The First String

Under the watchful eyes of Teiko Junior High students, Shiro walked through the gates.

"Wow, that guy is so handsome!"

"Is he a student here?"

All around, girls whispered excitedly, their voices brimming with youthful energy as they discussed Shiro.

"Excuse me, could you tell me where the basketball club is?" Shiro asked a nearby girl with a polite smile.

The girl's cheeks flushed as she stared at Shiro's refined features. She quickly glanced away, afraid she might get lost in his deep gaze. With a soft voice, she pointed toward a building, then hurried off shyly.

Shiro chuckled, amused. 'It's not like I'm some kind of monster. I don't look that bad, do I?'

With his hands tucked into his pockets, Shiro strolled leisurely in the direction the girl had indicated.

"BANG!"

The loud sound of a dunk echoed through the gym as Shiro stepped into the basketball club's court.

He looked up just in time to see a boy with dark skin and deep blue hair leap high into the air, slamming the ball fiercely through the hoop.

"Whoa! He's only a first-year, right? And he can already dunk?"

"That's insane. Can a kid his age even have that kind of athleticism?"

"I know him! That's Aomine Daiki. He's unstoppable in my neighborhood!"

The other students were buzzing with excitement, their voices filled with awe at Aomine's raw talent.

Shiro brushed his silver hair back, a grin creeping across his face. His eyes lit up with competitive fire. 'Aomine Daiki—ace of the Generation of Miracles. As expected, you've already started to bloom.'

Sensing the intense gaze locked on him, Aomine turned and met Shiro's eyes. His sharp expression shifted into a curious smirk. 'This guy… There's something different about him. He's strong—I can feel it.'

Aomine's grin widened. "Yo! Wanna go one-on-one?"

Shiro returned the smile. "Sure, but after the basketball club's tryouts."

"Deal. I'm Aomine Daiki. What's your name, man?" Aomine draped an arm casually over Shiro's shoulder, already treating him like an old friend.

"Kawakami Shiro. Nice to meet you," Shiro replied with a polite smile.

Just then, a coach wearing glasses clapped his hands, calling everyone to gather.

"Shiro, don't forget our game!" Aomine shouted as he jogged off.

"I won't," Shiro called back, his grin widening.

At that moment, the entire gym was filled with a tense and exciting atmosphere. The players whispered to each other, discussing the upcoming tryouts. Some were filled with confidence and eager to start, while others felt a bit nervous, silently hoping for good performances.

After the morning tryouts, the assistant coach walked over with a clipboard in hand, ready to announce the results.

"First up—those who made it to the third string. Please gather with the third-string coach."

The coach began reading names from the list:

"No. 3, Hachimura Masayoshi. No. 4, Nakazawa Simon... No. 31, Kuroko Tetsuya."

Shiro's gaze shifted toward a slim boy with light blue hair and an almost invisible presence. Kuroko stood quietly on the court, a slightly disappointed look flickering in his eyes.

'So, that's Kuroko Tetsuya...' Shiro observed.

Kuroko, recalling his promise to his friend Ogiwara, shook his head and headed toward the third-string group. But just as he did, he noticed Shiro watching him.

Their eyes met, and Shiro gave Kuroko a small, friendly nod.

'He... He noticed me?' Kuroko's eyes widened in shock. He had never encountered a stranger who could spot him so easily.

The coach continued reading names:

"Next, the second-string members: No. 17, Masao Watanabe..."

"Yes! I made the second string!"

Some players cheered loudly, overjoyed to have earned a spot.

"Quiet down," the coach said, adjusting his glasses. "Now, for the first-string lineup."

The gym fell silent.

"No way—first string?"

"A first-year in the first string? That's unheard of!"

Everyone listened intently as the coach called out the names.

"No. 8, Aomine Daiki."

Aomine stepped forward, glancing at Shiro with a playful grin, as if to say, 'See? I made it to the top.'

"No. 11, Midorima Shintaro"

Midorima, with his green hair and bandaged left hand, adjusted his glasses and clutched his lucky item of the day. His expression was as aloof as ever.

"No. 23, Murasakibara Atsushi"

"Crunch, crunch..."

The towering Murasakibara strolled forward, chewing on snacks as usual. At 186 cm, he loomed over the crowd, his messy purple hair swaying as he moved.

"Jeez, he's already that tall? What is this kid eating?"

"No. 29, Akashi Seijuro"

Akashi walked calmly to the front, exuding a quiet elegance. His red hair didn't seem loud or brash but gave him an air of quiet authority, like a dignified noble.

Akashi's gaze drifted briefly toward Shiro, who gave him a slight nod in return.

The two boys knew each other from family connections—both hailed from influential families, with Akashi and Shiro often meeting at high-profile events. They had even played shogi together, their matches always ending in a tie—Shiro was the only person Akashi had never beaten.

"And finally, No. 30, Kawakami Shiro."

Shiro stepped forward, standing alongside the other four players. His serene expression betrayed no emotion as he scanned the crowd.

With their vibrant hair colors and overwhelming presence, the five players exuded an aura of undeniable strength.

"Unbelievable... Five first-years made it to the first string!"

"They're already so intimidating. I can't even look them in the eye!"

The coach snapped his clipboard shut. "That's it for today's announcements. Everyone, train according to your group assignments tomorrow. Those who didn't make it this time—keep working hard."

With that, the coach left the court, leaving the players to their own thoughts.

In the crowd, Kuroko clenched his fists. 'Next time... Next time, I'll make it to the first string!'

As soon as the tryouts ended, Aomine ran over to Shiro, brimming with excitement. "Shiro! Come on, let's play our one-on-one!"

Shiro grinned, feeling the competitive thrill surge through him.

'This will be my first encounter with a member of the Generation of Miracles. Let's see what Aomine is really made of.'

"Alright, let's do this," Shiro said, his voice full of anticipation.

The other students, sensing that something exciting was about to happen, chose to stay behind. All eyes were on the two as they prepared to face off—everyone eager to witness the clash between Shiro and Aomine.