CHAPTER 4 — SEIRIN'S NEW HEART
Seirin High School — First Official Practice with Joshua
The gym smelled like polished wood, sweat, and anticipation. The early spring sunlight streamed through high windows, casting long, diagonal stripes across the court. For the first time, Seirin's regulars were not just practicing—they were aware that something monumental had joined them.
Joshua stretched silently at midcourt, galaxy-red eyes scanning each player with a casual precision that unsettled even the most confident first-years. Kuroko, beside him, mirrored every subtle movement, their shared heartbeat palpable.
"Alright," Riko called, clipboard in hand, "today we practice team offense. Let's see how well you coordinate under pressure."
Kagami exhaled sharply, his shoulders squaring. "So the new guy finally gets tested properly, huh?"
Joshua's eyes met his. He didn't speak, didn't flex, didn't intimidate—yet the air around him felt heavier. Kagami shifted instinctively, already sensing that Joshua's calm was an invisible force.
Riko divided the team into two groups: offensive drills for one half of the court, defensive for the other. Joshua's presence alone reorganized the gym's flow. First-years felt it immediately; even the veterans found their timing subtly off, like the rhythm of their bodies had to re-sync to a new pulse.
Kagami dribbled fiercely, trying to gauge Joshua's speed. He charged in, full power, expecting resistance, but Joshua sidestepped with perfect economy. The ball rolled free—and before Kagami could recover, Kuroko appeared, intercepting with flawless misdirection.
"Did… did he just anticipate me?" Kagami muttered under his breath.
"Not anticipate," Kuroko said quietly, "synchronize."
Joshua finally moved, sliding past defenders as if the court itself bent to his rhythm. He didn't shout. He didn't flaunt. The ball left his hands and arced perfectly into the hoop, swishing silently, almost invisible.
Aomine, who had been watching through a short visit from Teiko scouts, shook his head in disbelief. "That's… insane."
Kise clapped enthusiastically, grinning. "I didn't know someone could move like that without the Zone!"
Even Midorima blinked. "Probability… is now irrelevant."
Joshua's influence was quiet but absolute. Every player's rhythm subtly adjusted, their timing reshaped by the pulse of the new heart of Seirin.
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TEAM OFFENSE DRILL
Riko called the next drill: a five-on-five scrimmage against Joshua's group.
"Remember, it's about teamwork, not just skill. Pay attention to spacing, angles, and timing!" she instructed.
Joshua paired with Kuroko automatically. The twin's coordination was seamless—every pass, cut, and pivot executed as if they shared a single mind. Kagami could only watch, feeling both awe and frustration as Joshua repeatedly found openings that seemed invisible.
"Stop moving like you own the court!" Kagami shouted during one attempt.
Joshua stopped briefly, gaze meeting his. "I don't own it. I guide it."
Kagami blinked. That single sentence was enough to unsettle him. Joshua's movements weren't about brute force—they were about subtle influence, control over the flow rather than domination. Kagami had never faced an opponent—or teammate—like this.
Kuroko slid between Kagami and the hoop, passing to Joshua mid-stride. Joshua's spin-pass curved impossibly around two defenders, hitting Kuroko's hands exactly where only he could receive it. Kagami lunged to intercept, but Joshua was already gone, leading the next offensive sequence with calm inevitability.
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KAGAMI'S FRUSTRATION AND RESPECT
After the drill, Kagami slammed his palm on the wall. "I can't even read him! How is he moving like that?"
Kuroko stepped up. "He doesn't just move… he feels the rhythm of the court. It's not about speed or strength—it's about the moment."
Kagami shook his head, trying to wrap his mind around it. "Feels the moment… yeah, well, I'll find a way to beat him."
Joshua, silently, had overheard. He smiled faintly. Not mockingly—almost warmly. "I would like to see that."
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A QUIET MOMENT WITH KOUROKO
Later, when the practice ended, Kuroko approached Joshua quietly.
"Did you mean it?" he asked. "That you want to stay?"
Joshua nodded. "I came back for you. But staying also means protecting you… and guiding this team. I'm not leaving again."
Kuroko smiled softly. "Then… welcome home, Joshua-nii."
Joshua's gaze softened, and for a brief second, his galaxy-red eyes seemed to glow with something more than power: care.
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FIRST HINTS OF RIVALRIES
Even as Seirin adjusted to their new heart, word traveled fast. Teiko scouts noticed Joshua's reappearance. Rumors spread among top teams in Tokyo, whispers of a "new Miracle" who had returned to Seirin. Some teams began studying Seirin's lineups obsessively.
Kagami, watching Joshua leave the gym, clenched his fists. "This is going to be interesting," he muttered. "I thought I was strong… but I haven't even scratched the surface yet."
Joshua's presence was more than strength. It was a promise of challenges to come—for Seirin, for Kagami, and for the generation of Miracles who would eventually cross paths again.
As the sun set, the gym lights hummed softly. Joshua and Kuroko lingered for a few extra minutes, quietly coordinating plays without words. The rhythm of their teamwork was invisible to anyone else, but it was powerful enough to reshape the potential of the entire team.
For Seirin, the first day with Joshua was more than just a practice. It was a statement: their heart had returned. Their shadow had returned. And their opponent's world would never be the same again.
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End of Chapter 4