Tōō High's momentum had returned, and Katsunori Harasawa picked up the tactical board and began explaining the plan.
For once, Daiki Aomine actually chose to listen carefully.
That caught everyone at Tōō High by surprise.
After all, in the past, Daiki Aomine would never have listened to tactics!
While Tōō was fired up and listening to Katsunori Harasawa lay out the strategy, Kirisaki Daiichi also noticed the change in Tōō High.
Satsuki Momoi twirled a strand of her hair around her index finger and said,
"Hm? Looks like Aomine and the others got their fighting spirit back."
Miyamoto Tokima adjusted his hand so it rested more comfortably on Satsuki Momoi's lap and said,
"They really did. I didn't expect their pep talk to work that well."
Satsuki Momoi frowned slightly.
"Why do I feel like Aomine's aura has changed a little?"
Miyamoto Tokima asked, puzzled,
"Has it?"
Satsuki Momoi nodded.
Miyamoto Tokima smiled with interest.
"Then I'm kind of looking forward to this."
...
"Beep! The fourth quarter begins. Both teams, take the court!"
The referee blew the whistle to signal the start of the fourth quarter.
Both teams returned to the court.
On Tōō High's side, everyone gathered together, stacked their hands, and shouted,
"Let's go!!!"
On Kirisaki Daiichi's side, the substitutes simply called out encouragement to the players heading onto the court.
There was no sign of worry.
The fourth quarter began.
Tōō High had possession.
This time, Daiki Aomine didn't go to the backcourt to receive the ball. Instead, he came to the frontcourt and stood with Miyamoto Tokima.
Miyamoto Tokima looked at Daiki Aomine in surprise and asked,
"Daiki, why aren't you starting from the backcourt?"
Daiki Aomine smiled and replied,
"Miyamoto, I finally understand what you meant before."
Miyamoto Tokima looked at Daiki Aomine in confusion, waiting for him to continue.
Daiki Aomine went on.
"Basketball really is a five-man sport, but individual ability is still necessary."
"A truly great player is someone who can be strong on his own while still keeping his teammates in mind."
"Only someone like that can truly lead a team to victory."
"Winning as an individual matters, sure, but a team victory is the real victory!"
"I did go down the wrong path before. But now..."
At that point, Daiki Aomine suddenly laughed.
"I've changed completely!"
Crackle!!!
The moment Daiki Aomine finished speaking, blue lightning began flashing in his eyes.
This time, the lightning was even more obvious than when he had entered Zone before!
Even Daiki Aomine's aura had changed completely.
Compared with Daiki Aomine's previous Zone, his current Zone was like the difference between heaven and earth.
Feeling the aura coming from Daiki Aomine, Miyamoto Tokima was briefly stunned.
'Daiki... finally figured it out?!'
Miyamoto Tokima was pleasantly surprised, because the old Daiki Aomine had been a complete lone wolf.
Forget passing. Even getting him to pay attention to his teammates would have been impressive.
On the basketball court, personal victory was important, but team victory was the true victory.
You couldn't exactly say,
"We lost the game, but I didn't lose," could you?
Wasn't that just shameless?
From the moment you stood on the court as a player alongside your teammates, you were a team.
Everything you did had to be built around the foundation of the team's victory!
Of course, pickup games were another story. After all, who plays pickup basketball just to score?
...
Miyamoto Tokima hadn't expected Daiki Aomine to finally figure it out now.
Suddenly, Miyamoto Tokima seemed to think of something and immediately asked,
"Daiki, did you open the second [Gate]?"
Daiki Aomine grinned and nodded.
"That's right, Miyamoto. I've already pushed open the second [Gate]. But you really kept it hidden from me, didn't you?"
Miyamoto Tokima froze for a moment and asked in confusion,
"Kept what hidden?"
Daiki Aomine smiled.
"Don't play dumb, Miyamoto. I already know!"
Miyamoto Tokima was even more lost.
"No, what exactly do you know?"
Daiki Aomine said,
"I already know you're the Gatekeeper of the second [Gate]! When you reminded me about the Gatekeeper last time, you were actually hinting at it."
"I just didn't realize it back then. It only clicked now."
"Miyamoto, you really are my best friend! You've been way too good to me!"
As Daiki Aomine spoke, the smile on his face grew even brighter.
Miyamoto Tokima looked completely baffled. He had no idea what was going on.
'Damn it, isn't Tetsuya the Gatekeeper? When did it become me?!'
Miyamoto Tokima felt numb. Somehow, out of nowhere, he had become the Gatekeeper.
I didn't even know I was the Gatekeeper!
Daiki Aomine spoke up then.
"I'm grateful to you, but the game still has to go on!"
"Miyamoto, I'm coming!"
As soon as Daiki Aomine finished, the basketball flew toward him. He caught it with one hand and looked at Miyamoto Tokima, his eyes burning with fighting spirit.
Miyamoto Tokima shook his head helplessly. He had no choice but to stop thinking about the Gatekeeper and focus on the game.
Daiki Aomine held the basketball at his waist with both hands, his gaze sharp.
The next second, he moved!
His whole body shot forward like an arrow released from the bow, breaking through from the right at incredible speed.
At the same time, Zone's lightning traced a dazzling path through the air.
Miyamoto Tokima's expression turned serious. Waves of black mist suddenly emerged around him, enveloping him in an instant.
Then he swiftly stepped into Daiki Aomine's path.
As Daiki Aomine felt the black mist, an extremely familiar pressure immediately bore down on him.
The corners of Daiki Aomine's mouth lifted.
'Just as I thought. The pressure is still this strong. But I'm used to it now!'
Daiki Aomine had already been crushed by this pressure once before the [Gate], so facing Miyamoto Tokima's pressure again didn't feel nearly as unbearable.
Daiki Aomine's speed didn't drop at all. His movements shifted rapidly.
He adjusted his body at high speed, constantly probing and breaking through from both left and right, moving insanely fast!
Miyamoto Tokima's eyes followed Daiki Aomine's every move. His own body kept adjusting too, sticking tightly to Daiki Aomine.
Suddenly!
...