One-on-One (1)

Shintaro Midorima was right. Ken Kaneki, who was usually even-tempered, had been angered for the second time today. The last time he'd been this furious was during the game against Kirigi First Affiliated Junior High School.

"Old man, so much for taking me down. Looks like I'm the one who took you down." Shogo Haizaki couldn't help swallowing hard as he faced Ken Kaneki's imposing, muscular frame.

Perhaps sensing his own fear, Haizaki grew even more furious and embarrassed. He shoved Kaneki aside and walked to the free-throw line, glaring at him. "I just wasn't ready before, Golden Retriever! Bring it on!"

Looking at Haizaki, Kaneki shook his head dismissively. He tossed the ball back to him and said, "You're too weak. How about this? I'll give you a four-point head start. If you can score once before I score five times, you win."

Kaneki's words sent a murmur through the crowd.

"Is it any surprise? This is so Kaneki... Nobody's better at crushing someone's spirit," Seijuro Akashi said, wearing an expression that suggested he'd expected as much.

"Damn, he got to show off. I should've gone up there and played," Daiki Aomine said, beating his chest in frustration as he watched Kaneki steal the spotlight. "I could've handled a guy like that, too."

Hearing everyone on the sidelines look down on him, Haizaki grew even angrier. He stormed to the top of the arc with the ball and called out, "Don't regret it!"

"Enough talk. If you've got any tricks left, bring them out and do your best to entertain me." Kaneki rolled his neck, his expression turning vicious as he stared at Haizaki. He looked like a beast waiting to devour its prey.

Faced with Kaneki's intimidating presence, Haizaki stopped running his mouth. He forced down his panic, dribbled slowly, and backed up two steps before taking a tentative shot. To his surprise, Kaneki really didn't try to defend him.

"He's too rattled. What kind of shot was that?" Midorima knew at a glance that Haizaki's shot wouldn't go in.

The ball bounced off the rim with a thump. Haizaki grabbed the rebound and put it back in beneath the basket—yes, he grabbed the rebound, because Kaneki hadn't even tried for it.

"First point. Even an elementary schooler could make a shot like that. Keep going." Kaneki stood with his hands behind his back. His voice rang in Haizaki's ears like a final judgment.

"Shut up. I can keep score myself." After missing his first shot, Haizaki felt his touch was off, so he changed tactics, drove straight to the basket, and scored a layup.

"Second point. An ugly easy bucket. It's enough to put anyone to sleep," Kaneki remarked.

"Mind your own business. A point's a point." After scoring twice in a row, Haizaki began to relax. He figured Kaneki wasn't all that special after all.

"This one's going in for three!" Maybe he was trying to psych himself up, or maybe he was testing Kaneki with a taunt. Haizaki dribbled slowly, got a feel for the ball, gathered it, and took his shot. The three-point shot banked off the backboard and went in.

"Third point." The contempt on Kaneki's face deepened. He even rubbed at one eye, as if something filthy had gotten in and needed cleaning out.

Seeing Kaneki look at him as if he were garbage made Haizaki's expression darken further. Gritting his teeth, he took the ball Kaneki passed him and deliberately dribbled around him. Then he tossed the ball high, took two running steps, and leaped. He caught the ball after it bounced off the backboard and scored with a leaning layup.

"Fourth point!" After scoring four times in a row, Haizaki felt like he was back in the game. Dribbling, he taunted Kaneki. "I'll get past you on your right, then finish you off with a three!"

Kaneki shook his head as if he'd heard a joke. He slowly stepped in front of Haizaki and looked at him with a smile. "Good. You've got plenty of spirit! Too bad you won't get the chance. You won't touch the ball again."

Seeing how sure Kaneki was that he'd win, Haizaki felt so furious his heart seemed ready to cramp. "Then let's see if you can do it!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Haizaki slammed the ball down and drove toward Kaneki's right hand. His plan was simple: use his words to trick Kaneki into shifting his weight to defend the right, then break through on the left and score.

"Nice, I fooled him!" When Kaneki shifted his weight to the right, just as Haizaki had expected, he couldn't help cheering inwardly. He felt that most of his plan had worked.

"Haha, idiot! You really believed me when I said I'd go right? You moron, you're done for!" Haizaki couldn't resist running his mouth. He changed direction and drove left.

The plan had worked, and Haizaki got past him—if only the ball had come with him, he might actually have won.

"What are you barking about?" Kaneki held the ball in one hand and looked coldly at Haizaki, whose hands were empty. "If that's all you've got, I could bring in someone from the Second String to back me up."

From the sidelines, it looked like Haizaki had just gone through a whole series of moves, only for Kaneki to stay where he was, reach out one hand, and snatch the ball cleanly.

After taking possession, Kaneki didn't attack right away. He carried the ball beyond the three-point line and spoke casually to Haizaki. "Since Coach Platinum asked me to help you improve, I'll teach you how basketball should be played. Watch closely. This is my first shot!"

Just like Haizaki's first shot, which Kaneki had blocked, Kaneki gathered the ball beyond the three-point line and jumped without making any adjustments. His body opened up in the air like an eagle spreading its wings as he took a textbook two-motion shot.

"Don't get too cocky!" Haizaki unleashed all his strength. His leap and lunge bore a striking resemblance to Kaneki's earlier block, but what filled him with despair was that even after squeezing every last bit of energy from his legs, he could only reach Kaneki's elbow. Thinking that even a foul would be better than letting Kaneki score easily, Haizaki slapped his arm hard.

"Pathetic struggle. Like an ant trying to topple a tree." Even as Kaneki was fouled, his shooting form remained as still as a sculpture cast in steel. The ball spun fiercely as it traced a soaring arc straight toward the hoop.

After landing, Haizaki looked back at the basket in desperation, clinging to the faintest hope that the ball would miss. But things didn't go his way. With a swish, the ball dropped through the net.

"Go get the ball, trash." Kaneki's voice sounded like the decree of a tyrant. "I still have to teach you how to play the remaining four points."

Everyone, please wait a little. I'll probably post the next chapter around midnight. I have to go pick up my girlfriend after her late shift.