In the following stretch of the game, Rakuzan High School scored from everywhere, piling up points both inside and out.
In contrast, Shūtoku High School...
Aside from Shintaro Midorima, everyone else was struggling to some extent.
Kazunari Takao could break past Rakuzan's point guard and score in isolation.
But Kotaro Hayama was always ready to rotate over and provide help defense.
As for the others, they all found it difficult one way or another.
Although Shinsuke Kimura was being left open, he was an interior player, and his shooting wasn't reliable.
Whenever he tried to go inside, Eikichi Nebuya would make him experience the "charm" of raw power.
As for passing...
With that "Sneaky Cheetah" lurking around, even Kazunari Takao didn't dare to pass unless it was within his field of vision.
Let alone Shinsuke Kimura.
As a result, Shūtoku's offensive firepower was almost entirely concentrated in Shintaro Midorima's hands.
Even so, the score remained extremely close.
At the end of the first quarter, the score was 34 to 33.
Shūtoku was trailing by just one point.
Yet even in this situation, there wasn't the slightest hint of panic on Shintaro Midorima's face.
Even Miyamoto and the others watching from the sidelines showed no concern at all, as if they weren't worried in the slightest.
Of course, Shogo Haizaki was the exception.
He even voiced it out loud.
"Shūtoku looks like they're in danger. Their offense is too limited—almost everything is on Midorima."
A faint smile appeared on Shuzo Nijimura's face.
"Limited offense? So what? Midorima alone is more than enough to win this game."
Shogo Haizaki frowned.
"What do you mean? You're saying Midorima can carry the whole game by himself?"
Shuzo Nijimura smiled mysteriously.
"He probably can. After all, if you want to awaken and fully integrate your Animal Instinct, the most basic requirement is abnormal stamina."
"Otherwise, that instinct won't fully synchronize with the body."
...
On the sidelines.
Shūtoku High School's bench.
Masaaki Nakatani glanced toward Rakuzan High School, then turned and said:
"Midorima."
Shintaro Midorima slowly opened his eyes.
At that moment, his gaze was as sharp as an eagle's.
He responded with a soft hum.
Masaaki Nakatani thought for a moment before speaking.
"In the second quarter, give every possession to Midorima. Rakuzan is about to go all out."
On Rakuzan High School's side.
Eiji Shirogane looked at the team, thought briefly, and said:
"In the second quarter, bring in Chihiro to replace the power forward."
"The rest of the tactics stay the same. Let Chihiro decide who takes the shot."
The Rakuzan players nodded in unison and shouted:
"Yes!"
At that moment, the referee blew the whistle.
"Whistle! The second quarter begins! Both teams, take the court!"
Only then did Miyamoto notice the referee.
Wait... isn't that Referee Okuyama, the one who officiated his match against Makoto Hanamiya back in middle school?
The same referee who got punched by a player during that game.
Damn, he's moved up in the world. He's officiating high school league games now.
On the court.
After both teams stepped onto the court, they immediately noticed something different about each other.
First, Rakuzan clearly sensed a shift in Shūtoku's overall momentum.
Then Shūtoku also realized something was off.
Wait... why does it feel like someone's missing?
Only Shintaro Midorima and Kazunari Takao spotted the missing player.
Shintaro Midorima frowned slightly and muttered:
"First Miyamoto, and now Kuroko? What... exactly are you planning?"
He glanced at the rest of Rakuzan's lineup, paying special attention to the three members of the [Uncrowned Kings], and his frown deepened.
He murmured hesitantly:
"Murasakibara, Aomine, and... me?"
The more he looked, the more unbelievable it seemed. Rakuzan's lineup looked like a downgraded version of Teikō Middle School's lineup.
Suddenly, a thought flashed through his mind.
"Akashi, you're not... trying to recreate Teikō, are you?!"
After saying that, his expression relaxed, and his emotions gradually steadied.
"But it seems you're overestimating them... or rather, underestimating us."
...
The game resumed.
Shūtoku had possession.
Taisuke Otsubo passed the ball to Kazunari Takao.
Takao slowly dribbled past half-court, deliberately slowing the pace.
Notably, this time Shintaro Midorima wasn't double-teamed.
Instead, Kotaro Hayama was assigned to guard him.
It seemed they believed Kotaro Hayama alone could stop Shintaro Midorima.
But that was a bit too optimistic.
Shintaro Midorima quickly moved into position beside Kazunari Takao and received the ball on a handoff.
The moment he caught it, he completely ignored Kotaro Hayama and exploded straight upward into a jump shot.
Kotaro Hayama was stunned.
"Hey, I'm right here!"
Even so, he immediately jumped with all his strength.
But the moment he got into the air, he froze.
Shintaro Midorima had jumped far too high. His release point was so elevated that blocking it was completely impossible.
With a flick of his left hand, the ball soared into the air, then dropped cleanly through the hoop.
Swish!
Three points.
Score: 34–36.
Possession switched.
Rakuzan's point guard brought the ball past half-court and began scanning the court, as if searching for someone.
At the same time, the rest of Rakuzan immediately started moving.
At first, Shūtoku followed them, but as the movement continued, Shinsuke Kimura suddenly became confused.
He stood still, looking around in bewilderment.
"Where did everyone go?"
The next second, Rakuzan's point guard suddenly passed the ball.
Shinsuke Kimura stared blankly at the ball flying toward him.
"Huh? A mistake?"
The rest of Shūtoku thought the same.
Even Taisuke Otsubo and Kiyoshi Miyaji were already preparing to push a fast break.
Suddenly, Kazunari Takao shouted:
"Kimura-senpai! Get to the ball!"
His face was filled with urgency. Others might not understand, but he did.
Through his Hawk Eye, he could clearly see a gray-haired boy quietly waiting at that spot.
The gray-haired boy had even made a motion as if ready to receive the ball.
Shinsuke Kimura heard the shout, but he hesitated for a split second and didn't react immediately.
And that moment was all the opening Chihiro needed.
As the ball arrived in front of him, Chihiro slapped it away with one hand.
The ball flew straight toward Reo Mibuchi's position!
Shintaro Midorima turned his head, just about to move in for defense—
—but a figure blocked his path.
Kotaro Hayama bared his fangs and grinned.
"Hehe, just in time."
...
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