章節 145: Chapter 145: Taking over the momentum!
Aomine, initially taken aback by Kagami's sudden surge in pressure, now reveled in the heightened intensity of the confrontation.
His expression shifted from surprise to unbridled excitement, relishing Kagami's challenge.
"...Show me what you've got this time, Kagami!"
With a determined gleam in his eyes, Aomine closed the distance between them, fully prepared to return the favor and exude his own formidable pressure.
The clash of these two players sent a ripple of anticipation through the crowd.
Every eye was fixated on the unfolding duel, recognizing it as the pivotal moment determining whether Seirin could fully turn the tables and seize momentum or if Too Academy would stand firm against the sudden turn of event.
Amidst the spectators' deafening cheers, Kagami remained strangely quiet.
His mind was in clarity, completely undistracted by the external noise. The once-thunderous crowd faded into the background, and in Kagami's perspective, the world was confined only to the court, with only Aomine standing right before him.
"...It feels strange," Kagami mused inwardly as he skillfully maneuvered the ball left and right, with Aomine closely shadowing his every move.
Maintaining a firm grip on the ball, Kagami executed sharp crossovers, deftly evading Aomine's attempts to stop him. Each rotation and dribble seemed calculated, like a choreographed dance.
Aomine's expression remained calm, his eyes keenly following Kagami's every motion as he sought to keep the formidable opponent in check.
However, within Kagami, a subtle shift occurred.
"...I feel like I could beat anyone right now."
In a burst of speed that was so sudden, Kagami seized the precise moment when Aomine responded to his rotation as if he had been waiting for this exact moment all along.
"He's a lot faster as well!"
Aomine's eyes widened, his initial calm demeanor replaced by a flash of surprise. Instantly, he propelled himself into action as he chased after Kagami.
Too Academy's players also sensed the impending threat as they gritted their teeth.
They were fully aware of the implications of Kagami breaking through their defense. They surged toward Kagami, attempting to intercept and halt his advance.
Yet, Kagami found their movements predictable. With an uncanny ability to read their actions, he effortlessly weaved through their defense, leaving a trail of frustrated opponents in his wake.
"...Did he get into a zone or something?"
Ogiwara's voice carried disbelief as he witnessed the unfolding spectacle from the audience seat.
Kagami, who had been holding his ground against Aomine, now seemed to have undergone an inexplicable transformation, exhibiting a level of skill that defied all expectations.
Nijimura shook his head at this as he spoke, "...No, he hasn't yet entered the zone yet."
"Then how did he do that?"
Feeling perplexed, Ogiwara asked.
Tsuna observed the court attentively.
As Kagami effortlessly cut through Too Academy's defensive formation, even with Aomine hot on his tail, he explained, "...This is his real form. A beast is a ruthless creature. If his earlier beast instinct was just a fledgling, this is the grown-up version, where he's cool-headed. This is the peak of his beastly instinct."
As if on cue, Kagami leaped up for a dunk sending waves of excitement through the crowd.
However, a sudden shadow materialized alongside Kagami.
He was fully aware of Aomine's imminent attempt to block him and could sense the impending contact, the tip of Aomine's fingers almost grazing the ball in his hand.
Yet, Kagami, seemingly prepared for this as he executed a swift mid-air rotation.
In a move reminiscent of Aomine's earlier double-clutch, Kagami altered his trajectory. Instead of a forceful slam into the basket, he continued the motion, his back now facing the basket. In a seamless continuation, he released the ball without even looking at the basket.
"..."
The court fell into a stunned silence as players and spectators alike absorbed the spectacle before them. Kagami's replication of Aomine's move left every onlooker with jaws dropped in disbelief, the echoes of shock reverberating through the stadium
"Holyshit, I had no idea our Ace had this much intensity..."
Hyuga couldn't help but think as a bead of sweat rolled down his back.
Kuroko was also staring at Kagami in amazement. It seemed like Kagami had surpassed even Aomine in skill at this moment.
Harasawa stood up, impressed by Kagami's move. He exchanged a nod with Momoi, who watched the game unfold with concern.
Thinking it through, Harasawa considered requesting a timeout and walked over to the referee. However, something caught his eye, and he widened his eyes, only to quickly regain his composure and break into a smile. "...Seems like there is no need for a timeout this time."
Back in the court...
Aomine was equally stunned as he glanced at Kagami, who calmly returned to his position after the impressive maneuver. Kagami didn't utter a single word, as if such feats were just common for him.
"...Hahaha! Such a worthy opponent!"
He looked at his hand, which had failed to thwart Kagami, as he burst into laughter.
Aomine found amusement in the unexpected turn of events as he couldn't help but express his enjoyment.
"This is fun, a lot more fun!"
Aomine declared, his laughter echoing through the court.
In Kaijo's seats, Takeuchi raised his eyebrows and remarked, "...Harasawa didn't call for a timeout?"
Kagetora also picked up on this, casting a thoughtful glance at Harasawa.
"He might have noticed something we missed from our seats. You know, there are moments that can only be seen on the court," Kagetora remarked, earning a furrowed brow from Takeuchi.
As the game rolled on...
With Kagami finished the puzzle, things took a turn for Seirin as they started closing in on Too Academy.
Seirin had Too Academy's defense figured out, attacking from all angles, both inside and out.
In the heat of the moment, Seirin's defense was rock-solid.
Imayoshi, who was feeling the pressure, was visibly frustrated as he desperately searched for a way out. Meanwhile, Izuki, who was close by, had attempted a steal.
"...Same trick won't work twice on me!" he exclaimed loudly to Izuki's attempt.
Imayoshi was more cautious this time, swiftly moving to the side before passing the ball to Aomine.
Aomine grabbed the ball and went straight for the basket, reigniting the intense showdown with Kagami. But this time, Kagami was on top of his game, quick and sharp, swatting the ball away from Aomine's grasp.
Imayoshi, observing the scene, couldn't believe it. "Even Aomine can't break through Kagami's defense anymore," he thought, giving chase to Izuki, who had moved up the court as he saw Kuroko closing into the ball.
Kuroko wasted no time as he swiftly passed the ball to Izuki, who then sent it back to Kagami.
Aomine was fully focused as he took a deep breath, fully immersing himself in the intensity of the match against Kagami.
However, Kagami suddenly vanished from his sight, leaving him momentarily bewildered.
"...Such an annoying trick, Tetsu!" The realization struck him when he noticed Kuroko's presence nearby. Aomine couldn't help but express his annoyance at Kuroko's misdirection overflow as he clicked his tongue.
In a swift reaction, Aomine rotated his body, attempting to catch up with Kagami. However, despite his efforts, Kagami had already outmaneuvered him and scored more points for Seirin.
The referee's whistle suddenly cut through the air, marking the close of the second quarter.
The scoreboard now showed Seirin in the lead at 45-48, heightening the emotions in the stadium.
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