Kota tilted his head slightly. "Leading four average teammates all the way to the national Final Four all by yourself… I guess the title 'Prodigy' really wasn't wasted on you."
The game was still going on, but somehow Kota and Hanamiya acted like they'd stepped out of it entirely. Instead of joining the eight others in the back-and-forth battle, they were casually chatting on the wing.
"What are you trying to say?"
Hanamiya barked, his voice sharp. Without realizing it, he had completely forgotten the purpose he came in with—and was now more focused on Kota's intentions.
"Prodigy" was indeed a nickname Hanamiya once carried back in his first year of middle school. But because he hadn't been that well-known at the time, very few people even remembered it. Today, aside from Hanamiya himself, pretty much nobody did.
Kota lifted his jersey and wiped the sweat from his face before continuing at an unhurried pace:
"But unfortunately… in your second year, a certain team came out of nowhere and completely crushed Kitagawa's Cinderella dreams."
"141 to 11. In front of Teiko Middle School, even you, the so-called prodigy, couldn't put up the slightest resistance."
Hanamiya's eyes flew wide open. He stared at Kota in disbelief as his voice trembled:
"Y-You—how do you know that?!"
"It's been so long that you probably never expected anyone to reopen that wound again, right?"
Kota remained calm. Watching Hanamiya's emotions spiral wildly, he went on:
"From that day on, the prodigy who outsmarted his opponents through sheer strategy disappeared. And in his place… emerged a villain who would use any means necessary to win."
"Your talent was lacking. Among Teiko's five prodigies — those monsters blessed by the heavens — you had the weakest physical ability even among the Uncrowned Kings. But precisely because of that, your desire to win… and your willingness to throw away every boundary, became even stronger."
"That's not your fault, Hanamiya. If I were in your shoes back then, I probably could only watch Teiko from afar as a hopeless loser."
Kota stepped closer, leaned down beside Hanamiya's ear, and whispered:
"Trying to reinvent yourself for the sake of victory is cool and all… but you went the wrong way."
Honestly, when Kota used the Araki family's intel network to dig up Hanamiya's middle school history, even he was shocked by what he found about this guy barely reaching 180 cm.
Back in those few years, Teiko Middle School's basketball team was the embodiment of one word—Victory. When five geniuses — each one a freak of nature — were gathered on one team, it was nothing short of cruelty toward every other school.
Everyone else had already resigned themselves to fighting for second place. But Hanamiya… refused to accept that fate.
Final Four in his first year. Utter annihilation in the opening rounds of his second year.
The gap was so vast it was absurd — yet Hanamiya chose to…
Rip apart his old self and claw desperately for a way to win.
With average talent, Hanamiya could still beat normal opponents with technique alone. But against the Generation of Miracles, even if he pushed himself until he broke, he still couldn't see a single shred of hope.
Cornered, Hanamiya finally chose a path everyone despised.
That was the true birth of the Bad Boy.
"You don't know anything!"
Hanamiya, who had been silently trembling moments before, suddenly exploded! He lunged forward and grabbed Kota by the collar, bloodshot eyes bulging as he roared:
"Only victory is eternal! All effort that doesn't lead to victory is meaningless!"
"What right do you have to say I took the wrong path?! What right?!"
His expression twisted more and more, until finally — Hanamiya raised his fist and swung straight toward Kota's face!
The outburst happened so suddenly that even the referee failed to blow the whistle in time. The players from both Kaijo and Kirisaki didn't even have the chance to stop him.
But just as Hanamiya's punch was about to land—
Kota spun sharply, slipping free using a move from Israeli Krav Maga and easily pinned Hanamiya to the floor.
"Sorry for poking your trauma, but grabbing my collar is already pushing it. Letting you hit me with a punch? I've still got a reputation to protect," Kota said casually, sitting comfortably on Hanamiya's back while pressing a hand against his neck.
Whether in height or weight, Kota completely outclassed him. Even in a bare-handed fight, he could overpower Hanamiya without breaking a sweat — forget about using Krav Maga.
Not exaggerating at all:Kota could take on ten guys like Hanamiya.
"You bastard—get off me!"
Hanamiya planted both hands on the floor, trying desperately to get up. But with Kota's 80kg sitting solidly on him, his strength was nowhere near enough.
Meanwhile, the rest of Kirisaki finally reacted and rushed toward Kota to rescue Hanamiya.
Their center moved first, sprinting the moment Hanamiya hit the ground. His eyes flashed viciously as he leapt, aiming to crash straight into Kota.
If this had been Kota from last year, he would've needed to wrestle with the guy until teammates arrived.But now?
As the center hurled toward him, Kota swiftly turned and delivered a "Double Thunder Clap" — both palms striking the man's ears at once, sending his brain into an instant daze.
Before the center could recover—
Kota grabbed him and slammed him directly onto Hanamiya.
Hanamiya, who had just tried to lift himself up, was forced to make another painful face-plant.
Hanamiya: "…"
But Kota wasn't done.
Seeing the center about to regain consciousness, he immediately yanked the nearest Kirisaki player off his feet and tossed him onto the growing pile. Then he sat back on top of them again — like he was playing a very violent game of Jenga.
Everything happened in the blink of an eye.
By the time Kaijō's players arrived, Kota had already cleaned up the entire situation by himself.
The remaining Kirisaki players froze when Kota shot them a single look. Seeing their three teammates stacked like human cushions under him, they instinctively backed away and didn't dare move.
The referee was stunned. The crowd was stunned. Even Bobo in the livestream couldn't find words.
Kise, standing behind Kota, stroked his imaginary beard and nodded in admiration:
"So the video of little Kota beating the crap out of Nash really wasn't edited…"
…
…
"Shocking! Three-time champions caught doing this on the court?!"
"Four guys stacked together—torture or technique? A closer look at the unbelievable scene!"
"Tournament host issues official response and punishment after yesterday's violent incident!"
At Shark Gym, Araki stood with arms crossed, watching the news report on screen. She glanced over at Kota.
"You good?"
Kota continued punching the heavy bag. At her question, he paused for two seconds and replied calmly:
"I'm fine. The organizers only suspended me for two games."
"Who asked about you?"
Araki rolled her eyes. With how hard he was punching that bag, who'd believe he was hurt?
She pointed at the TV.
"I meant the guy you had foaming at the mouth. He's okay?"
Kota looked up just as the broadcast showed a photo of Hanamiya crushed under four people.
"Uh… The on-site doctor said he was just oxygen-deprived from being squished. They already sent him to the hospital. So… probably fine?"
Kota rubbed his chin, clearly uncertain.
I mean, if something serious happened, the police would've called him already…
Araki nodded. "As long as he's not dead."
Not that dying would be a big deal. Just inconvenient.
"Besides the two-game suspension, nothing else?"
Kota thought for a moment. "There was a fine, but Coach Takeuchi already paid it for me."
"Being an adult is such a pain. Last year I got away with everything."
Kota smacked his lips—still unhappy with the punishment.
Araki rolled her eyes again."Be grateful. Japan's regulations for adults are strict. And technically, you did beat up three guys. Geez… never realized you were this good at fighting."
As she said that, she gave Kota a long up-and-down look. Kind of like she was considering whether she should challenge him herself.
Noticing that dangerous sparkle in her eyes, Kota immediately waved his hands and changed the subject: "Anyway, a two-game suspension is pretty rough."
"If we run into a strong opponent in the next two games and end up getting knocked out of the tournament, I'll have nowhere to cry."
As a championship contender, any reduction in Kaijō's strength could be fatal—and this time the missing player was Kota.
Yuki might be a decent point guard, but losing Kota was still a massive blow.
"Let's just hope we don't run into Rakuzan these next two games…"
…
Beep—beep—beep—
"Hello. Akashi-sama."
"It's me. I have something I need you to handle."
"Please tell us."
"About Kota's suspension… Can it be canceled?"
Akashi tapped his fingers on the desk while waiting for a response.
"A-ah… My apologies, Akashi-sama. Kota's punishment was unanimously approved by the board. Even if you request it… there's nothing we can do."
The voice on the other end sounded terrified of offending him.He quickly added,
"But if you'd like… I can summon the board again and we can re-discuss—"
Akashi paused for a moment.
"No need. Don't cancel it. Just change the schedule."