The moment the ball touched Rando's fingertips, everything changed.
His vision narrowed and expanded simultaneously—the court stretching before him like a canvas, each player's movement leaving tracers in his heightened perception. The sounds of the gymnasium faded to a distant hum, replaced by the steady rhythm of his own heartbeat and the whisper of air against his skin.
[Zone State: Activated]
[Performance Enhancement: Maximum]
[Signature Skill Available: Lightning Crossover Drive]
The seniors were still recovering from their shock at Hinata's impossible vertical leap. Their defensive formation, normally seamless and coordinated, had fractured for just a fraction of a second—but in the Zone, that fraction stretched into an eternity.
Rando's lips curved into a predatory smile as he surveyed the court. Renji was already moving to intercept, his eyes calculating angles and trajectories with the cold precision that defined his play style. Toma and Shunpei were scrambling to recover their defensive positions, while Keisuke and Haruto were still backpedaling from the jump ball.
A perfect opening.
Rando exploded forward with a first step so explosive it seemed to distort the air around him. The ball became an extension of his body, flowing between his hands with liquid grace as he accelerated toward the three-point line.
Renji adjusted his stance, positioning himself at the perfect angle to cut off Rando's drive. It was textbook defensive positioning—the kind that would stop 99% of offensive players.
But Rando wasn't just any offensive player.
Without breaking stride, he executed a crossover so sharp it seemed to defy physics. The ball blurred from his right hand to his left, passing mere millimeters from Renji's outstretched fingers. The captain's eyes widened in disbelief as Rando's body seemed to flow around him like water around a stone.
[Lightning Crossover Drive: Executed]
[Effect: Defender Freeze – Target momentarily immobilized by unexpected change in direction]
"What the—" Renji's voice cut off as he pivoted to recover, but Rando was already past him.
Toma rushed forward to provide help defense, his quick feet carrying him into position with impressive speed. He planted himself in Rando's path, arms spread wide to cut off passing lanes.
Rando didn't even hesitate. As if anticipating the move seconds before it happened, he executed a behind-the-back dribble that transitioned seamlessly into a between-the-legs crossover. The combination was so fluid, so unpredictable, that Toma's defensive stance crumbled. His weight shifted in the wrong direction, and by the time he realized his mistake, Rando had already blown past him.
"He's too fast!" someone shouted from the sidelines.
Two defenders down. Three to go.
Shunpei approached with more caution, having witnessed what happened to his teammates. Rather than committing to a direct challenge, he maintained his distance, arms extended to limit options without overcommitting.
A smart strategy against a normal player. Useless against Rando in the Zone.
Rando decelerated suddenly, the change in tempo so abrupt that Shunpei instinctively took a step forward to close the gap. It was exactly what Rando wanted. In the split second of Shunpei's weight transfer, Rando executed a hesitation dribble followed by a explosive burst to the left that left the defender grasping at empty air.
Three down.
The paint loomed ahead, where Keisuke and Haruto formed the last line of defense. The two seniors had positioned themselves perfectly—Keisuke ready to contest any drive, Haruto prepared to protect the rim.
Most players would pull up for a jump shot or look to pass. Rando did neither.
Instead, he accelerated again, driving directly toward the two defenders as if they weren't even there. The audacity of the move caught everyone by surprise—including Coach Yamashiro, who sat up slightly from his reclined position on the bench.
As Rando reached the three-point line, he gathered his dribble. Keisuke moved to cut off his path, while Haruto positioned himself for the inevitable help defense.
Then Rando did something that defied all basketball logic.
He jumped—not from inside the paint, not from the free-throw line, but from beyond the three-point arc.
The gymnasium fell silent as Rando's body soared through the air, covering an impossible distance with graceful power. His right arm extended, the ball cradled in his palm as he flew over the stunned defenders.
[Aerial Dominance: Maximum Extension]
[Distance Calculation: Three-Point Line to Rim – Optimal Trajectory Achieved]
Time seemed to slow as Rando reached the apex of his jump. Keisuke and Haruto, realizing what was happening, both leaped to contest the dunk, their arms stretching upward in desperate defense.
Too late.
Rando twisted his body in mid-air, contorting around the outstretched arms of the defenders with inhuman flexibility. The movement was so smooth, so natural, that it looked choreographed rather than improvised. His arm extended further, and with a savage motion, he slammed the ball through the hoop with such force that the entire backboard shuddered.
The sound of the dunk echoed through the gymnasium like a thunderclap, followed by the metallic ringing of the rim as Rando hung from it momentarily before dropping back to the floor with catlike grace.
Three points. First blood to the freshmen.
For several heartbeats, no one moved. No one spoke. The entire gymnasium was frozen in collective shock at what they had just witnessed.
Miyu's clipboard slipped from her fingers, clattering to the floor and breaking the spell.
"Did he just..." she whispered, unable to complete the thought.
Coach Yamashiro's eyes were now fully open, his lazy facade momentarily forgotten as he studied Rando with newfound interest.
The seniors exchanged glances of disbelief as they jogged back to their positions. Even Renji, with all his composure, couldn't hide the surprise in his expression.
"What was that?" Daigo asked as he passed Rando, his voice a mixture of awe and confusion.
Rando didn't answer. The Zone still hummed through his veins, focusing his attention entirely on the game. This was just the beginning.
The seniors inbounded the ball to Renji, who brought it up court with measured control. His expression had changed—the initial shock was replaced by intense concentration. Whatever had just happened, the captain was determined not to let it happen again.
"Formation Alpha," he called, his voice cutting through the gymnasium with crisp authority.
The seniors moved with practiced precision, shifting into a complex offensive pattern that seemed to flow like water. Renji dribbled at the top of the key, his eyes scanning the court as his teammates executed a series of cuts and screens.
The freshmen, still disorganized and unfamiliar with each other's play styles, struggled to keep up with the coordinated movement. Gaps appeared in their defense almost immediately.
Renji exploited one such gap with a lightning-quick bounce pass to Toma, who had curled around a screen set by Haruto. Toma caught the ball in stride and immediately attacked the basket, only to find Daigo hopelessly out of position.
It should have been an easy layup.
But as Toma rose for the shot, a massive shadow fell across him. Hinata had rotated from the weak side with surprising quickness for someone his size, his enormous frame now positioned directly between Toma and the basket.
Toma adjusted mid-air, attempting to float the ball over Hinata's outstretched arms. It was a skilled move that would have worked against most defenders.
Hinata wasn't most defenders.
With a casual swat that belied the incredible timing required, Hinata sent the ball ricocheting off the backboard. The block was so clean, so effortless, that it seemed almost insulting.
[Titan Defense: Activated]
[Mental Suppression Aura: Affecting Nearby Opponents]
Rando was already moving before the block was complete, anticipating the trajectory of the rebound. He snagged the ball out of the air and immediately pushed the pace, driving hard toward the opposite basket.
This time, the seniors were ready. They recovered with impressive speed, forming a defensive wall that forced Rando to pull up near half-court.
"Pass!" Daigo called, waving his arms frantically.
Rando ignored him. In the Zone, there was no need for teammates—only obstacles to overcome.
Renji approached cautiously, his defensive stance perfect as he cut off direct driving lanes. Behind him, the other seniors had positioned themselves strategically, eliminating obvious passing options and forcing Rando to make a decision.
Rando smiled. They thought they had him contained.
With a sudden burst of speed, he executed a crossover so violent it seemed to bend the laws of physics. The ball blurred from one hand to the other as his body feinted right before exploding left. Renji's hands moved to intercept, but they were grasping at shadows—Rando had already changed direction again, the ball seemingly attached to his fingertips by invisible strings.
[Freestyle Handling: Unpredictable Pattern Engaged]
[Defender Analysis: Reaction Time Insufficient]
The sequence happened so quickly that many observers couldn't follow it. One moment Rando was contained by five defenders; the next, he was slicing between them like they were standing still.
Keisuke rotated to help, but Rando had already anticipated the move. He switched the ball to his left hand, then executed a behind-the-back dribble that transitioned seamlessly into a spin move. The combination left Keisuke off-balance, his defensive position compromised.
Haruto, recognizing the danger, abandoned his assignment to contest Rando's drive. At 206 centimeters, with his shot-blocking ability, he represented the last line of defense.
Rando gathered his dribble and soared toward the basket. Haruto rose to meet him, his timing perfect, his positioning textbook.
It didn't matter.
In mid-air, Rando contorted his body at an impossible angle, twisting away from Haruto's outstretched arms. The ball, which had been in his right hand, somehow transferred to his left during the aerial adjustment. With a flick of his wrist, Rando released a reverse layup that kissed off the glass and dropped through the net.
Five-zero.
"What the hell kind of move was that?" someone whispered from the sidelines.
Rando landed lightly, already turning to get back on defense. The Zone still pulsed through him, heightening his senses and amplifying his abilities. This was what basketball was meant to be—pure, instinctual, overwhelming.
The seniors regrouped quickly, their initial shock giving way to determined focus. Renji gathered his teammates for a brief huddle before they inbounded the ball.
"Stay calm," he instructed, his voice level despite the situation. "He's good, but he's still just one player. Trust the system."
This time, when they brought the ball up court, there was a noticeable change in their approach. Instead of isolating or running set plays, they began to move the ball with blinding speed and precision. Each pass was crisp, each cut purposeful. The ball never stayed in one player's hands for more than a second before it was moving again.
It was basketball at its most beautiful—five players functioning as a single organism, each movement setting up the next in a symphony of coordinated action.
Rando found himself chasing shadows, his individual brilliance neutralized by the seniors' collective excellence. Even in the Zone, he couldn't be everywhere at once.
[Warning: Team Play Countering Individual Dominance]
[Recommendation: Adjust Defensive Strategy]
The ball moved from Renji to Toma to Shunpei to Keisuke and back to Renji in the span of three seconds, each pass more precise than the last. The freshmen's defense, already disorganized, began to collapse under the pressure of this relentless ball movement.
Gaps appeared. Assignments were missed. Confusion reigned.
Renji, orchestrating the offense with cold efficiency, spotted an opening and delivered a perfect bounce pass to Shunpei, who had slipped behind Yuto's defense. Shunpei caught the ball and immediately attacked the basket, his path seemingly clear.
Until it wasn't.
As Shunpei rose for the layup, he felt it—a pressure that transcended the physical. A presence so overwhelming that it seemed to compress the air around him. His confidence, normally unshakable, wavered for the first time.
Hinata Kurobane had arrived.
The 220-centimeter giant hadn't moved particularly fast, but his positioning was impeccable. He stood directly between Shunpei and the basket, his massive frame creating a wall that seemed impossible to overcome. His expression remained impassive, but there was something in his eyes—a primal intensity that sent a chill down Shunpei's spine.
[Titan Ability: Mental Suppression Aura]
[Effect: Target experiencing hesitation and diminished confidence]
Shunpei hesitated—just for a fraction of a second, but in basketball, that's all it takes. He adjusted his shot, attempting to float it over Hinata's outstretched arms.
The ball never reached its apex.
Hinata's hand engulfed it mid-flight, plucking it from the air with casual ease. There was no violent swat, no dramatic rejection—just the simple, devastating efficiency of a perfect block.
The gymnasium fell silent once more, the spectators struggling to process what they were seeing. First Rando's impossible offensive display, and now Hinata's immovable defense.
Keisuke, recognizing the danger of allowing the freshmen to start another fast break, immediately cut toward Hinata, attempting to trap him before he could outlet the ball.
Hinata didn't panic. With surprising awareness for someone who appeared so lethargic off the court, he pivoted away from the pressure and delivered a perfect bounce pass to Rando, who was already streaking toward the opposite basket.
The seniors, caught in transition, scrambled to recover. Renji and Toma managed to get back in time to form a defensive wall at the three-point line, while Haruto sprinted to protect the rim.
Rando, still in the Zone, assessed the situation in milliseconds. Three defenders, all positioned optimally. Most players would pull up or look to pass.
Rando attacked.
He accelerated toward Renji and Toma, the ball flowing between his hands with hypnotic rhythm. As he reached them, he executed a hesitation dribble that momentarily froze both defenders, then exploded between them with a burst of speed that seemed impossible for a human being.
Haruto, the last line of defense, planted himself directly in Rando's path, his 206-centimeter frame forming an imposing barrier.
Rando gathered his dribble at the free-throw line and soared upward. Haruto rose to meet him, their bodies colliding in mid-air.
What happened next defied explanation.
Somehow, Rando contorted his body around Haruto's, twisting in mid-air like a gymnast. The ball, which had been in his right hand, transferred to his left during this aerial adjustment. As gravity began to reclaim them both, Rando extended his arm and slammed the ball through the hoop with thunderous force.
The backboard shuddered. The rim vibrated. The sound echoed through the gymnasium like a declaration of war.
Seven-zero.
Rando hung from the rim momentarily, his eyes meeting Haruto's as the senior landed. There was no arrogance in his gaze, no taunting—just the pure, focused intensity of a predator in its element.
As Rando dropped back to the floor, the spell that had held the gymnasium in thrall finally broke. Whispers erupted from the sidelines, growing quickly into excited chatter. The volleyball players had abandoned any pretense of their own practice, gathering at the edges of the basketball court to witness the spectacle.
"Did you see that?"
"How is that even possible?"
"Who is this guy?"
Coach Yamashiro sat fully upright now, his lazy demeanor completely gone. His eyes tracked Rando's movement with laser focus, analyzing, assessing.
Miyu stood frozen, her clipboard forgotten at her feet, her expression a mixture of awe and disbelief.
"Two minutes," she whispered to no one in particular. "They've scored six points in two minutes. And it's all been him."
The seniors gathered around Renji, their expressions serious but not defeated. They had faced adversity before, had overcome challenges that would have broken lesser teams. This was just another test.
"Let's get ready" Renji said quietly, and his teammates nodded in understanding.
As they broke their huddle and prepared to inbound the ball again, there was a new intensity in their movements, a heightened focus in their eyes. The initial shock had worn off. Now it was time to respond.
Rando, still riding the wave of the Zone, felt a smile spread across his face. This was what he had been waiting for—a true test of his abilities, a chance to push the limits of what was possible.
The game was just beginning.