Kuroko no Basket: Honored One

"Break!"

In a flash, Akashi seemed to see a blade slicing toward him, exuding an awe-inspiring pressure that made his skin sting.

But he quickly realized—it wasn't a real blade. It was Tendou's hand lunging out.

"Pa!"

Akashi reacted in time, pulling the ball back. Even so, Tendou still managed to strike first.

The basketball was knocked loose and flew toward the three-point line.

There, players from both Kirisaki Daiichi and Rakuzan were already charging in from all directions.

Hayama Kotarō was the fastest, immediately gaining control of the ball.

At this point, all ten players had crossed half court, and both teams had entered into a half-court battle.

Only now did the audience seem to remember to breathe.

That opening exchange of fierce attacks—neither side yielding an inch—sent chills down everyone's spines.

"Phew… I seriously thought I was going to pass out," Koganei Shinji gasped dramatically.

The others appeared more composed, but their expressions still carried the look of someone who had just brushed past death.

They had completely immersed themselves in the Kirisaki Daiichi vs. Rakuzan match, only to realize they couldn't keep up with the pace at all.

On the court.

Akashi came out of the paint to retrieve possession.

Tendou followed closely. After playing the center position in the match against Yōsen, today he was positioned as the point guard.

At the level of the Generation of Miracles, ordinary players were no longer a threat. Even Murasakibara was barely hanging on in the previous match.

Time ticked away second by second, but Akashi made no new move.

If the opening was a collision of titans, now it was complete stillness.

Each side faced off against their respective opponents, making no rash moves, as if holding back out of respect for the two players on the court with divine eyes.

Like a dormant volcano, ready to erupt at any moment.

"Why did it stop?"

"It's because of Tendou's defensive coverage. He's completely sealing off the inner Rakuzan formation."

Kise looked down and noticed Kirisaki Daiichi's positioning was just like it had been against Yōsen.

Tendou alone stood near the free-throw line, taking on the responsibility of defending the entire area inside the three-point arc.

"Even Little Akashi can't find a way through?"

"Who knows. They can both see farther than we can."

Aomine stood with hands in his pockets, eyes locked on the court.

On one side was Akashi with the Emperor Eye, and on the other, Tendou with the Six Eyes.

Both could see into the future. A showdown like this was filled with uncertainty—something even the spectators couldn't grasp.

A single error—even a minor one—could decide the outcome.

Only six seconds remained on the shot clock.

Akashi knew he couldn't wait any longer. He suddenly made a move, faking a crossover with incredible speed.

But it was just that—a fake.

Right after faking the crossover, he twisted his wrist and lunged forward with the ball.

Because the moment he executed the fake, Tendou instinctively shifted his body weight.

Aomine was right. In this kind of battle, even the smallest misstep could be fatal.

But the mistake wouldn't come from within—it would come from failing to capitalize on timing differences.

Akashi's move now aimed to exploit the slight moment when Tendou shifted his body.

He lunged forward in one powerful step.

Just one step, but with Tendou's weight slightly forward, Akashi was suddenly shoulder to shoulder with him.

However—

"Pa!"

Tendou spun around quickly, whipping out his long right arm like a spear, and jabbed the ball away in one clean motion.

"So that's it… Tendou is tracking Akashi's blind spots?" Kise exclaimed, realizing the true nature of Tendou's defense.

Though the Emperor Eye and the Six Eyes could both see into the future, the Six Eyes had one additional, overpowered trait—

It had no blind spots.

"If you thought I wouldn't be prepared for this, then you don't understand me," Akashi said calmly, unfazed.

He had indeed anticipated this. When he found out that Tendou could also see the future and had no blind spots, he began mentally simulating all possible matchups against Tendou.

So now, when the ball was knocked loose again, Akashi reacted before it was completely lost.

He swung his arm and flung the ball directly into Hayama Kotarō's hands.

The "Thunder Beast" was already prepared.

"I'll crush this gloomy atmosphere in one blow!"

Hayama activated his signature five-finger dribble, golden lightning arcing from his body as he charged past Hanamiya Makoto's defense with explosive speed.

His dribbling speed was unmatched among non-Miracle players.

"Hmph, an idiot who only knows how to rush in headfirst."

Hanamiya had prepared for this as well. His sharp instincts kicked in, and he positioned himself perfectly in advance. As Hayama charged at him, Hanamiya fell to the ground theatrically—

—but not before subtly flipping Hayama off with his middle finger.

"Tweet!" The referee immediately blew the whistle and shouted, "Rakuzan #7, offensive foul!"

"You bastard…" Hayama gritted his teeth in frustration.

"Ehehehe~" Hanamiya cackled with his signature wicked laugh. "Why the rush? Got somewhere to be? Lighting incense at your ancestors' graves or something?"

He was in top form, his words like verbal poison. Hayama was so furious he looked ready to explode.

"Momoi, did you leak Rakuzan's intel to Tendou again?"

"What else was I supposed to do? I was already ready," Momoi admitted candidly.

She had gathered Rakuzan's data before Tōō even faced them.

After that high-level match, her analysis of Rakuzan had only grown deeper.

You could say that Kirisaki Daiichi now understood Rakuzan like the back of their hand.

"You're such a pain…" Aomine couldn't help but complain.

"Don't be so hard on Momo-chan. Thanks to this, Kirisaki Daiichi can at least compensate a bit for the depth gap between them and Rakuzan," Kise said, seeing through it without calling her out.

He understood Momoi's reasoning—this was her way of doing her part.

...

Back on the court, Kirisaki Daiichi had possession.

"Was it Momoi?" Akashi asked Tendou directly.

Hanamiya's flop was too precise—like he knew it was coming before it happened.

Without Tendou's predictive vision, the only way to do that would be from knowing Hayama Kotarō's tendencies extremely well.

And aside from Momoi Satsuki, Teikō's former manager, Akashi couldn't think of a second person who fit that description.

"Yeah. Feeling left out?"

"Not at all. Momoi's interference was within my expectations," Akashi replied calmly.

He wasn't lying—he had indeed predicted it.

Everyone among them understood Momoi's intentions. She thought she was being subtle, but they all saw through her.

"Still so composed. Who gave you that confidence? That #5?"

"Didn't expect you to find someone like that," Tendou said meaningfully.

Akashi's pupils shrank slightly but then returned to normal.

"Another one with Six Eyes?" Akashi thought to himself.

He hadn't forgotten—Tendou's eyes could see straight through an opponent's core.

But to spot everything about Chihiro Mayuzumi's unique traits at a glance was still beyond his expectations.

This wasn't just understanding a player's type—it was like dissecting them completely.

At this rate… there really were no secrets left between them.

...

[Vote With Your Power Stones For Bonus Chapters]

[Check My Patreon For Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!!!]

[patréon.com/RoseWhisky]