"Nijimura Shuzo... is sweeping the court!"
"I knew it—other than Shigure Akihito, he's a monster too!"
"He's been holding back all this time, and now he's finally letting loose!"
"So strong…"
"Kaijō still has stamina left?"
"This year's high school basketball is insane!"
The entire stadium was left dumbstruck.
Good grief—if they hadn't come to watch this in person, they'd never have believed high school basketball had reached this level.
Before anyone realized it, half the quarter had already passed.
Rakuzan's offense still followed the same pattern as at the start of the second half—Reo Mibuchi's "Shot of Man," Nebuya Eikichi's power plays and passes, with Hagioka Kasayuki's Swift as the Wind rhythm controlling the tempo.
Meanwhile
Kaijō's entire offense revolved around just one man.
Nijimura Shuzo.
And the one defending him…
Was also just one man.
A faint current of tension ran through the court—Hayama Kotarō, running faster and faster, chasing like a beast tasting blood.
Kaijō's possession.
The moment Nijimura started his predatory stride—like a lion about to hunt—he suddenly sensed someone beside him, sprinting in parallel, matching his line stride for stride.
Hayama Kotarō.
He instinctively turned his head. Their eyes met
and from the wild, feral energy in Hayama's gaze, Nijimura instantly understood the message being wordlessly shouted.
"Nijimura—come at me!"
Surprised that he even understood it, Nijimura couldn't help but smirk.
Your challenge—I accept.
But…
You're still a long way off!
His posture dipped lower, his acceleration sharper. You could see his speed increase.
And on his face
that unmistakable grin.
For those who once played with the Teiko generation, it wasn't the first time they'd seen it.
But for Hayama Kotarō—this was his first.
Yet, lost in the pure instinct of the chase, he couldn't afford to notice.
"Hah… hah…"
So fast!
This state… I can still go faster!
Bang!
He pushed harder, faster—but Nijimura just got faster.
Seeing Nijimura begin to pull away, Hayama instinctively tried to close the gap—
when suddenly, an icy voice pierced his ear.
"Hayama—run faster!"
Crack! Zap!
Rainbow arcs of lightning burst across the court—Nijimura's Zone lightning tearing through Hayama's own thunder.
In that instant, Nijimura surged past, breaking through Hayama's defensive line
snatched the ball, crossed half-court, and charged straight for the rim!
From Hayama's view, the lion behind Nijimura grew sharper, more vivid, more real.
The sheer pressure radiating from that aura made him feel Nijimura's strength more viscerally than ever before.
Boom!
The air cracked as Nijimura's speed fused with the thunder's rhythm.
Faster than lightning—he darted forward like a dragon diving through clouds, cutting through Rakuzan's defense in a blink.
At that moment, only Hayama could chase—Hagioka Kasayuki was still locked down by Shigure Akihito, unable to intercept.
Nijimura's smirk deepened.
Then
Wildly, recklessly—he exploded upward!
He took off on one leg, bursting into the air
the lion behind him roaring in sync, the roar echoing through the gym.
And in the next second
Hayama Kotarō's lightning crackled again, ringing sharp and violent in Nijimura's ears. From behind, he launched himself upward—colliding midair with Nijimura in a fierce, bone-shaking crash!
Bang! Clang!
A violent dunk, fueled by unstoppable momentum, sent Hayama flying backward across the court!
Tweet!
Tweeet!
The referee's whistle pierced the roar of the crowd
"Rakuzan No. 10! Defensive foul!"
"Kaijō No. 5—basket counts, plus one free throw!"
Nijimura Shuzo's rampage continued—unstoppable, detonating through Rakuzan's defense and flooring Hayama in a single burst.
The crowd erupted.
Cheers surged like waves, crashing and overlapping, rattling the arena rafters.
And through it all
Nijimura Shuzo hung on the rim, looking down at his fallen opponent.
Even now, in Hayama's eyes, the fire of battle still burned bright. That stubborn flame became the fuel that kept Nijimura's own Zone roaring even hotter.
Clang!
He dropped from the rim, landing lightly on the court.
Meanwhile, surrounded by the storm of cheers, Hayama Kotarō sat up, breathing hard, punching his thigh once in frustration.
Compared to the monstrous strength that made opponents tremble
compared to the roaring crowd that cheered Nijimura's every move
the one chasing from behind…
was also serious.
Also burning.
Also—enjoying the thrill of the chase.
That expression on his face said it all.
Thanks, Nijimura.
You didn't look down on me.
You didn't pity me.
As Reo Mibuchi exhaled a long breath and walked over, ready to console him, he stopped short—seeing that the usually bright and carefree Hayama was staring dead ahead at Nijimura's back, eyes blazing, breath heavy, body trembling not from pain, but from excitement.
"Hayama… are you… alright?"
Hayama shook his head.
Hah… hah…
When did it start, he wondered?
Was it that very first day at Teiko, when he got crushed by Nijimura before practice even began?
Or… was it in the national middle school finals, when his proud Thunder Dribble
was broken again?
That mountain he could barely see the top of—so high, so steep, it made you want to give up before you even started climbing.
Even if you gathered your courage to take a step forward, halfway up, the weight would crush your breath.
"…Thanks," Hayama murmured.
In the dark corners of his mind, a locked door cracked open. A thin light leaked through.
And Hayama Kotarō smiled.
Swish!
Nijimura Shuzo's free throw dropped cleanly through the net.
Hayama turned.
Then ran.
Forward again.
Without hesitation
Chasing, once more.
END OF CHAPTER
CROWN BEFORE THE MIRACLES
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