"Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to the finals of the National Tournament!"
"Up next is the championship match between Kirisaki Daiichi and Teikō Middle School!"
"Let's see who comes out on top!"
The announcer's voice echoed throughout the arena.
The spectators rose to their feet and erupted into cheers.
With the high-energy background music blasting through the venue, the atmosphere instantly reached a fever pitch.
In the players' tunnel, Shogo Haizaki waited for the signal to enter.
They had already finished warming up. All that remained was to make their entrance and begin the game.
Listening to the music booming through the arena, Shogo Haizaki felt his blood heat up.
He was so fired up that it was almost as if he had been pumped full of adrenaline.
And he wasn't the only one.
The rest of Kirisaki Daiichi felt the same way.
Naturally, so did Teikō Middle School.
"I'm getting fired up!" Ryota Kise laughed. "This atmosphere is way better than anything we've had before!"
"It's the final, after all!" Daiki Aomine grinned. "I can barely wait anymore! Akashi, when are we going out there?!"
Seijuro Akashi smiled gently. He looked perfectly calm on the outside, but inside, the excitement had already begun to burn.
"Soon. We'll be entering first."
As soon as Seijuro Akashi finished speaking, the announcer's voice rang out.
"Let's give a huge round of applause to the players from Teikō Middle School!"
"Let's go!" Seijuro Akashi called out.
The others immediately followed him onto the court in an orderly line.
The announcer began introducing the Teikō Middle School players one by one.
Every time one of them heard his name called out, a rush of excitement surged through him.
This was it.
They were completely fired up.
Once every Teikō Middle School player had been introduced, the background music changed.
The new track was heavier, carrying the tense weight of something about to erupt.
"Ladies and gentlemen! Next, let's give a huge round of applause to the players from Kirisaki Daiichi!"
The music suddenly exploded with energy.
With the high-energy music playing, the Kirisaki Daiichi players jogged onto the court.
The announcer began introducing them one by one as well.
The pre-game ceremony had pulled out all the stops.
Only after Kirisaki Daiichi's introductions were complete did the ceremony finally come to an end.
The game was ready to begin.
Both teams stepped onto the court for a friendly pre-game greeting.
They stood face to face along the center line.
Seijuro Akashi smiled at Miyamoto Tokima.
"Tokima, I look forward to playing against you."
Miyamoto Tokima smiled back.
"Akashi, same here."
With the greetings finished, the match officially began.
Kirisaki Daiichi's starting lineup was:
Center Atsushi Murasakibara, Power Forward Shuzo Nijimura, Small Forward Shogo Haizaki, Shooting Guard Miyamoto Tokima, and Point Guard Makoto Hanamiya.
Teikō Middle School's starting lineup was:
Center Teppei Kiyoshi, Power Forward Ryota Kise, Small Forward Shintaro Midorima, Shooting Guard Daiki Aomine, and Point Guard Seijuro Akashi.
That's right.
Daiki Aomine was playing shooting guard.
More precisely, under Coach Kōzō Shirogane's arrangement, Daiki Aomine had switched positions with Shintaro Midorima.
Shintaro Midorima was the team's main three-point threat. If he had to match up against Miyamoto Tokima, that firepower would be shut down immediately.
So Kōzō Shirogane asked whether anyone was willing to switch positions with Shintaro Midorima.
Daiki Aomine and Ryota Kise both raised their hands at the same time.
In the end, they settled it with rock-paper-scissors.
Daiki Aomine won and earned the right to switch positions with Shintaro Midorima.
Shintaro Midorima hadn't wanted to switch, but for the sake of the team's victory, he agreed.
And with that, both starting lineups were set.
The referee bounced the basketball twice, then stepped between Atsushi Murasakibara and Teppei Kiyoshi with the ball in hand.
He looked at both of them.
"Ready?"
Atsushi Murasakibara and Teppei Kiyoshi crouched into position for the jump ball and nodded.
The referee tossed the ball straight into the air.
Both Atsushi Murasakibara and Teppei Kiyoshi pushed off the floor at the same time.
They stretched out their right arms toward the ball.
In the end, Atsushi Murasakibara won the tip once again.
Teppei Kiyoshi landed without looking discouraged.
He already knew there was a good chance he wouldn't be able to beat Atsushi Murasakibara on the jump.
So the moment his feet touched the floor, Teppei Kiyoshi turned and sprinted back on defense, preparing for Kirisaki Daiichi's first possession.
Atsushi Murasakibara's tip landed in Shogo Haizaki's hands.
Shogo Haizaki flicked his wrist and passed the ball to Makoto Hanamiya.
There was no point trying to force a fast break anymore. Teikō Middle School had gotten back on defense too quickly.
So having Makoto Hanamiya, their point guard, take control of the ball was the natural choice.
Makoto Hanamiya dribbled slowly into the frontcourt.
When he got within about two steps of Seijuro Akashi, he stopped.
His attention focused entirely on Seijuro Akashi's eyes.
Only after confirming that he couldn't see the so-called golden halo did Makoto Hanamiya sling the ball over to Atsushi Murasakibara.
He was still wary of the [Emperor Eye], after all.
Seijuro Akashi naturally noticed what Makoto Hanamiya was doing.
He smiled faintly but said nothing.
"What the hell are you smiling at?" Makoto Hanamiya suddenly snapped.
Seijuro Akashi could only sigh inwardly.
Great.
The trash talker was starting up again.
This was going to be a headache.
Inside the paint, Atsushi Murasakibara held his position against Teppei Kiyoshi and reached out to catch the incoming pass.
Smack!
Atsushi Murasakibara secured the ball hard with both hands, producing a sharp sound.
Then...
Bang!
He put the ball down with his right hand and slammed his body into Teppei Kiyoshi.
Teppei Kiyoshi let out a muffled grunt and was forced back a step.
Atsushi Murasakibara seized the opening.
He bent his knees, and a powerful gust of air seemed to burst from beneath his feet.
The next moment, he launched himself into the air.
His body slowly rotated 180 degrees in midair.
The force around him reached its peak.
[Thor's Hammer]!
Teppei Kiyoshi tried to step forward and contest the shot, but under that overwhelming force, there was little he could do.
In the end, all he could do was watch as Atsushi Murasakibara slammed the ball through the hoop with both hands.
BANG!
The rim shook violently under the force of the dunk, almost as if it were crying out in agony.
After landing, Atsushi Murasakibara shot Teppei Kiyoshi a fierce look before turning and heading back on defense.
Teppei Kiyoshi rubbed his aching chest and sucked in a sharp breath.
"Damn... You've gotten that much stronger? You freaks."
And judging from the way Teppei Kiyoshi said it, the word "freaks" clearly wasn't aimed at Atsushi Murasakibara alone.
...
...
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