Even Lightning Couldn't Catch Me!

"Th-the ball?"

Ryota Miyagi's body carried him two steps forward before he stopped. He lowered his head and stared at his empty hands, his mind completely blank.

The basketball had been stolen!

Just as he used his fastest speed to break through, his opponent had effortlessly stolen it away in a manner he could not comprehend at all!

He had not even seen how Shirakawa made his move!

"How could this..."

Miyagi stiffly turned around and saw Shirakawa standing behind him with the ball in one hand, looking completely relaxed, as though he had merely done something insignificant.

"Senpai, is that... all the speed you have?"

Shirakawa's voice was not loud, yet it struck Miyagi's heart like a heavy hammer.

"D-damn it!"

Miyagi's face instantly flushed red. Humiliation, rage, disbelief... countless emotions tangled together, nearly stopping his mind from functioning.

The spectators around them were once again stunned by the utterly unreasonable scene before their eyes.

"He... he stole it again?"

"Miyagi-senpai's drive was stopped head-on?"

"My God, I'm not dreaming, am I? That's Ryota Miyagi!"

If the first drive and shot could still be explained away as "catching him off guard" and "luck,"

then this clean, decisive steal completely proved—

Shirakawa's ability surpassed Ryota Miyagi's!

And it was a complete, all-around domination!

"Little Miyagi's ball... got stolen?" Hanamichi Sakuragi's trademark booming voice rang out again. This time, it was filled with shock rather than mockery. "Just who is that white-haired guy? Why is he faster than Little Miyagi?"

"Not faster..."

This time, the one who answered him was Kaede Rukawa, standing beside him.

Rukawa's gaze was more focused than ever. He stared fixedly at Shirakawa and said, word by word, "It's anticipation... and reaction speed. His neural reactions are so fast they don't seem human."

Rukawa had seen it clearly the instant Miyagi made his drive.

Shirakawa's body had barely moved. Only when Miyagi was about to pass him did his arm dart out like a striking venomous snake, slicing precisely into the basketball's path.

That grasp of timing, that physical reaction... had reached an almost terrifying level!

This guy... is definitely not ordinary! Rukawa reached his conclusion.

At the sidelines, Ayako looked at the dazed Miyagi, her heart filled with concern.

But when her gaze shifted to Shirakawa, that concern was replaced by an even stronger sense of curiosity and shock.

"Shirakawa... just how long has he... been hiding this?"

In Ayako's impression, Shirakawa had always been an ordinary player with little presence on the team. Even during practice, he was steady and unremarkable, never showing off.

But today, it was as if he had become a different person.

No, it was as if he had ripped off his disguise and revealed a savage beast that made everyone tremble!

"Hehehe..." Coach Anzai's laughter rang out again, the wrinkles on his face blooming with delight. "What a treasure... what a treasure indeed..."

On the court, Shirakawa did not pause in the slightest after stealing the ball.

He turned and launched a full-speed fast break!

Having fused with Daiki Aomine's template, speed was already one of his greatest weapons.

Now that he was sprinting at full force, he truly became a streak of white lightning, instantly leaving everyone behind!

"So fast!"

"Can't catch him! We can't catch him at all!"

"Is this his full speed?!"

All the players could see was a white figure rapidly pulling away across the court, whipping up a gale behind him.

Ryota Miyagi gritted his teeth and chased after him with everything he had.

He pushed his speed to the limit, the muscles in his legs throbbing with pain from the strain.

Yet not only did the distance between him and Shirakawa fail to shrink, it only grew wider and wider!

His proud title of "Lightning Flash" became the greatest joke in the world before Shirakawa's absolute speed!

"Damn it! Damn it!"

Miyagi roared unwillingly in his heart, but he could only watch as Shirakawa charged into the paint and effortlessly laid the ball into the basket.

Swish!

2:0!

In less than two minutes, the outcome already seemed beyond doubt.

Shirakawa jogged leisurely back to half court. As he passed Miyagi, who was still gasping for breath, he stopped.

"Senpai, do you still want to continue?"

His tone was calm, without the slightest trace of mockery.

But to Miyagi, those words hurt more than any insult could have.

Continue?

Continuing would only mean humiliating himself further.

His speed had been crushed.

His technique had been crushed.

His defense had been seen through.

He could not find even the slightest possibility of defeating his opponent.

Ryota Miyagi's lips moved, but not a single word came out. For the first time, the head he had always held high drooped helplessly.

The entire basketball gym fell silent.

Everyone had been intimidated by the despair-inducing strength Shirakawa had displayed.

This first-year substitute, who had always gone unnoticed, had taught everyone a lesson today.

A lesson called "what a true genius really is."

However, just when everyone thought this match would end with Miyagi admitting defeat, a cold voice brimming with fighting spirit suddenly echoed through the entire gym.

"It's not over yet."

Everyone turned toward the voice and saw that Kaede Rukawa had somehow already reached the sideline. He took off his jacket, revealing the red number 11 jersey underneath.

He did not look at anyone. His eyes were locked firmly on Shirakawa alone.

Then, another towering figure walked beneath the basket on the other side.

It was Takenori Akagi!

Akagi wore an unprecedentedly serious expression as he said to the still-stunned Miyagi, "Miyagi! Pull yourself together! The match isn't over yet!"

Miyagi jolted and looked up, meeting his captain's stern yet encouraging gaze.

Then he saw Rukawa on the other side, already prepared to enter the court.

A rush of hot blood surged through his heart once more.

That's right, the match wasn't over yet!

How could I admit defeat here?!

"Captain... Rukawa..." Miyagi clenched his fists.

Akagi said no more. Instead, he spoke directly to Shirakawa. "Shirakawa! The three of us will be your opponents next!"

What?!

Takenori Akagi, Kaede Rukawa, and Ryota Miyagi!

The Shohoku Basketball Team's three absolute main players were going to join forces against Shirakawa alone?!

The entire gym erupted!

This was no longer an internal selection match!

This was... a hunt for a newly born monster!

Shirakawa looked at the three familiar faces before him: Akagi's determination, Rukawa's coldness, and Miyagi's reignited fighting spirit.

Not only did he feel no pressure, he smiled instead.

He smiled with boundless delight.

"Sure."

He spun the basketball stylishly on his fingertip, then pointed at the three of them.

"Then let the so-called 'Shohoku starters' see what true despair looks like."