One-on-One (1)

Shintaro Midorima was right; Ken Kaneki, who usually had a good temper, was angered for the second time today. The last time he was this angry was during the game against Kirigi First Affiliated Junior High School.

"Old man, is this what you call taking me down? Looks like I've taken you down," Ken Kaneki's imposing and sturdy figure made Shogo Haizaki swallow hard.

As if sensing his inner fear, Shogo Haizaki became increasingly enraged. He shoved Ken Kaneki aside and went to the free-throw line, staring intently at Ken Kaneki and saying, "I just wasn't ready earlier, you big blonde! Bring it on!"

Looking at Shogo Haizaki before him, Ken Kaneki shook his head dismissively and threw the ball back to Shogo Haizaki, saying, "You're too weak. How about this: I'll let you have four points first, and if you score one point before I score five, I'll consider you the winner."

Hearing Ken Kaneki's words, the entire court erupted in an uproar.

"Should we say it's just like Ken Kaneki's style... No one is better at killing with words than him," Seijuro Akashi said with a look of unsurprised expression on his face.

"This is bad, he's showing off. I knew I should have played," Daiki Aomine pounded his chest and stomped his feet as he watched Ken Kaneki steal the spotlight on the court, "I could handle this kind of situation too."

Hearing the crowd below unanimously looking down on him, Shogo Haizaki's anger intensified. He angrily took the ball and walked to the top of the arc, declaring, "Then don't regret it!"

"Alright, enough nonsense. If you have any trump cards left, bring them out quickly and do your best to entertain me!" Ken Kaneki gently twisted his neck, his gaze unusually fierce and his expression ferocious as he looked at Shogo Haizaki. He looked like a beast waiting to devour someone.

Looking at the oppressive Ken Kaneki before him, Shogo Haizaki dared not retort. He forcibly suppressed the panic in his heart, slowly dribbled the ball back two steps, and took a tentative shot. To his surprise, Ken Kaneki didn't guard him at all.

"His mind is too chaotic. What kind of shot is this?" Shintaro Midorima knew this shot wouldn't go in as soon as he saw Shogo Haizaki.

With a bang, the basketball bounced off the rim. Shogo Haizaki grabbed the rebound and made a put-back under the basket—yes, he grabbed the rebound because Ken Kaneki didn't even try to contest it.

"First point. Even a child could make a shot like that. Continue," Ken Kaneki stood with his hands behind his back, his voice like a final judgment, sounding particularly grating to Shogo Haizaki's ears.

"Shut up, I'll count myself." The missed shot made Shogo Haizaki feel like his touch wasn't good, so he decided to change his offensive strategy and drove straight to the basket for a layup.

"Second point. An ugly easy ball, it's making me sleepy," Ken Kaneki commented.

"I don't care how I score, as long as it goes in." Shogo Haizaki, having scored two consecutive baskets, gradually relaxed, feeling that Ken Kaneki was nothing special.

"I'm going to make a three-pointer with this shot!" As if cheering himself on, or perhaps tentatively provoking Ken Kaneki, Shogo Haizaki slowly dribbled the ball, found his rhythm, caught it, and shot a three-pointer that banked in.

"Third point." The disdain on Ken Kaneki's face grew, and he even rubbed his eyes with his finger as if something dirty had gotten in and needed cleaning.

Seeing Ken Kaneki look at him as if he were trash, Shogo Haizaki's expression became even uglier. Gritting his teeth, he took the pass from Ken Kaneki, deliberately dribbled around Ken Kaneki, tossed the ball into the air, took two steps, jumped, caught the ball off the rebound, and made a layup.

"Fourth point!" Having scored four consecutive baskets, Shogo Haizaki felt revitalized. He dribbled the ball while taunting Ken Kaneki, "I'll drive past you on the right in a moment and hit a three-pointer to kill you!"

Ken Kaneki shook his head, as if he had heard a joke. He slowly walked in front of Shogo Haizaki and stood still, smiling at him as he said, "Good, you've got spirit! Unfortunately, you won't have the chance. Let me tell you, you won't be able to touch the ball from now on."

Seeing Ken Kaneki's confident expression, Shogo Haizaki felt his heart clench with anger, "Then let me see if you can do it!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Shogo Haizaki exploded with the ball towards Ken Kaneki's right side. His plan was to use his words to mislead Ken Kaneki into focusing his defense on the right, then break through on the left for a score.

"Beautiful, I fooled him!" Seeing Ken Kaneki shift his weight to the right as he expected, Shogo Haizaki couldn't help but cheer inwardly, feeling that his plan was more than halfway successful.

"Haha, you idiot. Did you really believe I'd break through on the right? Fool, you've lost!" Shogo Haizaki couldn't help but revert to his foul-mouthed habit and made a crossover to the left.

The plan was successful, and he got past him—if only the ball had gotten past him too, Shogo Haizaki might have actually won.

"What are you barking about?" Ken Kaneki grabbed the ball with one hand, his expression cold as he looked at the empty-handed Shogo Haizaki, "If this is all you've got, even someone from the Second String could be my substitute."

From the perspective of those off the court, Shogo Haizaki had gone through a series of moves, only for Ken Kaneki to simply stand in place, extend his hand, and catch the ball steadily.

After getting the ball, Ken Kaneki didn't immediately attack. Instead, he took it to the three-point line and said nonchalantly to Shogo Haizaki, "Since Coach Platinum asked me to mentor you, I'll teach you how basketball should be played! Watch carefully, this is the first point!"

Just like the first block against Shogo Haizaki, Ken Kaneki caught the ball at the three-point line and jumped without any adjustments. His body stretched out in the air like a soaring eagle, executing a textbook two-motion shot.

"Don't get too arrogant!" Shogo Haizaki erupted with all his might, his movement nine-tenths similar to Ken Kaneki's previous lunge to block. However, to his despair, even though he had squeezed every ounce of energy from his legs, his hand could still only reach Ken Kaneki's elbow. With the thought that he couldn't let Ken Kaneki score easily, even if it meant fouling, Shogo Haizaki fiercely slapped Ken Kaneki's arm.

"A pathetic struggle, like an ant trying to shake a great tree." Ken Kaneki's hand, fouled, remained as still as a cast-iron sculpture. The basketball, spinning violently, drew a soaring arc straight towards the basket.

After landing, Shogo Haizaki unwillingly looked back at the basket, clinging to a one-in-ten-thousand chance that the ball wouldn't go in. But fate was contrary to his wishes; with a swish, the ball went into the net.

"Go pick up the ball, trash," Ken Kaneki's voice was like a tyrant's decree. "I still have to teach you how to play the remaining four points."

Everyone, please wait a moment. The remaining chapter will likely be released around midnight. I have to pick up my girlfriend from work soon.