The referee stood at center court, cradling the basketball in his hands before tossing it high into the air. The ball soared in a perfect arc, capturing the attention of every spectator in the arena.
Murasakibara and the opposing center from Kashima Junior School locked their gazes on the ball, knees slightly bent, bodies poised to leap at a moment's notice.
As the ball reached its apex, Murasakibara exploded into action. His powerful legs propelled him off the ground like a missile, achieving liftoff before his opponent could even react.
In a flash, Murasakibara tipped the ball with precision, sending it gently toward Akashi, who was already in position. The ball obeyed as if it had a mind of its own, landing firmly in Akashi's hands.
Without hesitation, Aomine shot forward. From the moment Murasakibara jumped, Aomine had already anticipated the play and sprinted toward the basket like an arrow released from a bow. Kashima's power forward was caught completely off guard, unable to do anything but watch Aomine streak past.
As Aomine reached the basket, Akashi showcased his unparalleled vision and control. With surgical precision, he passed the ball at just the right angle and speed, setting Aomine up perfectly.
Aomine took flight like an eagle, soaring above the defense. With a resounding slam, the ball crashed into the hoop, rattling the basket.
Teiko took the first lead!
The scoreboard shifted from 0-0 to 2-0, marking a flawless and lightning-fast fast break that took just two seconds to execute, leaving Kashima stunned.
"Those rookies are no joke…" Imayoshi muttered, narrowing his eyes as he watched Aomine celebrate with his teammates.
Behind him, a sinister voice chimed in. "Tch, those are exactly the kind of players I enjoy breaking…" Hanamiya sneered, his eyes gleaming with twisted excitement.
"Keep it under control" Imayoshi warned, his tone low and wary. He wasn't fond of Hanamiya's antics but tolerated him for one reason—Kashima wouldn't have made it this far without him.
Though Hanamiya's play bordered on dirty, it hadn't crossed the line into outright dangerous territory—at least not yet. Imayoshi knew better than to interfere too much, especially when this tournament was his last chance to claim the national title before moving on to high school.
But Hanamiya dismissed Imayoshi's words, his attention fixed on Teiko's players with a predatory gleam in his eyes.
The ball found its way back to Imayoshi, who surveyed the court with the calm, calculating gaze of a hawk. He scanned for openings while locking eyes with Akashi, who stood ready to defend. Sparks seemed to fly between the two captains as the tension on the court intensified.
With their roles slightly shifted, Hanamiya now found himself playing as a small forward, lining up directly against Shiro. When the ball rotated back to Shiro, it was clear Kashima intended to run the offense through him.
'Oh? A genius, huh? Heh… I love breaking geniuses' Hanamiya muttered to himself, a sly grin creeping across his face.
Shiro, already aware of Hanamiya's reputation, tightened his focus, ready for whatever was coming next.
Hanamiya began his attack, dribbling with practiced ease as he faked a right-side drive. Then, with a sudden burst, he cut sharply to the left. Shiro reacted instantly, sticking close, mirroring Hanamiya's movements with precision.
Seeing Shiro glued to him, Hanamiya's grin deepened. Without warning, he swung his elbow toward Shiro's chest in a dirty attempt to knock him off balance.
But Shiro was prepared. With quick reflexes, he twisted his body just in time to avoid the hit, narrowly escaping what could have been a painful blow.
'Phew, that was close! If that elbow had landed, I'd be in a world of hurt' Shiro thought, his heart still pounding from the narrow escape.
He glanced toward the referee, hoping for a whistle, but to his dismay, the official's view had been blocked by other players on the court. The play went unnoticed.
Seizing the moment, Hanamiya slipped past Shiro with a fluid motion, using a soft floater to evade Murasakibara's towering defense. The ball kissed the backboard and fell cleanly through the net.
The scoreboard now read 2-2.
"Oops! My bad! Almost got you with that elbow there, huh?" Hanamiya teased as he jogged back, his playful tone masking the malice behind his actions.
Shiro's expression darkened as he glared after Hanamiya, his fury simmering just beneath the surface.
"What happened?" Akashi asked, noticing the tension as he approached.
"That guy just tried to elbow me" Shiro growled, his voice low and dangerous. "Next time, I won't let it slide"
The rest of the Teiko team shared knowing looks, their eyes hard with disgust. They had seen Hanamiya's type before—players who thrived on dirty tactics to disrupt and injure opponents.
Hanamiya, sensing their animosity, shot a smug grin in their direction. With a cocky flourish, he raised his thumb—and then slowly turned it downward in a mocking gesture.
"Tch… this guy's asking for it" Murasakibara muttered, glaring at Hanamiya with a mixture of frustration and disdain.
"I swear, if that scumbag touches one of us again, I'll knock him out" Aomine snarled, barely containing his rage. "There's no place in basketball for trash like him."
Akashi's expression remained calm, but the flicker of cold resolve in his eyes spoke volumes.
"He's mine" Shiro declared, his voice like ice. "Just pass me the ball, and I'll take care of him."
The determination in Shiro's voice was chilling, sending shivers through his teammates. They knew the look in his eyes—it was the same predatory gaze of a hunter stalking its prey.
A palpable energy radiated from Shiro, an overwhelming presence that seemed to freeze the very air around him. His eyes glowed with an intensity that burned like fire, a deadly promise to punish anyone who dared to cross him.
At that moment, Shiro unlocked his Animal Instinct "Megalodon".
Hanamiya's smirk faltered as an inexplicable fear gripped him. He felt as if he were standing face-to-face with a relentless predator, one that saw him not as an opponent, but as prey.
The chill running down Hanamiya's spine intensified, and a bead of cold sweat trickled down his forehead. His heart pounded violently as his body instinctively recoiled from the overwhelming presence Shiro exuded.
For the first time, Hanamiya felt true fear.