Smack!!!
A sharp slapping sound rang out.
Aomine had just broken past Miyamoto Tokima when his body suddenly stiffened.
Because the basketball in his hand…
…was gone.
"No way!"
Aomine couldn't help shouting in disbelief, shock written all over his face.
He was in the Zone!
The Zone!
He activated the Zone—and you just casually stole the ball from him?!
Then what was the point of entering it?!
After the steal, Miyamoto Tokima immediately secured the ball and exploded forward.
Aomine gritted his teeth and chased after him.
His speed was terrifyingly fast, and he caught up almost instantly.
Of course, Miyamoto Tokima had deliberately slowed down.
As they reached the three-point line on the offensive end, Miyamoto Tokima's lips curved slightly.
"A-Da, do you think basketball is a one-man sport?"
Aomine frowned.
"What are you talking about?"
The next second—
The ball in Miyamoto Tokima's hands…
…disappeared.
Whoosh!!!
A violent, feral aura burst out from beside Aomine.
He turned his head and saw Shuzo Nijimura, Animal Instinct activated, smiling at him.
And in Nijimura's hands—
Was the ball that had just vanished.
Nijimura dribbled calmly, finished a smooth three-step layup, and added two points.
"Haha, Aomine. Basketball isn't a one-man sport."
He laughed and gave Aomine a firm pat on the shoulder.
Aomine clearly didn't accept that. He brushed Nijimura's hand away.
"Senior, let's keep playing."
Nijimura only smiled and ran back on defense.
Miyamoto Tokima also smiled helplessly and turned toward the backcourt.
There was no denying it.
Although Aomine had changed a lot compared to the original story, one thing hadn't changed—
His tendency to play alone.
He still preferred going solo, largely influenced by Akashi's second personality.
After all, that line—
"If you want to attack, take the ball yourself."
—had left a deep mark on him.
Miyamoto Tokima's gaze sharpened slightly.
In the end… it's still largely because of you.
He had thought about changing Akashi.
But personality disorders weren't something you could just fix on a whim.
He wasn't a doctor.
Possession switched.
Tōō ball.
As expected, Aomine handled the offense again—and the entire Tōō team seemed to accept that arrangement without question.
But there was one thing that had to be understood.
You can have the ability.
You can go one-on-one.
But you cannot act as if your teammates don't exist.
Teammates are an indispensable part of basketball.
And what Miyamoto Tokima needed to do now—
Was make Aomine understand that.
Otherwise, the professional stage would be a very hard road for him.
Miyamoto Tokima glanced sideways and signaled to his teammates.
Nijimura and the others immediately understood.
Murasakibara stopped fighting Wakamatsu for position inside and even gave up the best scoring spot.
Dicky Anthony, who was guarding Sakurai, took two steps back and left him open.
Nijimura and Haizaki did the same, retreating slightly and giving space.
Aomine noticed and frowned.
"What are you trying to do, Miyamoto?"
Miyamoto Tokima smiled faintly.
"You already know."
As he spoke, he pressed in tight, applying heavy defensive pressure.
Aomine quickly dribbled behind his back and retreated a step.
But Miyamoto Tokima didn't let up.
He kept advancing, hand reaching in to disrupt.
Aomine knew exactly how dangerous Miyamoto Tokima's steals were. He didn't dare dribble in front of him at all, forced to rely on constant behind-the-back dribbles to protect the ball.
You retreat—I advance.
Finally, Aomine couldn't stand it anymore.
He knew this stalemate wouldn't work.
His eyes sharpened, blue lightning flickering within them.
After a behind-the-back dribble, he seamlessly shifted into a between-the-legs move, pushing off hard with his right foot.
He shot out like an arrow, breaking left.
Miyamoto Tokima stepped directly into his path.
As expected, Aomine instantly switched direction and drove right.
But the moment he moved—
A towering iron wall rose up from that side.
His drive halted abruptly.
Damn it… this damn iron wall!
Miyamoto Tokima sealed the right side completely and smiled faintly.
"A-Da, you can't get past me alone."
Imayoshi, left wide open nearby, felt numb.
Aomine can't even break through him…?
He glanced at Nijimura, who was loosely guarding him.
So they're daring him not to pass…
Imayoshi immediately understood Kirisaki Daiichi's intention.
On the other side—
Aomine glanced at Miyamoto Tokima, then at the shot clock.
Eight seconds.
He couldn't delay any longer.
Taking a deep breath, he attacked.
His hands moved rapidly, dribbling from side to side as he tried again and again to break through.
Miyamoto Tokima stuck to him relentlessly, refusing to give an inch.
Three seconds.
Aomine was still hovering near the three-point line.
Damn it. I can't get in.
He knew there was no time left.
Gritting his teeth, he turned with the ball at the three-point line, back to the basket.
After a few shoulder fakes, he spun right and brought the ball up to shoot.
And then—
His vision went black.
The instant darkness fell, Aomine understood.
Blindfold defense.
Miyamoto Tokima had followed him the moment he turned, reaching up and completely blocking his line of sight.
Miyamoto Tokima's Blindfold defense.
...