"The farce ends here."
Calm tone, but unable to hide that invisible anger.
With the game reaching this point, it is getting further and further away from Akashi's absolute winning rate.
Yuuto reacted quickly, protecting the ball the moment it was intercepted.
Teiko's people took the opportunity to complete the return to defense.
Homi Academy missed an excellent counterattack opportunity.
Beep~
The referee blew the whistle for the end of the third quarter.
Yuuto and other Homi Academy members sat heavily on the bench.
Everyone was silent.
After three quarters, they still trailed Teiko by 18 points.
Akashi's intervention had a huge impact on the war situation.
Relying on the Tezuka Zone, Yuuto could shake off Aomine; he could even pass the ball under the gaze of the Emperor Eye.
Only...
Once the ball leaves his hand, there is no follow-up. Others lack the ability to score in front of the Teiko Five.
And also...
"Can you still hold on?"
Ota heard the coach's question and shook his head with difficulty.
He really can't hold on anymore.
His body is full of "medals" after confronting Murasakibara Atsushi.
He feels like his whole body is about to fall apart now.
Mortal body wanting to shake gods?
That only happens in movies and anime.
No blame, no accusation, only encouragement.
This coach with the style of an old-school player has only praise for his disciples' performance today.
Homi Academy deserves to be praised.
They stubbornly fought with the super team Teiko until the end; they brought huge trouble to the defending champion.
Then.
He turned to look at Yuuto, walked to Yuuto's side, and patted his shoulder.
This disciple he is most satisfied with, his pride, the young man with a pathological pursuit of victory.
At this moment, he only hopes Yuuto won't be hit too deeply.
"You still have a brilliant future, Yuuto!"
"Who knows about the future? I only fight for the present." Yuuto still had a cold face, silently wiping the sweat from his head.
As the whistle sounded again.
Yuuto threw away the towel forcefully, leading Homi Academy, which replaced two substitutes, into the battlefield again.
Everyone knew Homi Academy was finished.
Only the last 10 minutes remained in the game, and facing the defending champion Teiko.
18 points behind; this is an impossible task.
But they still fought with Teiko until the last second under Yuuto's leadership.
Too short.
Yuuto never felt 10 minutes was so short.
When the game clock digits cleared.
The scoreboard impressively recorded the words Homi Academy 89:120 Teiko.
They lost to Teiko by 31 points.
Yuuto played the full 40 minutes; in the end, he didn't even have the strength to shoot.
And his stats for this game were fixed at 54 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block.
His stats can be called luxurious.
The game-high 54 points splashed black ink on Teiko's victory, making it no longer perfect.
Teiko.
Still has enemies; they are not invincible.
They just won by numbers.
Believe that after today, reporters and fans who watched the game will report and discuss like this.
"We won. Just as I predicted, Teiko's victory is absolute."
Akashi fulfilled the captain's duty after the game, showing Teiko's demeanor.
But he didn't go to find Captain Ota but came to Yuuto and extended his hand.
This is the only player in Homi Academy worthy of his recognition.
Yuuto also extended his hand, didn't shake it, but wiped the sweat off his face.
"This isn't over yet, Akashi."
Leaving this sentence, he turned and walked directly into the tunnel.
Only a very few people noticed.
Before leaving, his gaze swept over Teiko's direction.
Like a hungry lion staring at its prey.
....
"It's over. As expected, Teiko had the last laugh."
"Ah."
Harasawa Katsunori and Nakatani Masaaki exchanged simple words.
An expected ending.
1 can't beat 5 and losing is reasonable.
But even so, they have seen what they wanted to see.
Yuuto.
This player is too special.
They have cultivated in the basketball world for many years, but it is the first time they have seen a player like Yuuto.
For most children of his age, the biggest stage is the National Tournament.
And Yuuto.
In the second year of middle school, facing the super Teiko, he blasted the highest score in the game.
Yes.
He didn't win the game, failing to complete the final counterattack as expected by the people of Tochigi Prefecture.
But so what?
Just by the level he showed today, he is worth all high school powerhouse teams waiting and fighting for.
He is a unique genius player whose combat power is already strong but possesses infinite potential.
In addition.
Yuuto also has eyes longing for victory that children at this stage don't have.
Most middle school players of his grade have clear stupidity in their eyes.
But he is already like a hungry lion.
He regards Teiko as prey.
Just like Yuuto said.
His grudge with Teiko will not end here.
"We lost, but I am very proud. I am proud of the children's performance. We fought until the end and were not defeated by Teiko!"
"Teiko is not invincible, because the best player is in Okukozome, in Homi Academy, not in Tokyo!"
Post-game.
The geezer coach was found by reporters from Morning Okukozome.
Facing the microphone, he loudly told the whole country that the strongest player is not in Tokyo; he is in Okukozome.
The reporter's expression was serious, without a smile.
Because the head coach who led Homi Academy to create history had eyes like they were congested with blood at this moment.
Other players didn't look ashen and leave lifelessly like other teams after playing against Teiko.
Homi Academy players only had unwillingness and anger on their faces.
Anger at not being strong enough.
This is a team with steel will, worthy of admiration!
Yuuto got the highest score in the game, but they lost by 31 points. So many of them, if only they could bridge this 31-point gap...
The geezer coach didn't want to say more.
Leaving a sentence "We will come back next year," he led the team back to the locker room.
But when he returned to the locker room door.
Sora and others were already standing there silently without saying a word.
And inside the locker room.
A huge muffled sound happened to come out.
"Bang!"
That was the sound of a fist hitting a locker.
Ota and others looked dim; some emotional guys couldn't help biting their lips to stop crying out.
A sad atmosphere spread among the few.
Don't know how long passed.
Yuuto walked out of the locker room like nothing happened.
"Waited long? Let's go back."
His words were concise; only the red fist proved what he did inside.
"Mhm."
At this moment, Sora lost all willfulness, obediently following behind Yuuto's butt.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw inside the locker room; the locker with Yuuto's name written on it had been smashed to pieces.
...
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