It was worth mentioning that Okukozome had endured a miserable year.
During the summer, Homi Academy had made it to the Inter-High, but without Yuuto and his teammates, their results were utterly unworthy of defending champions. That was just at the middle school level—the high school division had been even more disastrous.
Both major tournaments—the Inter-High and the Winter Cup—had seen them field two different teams, and both had been eliminated in the first round.
The people of Okukozome now deeply missed those days when they had Yuuto.
As a result, with no local team left to support, they had all thrown their weight behind Seihō, the Tokyo powerhouse.
Because that's where their pride resided.
After scoring, Yuuto showed no reaction whatsoever. He simply walked past Kagami as if nothing had happened.
The enormous gap nearly shattered Kagami's mental composure. Instinctively, his thoughts drifted toward the Zone—that was his trump card for matching Yuuto.
Fortunately, he never lacked for spiritual guidance.
Aida Riko made another substitution, bringing Kuroko back onto the court after barely a minute on the bench.
"The game just started. Yuuto isn't an opponent you can defeat alone. Let's do this together, Kagami-kun!"
"Yeah!"
That was exactly what Kagami needed to hear, and perhaps what he needed most right now.
He genuinely felt grateful for the teammates around him, pulling him back whenever he started overthinking.
And so—
He would not waver again.
"Maybe you're right. Maybe trust is just an excuse. But even if I can never reach your level, I want to win alongside my friends!"
Kagami's confidence returned.
Hearing this, Yuuto saw no reason to waste words. They simply weren't cut from the same cloth.
Seihō set up in their 2-1-2 defensive formation—their specialty.
But Seirin had prepared for this. Seeing Seihō's setup, Hyūga Junpei decisively relocated to the corner three-point area.
This was the tactic they'd planned from the start.
This forced Tsugawa Tomoki to follow him, creating a gap in Seihō's defense.
Of course, that alone wasn't enough. Even Kagami lacked the confidence to drive through that gap—Yuuto anchored the middle, sealing off penetration from either side.
But we have Kuroko!
The thought occurred to every Seirin player simultaneously, and Kuroko didn't disappoint.
His figure seemed to vanish, suddenly appearing in the passing lane to redirect the incoming ball.
His teammate didn't hold it either, immediately swinging it to the next man.
The ball traced a rapid "Z" pattern, left then right, quickly working its way into the paint.
Their ball movement was astonishingly quick—even faster than during the Inter-High.
It's not just that the players have improved, Yamashita Shigeo noted silently. Their tactical understanding and team chemistry have risen to another level. They're young, but their potential is impressive. Still, if they think this is enough to break through Seihō's defense, they're being too naive.
Kiyoshi Teppei received the ball and immediately turned for a jumper.
The result?
The instant he released the shot, a dark shadow launched into the air. An arm materialized before him, sealing off every possible shooting angle.
"How?!" Aida Riko shot to her feet, disbelief filling her eyes. "The same as Murasakibara—a massive defensive range covering everything within the three-point line!"
All of Seirin was stunned.
After entering high school, for Yuuto's defensive range to cover the entire area inside the arc without his Weakness Correction active, he had to be in Demon Mode. In his normal state, it was impossible.
He could only operate as the team's defensive anchor, relying on teammates to delay opponents while he rotated for help defense and recovery.
Moreover, Seirin's run-and-gun offense was even more ferocious than during the Inter-High. Combined with Kuroko's Misdirection, how could he possibly defend like this?
Akashi and the others showed no surprise whatsoever.
A year ago, Yuuto had used half a game's worth of Weakness Correction to expand his defensive range to Murasakibara's level.
Now, after facing every member of the Generation of Miracles, his defensive coverage had long since reached that baseline—on par with Murasakibara.
"Yuuto's Correction and evolution were never just about technical skills. That's true transformation."
This was what made Yuuto truly terrifying.
His evolution was genuine evolution—not imitation like Kise's, not merely learning techniques.
"That game against Murasakibara elevated his athletic ability, and he can also see Tetsuya." Aomine wasn't surprised at all.
Slap!
Yuuto swatted the ball away.
Kiyoshi had tried to resist. His large hands could grip the ball with one hand.
With Aida Kagetora's help, he'd developed a special move—the so-called "Right of Postponement."
Noticing Yuuto, he immediately employed this technique, pulling the ball downward mid-air to pass it back to Hyūga.
But then he saw Yuuto rotate his body mid-air—just like how Aomine had disrupted Kise's pass in the final moments of Tōō versus Kaijō in the original series—destroying Kiyoshi's pass.
This didn't defy physics. It was simply superior anticipation.
"Completely read!" Aida Riko clenched her fists.
She had three trump cards.
The first was their run-and-gun offense.
The second was Kuroko Tetsuya.
The third was Kagami Taiga.
Now all three had been played, and none had worked. She was at a complete loss.
Seihō's counterattack began.
Five players surged toward Seirin's end like a pack of wolves.
Seirin's five scrambled back on defense, chasing their assignments.
Kagami's target was naturally Yuuto, locking down the lane and the basket.
What's he going to do? How will he attack? If it were me with this big an advantage, what would I do? His mind raced through deep simulations.
But Yuuto defied his expectations.
He charged toward Kagami at high speed, but before he could fully commit to any move, the ball vanished from his hands.
As if crossing through a wormhole, the ball disappeared from Yuuto's grasp and materialized in Iwamura Tsutomu's hands.
"A pass?!"
Kagami's face went pale. By the time he reacted, it was too late.
Iwamura caught the ball and smoothly converted a turnaround layup.
The pass had been so sudden and swift that all five Seirin players were caught in recovery, unable to help.
"Kagami managing to exit the Zone in time did preserve Seirin's hope for victory."
"But without the Zone's support, the trials Seirin faces are enormous."
Yuuto hadn't been wrong. Seirin had indeed been too optimistic.
Thinking one step ahead while seeing a hundred steps down the road—Akashi seemed to have already foreseen Seirin's future.
Their trials had only just begun.
...
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