After warming up, the game began almost immediately.
Because there hadn't been much coverage of Teikō Middle School's games in the previous era, Miyamoto Tokima wasn't very familiar with the opposing teams. He didn't even know which schools the Five Uncrowned Kings belonged to.
But none of that really mattered. No school could defeat the Generation of Miracles.
Although they were still in their budding stage, Miyamoto Tokima was not.
The tip-off was between Uesaki High's center and Atsushi Murasakibara.
Uesaki's coach had already told them about Teikō Middle School. When the players learned that Teikō's main lineup hadn't come, the coach was absent, and the entire team consisted of first-years, their anger flared instantly.
Uesaki's center swore to himself that he would crush Atsushi Murasakibara.
The referee tossed the ball high into the air.
The game began.
"It's started. I heard Teikō Middle School's starters didn't come."
"Yeah, it's all first-years. Even Nijimura isn't here. Did Teikō just give up?"
"Teikō Middle School has really fallen. Look at those colorful-haired first-years on the court—I bet they don't even know how to play basketball."
"Exactly. Uesaki's winning this easily."
The ball rose high into the air.
The center jumped with all his strength, determined to secure the first possession.
What?!
He stared in disbelief as Atsushi Murasakibara tipped the ball cleanly toward his own team.
How can he jump that high?! He's a first-year???
Gasps erupted from the stands.
"Hey, hey, are you kidding me? That purple-haired freshman jumped that high?!"
"Yeah, he tipped it back to his own side instantly!"
On the court.
Before the center could even recover from his shock, the ball streaked past his face.
Damn it!
He turned to help on defense, but a black blur shot forward like a hunting cheetah.
Daiki Aomine caught Seijuro Akashi's pass and charged straight toward the opposing basket.
With no one able to match his speed, Daiki Aomine leaped up for a dunk.
"This one's mine!"
Just as he thought the point was guaranteed, a figure suddenly rose up behind him.
SMACK!
The ball was violently swatted away.
The deflected ball slammed into Daiki Aomine's body and bounced out of bounds.
Beep!
"Out of bounds. Uesaki's ball."
Daiki Aomine turned around in shock, trying to see who had blocked him.
A tanned young man stood behind him, letting out a small sigh.
"Good thing I made it."
He then looked up at Daiki Aomine.
"This is a no-fly zone."
Seijuro Akashi watched him warily. He hadn't expected anyone here to be capable of blocking Daiki Aomine.
Miyamoto Tokima racked his brain, desperately trying to remember who this person was.
The young man had expected Aomine to be shaken, but instead—
Daiki Aomine showed no frustration at all. He stared at him with obvious excitement.
Seeing that expression, Miyamoto Tokima shook his head helplessly.
Great. Aomine's going to start playing solo.
While jogging back on defense, Daiki Aomine spoke up.
"Next time, just give me the ball."
Shintaro Midorima frowned.
"Aomine, don't forget—we're in a match."
Seijuro Akashi didn't respond, deep in thought.
"…Five possessions. I'll give you five."
After a moment, Seijuro Akashi spoke calmly.
Daiki Aomine nodded eagerly and returned to his position.
Uesaki's center passed the ball to the young man.
"Inoue, take it."
Inoue received the ball and brought it into the frontcourt.
Daiki Aomine immediately stepped up to defend. His gaze was sharp, the corners of his mouth slightly raised as he stared at Inoue with excitement.
Inoue was a little surprised. How could this guy look so fired up after getting blocked?
Still, he didn't think much of it. Dribbling the ball, he lowered his center of gravity, searching for a chance to break through.
Daiki Aomine's eyes locked onto the ball, his stance dropping along with Inoue's.
Inoue studied Aomine's positioning and shifted the ball slightly forward with his left hand, making a move to drive.
Daiki Aomine instantly cut off his right side.
The next second, Inoue crossed over and burst past Aomine's left.
What?!
Daiki Aomine spun around, reaching to steal, but Inoue suddenly gathered the ball and went into a three-step layup.
Atsushi Murasakibara rotated over in time, jumping alongside Inoue to contest the shot.
How is he this tall?!
Staring up at Murasakibara's massive frame blotting out the sky, Inoue cursed silently.
He slammed the ball downward, passing it to the center behind Murasakibara.
The center caught it, roared, and exploded upward, hammering the ball through the rim.
Dunks always ignited the atmosphere.
The crowd erupted in cheers.
After landing, the center pounded his chest excitedly, as if proclaiming himself the ruler of the paint.
"Aomine, can you guard your man properly?"
Atsushi Murasakibara said calmly after landing.
"Sorry."
Daiki Aomine scratched his head awkwardly. That defensive lapse had been on him.
Offense and defense switched.
Seijuro Akashi dribbled past half-court and passed the ball to Daiki Aomine.
Aomine caught it and immediately assumed a triple-threat stance.
In truth, he didn't really know the triple threat—it was just something his body did instinctively after catching the ball.
Inoue raised his right hand, pressing it lightly against Daiki Aomine's waist.
Aomine carefully observed Inoue's defensive posture.
Thud.
Then Daiki Aomine suddenly burst to the left.
So fast!
Inoue froze for a split second. By the time he reacted, Aomine had already blown past him.
He turned and chased.
Uesaki's center immediately rotated over to help.
With the center in front and Inoue closing in from behind, Daiki Aomine still had no intention of passing.
He jumped.
Seeing that Aomine chose to challenge him instead of passing, the center felt provoked. He bent his knees and leapt up to block the shot.
Inoue caught up from behind and jumped as well.
Sandwiched from both sides, Daiki Aomine's driving lane was completely sealed.
As a first-year, Aomine hadn't fully mastered the Formless Shot yet. Faced with this situation, he hesitated, unsure how to respond.
"Here!"
A voice rang out from behind him.
Without thinking, Aomine flung the ball backward.
The pass was wildly off target, sailing high and crooked through the air.
Inoue turned to watch its trajectory, already certain of the result.
This ball was going out of bounds.
But in the next instant, a figure shot upward and snatched the errant ball out of midair.
What?! What kind of vertical leap is that?!
Inoue stared in shock, feeling as if he'd just seen a rocket soar into the sky.
Before his astonishment could fade, the ball traced a smooth arc through the air.
Swish!
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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