Akashi's voice was quiet, yet each word carried an unyielding weight.
The first-year freshmen hesitated for only a moment before complying, drawn by the invisible pressure emanating from him.
Aida Hikoichi passed the basketball steadily.
Slam! The ball landed firmly in Akashi's hands.
Sendoh's eyes narrowed, his expression turning serious. "Is it coming?"
Thump… thump… thump… Akashi dribbled, slowly, deliberately, his gaze fixed on the upperclassmen.
Something in the gym shifted.
Everyone felt it. His aura—different from before—radiated dominance.
"This guy…" Koshino Hiroaki's voice betrayed a flicker of surprise.
Uozumi's eyes narrowed. His aura… it's intimidating.
Step… step… step… Akashi moved forward. Not quickly, not hurriedly, just an effortless, measured stride. Each dribble echoed like a heartbeat, reaching mid-court.
"Putting on a show." Tomoyuki Uekusa snorted and charged, blocking the path with a single stride.
Akashi remained calm. His dribble never faltered.
Uekusa reached to snatch the ball—but then, thump! The ball hit the court again, and Akashi's body sank, lower than expected, before surging past him with breathtaking speed.
Uekusa reacted instantly—but Akashi paused mid-breakthrough, leapt lightly, and flicked the ball over Uekusa's head.
It landed in the hands of the freshman shooting guard behind him. Unguarded.
Without hesitation, the freshman shot from beyond the three-point line.
Swish!
Freshman Team 11 – Upperclassmen 22.
Aida Hikoichi and the other freshmen cheered, but Akashi didn't stop. Calmly, he shifted into defense.
The counterattack began instantly.
Koshino dribbled rapidly, charging into the freshman half—but before he could act, Akashi intercepted, snatching the ball mid-air with a hand that seemed to appear from nowhere.
Koshino froze. "What…?!"
Before he could recover, Akashi had bypassed him, sprinting toward the upperclassmen's half-court.
But when Koshino caught up, the ball was gone.
Where…?
Thump! The basketball hit the ground near Aida Hikoichi. He instinctively grabbed it, still dazed by how it arrived.
The upperclassmen gaped, utterly bewildered. Not one of them could explain the transfer of the ball.
Aida, realizing the opportunity, drove toward the basket. Three steps, layup…
Swish! Freshman Team 13 – Upperclassmen 22.
Coach Taoka Moichi watched, nodding slightly. "Timing, vision… his ball handling is exceptional."
But he frowned again. "If it's just like this…"
Slap! Another crisp sound of a steal rang out.
Akashi intercepted Tomoyuki Uekusa again, but instead of driving, flicked the ball between Uekusa's legs.
Thump! The basketball bounced and rolled directly to the freshman power forward behind Uekusa.
The freshman caught it, stunned, mind blank.
"Shoot! Quick!" Aida Hikoichi yelled.
Snap out of it. Dribble, drive, jump…
Swish! Freshman Team 15 – Upperclassmen 22.
The gym fell into an uncanny rhythm. Slap… swoosh… swish… slap… swoosh… swish…
Eyes widened. Hearts raced. None could believe what they were seeing.
Tomoyuki Uekusa, facing Akashi, was utterly paralyzed. Every move he made with the ball, every attempt to escape, was anticipated and intercepted. His brain felt like it had crashed.
Hoo… ha… hoo… ha… Sweat poured down his face as he ran in futile pursuit, fear replacing arrogance.
By the time everyone regained their senses, the scoreboard told the astonishing truth:
Freshman Team 36 – Upperclassmen 36.