I'll show you something nice!
Not like I'd ever let you shoot that...
I can't jump?
Why?
Four fingers... I will stop it!
Cross-over?
Impossible...
An alley-oop?
So much spring...
70Q. WEIGHT OF RESOLVE
We will now be starting the third quarter.
All right! Seirin, fight!
Yeah!
Oh man, look at that spirit. They haven't given up despite being so far behind.
We'll see about that... To me, it looks more like they're trying to shake them off...
...the shadows of despair that will completely surround their hearts at any moment.
I'm counting on you, Hyuga-kun, and...
Kagami-kun.
I ask of you...
Yeah, leave it to me.
Screen!
RAKUZAN - SEIRIN They landed one right at the start!
Hyuga's three!
Defense! Let's stop one!
Well I'll be... Even in this situation of despair, Seirin's heart is still managing to barely hold on.
There's no one move to turn everything around in basketball. But...
As long as you don't give up, the probability of victory will never fall to zero percent.
You know, hate to say this...
But when I said they can't win, it wasn't because I was just looking at this situation.
Seirin doesn't even have 1% of a chance? What do you mean by that, Aomine?
No, I meant they're going to lose that chance. Because Akashi is down there.
He plucks out every possibility from his opponents until they have nothing left.
Can it be?
The game is already 90% done with. However, Seirin is still not completely dead.
The final keys are their shooter Hyuga, and their ace Kagami.
I will be dealing with Kagami. As for Hyuga, Reo...
Defense! Black team, #4!
What?
Hyuga!
His third... This isn't good...
It was a short while, but it was fun, Junpei-chan.
Using the Heaven shot as a decoy, he went with the Earth shot! But more than that... I didn't hit him!
No way! Not at this moment!
We're desperate, and we're just about to get things going... What is this?
#4, hurry and raise your hand.
What's with that? There was no contact just now.
Wait... Hyuga-kun?
Hands up. Now!
He lost his balance on his own. This is not my fault!
Hyuga!
Come on, I...
Technical foul, black team, #4.
The fourth one... They've got to bench him now.
Oh, man...
Because someone was whining, "In fact, I want to see the ending onsite"...
...we hurried here instead of moping...
I wasn't whining, in fact.
You can't be serious, Hyuga-san!
That was an intolerable act of stupidity...
However, even then, I cannot blame him for what he did, in fact.
That was just how much he wanted to win.
What?
I just didn't think you'd ever say a line like that.
What do you mean by that, in fact?
They came here by winning over us.
I've been watching with a bias towards Seirin... but is this it?
No. It's barely there... But one last hope remains for them.
But...
Not yet, Seirin.
The moment that I will let up on you is when all of you have finished expelling your last breaths.
The door to ZONE is merciless at all times.
It never opens to those that depend upon its opening.
RAKUZAN - SEIRIN
Black team, time out.
The final doesn't always end up being a dramatic game.
The most probable team easily winning can be a final just as well.
Now, their hearts have been completely broken.
Every light of hope has been extinguished. Seirin won't be able to stand up from here.
Have you found some form of answer?
I haven't found it yet, but...
I'm not going to run from it anymore. That's the one thing I've decided for now.
No... I want to win...
Kuroko?
I... want to win!
Even if it's unreasonable... Even if it's impossible... With this team, I want to be the best in Japan!
Coach, please...
RAKUZAN - SEIRIN
When there is a huge score gap in a game...
...is when basketball is the most boring sport.
But, that is...
...only if it all ends here!
Oh, here he comes, the original trickster from Seirin!
#11, Tetsuya Kuroko!
Huh?
What's the meaning of this?
Nothing is different. First off, the crowd shouldn't get all worked up about this.
And they called him the "original" trickster. That makes me laugh.
Now he's just a con artist whose tricks have all been exposed.
If you still feel you have a chance of winning, you're being too optimistic.
I'm not thinking that way. I'm going to fight because I want to win. That is all.
No matter what the result...
...I will not run from it!
Indeed... Such meaningless determination...
Man, talk about making selfish requests...
Do you know just how preposterous trying to win from here is?
But, if the first-years are still looking up... We second-years have no excuse to be dejected!
It's too early to give up!
We're going to win! That's all we need to think about as we fight!
Everyone, do your best... And Kuroko-kun, go for it!
Drats!
All right!
He is definitely good at screening... But that's not all he's here for, is it?
Kuroko versus Mayuzumi!
Here you are, looking like you're all set to stop me...
There is no way you can ever stop me!
Mayuzumi-san, hold on!
Not letting you!
Kagami!
RAKUZAN - SEIRIN
They closed the gap, though only a smidgen.
Mayuzumi versus Kuroko again!
I won't fall for that again. Kagami's on the other side. I can deal with anyone else that comes to help!
He passed by! Kiyoshi's gonna go help... or not?
Can it be?
They're letting Mayuzumi shoot on purpose?
That's right. Seirin can't deal with every type of attack from Rakuzan, nor do they plan to.
If someone is going to shoot, they'd rather have the one most likely to miss.
That's probably what it is.
I see... They put this useless kid in to make me pass him and shoot...
They really think little of me.
Then, I'll take this chance and do as I please!
He landed another shot! That #5 from Rakuzan!
And I dare say, you old-model sixth man...
You can't win against me.
Come on, doesn't look like he'll miss anytime soon. Isn't this the wrong tactic?
Seirin scored right back!
I am reminded of something Takao-kun once told me.
So, bluntly put, what is that? Hating what's similar?
Huh?
The title of the phantom sixth man... I'm sorry, but I don't plan on relinquishing it just yet.
What?
Where did he come from?
I lost sight of him? Impossible!
What the hell did you just do?
Run!
Can it be his lack of presence returned? That's just impossible!
But if so, in this situation will he attack with the Vanishing Drive?
All right! Nice, Kagami and Kuroko!
Not yet! This is where it starts, Rakuzan!
Kuroko's lack of presence returned?
No...
That's not it! That is just impossible!
Whether or not you have presence isn't something you can control on your own!
Here he comes! Rakuzan's #5, Mayuzumi!
Mayuzumi's one-on-one!
Can it be? That you...
...overwrote it... with me?
Overwriting... In other words he, in fact, made it so Mayuzumi was more noticed.
That's why he let Mayuzumi pass by him so many times.
A light that starts to be noticed grows dim once again if a brighter light appears next to it.
He had the same characteristic as the old model, yet also higher specs.
That's precisely how the new model was forced to dig his own grave.
Hey!
That pass was a bit low, but...
Crap, that was a bit short!
Rakuzan made two mistakes in a row?
Kuroko is currently applying a tremendous amount of pressure defensively.
A player on the court moments ago disappears...
...and they have no idea where he'll show up to steal the ball.
But even if Kuro-chin works hard like that, he alone can't win this game. Not against Aka-chin.
Kuroko... Each and every time, you are amazing.
If you hadn't stood up, I probably would have given up back there.
That's why now, I won't let it go away! Never! Not this light of hope that you lit up!
Bring it on, Akashi!
He entered ZONE again!
He still can't win against Sei-chan. Remember the first half?
But still, you're the only one that can connect with the momentum Kuroko just created... Please!
Kagami!
He took his distance? He's not going to stay with his man? Why?
This is nonsense! Hurry up and shoot that three, Akashi!
Impossible! He can reach? From there?
That guy... He's diving deeper into the ZONE.
Deeper?
His Wild skill while in ZONE really is that of a beast...
Akashi can't come to a decision offensively?
Mayuzumi is still functional! So the overwriting wasn't fully complete yet!
Now that I know your plan, I won't pass you.
As long as I stick to being the shadow, his overwriting will never be complete!
I can't find a course to pass to...
This kid... he's betting that I won't pass by him...
And it's wide open behind him... He really is an annoying guy.
But I'm not gonna fall for it.
For now, until I can find a target to pass to...
Why did I just pass by him?
Crap!
Kuro-chin just now... He let his guard down big-time on purpose, didn't he?
Yeah, catching someone off guard under all that pressure... Mayuzumi reacted instinctively...
...knowing all along he shouldn't drive past.
All it means is that's the level he was at.
Devoting yourself to being a shadow is easy to say, but actually very hard to pull off.
What you need is a conscience hard as steel to keep the instincts as a player at bay.
The new model phantom sixth man Chihiro Mayuzumi might've had better specs...
...but there is one thing he can't win.
And that is the career as a sixth man, and the will to fight for the team. In other words...
My bad... With that just now, the overwriting...
...the resolve to stay in the shadow.
What?
Whoa, a dunk!
But when did Kiyoshi get the ball?
RAKUZAN - SEIRIN The pass got to him before I knew it!
All right!
On defense, Kagami is holding Akashi back, and on offense, his passes lead to points.
It still isn't a situation where they can relax at all, but...
...there is some hope now.
Thanks to the power of shadow and light.
White team, time out.
How will Rakuzan deal with this?
At the least, they'll sub Mayuzumi out.
The crime of easily allowing Kuroko's overwriting to be completed is huge...
Dammit... Thanks to a certain someone, Seirin has come back to life.
Knowing the opponent's trap but still falling for it can only be called foolish.
If his lack of presence is gone 'cause of the overwriting, he can't pass anymore.
Time to sub out, right?
Really... They're friendly when I'm useful, but malicious when I'm not.
I'm thankful you're so easy to understand.
But I have no grounds to fight back, nor do I want to at this point. I'll gladly be subbed out.
Akashi?
Replenish your energy! Ice packs and massages too!
Got it!
I'm sorry... This is where it's going to all begin, but I...
You're brooding over it too much, moron.
Hey you, that's...
Hyuga, you're the one that took my line during the Kaijo game. This is payback.
Though, getting your fourth with that technical ruined my mood a bit.
I am fully aware of that, so don't casually sprinkle Tabasco on my open wound, okay, Teppei-san?
But, believe in your teammates, Hyuga.
Being cornered with four fouls is nothing but a crisis. It's not over yet.
I'm sure that we will need your threes again, Hyuga.
We're counting on you, Captain.
Well then, let's go and have some fun!
Wha? Even Koga is taking my line?
Saying this line somehow gives you energy!
Seriously?
I totally thought they'd bench him...
Can it be that with his lack of presence fading, Mayuzumi can use Misdirection Overflow too?
No, that is probably not the case.
That move guides lines of sight to the user.
But, he's only learned the misdirection patterns to take lines of sight off of him, in fact.
Mayuzumi staying in has more cons than pros...
But the fact he's still on the court...
...means Akashi believes Mayuzumi has potential for growth, and gave him another chance?
Akashi?
Just like Reo and them said, that play was a disgrace.
It would be merely a matter of course to sub you out.
However, I still need your help. I am not going to bench you here.
For the sake of Rakuzan's victory, I am counting on you.
The ball disappeared...
RAKUZAN - SEIRIN
That just now, can it be...
Misdirection Overflow?
No, it's slightly different.
Mayuzumi-san isn't doing anything.
It is easy for him to gather everyone's lines of sight.
That is what Akashi-kun used to guide Kagami-kun's line of sight.
Potential? Spirit? You really think Aka-chin would believe in fluff like that?
He's not expecting anything from that guy after all of that.
It's nothing more than him being used...
...only as a tool to get passes through.
NEXT EPISODE PREVIEW
I'm really glad I joined the team!
Though practice is so hard it kills us!
But when I'm with everyone else, it's so fun!
71Q. IN MY OWN WAY, I'M DESPERATE And it'll be even more fun if we win, right?
71Q. IN MY OWN WAY, I'M DESPERATE Yeah! Let's show them what Seirin is capable of!