The words of Fukaya Reiji, without a doubt, had a positive effect on Reo Mibuchi.
On the court, every eye in the arena was locked on the two figures who refused to yield an inch.
By the time the fourth quarter arrived, the relentless duel of Reo Mibuchi vs. Fukaya Reiji was still ongoing. Looking at the larger timeline of the game, Fukaya had indeed gained the upper hand against Mibuchi. But in this final quarter, as the severe backlash of Fukaya's "Burst" ability grew heavier, his defense began to crack. In contrast, Mibuchi's three-point shooting rate started to climb back up.
And then…
The scales of balance swayed once again.
From the bench, Shigure Akihito could see it clearly: Mibuchi, locked in his clash with Fukaya, was speaking incessantly, his expression almost exhilarated. Akihito could even imagine the sharp tone in his voice.
What shocked Teiko's players more, however, was that Fukaya wasn't backing down either.
On the Teiko bench, even veterans like Nijimura Shuzo were stunned.
Indeed, it was just that shocking.
Akihito thought to himself quietly.
Anyone who saw Fukaya's ferocious excitement, coupled with the unusual frequency of exchanges between him and Mibuchi, would be just as bewildered.
Finally, in the latter half of the fourth quarter, both Fukaya and Mibuchi, drained of stamina, had to relent. Though they hadn't been subbed out, their near-whole-game duel had finally reached its end.
After that…
Aomine and the others took turns attacking in the closing minutes. Even with Senzan still fighting stubbornly, against Teiko's relentless first-years brimming with stamina, everything was in vain.
By the end, the situation was much the same as at the start of the third quarter.
With Mibuchi running on empty, and Aomine and the others launching a storm of assaults, the gap in score widened further.
…
"Phew…"
Mibuchi stood at half-court, gazing at the scoreboard and timer, and sighed softly. This was Senzan's final defensive possession.
And Teiko's last offensive executioner—was Atsushi Murasakibara.
Boom.
Boom.
Boom.
With each thunderous collision of muscle, the "monster" revealed himself. His footwork, simpler now than what appeared in game footage, was nonetheless sharper, honed through countless repetitions.
Against Senzan's twin interior defenders, Murasakibara's enormous frame loomed like a lion besieged by hyenas. And the result?
The hyenas were crushed.
In fact, given their depleted stamina, the two big men of Senzan probably weren't even worthy of being called hyenas anymore.
Boom!
Driving his legs into the floor, Murasakibara spun, carried both defenders on his shoulders, and bulldozed into the paint, hammering straight toward the hoop!
Elsewhere, Mibuchi sprinted with every ounce of strength left in him.
His mind blank, attention fixed solely on the ball, he leapt to help on defense, eyes sharp enough to see the grooves of the basketball itself.
And then
As if to mirror the story of the entire game, the instant Mibuchi's hand brushed the ball, he was overwhelmed by Murasakibara's sheer power and sent flying.
Bounce.
Bounce-bounce.
Bounce-bounce-bounce.
The ball dropped through the net, skipped toward the baseline, and finally rolled to a stop before the seated Mibuchi, whose blank expression mirrored that of his teammates.
Beep!
With the final whistle, Senzan Middle School once again fell in the Nationals, eliminated on the second day, stopped at the quarterfinals.
And the team who ousted them yet again, was Teiko.
Throughout the game, Senzan only truly stood toe-to-toe with Teiko in the first quarter, when Mibuchi's sharpshooting had orchestrated fluid three-point attacks.
But once Mibuchi was defeated by Fukaya in the second quarter, Senzan's collapse was inevitable.
On the other side, Teiko's sheer might as a "gathering place of monsters" showed itself. Even when their twin stars rested in the third, the ravenous first-years maintained and extended their lead.
As Mibuchi propped himself up with both hands, the searing gym lights above stabbed at his weary eyes.
What words could capture this feeling?
Frustration…
Utter unwillingness.
Individually, he hadn't even managed to stand tall before Shigure Akihito. Instead, he had fallen before Fukaya Reiji, the man sitting on the throne.
"…Everyone…"
"Line up."
After a moment of silent brooding, Mibuchi wiped the sweat from his brow and spoke as Senzan's captain.
But no one answered.
Glancing back, he saw every teammate still lost in a daze, unable to process the defeat.
"…."
Your expressions are too grim, he thought.
Did you all really believe that my strength alone could carry us past Teiko?
Honestly.
These guys…
Sorry, everyone.
After a long silence, the third-years stirred first. One clapped his hands, forcing a smile.
"Expressions! Watch your expressions, everyone!"
Another senior drew a deep breath, though his voice trembled despite his effort to steady it.
"We're… we're a top-eight team in the nation!"
"And besides…"
"Teiko is watching us right now!"
"So come on, let's go shake their hands, we can't lose our pride in front of Teiko!"
…
"Both teams, line up."
"Bow!"
"Thank you for the match!"
"Thank you for the match!"
At center court, as Mibuchi extended his hand calmly toward Fukaya, he said, "So, how about it? That backlash from your 'Burst' ability… in your current condition, won't you be overtaken by Teiko's little monsters in tomorrow's game?"
Fukaya shook his head silently. Though his Burst allowed him to surpass limits, the toll was immense, he could already feel the weakness in his legs and the sting of pain beneath his feet.
Looking at him, hair loose and expression cold once more, Mibuchi smiled faintly.
"Most likely, another championship for you, right? Hayama Kotarō won't stand a chance against Teiko."
"Congratulations…"
"To the invincible Teiko."
"Ah, but then again, this is also the first championship for you, Fukaya—the one who couldn't even make Teiko's lineup back in your first year."
"Click"
"So enviable… Teiko's roster… first-years, second-years, each one stronger than monsters."
At that, Fukaya suddenly spoke, breaking his silence. "Someone like you, a 'genius', doesn't deserve to say that."
"…"
Genius?
Don't make me laugh.
"Next time, I'll find a way to beat you. I won't lose again."
"…Good."
"I'll be waiting."
Then, unexpectedly, Mibuchi extended his fist toward him. Fukaya froze, caught off guard. But when he saw the sincerity in Mibuchi's eyes, his lips curved faintly.
"…Earlier, when I felt like all my three-pointers had betrayed me, it was your words that pulled me back onto my path. That's why, in the end, I could rise again with determination."
"Thank you."
Clap!
For the first time, Fukaya Reiji bumped fists with a player outside Teiko.
And not just anyone—an opponent.
END OF CHAPTER
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