LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 89: Hang Time
"I can't believe we're down by 18 points even after working together!" Aomine panted heavily, sweat dripping like beads from his forehead.
The rest of the team remained silent, breathing hard and trying to recover as much energy as possible during the brief break. The intense effort had drained everyone's stamina, leaving them utterly exhausted.
Sanada furrowed his brows, clenched his teeth, and addressed the team, "Midorima and Aomine, take a break. Kuroko and Kise, you're going in."
After all, most of the points for Teiko so far had come from Midorima and Aomine, while the others hadn't contributed as much. Naturally, those two had expended more energy than the rest.
Subbing Kuroko in was also part of the strategy to maximize their offensive capabilities since their defense couldn't hold off the opposing team. Their only hope now was to match their opponents' scoring power.
Hearing this, Aomine immediately sprang to his feet, urgency written all over his face. "Coach, I can still play!"
After finally encountering such a formidable opponent, Aomine had no intention of leaving the court easily.
However, Sanada shook his head in disapproval. "Rest now. I'll send you back in later."
With that, he firmly pushed the anxious Aomine back onto the bench. Though reluctant, Aomine understood the reasoning behind the decision and begrudgingly sat down, waiting for his chance to reenter the game.
Sanada, hands on his knees, bent slightly forward, shouting, "Don't panic! We still have a shot at winning this! Stay focused!"
He grabbed the tactics board, pointing and strategizing as he spoke. "We'll focus on offense this quarter. Kise takes the small forward spot, Shiro moves to power forward, and we'll switch to a 2-3 zone defense. Kuroko, use your presence — or lack thereof — to force turnovers. Let's play our game. Eighteen points is nothing! We can turn this around!"
"Got it!" the team responded with determined nods.
"Beep!"
The second quarter began.
"Wait a second—why do you only have four players on the court?" Davis asked, scanning the court in confusion.
"We're all here" Shiro responded calmly before immediately diving into offense.
Akashi brought the ball past half-court, his eyes narrowing as he surveyed the floor. He quickly found Kuroko's position and passed the ball straight to him.
"Turnover?" Russell muttered, puzzled as the ball came his way. Akashi had barely made any errors in the first quarter, and there wasn't a defender in sight!
He reached out to grab the ball, while Davis, seeing the play unfold, sprinted toward the frontcourt for a fast break.
But just then, something extraordinary happened.
"Pop!"
The ball's trajectory suddenly changed as if guided by an invisible force, darting straight to the basket.
Davis's eyes widened in shock—he had no time to react and could only watch as the ball flew past him.
Waiting beneath the rim was Murasakibara, who easily caught the ball, leapt, and delivered a thunderous dunk that shook the entire court.
"What just happened?" The American team's players were stunned, unable to comprehend the sequence of events.
Russell finally got a clear view of what had occurred — or rather, who had made it happen. What he saw wasn't a typical middle school student, but rather a diminutive figure that looked more like a child.
"What the heck? Who is this guy, and how did he get here?" Russell muttered, dumbfounded.
His question received no response. Kuroko stood silently, blending into the background as he maintained his trademark low profile. For him, staying unnoticed was crucial to keeping the opponent off-balance and maintaining the game's rhythm.
The score now read 37:21, with the American team still leading by 16.
Schröder, unfazed by the unexpected play, carried the ball past half-court, keenly observing the opposing defense. But then, he noticed something odd — where was the fifth player?
"Watch out!" Russell's warning came too late. A small hand swiped the ball from Schröder's grasp.
Stunned, Schröder turned to see a blue-haired player, barely noticeable before this moment. "What the — when did he get on the court?!" he exclaimed in frustration.
Without hesitation, Kuroko passed the ball to Shiro, who had already launched into a fast break. Wiggins chased after him immediately.
Seeing Wiggins approach, Shiro consolidated his dribble and prepared for an aerial contest. Wiggins, determined, timed his jump perfectly, aiming to block the shot.
Both players leapt simultaneously. Wiggins extended his long arms, appearing to have the edge due to his superior height and reach. From a distance, it seemed like Wiggins would easily contest Shiro's shot.
But Shiro smirked. 'You think you can outlast me in the air?' he thought, channeling Jordan: Hangtime.
Defying expectations, Shiro remained suspended in mid-air as Wiggins began his descent. Shiro's hang time left the entire crowd in awe.
With a smooth motion, Shiro finished the layup just as Wiggins landed, leaving everyone speechless.
"Damn, Shiro's gotten stronger" Aomine muttered, his expression serious. He couldn't help but wonder how he would have handled that play himself.
The American team's players were equally stunned. Wiggins was renowned for his exceptional athleticism — even by NBA standards. Yet Shiro, a middle schooler, had just outdone him.
Comparisons to Jordan began circulating in their minds, though they couldn't believe they were likening a Japanese teenager to the Goat.
As for Wiggins, he was left utterly bewildered. Having experienced Shiro's hang time firsthand, he felt like he'd gone up against someone superhuman.
The score moved to 37:23, narrowing the gap to 14 points.