Makoto Hanamiya's trash talk did more than just sting. Every line dealt true damage, and it even came with damage over time.
He unleashed a relentless barrage that drove Shoichi Imayoshi into a blazing rage and broke through his defenses on the spot.
This was way more effective than any dirty move!
As for that, Miyamoto Tokima could only say one thing.
'As expected of someone who has studied the [Scriptures].'
At Kirisaki Daiichi, some people trained day and night just to reach the next level.
Some studied day and night just to defeat their opponents through tactics.
Makoto Hanamiya, however, was different. He had read the 'Scriptures' extensively for one purpose alone, to enchant his trash talk with true damage and make every insult hit for real.
The effect was obvious. In a single possession, he had trash-talked one of the opponent's main players into going red with rage and completely breaking down...
Right now, Miyamoto Tokima was genuinely worried about one thing. Would Makoto Hanamiya get himself beaten up one day because of that mouth of his?
He was honestly afraid Makoto Hanamiya might provoke the wrong person someday.
After all, not everyone would hold back after being insulted like that.
...
On the court.
Kazunari Takao watched what had just happened on the court with a look of disgust. He gritted his teeth, clenched his fists tightly, and said through clenched teeth,
"Damn it! That bastard Makoto Hanamiya is still the same as ever. He really makes me sick!"
Kazunari Takao also hated Makoto Hanamiya to the point his teeth itched. After all, in that match, he had also been trash-talked until his defenses broke, and he could not hold back from making a move.
Makoto Hanamiya's trash talk really did have a kind of 'magic' to it.
How magical?
Magical enough to make you instinctively want your fist and his cheek to have an intimate little meeting.
...
On the court.
Shoichi Imayoshi's face was bright red, and he was breathing heavily in great gasps. Steam was practically rising from his head.
Do not misunderstand. This was not because he had exhausted his stamina.
It was because Makoto Hanamiya's true-damage trash talk had roasted him until he went red with rage and completely lost his composure.
"Damn it! Damn it! Damn it! Damn you, Makoto Hanamiya!!!"
Yoshinori Susa stood beside him and tried to comfort him.
"Calm down, Imayoshi."
Shoichi Imayoshi had completely lost his head. He suddenly raised his head, widened his eyes, and said in a low voice,
"Susa, how am I supposed to calm down?!!!"
Yoshinori Susa was startled by the furious Shoichi Imayoshi. He had never seen Shoichi Imayoshi look like this before.
In the past, Shoichi Imayoshi always had narrow, smiling eyes and an expression that made him seem fully in control.
When had he ever looked like this, eyes wide open and face flushed red?
At this moment, Daiki Aomine slowly spoke.
"Calm down, Imayoshi."
Shoichi Imayoshi whipped his head around, furious and about to say something, but Daiki Aomine cut him off.
Daiki Aomine raised his hand, stopping Shoichi Imayoshi from speaking, and said,
"Imayoshi, back in middle school, we ran into this kind of situation too. Do you know how Miyamoto handled it?"
Shoichi Imayoshi did not speak. He simply waited for Daiki Aomine to continue.
The rest of Tōō did the same.
Daiki Aomine lowered his hand and slowly began, as if recalling the past.
"Back at Teikō, Makoto Hanamiya also chose to provoke us. The difference was that he used dirty methods."
"At that time, I was just like you. I was so angry I wanted to beat him up."
"But Miyamoto stopped me. He told me that on the basketball court, everything is settled with basketball. But once you're off the court, that's a different story."
The moment those words came out, everyone from Tōō froze.
On the basketball court, basketball does the talking. Off the court, that is a different story.
To put it plainly, was that not just settling the score afterward?
How did it sound so reasonable coming from Miyamoto Tokima's mouth???
Everyone from Tōō was stunned. They had never expected the famous [Magic Cube], Miyamoto Tokima, to be so down-to-earth that he would settle things off the court.
They had expected even less that Miyamoto Tokima could make settling scores afterward sound so grand and justified!
Daiki Aomine was amused by their reactions and said,
"Heh. Did you all think Miyamoto was some honest guy? What are you thinking?"
"If he were honest, then there wouldn't be any honest people left in the world!"
"Why do you think Haizaki and Hanamiya are willing to work for Miyamoto? Do you really think it's because of his family background?"
"No, no, no. You're all wrong. A big reason for both of them is that they've been beaten by Miyamoto before."
"Especially Haizaki. I heard that after he provoked Miyamoto on his first day, Miyamoto sent him to the hospital with an elbow that very afternoon."
After hearing Daiki Aomine's words, everyone from Tōō swallowed, and a vivid scene formed in their minds.
On a sunny, breezy afternoon, Shogo Haizaki was stopped by Miyamoto Tokima.
Miyamoto Tokima said,
"Oi, kid. I've been feeling a little fired up lately. Come here for a second."
Then Shogo Haizaki charged over in fury, only to be dropped to the ground by one elbow from Miyamoto Tokima and sent straight to the hospital.
Thinking of that, everyone from Tōō shuddered.
Yoshinori Susa gave an awkward laugh.
"I didn't expect [Magic Cube] to be so... down-to-earth..."
Shoichi Imayoshi took two deep breaths and finally calmed down a little. His eyes returned to their usual narrowed shape, and he looked at Daiki Aomine as he asked,
"Aomine, then what are you suggesting?"
Daiki Aomine lowered his head slightly and said,
"Finish the game first. After the game, we'll go find Makoto Hanamiya and teach him a lesson."
Hearing this, everyone from Tōō swallowed.
No way, man. They were really going to fight?
Kosuke Wakamatsu spoke up excitedly.
"Damn it, I've wanted to do that for ages! Aomine, make sure you let me show my face when the time comes!"
Daiki Aomine gave him a strange look and said,
"Show your face? Private fights aren't allowed by the Basketball Association. Remember to wear a mask!"
Shoichi Imayoshi hesitated a little at this. No matter how they looked at it, Makoto Hanamiya was now a member of Kirisaki Daiichi.
"Aomine, if we do this, aren't we afraid of offending Miyamoto Tokima?"
Daiki Aomine shook his head and said,
"I'll talk to Miyamoto. We're only going to have a little talk with Makoto Hanamiya. We won't go too far."
Yoshinori Susa said worriedly,
"But what if he doesn't agree?"
Daiki Aomine smiled and said,
"If he doesn't agree, we force it!!!"
The moment those words came out, everyone from Tōō felt their blood ignite.
Force it!!!!!
...
On the court.
The ruling for the earlier conflict had come out.
Because Makoto Hanamiya had only been trash-talking, something the Basketball Association usually turned a blind eye to, Makoto Hanamiya received no punishment.
Shoichi Imayoshi, on the other hand, had tried to make the first move. But since an actual fight had not broken out, he was only punished with a technical foul.
Kirisaki Daiichi was awarded one free throw.
For this free throw, Miyamoto Tokima had Makoto Hanamiya take it.
Makoto Hanamiya smiled as he stood at the free throw line and said,
"A free throw for nothing."
Then he calmly shot the ball in.
Swish!
...