The Final Begins

The players from Teiko Junior School slowly stepped off the bus, only to be immediately surrounded by a swarm of eager reporters, like sharks drawn to fresh prey. But the coaches and staff weren't about to let these reporters distract the team. They forcefully held them back, ensuring that nothing could break the players' focus or disrupt their mindset.

Finally, with the help of security and their coaches, Teiko's players made their way into the arena.

Once in Teiko's locker room, the players immediately started changing into their jerseys. The atmosphere was tense, they all knew they were up against a formidable opponent in today's final match.

Just then, Momoi spoke up, breaking the silence. "Everyone, do your best out there! If we win today, I'll treat everyone to my special honey lemon juice!" She beamed with excitement, eager to share her homemade reward that she'd spent the morning preparing.

At her words, everyone's expressions instantly turned grim, with a mix of dread and disbelief creeping across their faces.

"Is she trying to poison us?" Aomine muttered, eyeing Momoi warily, visibly unnerved by her enthusiasm. His voice shook, as if he feared she might actually follow through on her offer.

"Ugh, Momoi, I suddenly lost all motivation to win" Murasakibara groaned, taking several steps back. In the past, he had eagerly anticipated Momoi's homemade treats, until he actually tried them, leaving him practically incapacitated. The feeling was much more uncomfortable than eating shit. Although he had never really tasted shit, he firmly believed that it should be similar to the feeling at this moment.

Even Akashi sighed, refraining from any comments. He was the only one who had never tasted it, and he remained grateful for his decision to hold back when he saw his teammates suffer through it back then.

Thinking back on that day, Shiro shuddered as he remembered an entire lemon floating ominously in his glass. To him, it had looked like something bubbling green, but he couldn't resist Momoi's pleading eyes.

Momoi, puzzled by everyone's reactions, pouted in confusion. She only wanted to offer them something tasty, but they all seemed more terrified than anything else.

Seeing her expression, Shiro quickly added, "Actually, it's not that bad, Momoi"

Hearing his words of encouragement, Momoi perked up. Silently, she vowed to improve her skills and make something truly delicious for Shiro—forget the others!

Momoi's suggestion loosened the mood, and soon everyone was laughing and chatting, the tension melting away.

"Alright, everyone, get ready for the game! Remember, we lost to Rokko last year" said Nijimura with a steady tone, although his lingering frustration over the previous loss was evident. "Back then, they only needed two of the Uncrowned Kings to beat us. This year, they're even stronger—Yuta Watanabe has fully recovered from his injury, and both Yuki Kawamura and Rui Hachimura are now on their roster. They're not going to be any easier to beat!"

Shiro sprang to his feet, raising a clenched fist. "Captain, don't worry! This year's title belongs to us!" His voice brimmed with confidence as he promised Nijimura.

The other players quickly joined in, standing up with resolve. "That's right, Captain! We've got this!" they said in unison.

"Teiko will win!"

Nodding, Coach Shirogane spoke up, steering the conversation back to their opponents. "Alright, let's talk strategy. First, their starting point guard, Yuki Kawamura, currently the top-ranked point guard in Japan for middle school. He has excellent vision and playmaking skills, but he's also an aggressive scorer. Akashi, I need you to disrupt his connection with his teammates."

Akashi replied confidently, "No problem, Coach!" Despite Kawamura's slightly taller stature, Akashi's resolve was unwavering.

Then, when Shirogane mentioned shooting guard Mibuchi, he didn't need to say much, because he firmly believed that Midorima could easily beat his opponent in three-pointers. Midorima adjusted his glasses and gave a slight nod, signaling his readiness.

Next was their small forward, Watanabe. Shirogane turned to Shiro with encouragement, "Shiro, I trust you to keep him locked down defensively and to score as efficiently as possible" Shiro met his gaze with determination, steeling himself for the task.

Moving on to their power forward, Nebuya, Shirogane was confident that Aomine and Nijimura had the skill to counter him. However, they would need to be cautious of Nebuya's aggressive play in the paint, especially when paired with center Hachimura. "Aomine, break through their defense just like Shiro"

Finally, Shirogane addressed the entire team with words of encouragement. "Alright, everyone, it's been a long journey to get here. Let's give it everything we have and make all our hard work count!" His words ignited a renewed sense of determination among the players. They understood just how much this game meant and were determined to leave everything on the court.

As Shirogane finished, he watched his players with quiet confidence, trusting they would secure the victory.

Meanwhile, in Rokko's locker room, the atmosphere was equally charged with tension. They knew well enough about Teiko's rising dominance. Although they'd won last year, this year's Teiko team was stronger than ever.

Mibuchi sat on the bench, bending over to tie his shoelaces tightly, steeling himself for his showdown against Midorima. The thought of going head-to-head with someone who seemingly never missed was daunting.

Every time he saw that green-haired player on the court, seemingly incapable of missing a shot, Mibuchi felt a wave of dread.

Yet he wasn't about to give up his title as the best shooter in middle school without a fight. He knew how crucial this match was, not just for the team's honor but for his pride as well. Clenching his fists, he resolved to bring his best game and prove his skill to everyone.

"Relax, Reo! Don't be so tense. We've got your back!" Kawamura chuckled, patting him on the shoulder with a reassuring smile.

"Yeah, just keep shooting, and we'll grab the rebounds" Hachimura grinned, gesturing toward Nebuya, who was grinning smugly beside him.

Nebuya proudly flexed his muscles, saying, "No worries here! Look at this body—I'm ready to go!"

Mibuchi backed away slightly, feigning annoyance at Nebuya's confidence, but he was grateful for their support.

Taking a deep breath, he raised his fist and called out, "Let's do this, team! Rokko's going to win!" His words rang through the locker room, rallying everyone's spirits.

"Rokko for the win!"