Chapter 32 - 32 – Only the Strong Deserve Elegance

The ten-minute first quarter flew by in a flash. Teikō exploded for 36 points, while holding their opponent to just 11. Kaisei Middle School was completely stunned. In the stands, Kaisei's band of proud "warriors" were all speechless now, blankly staring at the scoreboard's merciless numbers. And the man responsible for this massacre—Tendou Kageyoshi—had already been subbed out by Shirogane Kōzō by the 8th minute. In just those eight short minutes, Tendou racked up a dazzling stat line of 22 points, 4 steals, and 1 assist. Why no rebounds? Because Murasakibara was out there gobbling them all up! Now, everyone's gaze toward Tendou had completely changed. Before the game, plenty of critics accused him of playing too recklessly. But now? Those same people were wishing Kaisei's ace, Ichize Junjin, could be just as aggressive. Tendou turned the public narrative around in a single quarter. All that talk about "playing the right way"—Tendou shredded it with a barrage of buckets and sheer dominance. "Basketball, in the end, is a game of who scores more," said Shirogane Kōzō, who never shared the conservative mindset of Kaisei's coach. Years of coaching had taught him that some players just defy convention. Mediocre players cling to "playing smart" to cover their lack of talent. Real prodigies can bend the game with their own will. Even LeBron—when he's locked in—can finish with defenders draped all over him. Reasonable? Hell no. ... Back at the café where Tendou worked part-time— The women there were practically jumping for joy. "Lil' Tendou's amazing!" "He didn't embarrass our café—thank goodness! The kid's not just a pretty face," said the proud shop owner. When she first found out Tendou played basketball, she even gifted him a pair of "A-Chase" sneakers. Now, the regulars who usually saw Tendou just posing around the shop were glued to the TV. One girl even looked down at her own feet—couldn't see her toes—then proudly raised her chin. "Only someone with hands that magical... could handle balls like that." ... On the bench, Ichize Junjin sat down with slumped shoulders. He had given it everything he had in the first quarter—but it wasn't enough. He couldn't get past Tendou's suffocating defense. Four failed drives. Zero separation. Multiple steals. He prided himself on being a national-level player. But Tendou? That guy felt like he was playing in another dimension altogether. During the timeout, Kaisei's coach exploded. "What the hell are you doing!? Two people defending and he's still scoring at will!?" "Get physical! Make contact! Don't let him shoot in rhythm! You want to be eliminated in the first round!?" His anger wasn't unfounded. To him, Tendou Kageyoshi represented everything he hated in basketball. "Coach... we're doing our best. But there's nothing we can do..." "What do you mean 'nothing'!? This isn't Michael Jordan, or Kobe, or LeBron! Foul him! Hit him if you have to! This is war—be ruthless!" But Ichize couldn't bring himself to do it. Because Tendou's defense was just... too elegant. Too clean. Too graceful. To hit someone who played with such poise felt like desecrating a sacred duel. Of course—he was overthinking it. Tendou was stronger. That's why he could play elegantly. If it had been Aomine guarding him? Elegance would've flown out the window. Defense is about stopping your opponent—not looking good doing it. Only the strong earn the right to play with elegance. ... Elsewhere in the stands... Watching intently was Harasawa Katsura, now head coach of Rakuzan High. Since retiring from professional basketball, he had trained for two and a half years before becoming the coach of Tōō Academy. With pro experience and time spent on the national team, his eye for talent was among the sharpest in Japan. Tōō, with its deep pockets and bold recruiting, had rapidly risen to become one of the powerhouses in high school basketball. High school nationals didn't start at the same time as middle school nationals, but prep time was heating up. Harasawa was here partly to relieve stress, partly to scout for talent. Compared to middle school, the competition in high school was several times more brutal. Outside of Tōō and the Three Kings of Tokyo, nearly every region had their own long-standing elite schools. But the school that made everyone—everyone—nervous... Was the monolithic giant, Rakuzan High. Every team dreaming of a national title had to confront the mountainous obstacle that was Rakuzan. Harasawa knew—deep down—that his current roster probably couldn't beat them. Tōō might be flashy and rich, but compared to Rakuzan? They were nothing but new money. Rakuzan didn't even need to recruit. The talent came to them. They radiated class. Tōō? They had to offer scholarships, housing, gear, everything—just to try to sign top players. And even then, finding players worthy of investment wasn't easy. Talents still gravitated toward tradition. Toward legacy. This time, Harasawa had only one goal: Recruit Teikō's captain—Nijimura Shuzō. He was considered Japan's best power forward at the middle school level. To Harasawa, Nijimura was the key piece to build a team that could slay Rakuzan. But then— He saw Tendou Kageyoshi. In just one quarter, this monster outshined everyone—even Nijimura. And in Harasawa's professional opinion, this first-year middle schooler already had the skills to start for a top high school team. His suffocating defense. His effortless scoring. It was so good, Harasawa nearly— Never mind. The cherry on top? He was graceful. Stylish. Composed. And Harasawa? He was known as the most elegant, most fashionable coach in the Kuroko universe. So when he saw Tendou, it was love at first sight. They were the same. Both handsome. Both elegant. Both exceptional. --- Vote with some power stones in this story. By using them on this book, you guarantee bonus chapters weekly.