Coach Fukuda's mouth fell open. He quickly recovered and immediately called a timeout.
"Avoid Teikō's number seven as much as possible. Attack through mismatches!"
Holding the tactics board, the coach spoke rapidly. The Fukuda players nodded one after another. Kotaro Hayama bit his lip—using mismatches felt like running away to a genius like him.
The coach noticed Hayama's discomfort and spoke up:
"Kotaro, individual victory is important, but team victory is the real victory."
Kotaro Hayama lowered his head and nodded reluctantly.
"I understand, Coach."
The coach patted Kotaro Hayama's shoulder reassuringly.
"Alright, get out there and play with everything you've got!"
"Yes!"
…
Coach Shirogane calmly sipped his tea. He had already predicted Fukuda's plan—mismatch offense, most likely having Kotaro Hayama target Seijuro Akashi.
At this stage, Akashi's defense still wasn't strong. Fukuda would definitely exploit that opening.
"Akashi, come out. Miyamoto, take Akashi's spot. Aomine, take Miyamoto's."
Seijuro Akashi nodded and followed the instruction without hesitation.
"Haha, finally my turn!!"
Daiki Aomine had been holding it in for a long time. He quickly shrugged off his warm-up and rushed onto the court, brimming with excitement.
Seeing Akashi subbed out, Fukuda's coach muttered darkly:
"Kozo Shirogane… you really are a crafty old fox."
Kotaro Hayama froze slightly after returning to the court.
Huh? Their point guard is off?
He looked at Daiki Aomine, who had just checked in, and muttered to himself:
"They switched positions?"
Play resumed. Fukuda ball.
The point guard brought the ball across half court and passed it to Kotaro Hayama. Hayama caught it and found Daiki Aomine guarding him.
Looking at Aomine's excited expression, Hayama thought silently.
So they sent this guy to guard me?
His gaze shifted to Miyamoto Tokima, who had moved to the point guard position.
Can he really play point guard?
Seeing Kotaro Hayama standing still, Daiki Aomine suddenly reached out.
Hayama sensed it instantly and pulled the ball back.
This guy's fast.
Kotaro Hayama dribbled, staring seriously at Daiki Aomine.
With Seijuro Akashi off the floor and Miyamoto Tokima no longer defending him, Fukuda had no reason to keep forcing mismatches.
Hayama gestured for his teammates to clear out, preparing to take Aomine one-on-one.
Daiki Aomine dropped into a defensive stance, eyes locked onto the ball.
Come on!
Thud! Thud!! Thud!!! Thud!!!! Thud!!!!!
The violent dribbling echoed through the arena, making Aomine's ears sting.
That sound is ridiculously loud.
Aomine clenched his teeth, watching the ball closely.
"Three fingers!"
Kotaro Hayama shouted. Using three fingers on his right hand, he lowered his center of gravity and burst past Aomine's right side like a streak of yellow lightning.
What?!
Aomine's pupils shrank. He knew Hayama's Lightning Dribbling was fast, but actually defending it for the first time still caught him off guard.
After blowing past Aomine, Hayama charged straight toward the basket.
"Hm?"
Atsushi Murasakibara paused briefly, then set his defensive stance.
Kotaro Hayama showed no fear. He gathered the ball and leapt high.
Murasakibara jumped as well, his massive frame blotting out the light and sealing off Hayama's path.
Just as it seemed like a guaranteed block, Hayama made a sudden adjustment.
He pulled the ball back to his waist, curled his body tight, slipped past Murasakibara, and released a hook shot.
A double-clutch layup.
After landing, Kotaro Hayama didn't linger and immediately sprinted back on defense.
"Aomine, keep an eye on your man."
Murasakibara muttered in annoyance, clearly unhappy that Aomine had been beaten so easily.
Aomine scratched his head awkwardly.
"Sorry, sorry. I let my guard down."
…
Possession switched. Teikō ball.
Murasakibara inbounded to Miyamoto Tokima, who began advancing upcourt.
As he moved, Tokima calmly observed everyone's positioning and movements.
Whoosh… whoosh…
Ripples spread out from beneath Miyamoto Tokima's feet, instantly enveloping the entire court.
Teikō's players were already used to this ability, but for Fukuda, it was their first time experiencing it.
As the ripples passed over them, Fukuda's players felt as if they had been completely seen through—every movement locked onto, making them deeply uncomfortable.
"It's back… Miyamoto Tokima's Ripple Vision."
"Yeah, no matter how many times you see it, it's still shocking."
The stands erupted in excitement as Ripple Vision appeared once again.
Kotaro Hayama's expression darkened in shock.
What kind of ability is this?!
Fukuda's point guard froze as Miyamoto Tokima dribbled toward him. He swallowed hard.
Why am I the one guarding this monster?!
Watching the ripples radiate from Tokima, the point guard felt as if a mountain was pressing down on him, unable to move even a step.
Even if Tokima dribbled the ball right in front of his face, a simple reach could steal it—but his body refused to respond.
Miyamoto Tokima dribbled calmly, completely ignoring the defender. He raised his right hand and flicked his wrist.
Swish!!!
The ball shot past like a white streak, slicing through the air and leaving ripples behind.
Snap.
Shintaro Midorima caught the pass and jumped immediately.
Before Fukuda's shooting guard could react, Midorima had already released the shot.
The moment he landed, Midorima turned and ran back without hesitation.
Miyamoto Tokima also turned and retreated on defense just as decisively.
The shooting guard swallowed hard, eyes tracking the ball.
When he saw it drop cleanly through the net, he could only sigh.
"Can't stop them… they're like monsters."
Kotaro Hayama spoke up right away:
"It's fine. The game isn't over yet. Give me the ball."
The shooting guard nodded. He wasn't giving up—just acknowledging Teikō's strength.
Kotaro Hayama took the ball again, facing Daiki Aomine.
Thud! Thud!! Thud!!! Thud!!!! Thud!!!!!
"Three fingers!"
As the words left his mouth, Hayama snapped the ball down with three fingers. His right leg drove off the floor, and he tore through Aomine's defense like a bolt of yellow lightning.
Aomine's expression changed.
He had been ready—but his reaction was still half a beat too slow.
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
p@treon com / GhostParser