First of all, Chihiro Mayuzumi didn't care about Makoto Hanamiya's trash talk in the slightest. Second, Chihiro Mayuzumi had always been a shadow.
But now, that shadow had suddenly become light, and Makoto Hanamiya couldn't defend against him.
He couldn't get under his skin with trash talk, and he couldn't stop him on defense either. It was enough to make Makoto Hanamiya genuinely uncomfortable.
Makoto Hanamiya stared at Chihiro Mayuzumi, his eyes dark and gloomy.
"Next ball, I'm shutting you down!"
Possession changed.
Kirisaki Daiichi had the ball.
Rakuzan High School had managed to score a few points because Chihiro Mayuzumi had become light.
But Kirisaki Daiichi's scoring methods were still top-tier.
This time, they didn't choose to go one-on-one. After a few quick passes, they created an open shot.
Shuzo Nijimura caught the ball wide open and sank it into the basket with ease!
Possession changed.
Rakuzan's ball.
On this possession, Seijuro Akashi still decided to have Chihiro Mayuzumi attack.
The moment Chihiro Mayuzumi caught the ball, Makoto Hanamiya, who had activated Animal Instinct, closed in on him.
Makoto Hanamiya's predatory gaze locked firmly onto Chihiro Mayuzumi, his eyes dark and gloomy.
Chihiro Mayuzumi dribbled the ball. His gaze shifted once more, and his arm lifted slightly again.
Off the court.
Tetsuya Kuroko closed his eyes when he saw it.
"It's stopped working..."
...
On the court.
After doing all that, Chihiro Mayuzumi chose to drive again.
But in the next second, he froze.
Because Makoto Hanamiya was actually blocking his way!
Chihiro Mayuzumi's expression changed. He quickly pulled back, avoiding Makoto Hanamiya's steal.
Makoto Hanamiya wasn't discouraged when his steal was dodged and immediately came up to defend again.
Chihiro Mayuzumi gritted his teeth and gave another hint. In other words, [Misdirection].
But he soon realized that Makoto Hanamiya wasn't affected by his [Misdirection] at all!
Off the court.
Tetsuya Kuroko explained what had happened.
"[Misdirection] has stopped working."
Junpei Hyuga replied:
"It's because, over those offensive possessions, he completely turned himself into light, right?"
Tetsuya Kuroko nodded and said:
"Yes. He's no longer a shadow. He's light now, and the brightest light on the court at that."
...
On the court.
Panic began to show on Chihiro Mayuzumi's face.
Right now, the only thing he could rely on was [Misdirection]. If [Misdirection] stopped working, there was no way he could break past Makoto Hanamiya!
He had only just become the light!
Just as Chihiro Mayuzumi was panicking, Seijuro Akashi spoke.
"Senpai Mayuzumi."
Hearing him, Chihiro Mayuzumi turned his head. When he saw Seijuro Akashi holding out his hand for the ball, he passed it over.
After catching the ball, Seijuro Akashi flicked his gaze to the side, then instantly broke past Dicky Anthony.
Because of that glance from Seijuro Akashi, Dicky Anthony's attention was drawn away. By the time he snapped back to his senses, Seijuro Akashi had already driven past him and put the ball into the basket.
Dicky Anthony froze for a moment, then muttered in confusion:
"What?"
With Seijuro Akashi's basket, the second quarter also came to an end.
The score was now 49 to 41.
Kirisaki Daiichi led by eight points.
Both teams entered halftime.
In the Rakuzan locker room.
Seijuro Akashi looked at Kotaro Hayama and said:
"Kotaro, you can attack on the next possession."
Kotaro Hayama froze for a moment, then voiced his doubt.
"Huh? Akashi, but Nijimura..."
Seijuro Akashi did not wait for him to finish and cut him off directly.
"You only need to follow orders."
Then Seijuro Akashi turned to Chihiro Mayuzumi and said:
"Senpai Mayuzumi, I need you to move actively in the next quarter. Ideally, run toward the ball handler's position."
Chihiro Mayuzumi froze. Then, as a shadow, he immediately understood something, and his expression went blank.
"Akashi, are you..."
Seijuro Akashi raised his hand to cut Chihiro Mayuzumi off, then rebuked him with an icy expression.
"Senpai Mayuzumi, for the sake of the team, this is a necessary sacrifice!"
"You don't want the championship to fall into Kirisaki Daiichi's hands either, do you?"
Hearing this, Chihiro Mayuzumi went completely still. His hand unconsciously moved to his chest.
At that moment, waves of sharp pain gripped his heart.
'For victory... is it really worth it?'
Chihiro Mayuzumi was lost now. He felt as if he were nothing more than a tool in Seijuro Akashi's hands.
From the moment Seijuro Akashi invited him to join the Basketball Club, it seemed he had already become a tool in Seijuro Akashi's hands.
Seijuro Akashi naturally noticed Chihiro Mayuzumi's movement, but after a brief glance, he simply shifted his attention away.
To him, Chihiro Mayuzumi was indeed a pawn. As long as it was for victory, what did it matter if he discarded a pawn?
Seijuro Akashi's primary personality watched the entire process through the eyes of Seijuro Akashi's secondary personality.
Seijuro Akashi's primary personality let out a faint sigh, as though he felt sorry for Chihiro Mayuzumi.
The break ended.
The players from both teams returned to the court and prepared for the game.
Back on the court, Chihiro Mayuzumi looked dejected, and there was no longer any light in his eyes.
Kotaro Hayama was a little puzzled. He moved closer and asked:
"Senpai Mayuzumi, what's wrong?"
Chihiro Mayuzumi glanced at Kotaro Hayama but said nothing.
Seijuro Akashi interrupted Kotaro Hayama at that moment.
"Kotaro, get on the court!"
Hearing that, Kotaro Hayama stopped asking and returned to the court.
The third quarter began!
Rakuzan High School had possession!
After Seijuro Akashi dribbled past half-court, he passed the ball to Kotaro Hayama.
Kotaro Hayama held the ball, facing Shuzo Nijimura.
Shuzo Nijimura smiled and spread his arms to defend.
"I didn't think Akashi would actually dare pass the ball to you."
Kotaro Hayama did not answer, because he had no idea what Seijuro Akashi was thinking either.
He really could not get past Shuzo Nijimura, yet Seijuro Akashi still told him to attack.
At that moment, Seijuro Akashi gave Chihiro Mayuzumi a look.
When Chihiro Mayuzumi saw it, his expression grew even more dejected, and the light in his eyes vanished completely.
Then, like a walking corpse, he ran toward Kotaro Hayama's position.
As Chihiro Mayuzumi approached, Shuzo Nijimura's attention inevitably shifted toward him.
In the next instant, Kotaro Hayama moved!
Kotaro Hayama used his five-finger [Lightning Dribble] with full force!
In a flash, he broke through past Shuzo Nijimura's side.
Shuzo Nijimura immediately snapped back to his senses, but it was already too late!
Kotaro Hayama was not slow by any means. Once his defender lost focus even slightly, he might not be able to stop him!
...