"Did Yuuto agree?"
"He did. But he has one condition."
"What condition?"
"Change our team name to 'Yu.'"
"..."
This was really something!
Everyone was speechless. Apparently, Kagetora had originally named the team "Dragon Slayers."
After all, the opponents were called "Jabberwock"—dragons. "Dragon Slayers" was obviously targeted.
And Yuuto?
Even more direct. Did they not know he went by "Yu" over there in America?
Team Yu?
Wasn't that basically making it his team?
"Dad, you didn't actually agree, did you?"
"I agreed."
His life was on the line—how could he refuse?
Sure, he'd looked cool issuing the challenge, but thinking about the consequences of losing... he was terrified.
Well, not scared of death exactly—he just didn't want his daughter to become an orphan so young.
"Fine, it's just a name. Yu it is."
"Great, if no one objects. Also, Yuuto told me his teammate wants to come along."
His teammate?
Could it be Covanord's power forward?
...
The next day.
Yuuto boarded a flight to Japan with Walker.
Walker was visibly excited, constantly asking which famous red-light districts Japan had.
He wasn't going to Japan to help Yuuto fight Jabberwock.
In his words: "I need to experience the youth of different countries."
He was even prepared to blow his entire $2,500 in Japan.
"Women and alcohol are a player's greatest enemies, Walker."
"I know. That's why I've been off the booze since yesterday."
What a piece of work!
Yuuto shut up, done talking to him.
...
After what felt like forever, the plane landed.
Yuuto led Walker out of the airport.
A year away, and Tokyo's airport naturally hadn't changed much—though the air felt refreshingly different.
"Yu!"
"Yuuto!"
The moment Yuuto stepped through the exit, two figures rushed toward him—one with white hair, one with pink.
Walker's eyes nearly popped out of his head.
That dog of a roommate, acting all proper—he actually had two girlfriends.
Walker immediately thought of Lou Williams, affectionately known as "Sweet Lou" in the basketball world.
Lou was famous for being the "Sixth Man of the Year."
But that wasn't why Walker knew him so well. No, it was because that dog had two girlfriends simultaneously—and it was public knowledge!
He was burning with jealousy.
"I missed you so much!"
"Why did you take so long to come back? You barely even called!"
The two girls had missed him terribly. A whole year apart had been unbearable.
"The time difference is huge, and I had to focus on basketball. Let me introduce you—this is my roommate and teammate at Covanord. Just call him Walker."
"Hi~"
Walker greeted them enthusiastically, stumbling through some basic phrases.
Sora and Momoi showed no trouble communicating—they'd been studying English in preparation for studying abroad and could handle normal conversation.
Walker whispered to them, "Do you know where the high-quality red-light districts are? Doesn't have to be too high-quality—half as pretty as you two would be fine."
He was genuinely jealous.
His dog of a roommate had two girlfriends who looked like princesses straight out of anime.
Walker wasn't asking for much—just half that quality would satisfy him.
But hearing this, Sora's hair antennae stood up like antennas, and she immediately grabbed one of Yuuto's cheeks.
"You've been hanging out with this guy for the past year?"
Momoi joined the attack, pinching his other cheek. In Japanese, she demanded, "Don't tell me you went to those places with him!"
How could she not be angry? Yuuto had actually been to those places!
"How could I? I don't like Western girls. How could they compare to you two?"
"Look, I even brought you gifts."
Yuuto pulled out the presents he'd prepared in advance.
He made sure to mention they were bought with his championship prize money.
Sora and Momoi immediately perked up at that.
Gifts bought with championship money—that carried special meaning.
"Do you like them?"
"I love it!"
"Put it on me!"
Yuuto placed a necklace on each of them—$1,000 apiece.
Walker felt like a complete outsider, wanting nothing more than to escape.
Back at Covanord it was the same—all those girls with big curves were constantly swarming around this guy.
So unfair!
"Let's go. We should meet up with the rest of the team first."
"Mm."
They called a car and headed to Seirin's gymnasium.
By now, Aomine and the others had already started practicing.
The Generation of Miracles reunited, forming a team to scrimmage against the reserves.
Despite two years apart, their chemistry had only improved. Through Inter-High and Winter Cup battles, they'd come to understand each other even better.
In just one day, they'd recaptured that feeling of playing together at Teikō.
Crash—
The gym doors swung open. Yuuto walked in wearing a leather jacket.
Everyone's attention snapped toward him.
"Yuuto?!"
"Yo. Having fun?"
A year apart, and Yuuto's appearance hadn't changed much.
But the aura he carried had become even more intimidating.
"There's no mistaking it—just like the first time we faced the Generation of Miracles. That pressure." Hyūga found the feeling familiar.
Back when they'd first played Kise, he'd felt this exact same suffocation.
The difference was, he'd grown accustomed to the Generation of Miracles by now.
And then he saw Yuuto again...
"So this is what an Indiana state champion and Nike High School National champion looks like!"
Izuki felt it too.
This kind of presence couldn't be faked—it could only be built through victory after victory.
"Enough small talk—get in here and play!"
Yuuto had planned to catch up, but Aomine was already impatient.
Fine then.
"Sure. Let's see how much you've improved this year."
He quickly shed his jacket and stepped onto the court, motioning for Walker to get ready too.
Then he turned to find his dog of a teammate asking around in English about where the red-light districts were.
Those who didn't understand were confused. Those who did understand had their faces darken.
They were all thinking: Yuuto's past year must have been quite... eventful.
Their eyes drifted meaningfully toward Sora and Momoi.
Killing intent immediately radiated from both girls as they glared at Yuuto.
"Believe me, I barely know the guy."
"You're roommates!"
"Temporary! I'm moving out as soon as the new semester starts!"
...
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