"Oh~?"
"So this is the Rainbow Connection?"
"Two modes, huh? Aside from that ultra-high-speed transmission between teammates that boosts offensive timing, it can also use a direct-pass mode to guide a teammate's movement?"
The instant Hagioka Kasayuki caught the pass, the force and spin from Shigure Akihito's delivery compelled him into a dunk motion he had never executed before
Akagi Gorilla Dunk!
BANG!
The rim rattled violently.
"I remember your teammate, Fukasaya Reiji, when he faced us, he caught your pass and threw that outrageous drifting hook shot—that was because of this pass too?"
"Amazing…"
"Much more efficient than Okayama's 'Nanchiruyin' flow—less energy, more precision."
Hearing that, Shigure Akihito shook his head.
"Not quite~ Only those who directly receive my pass can trigger it. It's not like Okayama's 'Miracle,' which can pull everyone in at once."
"And the conditions are strict—it's only for that fleeting instant of synchronization. It can only enhance movement-based talents. Stuff like 'Flame Man's Burnout'? That doesn't work at all."
Realizing the pass's raw power and rotation were the only things driving the move, Hagioka Kasayuki nodded thoughtfully.
"Then how come I didn't see Nijimura pulled like this back in '08?"
Shigure blinked at him with a look that said, Seriously?
Hagioka froze.
"…Ah."
"Right… He doesn't need movement-based boosts like that anyway…"
By the time the U-20 coach and a few reporters arrived at the seaside gym, what they saw made their jaws drop
Hagioka Kasayuki was tearing across the court like a streak of lightning, body nearly scraping the floor, accelerating endlessly!
His hair whipped behind him, his figure streaking forward like a sea swallow skimming the waves
The coach muttered, stunned.
"…That's… Swift as Thunder?"
Wait
He's still in high school.
Who could possibly force Hagioka to use his full Wind, Forest, Fire, Mountain, Shadow, Thunder sequence?!
"Ah… it's Shigure Akihito."
"Hmm? Wait—why are those two on the same team?"
"And… is that the Generation of Miracles!?"
Not far away, the Rakuzan players watched their captain's relaxed grin and couldn't help smiling themselves.
To be honest, just seeing their captain sprint with that 'Swift as Thunder' posture was enough to ignite their blood!
And clearly
On the court…
Shigure Akihito and Captain Hagioka's coordination wasn't on the same level as anyone else's.
That terrifying, storm-like Swift as the Wind passing—none of them could confidently say they could even catch it in normal form.
Unless, of course, Hagioka activated Okayama's Miracle and pulled them all into Wind, Forest, Fire, Mountain, Shadow, Thunder.
Whoosh!
Hagioka glanced sideways at Shigure, who was running neck-and-neck with him.
Even though Shigure possessed the all-around superior ability Flame Man's Burnout, he was now accelerating effortlessly using Swift as Thunder.
A complex emotion flickered across Hagioka's eyes—then turned into a grin.
"Eye for an eye, huh?"
"Yeah~"
"Pretty awesome, right?"
"Mm…"
"Awesome."
The instant Hagioka finished speaking, Aomine Daiki—who had been chasing behind—finally couldn't take it anymore.
He burst between them
and opened the Zone!
Crackle!
Snap!
CRACK!
WHOOSH!
Both Hagioka and Shigure froze mid-motion for half a second as Aomine pointed at them with a grin, then hurled the ball toward Seirin's backboard!
He turned his head, smirked, and raised an eyebrow.
"You two seem to be having fun. Mind if I join in, senpai?"
"Two senpai, huh?!"
For a brief moment, Hagioka and Shigure exchanged a glance
Then, in unison, they exploded forward, chasing after the lightning-blue streak that was Aomine, arcs of black and deep gray lightning flashing in their eyes!
THUD!
That was the sound of both of them kicking off the court at full power.
The next second
Under everyone's stunned gaze, the two charged forward at full Zone speed, bodies nearly grazing the court surface!
"S-so fast!!!"
"Same Zone, but they're much quicker!"
"That's the difference in base ability!"
On the other side, Aomine's eyes widened, then gleamed with excitement.
"You guys are monsters, aren't you?"
"Ah…"
"Probably~"
"Captain Hagioka, how about something fun?"
BOOM!
The moment Shigure closed in on Aomine, he stomped down hard
and ignited Flame Man's Burnout!
The sudden burst of black-flamed acceleration flared like ignited jet fuel!
The reporter who'd followed the U-20 coach to the court could only stare, slack-jawed.
"He… he accelerated AGAIN?!"
Engulfed in the thrill of sheer speed, Shigure shot past both Aomine and Hagioka—launching himself toward the ball rebounding off the backboard!
His airborne silhouette, clad in a black training jersey, looked like a raven spreading its wings!
On defense, Haizaki Shōgo could only glimpse the ecstatic grin on Shigure's face—and the black lightning flickering in his eyes
Jet-black!
High above, Shigure soared through the air, facing the onrushing wind from his own momentum.
The exhilaration of speed emptied his mind completely—
and in that suspended moment, he reached for the ball.
SMACK!
Off the board
BOUNCE!
Rainbow Connection!
The next instant, Hagioka Kasayuki leapt up too—his Nanchiruyin prediction ability kicking in.
He moved a split second early, following the ball's spin and trajectory—
A full 360° spin in midair
One-handed, behind-the-back, enhanced version of
Kiyota Nobunaga's 'Swift as the Wind' Bank Shot!
SLAM!
The ball rocketed back off the glass at insane speed!
Meanwhile, trapped between Shigure and Hagioka, Aomine Daiki—normally the embodiment of chaos and freedom—was frozen.
That ball was…
…bouncing left and right off the backboard in front of his face at blinding speed!
And before he could even react
Shigure Akihito—Kiyota Nobunaga-style bank shot!
Talent—Fadeaway Jumper!
Before his feet even touched the ground, Shigure tightened his core, leaning backward to prolong his hang time, then—still in midair—caught Hagioka's pass!
SMACK!
Seamless shot
SWISH!
It went in.
U-20 Coach: "…"
Reporter: "…"
Aomine: "…"
Seirin's entire team: "…"
END OF CHAPTER
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