The third quarter had ended under the overwhelming pressure of Haizaki Shogo's eruption, leaving the arena trapped in a heavy, suffocating silence. Many players and many teams had all fallen silent because one question now lingered in everyone's mind:
How do you deal with Haizaki Shogo?
Perhaps only members of the Generation of Miracles could stand before him now. Everyone else lacked the qualifications.
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At Fukuda Sogo's bench, Haizaki accepted a bottle of water and a towel from Shimizu Rena, flashing her a small smile. That smile instantly eased the tension among his teammates.
Their captain's performance just now had been far too violent. He had shattered a backboard.
Good lord... what level of basketball was that? What kind of strength was that?
Coach Ichiro Kudo narrowed his eyes and looked at Haizaki with concern. "Shogo-kun... can you still continue playing?"
"No problem, Coach. I know my limits."
Kudo finally relaxed. Haizaki's sudden outburst had frightened even him.
He was terrified Haizaki might suddenly get injured or completely exhaust himself and throw Fukuda Sogo into chaos. After this battle, Kudo also realized a serious issue.
Fukuda Sogo's core could not continue being just Haizaki alone.
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On Yosen's side, Coach Araki Masako felt equally helpless. Haizaki Shogo had become too monstrous. He had already stepped beyond the boundaries of ordinary players.
Yosen was nearly the perfect team, yet they were still being suppressed. For a moment, Araki struggled to find words, but she quickly suppressed her emotions.
Her expression sharpened.
Efficient. Decisive.
Like the wooden sword she always carried.
"There is still the fourth quarter. We still have hope. Atsushi, continue guarding Haizaki. Tatsuya, continue leading the offense."
"Losing isn't frightening. What's frightening is losing your fighting spirit. Understand? Yosen has Yosen's pride. Yosen has Yosen's will."
"There is no surrender here. Only fight with everything you've got!"
The players stared at their coach. At this moment, Araki Masako radiated the same feeling as the sword in her hand.
Sharp. Unyielding.
Suppose your opponent was the greatest swordsman alive. Suppose they held the world's finest blade.
Would you retreat?
No.
Even if all you had was a wooden sword, you still drew it and charged.
The whistle sounded, and the fourth quarter began. Players from both teams returned to the court.
Whether it was Fukuda Sogo or Yosen, not a trace of despair existed in anyone's eyes. Only fearlessness. Only refusal to surrender.
Murasakibara had remained silent ever since the third quarter ended because his thoughts had been trapped on that final play.
Haizaki's steal.
He still couldn't understand it.
I clearly saw Shogo's right hand move. Then why did the ball get stolen from another direction? Why? Did I see it wrong?
He had not.
Haizaki's move had been born from studying Velia's Illusory Eye and close-range sleight of hand techniques. Combined with absurd hand speed and visual guidance, he had created a new stealing technique.
His first reach had only been half-real, just enough to force a change of hands. Then midway through, his hand changed direction and intercepted the ball at the predicted position.
To do this required terrifying hand speed. After returning from America, Haizaki realized hand speed mattered enormously, so he trained specifically for it and developed countless applications.
Murasakibara had simply been deceived.
He never saw the truth.
The ball once again reached Himuro Tatsuya. Haizaki moved to intercept, but Murasakibara, purple lightning flashing in his eyes, stepped forward and completely blocked the ideal path.
Himuro used a smooth fake. Mochizuki Kazuhiro and Kimura Tosho both bit.
Himuro stepped inside and scored with a jump shot.
His abilities stood far above Fukuda Sogo's ordinary players. His polished fakes and textbook form made him impossible to read.
This was the difference between talent and hard work.
This was the scoring option Yosen had intentionally created.
Haizaki remained tied down by Murasakibara. Even he had no better option.
His teammates would have to endure.
Of course, Haizaki possessed the ability to guard the entire court, but there was no need.
Not yet.
Not at this moment.
Possession changed, and Haizaki caught the ball. Looking at the extremely serious Murasakibara, he smiled.
"Atsushi, guarding me means Yosen no longer owns the paint."
Murasakibara blinked. "What do you mean?"
Haizaki grinned. He took a step backward and tossed the ball high into the air.
The pass arced over Murasakibara's jump.
Toward the paint.
Inside, Suzuran Karasu had already exploded upward.
He rose over Okamura's outstretched arm and slammed the ball into the hoop.
BOOM!!
"HAAAH!"
After landing, Suzuran Karasu pounded his chest with both fists, releasing everything.
With Murasakibara gone from the paint, Okamura could no longer suppress him. Instead, Okamura found himself being overwhelmed by Suzuran Karasu and Okawa Sawano.
The feeling felt painfully familiar.
Last season, he had suffered exactly the same fate.
Both teams had been liberated. Both sides found easier ways to score.
And so the fourth quarter gradually moved toward its end.
With one minute remaining:
98:84
Fukuda Sogo led.
Himuro received the ball again. He drove inside and scored two more points, then immediately turned and retreated.
Haizaki caught the inbound and took a deep breath.
Time to end this. Let me finish it myself.
The instant he dribbled, his aura exploded. His speed increased again.
Purple lightning wrapped around him as he raced down the court. Entering the paint, he stepped forward from just beyond the free throw line.
And began walking through the air.
Behind him, Murasakibara leapt as well. His right hand stretched toward the ball.
Haizaki's face remained expressionless.
Only one phrase echoed in his mind.
Quadra Kill.
Then...
BOOOOOOM!!
Haizaki ended the game with a soaring sky-walk dunk.
And Murasakibara was knocked straight out of the Zone.
The final whistle sounded.
Fukuda Sogo's bench erupted, and the players on the court rushed over. Four teammates lifted Haizaki and tossed him into the air.
Again and again.
At the very end, with passionate music filling the stadium and applause roaring from every direction, both teams gathered at center court for the closing ceremony.
Haizaki grabbed Murasakibara's massive hand and smirked. "You like basketball this much? Then train more."
"Ah? Shogo, don't think beating Yosen means you can lecture me."
Haizaki laughed. "I'm not lecturing. I'm giving advice. Your talent is incredible."
Murasakibara nodded. "That's more like it."
"Today's game was good. Yosen's a great team."
"Mhm. I think so too."
Just as Haizaki moved to shake hands with the next player, Murasakibara suddenly tightened his grip. His voice dropped so low only Haizaki could hear it.
"Don't lose to him. Don't walk the path I already walked."
Haizaki froze, then turned back. His smile disappeared.
For once, his expression became completely serious.
He nodded.
"Don't worry. This year... I'll definitely win the championship."