Zone?

Just now, because Ken Kaneki hadn't immediately fallen back on defense, Shibuya First Junior High had found itself with a five-on-four advantage in the frontcourt. After a series of passes, the ball reached Wei Liu, who had been left wide open.

"Liu, this is your chance! Shoot!" Kazuhiko Yamanaka said excitedly. Wei Liu didn't hesitate. He caught the ball and immediately jumped to shoot. After practicing his midrange shot day in and day out, he was certain it would go in—unless something unexpected happened.

And, as expected, something unexpected happened.

"Hey, guys. Let's end this warm, passionate sports-manga scene right here!" Ken Kaneki's low voice sounded behind Wei Liu. The chill in his tone sent a shiver down Wei Liu's back. Everyone present saw a flash of golden light, and the basketball that had just left Wei Liu's hands was slapped away by a huge hand.

"No way! He actually got there in time?!" Feeling the immense pressure coming from behind him, Wei Liu was shaken to the core. The silverback gorilla's phantom gradually faded from his body.

"Bang!" The basketball slammed into the backboard with a loud crash. Before anyone could react, Ken Kaneki leaped up again and caught the ball securely.

"Get back on defense!" Daisuke Narumi was the first to react, warning his team to watch out for Teiko Junior High's fast break. But even after they had all retreated and gotten into position, Teiko still hadn't charged down the court. Instead, Teiko's players stood where they were, like grade-schoolers caught misbehaving by their teacher. Their hands were clasped behind their backs, and they lowered their heads, not daring to meet Ken Kaneki's eyes.

"Look at those pathetic expressions! You don't look anything like the undefeated Teiko!" Ken Kaneki swept his gaze over his teammates, golden sparks crackling in his pupils. "Have you all forgotten your responsibilities? The moment things go slightly off script, you're at a loss! The moment the score gets close, you panic! If the pressure is too much and you can't play your best, you can ask me to sub you out and rest!"

"Sorry, Ken-chan..." Atsushi Murasakibara murmured, unsure what else to say. Shintaro Midorima and Daiki Aomine also bit their lips, fists clenched, their faces full of frustration.

"There's no need to apologize." The sparks in Ken Kaneki's eyes grew brighter. "I told you, Shibuya First Junior High is destined to lose today. No one can save them, and I've never been wrong. No matter how you play, the result won't change!"

Ken Kaneki paused. Looking at his still listless teammates, he suddenly tossed the ball casually toward the frontcourt, committing the most absurd turnover Teiko Junior High had made since entering the selection tournament.

"Ken-chan?"

"Kaneki?"

The Teiko players erupted in confusion, unable to understand why Ken Kaneki had done that.

But Ken Kaneki acted as if nothing had happened. Looking at his teammates, he continued, "No one is perfect. Everyone makes mistakes. I've just made one too, just like you. Now, whoever's ready to fight to the death rather than lose, come with me and take down Shibuya First Junior High. If you play the way I tell you to, and we still lose, you can say that my mistake caused our defeat. I'm willing to take full responsibility."

"Ken-chan..."

"Kaneki..."

The Teiko players looked at Ken Kaneki with complicated expressions, then fell silent for a long while.

"Ha, honestly, I'm still the Captain. There's no way I'd let you take the blame!" Shuzo Nijimura chuckled, breaking the heavy mood. "I'll leave everything to you, Ace! There are no cowards who run from a fight on Teiko Junior High's team!"

"A once-in-a-generation talent! He's definitely entered the Zone!" Kagetora Aida, who had been keeping a close eye on Ken Kaneki, was already awestruck. "I never doubted that Ken Kaneki could enter the Zone, but I didn't expect him to reach this level at such a young age!"

"The Zone? What's that?" Reiko Aida had never heard the term before.

"Under normal circumstances, no matter how talented an athlete is, he can only use eighty percent of his potential." Kagetora Aida struggled to calm himself, his voice trembling slightly. "But a few exceptionally gifted players who have gone through extremely grueling training can enter a state called the Zone. In that state, their brains filter out all unnecessary information and focus entirely on the game in front of them. At that point, they can unleash one hundred percent of their potential."

"Dad, do you mean that even though Ken Kaneki is already this strong, he's only using at most eighty percent of his ability?" Reiko Aida felt as though her whole view of the world had been overturned.

"No one can say for sure..." Kagetora Aida looked at Ken Kaneki's statue-like face, neither happy nor angry, and let out a long sigh. "The impact a chosen genius can have on a game after entering the Zone can't be calculated with simple math!"

"What's going on?! What is this oppressive feeling?!" As soon as they crossed half court, Kotaro Hayama, the most talented player among them, clearly felt a mountain-heavy pressure radiating from Ken Kaneki. "Could the entire half court... be within the range of his influence?!"

Though the other Shibuya First Junior High players weren't specifically targeted by Ken Kaneki's oppressive aura, from the moment they crossed the center line, they too felt as if they'd stepped into a demon god's domain. They struggled to breathe, and a chill ran through their bodies.

"Sorry, everyone from Shibuya. We're going to get serious now..." Ken Kaneki's voice sounded in their ears like the judgment of a divine king. "If we don't crush you, people might get the mistaken impression that Teiko and Shibuya are at the same level."

"Kotaro, catch!" Kazuhiko Yamanaka was the first to buckle under the heavy pressure. His sense of responsibility as a player barely held back his instinct to turn and run. He struggled to pass the ball to Kotaro Hayama.

"Don't, Captain!" Kotaro Hayama had just tried to stop Kazuhiko Yamanaka when a figure flashed by, moving more than twice as fast as Kotaro Hayama had moments ago, and intercepted the pass. The gust from his speed slapped Kotaro Hayama's face. By the time Kotaro Hayama reacted, the figure was already hanging from their basket.

"This feeling..." The figure let go of the rim and dropped to the floor. Looking at his own palm, he said excitedly, "This is incredible! I can feel endless power surging through my body!"

"Hey, blondie! Again!" The figure turned and looked at Kotaro Hayama, excitement written all over his face.

"This is getting troublesome." Reiko Aida frowned as she looked at Daiki Aomine, who had made the first move. "Forget Ken Kaneki—even that dark-skinned guy is more than Shibuya First Junior High can handle... But this doesn't make sense... Could he have entered the Zone too?"

Kagetora Aida didn't say anything. He also thought that was the most likely explanation, but for some reason, he felt the source of it all still lay with Ken Kaneki.

"That situation is almost impossible, but if it really is..." Kagetora Aida didn't dare to think any further.

What he didn't notice was that just now, golden sparks had flashed in the eyes of every Teiko player present, not just Ken Kaneki. If you looked closely, you'd see that in everyone's sparks but Shuzo Nijimura's, there was also a faint trace of another color...

I had a little to drink at an evening engagement, so my thoughts were a bit scattered. I spent a long time revising this chapter. I'm really sorry, everyone. I owe you one chapter, and I'll make it up tomorrow. Lastly, please bookmark, follow, recommend, and vote! Thank you!~(￣▽￣~)(~￣▽￣)~