Yukio Kasamatsu kept hovering near the center line, showing no intention of moving toward the three point line.
The other players continued moving, but there was nothing they could do. Seirin was marking them just as tightly.
Suddenly, Taiga Kagami turned his head, his crimson lightning filled eyes looking toward Tatsuya Himuro.
As if they shared the same thought, Tatsuya Himuro also turned and met Taiga Kagami's gaze.
The two of them nodded to each other, both seeming to understand what the other had in mind.
So Taiga Kagami decisively abandoned his defense on Mitsuhiro Hayakawa and charged straight toward Yukio Kasamatsu.
Seeing this, Tatsuya Himuro also made his move.
Taiga Kagami was unbelievably fast. In the blink of an eye, he had already closed in on Yukio Kasamatsu.
When Yukio Kasamatsu saw Taiga Kagami rushing at him, he immediately prepared to pass the ball.
There was no helping it. The pressure from the Zone was simply too overwhelming.
He threw the ball toward Mitsuhiro Hayakawa. But after passing, Yukio Kasamatsu was shocked to realize something.
Taiga Kagami had not stopped at all. He kept charging toward the frontcourt!
Yukio Kasamatsu's eyes widened as a terrifying thought flashed through his mind.
'Wait. He wasn't coming to defend me? He's going for a fast break?!'
The moment he realized that, Yukio Kasamatsu no longer had time to look at Mitsuhiro Hayakawa. He turned and chased after Taiga Kagami.
He was supposed to be on offense, yet somehow, he had ended up defending a fast break!
On the other side, Mitsuhiro Hayakawa reached out, ready to catch the ball.
But in the very next second, something unexpected happened!
Tatsuya Himuro suddenly rushed out, stretching his right hand to the limit and grazing the ball.
The fox behind him let out that strange laugh once again.
After Tatsuya Himuro touched it, the ball veered off course.
Seeing this, Mitsuhiro Hayakawa immediately ran out, trying to secure the ball.
But a figure suddenly appeared where the ball was about to land.
It was Tetsuya Kuroko!
The Phantom Sixth Man on the court!
In truth, Tetsuya Kuroko had understood Taiga Kagami and Tatsuya Himuro's plan long ago, so he had moved to the landing point in advance.
He made a tapping motion, and the instant the ball came toward him, he knocked it away.
Yukio Kasamatsu was still chasing Taiga Kagami. But as he watched Taiga Kagami pull farther and farther away, he could not help cursing inwardly.
'Damn it, just how fast is he?!'
Smack!!!
A loud sound of the ball being struck suddenly rang out behind him.
Hearing it, Yukio Kasamatsu turned his head and saw a beam of light shooting toward him in an instant.
In the blink of an eye, the beam swept past his face, stirring up a gust of wind.
Yukio Kasamatsu froze in place, momentarily at a loss.
As for Taiga Kagami, the moment he heard the sound, he turned his head slightly and looked toward the ball.
Then he reached out with his right hand and caught the ball as it came flying toward him.
After catching it, he slammed it hard against the floor once, gathered the ball, took two long steps, then leaped high and dunked it violently into the basket!
Boom!!!
The score was 97 to 98!
The crowd erupted into cheers, shouting for that spectacular basket.
On Kaijō's bench, Ryota Kise still had a towel draped over his head. His entire body seemed to have entered some strange state.
Everything outside seemed to have nothing to do with him.
At that moment, he was completely immersed in his own world.
Huff, huff, huff.
Ryota Kise's breathing kept sounding out, and the heat around his body gradually began to fade.
Meanwhile, the game on the court continued.
Facing Taiga Kagami's explosive performance, the entire Kaijō team seemed powerless to resist.
97 to 98, 99 to 98, 102 to 98.
Seeing the gap grow wider and wider, Yukio Kasamatsu and the others knew this could not go on.
So they gave everything they had and forced in a basket.
102 to 100.
But it was all in vain.
In the following possessions, Junpei Hyuga's threes began to fall more and more smoothly.
With Tetsuya Kuroko's help, Taiga Kagami and Tatsuya Himuro also found it easier and easier to attack.
The score was stretched all the way to 112 to 100.
Kaijō was behind by nearly twelve points!
And there were only three minutes and twenty seconds left in the game.
When there had still been five minutes left, Genta Takeuchi had already looked toward Ryota Kise several times.
But Ryota Kise seemed to have sunk completely into silence, showing no sign of raising his head.
Genta Takeuchi had no choice but to wait anxiously.
By now, he had come to understand many things. He would no longer force Ryota Kise to do too much.
Likewise, he would no longer put too much pressure on the other players.
Instead, he would give them more freedom to grow.
This could be considered his own change as well.
On the court.
Kaijō had possession.
At this moment, Yukio Kasamatsu and the others were panting heavily, and their fighting spirit had almost fallen to freezing point.
In contrast, Seirin was surging with momentum. Every player looked as if they had endless energy.
Placed side by side, the difference was obvious.
The spectators in the stands also began discussing the game.
"Looks like Kaijō is going to lose. I really didn't expect that."
"Yeah. Who would've thought Seirin High School would be this year's dark horse?"
"Forget it. The result's obvious now. I'm leaving."
As some spectators spoke, they stood up and left the arena.
In their eyes, the game was already over.
Seirin's fighting spirit was sky high, while Kaijō's was almost gone.
And with only three minutes left, they were down by twelve. How could they possibly catch up?
You have the [Generation of Miracles]?
So what?
You did not pull away earlier, and now you expect to win in the final three minutes?
Impossible!
In Kirisaki Daiichi's direction.
Satsuki Momoi looked at the spectators leaving one after another and sighed.
"I didn't expect things to turn out like this."
Miyamoto Tokima glanced at Ryota Kise, feeling as if something was about to happen, and said, "I don't think it's over yet."
... On the court.
Kōji Kobori received the ball from the referee and passed it to Yukio Kasamatsu.
On the bench, Ryota Kise let out a heavy breath, took off the towel covering his head, and said in a low voice, "Coach..."
Hearing that familiar voice, Genta Takeuchi turned around in surprise and exclaimed, "Kise, you're ready?"
Ryota Kise nodded and said, "Call a timeout, Coach."
Genta Takeuchi nodded and immediately called a timeout.
"Beep! Kaijō High School requests a timeout."
Hearing the timeout, Yukio Kasamatsu looked toward Ryota Kise in delight. When he saw that Ryota Kise had already removed the towel from his head, he said excitedly, "You little brat, you're finally ready!"
Surrounded by everyone, Ryota Kise smiled faintly.
"Sorry, guys. I took a little longer than expected."
"Now, let's turn this game around together!"
Hearing Ryota Kise's words, the others said awkwardly, "Sorry, Kise. We..."
Ryota Kise gave them a bright smile.
"It's fine, guys. You all did your best. From here on, let's fight together!"
Hearing that, everyone nodded and shouted, "Yeah!"
...
...
...
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