Ake's voice wasn't loud when he spoke, but his words carried clearly across the gym, reaching everyone present.
Although the first-year freshmen hesitated for a moment, they ultimately obeyed, compelled by the unshakable aura radiating from Ake.
Aida Hikoichi threw the basketball steadily toward him.
Thud… The ball landed firmly in Ake's hands.
Sendoh's eyes narrowed slightly at the sight, his expression growing serious.
"It's coming…"
Thump… thump… thump…
Ake stood still, slowly dribbling the basketball, his sharp gaze fixed on the upperclassmen ahead of him.
'Hmm?'
In that instant, everyone's expressions changed.
They could feel it — Ake's aura was completely different from when the game began.
"This guy…" Koshino Hiroaki murmured, his tone laced with surprise.
Uozumi squinted slightly, deep in thought.
"That pressure… his presence is overwhelming."
Step… step… step…
Then, Ake finally moved.
One step.
Two steps.
Three steps.
He walked forward — not fast, not slow — as if he were simply taking a casual stroll across the court.
Thump… thump… thump…
Each bounce of the ball echoed through the gym, steady and deliberate.
"Hmph… trying to show off," Uekusa Tomoyuki scoffed coldly.
He took a big stride forward, closing the distance in a flash and blocking Ake's path.
But even when faced with sudden pressure, Ake's face remained calm, his dribbling completely unfazed.
Uekusa didn't waste time talking. He reached out, attempting to snatch the ball from Ake's hands—but the next moment—
Thump!
The basketball hit the ground again with a heavy, muffled sound.
Ake suddenly lowered his stance, his body sinking sharply before bursting to the side in a lightning-fast breakthrough.
"So fast!"
Uekusa's heart skipped a beat, shocked by Ake's sudden acceleration.
He turned quickly to defend, just barely reacting in time to cut Ake off again.
But—
Ake's movements came to an abrupt halt. Gathering the ball with both hands, he jumped lightly and flicked his wrist.
The ball flew cleanly over Uekusa's head—
—and landed perfectly in the hands of the freshman shooting guard behind him.
The guard was completely unguarded.
Realizing the opportunity, he immediately stepped back beyond the three-point line and took the shot without hesitation.
Swish!
The ball glided smoothly through the net.
Freshmen 11 – 22 Upperclassmen.
"It went in! That's great!" Aida Hikoichi and a few freshmen shouted, their faces lighting up with excitement.
But Ake didn't celebrate. Without saying a word, he simply turned and sprinted back on defense.
The upperclassmen quickly began their counterattack.
Koshino Hiroaki dribbled rapidly, cutting into the freshmen's half in the blink of an eye.
The freshman shooting guard hurried to block him at the three-point line.
Koshino's eyes flicked toward the paint — Uozumi was already charging in, and Aida Hikoichi was helpless to stop him.
"Perfect timing."
Without hesitation, Koshino raised his arm and lobbed the ball toward the basket.
But just as the ball left his hand—
Slap!
A large hand appeared from nowhere, snatching the ball cleanly out of the air.
"What!?"
Koshino's eyes widened in disbelief.
Ake had appeared in front of him like a ghost, the basketball now firmly in his grasp.
Before Koshino could even react, Ake pivoted sharply, dodged around him, and sprinted toward the upperclassmen's basket.
"Damn it!"
Koshino turned around and gave chase, pushing himself to his limits.
The distance between them rapidly shrank.
A smirk tugged at Koshino's lips.
"Caught you. Guess you're not that great after all."
But the moment he caught up, he froze.
Ake's hands were empty.
"Where's… the ball?"
Before he could make sense of it—
Thump…
The sound of a basketball bouncing echoed nearby.
Koshino turned instinctively toward the noise—and saw Aida Hikoichi standing there, the ball in his hands, wearing a completely bewildered expression.
"Huh? When did I…?"
Aida blinked in confusion. The ball had somehow ended up with him, and his body was moving almost on instinct.
The upperclassmen were just as stunned. No one could figure out how the ball had vanished from Ake's hands and appeared in Aida's.
But now, Aida was completely unguarded.
Realizing it was a golden opportunity, he clenched his teeth, sprinted forward, and leaped for a layup.
Swish!
The ball sank cleanly through the hoop.
Freshmen 13 – 22 Upperclassmen.
Outside the court, Coach Taoka Moichi watched in silence, his sharp eyes following Ake's every move.
He nodded slightly, a hint of approval flickering across his face.
"His timing on defense and passing is excellent. His ball control is steady too."
But then his brows furrowed again.
"Still… if this is all he can do—"
Slap!
Another crisp sound of a steal echoed through the gym.
Once again, Ake had taken the ball — this time straight from Uekusa Tomoyuki's hands.
Everyone expected him to drive the ball down the court again.
Instead—
Ake flicked his wrist, passing the ball straight between Uekusa's legs.
Thump!
The ball hit the floor, bounced, and rolled perfectly toward the freshman power forward behind him.
The power forward caught it instinctively, staring blankly at the ball in his hands.
"Huh?"
His brain froze.
"Good chance — shoot!" Aida shouted urgently.
Snapping out of it, the freshman quickly dribbled toward the basket, jumped, and released the shot.
Swish!
The ball went in.
Freshmen 15 – 22 Upperclassmen.
From that moment on, the entire gym fell into a strange, almost surreal rhythm.
Slap… swish… slap… swish…
Over and over again, the same sounds echoed through the court.
Every pair of eyes was glued to Ake, their expressions frozen between shock and disbelief.
He stole the ball.
He passed.
The basket scored.
Again and again.
Uekusa Tomoyuki, Ake's defender, looked completely dazed. His expression was blank, as if his mind had crashed.
No matter how he tried to drive or dodge, Ake stripped the ball from him every single time.
He was trapped — like a donkey walking in circles, unable to break free.
Huff… huff… huff…
Uekusa was drenched in sweat, gasping for breath, his once-defiant eyes now filled with fear and uncertainty.
By the time everyone finally snapped out of their daze, they realized something unbelievable—
At some point, the score had been tied.
Freshmen 36 – 36 Upperclassmen.