"Let's see if you've got what it takes, Inoue Tomoya!"
Aomine Daiki flashed a confident grin, then launched himself past Inoue Tomoya's flank without hesitation.
"Think you can break through my defense that easily?!"
"Heh..."
"Of course I do."
There was no way it would be that easy.
That's exactly why
Boom!
Aomine had already darted to Inoue's left side, weaving through the tight space between them. Suddenly, he braked sharply and slipped the ball through Inoue's legs in a lightning-quick nutmeg.
Without losing a beat, Aomine twisted his body like a panther in motion—fast, fluid, lethal—grabbing the ball from behind and performing a sudden ultra-close crossover using the gap he'd just created.
Inoue's footwork stuttered. Caught off-guard by the unexpected maneuver, his defensive stance cracked for just a moment—Aomine had broken through.
But Inoue didn't give up. He turned immediately to pursue, his expression calm and unshaken, composed to the core.
Yet the rest of the Kamizaki team members bracing themselves to face Aomine head-on—under the weight of his overwhelming presence—found themselves rattled.
Because his speed…
Was even faster than the "super genius" Inoue Tomoya they thought was already unmatched.
Even though they'd grown used to Inoue's speed during practice, facing Teiko's No. 9, Aomine Daiki, in real time—felt like slamming into a cold wall of reality.
They hadn't expected it.
Not their ace, Inoue Tomoya, getting broken through so easily.
And even more shocking...
It wasn't by Akihito Shigure.
But by another first-year
Number 9.
Aomine Daiki.
With Inoue joining the team this year, and after nearly three grueling months of training, his growth had been undeniable. Compared to when he first arrived, he had evolved tremendously.
Normally, that would have made his upperclassmen feel a bit ashamed.
But after last year's legendary "Teiko Twin Stars," it made sense that Inoue, as this year's star first-year, would be their biggest hope for Nationals. Thinking that way… made it easier to accept.
That hope came from what Inoue had done after his training: defeating the entire third-year starting lineup without fanfare—rising above the ranks to earn every Kamizaki player's respect.
He brought a visible, tangible sense of confidence to Kamizaki Middle School.
And sure enough, just as expected, Kamizaki had swept through opponents in the preliminary rounds under Inoue's lead. Even in the round-robin stage, they kept winning.
They began to imagine it.
Maybe, just maybe… they could defeat Teiko.
Maybe they could be seeded first.
Maybe… they could shock the nation.
But the reality they saw at the Nationals...
Sure, qualifying might not be impossible.
But Teiko's strength this year was on a whole different level. So far beyond anyone's imagination. The "Twin Stars" hadn't even stepped onto the court—one sat on the bench, and the other, despite being a shooting guard, was holding the center position and locking down the paint.
Even so—Teiko had made the gap in ability painfully clear from the start.
Kamizaki's power forward already had sweat beading on his forehead.
But still
No matter what kind of monster rookies these were
He'd never let them run wild in his and Katayama's paint.
"Teiko's first-year brat!"
"Don't get cocky!"
"You think you're Akihito Shigure?!"
The power forward's roar was more for himself than for the opponent, but it didn't slow Aomine down even a fraction.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Kamizaki's center, Katayama—being held off by Shigure—saw a glance from Inoue. In response, he shoved Shigure away with one hand and rotated over to help double-team Teiko's No. 9!
The audience gasped audibly.
"Aomine Daiki… is going in solo?!"
"He's taking on both Kamizaki big men!"
"And Inoue Tomoya is chasing him from behind!"
Inoue's shooting during dribble transitions had been spectacular earlier, but for the spectators, nothing was more exhilarating than this kind of head-on clash at the rim.
Kamizaki's power forward had been ready to intercept Aomine. His eyes, locked on the ball, flicked instinctively toward Inoue. The moment he saw him coming, he adjusted his position, stepping toward Aomine's right to cut off his angle—just as Inoue had signaled.
This quick, sideways shift from a head-on block forced Aomine to delay for a beat, but he still avoided the trap easily with a quick crossover.
Now in the paint, Kamizaki's two big men flanked Aomine like pincers. Oddly, though, there was still a sliver of open space between them!
Aomine went up, cradling the ball tightly with both hands.
His off-hand blocked the power forward's contest. He was about to go for the layup
But the center, Katayama, was already there to stop him!
Yet
Aomine's reflexes were insane. At the exact moment the block came down, he pulled the ball back, neutralizing the upward force. Gripping it again with both hands, he tucked the ball to his chest mid-air.
Then he slipped between the two defenders like a shadow, threading through the narrowest gap.
By this point, Aomine had already begun descending.
The ball shifted to his left hand, furthest from the double-team, and he drove upward for the finish.
From the seams in their defense
Aomine Daiki, diving in
Switch-hand layup!
But the very next second
"Aomine!"
Though Inoue had been broken through earlier, he hadn't given up the chase. He had orchestrated the team's movements to corral Aomine into this very trap.
And now
As Aomine reached the peak of his move in the air
Inoue leapt up
And blocked him from above!
From the bench
On Teiko's side
Fukaya Reiji nodded silently as he watched.
Inoue Tomoya, for a first-year, was truly impressive.
Though his shooting form was unique, it clearly drew on Shigure's techniques. And in his offensive movements, you could see traces of Nijimura's influence. More importantly, Inoue understood the difference in their physical abilities. He wasn't just copying—he was adapting.
While the raw power was a tier lower, the style clearly suited him, transforming Nijimura's teachings into his own strength.
The same applied to this coordinated defense.
It was very Nijimura in style.
"Nice one, Inoue!"
"Lock him down!"
The roars came from Kamizaki's big men. With their well-timed defensive coordination, it seemed absolutely certain that Teiko's No. 9 wouldn't get out of this one.
But just as they thought that
Aomine Daiki…
Still didn't shoot.
Even though he was already about to land!
In stunned silence
Everyone watched
Aomine Daiki twisted his left wrist mid-air, and just before touching the ground, he flung the ball
Whoosh!
The one who caught it
Was an equally surprised
Akihito Shigure!
"!?"
Aomine, that guy...
At the very last second of the attack…
He passed?!
End of chapter...
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