Kuroko no Basket: The Supreme Genius of The Court

As Akira strolled past Makito, heading back to defense, he cast a casual glance over his shoulder.

"Nice shot, by the way. It probably would've gone in," he remarked with a calm, almost nonchalant tone.

The comment jolted Makito out of his daze, pulling him back to the present. He straightened up, his determination reignited. 

"Listen up, everyone! It's just a scrimmage, not the end of the world. We need to take risks and show some grit. Let's not let our fans down!"

The team's energy shifted immediately, the cold shock of the first few minutes melting away. They now looked like a different squad altogether.

If I broke their spirit this early, it'd be pathetic… Especially in a game that doesn't even count.

As the game resumed, Kadooka High's passes became sharper and more confident, but despite their renewed effort, Sekiro High continued to widen the gap. Yamamoto's strategy was coming into full effect—Renji was taking advantage of every opportunity, his dribbling, taught by Akira, wasn't flashy but incredibly effective.

"Change Hero!" Yamamoto screams from the bench.

"Now it's time to finish these guys off!" Daichi exclaimed, pounding his fist into his hand.

Hiroshi passed him the ball, and Daichi, eyeing the opposing power forward, prepared to make his move.

"These freshmen think they're hotshots… and this gym is full of pretty girls!"

Daichi dribbled, trying to mimic Akira's earlier move, but the ball slipped from his control and was quickly snatched by Kadooka.

"Idiot," Hiroshi muttered, rushing back on defense. Laughter erupted from the stands.

"That move's harder than it looks… Damn!" Daichi grumbled under his breath.

Yamamoto shook his head, covering his eyes.

"He thinks that dribble's easy," he sighed.

Daichi's struggles on the court weren't just a one-time slip-up. His blunders allowed Kadooka to chip away at the score. By the end of the first quarter, Sekiro was still comfortably ahead, 36-12.

Frustrated, Daichi turned to Akira during the break.

"How the hell did you pull off that dribble?"

Akira paused from sipping his juice and smirked.

"Talent."

"Bastard!"

"Daichi, quit complaining," Coach Yamamoto cut in. "It's fine if you mess up once, but four times?"

"Sorry, Coach… It's just that after Akira did that dribble, I noticed some of the girls were looking at him differently."

Akira blushed, spitting out his juice.

"Alright, Daichi. You're benched," Yamamoto said, deadpan.

Akira chuckled. "Serves you right."

"You too, Akira."

"What?!"

"Kaigo, Kenta, you're going in."

"Got it," Kaigo nodded.

"Finally!" Kenta exclaimed.

As the second quarter began, Kadooka seemed reinvigorated by Akira's absence, gaining some momentum. Makito, in particular, was stepping up. He dribbled past Hiroshi again, finding an open teammate on the left side, but the shot missed.

"Damn," Makito muttered, frustrated.

Kenta secured the rebound with a commanding presence in the paint. Even though Renji continued to stand out, Kenta managed to score as well, showing flashes of his potential. However, the offense lacked fluidity with Hiroshi, who preferred a more methodical approach, focusing on ball movement without aggressive attacks.

Yamamoto scribbled notes in his book.

"Hiroshi doesn't pair well with Kenta… he needs someone who can make more decisive passes."

Kenta received the ball again, pressured by a defender. Using his size and strength, he pushed his opponent back, inching closer to the basket before finishing with a jump shot from close range.

"That guy's a beast! How can anyone compete with that strength?" the defender grumbled.

Makito glanced at the scoreboard—48-30—and smiled.

"Relax! We're catching up."

Meanwhile, on the bench, Akira radiated a palpable, almost magnetic intensity. His leg bounced restlessly, a blur of motion that seemed to pulse with raw energy. His eyes, fixed on the game, were unblinking, burning with a fierce, almost predatory focus. The restless aura he exuded was so powerful it felt as though it was commanding the coach, demanding his return to the court. The air around him crackled with an urgency, a devilish insistence that his presence was crucial, a restless force that simply couldn't be contained.

"I can't focus with him sitting here… What a strange kid," Yamamoto thought. "Akira! You're going in."

Akira shot up from the bench, a grin lighting up his face. The ten minutes he spent off the court felt like a lifetime.

"Takeo, you're up too," the coach added.

"Me? Ugh…" Takeo groaned, tying his slightly messy hair into a bun.

"Let's crush them," he said, his demeanor flipping in an instant, shocking his teammates as usual.

When the referee signaled the substitutions, the entire Kadooka team's demeanor shifted dramatically. Their faces fell as if struck by a heavy blow; the return of Akira to the court was met with a collective sense of defeat. The energy in the gym seemed to crackle with their apprehension, as the realization of facing Akira again settled in, casting a palpable shadow of dread over the team.