With just one minute remaining, it was Shutoku High's possession.
Takao Kazunari dribbled past Fukuda Sogo's Ishida Hideki and pulled up for a floater.
The ball missed.
But before anyone could react, Shutoku captain Otsubo Taisuke snatched the rebound and put it back in.
The gap was reduced to four points.
Only twenty seconds remained.
Ishida quickly passed the ball to Haizaki Shogo, hoping he could secure two final points for Fukuda Sogo.
But Haizaki did not immediately drive or shoot.
Instead, he passed the ball away.
Because someone else had an even better scoring position.
He saw it too…
That player was Kimura Tosho, who had slipped behind the defense.
The unexpected pass arrived cleanly in his hands.
Kimura rose for a textbook mid-range jumper.
SWOOSH.
The ball sank perfectly into the net.
Behind him, Kimura Shinsuke, who had been beaten on the cut, froze in disbelief before turning to his teammates with an apologetic look.
"I'm sorry…"
"No need to apologize. It's a game. That's normal!"
"Let's go!"
The whistle sounded.
End of the first quarter.
Fukuda Sogo still led—25:19.
A six-point advantage.
Three minutes of break time began as both teams left the court.
Haizaki returned to the bench with his teammates.
Sweat was already visible on their uniforms. The intensity of the first quarter had been brutal.
From the opening seconds, both sides had exchanged shock after shock, followed by relentless offense.
At this level, stamina was being drained rapidly.
And the psychological pressure was just as heavy.
This pace… it's not going to slow down.
Haizaki sat quietly, analyzing the situation in his mind.
Then he heard the coach's voice.
"The first quarter went decently. But the second will definitely be more intense. Stay focused on defense."
"Haizaki, Midorima is still yours to handle. No one else can contain that monster."
Haizaki nodded without speaking.
But his thoughts were elsewhere.
Midorima Shintaro… he shouldn't be this simple.
He's obsessive. Single-minded. The kind who pushes forward no matter what.
He's not done yet.
Haizaki narrowed his eyes and glanced sideways at the tall, slender figure on the opposing bench.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
I'm looking forward to it.
On the Shutoku bench, head coach Masaaki Nakatani frowned deeply.
The situation was worse than expected.
And Haizaki Shogo was more troublesome than anticipated.
"Second quarter, continue to use Otsubo as our inside core. He is our primary scoring option."
"Coach, I have something to say!"
All eyes turned toward the bench.
Even Nakatani looked at the speaker—Midorima Shintaro.
Everyone waited.
Takao Kazunari spoke first.
"Shin-chan… what are you planning?"
But Midorima ignored him completely.
He looked directly at his coach.
"Coach. Make me the center of the offense in the second quarter."
Silence.
"I am also a scoring option. I will settle this with Haizaki."
"What?"
Confusion spread through the entire team.
But Midorima did not flinch. He met his coach's gaze directly.
Five seconds passed.
Finally, Nakatani spoke.
"If you have made up your mind, then we will run the offense through Midorima."
"I trust him."
One by one, the teammates followed.
"I trust you too, Midorima!"
"Go for it, Shin-chan!"
Midorima smiled faintly.
Then he did something unexpected.
He walked over to his seat, where his lucky charm—a stuffed tiger—was placed.
He removed his glasses and placed them beside it.
The lenses caught the light and shimmered sharply.
"Not today."
Midorima's voice was calm.
"Against Haizaki, glasses will interfere with my performance."
"But can you even see—"
"Who told you glasses are only for nearsighted people?"
The entire bench fell silent.
So Midorima Shintaro had been able to play without glasses all along.
=======
In the stands during the break, conversation continued nonstop.
"Hey Kagami, see that? That's the Generation of Miracles. If you went in now, you'd get destroyed instantly."
Kagami Taiga frowned but said nothing.
They've gotten even stronger…
Internally, however, he made a decision.
After this semester, he would return to the United States during the break.
He needed to see his basketball mentor again.
=======
On another side of the arena, Kise Ryouta spoke casually.
"Fukuda Sogo's #12 is pretty good. That last play was solid."
"Aomine, you think so too?"
In another section, Murasakibara Atsushi answered lazily when asked about the two teams.
"Who do I favor? Don't know. We'll find out when the game ends."
=======
In Rakuzan's section, Hayama Kotaro looked serious.
"Reo, both teams are as strong as Tōō. Especially Fukuda Sogo—they might even be stronger."
"Yes… Haizaki's ability is ridiculous. It's like he can 'silence' the opponent's skills."
"Where did they even find these players?"
"I want to know too."
=======
Three minutes passed in an instant.
The teams returned to the court.
Shutoku had possession.
When Haizaki stepped onto the floor again, he noticed Midorima immediately.
The glasses were gone.
Haizaki's pupils contracted slightly.
"…Seriously?"
He smirked.
"Hey, Shintaro. Do you really have to take this so seriously?"
Midorima answered without hesitation.
"Haizaki. I told you."
"I will go all out."
His tone was absolute.
No hesitation. No emotion. Only certainty.
=======
From Fukuda Sogo's bench, manager Shimizu Rena stared at Midorima.
His entire body seemed to radiate an intense green aura—almost overwhelming to look at.
Haizaki-kun…
She murmured softly, as if reassuring herself… or warning him.
=======
The whistle blew.
Takao brought the ball past midcourt and passed it precisely to Midorima.
Midorima caught it instantly.
No hesitation. No adjustment.
He rose immediately.
BOOM!
The release was so fast it looked like an illusion.
The ball flew cleanly through the net.
Shutoku scored.
The Generation of Miracles members in the stands all stood up at once.
Their eyes widened in disbelief as they stared at the court.
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