"Kuroko!"
Seeing Kuroko about to commit a turnover, Hyuga Junpei sprinted to an open spot outside.
Kuroko decisively passed the ball, but the moment Hyuga caught it, Omuro Yoshikasu immediately closed in. Even two or three meters from the three-point line, Omuro left no space for a shot.
They really aren't leaving an inch…
Sweat was dripping down Hyuga's forehead, almost wetting his glasses. Since the preliminaries, he'd never felt such intense defensive pressure.
Last year, we had a threefold point difference, and this year, they're giving zero margin for error?
He didn't voice the thought, but Omuro seemed to hear it anyway. "Zero margin for error? Impossible! Facing a team capable of defeating Shutoku, there's no way we could ever underestimate you!"
"Besides, your team even added a Generation of Miracles player, the Phantom Sixth Man."
At that moment, Junpei's first real sense of unease surfaced.
They… they actually know about Kuroko?
As Kuroko's teammate, Junpei knew better than anyone how easily his presence could be overlooked. Even in game footage or photos, opponents tended to ignore him unconsciously.
And that was precisely Kuroko's strength.
If opponents started noticing him, that would be Seirin's greatest disaster.
They're taking us that seriously… Should I feel honored or worried?
Dribbling the ball, Junpei tried to smile, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't.
"Pass, Hyuga!"
Shun Izuki had found a tiny gap in the defense.
With no chance to shoot or break through, Hyuga passed decisively to Izuki.
Using his Eagle Eye, Izuki spotted a blind spot in Kasuga's defense and passed to center Mitobe. Mitobe released the shot immediately, but the moment the ball left his hands, Iwamura swatted it away.
This second-rate offensive pressure won't break Seiho's defense!
BEEP~~~
At the same time, a dull electronic whistle echoed across the court. The first quarter officially ended.
Glancing at the scoreboard showing 17:0, Akashi Asuka shook his head and lazily strolled off the court, like a student on a casual outing.
The entire first quarter…
Except for the opening block, Akashi had barely even exerted himself. The sweat he had broken from warm-ups had already dried.
"Ahhhh~~ so boring!"
"Ohhhhhh~~"
"Seiho is insane!"
"They didn't even let Seirin score a single point. No wonder they're called the Iron Wall of Tokyo."
When the first quarter ended, the crowd erupted. It's rare to see a team prevent their opponents from scoring even a single point in the opening quarter.
Even Kise Ryouta felt a twinge of doubt. From the first quarter alone, Seiho's defense was strong, but surely not enough to hold Seirin scoreless!
"Captain, is Seiho really that strong?"
"Seiho is one of the nation's rare powerhouse schools; their strength speaks for itself," Kasamatsu replied.
Then he continued, "But that alone wouldn't make Seirin fail to score. The real reason they're holding us scoreless is that they're taking Seirin seriously."
"Taking it seriously?"
"Yes. Seirin is a new school, a new team. New teams lack a legacy, so most established teams, even decent ones, tend to underestimate them."
"Even those familiar with Seirin's strength, like Shutoku or Kaijo, tend to subconsciously underestimate others because they have a Generation of Miracles player like you. It's instinctive. Even if we say we take them seriously, there's always a hint of negligence inside."
Kasamatsu shot Kise with a sharp look.
During the practice match at the start of the year, Kaijo's overconfidence had allowed Seirin to win. The gap between the two teams had been huge back then.
Kise shrank back, smiling sheepishly.
Kasamatsu went on, "But Seiho is different. They have no genius players. Even Akashi may be strong, but he had no fame in middle school. They have no reason to be arrogant, so they won't underestimate any team."
"Still… the way they've studied Seirin and taken us this seriously is more than I expected. But for Seirin, that's not exactly good news."
============
Two minutes later.
The second quarter began.
"Seirin's momentum feels… different!"
As the second quarter started, Seiho noticed Seirin's aura had shifted slightly.
"They're probably about to use their 'Phantom Sixth Man'! Everyone, stay alert. Watch your opponents closely. No matter how strange the passes get, don't panic. Understood?" Iwamura ordered.
"Understood!!!"
"All right~~ let's give him a little more pain!" Tsugawa's eyes sparkled with anticipation.
Seirin had first possession in the second quarter.
Thanks to the prior warning, Seiho's defense didn't drop; it may have even increased slightly.
Under such pressure, Seirin couldn't even pass properly, let alone attack.
"This is bad! At this rate, just dealing with Iwamura alone is enough to drain us, let alone Akashi…" Junpei stood on the outside and casually tossed the ball.
"Do your best, Kuroko! Break through this iron wall!"
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