.

Each shot was precise, the ball gliding through the hoop with a satisfying swish. He moved with the mechanical accuracy of a weapon, his focus unshaken.

After another perfect shot, he turned to retrieve the ball but froze mid-step. His eyes locked onto the distant rim, a spark of inspiration igniting within them.

"From this distance..." he murmured to himself, curiosity and determination welling up.

Gripping the ball tightly, Midorima bent his knees slightly and jumped. The ball soared high, carving a sharp arc through the air.

Swish!

The sound of the ball hitting nothing but net echoed through the empty gym. Stunned, Midorima stared at the hoop, replaying the shot in his mind.

Outside, Sanada watched silently, his expression unreadable as he observed the night's training. His eyes gleamed with complex emotions, as if wrestling with the challenges that lay ahead.