Kuroko: Mahoraga - Chapter 94: Keep Showing Off and I'll Send You Flying! (Patreon)

Some moments in competitive sports need no announcement. Everyone watching can sense when something important is about to happen.

That was how it felt as Akashi took possession again and squared up against Masato. The atmosphere between them had changed completely.

After watching Masato wrench the ball away with what looked like a death grip, the crowd could tell their rivalry was approaching a boiling point.

Akashi pressed forward relentlessly. Teikō's players and the tens of thousands of spectators filling the Dome held their breath and focused on the court. Nobody wanted to miss a direct clash between the two captains.

...

Under all those watching eyes, Akashi stepped into range and attacked.

The Emperor Eye, the ability he trusted above all else, once again took in every detail of Masato's body. To Akashi, none of his opponent's weaknesses were hidden. He'd seen such openings countless times before.

Still, the memory of the previous steal flashed through his mind. Akashi cut off that distraction almost instantly, leaving only his absolute confidence in himself and his Emperor Eye.

"No one can escape the Emperor Eye!"

His eyes narrowed, and he burst toward Masato's left side like an arrow fired from a bow. That was exactly where his vision showed an opening. Even the other members of the Generation of Miracles tensed at the sudden, direct attack.

Masato, however, hardly seemed to notice the threat. A faint smile rested on his face as he stepped forward to meet Akashi, exactly as he had before. By moving in, he squeezed the space available for Akashi's drive even further.

Akashi's expression changed dramatically. The weakness he'd seen through the Emperor Eye was real. So why wasn't Masato reacting the way he should?

"How is that possible?"

There was no time to work it out. With the distance closed, Masato brought their physical difference into play once more. This time, Akashi was the one knocked off balance, and the ball was suddenly in danger again.

Masato's hands shot in with the same relentless pressure as before, like a death coil tightening around its prey.

But Akashi was a genius among geniuses. Faced with the same situation a second time, his body reacted instinctively.

He gathered the ball into both hands, determined to cling to it. Even if he couldn't escape, he could at least force a jump ball instead of giving possession away for free.

That decision stunned the entire arena.

By securing the ball with both hands, Akashi had also given Masato an opening to seize it with both of his. Four hands gripped the same basketball as the two fought for possession.

A distinctly wicked smile appeared on Masato's face. Remembering Akashi's arrogant attitude, he couldn't resist a jab.

"Keep showing off and I'll send you flying!"

Then he unleashed his strength.

The muscles in Masato's arms stood out as he gave the ball a violent wrench. Akashi's feet actually left the floor. His body swung through half an arc before being flung away, as though an adult had tossed aside a child.

Masato came away holding the basketball. The sight had been brutal, but it was still a legitimate contest for a loose ball. The referee let play continue.

This time, Masato didn't stop to look around. He immediately launched another fast break. The other Miracles were too shocked to react, and unlike Kise on the previous possession, none of them gave chase.

With the crowd roaring around him, Masato charged into Teikō's paint, rose, and slammed the ball through the basket.

"BOOM!!!"

The backboard microphones caught the impact and broadcast it into every corner of the Dome.

From the battle for possession to the dunk, the entire sequence had the fans on their feet. Some clutched their heads, stared at one another in disbelief, and shouted until their voices cracked.

"Holy shit! What was that?!"

"That was insane! Masato's ridiculously strong!"

"His physical gifts are outrageous. Akashi's already incredible, but next to Masato, it's like they're not even in the same league!"

"Oh my God! Is Masato really that much better this time?"

"Masato-kun, you're so handsome! I love you, husband!"

"..."

...

The atmosphere on the court was nothing like the celebration in the stands. Teikō's players had turned grim. The members of the Generation of Miracles could sense that the balance of the matchup between Akashi and Masato was changing.

Akashi himself seemed different, too. Ever since the steal that had sent him flying, he'd looked distracted. He kept frowning and shaking his head, as though he were arguing with himself.

Shintaro Midorima noticed first and hurried over.

"Akashi, are you all right?"

For a moment, Akashi didn't respond. It was as though Midorima's voice had reached him several seconds late.

"Huh? Oh. I'm fine."

Midorima's brow furrowed. Something was clearly wrong with Akashi's state of mind, but the match was still going, and there wasn't time to analyze it.

"It's our possession. Take the ball, Akashi." Still worried, Midorima added, "Don't insist on fighting Masato with brute strength like you just did. The physical difference is real. You have advantages of your own, so use them. There's no reason to challenge him head-on like that."

Akashi gradually collected himself, nodded once, and moved to receive the pass without another word.

The other Miracles had seen enough to know he wasn't quite himself. The next stretch of the game proved them right.

...

Akashi's performance deteriorated while Masato grew more excited with every possession. The momentum shifted decisively in Kawari's favor. The score had stayed close for almost the entire quarter, but Masato now put Kawari ahead and began stretching the lead.

28-28. 36-30. 39-32.

Even people who knew little about basketball could see how thoroughly that run had overturned the previous balance. Teikō's substitutes sat with grim faces. Their coach couldn't remain seated and began pacing the sideline.

Everyone could tell that if the pattern continued, Kawari's advantage would only grow.

Just then, the buzzer sounded to end the first quarter. Teikō's coaches and reserves breathed a collective sigh of relief as the players left the floor to the crowd's cheers.

...

The moment Kawari returned to its bench, the reserves jumped up to clear seats for the starters. Water bottles and towels appeared in their hands almost at once.

"Captain, sit down! Here's your towel!"

"And your water!"

"..."

Masato accepted the towel without ceremony, wiped his face, and hung it around his neck. Then he unscrewed his bottle and drank deeply. His breathing was a little heavy, but everyone could tell he was still in excellent shape. That reassured the whole team.

...

Over at Teikō's bench, the mood was far more complicated. They weren't just worried about the scoreboard. They were worried about Akashi.

No one could have missed the sharp decline in his performance during the closing stretch of the quarter. The other Miracles looked at him with different expressions, but all of them were surprised. They'd never seen Akashi like this.

The coach took one look at the atmosphere and knew he needed to speak.

"You all played an excellent first quarter. For most of it, we played at the pace we'd planned. We had some trouble near the end and let them put together a run, but it's only the first quarter. Over a full game, that stretch is nothing more than a small setback."

He looked around at the players. "Remember, we're Teikō. Today's opponents are strong, but we beat them the last time we met!"

Then his gaze settled on Akashi. After a pause, he spoke more deliberately.

"Akashi, you're a member of the Generation of Miracles, and you're Teikō's captain. Last time, you faced Masato yourself and led us to victory over him. I believe you can do it again, regardless of what's happened to your form today."

He emphasized every word of what followed.

"You must never forget who you are. You're Seijuro Akashi!"

"Seijuro Akashi, the man who established Teikō's principle of Absolute Victory!"

The words changed the mood on Teikō's bench immediately. Akashi, who'd seemed lost ever since leaving the court, finally reacted. With his head lowered, his wandering gaze slowly came back into focus.

So quietly that no one else could hear him, he murmured, "That's right. I'm Seijuro Akashi. I'm the embodiment of absolute victory. No one can stop me."