This was never going to be a slice-of-life anime.
FanGeGe had seen this kind of speculation on forums before.
Many fans believed that Teikō's basketball club was only going to spiral further.
And it made sense—so many talented, eccentric prodigies, all with their own pride and convictions, gathered on one team?
Something was bound to happen eventually.
...
Clatter~
The doors to the basketball club opened.
Kuroko entered quietly and said only, "I'm here," then headed to his usual spot.
"You're here, Kuroko. Suit up—we're starting soon."
Even though most people never noticed Kuroko's presence, Tendou didn't even need to turn around to sense him.
"Those eyes..."
Cue another flashback montage of Tendou's moments using the Six Eyes.
He hadn't told anyone about this ability.
Even the anime's production team seemed to be keeping things under wraps, only offering subtle hints for viewers to speculate on.
"His perception must've evolved again."
"He used to be able to sense Kuroko. Now it's like he sees him perfectly."
"Ugh, the production team won't just spell out what the full powers are—it's killing me."
"At the very least, we can say the Eye of the Heavens gives him 360-degree field of vision and enhanced dynamic sight."
As for the rest of its abilities? Still a mystery.
But eyes that cool-looking couldn't possibly be that simple.
The Six Eyes' fine-tuned bodily control was a hidden trait—not something easily noticeable.
...
Training resumed as usual.
Even though summer break was around the corner, Coach Fujimura had already scheduled intensive training camp to pave the way for Teikō's three-peat.
But with Nijimura Shūzō and Shirogane Kōzō—their two stabilizing anchors—gone, things started to fall apart.
...
They were only partway into a scrimmage when the gym door slammed open again.
This time, it wasn't a teammate—it was a girl.
A girl that Haizaki Shōgo had just recently started dating.
"Shōgo-kun, is practice over~?"
"Ah, almost. Sorry to keep you waiting."
Haizaki didn't care one bit about the strange looks from his teammates—he just swaggered right over to the girl.
"Ugh, you're all sweaty—it stinks," she muttered with a scowl.
Someone nearby recognized her.
"Wait… isn't that the girl Ryouta just started dating?"
WHAT?
FanGeGe exploded on stream.
"I'm a loyal romance believer, and THIS is what you show me?!"
"Isn't that Ryouta's girlfriend?"
"Yeah, well… she got 'schooled.' Now she's just sulking."
Haizaki sneered.
Ever since Kise had joined the team, Haizaki had bumped Tendou down to No. 2 on his hate list.
Kise Ryouta was now enemy number one.
They had similar abilities, but Kise's sunny, cloying attitude made Haizaki want to puke.
Always clinging to Tendou, pestering him for one-on-one matches…
Plus, the two of them were often subbed in around the same time.
Naturally, Haizaki noticed.
The girl snorted, clearly annoyed.
"Really? That guy's such a loser."
"HAHAHA, right? He's—"
Whoosh—
Before Haizaki could finish, a violent whooshing sound cut through the air behind him.
He turned sharply, ready to catch something—but the ball was moving too fast, too hard.
Like a missile, it slammed against the wall, bounced off, and rolled right back into Tendou's hands.
"TENDOU?!"
"Captain?!"
The sudden noise startled everyone.
Sure, they didn't like Haizaki's attitude, but no one had expected violence.
After all, they were still teammates, weren't they?
...
"You trying to start something?" Haizaki shouted, infuriated.
Embarrassed in front of his new girl, he was clearly pissed.
Tendou said nothing.
He calmly walked toward the couple, step by step.
"I don't enjoy bullying weaklings," Tendou said coldly.
"But you… don't bring non-recyclable trash into the gym. The air's getting foul."
"Trash? Non-recyclable?"
The girl's face twisted in disbelief.
Tendou glanced sideways at her.
It was like someone pressed a mute button.
"What is wrong with this guy?! Why is he so mean…
But why does it make him even more attractive?!"
She started blushing.
Meanwhile, Haizaki was absolutely furious.
He stepped forward, ready to fight.
"HAIZAKI!"
"Look out—!"
Smack!
Without warning, Tendou slapped him across the face.
"TENDOU!"
Everyone was stunned.
Even Momoi couldn't believe it.
But somehow…
Momoi kind of enjoyed it.
"He had it coming," she muttered.
"Showing off in front of that girl and bullying Ryouta—what a jerk."
...
"That was pathetic, Haizaki."
Tendou stared him down, his tone calm.
"Afraid of being surpassed by Kise, so you resort to cheap off-court tricks? That's pathetic."
"You think I'll be overtaken by that mutt?"
"You know it's just a matter of time.
If you don't want to fall behind, get stronger instead of acting like a coward."
...
Everyone knew it.
Kise would eventually surpass Haizaki.
Even if Haizaki's abilities were more aggressive and raw, Kise had greater potential.
Haizaki knew it, Akashi saw it, Aomine sensed it.
Every time Haizaki saw Kise get beaten down and still return with a smile, asking Tendou for another match—
He hated it more and more.
He couldn't stand how badly Kise wanted to improve.
That kind of hunger made Haizaki nervous.
So he started trying to take everything from Kise—even the girl at his side.
"Kise… is more of a man than you'll ever be."
That line?
Set Haizaki OFF.
Like a switch had flipped.
He charged at Tendou in a blind rage.
But Tendou moved faster.
One arm shot out like a net.
Before Haizaki could even react, Tendou's hand grabbed his entire face.
Then—
SLAM.
He lifted Haizaki up and slammed him into the ground, pinning him there.
The girl next to them?
Screaming her head off in pure terror.