The ball went in.
But…
The posture was so exaggerated that everyone's minds went blank.
No one could comprehend how Shigure Akihito had managed it, how he flew from one side of the paint, even from behind the backboard, to the opposite side, and still, at the very brink of collapse, nailed the shot.
From the sidelines, surprisingly, the atmosphere wasn't heated, it was entirely a one-man performance by Vice-Captain Shigure. Kuroko Tetsuya's eyes widened in shock, unable to understand. When a player's body is tilted so far that it looks like they're about to topple over, how could anyone possibly still release a shot?
Normally, the stronger a shooter's fundamentals, the more consistent their arc would be. Yet Vice-Captain Shigure's release had no discernible pattern—but not a single one of his shots went astray!
…
On offense again, Aomine and Haizaki.
Haizaki had the ball.
His mind was racing.
If he couldn't predict what this monster Shigure would do next, then he might as well pour everything into his own attack, even if it meant just scoring one basket!
…
Speed.
Vertical.
Skill.
In every area, he was at a disadvantage. His only advantage was having Aomine by his side.
Passing…
Shigure had already given the answer earlier.
If ordinary passing lanes couldn't escape his reach, then the only option was to use the backboard, letting its rebound serve as a "third man."
The distance had to be precise. Too far, and Shigure would still chase it down.
Haizaki pulled away toward the perimeter, preparing for a huge leap, even leaning back to avoid Shigure's reach, planning to bounce the ball off the glass to decide the outcome
But Shigure suddenly shot out a hand, tearing his plan apart. Kiyota Nobunaga: Instant Step Intercept! He swiped the ball cleanly from Haizaki's hands!
Haizaki: "!"
Impossible!
Just how far did this monster's defensive range extend?!
"Sorry~ too slow~"
"My body just moved on its own~"
Turnover. Shigure accelerated beyond the three-point line to reset. Haizaki chased without hesitation, but… even though his speed was already elite at the junior high level, he simply couldn't close the gap.
"Kuroko…"
"So fast!"
"But, he can't catch up…?"
Though he often argued with Haizaki, though he knew Vice-Captain Shigure was a monster, Kuroko Tetsuya had never seen Haizaki suppressed so completely.
Especially in terms of raw athleticism, a quality Kuroko secretly admired in Haizaki—yet Shigure was dribbling faster than Haizaki could sprint without the ball.
Aomine: "!"
Watching Shigure press Haizaki down mercilessly, Aomine knew this was bad. At this rate, it would just be a repeat of before—another solo showcase by Shigure-senpai.
So, as he sprinted back on defense, he did something unthinkable—he actually shouted encouragement for Haizaki:
"Idiot Haizaki!"
"Is that all the speed you've got?!"
"Catch him!"
"At least stall him until I get there!"
But Aomine's voice, drowned in the rush of play, never reached Haizaki, who was already throwing everything into the chase.
Kiyota Nobunaga: Return Breakthrough!
Ability…
Behind-the-back crossover!
Once Shigure's "Showtime" ignited, he toyed with Haizaki—dribbling left, right, suddenly pulling back, the ball snapping across his body in a sharp feint, then a dazzling behind-the-back move. In a flash, he broke through Haizaki Shōgo, slicing straight into the paint!
From the other side, Aomine cut in, while Haizaki lunged desperately from behind.
"Don't even think about it, bastard!"
But
Shigure rose, and in midair, unfurled a silky one-handed scoop.
Kiyota Nobunaga: Rapid Low Scoop!
Ability…
Instant-Step Jelly Layup!
One hand…
Again, he floated from the right side of the rim, a jelly layup twisting in the air, gliding leftward in a single blink, slipping past Haizaki's desperate block!
On the other side
Thud!
Aomine collided into him, unable to stop in time after Shigure's sudden glide.
In that instant, Shigure's arm curled back, wrist flicking, and with his back to the rim, he scooped the ball from behind Aomine's body, launching it at the basket.
With his innate anti-interference ability maxed, plus perfect touch
The ball dropped through, clean.
At the same time, from the sidelines, Nijimura Shuzo clapped once, standing in as the referee's whistle.
Clap!
"Aomine, defensive foul!"
"One free throw!"
Faced with this outrageous sequence, Kuroko Tetsuya and Sanada Naoto up in the second tier no longer looked shocked—they were going numb.
Aomine + Haizaki. Two of Teikō's most complete first-years. Together, they couldn't even force a balanced contest against Shigure Akihito.
It was one-sided.
Utterly hopeless.
Kuroko Tetsuya: "…"
He knew exactly how strong Haizaki was.
In the 8-6-0 training game, in their late-night practice sessions, Haizaki had always given him the sense of a wolf—no matter the opponent, he'd sink his teeth in, and he had the strength to make it stick.
And no
After enduring the grueling Zenchū training.
After being hailed by Basketball Monthly as "The Miracle's All-Around Scorer."
Add to that Aomine
A "Miracle Ace in the Making."
So even if they faced Vice-Captain Shigure, Kuroko thought… in a 2v1, even if they couldn't win, at least it wouldn't be so lopsided.
At the very least, it should look like Shigure's duel with Fukaya-senpai.
But his naïve assumption was completely wrong. In this monster's feast, in this realm beyond anything he could imagine, he had it all wrong.
Vice-Captain Shigure…
No one can stand against him!
On the court
After sinking his free throw, Shigure suddenly turned toward Aomine and Haizaki.
"You first-years call this a 'Miracle'? Compared to the 'Miracle of Okayama'…"
"You're far off."
He crooked a finger at them and smiled, "It's time to put an end to this. So give me everything you've got, show me…"
"Just how much weight this so-called Rookie Miracle can carry~"
END OF CHAPTER
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