LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 80: Garbled
Akashi stared at the unstoppable Shiro in front of him and couldn't help but sigh inwardly, "How amazing!" But he quickly shook off the thought. "Don't joke with me. I am absolute. I have the Emperor's Eye, and no one can escape my control. I will never lose!"
He took the basketball and assumed a standard triple-threat position, exuding an unprecedentedly solemn aura.
Shiro faced Akashi directly, showing no weakness, with a confident light flashing in his eyes. He still allowed Akashi half a body's space but maintained a defensive stance brimming with pressure.
Without any hesitation, Akashi began his offense, swiftly dribbling to the right in an attempt to break through Shiro's defense. Shiro reacted instantly, staying close and leaving no room for Akashi to maneuver.
Then, Akashi deployed his signature move — the Ankle Breaker.
Shiro's center of gravity shifted momentarily, but then something fierce and primal erupted within him. His aura turned savage.
"This is... Shiro's animal instinct!" Aomine exclaimed, recognizing it immediately—after all, he and Shiro were the only ones at Teiko who had awakened it.
Relying on his extraordinary defensive intuition and physical prowess, Shiro managed to stop himself from falling. His body settled into a low, crouched stance, firmly holding his ground.
Akashi's eyes widened in disbelief. 'How is this possible? He didn't fall for it!'
"No way!" The rest of the team was equally stunned. None of them expected Shiro to counter Akashi's signature move so quickly, solely by entering his animal instinct.
Before Akashi could advance, Shiro readjusted and once again stood firmly in Akashi's path. This time, he didn't give Akashi any space, closing the gap between them. His intense, almost predatory pressure bore down on Akashi as he relentlessly disrupted Akashi's dribble.
Akashi, sensing danger, relied on his Emperor's Eye to predict Shiro's movements. Yet, Shiro's speed far exceeded Akashi's expectations. Every time Akashi evaded one of Shiro's attempts to steal the ball, Shiro's other hand was already reaching for it again, giving Akashi no respite.
Akashi could see Shiro's moves clearly, but his body couldn't keep up. He was completely on the defensive.
To Akashi, Shiro seemed like a relentless beast, forcing him into an awkward retreat. One mistake, and Akashi knew he would lose possession of the ball.
For the first time, doubt crept into Akashi's mind. 'Can I even beat Shiro?' Shiro's strength was beyond anything Akashi had imagined.
Even so, Akashi refused to give up. He worked to steady his nerves, searching for a way to counter Shiro's overwhelming pressure.
Shiro, sensing Akashi's tension and unease, pressed even harder, giving Akashi no chance to recover.
Smack!
The balance between them broke. Shiro successfully stole the ball, slapping it out of bounds.
The onlookers were stunned. They hadn't expected the showdown between the two to end so quickly, with Shiro firmly asserting dominance over Akashi.
Akashi's expression turned blank, his face pale. 'I gave it everything I had, yet I still lost the ball. I possess the Emperor's Eye, yet I can't defeat him. Does this mean… I've lost?'
Shiro's voice, low and menacing, cut through Akashi's thoughts like a blade.
"Relying solely on that ability... this isn't like you, Akashi. You're not the real Akashi. The Akashi I know doesn't revolve around winning at all costs. Aunt Shiori wouldn't have wanted this either."
"Am I not him?" Akashi murmured, falling into deep thought as memories from the past began to resurface.
Endless drills, relentless practice, and the constant pursuit of victory — was this truly what he wanted?
He remembered other kids his age laughing and playing with friends, going to amusement parks with their parents, or simply enjoying themselves. But he was always studying or practicing.
Until one day, his mother walked up to him under the hot sun, shielding him with an umbrella and smiling warmly. She handed him an orange basketball, and for the first time, Akashi felt what it meant to love something.
It wasn't just about the sound of the ball swishing through the net; it was the joy of playing with his teammates, the camaraderie, and the laughter on the court.
'So why did I become this way?'
"Your existence…" Akashi whispered to himself "…is the part of me that refuses to face failure."
In the darkness of his thoughts, another Akashi emerged behind him.
"You were born from my inability to accept defeat" the other Akashi said calmly. "Coming from a prestigious family, always standing at the top, victory became an obligation. Even after losing the only person who brought me comfort —Mom — the family wouldn't allow me to falter. Perhaps, at that moment, we split into two."
The seated Akashi continued,"Basketball was my mother's gift. Though my father was strict, but as long as I kept winning, he allowed me to play. Teiko's basketball practices were tough, but not unbearable — I could pour my heart into basketball. Those days with my teammates, winning two consecutive championships, were irreplaceable"
"But…" his tone darkened. "As my teammates' talents blossomed, their growth outpaced mine. That fear — of losing control, of being left behind — turned into anxiety."
"To keep playing with them, I had to become the strongest" the standing Akashi said, turning to face his seated self. "And so, I was born. But now, you're consumed by fear of losing"
But the seated Akashi calmly replied, "I wanted to maintain what was precious to me with victory. Yet in doing so, I created you out of my weakness. But now, that's not the case anymore"
"I finally understand" the seated Akashi said. "My love for basketball isn't about winning — it's about the joy of playing. You no longer need to exist."
The darkness faded as light began to shine through. The seated Akashi rose and walked toward it. The standing Akashi was consumed by the light, leaving behind only one final sentence: "I hope you remain awake from now on"
"I will" Akashi said to himself. "Because I have incredible teammates."
In the eyes of the spectators, Akashi suddenly turned around and smiled.
"I think I've found myself again."