Chapter 2: Join Us at Teikō Middle School

On the court, Miyamoto Tokima held the ball with both hands. His right foot suddenly jabbed outward, and his right hand made a feint, a probing jab step.

Daiki Aomine was shaken by the move and took a small step back.

That single step was all Miyamoto Tokima needed. He seized the opening and sprang high into the air.

Fake drive—real shot!!

Daiki Aomine immediately realized he’d been fooled and rushed forward to contest the shot, but Miyamoto Tokima’s elevation and release speed were simply outrageous.

By the time Aomine left the ground, the ball had already left Miyamoto Tokima’s hands.

The basketball traced a smooth arc through the air.

Swish.

Another three.

“It’s 3–0 already. Aomine’s not really going to get shut out, is he?”

“I don’t know, but judging by this… it might actually happen.”

“Amazing. Seriously amazing!”

Damn it, his release is way too fast!

The score was now 3–0. Miyamoto Tokima’s consecutive baskets placed enormous pressure on Daiki Aomine.

Before this game, Aomine had always believed that no one his age could defeat him. But the sudden appearance of Miyamoto Tokima made him experience emotions he had never felt before.

Next possession—I absolutely can’t let him score!

With that thought, Daiki Aomine focused completely, his eyes locked tightly onto Miyamoto Tokima’s every move.

Miyamoto Tokima paid no attention to Aomine’s intensity. He quickly raised both hands, clearly signaling a shot.

A shot?

Aomine’s center of gravity lifted slightly.

No—fake!

In the next instant, Miyamoto Tokima dropped his body low and burst toward Aomine’s right side.

Daiki Aomine hurriedly adjusted his stance and followed.

He kept up? Interesting.

Seeing Aomine stay with him, a faint smile appeared on Miyamoto Tokima’s face.

“If you can keep up, then come on.”

Bang!

Miyamoto Tokima violently exploded off the dribble, accelerating with the ball to shake Aomine off.

But Daiki Aomine didn’t give ground, pressing his body tightly against Miyamoto Tokima without losing his defensive position.

“I’ve got speed too!!”

He roared as he accelerated again, blocking Miyamoto Tokima’s driving lane.

Miyamoto Tokima smiled lightly.

“Having speed doesn’t mean you have strength.”

“What?”

Before Aomine could react, a massive force slammed into his chest.

Bang!

It felt as if he’d been hit by a speeding car. His body staggered backward several steps, a clear opening appearing behind him.

“How is that possible?! How can he be this strong?!”

Daiki Aomine retreated all the way under the basket, clutching his aching chest in disbelief.

Miyamoto Tokima didn’t stop. After knocking Aomine aside, he gathered the ball with both hands and charged straight toward the rim.

“If this is all you’ve got, then I’m taking this game!”

His tone was calm as he planted his left foot and launched himself high into the air.

Under the basket, Daiki Aomine saw Miyamoto Tokima trying to dunk over him. With an angry roar, he forced his legs to move and leapt up, aiming to block the dunk.

His right hand rose directly into Miyamoto Tokima’s dunking path.

Miyamoto Tokima knew that even if he forced the dunk, Aomine wouldn’t be able to stop it.

But there was no need.

Midair, Miyamoto Tokima changed his motion. His raised arms suddenly pulled back, his body gliding past Aomine before slamming the ball behind him.

Bang!

A two-handed reverse dunk!

“What?!”

Daiki Aomine stared in shock while still in the air.

Changing movements midair like that—was that really something someone his age could do?

“Huh? Huh? Huh?! What the hell was that?!”

“He just dunked like that?! That’s terrifying!”

“It’s 4–0. Aomine really might get shut out…”

“Huff… huff… huff…”

A slender figure ran onto the court from outside.

“Aomine! A—”

The pink-haired girl called out Daiki Aomine’s name, but when she saw him standing there in silence, she stopped.

It was the first time she had ever seen Daiki Aomine look so battered.

She turned to a nearby passerby.

“Excuse me, what happened here?”

Being spoken to by Satsuki Momoi , the passerby—who had never seen such a beautiful girl before—immediately grew nervous.

“Ah… well…”

He explained what had happened.

After listening, Satsuki Momoi  covered her mouth with one hand.

Aomine… Aomine was actually being suppressed!

“Daiki Aomine, it’s 4–0. If this is all you’ve got, there’s no point in continuing,” Miyamoto Tokima said casually, spinning the ball on his finger.

“You… you know me?”

Daiki Aomine snapped his head up, staring at him in disbelief.

He knows me. Not only does he know me, he’s even suppressing me. Then why had I never noticed someone this strong before?

“Of course I know you. What—do you still want to play?” Miyamoto Tokima asked.

“Play!”

Fighting spirit surged in Daiki Aomine’s eyes, faint traces of blue light flickering within them.

Zone? He’s already standing at the doorway.

Miyamoto Tokima watched calmly and tossed the ball to Daiki Aomine.

“What do you mean?” Aomine caught the ball, confused.

“I’m giving you a chance. Otherwise, you won’t even touch the ball.”

Miyamoto Tokima waved his hand indifferently and settled into a defensive stance.

Daiki Aomine stopped holding back. He lowered his body slightly, becoming as still as a cheetah before the hunt.

Which way? Left or right?

Aomine analyzed Miyamoto Tokima’s positioning, running breakthrough scenarios in his mind.

Left gets blocked. Right gets stolen. I can’t get through!

He snapped back to reality, sweat instantly soaking his body.

Why? Why can’t I break through?!

Damn it—now’s not the time to freeze. If I can’t drive, then I’ll shoot!

With that thought, Daiki Aomine jumped.

I’ve been waiting for this!

Miyamoto Tokima soared upward, sealing off Aomine’s shooting path.

Damn it, how can he jump that high?! He’s going to block it! No—I have to make this shot!

Crack!

A flash of blue lightning flickered through Daiki Aomine’s eyes as his body slowly leaned backward in midair.

Huh? Zone? Wasn’t Aomine supposed to awaken later?

Miyamoto Tokima watched Aomine’s transformation from the air, deeply puzzled.

Wasn’t Daiki Aomine supposed to enter the Zone only after his awakening? How could he do it in his first year of middle school?

“Hey, hey, hey! Is he ignoring gravity? He’s practically flying!”

“Look at Aomine’s posture! He’s almost parallel to the ground!”

“Are these two even human?!”

Daiki Aomine’s entire body was nearly parallel to the floor, as if lying flat in midair.

A backward-leaning jump shot in Zone mode.

Miyamoto Tokima watched calmly. At this stage, Daiki Aomine hadn’t fully mastered the Formless Shot.

This was likely a desperate move. For the current Aomine, there was no way this shot would go in—especially from beyond the three-point line.

Daiki Aomine hurled the ball toward the rim with all his strength.

The ball barely cleared Miyamoto Tokima’s fingertips—an extreme, last-moment release.

It struck the back of the rim and bounced high into the air.

Go in. Please go in.

Satsuki Momoi  stared at the ball, hands tightly clasped.

“Go in!!” Daiki Aomine roared.

Miyamoto Tokima watched quietly, still unable to understand one thing.

Why had Daiki Aomine entered the Zone while still in his first year of middle school?

...

(40 Chapters Ahead)

p@treon com / GhostParser