On the sidelines, Makoto Hanamiya frowned, feeling deeply puzzled.
First, Shogo Haizaki had suddenly started reading and studying, and now Shogo Haizaki was playing point guard.
'What exactly did Tokima-san teach Haizaki?'
Makoto Hanamiya's brow remained tightly furrowed as he kept trying to figure it out.
What kind of skill required using your brain and observing the bigger picture?
On the court.
Shogo Haizaki dribbled the ball while keeping an eye on Shoichi Imayoshi and watching the situation across the court.
His mind was spinning rapidly, as if he were calculating something.
Suddenly, Murasakibara's voice rang out.
"Haizaki."
Shogo Haizaki snapped back to himself and passed the ball over.
Murasakibara caught the lob with one hand, adjusted his position, then slammed backward with a burst of force.
Bang!!!
Kosuke Wakamatsu let out a muffled grunt and was forced to retreat quickly.
Murasakibara paid it no mind. He turned around, sprang straight up from where he stood, and hammered the ball into the basket.
Crash!!!
After the basket, Kirisaki Daiichi immediately began falling back on defense.
As they retreated, Miyamoto Tokima came up beside Shogo Haizaki and said, "No rush. Let Murasakibara handle the first quarter. Use the chance to test whether your calculations are right."
Shogo Haizaki nodded and said seriously, "Got it, Tokima-san. I'm starting to get a feel for it now. I think I might be able to use that skill within a quarter at most!"
Miyamoto Tokima was startled. He looked at Shogo Haizaki in surprise, then patted him on the shoulder.
"Keep it up!"
Then he ran ahead. Once he was out of Shogo Haizaki's sight, Miyamoto Tokima muttered in disbelief, "Damn, he can't actually master it, right? That thing can really be trained here?"
...
Possession changed.
Tōō High had the ball.
When Kosuke Wakamatsu inbounded, Daiki Aomine did not come up to demand the ball. Instead, he let Shoichi Imayoshi bring it up.
Because it still was not time for Daiki Aomine to completely take over possession.
When Shoichi Imayoshi dribbled to the outside of Kirisaki Daiichi's three point line, Shogo Haizaki did not choose to stick close to him.
Instead, his eyes kept shifting elsewhere, as if he were watching the other players, while he muttered something under his breath.
Shoichi Imayoshi found Shogo Haizaki's behavior today extremely strange.
Strange enough that Shoichi Imayoshi began to feel a bad premonition.
"Ball!"
Just as Shoichi Imayoshi was still thinking, a voice rang out.
It was Daiki Aomine!
Shoichi Imayoshi instantly came back to his senses and passed him the ball.
Daiki Aomine caught it outside Kirisaki Daiichi's three point line, facing Shuzo Nijimura's defense.
Daiki Aomine held the ball at his waist with both hands, grinning as he said, "Nijimura-senpai, we meet again."
Shuzo Nijimura spread his arms on defense and smiled as well.
"Yeah, Aomine. We're facing each other on the court again."
Daiki Aomine kept grinning and asked, "Then, senpai, are you ready?"
Shuzo Nijimura's expression instantly turned solemn, and his gaze sharpened.
"Come on."
In the next second, Daiki Aomine dropped the ball hard and accelerated, actually slipping straight past Shuzo Nijimura's side!
Shuzo Nijimura was startled. He quickly turned back, only to see Daiki Aomine already charging into the paint, and his heart shook.
'So fast!'
Daiki Aomine entered the paint and leaped up powerfully.
Only then did Murasakibara react and jump after him.
Daiki Aomine's smile never disappeared. It stayed fixed on his face the entire time.
In midair, he folded his body, pulled the ball back to his waist, slipped past Murasakibara's side, then sent the ball out with a reverse hook.
Just as Daiki Aomine thought it was over, a figure suddenly shot out.
"Lucky!"
Smack!!!
It was Dicky Anthony!
Dicky Anthony suddenly appeared under the basket and swatted away the ball Daiki Aomine had reversed toward the hoop.
Daiki Aomine was a little shocked.
'This guy actually rotated over that fast!'
The old Dicky Anthony had not liked help defense very much, but after going to the United States to train with the Black Dragon Team, Victor's guidance taught Dicky Anthony zone defense and help defense.
After all, with Dicky Anthony's height and speed, he was born to be a help defense gatekeeper!
So during this game, Dicky Anthony had been watching the ball handler the entire time.
When he saw Daiki Aomine get past Shuzo Nijimura in one step, he was shocked too.
After all, getting past Shuzo Nijimura in one step was no simple feat!
Still, shock was shock. The moment he saw Daiki Aomine rush into the paint, he decisively left Ryo Sakurai behind.
He went straight after Daiki Aomine.
He was not worried about Murasakibara's side, because he knew how good Murasakibara was at blocking shots.
So all he needed to cover was the other side of Murasakibara.
That was how the previous scene happened.
Dicky Anthony swatted Daiki Aomine's layup away.
The basketball hit the rim, then bounced into Ryo Sakurai's hands.
After catching the ball, Ryo Sakurai did not dare hesitate. He immediately went into his shooting motion, a hint of panic on his face as he shouted, "Sorry!"
The moment he released the ball, a figure rushed out.
It was Atsushi Murasakibara!!!
After seeing Dicky Anthony knock the ball away, Atsushi Murasakibara immediately ran toward it.
He leaped high and slapped Ryo Sakurai's three pointer away with one hand.
Volleyball player! Atsushi Murasakibara!!!
Seeing Atsushi Murasakibara's fierce expression, Ryo Sakurai trembled and cried out again and again, "I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"
The ball was knocked toward the frontcourt, and Shuzo Nijimura and Shogo Haizaki immediately charged forward.
Atsushi Murasakibara and Dicky Anthony were no exception.
Everyone on the court sprinted toward the ball.
Except for one person.
Miyamoto Tokima.
Miyamoto Tokima was standing under the basket with his hands on his hips, watching it all with a bright smile.
Ah, as expected of someone I worked so hard to train. He's finally grown up. Now I can relax a little.
In the next second, a sharp shout rang out.
"Miyamoto! Tokima!!!"
Miyamoto Tokima whipped his head around and met Satsuki Momoi's furious glare. A chill instantly ran through him, and he hurriedly ran toward the frontcourt.
Makoto Hanamiya and the others felt the icy aura coming from Satsuki Momoi and quietly shifted a little farther away.
They all sighed inwardly.
The team bully!!!
This is the team bully!!!
On the court.
Shuzo Nijimura reached the ball first and quickly sprinted toward the frontcourt.
Shogo Haizaki followed behind him. Unexpectedly, even during the fast break, Shogo Haizaki was still observing everyone.
Shuzo Nijimura turned his head slightly and glanced at Shogo Haizaki from the corner of his eye.
...
...
...
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