Izuki dribbled forward, his eyes searching for Kuroko's position. Takao Kazunari didn't stick tightly to Kuroko this time; instead, he kept half a step of distance, eyes slightly narrowed.
"This time, I will definitely—" Takao's pupils suddenly contracted. His Hawk Eyes vanished for an instant, then reactivated the moment Kuroko's gaze shifted!
Just as Izuki passed to Kuroko, Takao struck like lightning. His fingertips brushed the ball and changed its trajectory.
"Intercepted!" Takao shouted.
Kuroko froze. He hadn't expected Takao to figure out a counter so quickly… The ball bounced wildly on the floor, and Midorima reacted first, snatching it.
"Damn it!" Kagami rushed toward him with all his strength.
Midorima didn't hesitate—he jumped from two steps beyond the three-point line.
In the stands, Aomine, Kise, and Shidou all raised their brows at once. They could already imagine what would happen…
Kagami's legs exploded with power. His knees screamed, but his eyes were fixed only on the ball.
"I absolutely… will block it!"
Time froze.
Smack!
A crisp sound echoed through the gym—Midorima's perfect three was swatted down by Kagami Taiga!!!
"B-Blocked?!" Momoi gasped. "Kagami-kun blocked Shin-chan's shot… the first time ever…!"
The arena went silent… then erupted.
Midorima stumbled slightly. "…As expected. I still got blocked."
Kagami panted, calves trembling. "I said… I won't let you score anymore."
Izuki grabbed the loose ball immediately. "Every move has a weakness!"
He passed to Hyuga sprinting ahead—Hyuga shot!
Three points back!
---
But Shutoku struck back.
Otsubo demanded the ball despite a double team, drove into the paint, and went up for a dunk—
Kagami abandoned Midorima and blocked him too.
"I will win! Even if I'm the only one left!"
Momoi stared wide-eyed. "So fast… Not Aomine-level, not Shidou-level… but way beyond everyone else!"
Chizuru nodded quietly. "Kagami-kun is getting stronger as he fights…"
From then on, Kagami entered full one-on-one mode. He stopped passing, attacking and defending alone.
The score slowly closed.
But Kuroko frowned. Something felt wrong.
---
Five minutes left.
Midorima called for the ball.
Kagami pressed tight.
"I admit your strength," Midorima said calmly. "But the score won't close anymore."
"What did you say?!"
Midorima shot instantly.
Kagami jumped—but a sharp pain shot through his calf. His knee buckled.
"Kagami!!"
Swish.
Aomine clicked his tongue. "Idiot… Burning stamina like that."
Timeout. Four minutes left.
Kagami sat down angrily.
Izuki said gently, "You're too heated. Look around."
Hyuga added, "You should've passed."
Kagami snapped, "Passing won't win! I'm the only one who can fight them!"
Silence.
Then—
Punch.
Kuroko hit Kagami.
Everyone froze.
"Basketball isn't a one-man sport," Kuroko said quietly.
"…If we lose, teamwork means nothing," Kagami growled.
"But a victory won alone means even less."
Those words hit harder than any block.
Kagami froze… realizing his mistake.
"…Sumimasen."
Momoi watched nervously. "A-Tetsu…"
Riko bit her lip. "Kuroko's method is countered… Kagami's stamina is gone… What do we do?"
Kuroko said softly,
"I have one more pass… but I don't know if Kagami-kun can catch it."
Kagami grinned. "Try me."
Riko sighed. "You have at most two jumps left."
Silence.
"…Then we gamble."
---
On Shutoku's bench, Midorima rested with a towel over his head.
Coach asked, "How are you?"
"…Honestly, it's been a long time since I felt like this."
Takao smiled. "Shin-chan…"
Beep— Timeout over.
The final minutes were about to begin…
And the whole arena could feel it—something huge was coming.