The whistle blew. As Haizaki Shogo led his teammates onto the court, he turned toward them with a grin. "Come on, give it your all. After the game, dinner's on me. Big feast."
"Ohhh!! Captain is the best!"
"Captain's amazing! Captain's the coolest!"
Haizaki could only laugh awkwardly. Well, this counted as a different kind of motivation.
Across the court, Yosen gained possession. Haizaki glanced at Murasakibara Atsushi, who was sticking close to him, and smirked at the unusually serious expression on the giant's face. "It's been a while since I've seen you this serious, Atsushi."
"Really? I've always been serious." Murasakibara stared at him with a blank expression. "Not like Haizaki-chin. You were always fighting, causing trouble, and skipping practice."
Damn it. We're just making conversation, why are you digging up my dark history? Haizaki immediately shut his mouth. No point continuing.
But Haizaki stopped talking. Murasakibara didn't. "Haizaki-chin... against you, I don't want to lose."
Haizaki blinked, then laughed. "Ah? Haha... I'm looking forward to it. I've got high hopes for you."
Without realizing it, excitement flickered into Haizaki's eyes. You giant idiot... I've got high expectations for you too.
On the next possession, Himuro Tatsuya received the ball. A quick fake shook off Mochizuki Kazuhiro before he pulled up for an easy jumper.
Swish.
Haizaki accepted the inbound and looked at Murasakibara again, who spread his arms wide and stood in front of him. You think one person can stop me?
WHOOSH!
Haizaki exploded forward and slipped around Murasakibara in a flash. Even Himuro looked stunned. Moments later, Haizaki answered with a jump shot of his own, only this one was from beyond the arc.
Three points.
Possession switched. Murasakibara entered Fukuda Sogo's paint and caught Himuro's pass, gathering himself for a dunk.
But once again, Haizaki moved afterward yet arrived first.
SMACK!!
A massive palm sent the ball flying out of Murasakibara's hands. Haizaki landed and sprinted after the loose ball, while Murasakibara landed too, yet remained standing still with his gaze lowered.
Am I not trying hard enough? Do I lack fighting spirit? Is my determination weak? Then why am I losing?
Even though victory seems impossible, people still fight desperately. I think I'm finally starting to understand. If I want to win, then even if I have to risk everything, I'll win.
Haizaki stared in surprise at Murasakibara, who suddenly appeared before him again. There was no fear or panic, only anticipation.
Then...
CRACKLE!!
Purple lightning flashed as a terrifying aura erupted. Long arms, a towering frame, and violent pressure. At this moment, Murasakibara resembled an ancient beast awakened from slumber.
Haizaki's eyes widened. No way... This airhead giant entered Zone just like that?
Haizaki's expression turned serious as the power of Exceptionally Strong Body surged through him. Do Your Best activated instantly. Even against Zone Murasakibara, he showed not the slightest fear.
A quick fake.
Murasakibara bit.
Haizaki broke through.
But even after getting past him, Murasakibara was still right behind him. That overwhelming pressure remained glued to his back.
Haizaki leaped for a one-handed dunk. Murasakibara jumped too, his giant hand stretching upward.
Haizaki's face remained indifferent. No switch. No pass.
He wanted to test it.
Just how far had Zone Murasakibara reached?
Their palms met the basketball simultaneously, and the ball froze in midair. For a moment, time itself seemed suspended.
Then, slowly, Haizaki forced it downward.
BOOOOM!!
The dunk went through.
Haizaki landed, but before he could even savor the moment, Murasakibara had already caught Himuro's pass and charged forward while Fukuda Sogo was still reacting.
BOOOOM!!
Haizaki landed and watched Murasakibara silently turn away. Interest flooded his eyes.
Zone Murasakibara's full-powered Thor's Hammer... I failed to stop it. Even though it had been one hand versus two, even though I activated both Exceptionally Strong Body and Do Your Best, the giant's strength still overwhelmed me.
Murasakibara... Your potential is endless too.
Nearby, Himuro stared at Murasakibara with envy. This was talent, the kind of talent he had yearned for, something effort alone could never bridge.
No matter how hard I worked, Zone was something forever beyond my reach.
And seeing Murasakibara this powerful, even Himuro felt his heartbeat accelerate.
==========
In the stands, both Aomine Daiki and Midorima Shintaro abruptly stood up. Disbelief covered their faces as they stared at Murasakibara's eyes crackling with electricity.
Aomine smirked. "So that's it. So you really do love basketball."
Meanwhile, Midorima looked as if his entire worldview had shattered. "Impossible... Someone who only eats, someone who skips practice, someone who always acts like basketball doesn't matter... He entered Zone?"
Out of everyone in the Generation of Miracles, if Aomine, Akashi, Kise, or even Haizaki entered Zone, Midorima would not have been surprised. But Murasakibara? This giant airhead?
This completely overturned everything Midorima believed. Maybe... Could it be... This idiot actually loved basketball more than anyone?
Who knew?
Haizaki's eyes gleamed. He could feel Murasakibara's power, and more importantly, this still wasn't his peak.
It was instinct.
The instincts of a predator.
Interesting. Really interesting.
Haizaki received the ball, and Murasakibara immediately moved in. At this moment, the court became a battlefield for only two people.
Haizaki Shogo.
Murasakibara Atsushi.
Haizaki dribbled, dragging Murasakibara across Yosen's paint repeatedly. Then suddenly, he soared upward.
A hanging layup.
Elegant. Beautiful.
The airborne Murasakibara could do nothing.
In the audience, Alexandra leaned over the railing, eyes narrowed behind her glasses as she watched the two closely. Murasakibara's strength had already surpassed Kagami Taiga's.
That shocked her enough. But what truly frightened her was Haizaki.
He hadn't entered Zone, yet he still fought evenly against Zone Murasakibara. Back and forth, neither yielding. It was almost as if the stronger his opponent became, the stronger Haizaki became too.
Alexandra couldn't see his limit.
That was what terrified her.
"T-This... Isn't this way too monstrous?!"
On the court, Haizaki spread his arms and lowered his center of gravity. His body moved with the rhythm of Murasakibara's dribble.
But Murasakibara didn't use tricks. No flashy moves. No fakes.
He simply stepped forward.
One step.
Then another.
Brute force.
Raw power.
He bulldozed straight into Haizaki.
Haizaki looked shocked as he was shoved all the way beneath the basket.
Then...
BOOOOM!!
Two-handed slam.
The basket shook violently. Just moments ago, Murasakibara had rammed into him with his back and hips, and Haizaki had never expected something this crude, this savage.
Because of that, he lost the chance to block.
Haizaki slowly exhaled. This giant idiot... For once, he was using his brain.
Never underestimate anyone.
Especially not someone from the Generation of Miracles.