Kirisaki Daiichi on offense.
As the point guard, Akashi Seijūrō faced off directly against another point guard—Hanamiya Makoto.
His opponent was a well-known second-year player, notorious for his steals and dirty tricks. Just yesterday, senior Shigure even suggested that Captain Nijimura should take over as point guard for this game.
But Akashi had refused.
As Teiko's starting point guard
As Akashi Seijūrō
He would never lose to a player who relied on underhanded, disgraceful tactics.
All it took was calm observation.
Kirisaki's positioning, just enough to block the referee's view...
The distance...
And the timing for making a move.
Meanwhile, in the paint...
At the power forward position stood Kirisaki's No. 11. His face showed no emotion as he locked eyes with Nijimura Shuzo.
Despite Nijimura's intense and physically aggressive defense
No. 11 gave a subtle nod of approval.
"That's some impressive intensity."
"No wonder he's Teiko's captain."
"Definitely on another level..."
"But the game's just begun. No need to get so worked up."
As soon as those words left his mouth, he suddenly sprinted out of the key toward the perimeter. At the same time, No. 10 cut across the court.
Just as Nijimura turned to pursue, No. 10 slammed into him with a blatantly dirty screen!
"Captain, watch out!"
"Eh?!"
"What kind of messed-up screen is that?!"
"Hey! Psycho!"
From the bench, the first-years watching gasped in shock as Nijimura Shuzo's body was knocked off balance by the hit.
But a second later
What happened next left everyone stunned!
Thrown off balance by the impact, Nijimura flailed in the air
Then suddenly and 'accidentally' swiped his hand to the side for balance...
SMACK!!
That slap landed clean on No. 10's left cheek, snapping his head sideways!
In the next instant, seemingly "losing control," he grabbed the opponent's jersey, spun midair, and collapsed onto the guy.
THUD!!
If that earlier slap had been crisp and loud
This follow-up, a solid elbow to the chest, thudded with a deep, resonant impact.
A smooth, uninterrupted combo
Nijimura had just beat the color out of Kirisaki's No. 10.
Watching this unfold, Kirisaki's No. 11—who had just received the ball and gone up for a shot—stiffened midair.
The clean form of his jumper wavered as his jaw dropped, stunned.
Shigure Akito glanced toward the paint, then burst forward with his signature move—"Godaidomo · Full-Speed Drive"
Crashing into the key and grabbing the rebound.
Not that the rebound should've been his.
It was originally Shinji Kurokami's to take.
But
"Oh, you stepped on my foot?"
"This one's for you"
"Hurts, doesn't it, you bastard?!"
Kurokami got right up in Kirisaki's No. 12's face, shoving him with murderous intent.
Shigure: "…"
Damn... now that side's throwing punches too?
Still, compared to Nijimura's swift and calculated combo just now, Kurokami's reaction was more of a crude scuffle than anything impressive.
Shigure turned
His eyes drifting between Nijimura, looking perfectly calm and unscathed,
And Kirisaki's No. 10, who was flat on the court, possibly unconscious.
"Beautiful…"
With his superb court awareness, Nijimura had executed the whole sequence without the ref seeing a thing.
From the referee's angle, the only thing visible was a flawless "knocked-off-balance" performance from being illegally screened.
Impressive...
Wait
Could it be...
Nijimura's going to wipe out Kirisaki all by himself before I even get a shot in?!
Back on the court:
In the paint, Shinji Kurokami was still heated, shoving No. 12.
Shigure stepped in and pulled him back.
While this side of the court was still simmering, the other was already cold and quiet.
Nijimura Shuzo, with a look that screamed "you got a problem?"
Glared down at Kirisaki's No. 10—who was on his knees, clutching his chest and staring back like he wanted revenge.
Moments later, No. 10 finally recovered.
But under Nijimura's piercing gaze, he ran to the referee to argue
Only to be warned for setting a dangerous screen.
Nijimura let out a cold laugh.
"Idiot…"
"That's all you've got?"
The brief flare-up was quickly de-escalated by the refs.
On the bench, the first-year subs of Teiko exchanged glances.
Their view of Captain Nijimura had just reached a new level of awe.
Like Shigure-senpai had said
Kirisaki's team didn't even try to play clean.
Right from the start, they were throwing cheap shots like they couldn't wait.
"No wonder..."
"Our scouting said every Kirisaki game in the qualifiers ended with injuries"
"Almost always the starters or star players."
Some of the third-years on emergency backup duty whispered.
Nearby, Haizaki Shōgo scoffed.
"Pathetic."
"I could do that too, y'know."
"Hmph?"
"Haizaki? Want me to tell Captain Nijimura that?"
"Tch."
"I was just joking."
...But in his heart, Haizaki thought:
If it's this kind of opponent, maybe it wouldn't count.
Even that violent freak Nijimura just did it.
Meanwhile, Aomine Daiki sat there speechless.
"Is this... basketball?
Or a street fight?"
Also
Did Captain Nijimura have a little too much skill at that kind of move?
He had always looked up to Shigure-senpai as his goal
But he knew, deep down, Nijimura was also a phenomenal all-rounder.
Not as flashy or technical as Shigure, but incredibly practical.
What he didn't realize
Was that Nijimura's "versatility" even extended to this kind of skill.
"Terrifying."
Back on court.
"Shinji, stay cool," Shigure reminded.
"Stepping on a foot is one thing, but intentional tripping or hooking can get serious. Don't get reckless."
Kurokami nodded.
"Relax. That was just a warning hit.
Don't just blame me
You better watch yourself too."
"We don't have Nijimura's kind of… 'technique'."
Shigure: "…"
Well
Maybe not as refined
But to say he didn't have it at all?
You're seriously underestimating me.
Moments later, Teiko went back on offense.
After another possession change, a missed shot from Kirisaki set off a scramble for the rebound.
On his way into the key, Shigure was pestered by a series of petty fouls from No. 13.
But he stayed focused, dodging them with raw instinct and speed.
Inside the crowded paint
Shinji Kurokami had no way to avoid contact, and with a fiery personality that didn't know the meaning of "back down," he took the hits head-on.
And so
Clash after clash!
Bam!
Wham!
Crash!
Thud!
Elbows, fists, and knees flew in the fight for position.
The paint devolved into chaos!
Zing!
Akagi Gōken · Akagi Rebound!
[Akagi Rebound: Using gorilla-like strength to master the art of rebounding.]
As Kurokami brawled with the opposing center, Shigure Akito calmly returned to the paint and snagged the board.
His vertical leap, his hang time, his ball sense mid-air
It gave him more than enough time to look around mid-jump.
That's when he noticed
A foot stealthily slipped beneath him.
So
THUD!
Shigure came crashing down.
The perfect natural landing after a rebound
No trace of foul play.
But that "natural landing" just so happened to stomp squarely on No. 13's toes!
Kirisaki's No. 13 felt an explosion of pain in his foot.
He froze in agony, jaw dropped wide, tongue visible
Even the elbow he'd raised for a cheap shot drooped helplessly.
Across the court, Nijimura raised an eyebrow.
That guy…
Maybe "technician" wasn't such a stretch after all.
Ever since the qualifiers, his rebounding had clearly improved.
Which meant
His counter-dirty-play tactics had gotten even sharper too.
"Oops, oops~"
"Did that hurt?"
"Are you okay?"
"Wasn't on purpose at all. No idea when your foot even got under me~"
"Huh?"
"Wait a second"
"You were going for a rebound using just your foot instead of your hands?"
"You..."
"Were you trying to trip me~?"
Still hopping on one foot, No. 13 winced in pain
Then heard Shigure's syrupy-sweet sarcasm pour in like vinegar on an open wound.
And when he looked up
He locked eyes with the fierce glare of the sideline referee.
End of chapter...
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