Shoichi Imayoshi's expression visibly darkened.
He truly hadn't expected Makoto Hanamiya's transformation to be this drastic.
It wasn't just his skill.
It was also… his mouth.
Daiki Aomine slowly walked over and said,
"Time to attack."
Shoichi Imayoshi and Ryo Sakurai exchanged a glance before running toward the frontcourt.
As for who would handle the ball...
Of course, it was Daiki Aomine.
Possession switched.
Daiki Aomine brought the ball past half court and stopped at the three-point line, facing Shuzo Nijimura.
He didn't speak. His gaze simply turned serious.
His body slowly lowered into a stance.
Shuzo Nijimura focused completely, not daring to relax for even a moment.
At the same time, he activated his Animal Instinct.
A ferocious shark appeared behind him.
His defensive movements became sharp and continuous.
A shark never stops moving.
Daiki Aomine remained expressionless, completely unfazed.
He dribbled quickly, his body leaning into an extreme angle.
His speed shot from zero to maximum in an instant.
In just one exchange, Daiki Aomine tore through Shuzo Nijimura's defense.
Within the clash of Animal Instincts, the shark was shattered by a dark shadow in a single strike.
There wasn't even time to react.
Swish.
By the time Shuzo Nijimura realized what had happened, the ball was already through the net.
After breaking past him, Daiki Aomine had instantly stopped at the free-throw line and finished the play with [Formless].
Shuzo Nijimura's expression changed drastically.
'How is that possible!'
It wasn't just him. The rest of Kirisaki Daiichi were also stunned.
None of them had expected Shuzo Nijimura to be blown past in a single step, without even time to react.
After scoring, Daiki Aomine let out a long breath and turned back on defense.
Shuzo Nijimura watched his back, the shock on his face slowly turning into helplessness.
"Man, that brat's improving way too fast."
Before, he could still suppress Daiki Aomine a little.
But now...
It was difficult.
Just now, Daiki Aomine had clearly activated his Animal Instinct.
The kind that merges directly with the body.
That kind of boost was on a completely different level.
It enhanced the body itself.
It could be said that his reaction speed and movement speed were now worlds apart from before.
Of course, in front of Miyamoto, even Daiki Aomine's Zone and his internal Animal Instinct were still suppressed.
But that was Miyamoto.
Against anyone else, like Shuzo Nijimura right now,
Daiki Aomine didn't even need to enter the Zone.
Just activating his internal Animal Instinct alone, with its overwhelming speed boost, was enough to put Nijimura under serious pressure.
Of course, Shuzo Nijimura didn't dwell on it.
After all, someone who had experienced the abyss in the United States wouldn't be shaken by something like this.
Possession switched.
Kirisaki Daiichi had the ball.
Makoto Hanamiya slowly brought it up, his eyes scanning the entire court.
A point guard's basics. Court vision.
As he reached the three-point line, spiderweb-like patterns began to spread beneath his feet.
Shoichi Imayoshi tensed up, not daring to move recklessly. Even now, he still hadn't figured out what Hanamiya's spiderweb actually did.
Makoto Hanamiya looked at him with a sinister grin.
"What's wrong, Imayoshi? Nervous?"
"Aren't you good at psychology? Come on, tell me what I'm about to do."
"Or tell me who I'm about to pass to."
Then he spoke a name.
"I'm passing to Nijimura."
As he said that, he raised the ball and looked toward Shuzo Nijimura.
Even Nijimura himself reached out to receive it.
Shoichi Imayoshi immediately shifted his weight, preparing to intercept.
Then, Hanamiya's lips curled again.
"Just kidding."
His gaze stayed on Nijimura, but his hand sent the ball to Shogo Haizaki.
Shoichi Imayoshi's pupils shrank.
'Damn it!'
Shogo Haizaki caught the ball, ignored Yoshinori Susa, and casually tossed it up.
That was [Formless].
Swish.
The shot banked in.
After scoring, Shogo Haizaki turned and ran back on defense.
Makoto Hanamiya, meanwhile, immediately started talking.
"Calling you stupid is already being generous. I said I'd pass to Nijimura and you actually believed it?"
"What, if I say I'll pass to you next time, are you going to open your arms and wait for it too?"
"Did you squint so hard you turned your brain off?"
Shoichi Imayoshi clenched his teeth, forcing himself not to swing.
Don't get angry. Don't get angry. Just endure it.
That's just how he is. That's just how he is.
Don't get angry.
"Wow, you can really endure. What are you, a turtle? Or a ninja?"
"Damn you, Hanamiya! I'll—!"
Makoto Hanamiya laughed and made a gesture.
He pointed at Shoichi Imayoshi with one hand, then turned his head toward the referee, smiling slightly.
As if saying, look at him.
Because Shoichi Imayoshi had shouted too loudly, the referee heard it clearly.
The referee immediately stepped in.
"Hey! Calm down!"
Shoichi Imayoshi was about to keep yelling.
"Calm down my—"
The referee's expression turned cold, whistle raised.
"If you don't stop, I'll issue a warning."
That immediately shut him up.
His face turned red, and it almost looked like steam was rising from his head.
The referee nodded and stepped away.
As soon as the referee left, Makoto Hanamiya put on a shocked expression.
"Whoa, a steam engine? Imayoshi, you're ahead of your time."
Shoichi Imayoshi suppressed his anger and ran forward.
In truth, referees in Japan usually ignore trash talk.
But if it gets too loud or too heated, they will intervene to prevent escalation.
Imayoshi had clearly crossed that line just now.
Even the referee silently felt sorry for him.
Because Makoto Hanamiya's trash talk was on another level.
In all his years officiating, he had seen all kinds of high school players.
But someone like Hanamiya, a pure trash talker?
That was a first.
Meanwhile, the game continued.
And on Miyamoto's side, he had already arrived at the meeting location.
The Miyamoto family villa.
After getting out of the car, Miyamoto headed upstairs.
To the family's conference room.
When he reached the door, he knocked.
A voice quickly came from inside.
"Come in!"
Click...
...
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