"Then there's nothing we can do."
Katsunori Harasawa shook his head helplessly, clearly understanding Satsuki Momoi's predicament.
It made sense.
Hiding a secret move in a game wasn't uncommon. But most people hid only one or two tricks. Who could hide an entire scoring system like Akashi Asuka?
Whether it was Harasawa or Momoi, they had always planned tactics assuming Akashi would play as a center. Suddenly switching to the perimeter was something nobody could have predicted.
Once both teams returned to the court, Tōō Academy's players seemed a bit calmer. They launched an attack and managed to score.
18:4.
On the next possession, Tōō Academy suddenly sent Ryo Sakurai, Shoichi Imayoshi, and a substitute replacing Aomine to triple-team Akashi Asuka.
"Triple-team?"
"So they're starting to target Akashi from the second half?"
Seirin and Seiho players in the stands were surprised by Tōō Academy's decision, but not entirely shocked.
Against the Generation of Miracles, multi-person traps had almost become standard in this national tournament.
The difference? Previously, teams used this tactic against Aomine. Tōō Academy was now using it on someone else!
"Ah, ah~~ Using this tactic for the first time feels so awkward. Honestly, I don't approve of this strategy. Aomine taught me a lesson on this on his first day here!"
"But there's no choice. The coach gave the order, so we have to follow it."
Imayoshi squinted, his expression seeming to surrender, but his words carried a subtle provocation.
Aomine could break a triple-team if his competitive drive was high enough, daring to confront three defenders head-on.
If today's target were any other Generation of Miracles member, Imayoshi's provocation might have worked. Most of them had the same fierce personality.
But Akashi Asuka wasn't a Generation of Miracles!
Swish!
Faced with Tōō Academy's triple-team, Akashi didn't hesitate, he passed the ball. Immediately, the paint became a four-on-two, and Seiho scored easily.
20:4.
Imayoshi's smile froze instantly.
"Wait, he passed?"
Not only Imayoshi, but every Tōō Academy player on the court blinked in surprise.
It wasn't that Akashi passed incorrectly. On the contrary, the pass was so perfect it felt unnatural.
When did the Generation of Miracles ever raise a player who would pass the ball?
Oh!
You're not a Generation of Miracles!
Then it made sense.
Akashi's strength was enough that Tōō Academy had already treated him as if he were of the same tier as the Generation of Miracles. Such respect wasn't wrong.
But perhaps the influence of Aomine, the "toxic ace", was too strong. People had forgotten that not all miracle-level players avoid passing the ball!
A fine chill ran down Imayoshi's spine. Looking at the smiling Akashi, even he felt a little unnerved.
"This… this is bad. This guy… is too normal."
Tōō Academy's players couldn't laugh anymore.
It wasn't just Tōō Academy, Seiho, Seiho, and even the Kaijo spectators could no longer find humor in the situation.
"Uh~~ Akashi's pass… looks really natural,"
Hyuga Junpei forced a smile, trying to laugh, but couldn't.
A natural pass meant practiced teamwork.
High passing proficiency meant constant practice.
And for a basketball player, passing often was normal, ordinarily nothing remarkable.
Yet when the pass came from Akashi Asuka, it became terrifying.
"This… feels so familiar!"
Takao Kazunari scratched his head. Seiho's eyes fell on Midorima Shintaro.
He remembered the practice match. Midorima stubbornly held the ball, refusing to pass, while Akashi passed flawlessly, every double-team attempt failed.
The scene was almost identical.
I shouldn't have come to this game.
Tōō Academy's bench.
Coach Katsunori Harasawa's handsome face twitched, unable to maintain composure.
No matter how bad things had been in previous games, he could stay calm. But with Akashi's pass… his cold heart finally cracked.
It's unfair. Too unfair.
Why can other teams' prodigies be so normal, while ours… is like this?
Comparison truly brings pain.
Even with all of Aomine's flaws, Harasawa never thought anything was wrong, after all, it was normal for geniuses to have quirks.
Not just Tōō Academy, any team recruiting Generation of Miracles members would face this issue.
So even if Aomine was difficult, Harasawa could endure it.
But now, a "normal genius" appeared before him. With Aomine still absent, the contrast sent Harasawa's mind into a meltdown.
Unequal, not lacking.
Perhaps Akashi never expected that one day, besides academics, he'd also become the "other team's prodigy" on the court.
Fortunately, Seiho's coach couldn't hear Harasawa's thoughts. Otherwise, he would have grabbed his hand and teared up: "Brother, I understand your pain!"
Akashi breaking through Tōō Academy's triple-team became the final straw.
In the second half, Tōō Academy continued trying to limit Akashi's scoring, successfully restricting him, yet they could no longer stop Seiho's other players.
When the first quarter whistle blew, the scoreboard shocked everyone in the stands.
32:8.
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Completed version available on Patreon.com/Veltoria