Even though Akihito Shigure, in the third quarter, only focused on passing on the offensive end,
The terrifying talent of "Assist King" recovering his ultimate move with every assist, combined with "Better Teammates", which empowered his teammates' catching ability,
meant that Ibu Middle School, as expected, didn't collapse any further compared to the first half.
But for Eikichi Nebuya…
Losing to Akihito Shigure wasn't hard to accept, but losing again in nearly the same way to Teiko's first-years shook even the core of his belief in his own muscles.
Clap!
Clap!
Clap!
During the break before the final quarter, Captain Inomaru suddenly stood, breaking the heavy, silent atmosphere. His voice rang especially clear in the ears of the nearby Nebuya Eikichi.
"Everyone!"
"There's no such thing as a match we're bound to lose, unless we give up! We've fought our way to face the strongest, Teiko. How can we end this so easily?"
"We've come this far…"
"The Ibu Basketball Club…"
"Our memories of basketball… are almost all from the days when we had no 'wings.' In the endless search for those wings to fly, what we've believed in is…"
"Even if we can't fly, we will leap over any wall with our own two feet!"
"And even if we fail…"
"There's still a certain kind of cool in that!"
"You haven't forgotten what our seniors told us when we joined, have you?"
"No matter how bad the situation gets, there's only one reason to keep fighting, and that is…"
Even in such a desperate moment, just like the muscles they had gritted their teeth to build over the past year, the Ibu players rose, firm and resolute.
"Because we haven't lost yet!"
"Because we haven't lost yet!"
"Because we haven't lost yet!"
"Yeah!!"
In that rekindled atmosphere, Ibu stepped onto the court for the last, fourth quarter. Just before tip-off, Captain Inomaru placed a hand on Nebuya Eikichi's shoulder and spoke words utterly different from his earlier rallying cry.
"Eikichi…"
"Hm?"
"What is it, senpai?"
"For me… this is my last summer."
"…"
Nebuya Eikichi stared in disbelief at his captain, who had been so full of fighting spirit moments ago, stunned by the sudden confession. But before he could speak, Inomaru continued.
"As your senior and captain, I won't save these words for the retirement ceremony. I'll say them to you here."
"Yes, senpai."
Inomaru patted the steadily swelling muscles of Eikichi's shoulders and smiled as though a weight had lifted. "Losing here, especially losing to Akihito Shigure in this way, "
", as a team, of course, it's painful…"
"But for you, Eikichi…"
"I think this is the best thing that could've happened."
Eikichi: "?"
"Senpai… I… don't really understand."
Inomaru glanced toward Teiko. The fourth quarter had begun, and Shigure was replaced by the other half of Teiko's Twin Stars, Shuzo Nijimura.
They were all… terrifying players.
"No, Eikichi…"
"This is a lesson you will understand."
"With your talent, you should never limit yourself to just 'muscles.'"
"If you let pride as a 'genius' blind you to others, one day someone will surpass you without you realizing. That Teiko first-year center, Atsushi Murasakibara…"
"Next year…"
"Don't lose to him."
"You clearly have more options…"
"So go for them. Proactively."
"Whether it's your muscles… or your skills."
Clap
Inomaru patted Eikichi's shoulder and stepped onto the court.
In the distance, Teiko's freakishly strong first-years were glaring this way, full of fighting spirit.
In that instant, Inomaru saw a towering wall, one called "Talent."
He didn't know what wonders lay beyond a wall too high for his own two legs to clear, or what kind of scenery it might show him.
Because…
That wasn't his view from the top.
With that thought, he turned back. For the first time, the rigid and disciplined Inomaru struck Eikichi's signature pose.
"Eikichi."
"I'm leaving the Ibu Basketball Club to you."
"Beyond your muscles… find the wings that will carry you over Teiko."
Eikichi: "…!"
"I understand… senpai!"
I am Nebuya Eikichi of Ibu.
Nebuya Eikichi, the muscle powerhouse.
Today's defeat was not a defeat of my muscles.
The reason we lost…
…was simply that I lacked the skills to make the most of them.
The game ended.
In the opening match of Day Two, Teiko still crushed their opponents with an overwhelming score.
From the start of the fourth quarter, Akihito Shigure didn't get back on the court, according to Coach Shirogane, it was to spare the opponents' feelings.
To Shigure, though, that was completely unnecessary.
After all, Shuzo Nijimura, who took the floor in the fourth, was no less fearsome. In fact, because of his style, even though he passed as well, he appeared far more violent on the court.
Even Teiko's own first-years, especially Shōgo Haizaki, were muttering nervously about the "brute."
So Shigure sat on Teiko's bench, watching Nijimura's all-around play tear the game apart to its close.
Final score: 143–61.
At center court, the two teams lined up, bowed, and shook hands before heading off. Teiko's first-years, impressed by Ibu's relentless grit and muscular, physical style, wore the satisfied expressions of victors after a hard fight.
Ibu, on the other hand…
Defeat.
They couldn't hide their dejection.
The coach had no magic words. In the end, it was Captain Inomaru who did his duty perfectly, doing his best to rally the underclassmen.
The coach watched from the side, his heart heavy for this graduating third-year class.
Phew…
He let out a long sigh.
He'd never imagined middle school basketball could be this brutal.
Talent…
In theory, this early stage of basketball was the time when effort could make up the gap.
But Teiko Middle had just given a vivid lesson to the entire middle school scene,
There are some people you simply can't measure by common standards. That kind of innate talent, at this level, was already something hard work alone could never catch up to.
And…
There wasn't just one or two of them.
"No wonder they call it a gathering place for monsters…"
"Teiko."
End of chapter...
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