Step…
Sawakita Eiji landed on the ground, then turned his head to glance back at Aoi Kunisaku.
His thoughts were a mess.
A moment ago, Aoi Kunisaku had clearly been defending Sendoh. Sawakita had charged straight toward the paint at full speed and slammed it in, yet somehow, Aoi still caught up.
But the one even more shaken was Sendoh, who had seen the whole thing from start to finish.
He was completely stunned.
What had he just witnessed?
He couldn't believe his own eyes.
He had just seen Aoi Kunisaku move like he'd teleported—one blink, and the guy had jumped several meters, appearing behind Sawakita.
That speed made him break into a cold sweat.
Was that even humanly possible?
He knew Aoi Kunisaku was fast.
But he didn't expect Aoi to be this fast after activating Wild Instinct.
It was just too damn absurd!
Sawakita Eiji let out a breath, said nothing, and picked up the ball. He tossed it over to Aoi Kunisaku. "Your turn to attack."
Aoi caught the ball and walked to the center line.
Sendoh and Sawakita Eiji stood at their half, one on the left and one on the right, blocking Aoi's path.
Bounce…
Bounce…
Bounce…
Aoi Kunisaku dribbled slowly, eyes locked on the two in front of him.
With every bounce, the atmosphere grew heavier.
Neither Sendoh nor Sawakita made a move. They were waiting for Aoi to take the first step.
But Aoi was never the hesitant type.
He suddenly burst forward, lowering his stance and shooting straight through the gap between them.
Sendoh and Sawakita Eiji's eyes lit up, and they both quickly stepped inward, closing the gap and blocking Aoi's path.
But in the next instant, Aoi's figure blurred, then faded entirely into nothingness.
Both Sendoh and Sawakita Eiji's pupils shrank. They stared wide-eyed, tension surging in their chests.
'Damn it.'
They both turned instinctively to the sides.
Sendoh glanced left.
Nothing there—just empty space.
Sawakita looked to his right.
Also empty.
'Huh?'
They immediately turned toward each other. Their eyes met, and both could see the confusion and doubt in the other's gaze.
Bounce…
Just then, another dribble echoed out.
Hearing where it came from, both of their hearts dropped, and their scalps tingled.
They turned to look forward.
Aoi Kunisaku was still standing where he had started, not even having moved.
That's when they realized they'd been completely tricked.
Aoi never tried to slip past them. He had faked the dash, then used insane speed to instantly pull back to his original spot.
Sendoh and Sawakita instinctively lunged forward, charging toward him.
But Aoi's mouth curled into a sly grin.
He had retreated on purpose, baiting both of them into reacting.
The next moment—
Aoi whipped the ball to the ground between them. It shot out like an arrow and slammed into the floor between their feet.
Thud…
The thundering impact almost felt like a shockwave. Sendoh and Sawakita froze in place.
Before they could react, Aoi moved again.
He vanished in a flash of teal, circling around them like lightning.
By the time Sendoh and Sawakita regained control of their bodies, Aoi had already snatched the ball mid-bounce and was now behind them.
'Damn it!'
Both cursed internally.
They tried to steady themselves and turn around to chase him.
But they were already a step too late.
And Aoi Kunisaku's speed was nothing they could match.
By the time they pivoted, Aoi had already put several meters between them and was charging straight into the paint.
With no one in his way, Aoi took a big stride, raised the ball, leaped high, and slammed it down hard into the rim.
Clang…
The ball hit the net clean.
Aoi scored.
Step…
He landed, turned around, and looked at Sendoh and Sawakita with a smirk full of pride and challenge.
Sendoh and Sawakita stared at him, faces tense.
Sendoh said, "What a monster."
Sawakita Eiji added, "No matter how many times we try, we can never read his play."
Possession changed.
Now it was Sendoh and Sawakita Eiji's turn to attack.
Sendoh said heavily, "We can't keep attacking like this. We have to figure something out."
Sawakita Eiji glanced at him sideways. "Got any bright ideas?"
Sendoh thought for a bit, then sighed. "Not yet. But keeping our distance from him is a safe bet."
Sawakita nodded.
He was thinking the same thing.
Getting up close with Aoi Kunisaku was just asking for it.
The only real option left was scoring from long range.
With that in mind, Sawakita asked, "How's your long-range shot?"
Sendoh smiled slightly. "Probably about the same as yours."
Sawakita Eiji's face darkened, but he replied, "Fine then. Let's see who gets the better chance."
"Let's do it," Sendoh responded.
The two reached a consensus. When they looked at Aoi Kunisaku again, their eyes flashed with determination.
Next moment, Sawakita Eiji began dribbling forward.
Aoi Kunisaku didn't move. Only when Sawakita approached did he shift his weight and block his path.
Seeing Aoi step in, Sawakita instantly passed the ball to Sendoh.
Aoi Kunisaku wasn't surprised.
He'd expected the pass.
Suddenly, he vanished from in front of Sawakita, like a bolt of lightning, striking toward Sendoh.
Sendoh had planned to shoot right away after catching the pass. The ball was halfway up when he felt a gust of wind closing in fast.
A chill ran down his spine. He instantly stopped his shooting motion and shielded the ball behind him.
Sure enough, a split second later, a shadowy blur flashed right past where he'd raised the ball. Aoi Kunisaku's hand.
A bead of sweat rolled down Sendoh's forehead.
That was close. Really close.
Good thing he pulled back quickly, or Aoi would've stolen it.
Sendoh dropped into a triple-threat stance, glancing sideways to check Sawakita's position.
Sawakita was now on the other side of the three-point line, far from Aoi Kunisaku.
'This distance should be enough,' Sendoh thought to himself.
Then, he made a quick crossover step, widening the gap between him and Aoi even more.
Just to be extra safe.
He saw Sawakita waving at him from the three-point line, asking for the ball.
Sendoh didn't hesitate. He turned sideways, jumped, and took a shooting stance.
Aoi Kunisaku jumped too, raising his arms and completely sealing off Sendoh's shooting line.
Just then, Sendoh's mouth curled into a smirk as he said to Aoi, "Looks like you're gonna lose this time."
Mid-air, Sendoh suddenly changed his shooting motion, pulling the ball behind his back.
He was going to pass to Sawakita Eiji.
Sawakita was already in position, ready to catch the pass.
His eyes lit up. 'There's no way Aoi Kunisaku can stop this now.'
As long as he caught it, he'd shoot before Aoi landed.
He was confident in his long-range shot.
Sendoh flicked his wrist and launched the ball toward Sawakita.
But just as the ball left his hand, something happened that left both Sendoh and Sawakita dumbfounded.
Aoi Kunisaku, who had just gone up to block Sendoh's shot, suddenly pulled his arm back mid-air.
At the same time, his body twisted in the air, spinning nearly 180 degrees backward.
As he spun, he flung his arm around and swatted the ball that Sendoh had just passed.
The scene was so insane it left both Sendoh and Sawakita stunned.
Step…
Step…
Both landed on the ground.
Sendoh stood there slack-jawed, staring at Aoi Kunisaku in disbelief.
He'd thought that shot was guaranteed. No way Aoi could stop it.
Yet somehow, Aoi pulled it off.
That was beyond normal basketball skills.
He couldn't even believe what he had just seen.
Sawakita Eiji stood frozen, looking like he'd just seen a ghost. His eyes were practically popping out of his skull.
It was like he had just witnessed Superman in action.