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

Gymnasium, Shohoku locker room.

The noise outside was shut out by the heavy doors, and the atmosphere inside the changing room was terribly oppressive.

Akagi Takenori stood at the very front, his broad back resembling a towering mountain.

"Everyone, listen up!"

Akagi raised his thick arm and let out a roar that struck straight to the soul:

Our goal is—

"To dominate the entire nation!!!"

The entire Shohoku team stood up at the same time!

With the sound of benches overturning, Rukawa, Miyagi, Mitsui, Sakuragi, and Lin Bei were among those affected.

Everyone roared in unison, a battle cry that shook the heavens and the earth!

The battle cry pierced through the walls and soared into the sky!

"Ladies and gentlemen!"

"Next up is the dark horse that defeated the undefeated legend—Shohoku High School!"

As the DJ on site screamed with a long, drawn-out tone.

The spotlights shone down on the players' tunnel! A red and black storm swept onto the pitch!

Sakuragi Hanamichi walked at the very front of the group.

With a bright red bald head and his chin held high arrogantly, he kept waving and blowing kisses to the audience.

"A genius has arrived! Mortals, rejoice!"

Just when the audience was both amused and exasperated by him.

Lin Bei slowly emerged from the shadows of the passageway.

He put his hands in his pockets and didn't even glance at the camera.

That inherent languor and unfathomable aura of danger enveloped the entire room.

"Aaaaaah! Lin Bei! Lin Bei!"

In the stands, countless girls and fans erupted in screams that seemed to lift the roof off, the roar completely drowning out Sakuragi's show.

"Next up is Aiwa Academy from Aichi Prefecture!"

The other side of the passage.

With a blank expression, Moroboshi Dai, exuding a calm and steadfast leadership aura, led Ai and the entire team into the arena.

"Love and peace! Victory is assured!"

"Love and peace! Victory is assured!"

Ai and the cheerleaders unleashed a terrifying, synchronized roar, holding their own against Shohoku!

In the center of the court, in front of the technical table.

Red and black versus red and white—the gazes of the two teams collided violently in the air.

Sparks flew as they faced off from afar!

There were no pleasantries, only raw fighting spirit!

The referee, holding the basketball, walked into the center circle.

Spotlights illuminated the center of the stadium.

"beep--!"

A sharp whistle blew, and the noise in the entire arena vanished in an instant.

In utter silence.

Akagi Takenori's eyes widened in anger, his legs slightly bent as if they were springs.

On the other side, Aiwa Academy's center, Kenji Tsurumi!

He is 198 cm tall and has a cold and aloof appearance.

His drooping arms were extremely long, with a wingspan of a terrifying 215 centimeters!

Like a black bird with outstretched wings, he stared intently at Akagi, his eyes revealing the cunning unique to a supporting center.

The referee flicked his wrist, sending the orange basketball high into the air.

Jump ball, let's begin!

……

Let's rewind three minutes.

The final pre-match warm-up session.

The atmosphere inside the Hiroshima Arena has been completely ignited by the cheers of the two teams' fans.

Just as both teams were shooting in their respective half-court, a basketball rolled across the center line and slipped into Shohoku's half-court.

"Oops, sorry, the ball slipped from my hand."

With a frivolous laugh, Asuka, the first-year point guard from Aiwa Academy, crossed the center line.

Instead of bending down to pick up the ball, he flicked it with his toe and bounced it into his hand.

Immediately afterwards, he began to show off his personal skills right in front of Miyagi Ryota!

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

The basketball darted quickly between Asuka's legs and behind him.

He dribbles with his center of gravity very low and at an extremely high frequency.

With the swaying of his shoulders, every movement exudes the arrogance and provocation of streetball.

"Hey, shorty."

Asuka Shin performed a series of fancy changes of direction while keeping a close eye on Miyagi's eyes, a wide grin spreading across his face.

"Did you see my movements clearly?"

"When we get on the court later, I hope I don't break those two short legs of yours!"

He wanted to put some psychological pressure on Miyagi by using this close-range attack before the match started.

A commotion immediately broke out in the audience.

"What are you doing with that first grader?"

"That's incredibly arrogant, coming all the way to Shohoku's territory to cause trouble!"

Despite Asuka's mockery, Miyagi Ryota didn't even flinch.

He let his hands hang naturally at his sides, coldly watching the other person show off.

The next second, a mocking smile appeared on Miyagi's lips.

"Fancy garbage."

As soon as he finished speaking, Gongcheng took a sudden step forward.

He casually snatched the ball from Mitsui, who was about to shoot.

He didn't even glance at Asuka Shin.

Miyagi caught the ball with one hand, used his waist to generate power, and swung his arm hard!

"Whoosh—!"

The basketball flew past Asuka's ear with a whoosh!

This incredible long-range bounce pass that spanned the entire field was so fast that even the cameras almost couldn't keep up!

The basketball slammed precisely inside the free-throw line in Aihe Academy's half of the court, bouncing high into the air.

"Sakuragi!" Miyagi roared.

"Everything was ready a long time ago!!!"

With a roar, a giant red and black shadow soared into the air!

Sakuragi Hanamichi stretched his body in the air and firmly caught the basketball with one hand at the highest point.

He pulled out an extremely exaggerated tomahawk pose in mid-air!

"boom--!"

The rim made a dull thud, and the entire basketball hoop shook violently.

Sakuragi Hanamichi hung on the basketball hoop with one arm, looking down at Aiwa Academy's half of the court.

"Hahaha! Did you see that? That's a genius's tomahawk dunk!"

The entire stadium was silent for a second, then erupted in cheers that seemed to lift the dome off the ground.

"So cool!"

"My God, how did they manage that long pass across the field?!"

Miyagi Ryota slowly put his hands back into his pockets.

He turned his head slightly, looked at Asuka Shin, whose face had turned pale, and sneered.

"Did you see that?"

"That's how you play basketball."

"Your dribbling skills, which are like acrobatics, are of no use except for getting some money in the circus."

Asuka's face turned bright red as she glared at Miyagi through gritted teeth.

But Moroboshi Dai shouted coldly, sending him back to the halfway point.

Psychological warfare during the warm-up phase.

Shohoku used the most direct method to give Asuka a resounding slap in the face!

……

"beep--!"

The referee's whistle brought everyone back to the field.

Inside the Hiroshima Stadium, the noise vanished instantly.

Under the spotlight, the referee flicked his wrist, sending the basketball soaring high into the air.

Jump ball begins!

"Roar!"

Akagi Takenori's eyes widened, and he let out a furious roar.

With his leg muscles taut, his massive body rose from the ground!

With unwavering determination, he vowed to seize the initiative from the outset.

However, just as Akagi's fingers were about to touch the basketball...

A huge shadow covered the sky above him.

Kenji Tsurumi, center forward for Aiwa Academy!

His face was cold, and his body was fully extended in mid-air.

When he spreads his arms, his terrifying 215-centimeter wingspan creates a sense of disorientation.

"What?!"

Akagi's pupils contracted sharply.

I clearly have the advantage in jumping ability and strength.

But Kenji Tsurumi managed to extend his reach by an extra fingertip thanks to his long arms!

"Snapped!"

Just as Akagi was about to close his hands, Tsurumi Kenji flicked his fingertips.

The basketball changed trajectory at its highest point, flying towards the Love and Academy half of the court.

"Well done, Kenji!"