"The finals, let's start the game!"
Beep~~~
With a low electronic whistle, the finals officially began.
The referee tossed the ball high into the air. Akashi Asuka and Nebuya Eikichi jumped simultaneously, but Akashi soared at least twenty centimeters higher, giving Seiho the opening possession.
"Tch! His height really is something else!"
Though Nebuya had predicted he'd probably lose, it wasn't until he faced Akashi directly that he truly realized the gap between them.
Kasuga Ryuhei grabbed the ball and immediately launched a fast break.
This had been Seiho's strategy from the start. Against a team like Rakuzan, not even Seiho could afford a single lapse, they had to score from the very first possession.
Kasuga's pressure was immense. By position assignment, his matchup was against the Generation of Miracles captain, Akashi Seijuro.
Facing such an opponent, even a seasoned player like Kasuga couldn't help feeling nervous.
But two seconds later, that nervousness vanished entirely, replaced by an indescribable panic.
"Wait, I'm supposed to be against Akashi… so why is you here?!"
Kasuga's face turned pale as Mayuzumi Chihiro suddenly appeared in front of him.
On the other side of the court, Akashi Asuka stared at Akashi Seijuro, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.
Seijuro seemed to see through Asuka's thoughts.
"Surprised to see me?" he asked. "No matter what tactics you used, if you could defeat Aomine and Murasakibara, it proves your strength. But against an opponent like you, even I cannot afford a single lapse."
"I know you want to pull ahead early, but I won't give you that chance. Victory belongs to Rakuzan."
Seijuro's heterochromatic eyes are fixed on Asuka, rational and utterly certain.
==========
"Seijuro is playing tight defense right from the start? That's so unlike him!"
Not only Seiho but even the other Generation of Miracles members on the stands were stunned.
Seijuro was usually a "ruler" on the court rather than an active scorer.
In most of Rakuzan's past games, he acted as a coach or strategist; in many matches, he didn't play at all.
He preferred a cerebral, controlling role over physical dominance. That was why Seiho had planned their initial strategy, expecting the usual pattern: Seijuro calmly acting as point guard, gathering intel, while the ace showdown would only begin in the second half.
But unexpectedly…
"Hmm~~ maybe Seijuro sensed something," Aomine muttered, eyes half-closed.
When Tōō lost to Seiho, he had once tried to deceive himself using the excuse of "only playing half the game."
But upon reflection, he realized the excuse didn't hold.
Even if he had played the full game, the outcome might not have changed.
Because that fleeting presence back then, it was the aura beyond another door. Seiho's team had also discovered the way to open it.
==========
"An unexpected twist right at the start… should I say 'Generation of Miracles' captain?'"
Kasuga smirked. Though the surprise came immediately, it had been anticipated in Seiho's overall game plan.
While Rakuzan with three of the Uncrowned Kings had a slight advantage in team quality, Asuka Akashi, the "information expert" with a godlike perspective, gave Seiho an intelligence edge.
"Alright, let's adjust our plan ahead of time!"
Kasuga's eyes flashed. He accelerated past Mayuzumi Chihiro and executed a sudden stop jump shot.
Before the shot could leave his hands, Nebuya at the paint immediately jumped to block it. At the same time, Mayuzumi Chihiro, whom Kasuga had bypassed, came up from behind to double-team him.
"Ah, now I understand why Akashi said this guy's only a half-finished product."
Feeling Mayuzumi's attempt to steal the ball, Kasuga muttered under his breath and flicked the ball toward the basket.
The shot wasn't meant to score. The moment it left his hands, Tsutomu Iwamura leaped to catch it, preparing for a slam dunk.
"Woah~ alley-oop!"
The crowd gasped.
Just as Iwamura was about to dunk, a looming shadow appeared behind him, hurtling forward.
"Oooooh~~ Muscle Block!"
BOOM!
Nebuya yelled as he blocked Iwamura's dunk. Their bodies collided midair, and even Iwamura, known for his strength, was knocked off balance and sent flying.
"Captain!"
"Captain!"
"You okay?!"
Seiho's bench gasped, fearing another powerhouse like Hanamiya Makoto had appeared.
Fortunately, Iwamura quickly stood up, dusting himself off. "I'm fine. Just a minor accident."
Meanwhile, Nebuya walked over, hiccupping loudly before speaking.
"Hic~~~~ Sorry, I may have used a bit too much force. I ate five bowls of beef over rice before the game to prepare for you guys, but you looked strong… turns out you're so weak?"
"Huh? You muscle freak, what did you just say, "
BANG!
Tsugawa Tomoki flared up at Nebuya's provocation, but before he could step forward, Iwamura calmly punched him on the forehead.
Iwamura eyed Nebuya coldly. "Sorry, our rookie doesn't know better. But the game's just started, you'll soon see the full extent of my strength."
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Completed version available on Patreon.com/Veltoria