TEIKO MIDDLE SCHOOL
The Teiko Middle School basketball club.
In its brilliant history, there were five once-in-a-decade prodigies in one year...
...the "Generation of Miracles."
Ryota Kise. Shintaro Midorima. Daiki Aomine.
Atsushi Murasakibara. Seijuro Akashi.
And the menace standing against them was Seirin High School...
With its shadow... and light.
- Rebound! - He shoved it in!
- We won't lose! Even if it kills us, keep their lead down! - We'll win! No matter what, increase the lead!
- An alley-oop! - A 15-point lead!
Kaijo is cornered!
The job of the ace is to lead the team to victory, right?
If I didn't go now, I wouldn't be the ace.
We're going to win... against Seirin!
This is... Perfect Copy!
It was naive to think we could stay ahead.
As I thought, if we can't stop his Perfect Copy, there's no way we can win!
We're gonna win! I'm going to risk everything I have from here on!
61Q. THIS TIME, FOR SURE
KAIJO SEIRIN
The time limit for Kise's Perfect Copy is longer?
The chances of that are high.
If so, I can't say the current lead will keep us safe.
If we don't do something, we're in serious trouble.
Um... I think there is something.
A way to stop Kise-kun...
I can't talk to him. What focus.
But honestly, I never thought he was as reliable as today...
We can do it now!
Turning it around is well in sight!
Good. The momentum's turned.
The team morale is quiet but high... Miracles happen specifically in times like these.
I see.
It's difficult, but if timed right...
...we might be able to stop Kise.
Okay!
We absolutely can't afford to make mistakes from here on. Everyone, focus!
Even if the plan works, Kise isn't the entire Kaijo team.
Don't let your guards down till the game-ending buzzer!
Be more cautious than ever with passes and assists. Don't miss easy shots!
We'll hold on to our lead at any cost!
Let's go, Seirin! Fight!
Yeah!
Crap, it works for defense too...
Akashi's Emperor Eye!
All right!
Take that!
Shoot...
- Don't worry, Hyuga! Switch gears! - Yeah!
It's not good to screw up offensively, but the bigger problem is this.
I'm counting on you...
Stop Kise's Perfect Copy!
Kuroko is on Kise?
Kuroko-cchi, what's the meaning of this?
It's pretty obvious now. Kagami-cchi is waiting behind you.
I'm sure you're going for what you did before...
Let me pass, Kagami-cchi stops me, and tip from behind. But...
I've already broken past that once.
It can't be...
...it's the same thing as before, right?
Right. It's different from last time.
Eagle Spear!
We got this!
This is...
A triple-team from Taiga, Kuroko, and Iduki?
His left side was open, but Tetsu intentionally made him pass on the right.
Kise put all his weight on the right side. It's too late to cut back again...
Perfect timing! He's got nowhere to escape!
No way! That was a use of Kuroko-kun's passing skills?
Using centrifugal force from the spin to pass without motioning beforehand...
This isn't good... What speed!
Kise!
So high!
And it's in! Alley-oop!
- Kise is unstoppable! - All right!
- Kagami-kun... - No matter what you do, it's useless.
Nobody can stop me right now.
So strong!
Amazing! Even that can't stop him now?
Hopefully it's only that he's unstoppable.
Seirin's already falling into a negative chain reaction. If this keeps up...
...they're gonna get swallowed up.
Go, Kaijo!
- It's Kaijo's comeback! They can do this! - Good going, Kaijo!
Counterattack!
It's not like you, Iduki! It's like you're asking for it to be stolen!
I'll stop it this time.
Wha... Can this really be...
The Phantom Shot?
No way... Just the passes I can see, but...
I thought you had to be able to use misdirection to use the Phantom Shot...
No... It's not the same!
Kise recreated the irregular form. By shooting a high-projectile shot like Midorima from there...
...he sped up the takeoff and pushed it out of sight.
- Kaijo cut the lead down even more! - That great comeback might happen!
- Badass! - Go, Kaijo!
Ka-i-jo! Ka-i-jo! Ka-i-jo!
- Nice! We'll keep pushing forward! - That hurt!
We can do it!
Even you?
I'm in top form too. Bring it on anytime!
- Sure! - Let's go! I'll jump!
W-What is this...
Most of the crowd's cheering for Kaijo.
This is as if we're the heels...
Kaijo totally got the crowd on their side.
They lost their ace midway but played hard to keep holding on.
And in their biggest crisis, the ace returns and starts a thundering comeback run.
Of course Kaijo's the team you'd want to cheer for. This puts Seirin in a tough spot.
Each time the gap closes, they'll cheer. Mistakes are met with joy and landing shots with silence.
The pressure of being chased and a hostile crowd. Playing normally under that is next to impossible.
Over here!
Ka-i-jo! Ka-i-jo!
Air ball? Hyuga?
- All right, Kuroko! - That was close!
Man!
So close!
Kaijo couldn't get the ball!
Dammit... It's really hard to play...
Time out!
Coach?
We just took one!
What Hyuga-kun said during the last time out...
We absolutely can't afford to make mistakes from here on. Everyone, focus!
I should've noticed back then.
"We can't make mistakes." "You can't fail."
Thoughts of that nature stiffen the body and only lead to mistakes being made.
And once you make a mistake, it's a negative feedback loop.
The more you think, the more mistakes you make, and the quality of play deteriorates...
Crap!
Kiyoshi fumbled?
This sucks! Get back!
So slow! You look like you barely caught up. Your form's so sloppy!
So many openings!
- Kagami! - Go!
Kaijo! Kaijo! Kaijo!
Pushing! White, #10! Free throws! Two shots!
- Of course! Too rough! - Was that intentional?
Sorry...
Man, what's Kagami doing?
He'll make us look even more like heels!
No... That wasn't intentional... He's just that desperate.
Heels? Whatever, I don't care.
The only times we could be fated to lose are in fictional stories.
This is our drama! We decide what the plot will be!
The only times we're fated to lose are in fictional stories.
This is our drama! We decide what the plot will be!
Kagami...
That line... is so corny!
How can you say something so corny? Whose mouth said that?
You're the one who always mouths off, "I'm a shadow"!
- This is our drama! This is our drama! - Don't repeat it!
Kagami, I didn't know you could write for dramas. Amazing.
And you stay quiet.
So, well... Don't worry about what's being said around us.
We'll definitely win, um...
We know that. You don't have to say the rest.
Thanks to you, the burden's off our shoulders. Two minutes left... Let's go have fun.
Hyuga, that's my line...
That said, the crisis we're in hasn't changed. We have to do something...
Um, Kagami-kun's corny line just made me think of something.
Enough!
What did you think of, Kuroko?
How to break through Perfect Copy this time, for sure.
KAIJO SEIRIN Time out, Seirin!
Is such a thing possible?
I'm not sure if it's possible, but I think that the potential is there.
Its strength is recreating the Generation of Miracles' moves...
...and to combine them or use them separately depending on the situation.
A recreation means each one is the same as those of the Generation of Miracles we've faced.
And we have one player who's been toe to toe with all of them, if not better.
Predict who he'll be copying?
Perhaps it's better to say "induce" than "predict."
That's the only way for Seirin to stop Ryota in his current state.
To use misdirection, you need skill, but you also must be able to read their gestures and habits.
Thus, Tetsuya has some chance, as he routinely trains by observing people in everyday life.
By seeing through Ryota's play style and habits to deduce his next play.
However, in basketball, the number of choices are as numerous as the stars depending on the situation.
It will be a Herculean task even for Tetsuya to make it come to fruition with less than two minutes left.
Want to observe from the bench for a bit?
No, from here on I want to watch Kise-kun more than ever from close by.
I don't think I'll be of any use for a while, but could I stay on the court?
All right. It's unfortunate, but I don't see Kise-kun's stamina running out.
In any case, we have to stop Kise to win!
That means we have to entrust that role to Kuroko.
Let's go! There's still a chance to win!
All of you, don't give up till the end!
Seirin... fight!
Yeah!
Wow, what spirit...
Watch out. Seirin is really strong from this point in the game.
Free throw! Two shots!
Whoa! Both went in!
They're totally within reach now!
It's on you, Kagami. Since we'll have Kuroko observe Kise's play...
...that means we'll purposely corral the ball, on offense and defense, to where Kise is.
But if he gets us quick, observing's useless.
We need to be tenacious and draw out all the plays we can.
Gotcha.
This look... They are up to something, aren't they?
As long as he has Emperor Eye, small tricks won't work. A full drive at top speed then!
So fast!
All right!
No good! He can't get by after all!
A full brake from that speed? What kinda leg strength is that?
Get back!
Aomine's drive or Akashi's Emperor Eye? Or a combination...
Dammit, it's useless to think! Just concentrate!
- He's not breaking through... Why? - Hey, it can't be...
- Midorima? - Not good!
If he shoots a high-projectile three here, the time lost in the air would be immense!
Kuroko's observation time will be decidedly cut down!
He used Midorima-kun's three as a fake?
Even with the lead, Seirin wants time to pick Kise apart...
...so that move's the most troublesome. That's why it works as a fake.
With more options, Kaijo's at an advantage from a tactical standpoint.
A one-man alley-oop!
Switch gears! If they score, score right back!
He's already back this far?
Shoot, it'll go out!
Never give up! We're definitely going to win!
Hyuga!
Hyuga-kun?
I'm fine. Sorry, Fukuda.
Oh, no problem...
Captain! You're bleeding...
I just cut my lip a little. Don't worry.
Instead, just do what you need to. We have faith in you.
Okay!
- Seirin's giving their all too... - Amazing...
Seirin, don't lose either! Go for it!
Seirin! Seirin! Seirin!
Kaijo! Kaijo!
- Seirin! Seirin! Seirin! - Kaijo! Kaijo! Kaijo!
KAIJO SEIRIN It's in!
Kaijo finally grabs the lead!
All right!
We did it!
Nice!
For Seirin, their next possession is the last chance to observe Ryota's play style.
Whether or not they succeed offensively, it's certain Kaijo will have one possession left.
If Tetsuya cannot find an answer now, it will mean defeat for Seirin.
- It's not like you gave up, right? - Right. We don't plan to lose.
I'm the ace. No matter what tactic Seirin uses, I'll guide Kaijo to victory!
62Q. HE IS THE BEST PLAYER Kise-kun's our best rival. So we'll fight full strength till the end!