章 122: Chapter 122: Unstoppable Midorima
Shutoku's coach, Nakatani, watched Midorima with wide-eyed amazement.
"The younger generation is getting wilder," he mumbled to himself in astonishment.
Seirin's coach, Aida, stood up with a furrowed brow and requested for a timeout for her team.
In the game, when Midorima got hold of the ball, he didn't immediately launch into his shooting motion. Instead, he took a moment to dribble, which prompted Kagami to react swiftly by advancing and intensifying his defensive stance.
Midorima executed a quick crossover to the right, prompting an instant response from Kagami. But then, Midorima smoothly spun his body in the opposite direction, took a step back, and smoothly transitioned into his shooting motion.
Without hesitation, he launched the ball into the air, sending it on a high arc toward the basket. Midorima then nonchalantly turned his back and walked back to his position without sparing a glance at the ball.
"Dammit! He was just making a space to shoot!" Kagami exclaimed as the ball effortlessly swished through the basket. His shock deepened when he noticed something else, "And what's with that lightning-fast release?"
Momoi widened her eyes and said, "It's not just his dribbling speed. Midorima's shooting release has also reached a new level!"
Kuroko, wearing a puzzled expression, questioned, "Is that the same zone that Kazama and Aomine used during the Interhigh?"
The game abruptly paused as the referee signaled for a timeout for Seirin. Both teams retreated to their respective benches.
Sitting on Shutoku's bench, every player was sweating profusely, their eyes fixed on Midorima, who exuded an almost palpable intensity of focus.
Silence reigned among the players, and even their coach, Nakatani, chose not to utter a word. The team watched in awe as their ace, the Shooter from the Generation of Miracles, completely shifted the momentum in Shutoku's favor.
Takao wore a complex expression as he mused, "I knew he was a monster, but I never thought he could pull something like that off..."
He glanced at Midorima, who remained motionless on the bench, shaking his head and offering a small smile. Takao then cast a quick glance at Seirin and the scoreboard, which displayed a score of 97 - 72.
"We might be behind in the score, but with Shin in the zone," Takao's eyes sparkled with excitement as he believed that Shutoku had a real chance to win.
He confidently declared, "We'll catch up in no time!"
Conversely, on Seirin's bench, a somber mood prevailed.
Aida wore a pensive expression, deep in thought about how to maintain their hard-earned score advantage. Kiyoshi wore a serious expression as he voiced his concern, "...Should I assist Kagami in guarding Midorima again?"
"No, that would leave a significant gap in our defense..."
With uncertainty hanging in the air, Aida disagreed.
Kiyoshi was initially surprised but eventually nodded in understanding.
"Furthermore..." Aida said in a measured tone, her gaze shifting to Midorima, "There's a saying that the only one capable of stopping someone in the zone is another who's in the zone..."
"Let's revert to a high-scoring battle. The game is approaching its conclusion, and if we can uphold our lead, victory is ours..."
Aida proposed, her words filled with thoughtfulness. She then directed her attention to Kuroko, saying, "Let's implement our new form of high-leveled run and gun!"
All the Seirin players nodded collectively, their expressions resolute.
The game continued, and Seirin stuck to their new fast-paced approach, using it to outmaneuver Shutoku's defense.
However, their confidence in maintaining their lead wavered when they witnessed yet another awe-inspiring, perfectly arced shot, its graceful trajectory unmarred by any rotation, as it effortlessly sailed into their basket.
As the clock ticked away, Midorima's performance was nothing short of exceptional.
Shutoku was rapidly narrowing the score difference with Seirin. Seirin's players could only grit their teeth in increasing frustration.
Even with their new scoring strategy, Midorima remained an unstoppable scoring machine, his performance seemingly inhuman.
The crowd in the stadium erupted in cheers and excitement as they witnessed this remarkable spectacle.
Izuki got the ball and made a precise pass to Hyuga, who carried it forward, adding to the pressure on Shutoku's defense. But right when Hyuga had passed the ball to Kuroko for him to make his way into Shutoku's inner area, something extraordinary happened.
Midorima, like a bolt of green lightning, appeared in Kuroko's path.
With no other option, Kuroko held onto the ball, a frown on his face.
He muttered, "I'll just have to find a way around your defense, then!"
Kuroko dribbled the ball, trying to advance it against Midorima's tight defense.
His misdirection aura was in full force as he passed by Midorima effortlessly. But his surprise grew when he turned around, only to find that the ball was gone.
Seirin players were stunned, and they cried out.
"Kuroko's drive got stopped!?"
Midorima had the ball and aimed for a shot. Kagami tried to block him but couldn't reach him in time. With a swift release, Midorima's shot found the net with a perfect swish.
"...Midorimacchi broke Kuroko's Vanishing Drive?"
Kise muttered in disbelief.
He gripped his fist in determination as his eyes flashed before he thought to himself, "...So, entering the zone could truly bring someone's 100% in a game, huh?"
Nijimura watched the court with a serious expression.
"...Did he know that Midorima was able to enter the zone?"
He then turned to Tsuna, who seemed to be unusually interested in the game. He wondered if Tsuna had anticipated Midorima entering the zone.
When a player entered the zone, their concentration was unmatched.
Tricks like Kuroko's misdirection didn't work, and it was clear that Midorima wasn't the least bit distracted by it. With Kuroko's terrible basic skills, Midorima could easily steal the ball from him.
As the game continued, Seirin's players were growing increasingly frustrated.
Their new strategy didn't seem effective against Midorima and Takao, who were immune to Kuroko's misdirection.
As Midorima continued to score right in front of him, Kagami's frustration swelled. The sight of his teammate's exasperated face weighed heavily on him.
He muttered to himself, "Why am I this weak?"
"To beat the zone, I have to be in the zone?"
Kagami had heard this before from Alexandra. But the door to that state remained firmly shut. However, "Why can't I unlock it?"
Kagami let out a scream, standing before an imposing, pressure-filled door.
"Why? Why can't I open it?"
Desperation welled up within him as he punched the door, causing his hand to bleed.
Tsuna observed Kagami with amazement, sensing the mounting pressure within him. "Could he unlock it during this game?"
---
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