Chapter 67

"Teiko’s lineup is too absurd, haha~"

"But it inexplicably makes people excited, and it even feels a bit thrilling!"

"Eh? First-years, aren't you excited at all? This is Teiko! Thinking that Akashi Seijuro will be standing in front of me tomorrow, I’m already burning up!"

"Uh..."

"Hahaha~~ Kasuga is absolutely right."

"There’s no point in us being afraid now. Since it’s the final battle, let’s get our spirits up."

"Yeah, why not get excited and bring out our best state tomorrow!"

"And everyone..."

"It’s the last summer."

The first match of the National Tournament final round-robin.

Before the game even started, the venue was already packed with people; the entire stadium was a sea of heads.

Many opponents that Hakusuikan had defeated in the National Tournament qualifiers and main draw were there—some with a few scattered players gathered together, and others with the entire team present led by their coach.

Sakajo, Tou-Chiku, Hagiya, Kitano...

Among them, Sakajo Middle School and Tou-Chiku, both from the Tokyo district, knew each other and happened to be sitting close by. The aces of their respective teams, He Xiuyang and Long Tianzhang, sat directly next to each other.

"Long Tian-kun, long time no see," He Xiuyang greeted.

Long Tianzhang nodded, but his expression was a bit awkward. He Xiuyang understood well; after all, during the qualifiers, that interview Long Tianzhang gave about passing the basketball was still quite explosive in the Tokyo district.

In the awkward atmosphere, He Xiuyang took the initiative to speak: "I see many acquaintances from the Tokyo district. Mizuse Yukio from Enseiji... Ah, you might not have met him; it’s not a very strong team, but he was the first person to face Hakusuikan in the qualifiers."

"So many feelings..."

"At that time, who would have thought that guy would make it all the way here?"

When He Xiuyang said this, his gaze returned to the warm-up area on the court, to Yukimiya Kazuma, who was currently dribbling to warm up.

"Which side do you think will win today’s game?" Long Tianzhang suddenly asked.

"Hmm?"

"As teams from the same Tokyo district, you would actually ask such a question, Long Tian-kun."

Long Tianzhang frowned. His inner thoughts had been seen through, making him even more awkward, so he simply laid his cards on the table: "Although that guy Yukimiya is annoying..."

"I don't know why, but compared to Teiko, I just want to see him win."

He Xiuyang was stunned upon hearing this, then nodded in understanding a moment later. The juniors from Sakajo and Tou-Chiku around them were each listening nervously to their seniors’ conversation.

He Xiuyang rested his chin on his hand: "If Yukimiya only has the strength he has shown so far, then the winner of this game is undoubtedly Teiko, one hundred percent."

"Yukimiya’s strength is indeed very strong, but the strength of Teiko on the other side is all-encompassing."

"However..."

Long Tianzhang raised an eyebrow, took over the other’s words, and continued: "It’s just that until now, what trump cards he still has hidden in the National Tournament main draw is unclear."

"After all, this guy is strange; he gets stronger the more he plays."

"A monster."

Hakusuikan rest area.

This was the first time since the start of this National Tournament that Hakusuikan had repeatedly confirmed their prepared tactical arrangements before an official match; after all, this time, they were facing an opponent that was worlds apart from the previous ones.

Before, even when facing nationally renowned teams, Hakusuikan would at most make tactical arrangements targeting one specific person.

Then they could just crush them directly with Yukimiya’s unrivaled advantage.

But this time, the Teiko they were facing had almost everyone on the court capable of posing a fatal threat to Hakusuikan.

Soon.

Amidst the passionate voice of the on-site commentator, the players of Hakusuikan Middle School took the court one by one.

Every time the commentator announced the name of a Hakusuikan player, it triggered a round of applause and cheers; clearly, after several matches in the National Tournament, Hakusuikan had gained great prestige.

Especially when Yukimiya Kazuma finally took the court, the audience stands erupted into a mountain-shaking roar, making Long Tianzhang look on with jealousy.

After Hakusuikan, it was the turn of their opponents, Teiko Middle School.

"Coming up next is...!!"

"Teiko Middle School!"

"Whoa!"

"Oh! It’s Teiko!"

"So tall! Is that guy really a middle schooler?"

The Generation of Miracles, with their rainbow-colored hair, walked onto the court one after another.

"Are they here? The Generation of Miracles!"

Seeing Teiko take the court, the Hakusuikan group on the other side of the court immediately narrowed their eyes.

"Tsk~ The presence is overwhelming..."

"The Generation of Miracles..."

"Just seeing them makes one’s hair stand on end."

The players on the Hakusuikan bench felt their hair stand on end as they watched the Generation of Miracles appear on the court one by one.

Just then, the commentator’s voice came again.

Under the spotlight of everyone, the last name of Teiko Middle School, and also the most important one, resounded throughout the arena.

"White, Teiko number 4!"

"Captain...!"

"Akashi Seijuro!!"

Among the Generation of Miracles, Akashi Seijuro was only 170 cm tall, 3 cm shorter than he would be in high school later.

Compared to the other members of the 'Generation of Miracles', he didn't have that astonishing physique that allowed one to distinguish strength at a glance, but when he appeared with his red hair and heterochromatic eyes that surveyed the entire court, the whispering in the entire stadium suddenly died down.

"What a powerful presence!"

"Is this the captain of the Generation of Miracles?"

"As expected..."

"One can feel his extraordinariness at a glance."

After the teams were set, the players of both teams soon stood facing each other at the center circle.

At this moment.

The eyes of everyone in the arena were attracted to these two teams.

"Yukimiya Kazuma."

"I am very surprised by you."

Akashi Seijuro suddenly spoke in a low and cold voice in front of Yukimiya Kazuma.

"Hmm?"

"What?"

Yukimiya Kazuma smiled and replied to Akashi.

At the same time, he deliberately raised his chin high, looking down at the other party.

There was no help for it; compared to the mysterious imperial aura on Akashi Seijuro, Yukimiya Kazuma’s presence was completely invisible. Fortunately, his height was on point, Yukimiya Kazuma thought silently.

However, would this guy suddenly come over, press on his shoulders, and knock him down in front of the entire audience?

Yukimiya Kazuma thought to himself that he should leave this iconic scene for Kagami Taiga.

While his thoughts were drifting, Yukimiya quietly paid attention to the other’s movements, ready to retreat quickly if there was the slightest unusual movement.

But Akashi probably didn't have that interest today; he just looked straight ahead, his gaze not even lifting by half a point. "In these 'eyes' of mine, the probability of you having this kind of strength is almost impossible."

"Including the last time, the duel with Aomine."

"However..."

The genuine article and the counterfeit.

Even if it was just a 'thing' banished by himself.

But that clumsy 'playmaking' was already very unpleasant just to look at.