"You've already lost!"
"Shut up! I haven't lost, I cannot lose…!"
"You are the embodiment of victory itself. Your only purpose is to continue winning. The moment you experience defeat, your existence loses meaning… And right now, your presence is rapidly fading."
"Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!"
"Originally, I planned to let you disappear at the moment of defeat. But when I saw you beginning to fade… I felt a strange sense of reluctance. After all, you've taken my place for so many years… It feels like I suddenly had a troublesome younger brother."
"You… are you pitying me?"
"Perhaps atonement would be a better word. Since your existence is inseparable from me. So now, let me take your place."
"Heh~~ And you think your return can change the match?"
"No. I just believe… the one who should bear this defeat… is me."
"You, "
The second personality dwelling in the depths of Akashi's consciousness wanted to say more, but the first personality no longer gave him the chance. He seized control, suppressing the second personality back into the void.
Originally, the first personality had no intention of returning. But since the second personality would cease to exist upon defeat, Akashi chose to come back himself, so that the second personality could continue to exist.
============
"Hey, Akashi, can you hear us?"
"Ah? My apologies, I made you worry. Now… let's finish this match."
Akashi Seijuro's first personality opened his eyes. The heterochromatic gaze had returned to a normal pair of calm pupils. He smiled gently, like a warm spring breeze.
The Rakuzan players: "…???"
They immediately felt something was different.
But before anyone could question him, the referee blew the whistle, signaling the game to resume.
Rakuzan swallowed their unease and returned to the court.
============
"Something's off… Akashi's aura changed."
On Seiho's side, Kasuga Ryuhei noticed first, second only to Akashi Asuka.
Because aside from Asuka, Kasuga spent the most time directly facing Akashi in this match.
"That overwhelming pressure and suffocating threat are gone… but now he feels complete. Stronger in a different way."
Cold sweat rolled down Kasuga's cheek.
Even with Asuka still in ZONE… this Akashi feels terrifying.
============
Akashi dribbled to the perimeter, and stopped.
Standing before him was a towering, immovable barrier, Asuka.
But instead of forcing a drive, Akashi relaxed, smiling lightly.
"Finally… No, I should say… nice to meet you, Akashi-kun."
Asuka's expression did not change.
"Indeed. Nice to meet you, Akashi."
Their exchange was strange, enough to leave both teams confused.
Akashi let out a small sigh.
"'He' had already noticed Seiho wasn't ordinary. But I didn't expect you to even see through this."
Asuka replied calmly:
"Not completely. But when I watched your junior high footage, the contrast between your first and second year was too drastic. Back then, I didn't want to believe it. But seeing you now… there's only one answer."
Akashi smiled with quiet acceptance.
"I see… Now I finally understand why Daiki, Atsushi, and Shintaro lost to you. You are truly strong."
Whoosh,
With no warning, Akashi passed the ball.
Mibuchi Reo received it, stunned.
"This pass…"
Swish!
The shot was too coordinated, too perfect. Kasuga reacted half a beat too late.
80 : 74
"Excellent shot, Reo," Akashi said warmly.
"Wh—?? Akashi actually complimented me!?"
Reo looked like he just saw a ghost
============
Meanwhile,
In the stands, the Generation of Miracles froze for a moment, then understood everything instantly.
"Whoa… just from that pass, I get it."
"Yeah."
"We've caught that pass countless times."
"No doubt about it… the old Akashi is back."
But,
"If it's this Akashi, maybe Rakuzan can, "
"No." Aomine cut Kise off instantly.
"He may raise Rakuzan's level, but that guy"
He looked toward Asuka on the court,
"Will never give him the chance to turn it around."
The others fell silent.
============
Asuka was already in motion.
This time, his defenders were Nebuya Eikichi, Hayama Kotaro, and Mibuchi Reo.
A triple team.
"Bad. He rushed too far, no one to support!"
Seiho's bench tensed.
But Asuka's eyes remained calm, still and deep like unmoving water.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
His style shifted, from perimeter offense to post-up.
The three Uncrowned Kings pressed against him from behind,
Yet his dribble only grew faster.
"What, he's pushing all three of us back!?"
Their feet slid step by step, unable to stop him.
In just seconds,
Asuka forced his way into the paint.
Then, turned,
And rose.
A dunk.
BOOOOM!!!
The impact sent all three defenders flying as the ball slammed into the hoop.
Asuka landed quietly, no roar, no celebration.
Only his black, lightning-filled eyes looked down on his opponents.
"Use any strategy you want. But the winner of this match will always be Seiho."
82 : 74
The dunk shattered Rakuzan's final hope.
Only 23 seconds remained.
Even Akashi let out a small, helpless smile.
============
BEEEEEEEP,
The final buzzer resounded.
Both sides stopped moving.
The scoreboard froze:
82 : 76
"OOOOOOOOOHHHHHH!!!!"
"WE DID IT! WE'RE CHAMPIONS!!"
"Seiho! Seiho! Seiho!"
The Seiho players and cheering section exploded in celebration.
The referee raised his voice:
"Match Over!"
"Winner of the Inter-High School Basketball Championship, Seiho High!"
"Final Score: 82 to 76!"
=============
Completed version available on Patreon.com/Veltoria