Kagami Taiga's dunk and the cheers from Seirin's players finally snapped Kuroko Tetsuya out of his daze. In that instant, he saw a light, a brilliant light reflected in his pale blue eyes.
"Kagami-kun..."
Then something clicked.
Light. Right... that's right. I'm a shadow. I'm Kagami-kun's shadow.
His eyes slowly widened. Precisely because my physical abilities are lacking... that's why I became a shadow. So why should a shadow doubt itself? So what if my body is weak? Wouldn't that only make my shadow darker?
Resolve surged into his pale blue eyes. Not fear. Not hesitation. Only determination.
The determination to throw everything away.
I want to win. I want victory. Even if I have to shatter myself apart. Even if my body breaks... I won't regret it.
Kuroko slowly stood and exhaled. It felt as if years of poison lodged deep within his chest had finally been expelled. He turned toward Aida Riko. "Coach Riko, put me back in."
"...Kuroko?" Riko stared at him. The confusion was gone from his eyes. The emptiness had vanished. What remained was unwavering conviction. "...You're alright now?"
Kuroko nodded. "Yes."
Riko stared at him for several seconds before finally sighing. "Fine. Get ready. But if you're hurt again and can't keep going, I'm pulling you out immediately."
"I understand."
The whistle sounded, and Kuroko stepped back onto the court, replacing Koganei Shinji. Hyuga looked over. "Kuroko. I'm leaving it to you."
Kuroko nodded. "Yes, senpai."
Nearby, Kagami stared at Kuroko for a moment. Then a long-lost smile appeared on his face. "So you're back."
Kuroko looked at him quietly. "Sorry for worrying you, Kagami-kun."
"Let's do this."
Without another word, the two bumped fists. Light and shadow reunited.
But this time, how powerful would they become?
==========
Across the court, Hanamiya Makoto's face twisted slightly. Disgust. Annoyance. Cruelty.
All of it flashed across his eyes as he subtly signaled another command.
Plan B.
Kirisaki immediately understood, and dark smiles spread across their faces. The whistle blew as Hanamiya dribbled into Seirin's half and passed toward Yamazaki Hiroshi.
Yamazaki caught it.
No opening. No shot.
He passed it back.
At that moment, Kuroko vanished.
Misdirection activated.
He appeared instantly in Hanamiya's blind spot and reached for the steal. Hanamiya grinned.
Again.
Three Kirisaki players closed in.
But this time...
SLAP!
Kuroko crashed to the floor.
Again.
Yet before falling, he threw the ball. The pass flew across the court, straight toward Kagami.
Under the basket...
BOOM!!
An uncontested dunk.
Seirin closed the gap by another two points, and the Seirin bench exploded as everyone jumped to their feet. That single play, Kuroko's dive, had become the signal.
The signal for Seirin's comeback.
=========
In the audience, a faint smile appeared at the corner of Aomine Daiki's mouth. Only he understood its meaning.
Tetsu... so this was your answer. Good. Very good.
Elsewhere, Midorima suddenly turned toward Takao, his expression serious. "Kuroko has found his resolve. What about you?"
Takao blinked. "Huh? What are you talking about, Shin-chan?"
"Resolve." Midorima adjusted his glasses. "The resolve to sacrifice everything for victory."
Takao nearly choked. "Everything?! Hey! Don't suddenly become so serious!"
Midorima said nothing else. Resolve wasn't something others could give you. You either awakened it yourself... or you didn't.
==========
Nearby, Shimizu Rena stared quietly at the court. "Shogo-kun, Kuroko-kun changed." She looked toward Kuroko's figure. "There's something different now."
Haizaki nodded. "He found his resolve."
"Resolve?"
"The resolve to sacrifice everything for victory."
Shimizu froze. "Everything?... Even his safety?"
Haizaki looked toward Kuroko. The answer was obvious. "Didn't you already see it? He dove without hesitation. He already made his choice."
Shimizu lowered her head and quietly scribbled into her notebook, but her fingers trembled slightly.
What kind of people are these...? Can someone really risk everything for basketball?
Nearby, Fukuda Sogo's players had also heard the conversation, and their expressions slowly grew serious.
==========
On the court, with Kagami scoring and Kuroko intercepting passes, Seirin slowly regained momentum.
Eighteen points. Sixteen. Fourteen. Twelve.
The gap narrowed little by little, but twelve points still remained a mountain.
Then...
THUD!!
Kuroko dove again.
The ball flew free.
Kagami received it.
BOOM!!
Another dunk.
Another score.
But this time, Kuroko didn't stand back up.
He remained sprawled across the floor. Motionless. Unconscious.
The third quarter still had three minutes remaining, and Seirin froze.
Again.
Disaster had struck.
Kiyoshi collapsed. Kuroko collapsed. One after another.
Seirin's players became restless, and Hanamiya didn't miss the opportunity. Within three short minutes, Kirisaki expanded the gap from twelve points... back to twenty-two.
The whistle ending the third quarter echoed through the arena. Hanamiya smiled and walked off the court with his team, while Seirin fell back into silence.
Depression. Frustration. Defeat.
Three minutes of break time... was too short. Far too short.
Before Seirin could even gather themselves, the fourth quarter had begun. Seirin's bench rose, everyone preparing to enter the court.
Everyone except Kagami.
He remained seated with his head lowered, emptying one bottle after another into his mouth in large gulps.
"Ka... Kagami-kun..."
Riko wanted to remind him.
Time to play.
But the moment she spoke, she stopped.
Because Kagami had already stood up.
Then he walked toward the court.
Alone.
No one noticed.
Kagami's eyes remained closed.
Inside his mind, voices echoed endlessly.
Kagami-kun, even though I'm a shadow, the stronger the light, the darker the shadow.
Kagami-kun, I'm different from you. I'm the shadow.
Kagami-kun, we absolutely have to win.
Kagami! Come on! You're at the Generation of Miracles level too!
Step.
Step.
Step.
Kagami walked forward slowly.
A terrifying aura erupted from him.
Unmatched. Wild. Overwhelming.
Kuroko. Kiyoshi-senpai. The victory you wanted... I'll bring it back.
Then Kagami opened his eyes.
Crimson lightning flashed.
The entire arena froze.
Red electricity danced across his gaze.
At that moment, Kagami Taiga entered the Zone.
Driven by a singular determination.
To fight for his teammates. To win. No matter what.
Across the court, Hanamiya's face instantly turned pale. His pupils shrank violently.
"Impossible. No... No way... W... why?" His voice shook. "Why him too...? T-this feeling..."
His entire body stiffened.
"The Generation of Miracles..."
Before anyone could react...
BOOOOM!!!
Kagami had already slammed the ball through the hoop.
Kirisaki's players stood frozen. None of them moved. None of them reacted.
Because this wasn't the same level anymore.
Spider Web? Meaningless.
Schemes? Meaningless.
Against absolute power, technique shattered.
This was the ultimate example of overwhelming force crushing clever tricks.