"Why are you still trying so hard when it's obvious you're going to lose?"
"Because there's more to a game than just winning or losing. The process itself is fun too!"
"Hah? What's the point of enjoying a match you've already lost? That's just pathetic. I can't stand hot-blooded types like you!"
The second half had only just begun when Akashi Asuka and Atsushi Murasakibara clashed under the hoop.
As a third-year in Junior High, Murasakibara stood around 199–200 cm tall. In terms of height and build, he and Akashi were nearly identical.
With his back to the basket, Akashi held the ball and began to post up against Murasakibara. He was still a bit rusty, likely from not playing basketball for a long time, so he didn't bother using any flashy moves just yet.
Murasakibara lazily held his defensive position, his tone as lethargic as always. But when Akashi brought up "the fun of the game," a flicker of irritation crept into his voice.
He hated these kinds of players the most, those who clung to passion and refused to give up, pretending they were enjoying the game even in defeat.
"Come on, let me crush you completely. I'll show you just how brutal basketball really is."
"Hot-blooded? I think you've misunderstood something. Sure, I enjoy the game too... but I've never been that kind of idealistic fool. Also, don't you think your defense is a little too casual?"
Boom!
Before Murasakibara could react, Akashi suddenly drove his shoulder into him, unleashing a surge of power that forced Murasakibara back a full step.
"No way..."
Everyone watching, including the other members of the Generation of Miracles, turned their heads toward the commotion.
"Your strength..."
Murasakibara stared at Akashi in disbelief. But before he could finish his sentence, Akashi leapt into the air, gripping the ball with both hands and hammering it down toward the basket.
"You've got to be kidding me! I'm gonna crush you!"
Murasakibara reached up to block the dunk, but the instant his hand touched the ball, he was hit by a staggering force. Caught completely off guard by Akashi's explosive strength, Murasakibara lost his balance midair.
BOOM!!!
The rim rattled violently. Akashi hung one-handed from the hoop, staring down at Murasakibara, who now sat on the court, stunned and speechless.
Woah!
The arena erupted in chaos.
"No way! Murasakibara just got dunked on!"
"That was insane!"
"Who the hell is that guy?!"
If pushing Murasakibara back had merely shocked Teiko's players, then this dunk had sent the entire team into a full-blown panic.
"Unbelievable... Murasakibara lost a strength contest?!"
In the Teiko bench area, Satsuki Momoi, with her long pink hair, stared at the court, disbelief and confusion clouding her eyes.
According to her intel, aside from his height, Akashi Asuka had no particularly outstanding attributes. And in the first half, his performance supported that data.
So how had everything changed so drastically after just one halftime break?
Was he hiding his true strength in the first half?
The shockwaves of Akashi's sudden power surge went far beyond the opposing team. His own teammates at Kaijo Junior High were even more stunned.
After all, they knew him far better than the enemy did, and that's exactly why this transformation felt so surreal.
When did this guy get so strong?
The only possible explanation was that Akashi had been hiding his strength all along. There simply was no other way to rationalize it.
Standing beneath the hoop, Akashi looked down on Murasakibara and calmly said, "You're right, basketball really is a brutal game."
"You bastard! I'm going to crush you for real!"
============
"Akacchi, pass me the ball! I'm gonna destroy this guy!"
As Akashi Seijuro dribbled past half-court, Murasakibara posted up inside and called for the ball. After receiving the pass, he mirrored Akashi's earlier move, backing him down in the post.
But no matter how many times he tried to push, Murasakibara couldn't budge him.
"You've gotta be kidding me! If I can't push you back, I'll just dunk over you!"
With a roar, Murasakibara spun and leapt toward the basket, intent on returning the favor.
But just as he went up, before he could even raise the ball over the rim,
SMACK!
A massive hand came out of nowhere, swatting the ball from his hands with a deafening slap.
Murasakibara stared at his now-empty hands, frozen in shock.
"No way... He blocked Murasakibara?! That's impossible!"
Throughout his entire Junior High career, Murasakibara had never been blocked. Not even once. And now, the very player he dominated in the first half had dunked on him and blocked him back-to-back in the second half.
If they hadn't seen it with their own eyes, the rest of the Generation of Miracles would've never believed it.
The ball bounced away and was scooped up by a Kaijo player. Still in shock from what just happened, Teiko's players failed to react in time, allowing Kaijo to pull off a fast break.
The score changed to 52–30.
"No... No way... There's no way I could lose! Akacchi! Pass me the ball again...!"
Murasakibara stood frozen, struggling to process the humiliation of being dunked on and blocked. He had to get revenge, personally.
He called for the ball again.
But this time,
Akashi passed the ball straight to Aomine Daiki without hesitation.
Then, turning toward Murasakibara, his cold gaze sharp enough to cut glass, he said:
"Those who cannot score have no right to receive my passes."
Murasakibara froze, his expression darkening.
On the other end of the court, Aomine caught the ball and exploded into motion, moving like a black panther, his eyes gleaming with rare excitement as he charged toward Akashi Asuka.
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