Kagami's eyes narrowed with focus, beads of sweat glistening on his forehead as he felt the pressure. Aomine had entered the Zone, a state where his abilities transcended normal limits, reaching his full potential.
Kagami's instincts screamed to him to let go of the ball and pass it, but he knew if he did it, Seirin would be a goner.
Aomine's eyes, now adorned with dark blue streaks, glinted with an intense focus that sent shivers down the spines of onlookers.
The court fell silent, with the only audible sounds being the rhythmic dribbling of the ball echoing in the tense air.
With a burst of speed, Kagami made his move.
He dribbled with ferocity, attempting to break past Aomine's defensive stance. Aomine moved with an otherworldly swiftness. His movements seemed like a blur as he anticipated Kagami's every shift.
Kagami tried quickly changing direction, but Aomine's reactions were like lightning.
In an instant, Aomine's hand darted forward with supernatural speed, his fingers expertly snatching the ball from Kagami's grasp.
The stadium erupted into gasps and whispers as Aomine, now in possession of the stolen ball, stood with an air of absolute dominance.
Aomine immediately burst forward, the court a blur beneath his accelerated movements. Kagami was shaken but still determined and reacted swiftly, chasing after Aomine with desperation in his eyes.
The Seirin players recognized the impending threat and moved to intercept Aomine.
The gym echoed with the frantic footsteps and shouts of Seirin's players, each attempting to halt Aomine's relentless advance. Their faces were etched with determination. They knew that Aomine wasn't the type to pass the ball, and they didn't believe he could go on them solo.
However, their attempts were futile against the sheer speed and skill of Aomine in the Zone. Aomine effortlessly weaved through the defense like a shadow, leaving Seirin players grasping at air in his wake.
Imayoshi looked on with sweat rolled on his forehead as he exclaimed, "...As expected of our Ace! He's simply the best!"
Seirin's defense crumbled under the weight of Aomine's Zone-powered onslaught.
The crowd watched in awe as Aomine leaped, and he slammed the ball into the basket with a resounding dunk, the rim shaking with the force of the impact.
"Did he just do that all by himself?"
"Too Academy's got this in the bag! Who could possibly stop him now? He's literally a monster!"
Whispers of disbelief spread through the crowd, witnessing Aomine's incredible display of skills.
Kagami who had been desperately chasing Aomine, arrived just a moment too late.
His outstretched hand could only watch helplessly as Aomine's dunk sealed the deal.
The horror in Kagami's expression mirrored the disbelief of the entire Seirin team. Despite their collective effort to stop him, Aomine had demonstrated a level of skill and dominance that seemed almost otherworldly.
As the game unfolded, Aomine's dominance on the court became increasingly apparent.
Despite Seirin's valiant efforts and the whole team rallying behind Kagami, Aomine seemed like an unstoppable force. Too Academy not only caught up with the score but widened the gap, leaving Seirin in a desperate struggle to keep up.
With every failed attempt to curb Aomine's onslaught, Kagami could see the desperation etched on his teammates' faces. Their expressions were now looking thoroughly frustrated and helpless.
Gritting his teeth, Kagami felt a surge of frustration welled up within his heart.
He understood the reason for his teammates' desperation and couldn't bear to see those expressions again. He had vowed to himself never to let his teammates face such despair, yet here they were, struggling against the overwhelming might of Aomine.
"...This situation feels oddly familiar," Wakamatsu thought to himself as he observed Aomine turning the game into a solo performance. "...He really is a monster."
"But he's our monster!"
Wakamatsu exclaimed with excitement.
The sentiment seemed to echo throughout Too Academy as they gazed at Aomine in disbelief. While they managed to seize the momentum, how Aomine took charge was still quite unexpected.
"...This feels like déjà vu," Imayoshi reflected as he observed Aomine, completely absorbed in his own world.
His gaze shifted to Kagami, who appeared helpless.
Imayoshi pondered, "...It's unfortunate for you, but the only one who can stop a player in the zone is another player in the zone."
As time passed, Aida grew increasingly tense, her eyes fixed on the unfolding situation on the court. She nervously bit her finger, trying to brainstorm a way for them to escape this tough situation.
To her dismay, she couldn't find a solution from any perspective.
Aomine had seemingly sealed their fate!
Suddenly, Kuroko struggled to stand and moved forward. Aida snapped back to reality, trying to assist Kuroko, saying, "...What are you doing, Kuroko? Don't push yourself too hard!"
However, when she saw the resolute determination in Kuroko's eyes, she halted, only able to watch as Kuroko took each challenging step forward.
Back in the game...
Kagami once again charged at Aomine, attempting to break past his formidable defense.
The court echoed with his footsteps pounding as he drove towards the basket.
However, Aomine, who was still entrenched in the Zone, was simply unbreakable, and with a swift motion, he swatted the ball out of Kagami's hands, sending it careening out of bounds.
The gym fell silent momentarily as the ball sailed toward the sidelines.
As if guided by fate, the ball arced perfectly, landing right near Seirin's bench. Kagami's eyes followed its trajectory and widened as he saw a sight that caught him off guard.
There, standing with a wobbly and frail form, was Kuroko. Despite his weakened state, Kuroko's gaze was as determined as ever. Kagami felt a word stuck in his throat as he witnessed such a sight.
Kuroko took slow and deliberate steps toward Kagami. His trembling feet and fragile form spoke of the sheer willpower propelling him forward.
The determined look in Kuroko's eyes spoke volumes about his unwavering resolve.
As Kuroko approached Kagami, the resolute gleam in his eyes revealed a determination that surpassed mere effort. It was a silent declaration of unwavering resolve.
Extending his hand for a fist bump, Kuroko spoke, "...Kagami, it's not over yet. Let's win this!"
Kagami was caught off guard as he widened his eyes in disbelief. Glancing at his teammates, he sensed a powerful collective desire to seize victory despite their desperation. Choked with emotion, he turned back to Kuroko.
"...That's right," Kagami affirmed, his gaze reflecting the same fervent determination as his teammates.
As their fists met in a resounding bump, he declared, "Let's win this!"
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