Chapter 030
Kotaro Hayama asked anxiously: "So is there any way to counter it, Imayoshi?"
"This is the first time I've encountered this type of player," Shoichi Imayoshi frowned with growing seriousness. "While he's individually weak, that naturally low presence combined with misdirection techniques makes him extremely difficult to defend against."
"On the basketball court, no matter how closely you're watching a player or how tight your defense is, you'll inevitably be drawn to follow the basketball. Someone with such low natural presence can exploit that moment to disappear and reposition elsewhere."
Hanamiya listened and understood Imayoshi's meaning, saying with obvious discomfort: "Seems like this quarter is going to be challenging."
"No, no, no—it's not hopeless. We can change tactics and still fight them," Imayoshi grinned slightly. "From now on, Hanamiya and I will score from the perimeter while you handle screens and assists. After all, that transparent kid specializes in steals and passes—I doubt his other abilities are as developed."
Hanamiya sneered: "Scoring from outside lets us avoid Murasakibara in the paint, but if we miss shots, we're in trouble. His rebounding is comparable to that Kiyoshi guy."
Hanamiya secured the basketball and faced Haizaki in isolation. Looking at his opponent, he sneered: 'I figured you guys would play this way. Wait—where did that transparent brat go?' Suddenly, Hanamiya scanned the court, unable to locate Kuroko again.
Startled, he spotted Kuroko approaching from the side for another steal attempt. This scene mirrored the previous situation with Hayama—using his faint presence while Haizaki in front attracted most attention to execute the theft.
The basketball in his hands got slapped toward the left. Kuroko's steal attempt failed, and Susa immediately recovered the loose ball. Hanamiya sneered: "Really, I didn't expect you guys to hide such a trump card! If I hadn't seen him steal from Hayama before, that would have caught me completely off-guard!"
Without letting Haizaki respond, Hanamiya exploited the moment of slight relaxation and quickly broke left.
Haizaki immediately recovered defensively, but Shoichi Imayoshi stepped up to screen him.
'A pick again!' Haizaki looked startled.
'Damn, I'll guard you!' Ranki immediately stepped forward.
Hanamiya's mouth curved upward slightly. He stepped back, drew the basketball in a semicircular rotation in front of him, and launched a high-arcing shot.
Three points—good!
Score: 19-17, Team Nocrown trailing behind by two.
Haizaki looked displeased: "Tch, these guys are so skilled. Seems like they've adapted to Kuroko's abilities much faster than expected."
'But that's fine—I'll take all your powerful techniques for myself.'
Thinking this, Haizaki's mouth curved into a grin as he called to Murasakibara: "Atsushi, pass me the ball. I want to return the favor."
"Oh, is that so?" Murasakibara tossed the ball to Haizaki.
Taking possession, Haizaki immediately found himself defended by Hanamiya. He looked on with a sneer before pulling up for a quick jump shot. Hanamiya looked shocked, thinking: 'I remember this move seems to be...'
Touch-
Hanamiya's fingertips barely grazed the basketball. The ball hit the rim, bounced slightly, and ultimately fell through the net.
Three points—good!
Score: 22-17, Team MiracleCreator lead by 5.
Shoichi Imayoshi watched with amazement: "That movement is..."
'He used the exact move Imayoshi just attempted. This bastard.' Hanamiya thought with internal shock, not expecting Haizaki to imitate Imayoshi's technique while seemingly executing it even better.
Haizaki looked at Hanamiya's expression, licked his finger slightly, and said mockingly: "I just thought that move was pretty good, so I borrowed it. This is only the beginning—I'll be taking your techniques as well."
Hanamiya replied with obvious anger: "Is that so? If you're capable, then try it!"
Aomine looked at Haizaki and grinned: "Oh, so you're using Plunder now! Seems like Haizaki's finally getting serious."
"Hey Atsushi, I'll pass to Haizaki next," Aomine grinned with anticipation. "First, let Haizaki completely disrupt their rhythm with his stealing ability, then it'll be much easier for us to handle them."
Kuroko looked puzzled from the sideline: "Plunder? What is that, Aomine-san?"
"That's right, Kuroko-chin! You've only been with the first-string for a few days, so you don't know about Haizaki-chin's ability yet," Murasakibara tilted his head toward Kuroko. "Just watch carefully—Haizaki-chin's ability is really amazing."
Imayoshi's expression darkened as he said coldly: "Hmph, I didn't expect him to use my shooting form. How interesting—and his execution was superior to mine."
"Exactly what I was thinking!" After securing the basketball, Hanamiya said with displeasure: "Let me return that shot—you just scored on me."
Moving to beyond the three-point line, Hanamiya faced Murasakibara's mountain-like presence. This time, Murasakibara was marking him directly, speaking in his soft voice tinged with coldness: "Don't even think about shooting. I'll completely destroy you."
"Hehe, what a troublesome situation," Hanamiya said with a slight wry smile. 'Murasakibara is different from Haizaki! But since this guy came out to the perimeter, that means the interior defense is... Haizaki? What an interesting defensive setup!'
With that realization, Hanamiya immediately passed to Shoichi Imayoshi, who looked at Ranki defending him and thought with internal resignation: 'Every one of them is so tall! Are they trying to prevent all our three-point attempts? But still...'
Shoichi Imayoshi quickly stepped back and attempted a jump shot.
Touch-
Ranki's fingertips barely contacted the basketball, and Imayoshi felt something strange about the attempt, thinking: 'What's happening? Why did that shot feel slightly off-rhythm?'
The basketball hit the rim and missed completely.
***
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