They played for a long, long time.
Until the basketball club doors were pushed open and Imayoshi Shoichi and the other Tōō members arrived, only then did they stop.
"Seems that's it for today."
Seeing Imayoshi and the others, Yuuto released the basketball in his hand.
"Hey, are you leaving just because you won? I still want to play!"
They played a total of 11 games to 11 points this afternoon.
Yuuto won 8, and Aomine only won 3. And those 3 victories were hard-won at the very beginning.
With Yuuto's evolution—or rather correction—although Aomine could score, it became hard to win games.
He was suppressed again.
"Next time. I'll wait for you in the Nationals final."
"Of course, provided you can make it to the final."
Yuuto didn't change clothes; he picked up his things and walked out of the Tōō Basketball Club.
At the door, he suddenly turned back.
"Aomine, do you remember the second door of the Zone?"
"Second door? Zone has a second door?"
Aomine hadn't reacted yet, but the faces of the people around changed.
Could that invincible domain go even further?
They pricked up their ears to listen to the conversation between the two geniuses.
"I remember. You said it was abandoned by me."
"That's right. Might as well try trusting your teammates."
Trust teammates?
Aomine turned his head to glance at Wakamatsu, immediately snorted "Hmph," his disdain beyond words.
"What do you mean, you bastard?!" Wakamatsu jumped in rage; this was too disrespectful.
Aomine ignored him, wanting to ask clearly, but Yuuto had already left.
He had given Aomine enough hints.
In the Winter Cup, Kagami Taiga opening the second door was a fact; it happened in all three simulations.
Since that was the case, might as well see what level Aomine could reach.
Consider it a return gift for him.
"Is the focus of the Zone really on the second door?"
"Mm."
"Why is Yu so certain?"
Walking out of the basketball club, Momoi stared at Yuuto with curious eyes.
She thought along the same lines as Aomine.
Perhaps.
It wasn't that Yuuto couldn't enter the Zone, but he chose another way.
This way allowed him to break the 100% limit, like yesterday's match!
"I just know."
A non-answer answer made Momoi confirm her guess even more.
"Then what does trusting teammates mean?"
"Can't say it too clearly. He has to realize it himself."
In the final season (movie?), Aomine knew the condition to open the second door but still couldn't enter. So, that mysterious door isn't something one can enter just by knowing the method.
It's a rather idealistic existence.
Requires familiarity and complete trust in teammates, letting basketball return to its original face.
"Where is Midorima now?"
"Little Green?"
Momoi felt around her chest and pulled out a notebook, leaving Yuuto dumbfounded.
Seeing this, Momoi laughed proudly and asked, "Nice to look at? Is it better than Sora's?"
"Mm... uh..."
"Sora isn't here, what are you afraid of?"
Momoi enjoyed and was satisfied with his expression, but she wouldn't let Yuuto have his way as easily as Sora.
Things unobtainable are the best.
She flipped through the notebook, then said, "For the Winter Cup, they started a special training. Currently at the eastern beach; Seirin is there too."
Momoi didn't know exactly what Yuuto wanted to do.
But from him actively seeking his childhood friend (Aomine) today, her intuition told her that Yuuto's correction talent might have evolved again.
This time.
Maybe he wouldn't disappear after the game ended like before.
"Want to go? I bought a very sexy swimsuit."
She leaned into Yuuto's ear and blew air very ambiguously.
"This little girl is such a tease."
Yuuto felt electrified, shivering all over.
Not for that swimsuit—he wasn't that shallow of a man—he was just going to complete his correction.
Momoi's pretty face was like a blooming flower. "Come pick me up tomorrow. I'm going back first."
After speaking, she left, ignoring even the basketball club activities.
...
Evening.
Returning home, Sora guarded the door directly.
"What did you go to Tōō for?"
She demanded an explanation, a bit worried about Yuuto, this big pig trotter.
"Went to find Aomine for a game."
"Really that simple?"
"Yeah. Don't always overthink; use your smart head in the right places."
Yuuto patted her head, fooling her.
Corrected memories were now recorded in his brain and body.
He had completely adapted to that chaotic streetball style.
"I have to go out tomorrow, won't accompany you to school."
"What are you going to do again?"
"I'm going to find Midorima Shintaro."
Generation of Miracles again?
Sora frowned, very curious inside. What did this big pig trotter want to do?
But she didn't understand basketball much, so she didn't ask further.
...
The next day.
A beach in eastern Tokyo.
Seirin and the others had arrived here not long ago for a training camp, for another national-level tournament after the Nationals—the Winter Cup Qualifiers.
Riko Aida had her father bring two basketball hoops, letting the team play on the sand.
She organized the experience of failure and found that the biggest difference between Seirin and other powerhouses was numerical values (stats)!
Except for Kagami and Kuroko, this special player, the other players were inferior to national powerhouses like Seiho, Tōō, and Shutoku.
Therefore, she wanted the players' stats to reach a level comparable to those powerhouses.
Such training brought great pain to the players.
The consumption and difficulty of moving on sand were three times that of the court!
Taiga Kagami received a teammate's pass and dunked as usual, but dunked loneliness; he couldn't even touch the rim, falling down and eating a mouthful of sand.
"Damn it!"
He was sweating profusely; the others weren't much better.
The intensity of such practice was obviously a bit excessive.
When they finally finished practice to rest and went to buy drinks, they saw two unexpected figures being lovey-dovey over there.
"Yu, apply here too, or I'll get sunburned."
"Okay."
"Oh my, not there."
"Ah, sorry sorry, touched it by accident."
Yuuto held sunscreen in his hand, untying the strap behind Momoi's swimsuit with a face of justice, helping apply it to Momoi's back.
However, he was "clumsy," fingers always touching places they shouldn't, making Momoi shy endlessly.
She thought: Although I prepared to give you some sweetness, you're too unceremonious. I seem to be losing big this time!
After being touched "accidentally" by Yuuto again, her face flushed like a teapot.
He had seen through this woman's "scheme" and decided to beat her at her own game!
But before the two could go further, Kagami's voice suddenly rang out nearby, "Yuuto?!"
...
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