We hit the jackpot!!
Miyamoto Tokima's release speed, his explosive physical talent, his ball-handling, and his defense were all outstanding—he was already more than qualified to start as the First Team's small forward!
And if the other players also turned out to be just as impressive…
Then Teikō Middle School's future plan to dominate the scene…
Would be completely unstoppable!!
...
On the court.
"That black-haired guy is way too strong," the second-year point guard said. "When you have the ball, avoid his defense as much as possible."
"If he gets the ball on offense, double-team him. We have to lock him down—otherwise, there's no way we can win."
The point guard explained the strategy to his teammates.
He knew very well that if they couldn't effectively contain Miyamoto Tokima, he would tear through their defense like a ferocious beast.
The second-year small forward nodded heavily.
Compared to personal glory, he cared far more about winning as a team.
The Red Team inbounded the ball. The second-year point guard dribbled it past half court.
Looking at Seijuro Akashi defending him, he began to think.
Passing to the small forward was out of the question—that freshman was terrifying.
The other teammates didn't have good scoring opportunities either.
And this red-haired guy in front of him didn't look particularly strong.
I'll take him on myself!
The second-year point guard dribbled between his legs repeatedly, probing Seijuro Akashi's center of gravity.
Suddenly, he accelerated and drove hard to Akashi's right.
Seijuro Akashi immediately slid over to cut off the lane, reaching out to steal the ball.
Seeing this, the second-year point guard quickly pulled the ball back and retreated to the three-point line to reset the offense.
Are all first-years monsters now? I can't even get past him.
"Here!"
The second-year center firmly sealed Atsushi Murasakibara behind him and extended his right hand, calling for the ball.
Murasakibara stood behind him, looking completely blank and absent-minded.
Seeing that his center had established position and was asking for the ball, the point guard passed it over without hesitation.
"If my teammates can't score, then watch me do it!"
The second-year center caught the ball, backed in hard, then turned for a layup.
"Huh?" Atsushi Murasakibara suddenly jumped, his palm blotting out the sky as he swatted the ball cleanly away.
The second-year center stared in disbelief.
Seeing that Murasakibara had been standing under the basket without moving, he'd casually gone up for the layup.
He never imagined that Murasakibara could jump that high and smack the ball away so easily.
The moment the ball was swatted loose, Miyamoto Tokima was the first to grab it. He immediately fired a long pass downcourt, sending the ball straight into Daiki Aomine's hands as he reached the opposing basket.
"Thanks, Miyamoto!" Daiki Aomine caught the ball and leapt up excitedly, slamming it through the hoop.
Boom!
"Y-you've got to be kidding me… another dunk?"
"Y-yeah… seriously, what's wrong with these two first-years?!"
"Great pass, Miyamoto!" Daiki Aomine ran over to Miyamoto Tokima and pulled him into a huge hug.
The second-years lowered their heads in silence.
They had thought Miyamoto Tokima alone was already an exception—but now there was also Daiki Aomine and Atsushi Murasakibara.
Aside from the opening tip-off, Murasakibara had barely moved at all, just standing under the basket.
Then Miyamoto Tokima's earlier dunk had made them forget that there was still such a terrifying monster lurking in the paint.
And Daiki Aomine's speed shocked them just as much.
"It's fine, we're only down a few points. We can get them back," the second-year center said, trying to rally the team as he inbounded the ball again.
The second-year point guard dribbled past half court, and their center immediately came over to set a screen.
After Seijuro Akashi was forced off by the pick, the point guard suddenly found himself completely unguarded.
A trace of confusion surfaced in his mind.
Why is no one defending me?
His thoughts hesitated, but his actions didn't.
He raised the ball and released it cleanly.
Swish!
The three-pointer was good.
"Nice shot!" the second-year center praised him as he ran over.
"Thanks—but why was there literally no one guarding me?" the point guard asked in confusion.
"That's because that purple-haired guy didn't move at all," the second-year power forward replied.
Hearing this, the point guard glanced back at Atsushi Murasakibara standing under the basket.
Murasakibara was still rooted in place beneath his own hoop, looking utterly unconcerned.
"Hey, hey, hey! You've got to at least move a little!" Daiki Aomine walked up to him with a dark expression and scolded him.
Murasakibara looked completely clueless. "Isn't this just a practice game? It's not like it's a real match."
"You idiot! You still have to move in a practice game!" Daiki Aomine shouted, veins bulging on his forehead.
Miyamoto Tokima watched the two of them in silence.
This was completely in character for Atsushi Murasakibara.
"Alright, alright, stop arguing. Just play seriously. After the game, I'll treat you guys to a big meal," Miyamoto Tokima said helplessly, pulling out his secret weapon.
"A big meal!" Murasakibara's eyes lit up instantly. Eating was his favorite thing, and he'd never turn down a free meal.
"Yeah. If we win, dinner's on me," Miyamoto Tokima said with a smile.
Murasakibara's fighting spirit surged immediately. His eyes burned as he stared straight at the second-years.
The ball was inbounded again. This time, instead of passing to Seijuro Akashi, Murasakibara passed it to Miyamoto Tokima—the one who had promised the feast.
Miyamoto Tokima looked down at the ball in his hands, speechless.
So a single meal was enough to activate him… good to know for the future.
He glanced at Seijuro Akashi, who simply smiled and ran upcourt.
It was clearly a "you run the offense" gesture.
Seeing this, Miyamoto Tokima chuckled helplessly and slowly brought the ball forward.
Miyamoto Tokima didn't like playing hero ball. He preferred widening his vision, observing both his opponents and his teammates.
He began reading everyone's positioning, analyzing how to score in the most efficient way.
To him, it was nothing more than calmly reading the court.
But to everyone else, it looked completely different.
They saw ripples spreading out beneath Miyamoto Tokima's feet, waves that instantly enveloped the entire court.
Everyone felt as if they were being locked onto by an unseen gaze, as though no matter what they did, it would all be seen through.
Seijuro Akashi stared blankly at the scene, utterly stunned.
Who… exactly is he? Why does it feel like I'm completely exposed?
In the next instant, the ball flew straight into Shintaro Midorima's hands.
Midorima looked down at the ball in surprise.
He had thought he wouldn't touch the ball again this game.
Yet after displaying an ability that seemed to see through everyone, Miyamoto Tokima had chosen to pass to him.
That alone made Midorima even more interested in Miyamoto Tokima.
"Since you trust me this much…"
Shintaro Midorima leapt high and pushed the ball out with his left hand.
"Then I'll do my best and leave the rest to fate."
The basketball soared upward, tracing an enormous arc.
"Today's horoscope says Cancer ranks first in luck. Lucky item: a water cup."
"So there's no way my shot is missing."
After releasing the ball, Shintaro Midorima adjusted his glasses and turned to run back on defense.
But when he saw Miyamoto Tokima already standing beyond his own three-point line, he froze.
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
p@treon com / GhostParser