Chapter 274

At this moment, Miyaji Seiji suddenly appeared behind Yukimiya Kazuma, setting a screen for Midorima.

The level of support Shuutoku gave Midorima was naturally incomparable to the Miracle Generation's individual battles in middle school; after all, that Teiko was driven by five cores, while this Shuutoku before them, even with Otsubo Taisho, was only a 1.5-core team.

In the instant Midorima used the screen, Takao Kazunari's passing speed was equally fast, perfectly keeping up with Midorima's rhythm.

However...

Under the vision of the 'Passing Master', Yukimiya Kazuma, who had foreseen the screen, brushed past Miyaji Seiji and appeared before Midorima Shintaro once again.

At the same time, 'Monster Immersion · Ghost Spider' activated!

Hiss~

Hiss~

In that instant.

From the aura emanating from the opponent, Midorima Shintaro could clearly perceive that white spider, waving several huge limb segments, its eyes flickering with red dim light, staring straight at him!

The feeling this aura gave him...

Primal?!

No...

Not that.

Although very similar, it was slightly different from primal instinct.

It was something identical to the special state of Yukimiya Kazuma's special shot, but it was not like the special state Yukimiya accidentally entered when defending Aomine in middle school.

What changes would this pressure bring?

"Right from the start, it's Yukimiya Kazuma against Midorima Shintaro!"

"It's as if he has eyes on the back of his head, bypassing the defense in one go."

"Here it comes!"

"Midorima's super exaggerated three-pointer!"

Midorima lowered his waist, held the ball with both hands to the side and slightly behind his body, then suddenly made a shooting motion.

But the next second, his expression changed drastically due to Yukimiya Kazuma's invasive defense.

Midorima Shintaro: "……!"

What incredible defense...

The timing of the footwork invasion and the coordination of the hand steal motion.

And the unclear defensive details...

It was completely targeted defense against his own shooting motion, even slowing down his shooting preparation; in that instant, it was as if he had been wrapped up by spider silk!

I see...

Was that what I just saw?

It shares the same essence as that 'Flying Bird'-like shot, but it is a defensive ability!

Midorima had not yet dropped the ball earlier; now deeply entangled in the 'Ghost Spider', he had to drop the ball first and use footwork to create space.

Miyaji Seiji's screen was once again bypassed in advance by Yukimiya Kazuma's vision.

Then...

Midorima still could not escape Yukimiya Kazuma's entanglement.

The defensive stickiness was extremely strong.

Midorima felt he had no space to initiate a shot for a moment, so he had to pass the ball to Miyaji Seiji, while he himself drew Yukimiya away to continue running and find an opening to shoot.

Miyaji Seiji: "……"

Hmm...

Was that just now the vision ability Midorima spoke of?

It's even better than that kid Takao's 'Eagle Eye'.

And that defense...

In that very instant, Miyaji Seiji seemed to vaguely see some outline.

A spider?

Or something else?

Miyaji Seiji snapped back to reality; if Midorima was stopped, then...

Slap~!

Crossover in front of the body!

Dakou Longzhi watched this scene, a signature smile on his face.

"Senior Miyaji Seiji?"

"Hmm..."

"I recall you are the type good at breaking through."

"Unfortunately..."

"So am I."

With Miyaji Seiji's irritable personality, it was naturally hard to tolerate a first-year speaking to him in such a 'frivolous' tone.

However, as an opponent, he did not waste much words.

If anything is to be said,

let it be with the basketball in hand!

Slap~!

Miyaji Seiji, exerting his full strength, pulled his right hand with a greater amplitude, and the speed of his crossover breakthrough was also faster.

Yukimiya Kazuma glanced over in that direction. He naturally knew what Miyaji Kiyoshi was good at — when it came to intelligence-gathering ability, in Kuroko no Basket he was definitely a level above Momoi Mayu.

As expected…

Dakou Longzhi's defense showed not the slightest confusion, sticking tightly to his defensive position.

"I told you…"

"Too bad."

"Speed is something I'm also good at — second only to Yukimiya in Senzaki-dō?"

The instant Miyaji Kiyoshi's feint ended, Dakou Longzhi suddenly closed in, forcing Miyaji Kiyoshi two steps back, his expression growing ever more grave.

This guy…

Annoying as it was, his ability really was no joke.

Miyaji Kiyoshi found an opening and passed the ball to Ōtsubo Taisuke near the paint.

"Captain!"

"We're counting on you, Ōtsubo-senpai!"

"Go!!"

Along with the cheers from Shutoku's bench, Ōtsubo Taisuke let out a great roar, raised the ball above his head, and then leaped violently upward!

But…

Smack—!

At some unknown moment Yukimiya Kazuma had left Midō on the perimeter and retreated to the inside, delivering a grand "I-love-blocking-dunks" rejection that slammed the ball hard against the backboard.

As for when exactly he had retreated…

The instant Miyaji Kiyoshi chose to pass inside, Yukimiya Kazuma's field of vision had already caught that node and he had begun moving toward the paint, while not forgetting to keep an eye on cutting off the passing lane from Ōtsubo Taisuke to Midō behind him.

Shutoku's interior offensive core — Ōtsubo Taisuke.

To be honest…

Apart from Yukimiya Kazuma, Senzaki-dō really had no one who could defend him, unless it was a double-team. But once they double-teamed, the perimeter would be left with a numbers advantage, and with Takao Kazunari's "Hawk Eye," it would be easy to find an offensive opportunity.

At that time Yukimiya was on the perimeter guarding Midō, with no chance to help inside, so even though it greatly increased Yukimiya Kazuma's running on the court, the current defensive method was still the optimal choice.

On the sidelines…

Having witnessed Yukimiya Kazuma's ability with his own eyes, Shutoku's coach Nakatani Jinryō was startled, but Senzaki-dō's counterattack on the court left him no more time to be surprised.

Once again it was He Xiuyang bringing the ball up. Reaching the 45-degree angle on the three-point line, he found space and quickly passed to Yukimiya Kazuma at the heart of the half-court.

And at the 45-degree angle on the other side…

Kimura Shinsuke's face was lined with black — he stood on the three-point line, defending Tsuchiya Dahe.

What the hell?