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On the court, Aomine Daiki headed back to defense.
A hint of ferocity flickered across his usually lively face.
His heart was filled with a pure excitement. It was as if a switch had been flipped within him; a violent aura began to emanate from his form.
"Hayama, are you alright?" Seeing their ace fall silent, a teammate asked with concern. Hayama Kotaro took a deep breath and shook his head. "I'm fine. Keep passing the ball to me!"
It was Fukuyama's turn to attack.
Receiving the pass, Hayama's expression turned cold and serious.
He and Aomine immediately engaged in a fierce back-and-forth. Neither gave an inch. With two thunderous dribbles, Hayama successfully broke through Aomine's defense again.
"You won't be scoring again!" A massive figure blocked Hayama's path. Murasakibara Atsushi loomed over him like a mountain.
Feeling the pressure from the front and the danger approaching from Aomine behind, a cold glint flashed in Hayama's eyes. His arm muscles tensed, veins bulging beneath the skin.
"Four!"
Hayama's aura shifted instantly, dispelling the collective pressure. Sizzle… A yellow lightning bolt, stronger than anything seen before, streaked past Murasakibara's eyes. Before the giant could react, the ball hit the backboard and snapped through the hoop.
"What happened?" The Fukuyama players looked at their ace in shock, barely grasping what they had just seen.
On Teiko's side, Ryu observed the exchange closely. He had sensed a wild, menacing aura from Hayama—the unmistakable feeling of "Wildness." He didn't know if it was an innate talent or a sudden awakening.
Aomine and Murasakibara felt it most acutely.
Murasakibara silently watched Hayama's back, while Aomine kept his head down, lost in thought.
The game continued.
From that point, Aomine was relentlessly pressured. The aggressive Hayama was now even faster than him. Whether on offense or defense, Aomine was at a disadvantage.
The other Fukuyama players coordinated with Hayama to launch a series of attacks, relentlessly pounding Teiko's basket.
For a while, the Teiko players seemed helpless.
Beep… The first quarter ended.
The score was 15-21, with Fukuyama Middle School in the lead. If it weren't for Ryu and Akashi passing the ball to Midorima for three crucial three-pointers, they would have been trailing by much more.
A cheer erupted for Hayama as his team escorted him off the court.
On Teiko's side, the group appeared calm, except for Aomine and Murasakibara, who remained silent, emanating a heavy sense of oppression.
As soon as they reached the bench, Momoi Satsuki brought water and towels.
"Ryu, here's a towel."
"Oh, thank you," Ryu said, taking the towel to wipe his face.
Aomine sat to the side with his head tilted back, a towel covering his face.
No one knew what he was thinking.
Ryu looked across at Hayama Kotaro. In his eyes, Hayama's weakness was laid bare—specifically in the opponent's arm.
Recalling the "Stage Four" Thunder Dribble, Ryu understood: Hayama had forcibly pushed his body beyond its limits under duress.
His current physique couldn't withstand that burden for long.
"Ryu... Ryu..." Momoi Satsuki called out.
"Huh? What's wrong?" Ryu asked, snapping out of his thoughts.
"Are you alright?" she asked with concern.
Ryu smiled. "What could be wrong? I was just lost in thought."
Momoi looked toward Aomine.
"Is Daiki alright?" She worried he might be discouraged or hurt.
Ryu patted her shoulder. "Don't worry, he'll be fine. If he were so easily broken, he wouldn't be Aomine Daiki."
Whistle!
The whistle blew for the second quarter.
Ryu went over to Aomine, pulled him up, and said, "Stop daydreaming. The game is starting."
"Okay," Aomine replied shortly, walking back onto the court with Ryu and the rest of the team.
Back on the court.
Ryu clearly sensed a difference in Aomine Daiki compared to before.
The aura emanating from Aomine was stronger; it seemed his "Wildness" was gradually awakening.
Whistle…
The referee blew the whistle to start the second quarter.
Fukuyama inbounded the ball first.
Fukuyama's point guard prepared to pass to Hayama Kotaro, but just then, a figure suddenly flashed in front of Hayama.
It was Aomine Daiki.
Hayama Kotaro's pupils contracted.
He felt his opponent was different; the current Aomine was dangerous.
Aomine's face was calm, his eyes devoid of emotion.
Seeing their ace effectively shut down, Fukuyama's point guard had no choice but to pass the ball to their power forward, Ikei.
Thud…
Ikei received the ball but did not attack Teiko's basket. Instead, a scene that shocked everyone unfolded.
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