Chapter 116: You who are stuck in your ways, you can't beat me!

"Really..."

What kind of causality is this.

Midorima Shintarō looked at his side, the mascot of today’s morning fortune-telling was still the 'Teru Teru Bōzu', the ranking of Cancer was still second, and the sign that was not compatible...

Was still Gemini.

He also knew on the day he went to Senjinkan that, besides Kise, Yukimiya Kazuma was also a Gemini.

This is also the reason why the luck was not very good on the day of the draw later.

Perhaps he blamed Kise wrongly...

Yukimiya Kazuma might be the main reason.

"Midorima, what is that?"

Handkerchief?

What a strange...

"Lucky item, Teru Teru Bōzu."

"Oh oh, today’s is quite... huh? You call this thing a doll?"

Midorima was silent for a while, because it was the same situation as the previous two times, so he tied one himself again, it seems the effect is not very good.

Shūtoku’s third-year senior Miyaji Kiyoshi asked while tying his shoelaces: "What place is it today?"

"Second place."

"Huh?"

Miyaji Kiyoshi turned his head suddenly, although it was a smiling face, anyone who saw it could read the murderous intent contained in it, "What, give me first place, otherwise I will bury you alive!"

"No..."

"This is divination."

Veins bulged on Miyaji Kiyoshi’s forehead. Although he didn't really believe in such superstitious nonsense, Midorima’s divination had always predicted good news since he joined the team. To have it suddenly predict a "second place" against a strong opponent today really pissed him off. "Is this the kind of question to be asking now?!"

Takao Kazunari, standing to the side, couldn't handle this usually strict and terrifying senior either, and was currently trembling in his boots.

Coach Nakatani Masaaki sighed.

However...

In a way, this atmosphere could be considered a good thing.

"Alright!"

"Time's up!"

"Let's go!"

Otsubo Taisuke’s resonant voice rang out, and he led the rest of the Shutoku team out of the locker room, marching aggressively through the player tunnel.

As soon as Shutoku appeared, they immediately drew cheers from the entire arena.

Of course, it wasn't just for them; today's match held a different significance than usual. Because of this, even for a group stage match, the venue had arranged an opening introduction.

"They have appeared...!"

"One of the three kings of the Tokyo district, the Eastern King, Shutoku High School!"

"The three kings who have represented the Tokyo district in the nationals for the past 10 consecutive years—the Northern King, Seiho, has already fallen in Group A."

"Today, one of the two in Group D, Shutoku or Senjinkan, must also fall."

"The landscape of the Tokyo district will be completely shattered!"

"They're here...!"

"The Western King, Senjinkan, whose strength is unlike anything in the past!"

"In the first three games of this year's qualifiers, they won by crushing margins of over a hundred points!"

Both teams entered the court and began their warm-ups.

Just then.

Midorima Shintaro suddenly walked to the center line near the Senjinkan side. Of course, he wasn't there to show off his three-pointers; he was simply there to greet Yukimiya Kazuma.

Or rather, to declare his victory before the match.

Otsubo Taisuke noticed Midorima’s movement, but after a moment's thought, he didn't stop him.

In his view, Midorima Shintaro would absolutely never let his mentality be shaken on the court by some pre-match conversation.

However...

He was wrong about that.

The "output ability" cultivated through the inertia of constantly shuttling through "Monster Immersion" was no joke. If he wanted to, he would absolutely not lose in a war of words.

"Yukimiya Kazuma."

Midorima Shintaro, carrying his "weather doll," walked up to Yukimiya Kazuma with a serious expression.

Before he could speak, Yukimiya Kazuma spoke first:

"Yo."

"Shin-chan."

"Midori-chan."

"Little Midorima."

The exclusive nicknames from Takao, Momoi, and Kise were fired off in a rapid-fire combo right by Midorima’s ears.

"Yukimiya Kazuma."

Midorima’s face stiffened, but he quickly straightened his expression.

"I will win."

Yukimiya Kazuma raised an eyebrow and also turned serious. "I thought I made it very clear last time at Senjinkan; there's no need to emphasize it again..."

"You can listen to it again if you want."

"Just based on you..."

"It is impossible for me to lose."

"Your three-pointer, in my eyes..."

"That absurd paranoia is essentially no different from a first-year at Baishui Hall who just started playing basketball and is passing just for the sake of passing..."

"You, who are stuck in your own ways, cannot beat me."

Yukimiya Kazuma’s condescending attitude made Midorima frown. "Although you are an opponent worth taking seriously, however..."

"Save that preaching for when you've actually won."

Yukimiya Kazuma nodded. "That's true. If you win, I will listen to everything you have to say. See you on the court."

"We will now proceed to the Group D final."

"The match between Senjinkan High School and Shutoku High School begins now."

"Salute!"

"Please treat us well!!"

The opening tip-off.

Facing Otsubo Taisuke, Yukimiya Kazuma easily secured possession.

With his current height, attributes, and overall capabilities, no one besides a focused Murasakibara Atsushi could likely compete with him in a jump ball.

Naga Shuyou held the ball, looking at Takao Kazunari, who was also a first-year like him. He recalled the intelligence: as a point guard, his style was very mature, and because he possessed the "Hawk Eye" vision, he was very skilled at passing and stealing.

A very strong first-year.

However...

Although he didn't have that ability, stability was enough.

Naga Shuyou used continuous crossovers to shift the defense. Not aiming for a breakthrough, he created space and delivered a very steady pass to Yukimiya Kazuma at the free-throw line.

Defending him was Shutoku’s interior pillar, the top national-level center, Otsubo Taisuke.

However...

"Devil's Footwork."

The badge ability flickered for less than a second. Yukimiya Kazuma, with his back to Otsubo Taisuke, executed a spin with an incredibly fast shoulder fake. In Otsubo Taisuke’s eyes, he was almost elusive.

And when Otsubo Taisuke turned to chase...

The ball was gone.

Otsubo Taisuke: "...!?"

Swish~!

At the same time.

The sound of the basketball passing through the net echoed.

It was a quick shot guided by "Playmaking Master: Linkage," executed by Tsuchiya Daiga, who was being defended by Shutoku’s power forward, Kimura Shinsuke.

The guidance speed and accuracy boost from "Playmaking Master," combined with the fact that Kimura Shinsuke was only 187cm tall while Tsuchiya was 196cm.

This was an absolute mismatch on the court.

Takao Kazunari: "...!"

So amazing.

The person who received his pass clearly sped up their next move under the guidance of the pass.

If we infer from this, it is not just shooting; breaking through and passing can perhaps also be made "cold."

As the point guard, Takao Kazunari can best feel the terror of this pass; stripping away all of Yukimiya Kazuma's external physical manifestations, looking solely at his passing technique, he is an out-and-out monster.