Bang… bang bang… bang bang bang…
The basketball bounced along the floor, making a string of hollow, lonely thuds, then rolled off to the sideline.
Everyone from Akita stood frozen, eyes vacant, dazed expressions on their faces.
Their bodies were still on the court, but it was as if their souls had been completely sucked away by the last play.
Most of the second half had already passed.
But no one had expected the game to turn into such a one-sided massacre.
Aoi Kunisaku seemed to be everywhere, giving Akita no chance to catch their breath.
No matter who from Akita tried to initiate offense or set up a pass, the moment they moved, Aoi would appear like a ghost right in front of them.
Steal, fast break, score, suppress…
Again and again, on an endless loop.
At this point, Akita's players were mentally cracking.
It was like a tight string being gently plucked, then snapping into countless pieces.
Since the start of the second half, their offense had barely succeeded once.
Every attempt was broken by Aoi before it could even take form.
The ball never reached the key positions. The players never had time to space out. Aoi would already be there, calm and ruthless like a hunter, killing the play in its cradle.
And the moment he activated Wild Instinct, the entire Akita team seemed to lose all tactics and awareness.
They couldn't attack anymore. They couldn't defend either.
What followed was a relentless storm of offense from Aoi, wave after wave hammering Akita's defense without mercy.
His eyes burned with resolve. His every movement exuded pressure. Each step landed square on Akita's nerves.
Their defense crumbled like a sandcastle in the rain.
Fear and helplessness filled Akita's eyes. Their steps grew hesitant, confused.
No one could stop Aoi. No one knew how to stop him.
He had completely taken control of the game's tempo.
That red streak darted through the court like a reaper swinging a scythe, cold and unfeeling, sweeping through the battlefield.
Aoi's figure flashed along the sideline, swept through midcourt. At any moment, he could snatch an attack, kill a chance, break someone's fighting spirit.
He wasn't a person anymore. More like death itself.
That invisible scythe of finality hung above the heads of every Akita player.
Unseen, untouchable, but always present, casting a terrifying shadow.
No one knew when it would fall.
Under that invisible pressure, the whole Akita team started to collapse, unraveling little by little.
Maki Shinichi and Sendoh Akira, too, felt the overwhelming awe of what it meant to be on the same team as Aoi Kunisaku.
It was a comfort they had never felt before.
As long as the ball was in Aoi's hands, there was nothing to worry about.
Akita, under his pressure, couldn't even lift their heads. Even putting together a decent offensive possession became a luxury.
This one-sided domination felt incredibly satisfying. It was like every cell in their bodies was cheering.
But amid that euphoria, both Maki and Sendoh felt something bittersweet welling up inside.
Because they knew, soon, they would no longer be teammates.
They'd be opponents.
The thought made their hearts twist a little.
Having such a monster on the other side… their schools' teams might never have peace again.
Time ticked on.
On the court.
Steal, fast break, shot, dunk…
Each play crashed down like waves in a storm, ceaseless, pounding the minds of everyone watching.
And in the center of it all was Aoi Kunisaku.
At this moment, everyone felt the terror of his presence.
That omnipresent figure. That ability to snuff out offense with a simple motion.
He wasn't human. He was a monster.
A monster that could tear apart every tactic in an instant. That could crush all hope.
And now, he was fiercer, more ruthless than during the National Tournament. Like a fully awakened beast, trampling over everything in its path.
You could see it clearly on Akita's players—their battered expressions, their broken formation.
Even back at the National Tournament—
Back then, Sannoh Kogyo had still managed to mount real defense. Still managed to hang on with gritted teeth.
But now?
Akita couldn't even hold the ball properly. Couldn't even control the pace. They were being toyed with by Aoi Kunisaku alone.
Huff… ha… huff… ha… huff… ha…
Heavy and ragged breathing echoed on the court.
Sawakita Eiji was soaked in sweat. It streamed down his face, glistening under the lights with exhaustion.
His chest heaved violently. His eyes lost focus. His legs trembled uncontrollably, as if they might give out at any moment.
He had never felt this helpless before.
Even Fukatsu Kazunari, standing nearby, though in slightly better shape, wore a face filled with fatigue and pressure.
His uniform was drenched. His breathing was rough and disordered.
On the sideline, Domoto Goro watched it all quietly. His eyes shimmered with helplessness and awe.
He let out a soft sigh.
Then his gaze locked on the figure still rampaging across the court—Aoi Kunisaku.
He whispered silently in his heart.
"He… has gotten even stronger."
He could say with absolute certainty—
During the National Tournament, Aoi had never been this powerful.
Back then, facing the combined pressure from Sawakita Eiji and Fukatsu Kazunari, he had needed to fight with everything he had. He needed to struggle just to find an opening. He'd even been pushed to the edge, just to barely punch through.
But now?
Now, Aoi Kunisaku stood before those same two defenders again, yet he felt like a completely different person.
His eyes held no hesitation. His movements were sharper, more decisive.
Even under the double-team from Sawakita and Fukatsu, he still controlled the tempo with ease. It was like everything was unfolding exactly as he expected.
It wasn't the struggle of survival—it was domination from above.
That composure, that confidence, it was plain for all to see. And it sent chills through their hearts.
Domoto Goro wasn't the only one to notice.
Takato Riki, Taoka Moichi, and Anzai Mitsuyoshi all realized it too.
Takato Riki sat at the sideline, gently fanning himself with a paper fan, but his eyes burned like fire.
His gaze was locked onto Aoi Kunisaku, the player tearing through the defense like a storm.
He couldn't hold back his admiration. "What an insane talent! That kid's a monster born for basketball. Shame he's not playing for Kainan."
His voice was filled with regret, and a trace of deep envy.
Not far away, Taoka Moichi was also watching Aoi intently, eyes shining.
A faint grin curled on his lips as he envisioned a dream pairing. "If only he came to Ryonan… Him and Sendoh as a twin-ace combo, probably unbeatable nationwide."
But before he could enjoy the thought, a look of disdain swept over from the side.
Takato Riki's expression was dripping with sarcasm, and he scoffed silently. 'What fantasy world are you living in? You think a gem like that just drops from the sky? And "pair up"? You still don't get it, huh? Aoi Kunisaku isn't someone who likes playing along with teammates. If he was willing to come to Kainan, I wouldn't even care if he played solo the whole game. I'd give him full ball control without question.'
Anzai Mitsuyoshi sat quietly on the bench, fingers clasped on his knees, eyes sharp like a hawk, locked onto Aoi Kunisaku ruling the court like a king.
He didn't speak. He just watched.
Light flashed over his glasses again and again, reflecting the deep unrest brewing within him.
His thoughts on Aoi had gone beyond admiration.
That kind of court control, that kind of pressure over all opponents, that calm and decisive edge—those weren't traits of a normal high school player.
A thought quietly surfaced in Anzai's mind.
He wanted to know—how far could Aoi Kunisaku really go?
With the ability he was showing now, becoming a global basketball star was a given.
But even more shocking—Anzai had a faint hunch.
Aoi's future might not just be "global superstar".
He might become something completely new.
Someone who could stand at the summit of the basketball world.
A player worthy of being written into basketball history.
From the sideline, Ayako watched Aoi wreaking havoc on the court and couldn't help but shiver.
"Why does Aoi Kunisaku seem… different today? Isn't he going too far?"
He'd always been wild. Always absurdly strong.
But that madness used to come with calmness and confidence.
Today…
That pressure wasn't just dominance. It felt like an overwhelming force that crushed everything in its path. Like there were no opponents in his eyes anymore.
Next to her, Shimizu Kanon gave a small nod, her expression showing unease too.
She also felt Aoi wasn't acting normally.
But Aoi doing abnormal things wasn't new.
Even if it felt strange, she wasn't exactly surprised.
On the scoreboard, Kanagawa's numbers kept rising.
Akita's didn't budge.
90 to 56.
96 to 56.
106 to 56.
…
Before anyone realized it, the lead had quietly ballooned to 50 points.
It wasn't just a wide gap. It was a tidal wave of crushing force, rolling in again and again.
There were less than 2 minutes left in the game.
Akita hadn't scored a single point in the second half.
Not one shot escaped a block.
No effective offense.
They couldn't even hold onto the ball steadily.
No one had seen this coming.
Not even Kanagawa's own team.
The crowd fell into complete silence.
No one spoke. No cheers. Even breathing felt subdued.
Every gaze was fixed on Aoi Kunisaku.
He was still darting across the court, swift like the wind, fierce like fire. Every touch of the ball echoed despair for his opponents.
In those wide, stunned eyes watching him, there was shock, reverence… and fear.
They had seen strong players before.
But never this. Never such overwhelming, brutal, soul-crushing control.
Over on Kanagawa's bench, everyone was frozen.
Mouths hung open. Eyes wide in disbelief, staring at that familiar figure as if seeing him for the first time.
Their awe wasn't surprise anymore.
It was worship.
Like staring at a god.
Fukatsu Kazunari had just raised his hand to pass the ball, eyes locked on his target.
But in the split second his arm moved, a figure flashed like a ghost.
The ball had barely left his fingers when a cold, decisive hand intercepted it mid-air.
Sawakita Eiji pushed forward with the ball, eyes sharp, ready to set up the offense.
But just as he took the first step, a figure shot in like lightning from the wing.
Aoi Kunisaku appeared again.
In the blink of an eye, the ball was smacked away from him without warning.
Then, Matsumoto Minoru stepped up outside the three-point line, aimed, and jumped for the shot.
His motion was smooth, full of confidence.
But the instant the ball was about to leave his fingers, a dark shadow suddenly flashed overhead.
Bang…
A thunderous slap rang out. The ball was swatted with brutal force, flying off like a shot-down bullet in a weak arc through the air.
Kawata Masashi leapt high, muscles tensed, ready to deliver a powerful dunk.
But just as he took off, the situation on court changed instantly.
A figure jumped ahead of him, touching the ball before he could.
Pa…
The ball was forcefully snatched mid-air.
It was Aoi Kunisaku again.
As for Nobe Masahiro, by now he had completely become a background decoration on the court.
He stood alone in the corner, like someone entirely forgotten.
Worse yet, any time the ball ended up in his hands, it wouldn't last more than five seconds.
If it wasn't Rukawa Kaede stealing it without warning, it was Aoi Kunisaku flashing past and disappearing with both him and the ball.
Sometimes, he didn't even know when the ball was taken.
That wasn't a mistake. It was despair—being suppressed to the point even perception was stripped away.
He was on the court, but it was as if he didn't exist at all.
That helplessness, that suffocating pressure, it was enough to break someone.
Bang…
Bang…
Bang…
The sound of the basketball hitting the floor echoed repeatedly on the court.
The rhythm was heavy and deliberate, reverberating through the air, striking every heart.
Aoi Kunisaku dribbled slowly. His steps were light, but his presence was undeniable.
His gaze seemed relaxed, as if he didn't care about the game. But deep within those eyes was a drawn blade.
Sharp. Fierce. Unstoppable.
That was the aura of a king—one who stood above all and looked down from the summit.
Sawakita Eiji and Fukatsu Kazunari walked side by side toward him. Their steps were iron-strong. Their eyes burned with defiance and determination.
They knew the game was lost. But even so, they wouldn't give up. No matter what, they had to stop Aoi Kunisaku at least once.
Even if the opponent was nearly invincible, they would not back down.
But as the two closed in with their double-team, Aoi Kunisaku still didn't look at them directly.
He stood there quietly, eyes locked on Akita's basket at the far end.
To him, there was only the goal. No obstacles.
As if, in his world, everything other than that rim didn't matter anymore.
When Sawakita and Fukatsu finally closed in to their limit—
Aoi Kunisaku moved.
He slowly lifted his gaze, glancing faintly at the two of them.
His eyes didn't ripple at all. As if they were nothing more than passing scenery.
Then his voice rang out, calm and cold, but with suffocating weight.
"The only thing I respect is that you still haven't given up. But…"
He paused, the corner of his lips lifting—not in a smile, but in a chilling declaration.
"I'm bored. I have no interest in this match anymore."
His words were light, but they fell like a death sentence—heavy, merciless.
In that moment, Sawakita and Fukatsu felt as if something had slammed into their chests.
Zzzzzt…
Even before his words faded, it was as if a spark of electricity split the silence in the air.
Then—
Twin bolts of blinding blue light burst from Aoi Kunisaku's eyes.
No warning.
Zone, activated.
In an instant, it was as if the entire court shifted into another dimension.
Time compressed. Space warped into unseen tracks.
Aoi Kunisaku's body vanished from Sawakita and Fukatsu's sight.
They only saw a bolt of lightning flash past.
Then a blast of wind howled through the gap between them.
It felt like something had torn through the air between their defenses. An unstoppable force rushing straight through.
By the time they realized what had happened, Aoi Kunisaku was already behind them.
And the two of them were still locked in forward-leaning defensive stances—as if someone still stood ahead who needed to be stopped.
BANG!
A deafening Slam Dunk thundered across the gym.
Like thunder ripping through the silence, the sound exploded into everyone's ears.
Metallic vibrations laced the impact. The oppressive shock of it choked the air.
Sawakita and Fukatsu turned around on reflex. The movement was nearly synchronized.
In their eyes was disbelief.
What they saw—
Was a figure hanging from their rim.
Aoi Kunisaku.
He gripped the rim. His body swayed slightly in mid-air.
His eyes were cold as blades. At the corner of his lips, a faint smirk formed—one of utter disdain.
Sawakita Eiji and Fukatsu Kazunari stood frozen.
Their faces turned pale in an instant.
Their scalps tingled. Their hearts felt like they were being crushed by an invisible hand.
The afterimage of that last moment was still lingering in their minds.
Aoi Kunisaku had vanished before their eyes without a single sign.
The next second, he appeared under the basket and slammed the ball in hard.
If they hadn't experienced Aoi Kunisaku's explosive speed countless times already, they might've seriously believed he had teleportation powers.
What came after was no longer a match.
It was a stage show by Kanagawa.
Or more precisely, a solo performance by Aoi Kunisaku.
From the moment he activated Zone, he became the rule of the court itself.
An existence standing above everyone else.
For Akita, the moment he entered Zone, they completely lost the ability to bring the ball past half court.
Even organizing an offense became a luxury.
Every pass was read.
Every drive was intercepted.
Every shot was blocked.
Aoi Kunisaku moved like a god commanding the fate of the court.
Every movement was so fast it blurred. No one's thoughts could keep up with his rhythm.
From steal to fast break, from transition to scoring—it all happened within ten seconds.
Sometimes, he didn't even need that.
Five seconds.
That's all it took to complete a series of jaw-dropping plays.
Steal. Acceleration. Blow-by. Takeoff. Slam Dunk.
All in one go. No hesitation. No wasted motion.
Akita's players were utterly dazed.
It was like their minds had been wiped blank.
Their eyes unfocused. Movements sluggish. They couldn't even run basic plays.
This wasn't just a loss. Their very souls were being crushed.
On the sideline, Domoto Goro had long since stood up.
His fists were clenched tight. Cold sweat streamed down his forehead.
There were moments he seriously considered calling the match off, admitting defeat outright.
But just as he was about to act, he noticed something.
On the court, though the players' faces were full of despair and frustration, there was still a flicker of fire in their eyes.
They hadn't completely given up. They hadn't broken entirely.
That stubborn pride still burned in their chests.
Domoto Goro let out a silent breath of relief.
What he feared most was this match becoming an unshakable shadow on their hearts.
And in the stands, the crowd was stunned speechless by what they were seeing.
Even the referee had a trace of pity in his expression.
He stood on the sideline, eyes locked on the game clock.
The moment time ran out, he would not hesitate to blow the final whistle.
In the summer, Aoi Kunisaku had single-handedly overwhelmed Sannoh Kogyo, shocking the entire country.
Now, a few months later—
He proved himself again.
And this time, his performance was even more thorough, more merciless, more terrifying than before.
Finally, the timer hit zero.
Dooo...
The whistle cut through the suffocating air of the gym.
The match between Kanagawa and Akita was officially over.
Yet the gym didn't erupt in cheers or applause. There were no shouts of victory.
It was dead silent.
As if everyone was still trapped in the slaughter they'd just witnessed, unable to snap out of it.
All eyes turned simultaneously toward the scoreboard.
The bright red numbers stabbed their vision like a blade.
Kanagawa 156 – Akita 56
A difference of 100 points.
This wasn't a blowout anymore.
This was domination—total and complete. Mental, physical, and spiritual destruction.
For a second, the audience actually wondered if the scoreboard had malfunctioned.
Even Kanagawa's players were stunned.
They had all been too caught up in Aoi Kunisaku's overwhelming play to notice how far the score had climbed.
But now, seeing it—
They were shocked speechless.
156 to 56.
This wasn't a basketball game. This was a slaughter.
And the last 50 points?
They had come in less than 5 minutes.
A full 50 points, scored by Aoi Kunisaku alone in just under 5 minutes, in a nearly frenzied state.
An average of 10 points per minute.
Do you understand what that means?
It means Aoi Kunisaku scored once every 12 seconds.
That kind of efficiency. That kind of rhythm. That kind of pressure…
It was unheard of.
And maybe… unrepeatable.
At that moment, every gaze toward Aoi Kunisaku was filled not just with admiration—but a fear they couldn't hide.
The kind of instinctive awe one feels when facing overwhelming power.
Like mortals looking up at a god.
It was just too damn insane.
With that, the Autumn National Athletic Meet final—
Was over.