The echo of the final whistle seemed to still be reverberating through the enormous Tokyo Gymnasium, but it was completely drowned out by thunderous cheers. "Teikō! Teikō! Teikō!" The perfectly unified, deafening cries surged like a raging tide, crashing into every corner of the arena and the souls of every Teikō player and supporter. The air was filled with the unique scent of sweat, tears, wild joy, and supreme glory.
On the scoreboard, the scarlet numbers Teikō 91 : 85 Kitano stood like an immortal monument, proclaiming the coronation of the king and the eternal reign of the dynasty—Teikō Junior High, three consecutive National Tournament (IH) championships!
At center court, the Teikō boys had long since forgotten themselves in each other's embraces. Aomine Daiki threw back his head and roared, the wild flames within him burning even more fiercely in the furnace of victory; Midōrima Shintarō pushed up his glasses, but even the cold lenses could not conceal the surging excitement in the depths of his eyes; Murasaki-bara Atsushi grinned, revealing a childlike smile, his huge body trembling slightly with excitement; Kise Ryōta was even more thrilled, shouting and jumping as his golden hair glittered beneath the spotlights while he vigorously slapped every teammate on the back; Kuroko Tetsuya stood quietly surrounded in the middle, his calm blue eyes filled with warm joy as well.
And at the very center of the crowd was that white figure—Bai Ze You. Sweat soaked through his jersey and clung to his body, outlining the boy's lean, powerful frame. His chest heaved violently, and his face bore the exhaustion of a hard-fought battle, but his eyes were like stars tempered in the flames of victory, dazzling and brilliant with firm, confident light. His teammates showered him with praise and embraces without restraint: Aomine's fist, Murasaki-bara's huge hand, Kise's cheers, Midōrima's nod, Kuroko's gaze... all clearly conveyed one message: At Teikō's most desperate moment, it was he, the White Phantom, who stepped forward, snuffed out the opponent's final counterattack, and personally sealed the victory! He was the undisputed Clutch Player of the night!
Momoi Satsuki had already rushed down from the stands. Like a light-footed butterfly, she passed through the celebrating crowd and threw herself in front of Bai Ze You. Her cheeks were flushed with excitement, and traces of tears of joy still lingered in her eyes. She clutched the record board tightly in her hands, as though it were a treasure more precious than the trophy.
"Yū! That was amazing! That final steal! That layup! Incredible!" Momoi's voice trembled with irrepressible excitement and admiration. She looked up at Bai Ze You, her eyes seeming to glitter with countless stars. " 'Observation Record: Savior in Desperate Situation!' It couldn't be more fitting!"
Bai Ze You looked at Momoi's excited expression, and warmth welled up in his heart. He gave a somewhat weary yet utterly genuine smile and gently wiped away the tear remaining at the corner of her eye. "Satsuki, we won."
"Yeah! We won!" Momoi nodded vigorously, her smile radiant as a blooming cherry blossom.
Just then, the staff began guiding the players into formation. The awards ceremony was about to begin. The noisy court gradually quieted, and everyone's eyes focused on center court, where the National Tournament championship trophy symbolizing the highest honor stood silently on the podium, gleaming brilliantly beneath the spotlights.
The Teikō players straightened their jerseys, soaked through with sweat, and tried to calm their excitement as they prepared to welcome this glorious moment. However, one figure silently rose from the bench and walked toward the podium.
It was Nijimura Shūzō.
He was still wearing that tracksuit jacket, with thick gauze covering his left eye. His steps were somewhat slow and heavy because of his injury, but he held his back straight and walked forward with extraordinary determination. His gaze remained firmly fixed on the golden trophy, his eyes as complex as a turbulent deep sea. There was relief, pride, and the release of a heavy burden—but more than anything else, there was the bone-deep regret of being unable to fight personally on the court until the final moment, unable to sweat for this third championship himself.
Akashi Seijūrō noticed Nijimura's movement. A glimmer of understanding flashed through his crimson eyes. As the players spontaneously formed a line, Akashi did not walk toward the central position on the podium. Instead, silently and decisively, he yielded the C-position symbolizing the absolute core. He stood to the side and looked calmly at Nijimura.
Bai Ze You, Aomine, Midōrima, Murasaki-bara, Kise, Kuroko... every player seemed to share the same unspoken understanding. When Nijimura reached the front of the podium, they did not hesitate. They automatically parted to both sides, opening a path to the center for their captain, the true founder of this dynasty. The looks they gave Nijimura were filled with sincere, pure respect.
Nijimura Shūzō felt the players' silent gesture. He looked at the position they had yielded, at the weighty respect in their eyes, and at Akashi's silent retreat. His taut jaw trembled slightly. He took a deep breath, as though trying to suppress the emotions surging within his chest. Then he raised his uninjured, large, knuckled hand and slowly pointed forcefully toward Bai Ze You, standing beside him.
"You," Nijimura said in a low, hoarse voice, yet with undeniable force that pierced through the arena's clamor and clearly reached the ears of every Teikō player. "Come stand here."
Bai Ze You froze slightly. He looked at Nijimura's hand pointing toward him and at the expectation, trust, and complicated, indescribable emotion contained in the captain's one eye. In an instant, he understood what Nijimura meant. The captain was using this gesture to tell him, to tell everyone: The Teikō of the future needs a new cornerstone! It needs new strength to carry this glory and responsibility!
A tremendous wave of warmth surged into Bai Ze You's heart. He did not refuse or hesitate. Under Nijimura's unwavering gaze and amid his teammates' silent encouragement, Bai Ze You stepped forward and stood firmly in the very center of the podium—the position symbolizing the team's core, which Nijimura Shūzō had originally intended to give him and which Akashi had also yielded!
Nijimura watched Bai Ze You's upright figure come to a stop in the center. A hint of relief flashed through his eyes. Then he stood to Bai Ze You's left, while Akashi stood to his right. Aomine, Midōrima, Murasaki-bara, Kise, and Kuroko lined up in order. At this moment, the past, present, and future of the Teikō Dynasty came together perfectly in a silent yet utterly astonishing way.
The stirring awards music began! Under the gaze of tens of thousands of people and the focus of countless camera flashes, an organizer approached with a solemn smile and respectfully handed the heavy National Tournament championship trophy, symbolizing the highest honor, to Nijimura Shūzō!
When Nijimura Shūzō's hands touched the trophy's cold, solid base, an indescribable current instantly coursed through his entire body. Three years of sweat, three years of struggle, three years of perseverance, three years of responsibility as captain—all the hardships, pressure, glory, and regret at being unable to take the court personally at this moment... everything condensed into the weight of the trophy. A sharp pain came from his injured left eye, but something burning in his intact right eye could no longer be restrained and instantly blurred his vision. He abruptly lowered his head, his shoulders trembling uncontrollably. This iron-willed man, this cornerstone of the Teikō Dynasty, finally let the tears he had suppressed throughout the game, even throughout the entire season, slide silently down his face.
He held the trophy tightly, tightly against his chest, as though it were a lost treasure recovered, the most precious fruit he had cultivated with his entire youth. A few seconds later, Nijimura suddenly raised his head. The tear tracks on his face had not yet dried, but his eyes had once again become sharp and full of power! He raised the trophy high and roared with all his strength, his voice shaking the entire arena:
"Teikō—! Three consecutive championships—!!!"
"Woooooah—!!!" The entire Teikō contingent, including the substitutes and staff on the sidelines, erupted in a roar that shook the heavens! Aomine, Murasaki-bara, and Kise waved their fists, Midōrima nodded forcefully, Kuroko clenched both fists, and even the corners of Akashi's lips curved into a rare smile. Standing in the center, Bai Ze You felt the cold touch of the trophy being passed along and the weight contained in Captain Nijimura's searing tears. Unprecedented pride and responsibility surged through his chest!
Nijimura handed the trophy to Bai Ze You beside him. Bai Ze You took a deep breath, extended both hands, and firmly accepted the heavy burden symbolizing the dynasty's glory and carrying the hopes of the future! The instant he raised the trophy high above his head, golden light poured over him like a waterfall, illuminating his white figure like a deity! The enormous wave of cheers reached its peak once more!
"Bai Ze! Bai Ze! Bai Ze!"
"Phantom! Phantom! Phantom!"
"Teikō! Teikō! Teikō!"
Countless streamers and golden confetti sprayed down from the ceiling like a dazzling rain, landing on the boys' heads and shoulders and on the trophy they held high. Bai Ze You felt the heavy weight in his hands, the boiling blood of his teammates around him, Captain Nijimura's gaze filled with expectation behind him, and Momoi Satsuki's excitedly waving arm and radiant smile at the side of the court.
He raised his head, his gaze seeming to pierce through the gymnasium roof and look toward the higher, farther sky.
Crowned champion, draped in glory.
This golden trophy was the perfect full stop to the glorious past of the Teikō Dynasty, and an immortal cornerstone leading into the future.
Nijimura Shūzō, this battered founder, had personally passed this weighty glory and responsibility into the hands of the new generation with his blood, tears, and regret at being unable to take the court.
And standing at the center of the cornerstone, raising the dynasty's torch high—the White Phantom, Bai Ze You. Amid the golden rain filling the sky and the deafening cheers, his figure had already become the most dazzling symbol of Teikō's future! He would lead the new era! He would write the new legend!
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