Chapter 139: A Setback

"...Is Kagami always this good?" 

Amidst the crowd's fervor, Kasamatsu couldn't help but vocalize his astonishment.

Kagami's unexpected prowess on the court had left him genuinely taken aback, and the audience's collective sentiment mirrored his own surprise.

His eyes fixed on the unfolding game, Kise observed with a solemn expression. "...He's now on our level. He should do that much at the very least."

On the other side of the audience, the sentiment echoed within Rakuzan High's seating area.

The Uncrowned Kings were genuinely surprised by the remarkable display on the court. Aomine was a monster to them, but Kagami's ability to hold his own against him surpassed their expectations.

Mibuchi, his eyebrows furrowed, contemplated the unfolding spectacle. The realization dawned that there might be a reason Akashi held them in high regard, which seemed to be none other than Kagami.

"...But why is he observing his former teammate instead?"

Mibuchi silently questioned as he observed Akashi, who was focused on the game, with an intrigued expression.

Aomine observed Kagami effortlessly nailing the free throw, realizing, "...I might have been underrating him."

"Alright, let's enjoy this..." Aomine grinned as the game resumed, and Imayoshi handed him the ball.

Kagami swiftly approached him, prompting a chuckle from Aomine as he skillfully dribbled the ball with remarkable speed.

His ball-handling skills were a dance of finesse and raw power, the basketball an extension of his hand. He moved effortlessly, weaving through defenders with a series of lightning-quick crossovers.

Kagami, equally agile, mirrored his movements, anticipating Aomine's every step.

The crowd erupted excitedly, witnessing the intense showdown between Kagami and Aomine!

Hyuga and the rest of Seirin couldn't believe their eyes. Kagami's ability to precisely mirror Aomine's every move was utterly unexpected.

Imayoshi, feeling goosebumps, thought, "...This is eerily familiar. We've seen this kind of clash before."

Whenever the Generation of Miracles played, such moments unfolded, whether against Kaijo or Fukuda Sogo.

"To witness this against Seirin..." Imayoshi clenched his fist to steady his tumultuous thoughts as he observed the fierce battle between these two monsters.

Instantly, Aomine burst forward, leaving a blur of motion in his wake. Based on his animal instincts, Kagami reacted with lightning reflexes, mirroring Aomine's speed. The two players raced down the court, a kinetic display of athleticism that held the spectators in awe.

Aomine's acceleration was breathtaking as he swiftly changed direction, leaving Kagami trailing in his shadow.

The court seemed to shrink as Aomine effortlessly widened the distance, the chase's intensity etched on Kagami's determined expression. Reacting instantly, Kagami propelled himself forward.

However, Aomine remained a step ahead, defying the pursuit. With remarkable finesse, he ascended for a dunk.

"Not so easy!" 

Kagami, refusing to let the Aomine slip away from his defense, bellowed and launched himself into the air in an attempt to block Aomine's impending slam dunk. 

Kagami's outstretched hand aimed to intercept the ball's trajectory, disrupting Aomine's planned dunk.

Yet, Aomine, wearing a sly grin, seemed to have anticipated Kagami's move.

He cunningly retracted the hand holding the ball behind his body in a split-second adjustment. Seeing this, Kagami then realized he got himself in a trap as his body collided with Aomine.

Aomine released the ball mid-collision, which the referee then called a foul.

"Hah! Trying to pull off the same trick as me? You're a thousand years too early to beat me at my own game, Kagami!" Aomine turned to look at Kagami and chuckled, amused by Kagami's surprised expression. 

Kagami scowled at Aomine's arrogance and provocation.

As the game pressed on, their ongoing showdowns disrupted the power balance, with both teams struggling to contain their opponents' relentless attacks.

As the game pressed on, Izuki sensed the weight on his shoulders, feeling Kagami's intense gaze urging him to pass the ball.

"...But things won't improve if I keep holding onto it!" he thought to himself. With Imayoshi closely marking him, Izuki dribbled the ball.

In his peripheral vision, he noticed another determined stare from someone moving closer to Aomine, seemingly ready for a challenge. Izuki quickly regained his composure and passed the ball to that person, "...I'll rely on you for this, Kuroko!"

Izuki made a decision with a firm gaze to intensify their attack rather than trying to alter the unfolding events.

His aim was to create an advantage in their scoring abilities.

Kagami shared a meaningful glance with Kuroko as he maneuvered past Aomine, who had to react to stop Kuroko in possession of the ball.

Observing Kuroko's determined demeanor, Aomine scoffed, questioning, "What's your plan this time, Tetsu?"

Kuroko took a deep breath, his eyes focused, and the ball seemingly disappeared into his hands.

He initiated his Vanishing Drive, which had left countless defenders befuddled in the past. With a burst of speed, he darted towards the basket, leaving an afterimage in his wake.

However, Aomine's instincts were on high alert as he closed his eyes.

His sense was sharp as a predator imagined Kuroko's every move with his mind. As Kuroko approached, Aomine didn't fall for the misdirection. His instincts, finely tuned to the game's nuances, refused to be deceived by Kuroko's elusive movements.

In a split second, Aomine anticipated the true trajectory of the ball. He moved laterally with uncanny precision, intercepting Kuroko's path with an agile sidestep.

Kuroko, expecting Aomine to be caught off guard, was in disbelief as the Vanishing Drive failed to bewilder his opponent as he immediately realized that he had lost the ball.

Seirin players fell silent for a moment as Kuroko stood exposed before Aomine.

Seirin's bench players watched in disbelief, murmuring, "...Even Kuroko's Vanishing Drive didn't make a dent, huh?"

"A shadow can never beat a light, Tetsu..."

Aomine confidently secured the ball, leaving a casual remark before swiftly advancing through Seirin's unprepared and vulnerable defense.

Kagami, regaining his focus after Kuroko's unsuccessful move, had no time to console the seemingly dazed Kuroko. He kicked into action and chased after Aomine.

However, Kagami's efforts were in vain as Aomine scored for Too Academy effortlessly.

Seirin's coach, Aida, frowned deeply while observing the game.

"...This can't go on," she muttered before standing up to request a timeout for her team.

Soon after, the referee called for the requested timeout, and both teams sat on their designated benches.

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