บท 121: Chapter 121: Midorima's childhood memories
The crowd erupted into cheers as they witnessed Kagami's remarkable move. The stadium filled with excitement as the cheers echoed all around.
Midorima, wearing a shocked expression, couldn't take his eyes off Kagami.
"...So this was his new trick, huh?"
He muttered as he watched Kagami's determined departure.
As time ticked away, Seirin had seized control of the game's momentum. Kuroko's Vanishing Drive pierced through Shutoku's defenses, and Kagami's newfound beastly instinct prevented Midorima from scoring.
Seirin continued to score points one after another, putting the pressure on Shutoku to find a way to turn things around.
Kise scratched his head in puzzlement and wondered aloud, "...Kagami seems to be holding on. I thought he was running out of steam."
Nijimura glanced briefly at Kise, then put his attention to Kagami.
He explained, "When you tap into your instincts, your movements become fluid and efficient. You act precisely when necessary at the right moment. That's how Kagami has conserved his stamina until now."
At the end of the third quarter, Seirin was ahead with a score of 76-63.
Both teams were catching their breath on their respective benches. Shutoku looked exhausted and realized they were losing control of the game. They understood that if they didn't take action, things could slip away from them.
Midorima appeared deep in thought as he sat on the bench.
In a classic Japanese house that bore the unmistakable marks of a distinguished family's ownership, a young boy with striking green hair played by himself. He held a toy airplane in his small hand, his eyes alight with joy as he savored this solitary moment.
The boy's giggle filled the air, a vibrant contrast to the serene surroundings, creating a scene that captured the essence of a carefree, blissful childhood.
A silhouette approached and gently took hold of the young boy's hand, causing the child to look up in surprise.
"What are you up to, little guy?"
The young boy's face lit up as he recognized who was holding his hand and cheerfully responded, "Oh, Father!"
"I'm just playing with this airplane Grandma gave me. It's so much fun. You should join me; we can play together!"
The boy's eyes sparkled with excitement, brimming with the innocence and joy of childhood.
His father let out a weary sigh, and then he knelt down to meet his son at eye level. With a questioning look, he asked, "Remind me, what's your name?"
The young boy furrowed his brow in confusion and replied, "My name is Shintaro Midorima. Father, why are you asking such an obvious question?"
"That's right, you're a Midorima. That's why you shouldn't be playing at this time." His father nodded, a stern expression on his face.
"...Why?"
Young Midorima's enthusiasm dimmed noticeably as he took in his father's words.
With a gentle smile, his father reached for Shintaro's hand and suggested, "Let's head to the study room."
Young Midorima hesitated, glancing back at his beloved toy before reluctantly taking it along with him.
Observing his son's dejected demeanor, his father shook his head with a hint of regret and reassured him, "This is for your own good, Little Shin..."
The following day, young Midorima couldn't locate his only toy anywhere. He asked around, but everyone he questioned claimed nothing about its whereabouts.
His sadness was palpable.
Once again, his father guided him into the study room, where he was introduced to subjects and lessons that held little interest for him. His father insisted it was for his own good, but the young Shintaro couldn't understand why.
As the years passed, he wore glasses dedicated to the studies his father had chosen for him, with little room for anything else. The boy's days were filled with lessons meant to secure his future and uphold the family's honor.
Young Midorima initially followed the family's educational path, thinking it was the norm since his older brother did the same.
However, his life changed when he discovered basketball in elementary school.
It was a sport, and his father didn't mind; in fact, he encouraged it for the health benefits. Young Midorima embraced the game, feeling truly alive after a long time, and it became a significant part of his life.
However...
"Shin! Hey, it's time to get in the game!"
Takao was vigorously shaking Midorima, who snapped back to reality.
As he scanned his surroundings, Midorima noticed that everyone was giving him strange looks.
It was an unusual sight, as Midorima was known for his unwavering focus.
Furrowing his brow, he told Takao, "Let go of my shoulder, Takao..."
Takao shrugged and released his grip. The players then returned to the court as the fourth quarter began.
As the game continued, Seirin maintained their relentless push, and Shutoku struggled to keep up. The score gap between the teams continued to widen.
What caught everyone's attention was Midorima's unusual reaction. Instead of getting frustrated, he wore a smile that puzzled his teammates.
"Shin, did you get possessed by some spirit or something?"
Takao quipped, his unease evident in his voice. The rest of the Shutoku team shared his confusion.
Midorima occasionally smiled in satisfaction, but this was a different smile they had never seen.
"Why? I'm actually enjoying this," Midorima replied with a slight shake of his head.
The Shutoku players were left utterly flabbergasted, their mouths agape at the incredible change they witnessed in Midorima.
In Seirin's ranks, the players couldn't help but notice the transformation in Midorima.
Kuroko felt an increasing unease as the fourth quarter continued. The same went to Kagami's instincts, which were on high alert due to Midorima's transformation.
Amid it all, Midorima's mind drifted back to his days at Teiko.
He sent the ball arcing high through the air, sinking a satisfying three-point shot.
"Nice one, Shintaro!"
To Midorima's astonishment, Tsuna was already ahead of him, fully trusting in his shot. A small smile crossed Midorima's face as he replied, "Of course."
With every moment on the court, he felt the deep attachment he had to the sport.
As he reminisced about these memories, Midorima chuckled, realizing, "Yes, I've been playing basketball since I felt truly alive on the court..."
At that moment, Midorima was overwhelmed by a powerful conviction as he faced a colossal door, its presence imposing and weighty.
He quietly spoke to himself, "Winning is fantastic, but there's something more important..."
"To put everything on the line, you said?"
With determination in his eyes, he continued, "Isn't that exactly what I need? As I..."
Closing the door, he reached for the gap with his finger. His eyes gleamed with unwavering certainty as he declared, "...I want to break free!"
The heavy burden of family expectations had held Midorima back for too long, and he was weary of it all.
It was time for a change, a chance to be true to himself.
In that profound moment, he grasped his heartfelt desire.
Midorima had come to a realization –
- he wanted to break free and rediscover the joy in life, to be himself finally.
For the first time, he recognized the simple truth.
He just wanted to have some fun!
As he finished his heartfelt declaration, Midorima's determination surged through him.
His hand gripped the door with newfound strength, and with a resolute pull, he swung it open. A radiant smile graced his face as he stepped forward into the unknown.
Kagami, who was marking Midorima, couldn't believe his eyes as a sudden sense of danger overwhelmed him. His instincts screamed that something was wrong as he watched Midorima.
As Takao passed the ball to Midorima...
...In that very moment, intense pressure engulfed the court, and Midorima's eyes flickered with emerald streaks, sending a shiver down everyone's spine.
The entire stadium fell into a hushed stillness as spectators and players alike locked their astonished gazes on Midorima.
"...He's in the zone," Kise uttered in disbelief, his voice betraying his astonishment.
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