Chapter 72: Offensive Rotation, Kise Ryota, Chance!

Perhaps Yukimiya Kazuma's inner grumbling had taken effect, or perhaps the other Generation of Miracles couldn't stand watching Aomine Daiki run wild like this while he himself stood off to the side as if serving a penalty.

In the next possession, Aomine Daiki sulkily lowered his flag and beat his drums, and the one who came on to replace him on offense was Kise Ryota.

Yukimiya Kazuma's eyes lit up at the sight—he knew the team's momentum couldn't keep being suppressed like this, and defending Aomine in the second quarter would still need everyone's help.

This chance absolutely had to be seized.

After all…

Among the current Generation of Miracles, Kise Ryota was the weakest Miracle—the one who could be defended by Tsukawata Tomoki into a 24-second shot-clock violation.

Even though that happened when Kise had only just started playing in his second year, he was already a starter for Teikou at that point, and Akashi had demanded of him the same standard as any Miracle—twenty points in regulation.

So they absolutely had to put points on the board in this stretch and ease the pressure on everyone.

……

Teikou's offense.

Kise Ryota initiated the attack at the top of the arc.

Liang Huayin defended Kise.

After Kise backed him down repeatedly with the ball, Liang Huayin felt the other man might be going up for a jumper; the next instant, the moment Kise turned to shoot, Liang Huayin leapt forward to contest.

After going through Aomine Daiki's offensive baptism, Liang Huayin knew perfectly well that once a monster like that got going, he'd be even harder to stop, so Liang Huayin immediately threw himself at him with all his might.

Even if he couldn't block it, any kind of contest was a win; if the other man faked the shot and drove, then he'd just have to leave it to the teammates behind him.

Liang Huayin only gave Kise limited visual interference, but the other man's release point was terrifying—his shooting form hadn't been disrupted at all. Just as Liang Huayin was inwardly sighing at the monster, Yukimiya, who with his super-wide vision had been watching the whole court, had already rotated over at some unknown moment.

*Slap*—!

A desperate leap from the side, his fingertip grazed the basketball!

Kise Ryota: "What…?!"

This guy!

When did he get over here? His speed is insane!

*Clang*—!

The basketball slammed off the front of the rim and bounced up.

Kise's first shot was an airball, and a scramble erupted under the basket at Hakusui Hall.

Takefuji Masaki shoved hard against Murasakibara Atsushi. Although the latter, during Kise's offense, had drifted outside the paint like he was just watching the show, in the blink of an eye he shoved everyone aside and crashed into the lane to grab the rebound.

However…

He grabbed it, but not quite.

*Slap*—!

Yukimiya, who had just tipped the ball, didn't even look at Kise—he whipped his head toward the lane, and the instant Murasakibara came down with the rebound, Yukimiya reached out and tapped it!

The basketball flew away.

Teriyama Daisuke got the ball and, without hesitation, passed it to Yukimiya Kazuma!

"Fast break!"

Because of Yukimiya Kazuma's passing ability, transition offense had always been Hakusui Hall's advantage.

But from the start of the game until now, Aomine Daiki's success rate had been so high that Hakusui Hall had never managed to launch a fast break.

Liang Huayin charged out in front, and Yukimiya Kazuma passed him the ball without a moment's hesitation, all the while keeping close tabs on Akashi's positioning as he passed.

Because he knew perfectly well that, given the other man's Emperor Eye ability, leaving any space where he could intercept the pass meant his predictive power would never let the chance slip.

So the fast-break passing lane had to be a spot that even if Akashi's Emperor Eye saw it, his physical ability couldn't reach in time.

Because Kise had attacked from the top of the three-point arc closest to Teikou's backcourt just now, his chase defense was very solid—he had kept just the right distance from Liang Huayin the whole way.

Liang Huayin glanced back; the defensive pressure was enormous. He didn't force his way to the rim, but instead passed the ball behind him and dragged Kise out past the baseline.

Then…

Yukimiya Kazuma, with Aomine Daiki draped all over him, received the pass.

In the depths of his gaze, the situation around him was crystal clear.

Next instant!

A desperate leap!

*Beep*—!

"White #6, defensive foul! Blue #5, two free throws!"