NBA Skills: Dominating Kuroko no Basket

"Stop kidding around! Don't let me get past you so easily every time! Even if you can't stop me, at least try to do something! Otherwise, what's the point of you being here?" Aomine shouted angrily at the defenders he had just breezed past, visibly annoyed by their lack of resistance.

"I'm trying my best, but Aomine, you're just too strong" one of the defenders stammered nervously. "Honestly, nobody can stop you!"

Aomine lowered his head in shock, his expression turning to one of disappointment. Muttering to himself, he said, "Damn it... How am I supposed to keep playing like this?" He couldn't accept this reality, his heart full of frustration and resentment.

Growing more upset, Aomine abruptly turned and sprinted out of the gym. He needed to escape the overwhelming sense of frustration.

Seeing this, Sanada quickly chased after him, calling out, "Aomine, wait!" But Aomine ignored him, continuing to run as fast as he could.

"You guys keep practicing. I'll go check on him" Shiro said to the puzzled team members before hurrying after Aomine as well.

By the riverbank, Aomine stood motionless, staring blankly ahead. His empty gaze revealed the inner turmoil consuming him.

"Aomine" Sanada's voice broke the silence, pulling Aomine from his thoughts.

Turning slowly, Aomine saw Sanada and Shiro standing behind him. With a weak voice, he murmured, "Coach..."

"Aomine, let's talk" Sanada said, stepping closer. Seeing the despair on Aomine's face, he felt a pang of guilt.

"Coach, just leave me alone. I want to be by myself right now" Aomine responded, his tone defensive.

Sanada sighed heavily. As a coach, he couldn't ignore Aomine's current state, but he also feared that pushing him too hard might lead him to quit the team — a result he desperately wanted to avoid.

Caught in a dilemma, Sanada hesitated. Compared to Shirogane, he lacked experience in handling such emotional struggles among players and didn't know how to proceed.

"Coach, let me talk to him" Shiro suddenly offered, stepping forward. He placed a reassuring hand on Sanada's shoulder, signaling him to leave.

Reluctantly, Sanada nodded. He trusted Shiro to handle the situation better. Without another word, he turned and walked away.

"Shiro" Aomine mumbled, his spirit visibly deflated.

"Let's sit down and talk" Shiro said, gently pulling Aomine to sit with him on the grass.

Aomine nodded. As fellow basketball prodigies and close friends, he felt comfortable opening up to Shiro.

"Recently, I feel like I've become stronger and stronger — like no one can rival me anymore. Even those who used to challenge me on the court now feel dull and uninspiring" Aomine admitted, his voice heavy with disillusionment. "Even my opponents seem to have lost the will to beat me. They just give up mid-game. Honestly, I don't know what to do anymore."

Hearing this, Shiro couldn't help but chuckle. "Feeling like you're so amazing, huh? 'The only one who can beat me is me?' Aomine, you're such a classic edgelord"

Aomine cracked a smile, "Shut up"

Shiro's tone turned serious. "Alright, let's be real. First of all, isn't getting stronger a good thing? Isn't that why we train — to improve ourselves and become better players?"

Aomine nodded slightly, recognizing the truth in Shiro's words.

"And about your opponents losing their drive to beat you — that's not your fault. If they give up, it's on them. It's their lack of determination, not yours."

"But that whole 'only I can beat me' mindset? That's just you being limited by Japan's basketball scene. Think about it: how many high-level players can this small country really produce? If you look at the U.S., there are countless players your age who are just as skilled, if not better."

"So don't get cocky because you've won a few games or gone on a winning streak. Remember, there's always someone better out there. To truly become the strongest, you need to keep pushing yourself."

"And" Shiro added, "you can't let all the praise and admiration get to your head. Stay humble and keep a clear mind. You've got to stay focused and never let your guard down!"

Shiro's words hit Aomine hard, leaving him momentarily speechless.

"Lastly" Shiro continued, "my goal has never been limited to Japan. From the start, I've always aimed for the NBA. What about you? Are you content staying in this comfort zone?"

Aomine felt a sudden jolt of clarity. He realized he had been too arrogant, neglecting the bigger picture. "No!" he replied firmly. He understood now that his ambitions shouldn't be confined to Japan — he needed to set his sights on a grander stage and chase after the world's best players.

"Good. I was worried you'd settled for mediocrity" Shiro said with a satisfied nod.

"Like hell I'd do that. I have no intention of staying stuck in this small place" Aomine replied confidently.

"Exactly. The world outside is much bigger than this, with even greater challenges waiting for you" Shiro encouraged.

"Yeah, I get it now. I'll keep working hard and aim for the NBA" Aomine said confidently.

"Great, but before that, you'll have to get past us first" Shiro teased.

"Huh? What do you mean?" Aomine asked, confused.

"You're acting like there's no competition left in Japan — as if the rest of us in the Generation of Miracles don't count" Shiro smirked.

"Hey, it's not like we've had the chance to compete!" Aomine protested, scratching his head awkwardly. "Besides, it's not a given that you could beat me either."

"We'll likely go our separate ways in high school" Shiro said. "When that happens, we'll be rivals. To be honest, in this country, there aren't any peers stronger than us. So we'll probably be each other's toughest opponents!"

"Yeah, bring it on!" Aomine grinned, bumping fists with Shiro.

"But" Shiro added casually, "the team's atmosphere isn't great right now. Everyone's starting to get a bit too cocky — just like you. I'll handle it."

Aomine blinked in surprise, then nodded. Deep down, he felt a mix of curiosity and anticipation for how Shiro planned to address the team's growing arrogance.