As expected of Hanyu—he's the strongest!
Even Momoi Satsuki felt a deep shock this time.
To be a starting player of the elite Teiko—
that alone was proof of strength.
And yet, he was being completely suppressed by Hanyu?
No wonder Aomine was always muttering, "That Hanyu guy is an amazing opponent."
Smack!
In the instant Aono's mind wavered and his focus slipped—
Hanyu Sota struck like lightning, chopping the ball cleanly from his hand.
"Damn it!"
Aono's heart sank.
In a high-intensity duel like this, losing focus for even a second was fatal.
It wasn't entirely his fault.
After attacking again and again with no success, a mental collapse was inevitable.
The moment the ball was stolen—
Aomine Daiki, who had been waiting for this, burst forward like a leopard.
A precise long pass flew downcourt.
This one's mine!"
Aomine roared as he caught it, already picturing his perfect dunk.
"Oh? Talking to yourself again, Aomine?"
A steady voice crashed down like thunder.
Nijimura Shuzo.
Seeing Nijimura sprint back on defense, Aomine didn't retreat—he grew even more excited.
His eyes went wide, a chilling grin spreading across his face.
He looked like a top predator who had finally found worthy prey.
Nijimura smiled faintly.
This kid… he's crazy.
"Come on!"
Aomine Daiki VS Teiko's current ace!
This showdown was destined to seize everyone's attention.
Bang!
The entire gym held its breath.
Aomine moved!
No flashy feints—just a brutal drive to the right.
Simple. Violent. Blindingly fast.
Nijimura shifted slightly to seal the lane.
And then—
Boom!
The ball snapped back to Aomine's left hand as if alive.
The change of direction was massive—jaw-dropping.
"Got him!"
Aomine howled inside.
He could already see himself blowing past Nijimura.
But reality hit him like a hammer.
Smack!
A large hand appeared from an impossible angle and cut the ball clean away.
Aomine froze.
"W… what?!"
Nijimura secured the ball, lips curling into a faint smile.
"Kid, I'm not that easy to shake."
The sidelines erupted.
"As expected of Captain Nijimura!"
"That defensive read is insane!"
Everyone had thought Aomine had won—but the old fox was sharper.
Nijimura pushed the fast break, blazing past half court.
But the White Team recovered quickly.
Another one-on-one—
Hanyu Sota VS Nijimura Shuzo!
"Come on, Captain Nijimura!"
Hanyu's eyes burned with fighting spirit.
In a way, he and Aomine were the same—
They lived to challenge the strong.
The stronger the opponent, the hotter their blood.
"Yare yare…"
Nijimura shook his head, yet found himself liking these two rookies.
Arrogant—but powerful.
Bang!Bang!Bang!
The ball pounded the floor in Nijimura's hands,
each bounce striking Hanyu's heart like a war drum.
This pressure
So good.
This was the very peak of middle school basketball.
"Nice eyes."
Nijimura caught the light in Hanyu's gaze—promise.
"Then… here I come."
Bang!
The ball swayed left and right, hiding the breakthrough.
Finally—he stepped in.
Bang!
His right foot exploded forward, speed instantly maxed out.
Hanyu's heart jumped.
So fast!
But—I can catch him!
He chased, forcing Nijimura toward the baseline.
"Hey."
Nijimura slammed the brakes.
Hanyu hesitated—
And in that fraction of a second, Nijimura launched again.
A rhythm break!
"Whoa!"
"That stop-and-go is crazy!"
Nijimura slipped half a body ahead and entered the paint.
Facing an empty basket, he chose a steady pull-up.
Suddenly
The lights overhead were briefly blocked.
"Eh?!"
Nijimura's eyes shook.
He caught up?!
The shot still went in—but barely.
Hanyu clicked his tongue.
"Damn… if I were just a little faster."
Nijimura glanced back at him, shaken.
I underestimated this kid.
That monstrous burst… he had nearly blocked it.
But knowing such a monster was now on his team—
felt incredible.
Teiko's banner would no longer rest on his shoulders alone.
White Team's possession.
Akashi Seijūrō advanced calmly.
He scanned the court like a supercomputer.
His gaze swept to the corner—Midorima Shintarō.
Ikeo Ichirō's heart jumped.
A three?!
But the ball didn't go to Midorima—
!
A no-look pass!
Snap!
The ball landed perfectly in Hanyu's hands.
"Beautiful pass!"
Aono reacted too late.
Hanyu rose instantly.
Perfect form. Gentle release.
The ball traced a flawless arc.
Swish!
4–4.
They high-fived.
Nijimura patted Aono.
"Leave the next one to me."
His eyes changed.
When he attacked again, the pressure suffocated everyone.
This was full serious mode.
Even Aomine felt like a beast was staring at his throat.
Dangerous—yet thrilling.
"That's why," Hanyu smiled,
"he's Aomine Daiki."
Nijimura exploded, blasting past—
Aomine chased like a wild animal.
They entered the paint together.
Everyone expected a power finish—
Pop!
The ball was flung backward!
Inoue Kazuo stood wide open.
He fired—
Miss.
Awkward.
But the momentum was lit.
Akashi narrowed his red-and-gold eyes.
Hanyu whispered,
"Give it to me. Nijimura will switch."
Akashi trusted him.
As expected, Nijimura closed in.
The gym fell silent.
Bang… Bang…
Nijimura growled,
"I won't let you run wild anymore."
Perfect stance. Full defense.
Yet Hanyu remained calm.
"Underestimating is a sin, Captain."
The ball slammed—
He vanished.
Not magic—ultimate visual deception.
When Nijimura realized—
Swish.
The crowd exploded.
"A monster—an absolute monster."
The game became a mutual explosion of offense.
No one was slacking—
their spears were simply too sharp.
Scoreboard:
39–34. White Team.
"No way… the starting squad is going to flip?"
"Are the seniors holding back?"
A first-team substitute stared at the one-sided suppression—
everyone except Nijimura—and felt his worldview shatter.
A teammate rolled his eyes.
"Are you blind? They're drenched in sweat—does that look like holding back?"
"Then how is this possible…"
"There's only one answer—
this year's freshmen are freakishly strong.
They're not even in the realm of human anymore."
After that, both of them fell silent.
Being younger—and stronger
was a cruel reality.
Back on the court.
Black Team ball.
They desperately swung the ball, trying to tear open the defense—
but White Team's wall was airtight, sealing them outside the three-point line like an iron barrel.
They couldn't find even a single safe passing lane.