Possession changed.
Kirisaki Daiichi's ball.
This time, Miyamoto Tokima didn't come into the backcourt to receive the ball, so Makoto Hanamiya once again became the ball-handler.
The moment Seijuro Akashi noticed this, he fell into deep thought.
He had two choices.
The first was to guard Makoto Hanamiya himself and activate the [Emperor Eye] to look for an opportunity to steal the ball.
But if he did that, he would have to endure Makoto Hanamiya unloading dozens of insults on him.
The second option was to let Ryota Kise continue guarding Makoto Hanamiya.
That would make a steal much less likely, but at least Seijuro Akashi wouldn't have to listen to him.
Seijuro Akashi understood his own temperament very well.
His mental state was fine right now, but if Makoto Hanamiya kept needling him for several possessions, he knew he would eventually lose his temper.
It wasn't that he lacked confidence in himself.
He simply knew himself that well.
Unlike before, when he had practically no self-awareness at all.
It wasn't until Miyamoto Tokima knocked some sense into him that he gradually began to understand himself better.
Of course, there was another option.
He could have Ryota Kise [Copy] his [Emperor Eye].
But doing that might shorten the amount of time Ryota Kise could later spend [Copying] the [Eye of Truth].
After thinking it over several times, Seijuro Akashi ultimately decided to guard Makoto Hanamiya himself.
So what if he had to listen to some trash talk?
At least he could try to steal the ball.
Decision made.
Once Makoto Hanamiya came within range, Seijuro Akashi immediately attacked.
He aggressively pressured the basketball in Makoto Hanamiya's hands, constantly reaching in and disrupting his dribble.
Makoto Hanamiya fought to maintain control of the ball while continuing to spew trash talk without missing a beat.
After all this time, Makoto Hanamiya had long since developed the ability to insult someone with deadly precision no matter what he was doing.
Smack!
Before long, Seijuro Akashi's [Emperor Eye] saw through Makoto Hanamiya's movements, and the ball was knocked loose.
But Makoto Hanamiya didn't care.
The important thing was that he had already gotten his insults in.
As soon as the ball was stolen, every Kirisaki Daiichi player sprinted back on defense.
The Teikō Middle School players immediately raced toward the frontcourt.
Seijuro Akashi gritted his teeth and passed the ball ahead to Daiki Aomine.
Then he immediately grabbed Ryota Kise, who was also running the break, and had him stay behind to block Makoto Hanamiya.
He had no choice.
Seijuro Akashi could already feel himself starting to lose his temper.
They hadn't seen each other for a few months, yet Makoto Hanamiya's trash-talking had somehow become even more vicious.
Worse, his insults had become frighteningly precise.
Makoto Hanamiya kept targeting the same few sore spots.
The times Seijuro Akashi had tried to show off and failed.
The embarrassing, overly dramatic things he had said.
And the countless times Miyamoto Tokima had completely overwhelmed him.
Every topic most likely to get under the secondary personality's skin was being hit with pinpoint accuracy.
Seijuro Akashi was furious.
Meanwhile, Daiki Aomine was sprinting toward the frontcourt.
Shogo Haizaki was running alongside him on the left, while Shuzo Nijimura closed in from the right.
Worst of all, Miyamoto Tokima was directly in front of him.
The three formed a triangle around Daiki Aomine.
And as everyone knows, triangles are stable.
So Miyamoto Tokima and the others had him surrounded quite securely.
Daiki Aomine, on the other hand, was anything but secure.
He was desperately searching for a teammate who could bail him out.
But with his vision blocked on every side, he couldn't see where anyone was.
"Aomine!"
A voice suddenly came from behind and to his right.
Without being able to see who it was, Daiki Aomine relied on instinct and hurled the ball in that direction.
Then he turned his head...
And immediately froze.
The pass had gone wildly off target.
Even Shintaro Midorima, who threw himself after it, couldn't reach the ball.
"Beep! Out of bounds! Kirisaki Daiichi ball!"
The referee blew his whistle.
The court fell silent.
Shintaro Midorima stood there, the corner of his mouth twitching as he stared at Daiki Aomine.
He simply couldn't believe Daiki Aomine was capable of throwing a pass that terrible.
Daiki Aomine scratched his head and gave an awkward laugh.
"My bad, my bad."
There was nothing he could do about it.
Daiki Aomine could make a ridiculous pass even when he was looking directly at his teammate.
Passing to someone he couldn't see was asking far too much.
Of course, the person who suffered the most was Seijuro Akashi.
He had endured Makoto Hanamiya's trash talk for the entire fast break just to create this opportunity.
And now it ended in a turnover?
How could he not explode?
Seijuro Akashi gritted his teeth, but in the end, he swallowed whatever complaint he had been about to make.
It had to be said that the secondary personality of Seijuro Akashi had changed quite a lot.
Even the proudest young man eventually had his rough edges worn down by life.
Isn't that right, my friends?
...
Possession changed.
Kirisaki Daiichi's ball.
Once again, Miyamoto Tokima left the ball in Makoto Hanamiya's hands, almost as if he had something specific in mind.
Seijuro Akashi's face immediately darkened.
He knew exactly what Miyamoto Tokima was thinking.
That bastard knew Makoto Hanamiya's trash talk could make him lose his temper.
So once Seijuro Akashi switched defensive assignments, Miyamoto Tokima began letting Makoto Hanamiya handle the ball.
If Seijuro Akashi switched defenders, Makoto Hanamiya could avoid facing the [Emperor Eye].
If Seijuro Akashi refused to switch, then he had to endure the trash talk and risk losing his composure.
Miyamoto, you play dirty!
Seijuro Akashi glared fiercely at Miyamoto Tokima.
Miyamoto Tokima simply smiled back.
That left Seijuro Akashi with no way to complain despite how bitter he felt.
In the end, he still chose not to switch.
After all, Seijuro Akashi wasn't just one person.
There were two of him.
Once the primary personality recovered, the secondary personality could step back and cool off.
So bring it on.
Seijuro Akashi stayed on Makoto Hanamiya, waiting for him to come closer so he could pressure the ball and go for another steal.
"Wait!"
Seijuro Akashi suddenly spoke, a hint of panic entering his voice.
Because he saw it.
His [Emperor Eye] saw it.
He could see Makoto Hanamiya's muscles moving.
That bastard intended to pass the moment he crossed half court.
Standing near the center line, Makoto Hanamiya curled his lips into a grin.
In the next instant, he fired the basketball over to Shogo Haizaki.
Then, without hesitation, Makoto Hanamiya rushed straight toward Seijuro Akashi.
And his mouth arrived right along with him.
Seijuro Akashi...
Was cracking.
Nearby, Miyamoto Tokima struggled to hold back his laughter as he watched Makoto Hanamiya torment Seijuro Akashi.
He was thoroughly enjoying himself.
Enjoy it, Akashi.
Everyone at Kirisaki Daiichi has been through this kind of special training.
Now you get a session for free.
I really am such a nice guy.
If Seijuro Akashi knew what Miyamoto Tokima was thinking, he would undoubtedly have only one response.
The Secret of the Dynasty...
...
...
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