Tetsuya Kuroko's figure suddenly appeared.
Seeing him, Tatsuya Himuro passed the ball straight over.
Chihiro Mayuzumi had no way to steal this pass.
Because there was a huge difference between Tetsuya Kuroko tapping the ball and catching it.
If Tetsuya Kuroko were acting as the relay point and tapping the ball out, he would have to find the most suitable position.
That would create limitations, and Chihiro Mayuzumi could use that condition to go for the steal.
But on this play, Tetsuya Kuroko had not chosen to act as the relay point. He had chosen to be the ball-handler!
Tetsuya Kuroko caught the pass and held the basketball firmly in his hands.
This sight left everyone from Rakuzan High School stunned.
Reo Mibuchi cried out:
"What does this mean? Is he going to attack on his own?"
Kotaro Hayama murmured:
"What's going on?"
Seijuro Akashi narrowed his eyes, no one knowing what he was thinking.
Then, under everyone's puzzled and shocked gazes, Tetsuya Kuroko made a motion to push the ball.
He supported the ball with his left hand and placed his right hand behind it, as if preparing to push it out.
Seeing this, Eikichi Nebuya said:
"Hey, hey, hey. Is this kid trying to shoot? Isn't he a shadow?"
In the next second, Tetsuya Kuroko suddenly jumped, his expression becoming extremely determined.
That move left everyone dumbfounded.
Reo Mibuchi's expression filled with shock.
"He's really... going to shoot?"
Kotaro Hayama murmured:
"But that shot... isn't it way too ordinary? Chihiro can definitely block it."
The Seirin bench also grew tense at that moment.
Because this was their first time seeing Tetsuya Kuroko shoot.
Chihiro Mayuzumi froze for a moment, then reacted and immediately lunged forward.
Chihiro Mayuzumi raised his right hand high, completely blocking Tetsuya Kuroko's shooting path.
But Tetsuya Kuroko acted as if he had not seen him and pushed the basketball out directly.
Then, something shocking happened.
Tetsuya Kuroko's shot... disappeared!
The basketball vanished completely. By the time it appeared again, it had already flown behind Chihiro Mayuzumi.
Even Chihiro Mayuzumi's emotionless eyes showed a trace of shock at that moment.
Swish!!!
The shot went in!
The two-pointer counted!
Reo Mibuchi's mouth fell open, his face full of disbelief.
"How is that possible? It disappeared?!"
Kotaro Hayama was just as shocked, completely unable to believe what had just happened.
Seijuro Akashi frowned slightly, no one knowing what he was thinking.
Off the court, Miyamoto Tokima saw this and smiled.
'Looks like the [Phantom Shot] from the original story still appeared after all.'
In the previous matches, Miyamoto Tokima had noticed that Tetsuya Kuroko had not used [Phantom Shot], nor had he even used [Vanishing Drive].
Miyamoto Tokima had once thought that because of the changes in Seirin, Tetsuya Kuroko had not yet developed those skills.
But now it seemed Miyamoto Tokima had been wrong.
It was not that Tetsuya Kuroko had failed to develop those skills. It was that Seirin High School had not needed him to use them until now.
Because those skills would gradually turn him, the shadow, into the light.
...
"Beep! End of the third quarter! Both teams, off the court!"
The third quarter ended, and the score reached 87 to 87. Seirin High School and Rakuzan High School were tied.
The spectators looked at the score and began discussing it.
"I never expected Seirin High School to be able to fight Rakuzan High School this closely."
"Yeah. Looks like Seirin High School really is the biggest dark horse of this tournament."
"By the way, who do you think will win?"
"Probably Rakuzan High School. Akashi doesn't seem to have made his move yet."
On the court.
On Rakuzan High School's side.
After coming off the court, Seijuro Akashi sat alone in the middle, his face icy cold.
As for the rest of Rakuzan, they sat there trembling, not even daring to breathe too loudly.
Kotaro Hayama also looked nervous, as if something terrifying was about to happen.
A moment later, Seijuro Akashi spoke.
"From here on, give me the ball."
Everyone raised their heads and looked at Seijuro Akashi.
But all they saw was Seijuro Akashi's icy gaze.
Seijuro Akashi swept his eyes over them and said coldly:
"You have disappointed me too much. Go back and do extra training on your own."
"From here on, I'll take matters into my own hands."
After saying that, Seijuro Akashi said nothing more.
The atmosphere also became heavy at that moment.
The players of Rakuzan High School understood now. In the fourth quarter, Seijuro Akashi would completely abandon them and attack by himself.
Eikichi Nebuya, Reo Mibuchi, and Kotaro Hayama thought back to Seijuro Akashi's extra training plan and immediately shuddered.
Seijuro Akashi's extra training plan was not something an ordinary person could endure.
On the other side.
Over at Seirin High School.
Tatsuya Himuro sat on the bench, gasping for breath.
He had carried the pressure for almost the entire third quarter. That kind of burden had drained him both physically and mentally.
Suddenly, a fist appeared in front of Tatsuya Himuro.
Tatsuya Himuro looked up and saw Taiga Kagami staring at him with a determined expression.
Taiga Kagami said:
"Good work, bro. From here on, leave it to me!"
Tatsuya Himuro took a breath, then showed a gentle smile and reached out his fist to bump Taiga Kagami's.
Just like when they used to play together as kids.
Back then, when they were pushed into a desperate situation, it had been Tatsuya Himuro who said those words to Taiga Kagami.
Now, it was the other way around.
Tatsuya Himuro smiled in relief and said:
"Good luck, Taiga."
Taiga Kagami nodded firmly.
At that moment, Riko Aida quickly said to everyone:
"The fourth quarter is the most important one. Rakuzan's captain, Akashi, will probably make his move in this quarter."
"So everyone, do not let your guard down."
"Kagami, we still need you in the fourth quarter. How much stamina have you recovered?"
Taiga Kagami nodded firmly and said with a serious face:
"I've recovered almost enough!"
Hearing that, Riko Aida nodded and continued:
"All right, then. Let's give it everything we've got in the fourth quarter!"
The Seirin players all nodded and shouted:
"Let's go!!!"
At that moment, the referee blew the whistle.
"Beep! The fourth quarter begins! Both teams, on the court!"
The Seirin players all stood together and walked onto the court with fighting spirit written across their faces.
Center, Teppei Kiyoshi. Power forward, Taiga Kagami. Small forward, Tetsuya Kuroko. Shooting guard, Junpei Hyuga. Point guard, Shun Izuki.
The players of Rakuzan High School also stood together and walked onto the court.
Center, Eikichi Nebuya. Power forward, Kotaro Hayama. Small forward, Chihiro Mayuzumi. Shooting guard, Reo Mibuchi. Point guard, Seijuro Akashi.
The fourth quarter!
Officially began!
...