The air in the Teikō First Team Training Hall was thick with sweat, rubber, and the lingering heat of fierce clashes. Sunlight poured through the high windows in shafts, dust dancing silently within them. At the center of the court's uproar was another explosive one-on-one between Aomine Daiki and Bai Ze You. The dull thud of colliding muscles, the screech of sneakers against the floor, and the heavy beat of the basketball striking the ground wove together into a rhapsody called "Collision of Talent." Yet in a relatively quiet corner by the sidelines, another silent war was underway.
Momoi Satsuki sat on a folding chair, her cherry-pink hair tied into a neat ponytail that revealed her smooth forehead and slender neck. She leaned forward slightly, her fair cheeks faintly flushed with concentration. Her cherry-pink eyes were like the most precise detectors, firmly tracking every change in offense and defense on the court. A thick shorthand notebook with worn edges lay open on her knees. Its cover bore the elegant words "Teikō First Team Data Records · Momoi." At that moment, her right hand gripped a pencil whose tip had grown somewhat blunt, racing across the pages and leaving behind densely woven symbols, numbers, and hurried annotations. Its soft scratching resembled a spring silkworm chewing on mulberry leaves.
G.M (Aomine Daiki) vs S.Y (Bai Ze You)
Round 7:
Attacker: G.M
Move: Powerful drive from the right; estimated shoulder-impact force: A+ rank; Speed Burst: S rank
Defender: S.Y
Response: Active Roll-off (left shoulder lowered 15°, right foot pulled back and pushed against the floor); core stability maintained at A rank; left-hand interference position: lower one-third of the ball's right side
Result: Dribbling trajectory shifted 30°; driving rhythm disrupted; forced to slow down and adjust
Judgment: Effective defense (Roll-off + interference)
Round 8:
Attacker: S.Y
Move: High-post ball control, Fake Move sequence:
1. Leftward eye feint (believability: A) →
2. Left shoulder lowered (+8 cm) →
3. Left-foot probing step (range +10 cm) →
4. Recovery (core control: S) →
5. Behind-the-back dribble into a turn (smoothness: S, speed: S-)
Defender: G.M
Reaction: Weight shifted left (estimated range: 40%) → forced halt (high muscular load) → pursuit delay: 0.3 seconds (estimated)
Result: S.Y gained half a step of driving space
Judgment: Fake Move deception successful (Rhythm Change + body control)
The pencil's path seemed alive, precisely capturing every fleeting detail. You's extraordinary Roll-off technique and instantaneous core stability under Aomine's ferocious assault; the deceptive details contained in every roll of his shoulder, shift of his eyes, and probing step; and the momentary stiffness in Aomine's muscles and delay in his pursuit whenever his Wildness First Sense was fooled after being toyed with again and again... All those subtle differences beyond ordinary people's ability to perceive were precisely broken down and quantified by those cherry-pink eyes, transformed into a cold, objective stream of data across the pages.
"Bai Ze-kun's Fake Move sequence... his Deception Level has risen again..." Momoi murmured. She drew two hard lines beneath the words "Rhythm Change" and marked a tiny "↑" beside them. Her brows furrowed slightly, as if pondering a difficult problem. "Aomine-kun's threshold for resisting deception through Wildness First Sense... seems to be adapting? But Bai Ze-kun's Fake Move combination is evolving too... a dynamic game..." She quickly drew a tiny two-way arrow in a blank space at the edge of the shorthand notebook and added a question mark beside it. Data was her only weapon for understanding this battlefield and these unbelievable prodigies.
Just then, the clash on the court escalated once more! After a fierce steal attempt failed, Aomine had his center of gravity shifted by You's extremely realistic Crossover Dribble Fake Move. You immediately used an unbelievable Extreme Layup, his body nearly parallel to the floor, slipping past Murasaki-bara's help defense and block to score!
"Beautiful—!" A huge cheer erupted from the bench!
Momoi's cherry-pink eyes instantly shone with astonishing brightness! She practically sprang from her chair, her pencil flying frantically across the page!
* Round 12:
* Attacker: S.Y
* Finishing method: Extreme Layup evasion in midair (evasion angle: 35° left rotation + 15° lean back, core load MAX!)
* Defensive interference: M.D (Murasaki-bara Atsushi), block coverage 98.5% (estimated), fingertips less than 2 cm from the ball!
* Result: Basket (off the backboard)
* Judgment: S-rank difficulty finish! Core strength S+! Flexibility S+! Spatial awareness S!
Her breathing quickened, and a deeper flush spread across her fair cheeks from excitement. "Core load MAX! Angles of evasion compounded! Fingertips less than 2 cm away! Perfect data!" she murmured unconsciously. Her cherry-pink ponytail swayed with her excitement, and the pencil nearly pierced the paper. At this moment, data was no longer a collection of cold symbols. It was the most fervent praise for that astonishing talent. She lifted her head and looked toward the silver-haired figure being surrounded and celebrated by his teammates, her cherry-pink eyes filled with pure amazement and the excitement of discovering a rare treasure.
Yet that focused, excited gaze was like an invisible thread, instantly tugging at someone's nerves.
"Hey! Satsuki!" Aomine Daiki's distinctly displeased roar rang out from farther away. He had just been toyed with by You on defense and was now irritably wiping sweat from his face. His dark-blue eyes glinted with offended ferocity as he glared at You, then turned toward Momoi. "If you're recording, then record! Why are you grinning stupidly at that guy?! Where's my data?! Didn't you see my steal prediction just now?!" His tone was filled with the irritation of someone whose possessiveness had been disturbed.
Momoi froze at his shout, her excited expression stiffening instantly before a trace of hurt and embarrassment surfaced. She bit her lower lip, panic flickering through her cherry-pink eyes. "I... I am recording, Aomine-kun! Of course I have your data..." She hurriedly flipped through the shorthand notebook, trying to prove it.
"Hmph! All I see in your notebook is 'Bai Ze You'!" Aomine interrupted impatiently. He waved his hand irritably, picked up a water bottle, gulped down several mouthfuls, and turned toward the rest area by the sideline, leaving behind a figure shrouded in oppressive gloom.
The atmosphere by the sideline instantly grew awkward. You had naturally heard Aomine's angry shout and felt the hostile gaze. The smile faded from his face. His amber eyes calmly swept over the direction Aomine had left, then settled on the visibly flustered Momoi. He saw the fleeting hurt in her eyes and the tips of her ears reddened by embarrassment.
You said nothing. He simply walked to the sideline and picked up his water bottle. A brief training break began. You unscrewed the cap, the cool water soothing his burning throat. His gaze swept casually across the sideline and found Momoi with her head lowered, somewhat dejectedly tidying the shorthand notebook she had left in disarray. Her cherry-pink ponytail hung listlessly.
You's gaze lingered for a moment on the elegant "Momoi" written on the notebook's cover before moving to her faintly knitted brows. He was silent for a few seconds, then picked up his unopened spare sports drink and walked over.
Momoi was focused on correcting a data line she had drawn crookedly after being startled by Aomine's shout when she suddenly felt a shadow fall over her. She looked up to find Bai Ze You's face before her, glistening with sweat and sharply defined. Several strands of his silver-gray hair clung to his smooth temple. His amber eyes regarded her calmly. The sharpness he carried on the court was gone, replaced by a gentle warmth.
"Momoi-san." You's voice was not loud, slightly hoarse from exertion, but it carried clearly into her ears. He extended a bottle of ice-cold grape-flavored sports drink toward her. "Thanks for the effort. Here..." His gesture was natural, without any deliberate intimacy, as if it were simply the most ordinary concern between teammates.
Momoi stared blankly. Her cherry-pink eyes widened slightly as she looked at the brightly packaged drink, then at You's calm, sincere face. The hurt and embarrassment caused by Aomine's shouting seemed to be washed away by the sudden kindness and cool touch. A warm current mixed with surprise surged through her heart, bringing another flush to her fair cheeks—this time not from excitement, but with a hint of shyness.
"Ah... th-thank you, Bai Ze-kun!" She accepted the drink somewhat frantically. Her fingertips accidentally brushed the back of You's hand, still damp with a thin layer of sweat, and she quickly pulled back as though struck by a faint electric current. Lowering her head, she spoke in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz. "I... I'm only doing what a manager should do..." She unscrewed the cap and took small sips of the cold drink. The slightly sweet grape flavor spread across her tongue, seeming to dispel some of the gloom in her heart.
"Your records..." You's gaze fell on the open shorthand notebook. The densely packed data and diagrams made even their subject feel a little amazed. "They're impressive. There are so many details even I didn't notice myself." His tone held genuine recognition.
At the mention of data, Momoi's eyes lit up again, as if she had found her most familiar topic. Her earlier shyness was replaced by professional enthusiasm. "Really, Bai Ze-kun?" She immediately turned the shorthand notebook toward You and pointed with a slender finger at the page where she had recorded his Extreme Layup. Her speech unconsciously quickened. "Look here! That move where you evaded Murasaki-bara-kun's block in midair! A 35° left rotation plus a 15° lean back! Your core muscles maintained shooting stability even at that twisted angle, so the load value was definitely S+! And your earlier Fake Move sequence—the success rate of deceiving Aomine-kun's center of gravity has already reached 63.7%, an 8.2 percentage-point increase from last week! This is simply..." She rambled on, her cherry-pink eyes sparkling with excitement, her whole body seemingly glowing.
However, when she saw You's faintly raised brows and slightly confused expression—clearly a little overwhelmed by the pile of technical terms—yet noticed that he was still listening patiently, she suddenly realized that she had fallen into her "data fanatic" state again. Her words came to an abrupt halt. Her fair cheeks instantly turned crimson, the flush spreading all the way to her ears.
"Ah! S-sorry!" She waved her hands in a panic, her cherry-pink ponytail swaying with them like a child who had done something wrong. "I... I can't stop once I start talking about data... Bai Ze-kun must think it's boring..." She lowered her head awkwardly, her fingers unconsciously twisting the corner of the notebook page as her voice grew softer and softer.
Seeing her helpless, crimson-cheeked appearance, the corners of You's lips rose uncontrollably into a clear, natural smile. Like sunlight piercing heavy clouds, it instantly illuminated his usually quiet face. A gentle smile rippled through his amber eyes, carrying a trace of warmth moved by her purity and contrast.
"No, it's interesting." A hint of amusement colored You's voice as he spoke sincerely. "Having someone record and analyze things so seriously... feels special." He paused, then added, "And impressive."
"Eh?" Momoi abruptly raised her head. Her cherry-pink eyes filled with disbelieving delight as she stared brightly at the rare, unmistakable smile on You's face. For an instant, she felt as though her heartbeat had skipped. It was not because of the data, but because of the smile itself and the sincere recognition behind it. A warm current of excitement, shyness, and immense satisfaction swept over her, making her forget her earlier embarrassment and the unpleasantness Aomine had caused. Without thinking, she returned a brilliant, pure, warm smile like cherry blossoms blooming in spring.
"Mhm!" She nodded forcefully, her cherry-pink eyes curving into crescent moons. The flush remained on her fair cheeks, but her face overflowed with heartfelt joy. "Thank you, Bai Ze-kun!"
Just then, Nijimura Shūzō's booming voice exploded from the sideline like thunder. "Hey! You over there! Break time is over! Stop dawdling! Prepare for the next matchup! Bai Ze! Aomine! Murasaki-bara! Midōrima! And... Kuroko! The five of you are one team—the Red Team! Face the other starters and substitutes in a mixed lineup—the White Team!"
The sudden grouping order left everyone stunned. To force You, Aomine, Murasaki-bara, and Midōrima—four top talents with wildly different styles and even faint friction between them—together with the inconspicuous Kuroko Tetsuya into one group? It was like cramming several supernovas that could collide and explode at any moment into a cramped space!
Aomine Daiki was the first to object. "What?! Captain Nijimura! You want me on a team with that guy?!" His dark-blue eyes glared at You with open hostility.
Murasaki-bara Atsushi chewed on an Umaibo and mumbled indistinctly, "...What a pain... Too many people..."
Midōrima Shintarō pushed up his glasses. The gaze behind the lenses swept coldly over his "temporary teammates," his brows tightly furrowed. He was clearly deeply dissatisfied with such a chaotic arrangement.
Kuroko Tetsuya continued standing calmly in the corner, as if the storm around him had nothing to do with him.
Only Bai Ze You's smile quickly faded, returning him to his usual composure. His amber eyes swept over his several "famous" temporary teammates, then turned toward the White Team on the other side, led by Akashi Seijūrō and watching them like hungry tigers. A sharp glint quietly gathered deep in his eyes. He understood Nijimura's intention—this was the most brutal Trial Ground, testing whether they could unleash power beyond the individual while hindering or even resenting one another. He bent down and picked up the basketball beside his feet, his fingertips feeling the heavy weight brought by its familiar grainy texture.
"Akashi is on the other side, you know." Nijimura's voice carried a hint of amusement and undeniable pressure. "If you lose, everyone runs twenty extra shuttle sprints! Begin!"
The whistle tore through the brief calm like a battle horn!
The Red Team (You, Aomine, Murasaki-bara, Midōrima, and Kuroko) had the opening possession. Naturally, the ball went to Midōrima, whose control was the most stable. He pushed up his glasses, ignoring Aomine's outstretched hand asking for the ball. His gaze, like a precision scanner, instantly locked onto Kuroko Tetsuya, standing outside the three-point line and "forgotten" by the defenders. With a flick of his wrist, the basketball flew toward Kuroko's position with calculated precision!
Yet just as the basketball was about to arrive, a crimson figure appeared in the passing lane like a ghost! Akashi Seijūrō! His Heterochromatic Eyes seemed to have seen through everything long ago! His fair, slender fingers shot out like lightning, as though they had been waiting there all along!
Smack!
A clean, crisp steal!
"Fast break!" Akashi's cold voice rang out!
The basketball flew like a precision-guided missile toward the White Team forward, who had already started cutting ahead! A perfect counterattack was about to take shape!
"Damn it!" Aomine growled irritably, his dark-blue figure erupting with terrifying speed as he raced back! But the distance was too great, and he could see that he would not make it in time!
At that moment, a silver-gray figure appeared at the very front of the retreating defense as if teleporting into place! It was Bai Ze You! Relying on top-tier anticipation and explosive speed, he forced himself into the path of the White Team's fast-breaking player!
The White Team forward faced You's interception and abruptly stopped before changing direction in an attempt to break free! You's center of gravity was instantly deceived!
An opening! The White Team forward immediately jumped for the shot!
Yet the instant his body left the floor, You's swaying body relied on tremendous core strength and flexibility to forcibly halt its shift! At the same time, he leaped high as if he had foreseen it all! His enormous palm whistled through the air and slammed toward the basketball that had just left the shooter's hand!
"Bang!"
A clean, powerful pin-down block! The ball was smashed hard against the backboard with a thunderous crash!
"What a block!" astonishment rang out from the sideline!
The blocked ball flew toward the boundary. It was about to go out when a water-blue figure quietly appeared like a ghost at its landing point! Kuroko Tetsuya! He caught the ball securely without the slightest pause and flicked his wrist. The basketball seemed to have eyes as it traced a precise straight line toward You, who had just landed and was still surging forward on momentum!
You caught the ball! The space ahead was wide open! Without the slightest hesitation, he charged into the opposing half like an arrow released from its bow!
The White Team's defensive formation instantly fell into chaos! Akashi calmly directed them to collapse inward!
You sprinted at high speed. Facing two opposing players closing in on him, he suddenly swayed his upper body to the right with an enormous motion, his sharp gaze stabbing toward the right lane—a highly realistic rightward driving Fake Move!
The defenders' centers of gravity shifted instantly!
The moment their weight moved, You's right wrist, controlling the ball, flicked with such speed that it seemed to vanish! Within the tiny space, the basketball traced a bizarre arc and astonishingly passed from his own crotch into his left hand! At the same time, his swaying body pivoted on his right foot and executed a swift Spin Move! He passed through the gap between the two defenders in an instant!
"Behind-the-back dribble into a turn! He got through!"
Breaking free of the defense, You charged straight into the paint! Facing the last help defender, he used no tricks and simply leaped into the air! His body displayed astonishing hang time and balance! His right hand rose high, preparing for a powerful tomahawk dunk!
"Don't even think about it!" A muffled growl rang out! Murasaki-bara Atsushi's enormous purple figure rose like a mountain! His terrifying wingspan and huge palm blotted out the sky! Carrying his displeasure at having his "temporary teammate" steal the spotlight and the pressure of absolute strength, he slammed toward the basketball in You's hand! He meant to force the irritating silver-haired kid down along with the ball!
In midair, You's pupils reflected Murasaki-bara's cold face and the giant palm blotting out the sky! At the critical instant, he did not force a confrontation! His waist and abdomen twisted as if gripped by an invisible giant hand, his whole body forcibly folding toward the left in midair in an unbelievable motion! His powerful core gave him a brief moment of hang time. At the same time, with his body severely twisted and his vision completely obstructed, his ball-holding right wrist flicked with extreme subtlety, changing the dunk into a fingertip layup!
The basketball did not fly upward. Like an agile hummingbird, it skimmed beneath the lower edge of Murasaki-bara's enormous palm, raised slightly from the full-force block, passing through a tiny gap that should practically not have existed!
Swish!
The ball kissed the backboard and dropped through the net!
"It went in—!!!" Another enormous wave of astonishment swept through the hall!
Yet the instant the ball entered the basket—
"Thud!" A deep, muffled crash rang out!
You's body, folded to evade in midair, collided violently and unavoidably with Murasaki-bara Atsushi's massive body as he completed his full-power block! The enormous impact sent You flying like a kite with its string cut. He lost all balance, his body twisting as he crashed heavily toward the hard floor!
"Ah!" Momoi Satsuki screamed, springing to her feet. Terror filled her cherry-pink eyes! The shorthand notebook slipped from her hands and slammed to the floor, its pages scattering with a flutter.
Time seemed to freeze at that moment. Everyone's eyes focused on the silver-haired figure lying motionless on the floor.
Aomine Daiki stopped in his tracks, a flash of astonishment crossing his dark-blue eyes. After landing, Murasaki-bara Atsushi's massive body also froze, a trace of surprise—and... confusion?—in his purple eyes. Midōrima Shintarō pushed up his glasses. The gaze behind the lenses remained cold, yet seemed to freeze for an instant as well. Kuroko Tetsuya's sky-blue eyes widened slightly. Even Akashi Seijūrō's Heterochromatic Eyes narrowed a little.
Nijimura Shūzō's expression changed, and he strode onto the court.
"Bai Ze-kun!" Momoi Satsuki's cry was edged with tears. She pushed aside the players blocking her path without a thought and stumbled toward the court, her cherry-pink ponytail whipping violently behind her. An invisible hand clenched her heart. The excitement brought by the data and that warm smile had instantly been replaced by overwhelming fear. She only wanted to reach him immediately!
At the center of the court, Bai Ze You lay quietly on the floor, sweat-soaked Red and White Training Uniform clinging to his faintly rising back. Pain from the violent collision surged through his nerves like a tide, his ears ringing. He could feel countless gazes fixed upon him—shock, concern, indifference, and... from one direction, a tearful cry.
He moved his fingers with difficulty, braced himself against the floor, and slowly—excruciatingly slowly—raised his head. The skin at his temple seemed scraped open, a trace of blood seeping out and running down mixed with sweat. He shook his dazed head. After briefly scattering, his amber eyes gathered their focus again, carrying the lingering echo of pain yet remaining calm and stubborn.
He saw Momoi Satsuki at the edge of the court, held back by Nijimura. Her cherry-pink eyes were filled with tears, her fair cheeks covered in fear and worry as she desperately tried to rush in.
Their gazes met in midair. The corner of You's mouth twitched, as if he wanted to give her a reassuring smile, but pain made it look somewhat twisted. He slowly and painfully raised one hand and waved lightly in Momoi's direction.
It was a silent signal: I'm fine.
Momoi's tears finally spilled over, but she nodded forcefully, her cherry-pink eyes fixed tightly on him. She clenched both hands together as if trying to send him her strength.
Nijimura Shūzō crouched down and checked You's condition before asking in a low voice, "How is it? Can you get up?"
You drew a deep breath, endured the soreness throughout his body, and supported himself with both arms. With Nijimura and the approaching team doctor helping him, he slowly stood. His steps were unsteady, but his back remained straight.
"I'm fine, Captain." You's voice was hoarse with pain but unusually clear. "Continue."
His gaze swept over his "temporary teammates," each wearing a different expression—complexity in Aomine's eyes, indifference in Murasaki-bara's, coldness in Midōrima's, calm in Kuroko's. Finally, his eyes crossed the court and landed on the emperor opposite them, with crimson hair and Heterochromatic Eyes.
Akashi Seijūrō was watching him as well. His gaze remained cold, but deep within it seemed to surge with an indescribable ripple.
You slowly exhaled a turbid breath tinged with blood. Deep in his amber eyes, the flame temporarily suppressed by the impact and pain had not been extinguished. Instead, as if doused with gasoline, it burned more fiercely and more defiantly!
Teikō's Trial Ground was cruel and real. And the White Phantom's dance steps, even when he fell, would surely return to this battlefield of glory and thorns, carrying both scars and stubbornness. Momoi Satsuki wiped away her tears and bent down to pick up the scattered shorthand notebook, determination blazing anew in her cherry-pink eyes. She would record all of it—the instant this boy fell and rose again, every single time.
Before you continue