Chapter 183: I Want to Slack Off
The game was still ongoing, but something about it had begun to change.
Seirin’s five showed no sign of wavering. They attacked every possession with full force and committed to every defensive play with burning determination.
Tōō, however, was different.
Daiki Aomine… had started slacking off.
On offense, he stopped participating entirely, lingering in the backcourt with no intention of getting involved. On defense, he wasn’t nearly as active as before. He focused solely on locking down Taiga Kagami. As for the others, he didn’t bother helping.
If Tōō’s other players failed to defend, then they failed. Aomine had no intention of stepping in.
All he needed to do was keep the guy in front of him contained.
With this style of play, both teams’ offensive efficiency noticeably dropped.
Tōō’s remaining four struggled to break through Seirin’s five-man defense.
And Taiga Kagami couldn’t score on Daiki Aomine at all. Left with no options, he had to give up the ball and let his teammates handle the offense.
Even with Tetsuya Kuroko’s support, Seirin could only barely keep up. There was no sign of them closing the gap.
Finally, after Kagami was shut down by Aomine yet again, Aomine spoke.
“You guys… still not giving up?”
Kagami was drenched in sweat, breathing hard, but his eyes remained steady.
“As long as there’s time on the clock, we won’t give up!”
Junpei Hyuga immediately backed him up.
“Kagami’s right. The game isn’t over yet, so we’re not quitting.”
“If you think this is enough to beat us, you’re way too naive!”
With that, Kagami and Hyuga turned and rushed back on defense.
Aomine watched their backs as they retreated and lazily stretched his waist.
“Hmm…”
A low sound slipped from his throat as he stretched.
Afterward, he lowered his head and muttered helplessly,
“Gotta admit, that’s some admirable spirit… but I kind of feel like taking a break. What should I do…”
He stood there thinking for a moment, then suddenly grinned.
“Got it. If I blow the game wide open, I can just sub out and rest.”
He turned around, raised his hands to receive the ball, and shouted,
“Ball!”
Shoichi Imayoshi glanced at him in confusion but still passed it over.
The moment Aomine caught the ball, his expression went cold.
Then he exploded forward like an arrow released from a bow.
Everyone on Seirin instantly tensed, bracing for his attack.
On the sidelines, Riko Aida clasped her hands together in prayer.
“Please… just… hold them off.”
On the court.
Aomine’s face was indifferent as he dribbled at blinding speed. The ball seemed like a perfectly obedient puppet in his hands.
With his left hand, he pushed the ball hard toward the left side of the floor—while his body cut toward Kagami’s right.
Kagami’s eyes followed the ball, confusion flashing across his face.
‘A mistake?’
Just as he reached to grab it—
The ball curved.
Aomine had put spin on it when he pushed it out, causing it to rebound back toward him in the opposite direction.
Kagami hadn’t seen it coming.
By the time he realized what had happened, Aomine had already blown past him.
Suddenly, Kagami’s expression changed. The corners of his lips lifted slightly.
‘Got you.’
Right after breaking through, Aomine suddenly felt his hands go empty.
‘Hm? Tetsuya?’
He froze for a split second, staring at the figure who had appeared in front of him—Tetsuya Kuroko.
He hadn’t expected it. Kagami had only been bait. The real trap had been waiting behind him.
Kagami drew Aomine’s focus on defense. The moment Aomine slipped past him, Kuroko struck from behind and stole the ball.
It had to be said—Kuroko’s plan worked perfectly.
Kagami picked up the stolen ball and sprinted down the court alone, launching a coast-to-coast fast break.
Seirin’s bench erupted, instantly transforming into towel-waving warriors.
“Kagami! Go!!!”
On the court, Kagami charged ahead like a battle-hardened warrior.
Everyone expected a thunderous dunk—
And then it happened.
The bench players’ faces changed as if they’d seen something terrifying.
“Kagami! Watch out!”
But it was already too late.
Kagami was in the air, arm cocked back for the slam.
A voice sounded behind him.
“Hey, hey… you really think I don’t matter at all?”
The next second—
Boom!!!
A thunderous crash echoed through the gym.
Aomine had caught up from behind and swatted Kagami’s dunk away with one hand.
“Whistle! Out of bounds! Seirin ball!”
The referee’s call rang out.
Kagami hit the floor hard. Aomine stood beside him, looking down.
Their eyes locked, fury clashing silently in midair.
For a moment, Aomine felt something strangely familiar from Kagami.
It reminded him of himself.
Back then, he had been just like this—driven, reckless, fully immersed in the joy of the game.
But… when had that changed?
Was it during his one-on-one with Miyamoto?
Or when Coach collapsed?
Even he couldn’t remember anymore.
Aomine closed his eyes and extended a hand.
Kagami’s angry expression shifted into confusion.
“Get up.”
Aomine’s voice was calm.
Kagami didn’t hesitate. He grabbed Aomine’s hand and pulled himself to his feet.
The fire in his eyes hadn’t dimmed in the slightest.
“Let’s keep going!”
With that, he turned, ready for the next possession.
Aomine stood there for a moment, slightly dazed.
Too similar.
The Kagami standing in front of him now looked far too much like his former self.
‘Interesting. Let’s see how far you can grow. Right now… you’re still too weak.’
He closed his eyes briefly, the thought passing through his mind.
The game resumed. Seirin ball.
Rinnosuke Mitobe inbounded from the sideline and passed to Kagami.
Suddenly!
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