NOVEL NEXT Chapter 77: Confrontation
Immediately, under everyone's stunned gaze, Akashi drove forward without hesitation. With just simple crossovers, he repeatedly sent Murasakibara sprawling to the floor. Each move was clean and decisive—Murasakibara couldn't mount any resistance.
As Murasakibara kept getting crossed up, his frustration and anger grew. Yet, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't block Akashi's relentless offense.
When the scoreboard lit up with 5:4, the room fell into a heavy silence. No one could comprehend how Akashi had suddenly unleashed such overwhelming strength. This shift left everyone confused and uneasy.
Murasakibara angrily kicked over a water bottle, his face clouded with frustration. In a tone laced with resignation and irritation, he muttered, "I'm heading out. That's enough for today."
"So I guess I'll show up to practice tomorrow like a good boy" he added. With those words, he turned his back to everyone, waved dismissively, and trudged off the court.
"It doesn't matter anymore" Akashi's voice stopped Murasakibara in his tracks. "Do as you like — just make sure we win."
Murasakibara froze, turning back with a bewildered expression. What the hell is this? he thought. I worked my ass off just now—did I really need to get humiliated for him to let me go?
"What are you saying, Akashi? This is completely different from what you said earlier!" Midorima hurriedly stepped forward, clearly agitated. As the team's vice-captain, he couldn't just stand by while players disregarded practice.
Akashi turned to face both Midorima and Kise. "Midorima, Kise — you too. As long as we win, I don't care about anything else."
This declaration shocked everyone, their expressions a mix of disbelief and astonishment.
Akashi continued, his tone commanding and absolute. "At our level, forcing everyone to follow the same pace is unnecessary. Instead, it's more efficient for each of us to maximize our individual strengths."
A puzzled player hesitated before asking, "Wait... does that mean teamwork doesn't matter?"
"That's right" Akashi declared, his voice firm and unwavering. "For the Generation of Miracles, teamwork is nothing but a hindrance. That's final"
"Akashi feels like a completely different person" Kise whispered to Midorima, leaning in conspiratorially.
Midorima stared at Akashi, recalling past events. "A different person... It's not just a feeling. There have been moments before when it was like this. I'm convinced that there are two sides to Akashi — a second personality within him. As unbelievable as it sounds, it's the truth!"
"What the hell are you talking about?" A voice disrupted the tense atmosphere.
Everyone turned to see Shiro, Aomine, and Kuroko walking into the gym, drenched from the rain.
Momoi rushed to the bench, grabbing towels before hurrying to Shiro's side. She gently dried his hair, and he bent down slightly to let her work.
"Shiro doesn't need to join practices either, as long as he can win games" Akashi said emotionlessly.
"Oh? Akashi, is that so? Winning is all that matters? Tell me—whose idea is this? Yours, or Seijuro's?" Shiro's words sent chills through the room.
The others exchanged confused glances. What does he mean by "yours" and "his"? Isn't there just one Akashi?
"Eh? Shiro, what are you talking about?" Aomine, ever clueless, scratched his head.
Midorima, however, was stunned, staring at Shiro. I've spent every day around Akashi to notice this—and yet Shiro figured it out immediately!
Akashi laughed suddenly, seemingly amused by how quickly Shiro had deduced the truth. "You've always been the hardest for me to read, Shiro. But you cannot defy my will!" His tone turned icy, his words dripping with authority.
"Oh? You think everything you say is absolute?" Shiro shot back, his cold gaze fixed on this unfamiliar version of Akashi.
"Don't make me angry, Shiro!" Akashi's voice filled the room with an oppressive tension.
"Basketball has always been a team sport — that's a fact, even in the NBA" Shiro replied, directing his words not just at Akashi but at the entire Generation of Miracles.
"And as for skipping practice, what makes you think you can improve without it? Why do NBA players train relentlessly every day? Do you believe you're already on their level?" Shiro's barrage of questions left Akashi momentarily speechless.
"And Akashi" Shiro pressed on, "do you truly care about nothing but victory?"
Akashi's expression didn't falter. His voice was steady, unwavering. "Of course. Victory is the only truth."
Shiro, unfazed, countered, "Then tell me—when your mother introduced you to basketball, was it just to teach you to win? Or was it to make you happy?"
These words hit Akashi like a sledgehammer. His face darkened as a storm brewed in his mind. The gym fell into an eerie silence, the air heavy with tension.
Shiro didn't let up. "Or is this version of you just a manifestation of Seijuro's fear of failure?"
Akashi's head snapped up, his piercing gaze locking onto Shiro. Complex emotions swirled in his crimson eyes, a mix of anger, confusion, and something deeper.
Within Akashi's mind, two sides of himself clashed. One — the gentle, kind personality he once embodied — reflected on Shiro's words, realizing that his obsession with victory might not equate to true happiness. The other—the cold, ruthless persona—watched silently, refusing to yield.
Finally, the gentler side of Akashi raised his head and met his counterpart's gaze. "Have you decided?" one part of him asked softly, his eyes narrowing with calm resolve as he contemplated the weight of his choices.
Time ticked by, the atmosphere growing ever more oppressive. At last, Akashi broke the silence, exhaling deeply. His voice was low but firm. "Shiro, defeat me."
With those words, Akashi closed his eyes, clearing his mind of distractions. His breathing slowed, his focus sharpening. The storm within him was far from over, but for now, he had laid down a challenge no one could ignore.