NBA Skills: Dominating Kuroko no Basket

"You're strong, but I'm stronger!" Aomine's voice was as cold as ice, his eyes filled with indifference as he looked down on Hayama from above, as if he were the sole ruler of the world, free to dictate the fate of others.

Without another word, Aomine turned and headed toward the locker room with his teammates, leaving Hayama alone on the court.

Hayama clenched his fists tightly, frustration and anger boiling inside him. He fixed his gaze on Aomine's retreating figure, vowing silently 'Next time! Next time, I'll beat you!'

What Hayama didn't know was that by next year, when all members of the Generation of Miracles fully reached their potential, defeating them would be even more impossible.

"Not bad—who would've thought you'd awaken your instincts this quickly?" A smiling Shiro approached Aomine, handing him a towel and water bottle.

"Hey, Shiro let's have a one-on-one match!" Aomine exclaimed, throwing an arm around Shiro's neck with excitement, almost shouting.

"Get off me! Don't you remember what the coach said?" Shiro pushed Aomine's arm off, wiping the spot where Aomine had grabbed him with exaggerated disgust.

"Hehe, I just awakened my Animal Instinct, and my blood is boiling—I can't help wanting to challenge you!" Aomine scratched his head sheepishly, feeling slightly embarrassed.

Everyone burst into relaxed smiles. Today's game had been intense, but the perfect outcome left them all relieved.

"Alright, folks, you've all worked hard! Get changed, and let's head home!" Coach Shirogane cheerfully clapped his hands, rallying the group.

The players responded in unison and wrapped up their conversations.

As night quietly fell and streetlights flickered to life, Shiro, Aomine, and Momoi walked home together.

Why just the three of them? At the fork in the road earlier, Murasakibara had gone his own way, while Akashi and Midorima stayed behind to train alone at the gym. After today's fierce battle, the others were keenly aware of the gap between themselves and Shiro and Aomine.

Shiro's abilities had always stood out—he was ahead of everyone from the start. However, what now truly alarmed them was the Animal Instinct that Aomine had awakened. His newfound competitive edge posed a real threat. None of them wanted to be left behind by Aomine.

"Shiro, when are we gonna play that one-on-one? I feel like I'm stronger than ever—maybe even scary strong!" Aomine grinned as he casually draped an arm over Shiro's shoulder, eyes sparkling with anticipation.

Shiro smirked. "Oh? You don't seriously think you can beat me now, do you?"

Shiro's thoughts, however, weren't entirely on Aomine. His gaze lingered on the girl beside him—Momoi.

Just then, Momoi looked up, catching Shiro's eye. Her cheeks flushed slightly, but her gaze remained steady, as if she couldn't bear to look away.

"Of course!" Aomine declared confidently. "Ever since I tapped into my instincts, I've been improving fast—beating you will be a piece of cake!"

Shiro didn't argue further. He turned and continued walking in silence. Relieved, Momoi finally shifted her gaze away, trying to calm her racing thoughts.

After all, staring too long at Shiro's annoyingly handsome face was its own kind of pressure.

Meanwhile, Shiro mused to himself: 'Momoi's so cute'

"Come on, Shiro! Let's try a light one-on-one—nothing too intense!" Aomine pleaded eagerly, his excitement brimming as if he couldn't wait to start.

Shiro's tone was calm but firm: "When you unlock the Zone, we'll have our match." He knew what it meant to enter the Zone—and that only then would Aomine be ready to face him seriously.

Momoi, curious, couldn't hold back any longer. "Shiro, what exactly is the Zone?"

"The Zone is a state where a player's abilities—strength, agility, speed, vision, and reflexes—are pushed to their absolute peak. In that moment, they can perform beyond ordinary limits, achieving incredible feats for a short period" Shiro explained simply.

He added, "Normally, people can only tap into about 80% of their potential. But only rare talents—those who love basketball with all their heart—can enter the Zone and reach 100%"

"Does that mean Aomine can enter the Zone?" Momoi's eyes widened with fascination.

"Of course!" Aomine thumped his chest proudly. "Shiro, just wait. Whether or not I unlock the Zone, I'll beat you!" His confidence came not only from awakening his Animal Instinct today, but also from feeling more comfortable than ever with his formless shooting technique.

"Then I'll look forward to it" Shiro smiled faintly, waving goodbye as they reached the fork in the road. "It's getting late—I'm heading home. See you!"

"See you, Shiro!" Momoi waved enthusiastically.

Watching Shiro disappear into the distance, Aomine rolled his eyes. "He's gone, and you're still staring like a love-struck fool?"

Momoi's face turned bright red. She spun around defensively. "So what if I am?!"

With that, she quickened her pace, head down, like an embarrassed ostrich. Aomine shook his head and followed behind her, resigned to her antics. As they walked, Momoi's mind kept replaying the moments she spent with Shiro, leaving her secretly delighted.

Back in his room, Shiro collapsed onto his soft bed like a ragdoll, staring at the ceiling in thought. His mind kept drifting back to the topic of the Zone.

"The Zone, huh?" he murmured, almost to himself. He remembered his experiences in the system's training space—how he'd brushed against the edge of the Zone. The feeling had been unforgettable, and he sensed that the day he fully unlocked it was near.

Suddenly, Shiro sat up straight, determination lighting up his eyes. He took a deep breath and shouted, "System! Open the 6-hour training space and set my opponents to the Generation of Miracles in their first year of high school!"

As soon as the words left his mouth, a powerful energy enveloped him, and in the blink of an eye, he found himself on a virtual basketball court.

Looking around at the familiar setting and familiar opponents, Shiro's heart surged with excitement. He knew this would be a tough fight, but he felt no fear.

Because this time, he was ready to push himself further than ever before—ready to step into the Zone.