Both teams returned to the court. The crowd's clamor had not fully died down, but a tense, almost electric atmosphere had settled.
Sawakita Eiji, who had been focused on Sendoh, suddenly shifted his attention to Akashi.
Sendoh's brow furrowed in surprise, then relaxed into a helpless smile. He had anticipated this possibility, but seeing it actually happen still made him feel slightly wronged. With Akashi's recent performance, it was natural for Sawakita to focus on him.
Sendoh, meanwhile, found himself double-teamed by two Meizawa players. Is it really like this? he thought, feeling the helplessness settle in.
At the center of the court, Akashi and Sawakita Eiji faced each other, silent, like two predators sizing one another up. The air thickened, each breath heavier than the last.
"You're strong," Sawakita finally said, his voice low but serious. "The most formidable point guard I've ever faced."
He didn't glare or sneer; only pure fighting spirit burned in his gaze.
Akashi remained unmoved. His silence, his unflinching gaze, treated Sawakita's praise as a passing breeze.
Unfazed, Sawakita's lips curved slightly into a smile. "Sendoh said you're a monster… let me see for myself."
The whistle blew.
Meizawa passed the ball to Sawakita, and he lunged forward like a leopard. Lightning fast, he closed in on Akashi, defense airtight, leaving no room for error.
At that moment, Akashi's Emperor Eye activated.
Every subtle movement of Sawakita's body was captured: the slight twist of a wrist, the bend of a joint, the contraction of a calf, the shift of weight, the flex of a thigh, the rotation of the waist. These minute motions streamed into Akashi's mind, processed with the speed of a supercomputer.
In an instant, Akashi saw the next second of Sawakita's trajectory—the path he was about to take. The future had unfolded before his eyes.
Without hesitation, Akashi lunged. His arm shot out like lightning, aiming at the opening Sawakita hadn't yet created—but the Emperor Eye already had.
Sawakita's body moved along its predicted trajectory, unaware of the trap. Panic surged: No… danger! His nerves, taut as bowstrings, threatened to snap.
Akashi's hand closed in on the basketball.
Sawakita, reacting with instinct, twisted abruptly, dribbling the ball between his hands to switch to the other. The ball slipped past Akashi's fingertips. The steal failed.
He exhaled sharply, chest heaving, sweat trickling down his forehead. Fear lingered in his eyes—a feeling he had never experienced before. Akashi… could see the future.
The two stared each other down, locked in silent confrontation. Dribbles echoed: bang… bang… bang… The crowd held its breath.
Five seconds remained on the shot clock. Sawakita made a probing step; Akashi mirrored him, lateral, precise, anticipating every motion.
Sawakita feinted, hoping to deceive his opponent. But Akashi did not budge. Every attempt, every ruse, was anticipated.
With no time left, Sawakita pushed off, charging full force.
Akashi's lips curved into a faint, triumphant smile. He had been waiting.
In the blink of an eye, they crossed paths. Akashi ended up behind Sawakita; Sawakita thought he was behind Akashi. They passed like ghosts, almost unnoticed.
Bang… bang… bang… The sound of the basketball bouncing drew everyone's attention.
Sawakita froze, stunned. The ball had vanished from his hands. In an instant, it was in Akashi's possession. The steal had been executed so perfectly, so preemptively, that Sawakita hadn't even felt it happen.
The Meizawa team scrambled to react, but Akashi's speed carried him effortlessly across the court. He leapt for a layup, scoring with casual precision.
A stunned silence fell over the stands.
"What just happened?"
"The ball… it was stolen… from Sawakita Eiji?!"
"The first-year rookie from Seiyo actually intercepted the MVP from last year? Ridiculous…"
Whispers of awe and disbelief spread. The focus of the arena subtly shifted toward Seiyo and their crimson-haired phenom.