As he stepped onto the court, Juri Ueno felt his heart pound against his ribs. Facing tens of thousands of spectators, there solely to witness a sporting massacre, would have broken any ordinary teenager.
His Oki Junior High teammates were ashen-faced. Their movements during warm-ups were stiff and jerky. They were making grotesque turnovers. The Coach clapped his hands to break through their lethargy. "Listen to me! Just be free of regrets. Play your basketball."
Suddenly, a deafening roar ripped through the arena. The name "Teikō" was chanted by a frenzied crowd. Akashi Seijūrō made his entrance, leading the Generation of Miracles with regal confidence. Even from a distance, Ueno could feel the gravitational pull they exerted on the space.
On the opposing bench, Atsushi Murasakibara was already wolfing down snacks, his gaze vacant. "Aka-chin... can I go home? We're going to win anyway," muttered the 6'10" giant.
"You'll start the match, Atsushi," Akashi stated firmly, his voice utterly unanswerable.
Next to them, Daiki Aomine remained with his eyes closed, his face etched with profound boredom. Victory had become a tasteless chore for him. Ryōta Kise, meanwhile, was trying to convince Kuroko to join him at the same high school the following year, only to be met with a firm refusal from the Shadow of Teikō.
Midorima Shintarō adjusted his glasses, clutching his lucky charm of the day: a Teru Teru Bozu doll. Although his Oha Asa horoscope had promised him a sure victory, one detail in his prediction puzzled him.
Satsuki Momoi, the manager, closed her data binder. "Oki Junior High isn't a threat. Their captain, number 7 Ueno Juri, is versatile but lacks raw talent. Danger level: zero."
Akashi gave a cold smile. "Good. Let's apply the usual rule: 100-point lead before halftime."
Beep!
The referee blew the whistle to start the game. Ueno, standing at 1.80 meters, positioned himself facing Ryōta Kise. The Oki center, though imposing (188 cm), looked tiny next to Murasakibara's frame.
The initial jump was a formality for the Teikō giant. The ball was caught by Akashi, who instantly passed it to Aomine.
Ueno tried to focus on Kise, but the latter's incessant chatter was a psychological weapon in itself. "Ueno-kun, is that right? Do your best, my teammates show no mercy!"
A whistle suddenly blew. Ueno turned his head. Aomine Daiki was already hanging from Oki's rim, the ball bouncing off the floor. Five seconds of play.
Teikō: 2 / Oki: 0.
The planned massacre had just begun, but no one suspected that "Zero Danger" was about to activate a 120% Zone.