Chapter 87: The Shadow Returns
Just as Reo Mibuchi was staring at Miyamoto Tokima, a dark shadow suddenly burst forth from Tokima’s body, completely engulfing him.
The terrifying aura of a top-tier predator instantly swept over Reo Mibuchi. He felt as if he had been dragged into an abyss of absolute darkness.
There was nothing in that space—only a pair of blood-red eyes staring straight at him.
“Reo-senpai? Reo-senpai!”
The first-year’s voice snapped Reo Mibuchi back to reality. He jolted awake and began gasping for air.
He hadn’t even started warming up yet, but his jersey was already soaked through—drenched in cold sweat.
Reo Mibuchi breathed greedily, immediately shifting his gaze away, no longer daring to look at Miyamoto Tokima.
Fear filled his heart.
‘Just now… what was that… why… why did I feel something like that…?’
Seeing Reo Mibuchi suddenly breathing heavily, the first-year thought something was wrong and hurriedly called out,
“Coach—”
Reo Mibuchi grabbed his hand and interrupted him.
“I’m fine…”
The first-year looked at him worriedly and murmured,
“But—”
“I’m fine!”
Reo Mibuchi shouted, startling the first-year into silence.
His sudden outburst caught the coach’s attention. He turned his head and asked,
“Mibuchi, is something wrong?”
Reo Mibuchi took a deep breath and forced a smile.
“I’m fine, Coach.”
Only then did the coach nod.
“Alright. Go warm up. Give it everything you’ve got and win this final match!”
The Rakuzan players shouted in unison,
“Yes!”
Kōzō Shirogane looked toward Rakuzan’s side and made a decision.
“Akashi, Midorima, Aomine, Nijimura, Murasakibara—starting lineup.”
“Yes!”
The five answered together, then immediately sensed something was off.
Daiki Aomine asked in confusion,
“Coach, didn’t you call the wrong name? Shouldn’t Tokima be starting instead of me?”
Kōzō Shirogane shook his head.
“No mistake. Miyamoto Tokima will be coming off the bench this game.”
Everyone was stunned—Miyamoto Tokima was actually a substitute.
Kōzō Shirogane smiled faintly and explained,
“Rakuzan’s main firepower is concentrated on Reo Mibuchi. As long as Mibuchi is shut down, Rakuzan loses its biggest threat.”
“I plan to rotate Midorima and Tokima to completely silence Reo Mibuchi.”
Shintaro Midorima pushed up his glasses and offered a suggestion.
“Coach, if that’s the case, we could have Tokima start.”
Kōzō Shirogane shook his head.
“No. Tokima is the trump card meant to completely seal Reo Mibuchi. I’m saving him for later.”
Shintaro Midorima understood his role. He had no complaints—Miyamoto Tokima was undeniably stronger than him.
“I understand, Coach.”
Still, Midorima had his pride.
He wanted to… shut down Reo Mibuchi himself.
...
The game began.
Both teams prepared for the jump ball.
Reo Mibuchi glanced at Miyamoto Tokima out of the corner of his eye, then looked at Shintaro Midorima, who was matched up against him, feeling puzzled.
‘Not playing? Is there some kind of plan?’
The referee stepped between Atsushi Murasakibara and Rakuzan’s center and tossed the ball into the air.
Murasakibara and Rakuzan’s center jumped at the same time.
Even though Rakuzan’s center gave it everything he had, he still failed to win the tip against Murasakibara.
When he landed, Rakuzan’s center was still shaken.
‘How can he jump that high?!’
Seeing their center lose the jump ball, Rakuzan’s players immediately turned and fell back on defense to prevent Teikō from launching a fast break.
Seijuro Akashi caught the ball and glanced at Rakuzan’s already organized defense, slightly surprised.
‘They’re already set up?’
Seeing no opportunity for a fast break, Akashi calmly dribbled the ball across half court.
The rest of Teikō also moved into position, constantly running to create openings.
As expected of a finals match, Rakuzan’s defensive intensity was completely different from previous opponents.
Rakuzan’s players stuck tightly to Teikō’s, not showing the slightest hint of slack.
The moment Akashi crossed half court, Rakuzan’s point guard immediately pressed up on him with tight defense.
From the stands:
“That defensive pressure is insane. It’s this intense right from the start?”
“Yeah, Rakuzan is really going all out.”
“Of course. This is their closest chance at the national championship.”
“By the way, why isn’t the ‘Magic Cube’ Miyamoto Tokima on the court?”
“I don’t know what Teikō’s coach is thinking. I came just to watch Tokima play, and he’s not even on!”
On the court.
Akashi dribbled quickly, weaving past Rakuzan’s point guard. Suddenly, he accelerated and blew past him.
The Rakuzan point guard reacted instantly and chased after him.
Akashi scanned the court and spotted Atsushi Murasakibara establishing position. He immediately passed the ball inside.
Murasakibara caught it with his back to Rakuzan’s center.
Rakuzan’s center gritted his teeth and braced himself, pressing hard against Murasakibara.
‘Damn it… just holding him back is this hard?! How strong is this guy?!’
Murasakibara seemed to sense his struggle. He lowered the ball and backed in once.
Boom!
Rakuzan’s center felt like he’d been hit by a speeding truck, stumbling backward several steps.
Murasakibara was slightly surprised—he hadn’t even used much strength, yet the center was already sent flying.
But it wasn’t Rakuzan’s center’s fault. With his build, at most he’d be a power forward at other schools.
Despite his surprise, Murasakibara didn’t hesitate at all. After forcing the center away, he spun around, jumped, and slammed the ball down hard.
Boom!
Teikō scored the first two points.
From the stands:
After Murasakibara’s dunk, the crowd erupted in cheers.
“Teikō! Teikō! Teikō!”
“That was awesome! Murasakibara’s strength is ridiculous!”
The cheers for Teikō and Murasakibara continued.
Teppei Kiyoshi sat in the audience, watching the game intently.
‘Reo, your inside defense can’t withstand Teikō’s pressure at all. What are you going to do now?’
On the court.
Rakuzan’s point guard dribbled past half court, and Reo Mibuchi immediately stepped up to set a screen.
Using Mibuchi’s pick, the point guard drove inside.
Shintaro Midorima hurried over to help on defense.
Noticing this, the point guard snapped his right hand, sending the ball sailing over his head toward the outside.
Midorima’s eyes followed the ball—
and then he saw the player who caught it…
Author's Note
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