The air in the Teikō Basketball Gym seemed to have been clenched by an invisible hand, every breath carrying a stagnant heaviness. An internal scrimmage played at the intensity of an official match was reaching its climax. The starters (Red Team) were anchored in the paint by Captain Nijimura himself, alongside Aomine Daiki, Midōrima Shintarō, and two experienced third-year starters. The substitutes (White Team) consisted of Bai Ze You, Murasaki-bara Atsushi, Kuroko Tetsuya, and two fiercely determined second-years.
On the scoreboard, Red Team 38 : White Team 28. The huge gap weighed on every substitute like a massive boulder. Murasaki-bara Atsushi's huge body charged left and right in the paint, scraping together a few hard-earned points through sheer strength and height, but his efficiency was low against Nijimura's tough experience and help defense. Midōrima Shintarō was a precision cannon beyond the three-point line. The instant he found even the slightest opening, the basketball traced a perfect arc and swished through the hoop. Each "swish" felt like an icicle stabbing into the nerves of the White Team players. Most suffocating of all was Aomine Daiki's unreasonable drives and layups that seemed to disregard gravity. He grew faster and wilder by the second, pure, almost predatory hunger for offense burning in his eyes. The substitutes' perimeter defense was utterly useless against him, torn apart again and again.
"Wheeep!" The referee, an assistant coach, blew the whistle to signal a dead ball. The White Team made another substitution and adjustment, but the atmosphere was gloomy. The players panted heavily, sweat sliding down their cheeks, dejection impossible to hide in their eyes.
Nijimura Shūzō stood at the sideline, his bronze face revealing nothing. His deep gaze swept over every player on the court before finally settling on Bai Ze You, seated at the end of the bench, drenched in sweat but still focused. Bai Ze You had only been resting for a few minutes after being substituted out. His main duties on the court had been organizing the offense and defending the opponent's perimeter ace. His performance had been steady, but under the firepower of Aomine and Midōrima, his brilliance had been temporarily obscured.
"Yū." Nijimura's voice was not loud, yet it clearly pierced the noise of the gym. "Warm up. Get ready to go in."
Bai Ze You immediately stood and quickly loosened his wrists and ankles, his sharp gaze turning toward the tense situation on the court.
"Take out Ōno, one of the second-year guards." Nijimura issued the order, then made a decision that surprised everyone. He walked over to Bai Ze You without looking at anyone else, stared intensely into Bai Ze You's eyes, and spoke in a low, powerful voice carrying unquestionable weight:
"You. Lock down Aomine."
"What?!" Several suppressed gasps broke out from the sideline. They wanted a first-year middle school student who had only recently enrolled to defend Aomine Daiki, a second-year ace who had already displayed monstrous potential? It was no different from sending a fledgling eagle to challenge a raptor soaring through the sky!
Bai Ze You's heart jolted. A tremendous pressure struck him at once, nearly choking off his breath. He looked toward the figure on the court, black as lightning. Aomine had just completed a fast-break dunk after a steal and landed with a wild, domineering roar. Yet immediately afterward, an even stronger flame ignited in Bai Ze You's chest—the excitement of being challenged, the thrill of being recognized, and, above all, the desire to prove himself!
"Yes, Captain!" Bai Ze You's voice held not the slightest hesitation. The light in his eyes only grew more concentrated, like a blade tempered in fire.
Nijimura gave a slight nod without wasting words, merely giving his shoulder a firm pat. The blow was heavy yet warm, conveying more than an assignment—it carried a weighty trust. Nijimura had seen Bai Ze You's composure beyond his years, his outstanding body control—flexibility and balance—and the fighting spirit that never went out even in adversity. He needed a spearhead who could withstand the opponent's strongest point of attack under immense pressure, and Bai Ze You was his choice at this moment.
"What is Nijimura-senpai doing..." Midōrima Shintarō pushed up his glasses, a trace of barely perceptible surprise and calculation flashing behind the lenses.
"Huh? The new guy's guarding me?" Aomine Daiki heard the substitution and assignment. Far from getting angry, he bared his teeth in a wild, battle-hungry grin. "Interesting! Come at me, Shiro!"
Momoi Satsuki gripped her clipboard nervously at the sideline, her pen scratching across the paper unconsciously. She quickly flipped to the page belonging to Bai Ze You, which was densely covered with data from her earlier observations. Her eyes locked tightly onto Bai Ze You, and her heartbeat quickened. She knew this was a major test Captain Nijimura had given Yū—a declaration that would push the "rising star" into the spotlight and entrust him with a core responsibility.
Bai Ze You stepped back onto the court and took a deep breath, clearing every stray thought from his mind. He walked straight toward Aomine Daiki, his gaze calm yet more focused than ever, like a falcon locking onto its prey.
"Aomine-senpai." Bai Ze You's voice was not loud, but it clearly reached Aomine's ears. "Please take care of me from here on."
Aomine Daiki's grin grew even more unrestrained. "Take care of you? Just don't get beaten so badly that you start crying!"
The game resumed. The Red Team had possession, and the basketball naturally found its way into the hands of the red-hot Aomine. Facing Bai Ze You's defense, he showed no intention of testing the waters. His shoulder dropped sharply, and his right foot exploded off the floor like it had a spring in it!
"Too fast!" Bai Ze You's pupils contracted. Aomine's First Step was far faster than that of any opponent he had faced before! He instinctively shifted sideways to block him, but Aomine's strength and explosive power combined too perfectly. The instant their bodies collided, Bai Ze You felt tremendous force slam into him. His chest tightened, and his feet were involuntarily driven half a step backward!
That half-step of space was more than enough for Aomine. Like a black arrow, he forced his way past Bai Ze You and into the key! Murasaki-bara Atsushi's massive body immediately came over to help, but Aomine displayed astonishing core strength and hang time in the air. With an extreme Layup Fold, he avoided Murasaki-bara's huge hand and flipped the ball into the basket with his other hand!
40 : 28!
"Too slow, Shiro!" Aomine landed and shouted at Bai Ze You, his voice brimming with provocation.
Bai Ze You pressed his lips together and did not respond. He quickly ran back to set up in the defensive half, his gaze even more focused. That exchange had given him a firsthand taste of the terror of Aomine's "wildness." Speed, strength, explosiveness, aerial contact—all were overwhelmingly superior.
On the next possession, Aomine repeated the same move, intending to overpower him again with sheer speed and strength. But this time, Bai Ze You was prepared. Rather than meet him head-on, the instant Aomine accelerated, he used his exceptional balance and reaction speed to slide backward and sideways like a supple willow branch, dispersing the force. At the same time, his left hand darted toward the ball like a striking viper!
"Smack!" A light sound rang out!
Bai Ze You's fingertips precisely grazed the basketball! Though he failed to steal it outright, he severely disrupted Aomine's dribbling rhythm and forced him to stop and readjust. The delay ate into the shot clock, breaking the Red Team's smooth offense. In the end, Midori was forced to hurriedly take a three, and it bounced off the rim!
"Oh?" Aomine glanced at Bai Ze You in surprise. "Your reactions aren't bad."
A trace of approval flashed in Nijimura's eyes from the sideline. Bai Ze You had not tried to force his way through. Instead, he had used technique and anticipation to make up for his absolute physical disadvantage and successfully defused a threat. This was what Nijimura valued about him—playing basketball with his brain.
Over the next few possessions, Bai Ze You clung to Aomine like a persistent burr. He no longer tried to block Aomine's acceleration head-on, instead using his exceptional anticipation and sliding technique to stay on the driving route most uncomfortable for Aomine. He lowered his center of gravity, his feet moving swiftly like a butterfly weaving through flowers. His body dispersed force with the clever balance of a roly-poly toy during contact. Aomine's speed remained superior, but every drive became less effortless, requiring more stamina and more complicated changes of direction.
When Aomine tried to deceive him with a Fake Move, Bai Ze You's focused eyes seemed able to see through the feint. He had undergone rigorous balance training, making him extraordinarily sensitive to shifts in center of gravity. He calmly saw through most of Aomine's nonessential fakes and did not surrender his position easily. Even when he was shaken half a body-length away, his inhuman flexibility and core strength let him twist his body back at an unbelievable angle and quickly chase after him to interfere.
"This guy... he's like chewing gum!" Aomine grew irritated from being hounded. His offensive efficiency had clearly declined. Though he could still score through his talent, every point had become exceptionally difficult, demanding far more effort than before.
On defense, Bai Ze You had successfully held back the vicious beast that was Aomine!
Even more surprising was that on offense, with part of his defensive burden removed, Bai Ze You began to reveal the edge of his "phantom" play!
During one half-court possession, Bai Ze You held the ball at the top of the arc. His defender was a third-year Red Team player known for steady defense. Bai Ze You's expression was calm, but his dribbling rhythm suddenly changed! He made an extremely deceptive right-driving feint with a crossover in front, dropping his center of gravity very low, while his shoulder and eyes sold the deception completely!
The experienced defender instinctively shifted his weight to the right!
At that instant, Bai Ze You's left wrist flicked nimbly like a magician's. The basketball seemed to come alive as he sent it through his back with an extraordinarily concealed quick bounce pass, threading it precisely through the defender's instinctively extended arm and the opening exposed by his shifted weight!
A no-look behind-the-back bounce pass!
The basketball was delivered with surgical precision into the hands of Kuroko Tetsuya, who had used Murasaki-bara's screen to cut successfully into the paint! Kuroko caught the ball with open space before him and easily laid it in!
40 : 30!
"That was a beautiful pass, Bai Ze-kun!" Kuroko said calmly after landing, though a trace of approval showed in his eyes.
"Wow!!"
"How did that pass get through?!"
A wave of shocked exclamations rose from the sideline. The pass had been perfectly timed and concealed, but more importantly, it demonstrated the composure and vision to survey the entire court under high-pressure defense and deliver a fatal strike!
Bai Ze You's assist was like a shot of adrenaline, instantly igniting the White Team's spirit! The substitutes, who had been suppressed for so long, seemed to have been filled with new energy. The dejection vanished from their eyes, replaced by burning determination!
"Great play, Yū!"
"Keep playing like that!"
His teammates gathered around him, slapping his palms in celebration.
At the sideline, the corners of Nijimura Shūzō's mouth finally lifted into a clear smile. He had seen it! He had seen Bai Ze You's resilience and wisdom while bearing immense defensive pressure. He had seen him find opportunities in adversity and bring the whole team to life with his passing—his potential as a leader! The light that burst forth under such pressure was far more dazzling than points scored when everything was going smoothly!
"The rising star's heavy responsibility..." Nijimura murmured, his eyes blazing as he watched the figure in the white jersey on the court. "Looks like you caught it."
The game continued, and the gap narrowed bit by bit. Bai Ze You's tenacious defense stirred an even stronger fighting spirit in Aomine Daiki, making his offense more savage. Meanwhile, under the heavy responsibility Nijimura had entrusted to him, beneath the trusting gazes of his teammates and the tense attention of Momoi Satsuki, Bai Ze You was transforming at an astonishing rate. He was no longer the gifted newcomer who had just arrived. He was beginning to truly understand the weight of Teikō's First Team and what Captain Nijimura Shūzō's heavy "trust" meant.
The white phantom had, for the first time, taken the initiative to meet the wildest storm on Teikō's court, and amid that storm, he steadily shouldered the responsibility that belonged to him. Under the hammering of pressure and trust, his wings were becoming tougher and more powerful.
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