The sound of squeaking sneakers and the rhythmic dribbling of basketballs filled the massive Rakuzan gym. The walls were adorned with championship banners, a testament to their dominance in middle school basketball. Teikou had faced strong teams before, but this was a different level.
Souta Fujimura scanned the court, taking in the presence of Rakuzan's players. Their eyes were sharp, their postures disciplined. Unlike teams that revolved around a single star player, Rakuzan moved as a unit, their synergy nearly flawless.
Standing in the center of their formation was a tall, refined boy with piercing crimson eyes. Seijuro Akashi.
But not the Akashi they knew.
This was the young Akashi, the one who hadn't yet awakened his Emperor Eye. But even without it, he was a force to be reckoned with.
Beside Souta, Kuroko observed quietly, his usual unreadable expression in place.
"They're strong," Kuroko said, his voice barely above a whisper.
Souta nodded. "Yeah… this is going to be tough."
Coach Shirogane stepped forward, gathering the team for a final word.
"This is a practice match, but don't treat it lightly," he said, his gaze scanning the players. "Rakuzan will exploit any weakness. Stay sharp, play smart, and don't get overwhelmed."
Akashi, standing beside them, remained calm. "We'll win," he said simply.
Aomine smirked. "Of course."
With that, the starting lineup was announced.
Starting Five - Teikou
PG: Seijuro Akashi SG: Daiki Aomine SF: Ryouta Kise PF: Souta Fujimura C: Atsushi Murasakibara
Souta felt a rush of excitement as he realized he would start in this game. It was his first real chance to prove himself on the court against a powerhouse like Rakuzan.
The referee blew the whistle, signaling both teams to take their positions.
In the center, Murasakibara lazily walked up for the jump ball. Opposing him was Rakuzan's center, a tall, muscular player named Arata Hoshigaki.
The referee tossed the ball into the air.
Murasakibara barely tried, but his sheer height allowed him to tap the ball first.
Akashi caught it mid-air, smoothly transitioning into a fast break.
The game had begun.
Akashi dashed down the court, his dribbling effortless. Kise ran beside him, ready for a pass, while Aomine trailed slightly behind, already analyzing Rakuzan's defense.
Souta moved into position, but almost immediately, a Rakuzan defender was on him.
It wasn't just tight defense.
Rakuzan's movements were calculated, as if they could predict Teikou's next action.
Akashi saw the opening and passed to Aomine, who caught the ball in stride. He faked left, then drove right, ready to finish with a layup.
But just as he was about to shoot—
A defender appeared.
Out of nowhere, Rakuzan's shooting guard Yukimura Seiji had closed the gap, blocking Aomine's attempt.
The ball bounced off the backboard, and Rakuzan immediately took control, sprinting down the court.
"Damn," Aomine muttered as he landed. "That was fast."
Rakuzan wasn't just strong offensively.
They were monsters on defense.
Souta raced back, watching as Akashi and Murasakibara prepared to defend the basket.
Rakuzan's point guard, Shunsuke Kamizaki, moved with precise control, weaving through the court before kicking the ball out to Yukimura for a three-point shot.
The ball swished through the net, giving Rakuzan the first points of the game.
3-0.
Souta clenched his fists.
This wasn't going to be easy.
Teikou inbounded the ball, Akashi calling the next play. He dribbled up the court with practiced ease, scanning the Rakuzan defense.
"Kise," Akashi called.
Kise nodded and cut toward the basket. The moment he did, Akashi's pass zipped straight into his hands. Kise turned, pulling up for a jumper—
But Yukimura was already there.
The shot was blocked again.
Rakuzan's defense was suffocating.
Souta gritted his teeth. He needed to create an opening.
The moment Rakuzan grabbed the rebound and tried to move forward, Souta activated Phantom Step.
His body flickered, vanishing from their field of view.
In the next second, he appeared in the passing lane, intercepting the ball.
"Got it!"
Without hesitation, he fired a quick pass to Aomine, who wasted no time driving straight into the paint.
This time, there was no defender fast enough to react.
Aomine soared into the air, throwing down a powerful dunk.
The rim rattled as the ball snapped through the net.
3-2.
Aomine smirked as he landed. "Now we're playing."
The game continued at a relentless pace.
Rakuzan would score.Teikou would counter.
Each possession became a battle of tactics.
Souta found himself struggling against Rakuzan's defense. Their discipline made it hard to slip through, and even Phantom Step wasn't foolproof against a team that adapted so quickly.
By the end of the first quarter, Rakuzan led 18-12.
Teikou was behind, but they weren't giving up.
As the second quarter started, Akashi adjusted their strategy.
"We need to speed up," Akashi said. "Rakuzan thrives on controlling the pace. If we increase the tempo, we can force mistakes."
Souta nodded. "Got it."
Teikou came out faster.
Aomine and Kise increased their offensive pressure, forcing Rakuzan to react. Souta timed his Phantom Step perfectly, slipping past defenders for quick cuts to the basket.
It was working.
Rakuzan started missing defensive rotations, allowing Teikou to close the gap.
Midway through the quarter, Souta saw his opportunity.
Akashi had the ball at the top of the key. He signaled for a play, and Souta immediately moved, cutting through the defense.
Akashi's pass was instantaneous, hitting Souta perfectly in stride.
With a deep breath, Souta jumped—
And finished with a clean layup.
18-18.
The game was now tied.
Rakuzan wasn't finished.
They adjusted just as quickly, adapting to Teikou's increased pace.
The remainder of the quarter was a fierce exchange, with both teams refusing to back down.
Aomine's acrobatic drives.Kise's precise footwork.Murasakibara's dominance in the paint.Souta's Phantom Step creating open shots.
By the time the second quarter ended, the score was 34-32 in favor of Rakuzan.
As both teams gathered for halftime, Souta wiped sweat from his forehead, his heart pounding.
This game was far from over.
Rakuzan was strong.
But Teikou was stronger.
And in the next half, they would prove it.