Chapter 76: Phantom
After catching the ball, Teppei Kiyoshi calmly sank it through the hoop.
For a moment, the score stayed neck and neck.
Possession changed.
Seijuro Akashi dribbled past half-court, quickly shifting the defender’s center of gravity with sharp ball control before breaking left with a crossover. After beating his man, he drove straight toward the basket. Teppei Kiyoshi stepped up with both arms spread, moving in to help defend.
Seijuro Akashi smiled faintly, snapped his wrist, and bounced a pass to Atsushi Murasakibara.
Atsushi Murasakibara caught it and, without hesitation, hammered the ball into the hoop.
Offense turned to defense. Shōei ran a pick-and-roll centered around Teppei Kiyoshi, scoring once again.
Teikō refused to fall behind. Seijuro Akashi passed the ball to Shuzo Nijimura for an isolation play.
Shuzo Nijimura effortlessly blew past Shōei’s power forward. After entering the paint, he shook off Teppei Kiyoshi once more and laid the ball in.
The two teams traded baskets back and forth until the end of the first quarter. The score stood at 23–19, only a four-point difference.
...
During the break, Coach Kōzō Shirogane spoke up:
“Next quarter, Shiroiwa replaces Atsushi Murasakibara. Kuroko replaces Akashi. Miyamoto will handle the ball.”
Seijuro Akashi and Atsushi Murasakibara accepted the arrangement.
Shōei also made adjustments, swapping out their small forward for a power forward, aiming to reinforce the interior with three big men. Shōei’s coach knew Shintaro Midorima wouldn’t be playing this game, so he focused entirely on controlling the paint.
The second quarter began.
Teikō had possession.
Miyamoto Tokima brought the ball up the court, opening up his field of vision as he surveyed the entire floor.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Ripples spread out from beneath Miyamoto Tokima’s feet, expanding layer by layer until they seemed to envelop the whole court.
Teppei Kiyoshi’s pupils constricted in shock.
This… this feeling… even knowing about this ability… it still leaves you stunned…
A powerful sense of being completely seen washed over Teppei Kiyoshi, as if every hidden detail about him had been laid bare.
It wasn’t just him. The rest of Shōei’s players were facing Miyamoto Tokima’s skill for the first time as well, their faces filled with astonishment.
When Miyamoto Tokima noticed Daiki Aomine wide open, he flicked his arm, sending the ball precisely into Aomine’s hands.
Daiki Aomine caught it without hesitation, blew past the stunned Shōei shooting guard, and threw down a dunk in the paint.
Possession changed.
Shōei’s point guard dribbled past half-court, only to realize no one was guarding him. Confused, he pushed forward—then suddenly—
Snap!
The ball was stolen by Tetsuya Kuroko.
The Shōei point guard spun around in alarm, shock flooding his mind.
When did this guy even appear?!
The instant Kuroko made the steal, Daiki Aomine kicked into full gear, sprinting downcourt like a cheetah.
Shōei’s shooting guard and Teppei Kiyoshi snapped out of it and gave chase, but even at full speed, the distance between them and Aomine only kept growing.
How can he be that fast?! the shooting guard thought in disbelief.
Kuroko scooped up the ball and thrust his palm forward, launching a powerful pass.
The Shōei point guard gritted his teeth and stretched out his arm with everything he had, trying to intercept it.
He was a beat too late.
The ball had already left Kuroko’s hand, streaking forward like a flash of white light toward Daiki Aomine.
Aomine caught it cleanly and burst out laughing.
“Beautiful pass, Kuroko!”
He took a single dribble, gathered, took two long steps, then exploded upward off his right leg and slammed the ball home.
Bang!
The rim let out a pained cry.
“Woohoo!” Aomine shouted as he ran back on defense, slapping hands with Kuroko along the way.
“That pass was perfect, Kuroko.”
Kuroko’s expression didn’t change as he replied calmly,
“You’re just amazing, Aomine.”
Shōei’s shooting guard clutched his knee, panting heavily. Staring at the inexplicably appearing Kuroko, he asked in total confusion,
“When did that number 15 get on the court?”
Teppei Kiyoshi stared at Kuroko’s retreating back, his expression serious. He shook his head.
“I don’t know either.”
...
Possession changed again.
Shōei’s point guard crossed half-court, scanning his surroundings warily before finally noticing Kuroko.
When Kuroko suddenly appeared right in front of him, the point guard jolted in shock, cold sweat pouring down his face.
What is going on? Is his presence really this faint?
He quickly forced himself to calm down and studied Kuroko’s defensive stance.
Seeing nothing obviously wrong with it, the Shōei point guard decided to test him.
With a focused expression, he dribbled continuously, trying to bait Kuroko into shifting his balance.
Suddenly, he crossed over and drove past Kuroko on the left.
After breaking through, his serious expression turned into confusion.
His defense… is this weak?
Realizing he had gotten by Kuroko with almost no resistance, the Shōei point guard pulled up at the free-throw line and shot.
Swish!
Two points.
As he turned to get back on defense, he glanced once more at Kuroko, utterly perplexed.
What exactly is his ability…?
...
Possession changed.
Miyamoto Tokima dribbled across half-court once again. The ripples spread outward in layers, and in an instant, he locked onto Kuroko’s position.
He passed the ball in Kuroko’s direction.
Shōei’s small forward glanced toward the pass. Seeing only their point guard standing there, delight flashed across his face.
So much for “Magic Cube”—he finally messed up!
The Shōei point guard watched the ball coming toward him, confusion written all over his face.
He actually made a mistake?
Confused as he was, he still raised both hands, ready to receive the pass.
Just as he was certain the ball would land in his grasp, a sharp sound rang out right in front of him.
Slap!
Along with the sound, a figure suddenly appeared in his field of vision.
The Shōei point guard froze, shock etched across his face, his hands stiffening mid-motion.
When did he get here?!
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