Chapter 149: How Am I Supposed to Play When You Keep Passing to Me!
Kirisaki kept their full starting lineup on the court throughout the second half.
With the starters fully unleashed—and Yōsen High essentially giving up—the entire match turned into a one-sided exhibition for Kirisaki, little more than a routine practice.
There was no intensity to speak of.
Beep!
The referee blew the final whistle.
Players from both sides shook hands and left the court.
The members of Yōsen High were utterly dispirited. After the handshakes, they trudged off the court with their heads lowered.
Perhaps after this game, both their starters and bench players would give up basketball altogether.
This match might very well become a lifelong shadow hanging over them.
But what did Miyamoto Tokima have to do with that?
You give up on your side, I play my game—it doesn’t affect me in the slightest.
Miyamoto Tokima led the Kirisaki players away without looking back.
Meanwhile, the spectators were still drawing sharp breaths.
The numbers on the scoreboard were simply outrageous.
223–0!
The most exaggerated point differential in the entire high school league.
Both the highest score and the lowest score in league history had been rewritten in this single match.
The reporters swarmed in like sharks that had caught the scent of blood, flooding toward the arena in a frenzy.
Every one of them wanted a first-hand interview with Miyamoto Tokima and the others.
But Miyamoto Tokima rejected them all.
Left with no other choice, the reporters entered the arena and photographed the scoreboard showing the massive point gap, preparing to run it as an exclusive headline.
...
On the other side.
At Tōō Academy High.
Inside the basketball club’s gym.
Daiki Aomine dribbled the ball, his gaze sharp and unwavering. Then he suddenly accelerated, charging into the paint and leaping high into the air.
His body was like a bow drawn to its limit. With a burst of force from his right hand, he smashed the ball straight through the rim.
Bang!
After the dunk, Daiki Aomine raised his right hand and looked at it.
A freshly torn-off rim was hanging there.
“Tch, can’t they make these rims sturdier? What a buzzkill.”
He flicked his wrist and casually tossed the rim aside.
It clanged loudly as it hit the floor of the silent gym.
After walking to the sidelines and taking a sip of water, Daiki Aomine’s thoughts drifted on their own.
‘Two years. For two whole years, I’ve trained nonstop, all for the day I beat you. What about you? Have you gotten stronger?!’
While he was still lost in thought, someone walked in.
Seeing Daiki Aomine, the newcomer spoke nervously:
“Sorry, Aomine-kun… may I interrupt you for a moment?”
Daiki Aomine turned his head. After recognizing him, he said casually,
“Oh, it’s Sakurai. What’s up?”
Ryo Sakurai spoke carefully,
“Sorry, Aomine-kun. I think I’ve heard something about the person you mentioned.”
Daiki Aomine’s pupils instantly constricted.
Whoosh!
In the blink of an eye, he rushed in front of Ryo Sakurai, grabbed him by the collar, and demanded excitedly,
“Really?! Where is he?!”
Ryo Sakurai raised both hands and shook them frantically, speaking in fear,
“S-sorry, Aomine-kun, c-could you please—”
Only then did Daiki Aomine realize what he was doing.
He quickly let go and apologized,
“Sorry. I got too worked up.”
Ryo Sakurai finally let out a sigh of relief and hurriedly continued,
“It’s fine, Aomine-kun. I just got some news—it sounds a lot like the person you were talking about.”
“According to the latest report, in the match between Kirisaki and Yōsen High, Kirisaki shut them out with a score of 223–0.”
“And Kirisaki’s shooting guard is a player called [Magic Cube].”
Daiki Aomine listened quietly.
When he heard the score was 223–0, a flash of surprise crossed his face.
And when he heard that the shooting guard was Miyamoto Tokima, the corners of his mouth began to curl upward on their own.
“Hahahaha!”
Daiki Aomine suddenly covered his forehead and burst out laughing toward the ceiling, looking almost unhinged.
Ryo Sakurai instinctively took two steps back, feeling that Aomine suddenly seemed a little off.
In truth, Daiki Aomine had always felt strange to Ryo Sakurai.
In private, Aomine trained harder than anyone else.
But once it came to actual games, he looked completely deflated, with no interest at all.
He had even once said, “Games aren’t as important as my training.”
No one could understand him.
If he wasn’t interested in games, why train so desperately?
Daiki Aomine’s answer was simple.
“Because there’s someone I absolutely have to defeat. The only person I need to beat is him.”
From then on, the entire Tōō team labeled Daiki Aomine as a weirdo.
But there was nothing they could do about it—his strength was simply too terrifying.
No one could control him.
Even the coach had no choice but to give him free rein.
As long as the team won, Daiki Aomine could play however he wanted.
Back to the present.
The moment Daiki Aomine heard news about Miyamoto Tokima, he grabbed his jacket and rushed out, ready to travel overnight to Kirisaki to see his old friend.
And of course, he wasn’t the only one thinking that way.
...
At Yōsen High School.
Atsushi Murasakibara was walking across campus with Tatsuya Himuro, munching on potato chips, when a call suddenly came in.
Himuro glanced over and reminded him,
“Atsushi, your phone.”
Atsushi Murasakibara blankly clamped the chip bag under his arm and pulled out his phone.
Seeing that it was Daiki Aomine calling, he answered with a puzzled look.
“Hello? Aomine, what’s up?”
Tatsuya Himuro stood quietly to the side, watching as Atsushi Murasakibara’s expression shifted—from vacant, to shocked, and then to pure delight.
The moment Atsushi hung up, he bolted forward.
Himuro hurried after him.
“Hey, Atsushi! What happened?!”
Atsushi Murasakibara laughed happily, repeating the same words over and over,
“Miyamoto Tokima is back. Tokima is back!”
Tatsuya Himuro froze.
He’d heard the name Miyamoto Tokima countless times from Atsushi.
To Atsushi, Tokima was the strongest basketball player he had ever seen.
He’d gone to America two years ago—but now, he was actually back.
“Atsushi, where are you going now?”
Himuro asked while chasing after him.
Atsushi answered excitedly,
“I’m going to Kirisaki to find Tokima.”
Himuro was startled. Going to Kirisaki to find Tokima—didn’t that mean…
“You’re transferring schools?!” he blurted out.
Atsushi Murasakibara replied without the slightest hesitation,
“If Tokima wants me to transfer, I’ll do it immediately.”
Tatsuya Himuro was completely stunned.
Damn it—if you transfer, what am I supposed to do?
........
Author's Note
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