The game continued.
Makoto Hanamiya quickly adjusted his mindset.
There was no helping it. As a National Server Troll, managing his emotions and mentality was a required skill.
He dribbled the ball slowly across half-court.
Facing the defense of Shūtoku's backup point guard, Makoto Hanamiya felt his mouth itching to trash-talk.
Just as he was about to speak,
"Ahem!"
The referee suddenly cleared his throat and shot him an annoyed look.
Makoto Hanamiya understood exactly what that look meant, so he shut his mouth.
Fine. Looks like the National Server Troll was banned this game.
"Tch."
Makoto Hanamiya clicked his tongue and passed the ball to Shogo Haizaki.
At that moment, Shintaro Midorima suddenly stepped up.
Shogo Haizaki paused briefly, then licked his lips.
He wanted to attack.
Lowering his center of gravity, Shogo Haizaki pushed off hard with his right foot and burst down the right side.
Shintaro Midorima immediately kept up, never losing position.
Seeing this, Shogo Haizaki abruptly stopped and spun.
Then he jumped and shot.
Shintaro Midorima stepped forward and leaped.
He jumped extremely high, his hand completely sealing off Shogo Haizaki's shooting lane.
Shogo Haizaki's expression shifted. Midair, he adjusted and passed the ball to Dicky Anthony at the baseline.
Dicky Anthony caught the ball and did not hesitate.
[Venomous Fang]!
Kiyoshi Miyaji could only watch as Dicky Anthony released the shot.
There was nothing he could do. It was too high.
After landing, Shogo Haizaki licked his lips again and said,
"I can pass too."
Shintaro Midorima nodded calmly, preparing to attack.
At that moment, Shogo Haizaki and Shuzo Nijimura both closed in.
In this game, the two of them were locked onto Shintaro Midorima.
Taisuke Otsubo, who was inbounding, found himself in a difficult position.
Their strategy was to get the ball into Shintaro Midorima's hands.
But in the current situation, no one could make that pass.
The only one who could had already been ejected.
At that moment, Kiyoshi Miyaji ran out and shouted,
"Otsubo!"
Seeing this, Taisuke Otsubo had no choice but to pass to him.
Kiyoshi Miyaji dribbled forward into the frontcourt.
As he passed by Shintaro Midorima, he said,
"Midorima, move. Just jump."
Shintaro Midorima paused for a moment, then responded with a quiet sound of agreement.
After reaching the three-point line, he leaped high into the air.
At the same moment, Kiyoshi Miyaji passed the ball.
It was not as precise as Kazunari Takao's pass, but at least it got there.
After landing, Taisuke Otsubo and Shinsuke Kimura immediately set screens.
Using the screen, Shintaro Midorima executed a pull-up jumper.
Swish.
For the next several possessions, Shūtoku kept scoring with this tactic.
But it gradually became more difficult.
Shuzo Nijimura and Shogo Haizaki were getting used to the screens.
They were avoiding them faster and faster.
Until one possession, Shogo Haizaki knocked the ball out of Shintaro Midorima's hands.
At that moment, Shintaro Midorima understood.
The game was likely already over.
Masaaki Nakatani immediately called a timeout.
"Beep. Shūtoku High School requests a timeout."
Both teams headed to the sidelines.
Shintaro Midorima walked over and sat down.
His expression shifted slightly.
His rational mind told him he could no longer win this game.
But he did not want to give up like this.
In the end, Shintaro Midorima sighed.
"Ah... fate..."
At that moment, the sound of heavy breathing reached his ears.
He glanced to the side.
The Shūtoku players were all gasping for breath.
Each of them seemed to carry a hint of confusion in their eyes.
Kirisaki Daiichi was simply too strong. So strong that they could barely resist.
The same was true for Taisuke Otsubo. Atsushi Murasakibara's repeated collisions still left his chest aching.
His expression showed pain, but he still shouted,
"Everyone. The game isn't over yet."
The others all looked toward Taisuke Otsubo, their captain.
He took a few deep breaths before speaking,
"We've made it to the finals. This is the closest we've ever been to the championship."
"I don't want to... I don't want to hand the title over to them."
"We trained for so long. Wasn't it all for standing on that highest podium?"
"Do you really want to stop here?"
Kiyoshi Miyaji clenched his fists.
"I don't."
Shinsuke Kimura wiped the sweat from his face.
"Me neither."
Taisuke Otsubo extended his hand. The others placed theirs on top.
Then they all looked at Shintaro Midorima.
Shintaro Midorima felt the expectations in their gaze.
He clenched his teeth, recalling Kazunari Takao, who always followed him around calling him Little Shin.
He also thought of Miyamoto Tokima, the one he had always wanted to defeat.
Finally, Shintaro Midorima reached out and placed his hand on top.
"I... don't either."
Everyone smiled, then shouted in unison,
"Let's go!!!"
Shūtoku's fighting spirit
had returned.
"Beep. Timeout over. The game resumes."
Both teams returned to the court.
Before stepping on, Shintaro Midorima checked himself, making sure his shoelaces were secure.
He slowly stood up, his gaze becoming extremely firm.
'Fate... if this truly is fate...'
"Haa."
Shintaro Midorima exhaled and stepped onto the court.
The game continued.
Shutoku High School had possession.
With Kazunari Takao off the court, Shutoku decided to temporarily have Kiyoshi Miyaji handle the ball.
Kiyoshi Miyaji slowly brought the ball across half-court, waiting for Shintaro Midorima to move.
At that moment, Makoto Hanamiya stepped up.
"Oh? And who might this be? Could it be..."
"Cough cough cough!"
Before Makoto Hanamiya could continue, the referee started coughing again.
Makoto Hanamiya's face darkened, cursing internally.
This referee seemed to have it out for him, constantly watching his mouth.
His National Server weapon was completely useless now.
On the other side, Shintaro Midorima remained calm.
A sharp determination flickered in his emerald-green eyes.
'If this is truly fate... then I will defy it.'
'Do everything within my power. Defy fate. And leave the rest to what follows.'
Boom.
Shintaro Midorima's vision blurred.
When it cleared,
he was already standing before the [Gate].
Shintaro Midorima looked at the tightly shut massive [Gate], his gaze calm as still water.
He slowly turned, then walked step by step toward it.
And the massive [Gate], which had remained tightly closed,
as Shintaro Midorima approached,
slowly opened.
.......