Kuroko's Basketball template: the king of slacking off, Shohoku's strongest sixth man.

Fukatsu moved closer to Sawakita, his tone exuding absolute authority.

"In Sannoh, it is absolutely forbidden to boost the morale of others."

"So, Zebei, are you even capable of doing this?"

He faced the captain's death stare.

Zebei finally suppressed his temper.

He took a deep breath.

"I'm speechless..."

Zebei scratched his head, his tone tinged with self-deprecation.

"How could I possibly be fooled by a first-grader?"

He straightened up, and his previously casual gaze immediately became sharp and piercing.

"I admit, I was careless with that last shot..."

Zebei turned around and raised his arm.

His index finger, like a sharp sword, pointed straight at Rukawa Kaede across from him.

His expression was more serious than ever before.

Like a war god about to awaken!

"Hello, number 11."

Zebei's voice wasn't loud, but it resonated throughout the entire venue.

"Sorry, that last shot was your last one in front of me."

"But even if you get your head shaved next, don't be too sad..."

Zebei smiled confidently, exuding an air of superiority.

"Because, from now on, I'm going to get serious."

This announcement was brimming with domineering power!

Coupled with Zebei's impeccably handsome face.

The mountain king's inherent strength and aura are fully unleashed.

In the stands, especially in the Sannoh fan section, a collective gasp of surprise rippled through the crowd.

On the Shohoku bench, Lin Bei chewed gum and squinted his eyes.

"Oh? So it's finally time to lay the cards on the table?"

Lin Bei leaned forward, his eyes full of anticipation.

Just as everyone held their breath, waiting for the nation's number one to dominate the battlefield.

"Bang!"

A muffled thud exploded across the stadium without warning!

Sawakita Eiji, who was striking a cool pose and showing off to the fullest, suddenly froze.

An orange basketball struck him squarely in the head and buttocks, rolling to the side.

The jaws of the entire audience shattered.

What the hell is this?! It's a total social disaster!

Kawada was dumbfounded.

Even Fukatsu Kazunari's perpetually expressionless face twitched violently twice.

It turned out that it was Sannoh serving from the baseline.

Fukatsu wanted to speed things up, so he passed the ball directly to Sawakita, who was showing off.

Who knew that this guy was completely absorbed in his domineering declaration and didn't even turn around!

Time seemed to stand still at that moment.

But there is one person who will never let this freebie slip by.

"squeak--!"

The ear-piercing sound of sneakers rubbing against each other tore through the silence!

Rukawa Kaede, who was originally standing opposite, suddenly had a flash of red lightning in the corner of his eye.

He sped along the ground like a red fox that had caught the scent of blood.

He simply bypassed Zebei, who was still groaning and clutching his butt.

With a long reach, he scooped up the basketball from the ground!

"Back up!!"

Kazunari Fukatsu's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets as he roared at the top of his lungs!

But it was too late.

Rukawa Kaede transformed into a red lightning bolt, tearing through Sannoh's still-developing defenses.

A solo adventure!

He sprinted wildly towards the empty basket!

The wind whistled in my ears.

Rukawa Kaede touched the familiar texture of the basketball, and his perpetually icy face twitched violently.

As he ran, his mind was uncontrollably filled with a torrent of sarcastic remarks.

"That guy who's number one in the country..."

"What the hell? Is this guy a complete idiot too?"

The moment the thought crossed his mind, Rukawa Kaede froze.

"wrong……"

Why did I add the word "also"?

The face of a certain red-haired idiot who embarrasses himself on the court every day but calls himself a genius floated through my mind.

He frantically shook his head, trying to banish the horrifying image from his mind.

"Focus on scoring goals!"

Shohoku's bench went completely crazy!

Ayako stepped onto the folding chair, her paper fan flashing in the air, her voice hoarse from shouting.

"Well done!! Rukawa Kaede!!"

"Charge!!"

Kogure, Kakuta, and others even swung the towels around like helicopter propellers.

"A solo fast break! That was awesome!"

"Score another goal! Let's crush them!"

In the stands, the fans who had just been immersed in Zebei's domineering aura stood up in horror.

In just a few seconds, the situation took such a dramatic and fatal turn!

"Shohoku! Shohoku!"

The girls in Rukawa Kaede's fan club are so excited they're practically breathless from shouting.

The restricted area is just a stone's throw away.

Rukawa Kaede stepped heavily onto the final step, one step inside the free-throw line.

"Bang!"

The terrifying explosive force caused the floor to thud.

Rukawa Kaede soared into the sky like a roc spreading its wings!

The basketball is raised high, and the wrist gently flicks it towards the backboard.

"Goal!"

Rukawa Kaede coldly declared in his heart.

however.

Just as the basketball was about to leave someone's hands, a hand suddenly appeared in the basketball's path.

Zebei has caught up!

The crimson light in Rukawa Kaede's eyes was intensely concentrated.

"Zone·Kuchan!"

Breathing stops, and the heartbeat becomes completely out of sync with the rhythm of the surrounding environment.

That familiar feeling of frame drops and stuttering has returned.

He intends to use this effect, which is similar to forcibly deleting a segment of time, to make a killer layup in mid-air.

But it's right there in the time blind spot created by "Empty Cicada"!

That long, muscular arm with bulging veins actually tore through space directly from the blind spot of his vision!

That hand completely ignored Rukawa Kaede's Zone.

They forcefully squeezed into the "empty cicada" realm!

It firmly follows the trajectory of the basketball's ascent, appearing out of thin air in mid-air!

"What?!"

Rukawa Kaede's hair stood on end!

His scarlet pupils contracted violently.

How is that possible?!

In this state, absolutely no one can keep up with his pace!

Before the brain could react.

That large hand had already slapped the orange basketball without any mercy.

"Smack—!!!"

A thunderous explosion rang out above the basketball hoop!

With a violent force, the ball and the player were swatted away, sending Rukawa's hopes flying out of bounds!

The enormous reaction force caused Rukawa to lose his balance in mid-air.

He staggered to the ground, taking several steps back before barely managing to regain his balance.

The entire room fell silent.

You could hear a pin drop.

Rukawa Kaede suddenly looked up, staring intently at the figure blocking the shot.

Standing in front of him was none other than Sawakita Eiji, who had just been covering his butt in the backcourt!

This is absolutely not the speed at which a human should be able to defend!

At this moment, Zebei's embarrassment completely disappeared.

He lowered his head slightly, his expression indifferent.

Just as Rukawa Kaede was looking at him.

Zebei slowly raised his eyes.

Deep within the dark pupils, a pure white light, as bright as the polar day, ripped through the night like a sharp blade!

The white light was pure and cold, devoid of any emotion.

It's as if it can see through all illusions.

"call……"

Zebei slightly opened his mouth and exhaled a long breath of white air.

The air around him visibly distorted due to his rapidly rising body temperature.

He stood there, looking down at Rukawa Kaede like a cold god.

"Was this the state you were in before?"

"I've seen through it all."

Zebei's voice was deep and ethereal, exuding absolute pressure.

He tilted his head slightly, a cold smile playing on his lips.

"This feels pretty good."