"Beep~~~"
"Yosen requests a timeout."
==========
"What's going on? Why request a timeout all of a sudden?"
"I think I just saw Murasakibara not jump… could he be injured?"
"Impossible. He probably just didn't react in time!"
The game had been heating up, and Yosen suddenly calling a timeout left the audience puzzled.
At first, no one paid too much attention.
Until the timeout ended.
Everyone in the arena suddenly realized that Murasakibara wasn't on the court when Yosen returned to play. Shock rippled through the crowd.
"Hey, no way!"
"Murasakibara actually left the court… is he really injured?"
"But just now he didn't look hurt at all!"
Murasakibara leaving the game confused many, including most of Seiho's players.
Only a few glanced at Yosen's bench, noticing Murasakibara sitting with his head covered by a towel, looking dejected, and they began to speculate.
Even with Murasakibara gone, Seiho had no intention of holding back.
Murasakibara exited at 8:30 in the third quarter when the score was 56:43.
By the end of the third quarter, the score had widened to 63:45.
Just a minute and a half…
The gap had grown by 5 points.
This clearly showed the impact a Generation of Miracles member had on a team.
==========
"What's wrong with Murasakibara?"
"He probably reached his physical limit."
Midoriima squinted. "By removing the safety line, he could unleash his full strength, but it also strains the body. And he's been battling Akashi at full intensity for three quarters, his stamina has been drained more than ever before."
"On top of that, at the start of the third quarter, Akashi used a three-pointer to force Murasakibara to guard him the entire way. Seiho deliberately increased his energy consumption…"
"I see."
Kise nodded, agreeing with Midoriima's reasoning. But then he hesitated, sensing something off. "Wait, by that logic, Akashi should also be exhausted like Murasakibara. Why is he fine?"
Midoriima didn't answer. Instead, Yukio Kasamatsu gave Kise a look that said are you serious?, replying: "Of course it's the training difference."
"Seiho's Akashi not only has incredible physical attributes but also exceptional post skills, obviously the result of massive training."
"Your Yosen teammate? He's probably at the same level as when you first entered school…"
Kise: "Ahhh…"
Suddenly, it all made sense.
Back when Kise had just entered Kaijo, before losing to Seirin, he was balancing basketball club and part-time modeling, his training efficiency was low.
"Then if it's just fatigue, Murasakibara should be able to return after resting, right?"
"Impossible."
Midoriima dismissed the idea. "It's not just stamina. You should know, Kise! Our bodies aren't yet ready to fully support our talents. And in this regard, Murasakibara's problem is the most severe among us."
Kise froze.
As a fellow Generation of Miracles member, he understood Midoriima's meaning.
Each member had once-in-a-decade talent, but as first-year high schoolers, their undeveloped bodies couldn't fully handle it.
In the previous Kaijo vs. Tōō match, Kise had experienced this. Even now, the aftereffects lingered.
Aomine also had residual effects, but they didn't show because he only played half the game against Seiho.
In some ways, Aomine had been lucky, otherwise, he might not have lasted three quarters.
"Moreover, even if Murasakibara returned, it wouldn't matter. He still wouldn't match Akashi."
Midoriima added another reason: "Compared to Akashi, Murasakibara is still too immature. Both have similar physical potential, but their development stages are completely different."
"Akashi controls his talent at least one or two tiers above Murasakibara… maybe even more."
==========
Midoriima's words accurately predicted what would follow.
Ten minutes later, Seiho vs. Yosen ended 86:64.
No one expected a match that had destroyed two hoops early on, or the fierce first three quarters, to end so abruptly in the fourth.
But anyone analyzing the game would see it wasn't surprising.
As similar players, Akashi had nearly full control over Murasakibara. Even after removing his safety line, Murasakibara could only match Akashi in raw strength, not surpass him.
With the other four players being roughly equal, the ace's gap became the team's gap.
So Yosen being dominated was perfectly normal.
That's also why Akashi said from the start that Seiho hadn't prepared specific tactics for Yosen, he personally could control Murasakibara better than Shutoku could.
==========
"Thank you for the guidance x2!!!"
After the game, both teams gathered mid-court for greetings.
During the handshake, Murasakibara held Akashi's hand and, eyes still wet from crying, stared at him:
"Next time, I won't lose."
Akashi smiled lightly: "I'll be waiting."
"Hmph!"
Murasakibara huffed childishly and turned to leave, but just as he was about to exit, he called back:
"By the way, Asuka! Just a reminder… you're strong, but Akashi is terrifying…"
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Completed version available on Patreon.com/Veltoria