Warm-ups ended, and both teams officially prepared to begin the game.
On Kirisaki Daiichi's side.
Point guard, Miyamoto Tokima. Shooting guard, Dicky Anthony. Small forward, Shogo Haizaki. Power forward, Shuzo Nijimura. Center, Atsushi Murasakibara.
On Shūtoku High School's side.
Point guard, Kazunari Takao. Shooting guard, Shintaro Midorima. Small forward, Kiyoshi Miyaji. Power forward, Shinsuke Kimura. Center, Taisuke Otsubo.
The referee carried the basketball to the center line.
This time, the one jumping against Taisuke Otsubo was Dicky Anthony.
As for the reason, it was naturally because Dicky Anthony had won at rock-paper-scissors.
The referee glanced at both of them. After confirming they were ready, he tossed the basketball high into the air.
The game officially began.
Taisuke Otsubo and Dicky Anthony jumped at the same time, but against Dicky Anthony's almost absurd height and wingspan, Taisuke Otsubo naturally had no chance.
Dicky Anthony steadily tipped the ball into Miyamoto Tokima's hands.
Miyamoto Tokima did not hesitate. He immediately took the basketball and charged toward the frontcourt.
For this match, Miyamoto Tokima was ready to put in some work himself.
Miyamoto Tokima sprinted forward, while the Shūtoku High School players quickly rushed back on defense.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
The ripples belonging to Miyamoto Tokima's [Eye of Truth] spread out rapidly, enveloping the entire court.
Miyamoto Tokima instantly obtained information on everyone's position.
So Miyamoto Tokima smiled and stopped two steps beyond the three-point line.
That distance was something Kazunari Takao had not expected. At that moment, Kazunari Takao was still inside the three-point line.
Shintaro Midorima's pupils shrank, and he quickly tried to cover for him, but it was already too late.
Miyamoto Tokima shot quickly, his motion smooth and beautiful.
The basketball dropped cleanly into the hoop.
Quick and decisive.
Three-pointer good.
After scoring, Miyamoto Tokima smiled and turned back on defense.
The rest of Kirisaki Daiichi also turned and ran toward the backcourt.
Just then, a sharp aura came from behind them.
Miyamoto Tokima and the others all turned their heads.
They saw Shintaro Midorima under his own basket, already going into a shooting motion.
And then...
Crackle!
Shintaro Midorima had activated the Zone!!!
Shintaro Midorima charged up for only a moment before jumping and releasing the basketball.
The ball drew a towering arc through the air, then quickly dropped and slipped into the basket.
Swish!
Three-pointer good.
After scoring, Shintaro Midorima looked at Miyamoto Tokima with eyes flashing with green lightning.
In Shintaro Midorima's eyes, Miyamoto Tokima saw...
An intense fighting spirit.
Shuzo Nijimura watched Shintaro Midorima enter the Zone again and scratched his head in confusion.
"This is Midorima's second time entering the Zone, right? Is it that easy?"
Shogo Haizaki's expression also darkened a little.
Because he had always wanted to enter the Zone a second time, but even now, he still had not managed it.
Entering the Zone a second time was far too difficult.
It was many times harder than the first time.
Ryota Kise felt the same way.
Off the court, Ryota Kise watched Shintaro Midorima enter the Zone again and gave a bitter smile.
Ever since he entered the Zone during his match against Shintaro Midorima, he had always wanted to enter it again.
But he still could not do it. Even though he could already use the skills of the other Generation of Miracles, he still could not enter the Zone.
He simply could not believe that Shintaro Midorima had entered the Zone a second time this quickly and this easily.
On the court, Miyamoto Tokima was also a little puzzled, but he soon understood.
Shintaro Midorima's conviction had always been firm. His three-pointer.
Add to that his talent, his strict self-discipline, and his constant training without the slightest slack.
Looking at those points, Shintaro Midorima entering the Zone was practically guaranteed.
The only issue was that he had been too rational and trusted fate too much, which had kept him from entering the Zone before.
Once he stopped believing in fate, or more accurately, once he only believed in half of it, he truly awakened.
The first time Shintaro Midorima entered the Zone, the great [Gate] had opened for him on its own.
And this second time he entered the great [Gate]... perhaps he had pushed it open himself.
Now, Shintaro Midorima...
Was probably already standing before the second [Gate]...
...
Possession changed.
Kirisaki Daiichi had the ball.
Miyamoto Tokima slowly advanced with the ball, then suddenly passed it to Shuzo Nijimura in the frontcourt.
After a series of rhythm dribbles, Shuzo Nijimura immediately created space and prepared to shoot.
But in the next second, Shintaro Midorima appeared.
Seeing this, Shuzo Nijimura did not force it at all and passed the basketball away.
After Dicky Anthony caught the ball, Kazunari Takao immediately came up to cover him.
But Dicky Anthony did not hesitate either. The instant he caught the ball, he passed it again, sending it into Miyamoto Tokima's hands.
Kazunari Takao paused for a moment. By the time he reacted and tried to help defend Miyamoto Tokima, Miyamoto Tokima had already released the basketball.
Shintaro Midorima rushed over at that moment as well, reaching out with all his strength toward the basketball, but he was still half a beat too late. The ball flew past his fingertips.
Swish!
Three-pointer good.
After scoring, Miyamoto Tokima looked at Shintaro Midorima in surprise and said,
"Midori, you're acting a little strange today."
Miyamoto Tokima could not be blamed for saying that.
The usual Shintaro Midorima would hide himself early in the game, look for a chance to shoot, and only start pushing for points later.
And the old Shintaro Midorima would never have rotated over like this. He would not even leave the player he was defending.
But now, Shintaro Midorima had not only left his own mark, he was constantly rotating around the court to help on defense.
This was completely unlike something Shintaro Midorima would do.
In response, Shintaro Midorima only pushed up his glasses and said,
"I will give everything I have in this match."
With that, Shintaro Midorima turned and left.
The corner of Miyamoto Tokima's mouth twitched.
What a stubborn tsundere.
...
Possession changed.
Shūtoku had the ball.
Clearly, Shūtoku was definitely going to give the ball to Shintaro Midorima again this time.
After all, Shintaro Midorima had activated Zone Mode. Right now, giving him possession was Shūtoku's best choice.
But Kirisaki Daiichi's choice of defender against Shintaro Midorima shocked everyone.
Because the player Kirisaki Daiichi sent to defend Shintaro Midorima was...
Miyamoto Tokima.
...