Shiro's back pressed tightly against Aomine. Suddenly, Shiro powered forward with a sharp burst of strength, delivering a fierce body check.
Aomine was pushed back just enough for Shiro to create space. With a forceful dribble, Shiro slammed the ball to the floor. As it bounced, Shiro executed a subtle basketball trick—resetting his stance with a small hop, expanding his "cylinder". He then faked a move with deceptive precision.
Shiro shifted his shoulders to the left, but in an instant, pivoted on his right foot, squarely facing the basket. The fake was flawless, catching Aomine off guard—along with everyone else watching.
Aomine bit hard on the feint, losing his footing by an entire step.
Shiro instantly sprang backward, rising gracefully into a picture-perfect fadeaway. His body arched like a bird in flight, and he released the ball with expert timing, launching it toward the hoop.
Despite Aomine's desperate leap to block the shot, Shiro's natural wingspan elevated his release point beyond reach. There was no way Aomine could contest it.
At that moment, time seemed to freeze. All eyes fixated on the ball as it traced a beautiful arc through the air, heading toward the basket. Shiro, still airborne, held his perfect shooting form with unwavering confidence.
The ball sailed smoothly into the net with a swish, and the crowd erupted into thunderous cheers. Shiro landed lightly, a faint smile curling on his lips, barely noticeable.
"That shot was a masterpiece!" gasped the players watching from the sidelines, their admiration undeniable.
Akashi and the others on the bench wore serious expressions. Only those on their level could fully grasp the intricacies of Shiro's moves. The devil was in the details—small, masterful touches that had thrown Aomine off balance. Shiro's explosive jump and long arms made his shot nearly impossible to stop.
Aomine stood stunned, realizing the brutal effectiveness of Shiro's technique. He knew that unless a defender was fortunate enough to anticipate Shiro's side correctly, the move would be unstoppable. Even if someone managed to guess right, Shiro could easily fake again, pivot off his foot, and attack from another angle, either shooting or driving to the hoop.
"Incredible. I can't let him score again," Aomine muttered, slapping his thigh to refocus.
Score: 2-1.
The game was heating up.
Shiro clutched the ball, eyes locked on the hoop. He was fully focused, preparing his next move. Meanwhile, Aomine lowered his stance, firmly planted his feet, and leaned forward slightly, arms outstretched to contest any shot or drive. His gaze never left the ball in Shiro's hands, fully immersed in the defense.
Shiro took a deep breath, steadying himself. Suddenly, he exploded to the right, darting toward the hoop. Aomine stuck close, giving him no room to breathe.
Just as Shiro crossed the ball between his legs, he abruptly slowed, pulling it back to his left hand. The sudden deceleration caught Aomine off guard, but he quickly adjusted, closing the distance once more.
Shiro took a drag step, locking eyes with the basket. He then faked a shot with uncanny realism. Aomine, eager to block him, took the bait and jumped.
In that instant, Shiro's eyes gleamed. With lightning-quick reflexes, he shifted right, seamlessly switching the ball from his left to right hand. His movement was smooth, deceptive, and perfectly executed.
Before Aomine could react, Shiro was already airborne, launching a Tracy McGrady – Pull-up Jumper. His body stretched gracefully in mid-air as he released the ball high above his head. The ball soared with a perfect arc and swished through the net without touching the rim.
The crowd roared with admiration, stunned by the brilliance of Shiro's shot.
"Damn! I jumped too soon," Aomine muttered, frustrated by his mistake.
Score: 3-1.
Victory seemed to be slipping toward Shiro's grasp.
Shiro initiated another drive, this time repeating his drag step. Aomine hesitated, uncertain whether Shiro would shoot or shift directions again.
Shiro subtly pushed the ball outward with his left hand. Aomine's eyes narrowed—he anticipated another crossover. But just as Aomine prepared to intercept, Shiro smiled knowingly.
Instead of completing the crossover, Shiro instantly pulled the ball back midair, launching a step-back jumper. It was a deceptive combination—a drag step disguised as a crossover into a sudden pull-up shot, mimicking McGrady's signature move.
"Damn! I fell for it again!" Aomine cursed as he tried to recover. But Shiro's timing was flawless. He jumped earlier, higher, and quicker, releasing the ball before Aomine could react. The ball sailed through the hoop with deadly precision.
Score: 4-1.
Shiro was now at match point.
For the final play, Shiro stood calmly at the three-point line. Aomine, positioned half a step away, watched him like a hawk, determined not to give him an inch.
Shiro made his move, executing a flawless crossover, his movements sharp and fluid—reminiscent of Allen Iverson at his peak. A quick left-hand dribble followed by a subtle shift in weight sent Aomine slightly off balance.
Shiro struck again with a second, more aggressive crossover. Aomine knew the move was coming, but he still couldn't resist the fake. His body leaned the wrong way, leaving him completely exposed.
Just like Iverson once crossed over Jordan, Shiro left Aomine behind. Without hesitation, Shiro soared into the air, seamlessly transitioning into a Tracy McGrady – Pull-up Jumper. His form was flawless, the ball gliding toward the hoop like it had a mind of its own.
"No way! I won't let this go in!" Aomine roared, his body surging with renewed determination.
A powerful presence seemed to awaken within Aomine, sending chills through the entire gym.
'This... this is the Animal Instinct!' Shiro thought, stunned.
Aomine, now fully immersed in his awakened state, seemed to defy gravity. With incredible speed, he closed the gap and leapt toward Shiro, hand outstretched to contest the shot.
In an astonishing display of athleticism, Aomine swatted the ball out of bounds mid-flight, denying Shiro's game-winning shot. The crowd gasped, jaws dropping in disbelief at the impossible block.
Landing gracefully, Aomine's eyes burned with excitement. "Shiro, let's go again."
An overwhelming surge of energy radiated from Aomine, as if a ferocious black panther now stood beside him. The fierce aura spread across the court, engulfing everything in its path.
Shiro's eyes widened. 'He's awakened this quickly? As expected from the fastest-growing member of the Generation of Miracles'
The black panther beside Aomine exuded an aura of raw power, its sleek, shadowy fur gleaming under the gym lights. Its razor-sharp claws shimmered, ready to tear through any defense.
Aomine and the panther moved as one, surrounded by a swirling vortex of energy that distorted the air around them.
Shiro smiled, adrenaline surging through his veins. "This is going to be fun"