Without any logical reasoning, Akashi could just feel it.
Something unknown was happening quietly.
Everything stemmed from Homi Academy's No. 10, Yuuto, who is obviously the captain but never wears the No. 4 jersey.
He is the source of all abnormalities.
"What exactly is he planning?"
Unknown means danger.
Akashi dribbled to the top of the three-point arc, staring directly at Yuuto.
After adjusting the rhythm for a moment, he suddenly accelerated, doing his best to torture Yuuto's ankles and destroy his center of gravity.
The future picture was incredibly clear.
He saw Yuuto's defeat, saw him immobilized after his center of gravity was destroyed by Akashi.
Bang bang bang~
Akashi crossed over at high speed, swinging his body left and right, seizing the opportunity to kill instantly the moment Yuuto shifted his center of gravity.
"Move aside!"
He snorted coldly. Under the surprised gaze of the Tochigi Prefecture people, Yuuto's body actively gave way to Akashi.
Teiko's captain passed Yuuto calmly.
But soon.
A black shadow enveloped him rapidly.
Akashi's eyes widened, feeling a chill down his spine.
He turned his head and looked with the Emperor Eye.
"Again, another extended future."
Yuuto enveloped Akashi like a dark ghost, eyes seemingly dyed with a scarlet color that made people feel terrified.
Smack!
Yuuto slapped out with his palm.
Didn't steal it.
Akashi pulled the ball behind him one step ahead. When the basketball bounced off the floor, he grabbed it with five fingers and threw it forcefully to Midorima's hand.
This was a classic no-look pass.
He stared at Yuuto, but the ball in his hand was accurately and quickly given to Midorima Shintarō.
Midorima isolated Sakurai Ryō, shooting resolutely from a distance of three steps outside the three-point line.
"This position..." Sakurai Ryō opened his mouth.
Why is a three-pointer called a three-pointer?
Because its range is far enough!
That is the scoring method farthest from the basket, and Midorima pulled back three steps further on this basis.
The ball smashed down heavily like a meteorite.
Like a heavy hammer striking the hearts of Tochigi Prefecture people.
And Yuuto.
[Weakness]
[Correction]
He prepared for the team's next offense without a word.
...
Facing Akashi again.
Yuuto still couldn't break the forbidden domain of the Emperor Eye.
Within a range of one meter beside Akashi, an absolute domain was formed.
Anyone who dares to step in will be controlled by Akashi.
Only...
"Even sharper." Akashi felt it particularly deeply.
Every time he matched up with Yuuto, his defensive pressure increased.
Such evolution speed is simply incredible.
In the first head-on collision, he neutralized Yuuto's offensive in just one round.
The second round added the possibility of another future.
The third time...
Akashi became increasingly unable to maintain his calmness and elegance.
Yuuto's evolution speed cannot be described as rapid progress.
He seems to be improving every minute and every second.
Such a thing.
Can it really be done?
Beep~
A whistle sounded.
The first quarter ended.
Both sides tied at 28:32 (Note: Text says tied but score is 28:32, likely means score stood at 28-32). Homi Academy temporarily trailed by 4 points.
Both teams scored very high, proving the offensive rhythm was very fast.
What?
You say they usually score 30+ or 40+ in a single quarter?
That was when abusing weaklings; cannot be mentioned in the same breath.
Homi Academy also completed an achievement at the same time.
Their single-quarter score was higher than the total score of all opponents Teiko faced along the way combined.
"Akashi, should we move Murasakibara's position up?"
Teiko's head coach asked for Akashi's opinion.
In the first quarter, Oyamada Masataka shot 2 for 3 from three-point range, already proving his stability in open three-pointers.
"No need, he is not the player we need to pay attention to."
Yes.
No need to worry at all.
From beginning to end, the only opponent in Akashi's eyes was Yuuto.
Even Haizaki and Kuroko were not within his consideration range.
Especially after the game started today, the changes in Yuuto attracted his attention even more.
Yuuto's evolution speed simply left him dumbfounded.
Under pressure.
From the middle of the first quarter, Akashi no longer attacked rashly, but as an organizer, constantly gave the ball to teammates to finish.
For this reason, he hacked 6 points, 6 assists, and 4 steals in a single quarter.
4 steals, all from Yuuto.
On the other side.
Homi Academy's head coach was also thinking about whether to increase cuts.
Shooting from the outside all the time, the shooting percentage cannot be guaranteed.
Someone once calculated.
When your three-point shooting percentage reaches 40%, it is roughly equal to a two-point shooting percentage of 60%.
This is a terrible difference in scoring conversion rate.
But the problem is.
Teiko's current shooting percentage is not as simple as 60%, but exceeds 90%.
And they can also shoot threes.
That Midorima Shintarō shot 4 for 4 from three-point range in a single quarter, getting 12 points alone without free throws.
Homi Academy is tantamount to holding submachine guns to blast against Teiko's heavy firepower.
"Maintain the status quo. Shoot boldly when there is a chance; don't be afraid of missing." Yuuto rejected directly.
Results of many simulations told him.
Proud Akashi will not change.
He is confident that Teiko's firepower is the best in the country.
The fact is also true; the result of countless simulations is that Teiko suppressed Homi Academy with firepower in the end.
But today.
Yuuto won't let that happen.
His Weakness · Correction is not just for Akashi's one-on-one.
When Akashi started assisting teammates frequently in the middle of the first quarter.
Yuuto's problem of insufficient help defense ability was also improving at an incredible speed.
Before.
He has always been famous for his single defense ability. Help defense ability and positioning awareness relied more on Eagle Eye.
But today.
Weakness · Correction corrected his weakness in just half a quarter of game time.
"Okay, play as Yuuto said. Increase perimeter shots; don't worry about missing!"
The coach trusts Yuuto 100%.
At the same time, he asked the team members to strengthen their running during dynamic defense.
Not letting anyone go.
...
Second quarter began.
Akashi planned to use Midorima's three-pointers to establish a lead as soon as possible.
Yuuto stepped forward quickly to pressure him as always.
But this was like air in front of the Emperor Eye.
Defending like this will only accelerate their fall into the abyss.
How can he maintain this defensive intensity for 40 minutes?
And.
Teiko's paint is a big advantage.
Akashi feigned attacking the inside. After ensuring Yuuto's defensive attention was attracted by him with the Emperor Eye, he threw the ball forcefully to Midorima three steps away from the three-point line.
Whoosh!
The basketball flew towards Midorima at extremely fast speed.
Almost simultaneously.
Yuuto's finger pointed at Midorima outside the three-point line.
Sakurai Ryō pounced to defend immediately but was easily shaken off by Midorima with one step.
"Useless. Even if you can see my pass, no one can stop Shintarō's shot." Akashi watched coldly.
If Homi Academy had another Haizaki (on defense/positioning?), it might be troublesome.
But now?
Teiko has too many people who can score. Homi Academy cares for one thing and loses another; the defensive area cannot cover so much, and loopholes will always appear.
However.
Smack!
Just when Midorima passed Sakurai Ryō in one step and gathered the ball to shoot, Kuroko's ghostly figure appeared in front of him, slapping the ball down heavily with one palm.
"Kuroko?!" Midorima's pupils under the lenses dilated slightly.
"The person the Captain pointed at was me." Kuroko was exceptionally angry today.
Although it couldn't be seen from his expression, people familiar with him could feel it clearly.
"Counterattack!" A roar from the sideline.
In an instant.
The players on the court surged like wind and clouds.
All members of Homi Academy surged towards Teiko's half, while Teiko members retreated quickly immediately.
After stealing, Kuroko closed all five fingers and slapped heavily on the ball.
Ignite Pass!
The basketball blasted out like a cannonball, flying straight past the Teiko players returning to defense towards Haizaki.
But.
Smack!
Aomine appeared on the basketball's path.
...
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