On the stands, after seeing Aomine Daiki completely shift the momentum once again, the players from Kaijo High could no longer hide their admiration for the black-haired monster on the court.
"That guy really is a monster. The moment he came in, not even a full quarter later, he not only erased the deficit but also pulled ahead by nearly ten points."
"That's just how it is with Aomine. Stuff like this is completely normal for him."
Takao Kazunari did not continue the conversation about Aomine. Instead, he turned his attention elsewhere. "How's your recovery going? When are you coming back to the team?"
"I still need about a week, just to be safe. The doctor recommended rest. But don't worry, I still hold a basketball at home all the time. My touch won't get rusty."
"Good. Don't rush it. Full recovery is what matters most."
"I understand."
While they spoke, the situation on the court changed again. Imayoshi Shoichi intercepted a pass intended for Mayuzumi Chihiro, then pushed the ball across midcourt before feeding it directly to Aomine. This time, the defense shifted dramatically. Three defenders immediately collapsed on him, not just Mibuchi and Hayama but also Eikichi Nebuya, a center who had stepped out to stop him. Three of the Uncrowned Kings formed a triangle, sealing Aomine completely.
On the bench of Tōō Academy, both Satsuki Momoi and Coach Harasawa Katsunori froze. Momoi's mouth opened slightly, disbelief and worry mixing in her expression, while Harasawa stood up, eyes locked on the court, refusing to miss a single detail. Not just them; every player on the court paused for a split second, and even the crowd held its breath.
Aomine's eyes sharpened, and a calm, focused expression appeared. Then he dribbled, fast, erratic, unpredictable, dragging all three defenders all the way to the baseline. They think they've trapped me? Cute. At the moment the trio believed they had finally cornered him, Aomine jumped sideways, his body twisting mid-air, and with a flick of his wrist the ball arced at a sharp angle, straight into the basket.
A whistle blew. Three points. Good. Aomine landed and turned away without hesitation, leaving behind three stunned defenders.
"W-what the hell."
"Reo, did I just see a ghost?"
"That was a monster."
Mibuchi Reo, Hayama Kotaro, and Nebuya all recovered quickly, but their expressions had changed. Not disbelief anymore. Something deeper: unease, fear. What kind of monster shoots a three-pointer from that position under a triple team?
That single shot sent a clear message across the court. If you want to stop me, bring Akashi Seijuro. The rest of you aren't enough.
On the stands, shock spread everywhere. "Unbelievable."
The players of Fukuda Sogo Academy were still frozen in silence, and even the players of Shutoku High School had fallen into the same stunned reaction. "Can you do something like that?"
"I don't know. Maybe if everything lines up perfectly, but under three defenders? That's basically impossible."
Midorima Shintaro did not respond further. His eyes stayed fixed on Aomine as he retreated, but his mind was clearly calculating something far beyond words.
Nearby, Kirisaki Daiichi players muttered among themselves. "Oi, that went in?"
"That kind of shot shouldn't even be possible."
"These Generation of Miracles guys are all insane."
"And that three-pointer, it's no different from Midorima's full-court shots."
That name instantly dragged them back to a painful memory, a game where Midorima's 100% Accuracy Full-Court Shots shattered them completely, where every attempt to resist was erased like it never existed. Even the captain's tricks were meaningless in the face of overwhelming firepower.
In the shadows of the upper stands, the Yosen High School players watched quietly. "Hey, Murasakibara, could you block that?"
"Huh? What are you talking about? That's a three-pointer. If Aomine goes inside, I can try. Outside? Not my problem."
Silence followed, not because they disagreed but because there was nothing to argue. Murasakibara Atsushi casually continued eating an energy bar, eyes fixed on the court, but deep in his gaze something sharp flickered briefly.
At another angle, Kagami Taiga had already stood up, his fists clenched, his voice repeating under his breath. "How is that even possible? How is that even possible?"
Beside him, Kuroko Tetsuya silently stared at the court. Images overlapped in his mind: Aomine in middle school, Aomine smiling while playing, Aomine passing with perfect timing, Aomine once the most joyful player on the court. Why did everything change? Why did everyone split apart? Why can't we play basketball together anymore? Countless questions swirled in his mind, but no answers came.
"Blackie! Blackie! Blackie."
Aida Riko called out five times before Kuroko finally snapped out of his trance. "Are you okay?"
"Yes. I'm fine, Coach. Just remembering something."
"Good. Focus on the game."
And so he did, because once again Tōō had stolen the ball, and once again Aomine received it. The defense collapsed instantly. Triple team. Same formation. Same desperation. Aomine smirked, jumped, flicked. Another three-pointer.
The arena froze. Rakuzan's players stood in shock, not moving, not reacting, just staring. At that moment, the image of Aomine Daiki in their eyes grew enormous, unreachable, unstoppable, almost divine.
Thankfully, the whistle of the third quarter finally sounded. Rakuzan's five players slowly walked back to their bench, their bodies heavy, their minds heavier, and the court was still echoing with disbelief.
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