Chapter 113 - Finals: #10 (1/2)
Shun and Akashi faced-each other, both in each other's range.
The rings in Akashi's eyes glowed brighter than before. He concentrated on Shun's body and the ball, taking in every piece of information that his eyes gave him.
The Shun's future became clear in his mind.
He could see the move Shun was about to make, he could see the moment Shun would move, the direction Shun would move, Shun's breathing, and every muscle contraction that occurred in Shun's body.
On the other hand, Shun's focus was completely on Akashi and any movement he would make.
The passive God-Speed Impulse that helped Shun in every move he made on the court was now being used actively, as Shun was on the lookout for any move that Akashi made.
The tension between them increased until Shun made his move.
He moved the ball behind his back for a back change from right to the left hand.
Akashi had already seen that future and moved towards Shun's left hand to steal the ball.
Akashi: 'A back change to the left.'
Shun saw Akashi's hand moving towards his left, and a jolt traveled from his eyes to his brain and then to his right arm.
He didn't stop there, seeing that Akashi was leaning to the left side from his steal attempt, Shun moved towards the right, passing Akashi and not giving Akashi a chance to stop him.
-*-*-*-
Kaitani was so ecstatic and excited seeing Shun pass Akashi that he jumped from his bench and shouted to the limit.
Kaitani: ”YEAH!!!”
Tokiwadai's bench felt the power return to them as they say Shun passing Akashi.
Coach Koetsuji smiled as he saw the excited faces of his student.
-*-*-*-
Shun wasn't out of the clear yet. To halt Teiko's momentum and once again start increasing the point-gap, he needed to score and complete this play.
He ran forward towards the free-throw line where Kise stepped in his path to stop him.
Kise: ”Oh, no. You don't.”
Shun didn't say anything, and with utter confidence, stepped into Kise's range.
Kise saw Shun leaning to the left.
Kise: 'He is going to pass me from the left.'
But, just before he turned to the left, Kise saw Shun passing the ball to the right in a bounce pass to Yuki.
Kise was startled as he wasn't expecting a pass.
Kise: ”Wait, a pass. Wha-!”
Shun, who now didn't have to worry about a ball steal from Kise, increased his speed, and with a swift spin from the left, he passed Kise.
Kise was confused about where to look and who to follow and was quite late when he did decide to follow Shun.
Yuki passed the ball back to Shun as soon as he passed Kise.
Aomine was in the Dee, standing there to stop Shun from scoring.
Shun stopped a little on the right of the basket and jumped.
Aomine also jumped to block Shun by getting a hand on the ball, but he was shocked when he saw Shun.
Shun had jumped, but the jump was not straight up and forward, but sideways parallel to the backboard.
Aomine knew Shun was able to use formless shooting from this shot range and cursed.
Aomine: ”Shit.”
Shun, forty-five degrees to the floor, extended his left, and free-shot the ball into the basket.
Commentator A: ”Tokiwadai finally scores the first point of this quarter. After those three turnovers, I was worrying that Tokiwadai would fall behind in this quarter.”
Commentator B: ”Yeah, but know the point-gap is back to double-digit ten points. But, we have to see if they can keep up this lead.”
Hyakuzawa and Yuki came to him and extended one hand each towards him with a smile on their faces. Shun grinned, sat up and grabbed their hands, letting himself pulled up by them.
-*-*-*-
Akashi looked at Shun with a cold and calculative look in his eyes.
Akashi: 'How did he change his move. I saw it correctly, he was going to do a back change, but he changed it at the last moment.'
Akashi played the scene in his mind and concluded,
Akashi: ”I need more information. Kageyama Shun... what more secrets do you hide?”
Akashi moved to his position for Teiko's attack, with many thoughts formulating in his mind.
-*-*-*-*-*-*-
Shun took his position directly in front of the basket, just behind the free-throw line.
Shun knew that it was impossible to steal the ball from 'True' Akashi's perfect court vision, but even 'Other' Akashi's Hawk-Eye vision, made it near-impossible for Shun to steal the ball.
But, that wasn't going to stop him from trying to steal passes.
Shun: 'Midorima is covered by Hyakuzawa and Mibuchi-san if he somehow can score against them, then I can't do anything against that.
Kise is guarded by Yuki. Yuki will be able to hinder Kise's moment by a considerable margin.
Murasakibara is tough, he has been pushing Aone-san around without any problems. I need to be at a lookout for him.
Aomine is free, but if I react fast enough, I would be able to reach him, but if I am even a step late, he will end up scoring.
Akashi... Sigh. Let's just hope that he comes straight to me and doesn't pass the ball.'
In the first half, Shun stuck to the inside area near the basket, and that was because he was guarding Aomine, Kise, and even partially Murasakibara. Even if Akashi passed the ball to any of the three of them, he was able to reach them in time.
But, now that he was guarding Akashi, he couldn't stick to Akashi as if Akashi passed the ball while Shun was moving towards Akashi, then Shun would be late to guard any of the inside scorers of Teiko.
He couldn't go back to Aomine, because Akashi would ankle break his way to the basket and score every single time.
Shun: 'The area to defend has increased, but I can do it.'
Shun nodded and slapped his t.h.i.g.hs and said to himself.
Shun: ”I can do it.”
He readied his legs for a sprint to any player that had the ball.
Shun: ”Come.”
-*-*-*-*-*-*-
Akashi looked at Shun, standing in the middle looking at him, and everybody on the court, looking ready to defend a major portion of the court by himself.