"Hey, Ryo, don't you think they're all wearing number 6? That's kind of interesting!"
"Oh… you're right. That is interesting."
So that's what caught his attention…
Hayama Kotaro's observation gave the members of Rakuzan High something oddly entertaining to focus on.
Mibuchi Reo also showed interest, while the muscular Nebuya Eikichi glanced across the stands and noticed the rest of the Generation of Miracles seated among the crowd.
"You guys see that? There are a lot of other schools in the audience too."
"Of course there are. This is the third-to-last match of the Interhigh. Everyone who's free is bound to show up."
While Rakuzan continued their chatter, the court was being cleared. Staff quickly finished another round of cleaning before the game.
The announcer's voice echoed across the arena, reading out the starting lineups.
Fukuda Sogo starters: #6 Haizaki Shogo (captain), #7 Suzuran Karasu, #5 Okawa Sawano, #12 Kimura Tosho, #10 Ishida Hideki.
Shutoku High starters: #4 Otsubo Taisuke (captain), #6 Midorima Shintaro, #10 Takao Kazunari, #8 Miyaji Kiyoshi, #5 Kimura Shinsuke.
Once the lineups were announced, the entire crowd seemed to sharpen their gaze at once.
It's starting.
The game whistle sounded, and both teams stepped onto the court.
Facing Shutoku, Haizaki Shogo spoke calmly to Midorima Shintaro. His words ignited tension across both sides.
"Bring it on."
"Try it."
Midorima replied without changing his expression. Calm. Composed. Controlled.
He's steady… as always.
The opening tip-off followed immediately.
Fukuda Sogo sent out #7 Suzuran Karasu, while Shutoku's captain Otsubo Taisuke stepped forward.
Otsubo was a third-year standing at 198 cm. In Tokyo, he had once been considered one of the best centers—if not still among the top three. Only someone like Kiyoshi Teppei of Seirin might clearly surpass him.
The ball was tossed into the air. Both players reached it at the same time, but the bounce favored Shutoku. Takao reacted fastest and secured possession.
Takao scanned for Midorima—
Only to find Haizaki already shadowing him.
He's marking him already… from the very beginning.
There was no room for Midorima to even attempt a three-pointer.
Takao narrowed his eyes, then passed the ball into the paint to Otsubo.
Otsubo received it, powered through the defense, and finished with a hook shot off the backboard.
SWOOSH.
The ball dropped cleanly through the net.
In an instant, Fukuda Sogo pushed a fast break.
Ishida inbounded to Sawano, who launched a long pass forward. Four players sprinted downcourt: Kimura Tosho, Haizaki, Midorima, and Takao.
Sawano led the charge, but Haizaki and Midorima quickly closed the gap behind him. Takao lagged slightly behind.
Kimura Tosho jumped for a dunk attempt—
Midorima leapt to contest from behind.
Haizaki also rose from another angle.
BOOM!
The ball slammed through the net.
It was Haizaki who finished the alley-oop, connecting perfectly with Kimura in mid-air.
Takao, arriving late under the basket, could only stare.
"That's the gap… raw talent creates this difference in speed and height."
Less than a minute into the game, the score was tied at 2–2. Neither side showed any intention of yielding. Both were fully engaged.
Shutoku inbounded again. Miyaji passed to Takao, who quickly moved the ball to Midorima.
Haizaki's expression changed. He stepped forward to pressure—
But a towering figure cut him off.
Otsubo Taisuke blocked his path with perfect positioning.
By the time Haizaki shifted around him, Midorima had already released the shot.
The ball rose high, tracing a perfect arc across the sky.
It felt almost unreal.
It fell cleanly through the net.
A wave of gasps erupted from the crowd, followed by cheers and applause.
The long-awaited shot had appeared—
A full-court-range three-pointer, known as the "100% Accuracy Full-Court Shot-Point Shot." Shutoku High took a three-point lead.
Haizaki glanced at Midorima's expressionless face and turned back toward his own half.
Midorima had just shot from the very baseline of his own court.
That confidence was absolute.
Back on offense, Haizaki extended his hand. Ishida immediately understood and passed him the ball.
Haizaki smirked slightly.
"So, Shintaro… let's see if you can still shoot."
He bent his knees, raised his left hand, and released the ball like a spring.
SWOOSH.
Another 100% Accuracy Full-Court Shot,
But this time—it came from Haizaki.
The arena went completely silent.
Every spectator froze in disbelief.
Then chaos erupted—cheers, applause, shouting, confusion. The stadium turned into a boiling frenzy.
Did I just imagine that?
"I think I saw things wrong…"
"That can't be real…"
"Wait… what was that?"
From the stands, Mibuchi Reo, Hayama Kotaro, Eikichi Nebuya, and others reacted in shock.
Among those who could truly understand what they had just seen, one voice stood out—Aomine Daiki.
"That monster… is way too arrogant."
"Aomine… wasn't that normal for Haizaki?"
"Normal? Are you kidding me? He shot that with his left hand."
"WHAT?"
"NO WAY."
"Seriously?"
Confusion, disbelief, shock—
All erupted at once from Kagami Taiga, Satsuki Momoi, Kise Ryouta, and Kuroko Tetsuya.
Even the players from Tōō, Kaijo, and Seirin nearby were completely frozen, unable to process what they had just witnessed.