Chapter 299: Let me show you first—my flawless, peerless imitation!

During the pre-match captain's handshake, Yukimiya Kazuma, wearing jersey number 4, shook hands with Touou's captain, Imayoshi Shoichi.

"Pleased to make your acquaintance."

"Pleased to make your acquaintance."

Imayoshi Shoichi looked at Yukimiya Kazuma, his eyes crinkled like a fox's.

Heh~

Truly impressive.

Facing Qingfeng, he looked completely ready to spring into action.

Moreover, all five players on the court were first-years; aside from Yukimiya Kazuma, the other four showed no sign of stage fright either—truly worthy aces of their respective middle school teams.

Although……

There was a gap in actual strength among them.

Thinking of this, Imayoshi Shoichi cast a glance toward He Xiuyang and Long Tian Zhang, sizing them up on the sly.

As both sides pulled into formation, ready for the tip-off, the arena erupted in deafening cheers.

In this year's Tokyo district prelims, Touou and Izumishiro were visibly a cut above the rest by more than one tier; such a heaven-rousing, earth-stirring clash had every spectator on site glued from the very start, unwilling to miss a single frame.

On the court, although Yukimiya was preparing for the tip-off, Qingfeng's gaze was still fixed intently on his opponent, his fighting spirit growing ever fiercer, as if trying to pierce right through him.

Snap~

The referee tossed the ball up.

Yukimiya Kazuma and Wakamatsu Kosuke contested the tip; without a doubt, it was Izumishiro who claimed first possession!

"The match begins!"

"Then the first possession goes to… Izumishiro has the ball!"

The receiver was He Xiuyang; recalling today's tactical core, his first instinct was to pass the ball to Yukimiya Kazuma.

However……

Imayoshi Shoichi narrowed his eyes, having clearly locked onto He Xiuyang in advance, and latched onto him the instant he caught the ball, simultaneously chuckling: "Oh~ how terrifying~ planning to look for Yukimiya-kun right from the start~?"

Spare me~

As a point guard, your eyes gave away your intent a little too obviously~?

Imayoshi Shoichi made a predictive read on the very first moment, immediately followed by an intensely pressuring close-out!

He Xiuyang stopped dead in his tracks on the spot.

"Mm……"

This is……

The close-out defense came way too fast!

Did he see through my passing intent and prepare countermeasures for this step in advance?!

"Ooooooh, what intense pressure!"

"It's like the decisive stage right from the opening tip!"

"Today's game really is no ordinary one!"

"Touou feels completely different from their previous games!"

Imayoshi Shoichi's advance prediction successfully trapped He Xiuyang into a dead ball, which led to a passing error; the ball, on its passing lane to the guarded Long Tian Zhang, was swatted away in one strike by Sakurai Ryo.

He Xiuyang: "……"

Not good!

In a flash, a black shadow darted out at blistering speed, sprinting after the ball toward Izumishiro's side, while behind him, a streak of snow-white carved a white line—Yukimiya Kazuma, shadow at his heels!

Too fast!

Aomine Daiki!

And also……

Yukimiya Kazuma!

Aomine got the ball, then stepped into Izumishiro's paint at blistering speed; just as he was about to throw down a slam, Yukimiya Kazuma suddenly spread his wings like a bird in flight and appeared at his side in the blink of an eye!

"How is that possible?!"

Imayoshi Shoichi stared at that nearly gliding figure……

There's actually someone who can keep up with Aomine's speed?!

No……

He didn't match the speed—he made up for the gap in distance by taking off early!

Lv3, I love blocking dunks!

Slam~!

Yukimiya Kazuma pressed down with one hand, pinning the ball straight onto the backboard, then gathered the ball with one hand and pocketed it!

Instantly, the entire arena was stunned!

"Aomine's dunk got blocked? That block covered so much distance!"

"His speed wasn't slow either……"

"Indeed, on par with Aomine."

"Pinned it right onto the backboard—how terrifying!"

After landing, Yukimiya Kazuma turned his head to look at Aomine. "Mm? Because the game just started, so your reactions are slow? Even your specialty—speed—failed to shake me off. You're awfully relaxed, aren't you~"

Tch!

Aomine sneered: "Looks like this time I can get a little serious?"

Yukimiya Kazuma raised an eyebrow. "Depends on how serious you can get, but don't make me wait too long—better show me before you lose the game."

Facing Qingfeng was stunned first, then couldn't help but chuckle.

"Very well."

"You bastard."

On the other side.

Tsukishima Kei wore an expression of regret.

The plan, as Momoi had predetermined before the match, to seize the initiative immediately through a fierce assault had failed.

But then again...

He had also sensed it would be like this.

If it could be achieved so easily, it wouldn't be worth Momoi and Facing Qingfeng taking it so seriously.

Just then.

Tsukishima Kei suddenly saw something, and his expression changed drastically.

From the opening until now, the fox-like expression with squinted eyes on his face suddenly grew stern!

"Hm?!"

Wait!

Yukimiya Kazuma?!