Chapter One Hundred Three: Midorima's Change
"I see." Coach Nakatani stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Free that first-year from offensive responsibilities so he can focus on scoring and matching up with Midorima, while switching Sendoh to control the game's tempo and apply defensive pressure..."
"Having Takao face that guy alone is definitely too much to handle."
Coach Nakatani stepped to the sideline, his voice carrying clear instructions: "Miyaji! Help Takao with screens. Block Sendoh!"
"And you guys—" His gaze swept pointedly across Miyaji. "Don't rely too heavily on Midorima and Takao. Step up when it's your turn to perform!"
"I knew it. These exhausting, troublesome jobs always end up on my plate." Though Miyaji grumbled under his breath, his actions showed no hesitation as he immediately executed the coach's arrangement.
Takao felt conflicted internally. He actually wanted to try again, to measure exactly how large the gap remained between himself and an elite player like Sendoh.
He believed that with just a bit more focus, a bit more effort, perhaps he could find a way to compete.
"Takao." Miyaji seemed to read his mind, his tone "kind" as he added: "If you don't play this possession well, I'll beat you up when we get back."
"...Yes! Miyaji-senpai!" Takao jolted, instantly abandoning any thoughts of personal duels.
Right now, winning the game was the top priority!
---
Shutoku's possession.
Takao advanced with the ball once more. This time, Miyaji quickly stepped up, setting a solid pick-and-roll screen for him.
As Sendoh tried to fight over the screen, Miyaji used his body to seal off position, forcing Ryonan to switch. Ikegami immediately rotated onto Takao.
Utilizing the brief window created by the screen, Takao decisively accelerated, penetrating into the paint.
Ikegami collapsed inside. Fukuda quickly rotated to help.
"Don't come over!" Ikegami's warning came half a beat too late.
Takao executed a bounce pass, finding Kimura cutting to the rim.
"Swish!"
Kimura finished the easy floater.
[Ryonan 5 - Shutoku 2]
---
Change of possession. Ryonan's offense.
Sendoh calmly dribbled across halfcourt, his gaze surveying Shutoku's defensive formation.
"I'll take this guy." Miyaji pushed Takao aside, stepping forward to block Sendoh's advance.
"Oh? What a reliable senpai." Sendoh's lips curved upward. Before the words fully left his mouth, his body suddenly dropped low, his right foot flashing out like lightning, feinting a strong drive right!
Miyaji, experienced and quick to react, stayed glued to Sendoh despite allowing penetration, refusing to give him shooting space.
However, just as their bodies made contact, Sendoh leaned into Miyaji. His right hand, holding the ball, casually lifted upward, lofting the basketball toward the airspace above the rim.
At the same moment, Fukuda read the timing perfectly, cutting from the right, exploding off the floor at his apex, grabbing the descending ball mid-flight and viciously hammering it through the rim!
Alley-oop slam!
Sendoh had created a perfect scoring opportunity for his teammate with a single effortless pass.
[Ryonan 7 - Shutoku 2]
---
Change of possession. Shutoku's offense.
"Takao!"
The moment Takao crossed halfcourt with the ball, Midorima suddenly reversed direction at the three-point line, shaking half a step free from Yagami and moving back toward midcourt to receive.
Takao's pass arrived with perfect timing.
"He only needs an instant of space! With Midorima's height, as long as he can get his shot off, that release point is virtually impossible to block!" The announcer explained Midorima's advantage and every defender's frustration when facing his jumper.
"Thud!"
Midorima showed zero hesitation, rising from a full step beyond the arc!
His shooting motion remained mechanically stable, as if the extended distance had no effect whatsoever.
However, Yagami had already closed out, launching himself with maximum effort, arms fully extended, reaching toward the ball about to leave Midorima's hands!
After all, for a shooter like Midorima, contesting his vision could only accomplish so much.
"Tip!"
Fingertips made the slightest contact with the ball's underside. Yagami had actually touched it!
"CLANG!"
"Swish!"
The ball clanged off the rim, bouncing up—only to drop through anyway.
Long-range three-pointer!
"Tch." Midorima clicked his tongue, looking distinctly unsatisfied.
[Ryonan 7 - Shutoku 5]
"He really dares to shoot from that distance?!" Disbelieving exclamations came from Ryonan's bench.
"That first-year almost got blocked by that guy?!" Shutoku's bench players felt equally shocked.
Players from both teams unconsciously focused their attention on those two figures standing outside the arc.
"So I can't give him even that little space?" Yagami pondered internally. As expected—not your average three-point shooter. This range and decisiveness exceeded conventional understanding.
"Hmph. You really think you can stop me?" Midorima's calm tone carried absolute arrogance.
"Pfft."
The only response came as Yagami's sudden, unexpected laugh.
"What are you laughing at?" Midorima's brow furrowed.
"Nothing. I just thought of something happy." Yagami answered casually, avoiding a direct response.
---
Change of possession. Ryonan's offense.
Sendoh pushed past midcourt, patiently controlling the tempo at the top of the key. He used a hand signal to have Fukuda drag Kimura over, then precisely lobbed the ball to Uozumi inside.
Uozumi caught it, dropped his shoulder, attempting to overpower his opponent with a post-up.
Otsubo's strength proved more formidable than Uozumi anticipated, but that wasn't the real objective.
Sendoh cut immediately after passing. Uozumi returned the ball. Sendoh caught it at the free-throw line, rising for the mid-range jumper!
Miyaji leaped from the side to contest.
"Swish!"
The ball splashed through cleanly.
[Ryonan 9 - Shutoku 5]
---
Change of possession. Shutoku's offense.
Takao again used a screen to penetrate inside, drawing attention before unexpectedly kicking the ball backward. Miyaji caught it beyond the arc and fired without hesitation.
"CLANG!"
Unfortunately, the shot carried too much force. The ball crashed off the back iron, bouncing high.
Kimura crashed inside. He and Otsubo boxed out Uozumi's position. As the ball descended, Otsubo jumped, tipping it in with a light touch in mid-air.
Two points.
[Ryonan 9 - Shutoku 7]
---
After the chaotic opening, Shutoku quickly stabilized.
The first quarter's remaining time featured a prolonged battle. Both teams traded baskets, the score alternating leads, the margin holding steady within five points.
The key to this equilibrium lay in Yagami and Midorima neutralizing each other. Beyond their opening three-pointers, neither player contributed additional scoring.
They'd elevated their defensive intensity to maximum levels—relentless on-ball pressure and timely fronting completely cut off receiving lanes, forcing each other's offense into stagnation.
"CLANG!"
On the final possession, Ikegami's open mid-range shot bounced off.
"Tweet!" The first quarter buzzer sounded.
[Ryonan 19 - Shutoku 17]
"Can't believe both teams failed to score twenty points in the first quarter. That's rare!" Discussions rippled through the stands.
"Not surprising considering their ace scorers only managed three points the entire quarter. Forget shooting—just getting them the ball proved difficult."
"Those two tangled for a whole quarter. Will it be like this all game? That'd be boring."
"Relax. The first quarter's mostly feeling each other out. Plus the other players' performances will affect things. I guarantee the second quarter scoring gets way more intense."
---
Ryonan's huddle.
"Yagami, can your stamina handle defending like this?" Coach Taoka asked. "Don't force it. Sendoh can take over anytime."
Sendoh, who'd been wiping sweat with a towel, froze mid-motion. Already his turn to fulfill senpai duties?
Yagami didn't answer immediately. His gaze traveled across the court toward Shutoku's huddle. Midorima gave him a strange feeling during the first quarter. Though he possessed that Generation of Miracles arrogance, he didn't seem as severely afflicted—almost like a normal person.
After a moment, Yagami returned his focus, speaking calmly: "Stamina's not really an issue since I'm barely involved offensively. But I estimate the second quarter won't make limiting Midorima so easy."
"Mm." Coach Taoka nodded, completely unsurprised.
He glanced at Shutoku's coach. Judging from first-quarter adjustments, Nakatani Ryo possessed considerable experience. So even a "Generation of Miracles" genius, under such coaching, should become a player who follows tactical schemes more obediently.
---
Shutoku's huddle.
"Coach." Midorima adjusted his glasses, his expression unprecedentedly serious. "Starting the second quarter, please have everyone pass me every ball."
His words dropped like a stone. The huddle instantly fell into subtle silence. Otsubo's towel-wiping motion barely perceptibly paused before continuing as if nothing happened.
"Hahaha, you're way too self-centered!" Takao broke the silence first, pointing at Midorima while laughing loudly. "But it's fine—I like people like you!"
"Coach—" Miyaji raised his hand, his face wearing a "kind" smile. "May I run this arrogant underclassman over with my car?"
Kimura patted Miyaji's shoulder at the perfect moment, adding sincerely: "Miyaji, I can lend you my pickup truck."
"All of you... shut up!" Coach Nakatani's temple bulged with a vein as he glared at them. Then he turned back to Midorima, his tone growing heavy. "Midorima, you should know perfectly well that you alone can't completely escape that first-year's defense."
"Yeah." Midorima admitted frankly. Whether exploiting his height advantage for high release points or catching opponents off-guard with ultra-long-range shots, Yagami seemed to anticipate everything, defending flawlessly.
"But—" Midorima's tone turned decisive, his eyes behind the lenses sharp as blades "—I will run myself open. Then, with my three-pointers, I'll completely shatter all their tactical schemes!"
Hearing this, Coach Nakatani couldn't help raising his hand to cover his face. This kid understood nothing.
"Kimura, Miyaji—" Coach Nakatani took a deep breath, suppressing his urge to complain, and began laying out tactics. "Second quarter, you two set off-ball screens for Midorima. Make absolutely sure to create shooting space for him."
"Takao, your job is finding every possible way to safely get him the ball."
"Got it!" Takao responded with a grin.
"Thank you, Coach!"
Watching Midorima's "wish granted" expression, Coach Nakatani's emotions ran complex.
If not for experiencing that loss to Seirin, Midorima probably wouldn't willingly accept his teammates' screens and help, would he?
A shooter who always wanted to solve problems through one-on-ones, who didn't actively move without the ball, who refused to share possessions, who only trusted his perfect shooting percentage...
Which is why genius brats are the hardest to coach!
"Midorima." Captain Otsubo's deep voice carried undeniable pressure. "You should know the consequences of continuing to be selfish. My patience is nearly exhausted."
"Yes." Midorima felt somewhat intimidated—but only by this particular senpai.
"However, since Coach has already decided... second quarter, we'll play your way." Otsubo's gaze locked firmly onto him. "But if we end up losing this game, I absolutely won't let you off easy."
"I understand." Midorima met the captain's eyes, responding firmly.
"Tweet!"
---
Second quarter began. Shutoku's possession.
Takao advanced the ball, immediately cut off by Sendoh after crossing halfcourt.
Midorima unexpectedly dropped to the right corner. Yagami's brow furrowed as he pushed Fukuda toward the corner, switching himself onto Kimura.
"Defend shots, not drives!"
Fukuda repeated Yagami's words. As long as Midorima showed shooting preparation, he'd jump to contest. Even if it was a pump fake, Yagami or Uozumi would rotate for help defense once Midorima entered the paint.
At the top of the key, as Miyaji screened for Takao, Midorima exploded into motion.
He first faked toward the baseline but failed to fool Fukuda. Immediately he reversed along the arc toward the top, Fukuda staying close—only to get obstructed by Kimura's body.
"Switch!"
Yagami anticipated it, abandoning Kimura to stay with Midorima.
But it didn't end there. After Takao's penetration, he lobbed the ball to Otsubo inside, then quickly relocated to the right forty-five beyond the arc.
Midorima reversed direction again. As Yagami pursued, he found himself perfectly screened by Takao!
Otsubo kicked the ball out.
Ikegami immediately closed out toward Midorima running into space.
But this fleeting window proved completely sufficient for Midorima!
He adjusted his footwork on the move—catch, plant, bend knees, rise!
Ikegami jumped to contest. In this moment he finally understood why only Yagami or Sendoh could defend Midorima this game.
Not tall enough!
Midorima's release point was simply too high. Even his shooting arc reached desperate heights.
"Swish!"
A crisp swish rang out.
Even though Shutoku's movement wasn't entirely polished and Midorima hadn't completely escaped defensive pressure, as long as the person in front of him wasn't Yagami or Sendoh, there was no problem.
Three-pointer!
[Ryonan 19 - Shutoku 20]