"The only one who can beat me… is me."
— Daiki Aomine
The gym was still buzzing after Seirin's intense victory over Kaijo High. The crowd had erupted in cheers, fans swarming to talk about the game-winning shot—a fadeaway three-pointer from none other than Tetsuya Kuroko.
But for Kuroko, the applause faded into background noise. He wasn't here for cheers. He wasn't here to be remembered as just "the shadow" anymore.
His eyes were already set on the next challenge.
And somewhere, watching from the shadows, that challenge was watching him back.
[Location: Somewhere in Tokyo]
A lone figure sat on the rooftop of a school gym, the faint glow of streetlights casting long shadows around him. A basketball spun lazily on his fingertip, perfectly balanced despite the lack of effort.
Daiki Aomine narrowed his sharp, dark blue eyes as he scrolled through a live stream highlight on his phone—Kuroko's clutch shot against Kaijo.
The ball hit the net with a crisp swish, and the crowd exploded.
Aomine scoffed, flipping the phone shut. "Tch… Kuroko scoring like that? What a joke."
But there was no denying the faint spark of interest flickering in his eyes.
He's different.
And Aomine hated when something—or someone—challenged his belief that no one could beat him.
[System Update: Mamba Mentality Core]
Primary Rival Detected: Daiki Aomine
Challenge Level: S+
Mission Unlocked: Reignite the Rivalry
Seirin High – The Next Day
The team gathered in the gym, still riding the high of their victory. Kagami was hyped, practicing dunks with renewed energy.
"Kuroko! That shot was insane yesterday!" Kagami yelled, grinning ear to ear. "You've been holding out on me, huh?"
Kuroko calmly passed him a ball. "I'm just getting started."
Before Kagami could respond, Riko entered, slamming a clipboard onto the bench. "Listen up! We've got our next practice match scheduled."
The room went silent.
"We're going up against Touou Academy."
Kagami's grin faded instantly. "Touou? That's where… Aomine plays, right?"
Kuroko didn't react outwardly, but deep inside, a storm was brewing.
Daiki Aomine…
Memories from Teikō flooded his mind—days when Aomine was unstoppable, a natural-born scorer with talent that defied logic. Back then, Kuroko's role had been to support him, feeding him passes to dominate the court.
But now?
Now, Kuroko wasn't here to support anyone.
He was here to surpass them.
[System Boost Activated: Rivalry Modifier - Aomine Effect]
Stat Enhancement: Focus, Stamina, Tactical Awareness
Emotional Trigger: Unlocks Hidden Potential in High-Stakes Matches
Touou Academy – Match Day
The gym was packed. The atmosphere was different from previous games—thicker, heavier, as if everyone could feel the tension crackling in the air.
Aomine sat lazily on the bench, his warm-up jacket hanging loosely off his shoulders, a basketball balanced on his finger as if gravity didn't apply to him. His expression was bored, disinterested.
Until his eyes met Kuroko's.
For the first time, Aomine stood up. Slowly. A predatory grin spread across his face.
"Yo, Kuroko." His voice was casual, but there was an edge to it. "Let's see if you've really changed… or if you're still just a shadow."
Kuroko's response was simple. "I'm not here to be anyone's shadow anymore."
The crowd grew louder as the teams took their positions.
[Match Start: Seirin vs. Touou Academy]
The ball was tossed into the air. Kagami leaped high, winning the tip-off with ease. Seirin secured possession, and Kuroko immediately took control.
Aomine didn't even bother defending aggressively at first, standing back with that cocky grin, arms crossed.
"Come on, Kuroko. Show me what you've got."
Kuroko obliged.
He drove forward with sharp precision, cutting through Touou's defense. Just as Aomine lazily stepped in to intercept—
Kuroko pulled off an unexpected behind-the-back pass to himself—catching the ball mid-stride, pivoting, and hitting a fadeaway jumper from the baseline.
Swish.
Aomine's grin twitched slightly.
Okay… that was new.
But if Kuroko was a storm, Aomine was a hurricane.
On Touou's next possession, Aomine got the ball and exploded down the court with speed that defied physics. His movements were raw, unpredictable, and impossible to read.
Kuroko tried to intercept, but Aomine's instincts were too sharp. He spun mid-air, twisted his body unnaturally, and dunked with enough force to shake the entire hoop.
The crowd roared.
[System Alert: Rivalry Tension Rising]
Adrenaline Surge Activated
Focus Level: 95%
The game turned into a personal war.
Kuroko hit impossible jumpers, slicing through defenders with surgical precision.
Aomine answered with insane crossovers, no-look shots, and dunks that seemed to defy gravity.
Neither giving an inch.
Neither backing down.
By the fourth quarter, the score was tied: Touou 72 - Seirin 72
Kagami was exhausted. Seirin's players were running on fumes. But Kuroko? His eyes burned brighter than ever.
[Final Mission Triggered: The Phantom vs. The Ace]
• Objective: Outscore Aomine in the final minute.
• Bonus Reward: Unlock "Mamba Mentality Level 2"
60 seconds left.
Touou had the ball. Aomine dribbled casually, his grin gone, replaced by razor-sharp focus.
He drove past Kagami like he wasn't even there. Only Kuroko stood between him and the basket.
"Move," Aomine growled, surging forward.
But Kuroko didn't move.
He anticipated the drive, stepping in at the perfect moment—and stripped the ball clean.
The gym exploded in chaos.
Kuroko sprinted down the court, the seconds ticking away. Aomine was right behind him, closing in fast.
With five seconds left, Kuroko stopped abruptly at the three-point line. Aomine lunged to block.
But Kuroko didn't shoot.
Instead, he pivoted, spun, and hit an impossible fadeaway three-pointer, releasing the ball just as the buzzer blared.
The ball sailed through the air.
Silence.
Swish.
Seirin 75 - Touou 72.
Game over.
[System Notification: Mission Complete]
• Primary Rival Defeated: Daiki Aomine
• New Skill Unlocked: Mamba Mentality Level 2
• Mental Synchronization with Kobe Bryant: 60% Complete
Post-Game
Aomine approached, sweat dripping, his chest heaving. But he wasn't angry.
He was smiling.
"You've changed, Kuroko. You're not a shadow anymore."
Kuroko met his gaze, his expression calm. "I'm not here to be a shadow. I'm here to be the light."
And for the first time, Aomine laughed—not out of arrogance, but respect.
[End of Chapter 6]