8 Chapter 8 : The Chosen Ones

SHIN: You sure you're gonna catch up?

KAGAMI: Again!, I'll definitely stop you this time. So don't think that you've already won. You just wait so don't think it's already over.

SHIN: If you say so, 5 more to go and you will lose.

Kagami was thinking that he shouldn't fall for that feint again with the ball bouncing between his legs. "That was an embarrassment. To top it off he did it twice. I'm gonna pay you back 10x more I can't lose my face in this game", Kagami thought.

As he was thinking he suddenly felt that it got quiet all of a sudden and the ball's bounce was getting louder. He focused his eyes on Shin's dribble and was shocked by what he was seeing.

Shin started his dribble move with his left hand, bouncing the ball slowly. Then he suddenly change it to his right behind his back going back and forth from slow to a faster dribble style.

It looked as if Shin was leaning on a ball behind his back. The ball was moving fast behind his back that it looked like Hayama's lightning dribble. Lightning sparks could also be seen as the ball was slowly starting to disappear from the naked eye.

Even though he was shocked by what he saw, Kagami was forcing himself to calm down so he could stop Shin's next move.

Shin seeing Kagami regaining his demeanor, he couldn't help but praise him and said "Not bad, you really are the same as them. It would be a waste if you were not". While he was praising him, Shin was also smiling from excitement.

Shin then moved fast towards his right, to which Kagami anticipated and quickly move in front of him. As Kagami moved to press on him, Shin quickly did a spin move towards his left which made enough room for him to penetrate towards the hoop.

Still Kagami recovered immediately and pressed on his side to hinder his movements towards the hoop. But as Kagami was glued on his side that their bodies were in contact with each other, Shin gave a nudge to Kagami's chest using his shoulder. After that he made another step back outside the arc and shot the ball.

Due to Kagami's fast momentum, this move unintentionally made him move past Shin farther away that he was almost under the basket. As he turned to look where Shin is, the ball was already in the air. Afterwards, he heard a swish from the net.

Everyone was shocked again by what they saw. The score was now 8-0 and Kagami still cannot stop Shin and now there's only 3 more points before Shin wins the game.

KOGANEI: Wasn't that a foul coach?

RIKO: No, it wasn't. Shin didn't extend his arm or dropped his shoulder when he nudged Kagami. The reason Kagami went farther away from him almost reaching under the basket was because of Kagami's own momentum. He tried to catch up with him with his speed but he didn't expect that Shin would nudge him as their body made contact. The result was what you saw right there.

KIYOSHI: Basketball is not just about being fast, it's also about being in control with your body. One wrong move and you'll end up like that. That Shin is already way far ahead in terms of in control of his body couple that with a fast dribble move like Hayama it's pretty much difficult to win against that guy unless you're one of those GOM's.

HYUGA: Yeah, its only possible if its them. The problem is he's already playing against Kagami who is also the same as those GOM and that shot of his at the end. PHEW!

Kagami was now sure that this guy is on a different level than him and the GOM's. The move he did, the dribble and the use of his body reveals everything about this guy. He was far ahead with the use of his movement.

Every move he made was simple except for that lightning dribble but those simple moves is difficult to anticipate. He couldn't help but wonder what training this guy had to endure just to reach this level.

Kagami was also thinking of a particular Basketball tournament where the pro's and the best of the world gathers. "The NBA huh, is he already on that level? I don't think so. Another one of those prodigies." Kagami thought.

Suddenly Kagami thought of someone in the NBA. He couldn't understand why he was thinking of that person. They call him THE GOAT by the way he dominated the NBA and had 6 championships.

He remembered some phrase that had been said to him when he was starting basketball that "If there are prodigies, There are also those who were born to dominate them. They call them The Chosen Ones. A once a century player who will dominate those prodigies."

Someone also said to him that "prodigies are born to change the game but not dominate it".

"It can't be, right?" muttered Kagami while looking at Shin who has smiling at him.

SHIN: Hey? Why do you look like you've seen a ghost or something? Stop spacing out already. Come on give me the ball. The score is 8-0, 3 more and it's over for you. You're not intentionally making me win, right?

KAGAMI: I'm gonna stop you no matter what.

SHIN: Better show me rather than just keep talking. I dont want this to end immediately you know. So give it your all to stop me. Don't waste what's given to you.

KAGAMI: Stop talking and start already.

SHIN: Okay okay, calm down hot head.

Kagami was thinking how to stop this guy. Then he focused his attention on Shin's movement but suddenly he heard Shin talk with an irritated tone.

SHIN: Hey?! I told you to stop thinking but you're still doing it again. Let your instincts take over cause if you dont you'll just end up stressing your body.

Kagami nodded after he heard Shin scolding him. He then activated his zone again to concentrate even more and in his head he was saying "let your instincts take over, watch his movement closely and react from there.

KOGANEI: Coach is it me or he's scolding Kagami right now?

Kuroko interrupted and said "He's teaching Kagami right now. That's the way he is if he sees potential in someone. He was like that to us in Teiko, especially Kise".

KIYOSHI: Kuroko's right. That guy right now is guiding Kagami how to control his body from making unnecessary movements. To avoid any stress accumulation from wasted movements. So everybody watch closely we may get something from this.

HYUGA: I already learned something from watching his 1 on 1 against Izuki. I could try practicing how to incorporate those movements for my barrier jumper.

KUROKO: He's not just teaching Kagami right now captain. I think he came here with the intention to show us how to improve ourselves.

Izuki couldnt help but think that "So that's why he showed me my own move when we were having a 1 on 1. He's showing me how to improve from there where it could be difficult to stop when I have the intention to score. It could also be said for Captain's Barrier Jumper"

KUROKO: Everybody, now you understand why Akashi called him "Two Faced Conman". He just acts like a villain in front of everybody when in reality he values those people with determination and potential to improve themselves. Well, Kise however took it the other way around.