The third quarter of the game unfolded as an exclusive showcase of Kagami and Aomine's individual prowess, with the rest of the players becoming mere spectators to the intense showdown.
Kagami who was fueled by the Zone had continued to dominate the court as he kept scoring points for Seirin, while Aomine responded with consistent scoring, although he had been occasionally getting blocked by Kagami.
The scoreboard ticked upward with each passing moment, Seirin consistently closing the gap with Too Academy.
Aomine who still had a perpetual grin on his face, found himself sinking even deeper into the Zone. In his subconscious, he felt like he was being drawn further into the depths behind the door.
As Kagami once again broke past Aomine's defense, Aomine shadowed his every move with uncanny precision.
The gymnasium held its collective breath as Kagami leaped for a dunk with the crowd anticipating another spectacular dunk.
However, Aomine suddenly let out a chuckle with his excitement shooting up through the roof as his presence changed and let out an overwhelming presence, like a mountain, crushing down on Kagami.
Kagami who was mid-air and eyes widened in surprise, felt a sudden shift in the atmosphere.
Aomine's figure seemed to grow even more imposing, and the pressure became suffocating. In that instant, Aomine who had gotten deeper into the zone blocked Kagami's dunk with an almost effortless motion.
The gym erupted into gasps and exclamations.
As luck would have it for Seirin, the blocked dunk sent the ball sailing towards Hyuga, who stood watching the spectacle with a blank expression.
"...Huh?"
Confusion marked his face for a moment before realization dawned—he had the ball, and an opportunity to score.
Sakurai, who had been grappling with Hyuga under the basket, was momentarily caught in the same blank state.
However, as Hyuga snapped back to reality, he realized the chance at hand.
With a swift and decisive motion, he prepared to shoot.
Sakurai seemed to regain his composure as well seeing Hyuga went into his shooting motion before he reacted a moment too late to block the shot.
Hyuga released the ball, and it sailed through the air with precision.
The referee's whistle pierced through the moment, signaling the end of the third quarter. The players on both teams turned their attention to the scoreboard, their eyes widening as the numbers illuminated the current state of the game.
The scoreboard displayed 100 - 101, with Seirin now leading by a slim margin.
The stadium erupted into cheers and exclamations as the realization set in. Seirin had managed to not only catch up but also keep the lead in this fiercely contested battle.
Both teams returned to their benches, and everyone in Too Academy was looking at Aomine in astonishment. Imayoshi wore a similar expression as he pondered, "...It's astonishing that Kagami could put pressure on Aomine even when he entered the zone."
"But, what was that in the last second?" He gazed at Aomine, a shiver running down his spine.
Imayoshi believed that being in the zone was already the pinnacle, yet Aomine seemed to be improving somehow. He didn't quite grasp it, but it was positive news for their team.
A showdown between players in the zone wasn't something ordinary folks like them could easily step into.
They simply lacked the qualifications for it!
In the audience, Fukuda Sogo also engaged in a similar discussion, with everyone turning to Tsuna, who was also capable of entering the zone for an explanation.
"...Well, let me break it down. Simply put, the zone has different levels. Aomine just reached the next level of the zone," he explained.
Nijimura's eyes widened in surprise as he asked, "So, you're saying he delved deeper into his zone?"
"Exactly..." Tsuna nodded.
Everyone was quite surprised to learn about the concept of levels in the zone.
It dawned on them that if Tsuna knew about this, did it mean he could also go deeper into the zone? The shock on everyone's faces was evident as they looked at Tsuna.
Tsuna seemed to notice their speculation and shook his head, indicating he didn't want to elaborate. He was more interested in other things as his gaze shifted to Kagami and Kuroko, and he thought, "...Will they be able to open the next door?"
On Too Academy's bench...
"He could endure this long even in the zone? That's impressive..." Harasawa nodded, watching Aomine with admiration.
Back when they faced Fukuda Sogo, Aomine's body gave out before even getting into the fourth quarter, and it was his sheer determination that forced him to stand and continue playing.
However, this time, Harasawa could see that Aomine would still be able to maintain the zone until the fourth quarter.
"...Well, he might not last until the end, but he should at least hold up until the middle of the quarter," Harasawa thought, wearing a contemplative expression.
He considered taking a timeout once Aomine was out of the zone to reassess their strategy.
On the sideline, Momoi looked at Aomine with a small smile. She had always been concerned about him, but seeing Aomine enjoying the game more than anything else made her feel relieved.
Meanwhile, on Seirin's bench, a hush enveloped everyone. Despite the sweat, they could sense the intense focus Kagami radiated.
"...This guy hasn't said a word, but it's the first time I've felt nervous around him," Kiyoshi thought, shaking his head as he observed Kagami, whose mind seemed solely fixed on the game.
Hyuga sighed and said, "I guess there's nothing we can do at this point..."
Everyone nodded in agreement with Hyuga's words, sighing as they turned their attention to Kagami. Although there was some concern about Aomine blocking Kagami's dunk in the last second, they all wore smiles as they gazed at Kagami.
From the very beginning, Kagami had never let them down.
Now, as they approached the final quarter, that trust remained unwavering. The team had full confidence in Kagami's abilities.
The referee signaled for both teams to resume their positions, marking the beginning of the last quarter.
Hyuga's gaze intensified, and he rallied the team, "Let's get back..."
Everyone followed Hyuga's lead, their eyes reflecting unwavering determination. This quarter was the ultimate showdown, determining who would advance to the next round.
Too Academy players matched that determination. Imayoshi who would usually show a polite expression was replaced by a serious look.
"Let's determine the winner!" he declared.
Kuroko clenched his fist in determination, glancing at his trembling feet and whispering, "...Just a bit more."
---
Do you want to read 15 chapters ahead of the schedule? Here's where you can find them:
p@treon.com/mythoast