The basketball landed perfectly in Junpei Hyuga's hands.
After catching the ball, Junpei Hyuga's expression turned serious, and his shooting motion quickly fell into place.
He adjusted his breathing, his eyes locked straight on the basket.
Bend the knees, jump, shoot!!!
The motion came together in one smooth, fluid sequence.
Off the court.
On Shūtoku's side.
When Shintaro Midorima saw Junpei Hyuga's form, he immediately spoke as a sharpshooter himself:
"The arc is right. It's in."
On the court.
Just as Shintaro Midorima had predicted, Junpei Hyuga's shot dropped perfectly into the basket.
It didn't even touch the rim!
It fell straight through the net, making the sound every basketball fan loved to hear.
Swish!!!
Only people who played basketball knew just how satisfying that sound was.
After scoring, Junpei Hyuga clenched his fist excitedly.
After missing four shots in the first half, he had finally made his first three-pointer of the game!
Off the court.
Seeing this, Shintaro Midorima said calmly:
"For the next few possessions, Seirin's focus will be on Hyuga."
Kazunari Takao looked completely lost and asked:
"Shin-chan, why?"
Shintaro Midorima pushed up his glasses and explained:
"Junpei Hyuga is a very good shooter in his own right. His struggles in the first half were only because of nerves."
"For him, once he finds his rhythm, he becomes a very troublesome opponent."
That was right. In the original story, Junpei Hyuga's traits were exactly like that.
The more unfavorable the situation, the more accurate he became!
He was a clutch player with nerves of steel!
On the court.
For Kaijō High School, Ryota Kise was still the main attacker.
The moment Ryota Kise reached the three-point line, he was met by a double team from Taiga Kagami and Tatsuya Himuro.
As he got tangled up with the two of them, Junpei Hyuga also joined in, turning it into a three-on-one defense!
Ryota Kise had no choice but to pass the ball out.
But this time, something unexpected happened!
The instant Ryota Kise passed the ball to Yukio Kasamatsu, a figure suddenly appeared and cut off his pass!
Smack!!!
Ryota Kise's pupils shrank sharply as he cried out in surprise:
"Kuroko?!"
After intercepting the pass, Tetsuya Kuroko immediately held the ball with both hands, supporting it with his left while his right hand moved into position to push it forward.
Seirin's players seemed to have known this would happen. The moment Ryota Kise passed the ball, they decisively launched a fast break!
Taiga Kagami and the others were no exception. They sprinted toward the frontcourt at full speed!
Seeing this, Ryota Kise immediately chased after them.
Yukio Kasamatsu did the same, following right behind.
But they were still one step too late!
Tetsuya Kuroko forcefully pushed the basketball forward, and his target was Taiga Kagami!
Taiga Kagami caught the ball, dribbled once in place, then gathered it and took two steps, preparing to dunk!
At that moment, Ryota Kise suddenly exploded forward, quickly catching up as he leaped into the air.
"Not a chance!!!"
Seeing Ryota Kise jump, Taiga Kagami grinned.
"Kise! You lost this round!"
With that, under Ryota Kise's shocked gaze, Taiga Kagami passed the ball toward the baseline!
And Junpei Hyuga had already been waiting there for a while.
After receiving the pass, Junpei Hyuga shouted:
"Nice pass, Kagami!"
With that, Junpei Hyuga released the basketball in one smooth, seamless motion.
Right now, he looked as if he was overflowing with confidence.
The basket looked as wide as the ocean!
Swish!!!
The basketball swished through the net once again, making a crisp sound.
Ryota Kise landed and stared at Taiga Kagami in shock. More accurately, he was looking at Tetsuya Kuroko behind Taiga Kagami.
Still unable to believe it, he asked:
"Kuroko, how were you there?"
Tetsuya Kuroko raised his head and met Ryota Kise's eyes.
"Because we knew."
"Knew?"
"Yes. We knew you couldn't [Copy] Miyamoto's [Eye of Truth], so we dared to do this."
It turned out that Taiga Kagami, Tatsuya Himuro, and Junpei Hyuga's triple team from the start had been meant to test whether Ryota Kise could [Copy] [Eye of Truth]!
When they saw Ryota Kise actually pass the ball to Yukio Kasamatsu, they knew!
Ryota Kise could not [Copy] [Eye of Truth]!!!
Because, damn it, Tetsuya Kuroko had been standing right in front of Yukio Kasamatsu!!!
His presence was just so faint that neither Yukio Kasamatsu nor Ryota Kise had noticed him!
But Miyamoto's [Eye of Truth] would definitely have seen Tetsuya Kuroko!
So they concluded it.
Ryota Kise could not [Copy] [Eye of Truth]!!!
On the court.
After hearing the explanation, Ryota Kise couldn't help taking two steps back before giving a wry smile.
"I didn't expect this, Kuroko. You're still as sharp as ever. You figured out what abilities I can use right now in just one play."
Tetsuya Kuroko shook his head and said:
"This wasn't my achievement alone. It was the result of everyone discussing it together!"
Ryota Kise froze for a moment, then looked toward the Seirin players and murmured:
"Is that so?"
Taiga Kagami was full of fighting spirit, a smile on his face.
Tatsuya Himuro smiled gently, looking almost like a kindly... old man?
Junpei Hyuga pushed up his glasses and turned to look at Ryota Kise.
Teppei Kiyoshi smiled as he met Ryota Kise's gaze.
Tetsuya Kuroko stood at the very front, his face completely serious.
Ryota Kise looked at the five Seirin players, and for a moment, it was as if he were seeing them back in their Teikō days.
Only now... everything had changed.
Ryota Kise smiled, and there was relief in that smile.
"Looks like, Kuroko, you were the first one among us to find happiness."
Tetsuya Kuroko shook his head.
"No. Murasakibara-kun was the first to find it."
Ryota Kise: ".......6."
Ryota Kise waved his hand and laughed.
"Enough of that. Let's continue the game!"
Tetsuya Kuroko nodded, then turned and headed back on defense.
...
Possession changed.
Kaijō High School's ball.
Ryota Kise slowly dribbled to half-court, while Taiga Kagami and Tatsuya Himuro were already in their defensive stances.
Seeing this, Ryota Kise smiled and continued advancing to the three-point line. Looking at the two who were about to close in on him, he said:
"Although I can't mimic Miyamoto's [Eye of Truth]..."
"You're still underestimating me!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Ryota Kise's pupils suddenly changed.
His left eye remained the same, but his right eye underwent a tremendous transformation.
Inside the pupil of his right eye, a dazzling ring of light suddenly appeared, shining brilliantly.
...