Wins

"He actually did it! He shut Midorima down!" Kise's eyes widened in shock as he murmured to himself. "And that pass just now... back in middle school, only the Generation of Miracles could have caught that. But that's not the point. The real issue is that Kagami is completely gassed… Is pushing himself this hard really okay?"

Kise kept his eyes locked on Kagami, as if trying to see through his exhausted body and into the sheer determination keeping him standing.

"Some people might think there was no need to go all out for that dunk. A simple jump shot would've gotten the points just the same. To be honest, dunking doesn't add any extra value" Kasamatsu analyzed the play with his usual levelheadedness.

"That guy just loves making a statement." Kise smirked, a hint of admiration flickering in his eyes.

Kasamatsu, however, turned to Kise with a smirk of his own, one laced with sarcasm. "Oh, and you of all people have the nerve to say that?"

Kise felt a bit awkward at the jab, but he didn't mind. He knew Kasamatsu's words, though teasing, carried an underlying sense of concern and expectation.

Meanwhile, back on the court, Seirin quickly transitioned to defense. Kagami walked up to Kuroko, exhaling heavily.

"Kuroko… I hate to admit it, but coach was right. I can't jump anymore. My legs are shot. The only way I can guard Midorima now is by guessing and hoping for the best. I hate to say it, but the rest is up to you."

Kagami patted Kuroko on the shoulder, frustration clear in his tone.

"Got it." Kuroko smiled slightly. He liked this feeling—being trusted by his teammates.

Now it was Shutoku's turn to attack. Midorima positioned himself at half-court and immediately signaled Takao for the ball.

Takao raised an eyebrow, surprised by Midorima's sudden call for possession. Still, he didn't hesitate and passed it over.

"Hilarious." Midorima muttered as he caught the ball. Kagami and Kuroko looked his way, confused.

Midorima's lips curled into a confident smirk, his eyes filled with both certainty and disdain. "You don't seriously think Kagami can stop me, do you?" His words dripped with mockery, as if laughing at their naivety.

Then, in a move that left the entire arena in disbelief, Midorima pulled up for a shot.

His form was flawless, smooth, and effortless. The ball left his fingertips with textbook precision, soaring in a perfect arc toward the hoop.

Kagami immediately rushed forward, leaping with everything he had left in a desperate attempt to block it. But his legs were drained. He couldn't get the same height he normally would, and he barely challenged Midorima's release.

Shiro's eyes sharpened, watching intently. "So, you've leveled up too, huh…?" he muttered, an excited glint flashing across his face.

Midorima smirked. "I was saving this for my match against the other Miracles, but since you're so eager to see it, I'll grant your wish."

His body leaned backward as he took the shot.

Seeing the motion, Hyuga's eyes widened in shock.

"Wait… is that… a fadeaway from half-court?!"

Kagami lunged, trying to get a hand in Midorima's face, but he was already too late. His fingers barely brushed the air where the ball had been. The two players collided mid-air, sending Kagami crashing to the ground.

The referee's whistle blew — offensive foul on Seirin's No. 10.

But the crowd wasn't focused on the call.

Every pair of eyes was locked on the basketball, soaring through the air.

A second later — swish.

The ball sank through the net with crisp perfection.

"No way… a half-court fadeaway?!"

"That's insane!"

The stadium fell into stunned silence, only to erupt moments later in an explosion of cheers. Midorima had just drained a three-pointer in the most ridiculous fashion possible.

"Holy crap… so even Midorima's evolved this much?" Kise was in disbelief. He thought his Perfect Copy was an insane ability, but Midorima had been hiding some serious firepower of his own. "A half-court fadeaway? And his form was still picture-perfect? Most players can't even shoot a normal half-court shot properly!"

Kagami clenched his teeth, frustration boiling inside him. "Damn you, Midorima…!"

Hyuga's fists tightened at his sides. "So this… is the power of the Generation of Miracles?"

Kuroko's expression turned serious. Not only had Midorima expanded his range to the full court, but now he had a half-court fadeaway in his arsenal. There was no doubt about it — he truly deserved his title as the best shooter in the Generation of Miracles.

Midorima adjusted his glasses, his face unreadable. "You can't stop me, Kagami. Because I've already done everything within my power. The rest is up to fate."

He stepped up to the free-throw line.

Swish.

Nothing but net.

Shutoku stuck to their game plan —keep feeding Midorima the ball.

Kagami fought tooth and nail to contest him, but Midorima's half-court fadeaway was simply unstoppable. No matter how high Kagami could jump, Midorima's height and shooting form created an impossible shot to block. And with Kagami's stamina drained, the gap between them only widened.

Shot after shot, Midorima continued to rain down impossible threes.

By the time the final buzzer sounded, the scoreboard read 93:82. Shutoku wins.

The entire arena stood up, applauding both teams for the incredible battle they had just witnessed. It had been a game of pure grit, talent, and strategy — a true showdown of powerhouses.

Kagami collapsed onto the floor, exhausted, his face filled with frustration. "We lost… again."

It was his second time losing to the Generation of Miracles, and both times, he had been completely overwhelmed.

"I keep saying I want to be the best in Japan, but I haven't even beaten a single one of them" Kagami let out a bitter chuckle, despair creeping into his voice.

Riko watched him from the sidelines, her heart aching for her player. But she said nothing, simply walking over and placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. Tears welled in her eyes, though she refused to let them fall.

This loss meant Seirin was out of the Interhigh. Their journey ended here.

The entire team stood in silence, processing the weight of their defeat.

Kuroko, though disappointed, met Midorima's gaze with unwavering determination. "You won this time. But next time, we'll win."

Midorima gave a rare nod, dropping his usual smug demeanor. "To be honest, I think I understand why Kuroko chose you now, Kagami. But you're still nowhere near our level. Keep working hard. See you at Winter Cup."

Kagami's eyes flickered with renewed fire. He clenched his fists. "Next time, I'm taking you all down."

Though they had lost, this was far from the end. The Winter Cup was next.

And this time, they wouldn't lose.