Backstage, inside the infirmary.
The air reeked of disinfectant and freezing spray.
Akagi Takenori sat on a simple medical bed.
His ankle, swollen like a steamed bun, had already been wrapped up like a rice dumpling.
"Hiss!"
The moment the doctor pressed down slightly, Akagi sucked in a sharp breath of cold air. Sweat streamed down from his temples.
But he stubbornly refused to make a sound, clutching the bedsheet until it wrinkled beyond recognition.
"The bone is fine, but the ligament injury is serious."
"Akagi-kun, as a doctor, I strongly advise you to withdraw immediately and go to the hospital."
The team doctor's expression was stern, his tone leaving no room for argument.
"No."
Akagi's voice was hoarse, yet as hard as steel.
"Give me a painkiller shot. Or tape the ankle shut."
"As long as I can stand, that's enough."
Ayako, who had been packing away the medical kit, froze for a second. The medicine bottle in her hand nearly slipped to the floor.
She spun around abruptly, eyes red like a rabbit's.
"Captain! You're gambling with your basketball career!"
"That's Kainan we're facing! The number one team in the prefecture! Even if you risk your life—"
"Ayako."
Akagi interrupted her.
The giant of a man slowly lifted his head.
His gaze seemed to pierce through the walls, toward the blazing battlefield outside.
"We worked so hard to get this far."
"Mitsui came back. Miyagi grew stronger. And there's Rukawa… Sakuragi…"
Akagi's eyes softened for a fleeting moment. In his mind appeared the image of that lazy Number 16 who always said, "If I can lie down, I'll never sit."
"And Juro."
"Those idiots are fighting with everything they have. How can I just lie here pretending to be dead?"
Ayako stared into those eyes burning with determination.
The words she wanted to use to stop him eventually turned into a helpless sigh.
She walked over and gently patted Akagi's broad shoulder, forcing out a confident smile.
"Don't worry, Captain."
"Juro, Sakuragi, and everyone else are out there."
"They're the Problem Children Army. They won't lose that easily."
"Especially Juro…"
Ayako recalled those terrifying eyes from moments ago.
"That guy already declared he's taking over the game."
…
Kainan's bench.
The atmosphere was so tense it felt like the calm before a storm.
"Damn it! Damn it! DAMN IT!!"
Kiyota Nobunaga kicked the bench hard, his face flushed dark red, veins bulging from his neck.
Kneeling in public.
That was social death!
The humiliation gnawed at his pride like a venomous snake, making him want to crawl into a hole and disappear.
"How did I…"
"How did I kneel to a guy like that…"
"What the hell was I doing?!"
Kiyota clutched his head, fingernails digging into his scalp, his voice trembling.
"Kiyota."
Takato Riki's voice drifted from behind his folding fan, emotionless and unreadable.
"What exactly happened just now?"
"With your reaction speed, even if you got crossed over, you shouldn't have fallen to your knees."
Kiyota suddenly raised his head, eyes filled with confusion and fear.
"I… I don't know either!"
"For that one instant, it felt like my body completely lost control!"
"It was like… like someone tied my legs into knots by force!"
Even now, remembering that impossible sensation sent chills down his spine.
"Coach, same here."
Takazuna Kazuma, who had been silent this entire time, suddenly spoke up. His face was darker than the bottom of a pot.
"When I went to help defend, I clearly saw him moving left."
"But by the time my body reacted, my center of gravity had already been dragged away."
"The feeling was… weird. Like I got hit with some kind of illusion technique."
Even the experienced Takazuna said the same thing. That meant the situation was serious.
Takato's brows furrowed tightly as he turned toward the centerpiece of the team.
Maki Shinichi.
The Emperor of Kanagawa was calmly wiping off sweat, steady as a mountain.
"Ah Maki," Takato called softly.
Maki Shinichi lowered the towel and locked his gaze precisely onto the figure on Shohoku's side covered by a towel.
"That Juro… became even stronger."
His voice was deep and steady, naturally carrying an aura that made others trust him.
"When I watched the recordings before, his strength still fell within the realm of 'basketball skill.'"
"But that last play…"
Maki paused briefly. A sharp glint flashed through his eyes.
"That was pure domination."
"The tactics we prepared before are useless now. That kind of move… was a dimensional difference."
Takato nodded slowly, tapping his folding fan against his palm.
"If tactics don't work, then we'll use something stronger."
He stood up and swept his gaze across the team before stopping on Maki.
"Until we figure out the principle behind Juro's move…"
"Maki, you'll personally guard him one-on-one."
The entire Kainan bench inhaled sharply.
The Emperor Maki personally defending a substitute?
That was practically unheard of in Kainan's history!
But after thinking about it…
Was that really just a substitute anymore?
Maki Shinichi showed no surprise at all. He merely nodded calmly.
"Leave it to me."
Takato narrowed his eyes, his tone turning ruthless.
"If even Maki can't contain him…"
"Then foul him."
"No matter what method you use, send him to the free-throw line… or send him off the court."
That was the cold brutality of champion Kainan.
Everything for victory.
…
"BEEP!"
The referee's whistle sliced through the arena like a blade.
"Timeout over! The game resumes!"
The score of 18:20 on the scoreboard was still glaringly bright.
"Alright, boys!"
Takato snapped his folding fan shut with a loud pa!.
"Don't let one play scare you out of your wits! We're Kainan!"
"Steady and patient! Victory will still be ours!"
"YES!!!"
The Kainan players roared together, their morale recovering.
Kiyota Nobunaga slapped his cheeks hard, his eyes once again turning savage.
"Juro! This time I absolutely won't lose to you again!"
"I'm taking back my pride!"
…
On the other side.
The Shohoku players gathered into a circle.
Coach Anzai didn't bother drawing up complicated tactics. He simply smiled warmly at everyone.
"Everyone, trust Juro-kun."
Makino Juro lifted the towel from his head and slowly stood up.
At that moment.
His lazy, carefree aura completely vanished.
In its place came a suffocating pressure.
[Akashi Seijuro (Tyrant) Template Reloading]
Click.
It was as if some switch deep inside his body had been flipped on.
Makino Juro raised his head.
Within the depths of his pupils, cold crimson-gold light began flowing once again.
Even the surrounding air seemed to thin out.
"Let's go."
He calmly spoke two words and walked toward the court first.
No extra motivation was needed.
At this moment, his back alone was the strongest battle flag.
Rukawa Kaede followed closely behind, the fighting spirit in his eyes crackling like flames.
Although Sakuragi Hanamichi was still cursing loudly, his body honestly stayed close beside Makino Juro like a guardian deity.
The moment both teams stepped onto the court again, the entire gymnasium exploded.
From the stands.
"Shohoku!! Let's go!!"
"Makino Juro! Makino Juro!!"
Mito Yohei and the rest of the Sakuragi Army waved plastic horns wildly, shouting until smoke practically came out of their throats.
Akagi Haruko clasped her hands together in prayer.
"Big brother… Juro-kun… everyone, do your best!"
On the other side, the massive banner of the "Makino Juro Support Club" waved fiercely in the air.
The students shouted so loudly they nearly blew the roof off the arena, completely drowning out Kainan's cheer squad.
"Crush Kainan!!"
"Makino Juro! Charge forward for us!!"
END OF CHAPTER
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