Hayakawa Mitsuhiro didn't disappoint.
Kaijō's center Kobori Koji had Nebuya Eikichi boxed out, helping Hayakawa grab the offensive board.
He didn't force a shot, quickly finding Moriyama, who knocked down a three from beyond the arc.
The gap was down to 12 points—still heavily unfavorable for Kaijō.
"Get a stop!" Kasamatsu bellowed.
Kaijō's players responded aggressively.
Their eyes were filled with killing intent.
Since they couldn't ask Kise to give up, they refused to let his persistence and sacrifice go to waste.
They had to win this game.
Kaijō's tenacity was visible to the naked eye.
The fans had no doubt that if it meant victory, they would even stake their lives against Rakuzan.
This tragic spirit deeply moved the Kanagawa supporters.
They roared their encouragement, fighting alongside their team.
But Akashi.
After a jab step, a quick step-back. He retreated behind the three-point line and drained a pull-up three.
The arena's roar instantly fell silent.
The Kanagawa faithful glared at Rakuzan's emperor with ugly expressions.
"If you want to beat Rakuzan, you're a hundred years too early!"
Akashi's eyes were cold, carrying a hint of his alternate personality's cruelty.
"So easily..."
"They're reaching their limit."
Yuuto spoke evenly.
Master Yi once said that concentrated willpower can pierce through stone.
That was a necessary component for creating miracles.
But not everyone could overcome their own limits.
Kise and Kaijō were tenacious enough, but Akashi was like a mountain standing before them—impossible to cross.
The gap refused to shrink to single digits.
Time slipped away second by second.
Fourth quarter, 1 minute 1 second remaining. Kaijō still trailed by 14 points.
At this margin with this time, reversal was nearly impossible.
Even the McGrady moment had happened with several dozen seconds more on the clock.
And Akashi.
He remained calm, refusing to rush his offense, maximizing possession time.
Only with 4 seconds left on the shot clock did he knock down a mid-range jumper capable of killing the game.
They had lost!
Kise's golden bangs completely covered his eyes.
Failing to stop that possession was essentially announcing Kaijō's defeat—thoroughly and completely.
By now, he had long fallen out of the Zone, reaching his absolute limit.
Worse, his ankle was sending shooting pain again.
He had probably reinjured it.
It would need rest.
But the pain in his ankle was nothing compared to the heartbreak that was almost suffocating him.
TWEET~
The buzzer sounded, announcing the end of the game.
Final score: 106-92.
Rakuzan High advances to the Winter Cup finals!
"Lost again."
Kasamatsu took a deep breath, forcing himself to stand tall.
His teammates beside him were in even worse shape—everyone had given everything until the very end.
Strangely.
He didn't feel like before. The disappointment remained, but there was no regret.
They had all done their best, playing the best game they could.
It was just that his underclassman would probably feel like he had—until the next victory came, haunted by this defeat.
Kasamatsu walked over to Kise and placed a hand on his back.
"Don't be such a crybaby, always crying at the drop of a hat."
"Your high school career has just begun. Next year, you'll beat them. I believe you can do what I couldn't!"
Drip~
Kise had been holding back for so long. His tears finally fell, impossible to stop.
Kasamatsu had someone bring a towel, covering Kise's head. Finally, supporting him, they lined up before Rakuzan for the closing bow.
"Thank you for the game!"
"Thank you for the game!"
Then.
Roar~~~
Thunderous applause filled the arena, given to both teams.
Some of Kise's female fans were already crying in heartbreak, but still they shouted encouragement for him.
"Must be nice, Kise. Having so many cute girls cheering for him." Moriyama tried to sound casual.
He hated this atmosphere, yet his voice came out hoarse without him realizing.
At the Inter-High.
Kasamatsu had hidden alone in the locker room to cry. Now at the Winter Cup, he hadn't shed tears, but his teammates were all crying on the court.
Finally.
They put their arms around each other's shoulders and walked to stand before Kanagawa's fans, thanking them for their support.
"Let's go. Time to prepare for our afternoon game."
"If you don't want to end up crying like Kaijō, make sure we win."
Aida Riko couldn't bear to watch any longer, afraid she might imagine her own team and her own players wearing those same expressions.
If that happened, she would definitely lose control.
Kagami clenched his fists.
He didn't want this to happen to himself either.
Resolutely, he left with his teammates to make final preparations for the afternoon game.
Their challenge was harder than Kise's and Kaijō's.
Because they faced the new national champions—and Yuuto, the strongest high schooler.
...
"Good luck in your afternoon game!"
"I will."
Momoi hugged Yuuto reluctantly, breathing in his scent.
Finally, she let go and waved goodbye.
"Hmph!" Sora turned her head away, but this time she didn't refuse to walk with her.
Then.
The group split up.
Yuuto quickly reunited with his team.
Their match against Seirin was again scheduled for the prime time slot.
Still several hours until tip-off.
Yamashita Shigeo held a brief strategy session, then had the players memorize Seirin's tactics and player intel.
Everyone was serious—especially the third-years.
The first-years like Tsugawa Tomoki couldn't understand, but Iwamura and the others—after the Yōsen game, and after watching Rakuzan versus Kaijō—felt it deeply.
This was truly the final journey of their high school careers.
They didn't have another summer.
After this winter, they would leave their beloved team forever.
Therefore, every single person's attitude was absolutely serious.
Yamashita Shigeo didn't waste words. He let the players spend these hours however they wanted.
Then.
3 PM.
Yamashita Shigeo checked the time and gathered the team.
"Everything packed?"
"Yes."
"Then let's move out!"
With that, Seihō's warriors boarded their bus alongside their king, heading for the arena.
Their timing was perfect—arriving almost simultaneously with Seirin.
Unlike Seihō with their own bus, Seirin had taken public transit.
But at this point, Seirin no longer minded such things.
They had only one goal.
Defeat Seihō. Defeat Yuuto, the strongest.
They went to the locker room and made their final preparations.
"Let's go!"
"YES!"
Everyone responded loudly, rising to leave the locker room.
Kagami and Kuroko walked at the back of the line.
Kuroko noticed that his partner's expression today was unusually resolute.
Kagami had been deeply affected by Kaijō's collective breakdown this morning.
He couldn't imagine how painful it would be if he were in Kaijō's position.
So...
"Kuroko. Today—we have to win!"
"Yes!"
Kuroko sensed something different about Kagami today. That fighting spirit was practically overflowing. His mental state must be at its peak.
...
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