Mitsui slowly sat up, panting heavily, his hair soaked with sweat and clinging damply to his forehead.
Akagi saw this and his heart softened. He had long realized that Mitsui was just putting on a brave face and couldn't really help much on the court anymore. But he thought the same as Coach Anzai —substituting Mitsui now would really hurt him.
However, judging from this situation, Mitsui has probably really reached his limit.
Akagi reached out and put his hand on Mitsui's shoulder, saying in a deep voice, " Mitsui, go down and rest after you finish these two free throws. I'll wait for you to come back."
No sooner had he finished speaking than Mitsui abruptly shook off his hand.
Those eyes, which had been somewhat unfocused, suddenly lit up, growing increasingly intense.
"I don't need your sympathy, Takenori Akagi."
Akagi was stunned—these were the very words he uttered when he first joined the Shohoku Basketball Team.
Mitsui's sudden mention of this instantly reminded Akagi of that day. That day was also the day that the spirited Takeishi Junior High MVP, Hisashi Mitsui, joined the team.
" Hisashi Mitsui from Class 1-10! My goal is to lead Shohoku to the national championship!"
The confident look on Mitsui's face that I remembered was now completely identical to the tired face in front of me.
The same burning gaze, the same curve of his lips—this is clearly the Hisashi Mitsui from three years ago!
" Mitsui..." Akagi exclaimed in surprise.
Hisashi Mitsui stood up, supporting himself on his knees. His body was still swaying, but his aura was completely different.
" Akagi, this is the feeling... this is what I've always wanted!" he said, panting, but every word was full of energy. "I'm in my best condition right now!"
Sakuragi and Miyagi, who were standing nearby, exchanged bewildered glances, wondering if he had lost his mind from exhaustion.
He can barely stand, let alone be in top condition...
Sakuragi scratched his head, unable to resist saying, "Alright, Mitchy, this isn't the time to be stubborn. Leave the rest to me..."
" Sakuragi, stop talking." Akagi suddenly interrupted him, a hint of excitement appearing on his dark face. " Mitsui's back!"
Hanamichi Sakuragi looked puzzled and turned to look at Miyagi. Miyagi was equally confused, and the two of them then looked at Shirasawa.
Whether Shirasawa truly understood or was pretending, he simply nodded perfunctorily. "Yes, you're back."
Mitsui steps to the free-throw line.
The referee passed the ball to him, and he caught it and shot immediately with a clean and crisp motion.
Swish! The first free throw went in cleanly.
The second shot followed the same pattern, a quick release adding two more points.
On the sidelines, Kogure was so anxious he was stamping his feet. "Why didn't Mitsui rest for a few more seconds during the free throws! With his experience, he shouldn't have done that!"
At that moment, Coach Anzai gently pushed up his glasses, his voice carrying a barely perceptible fluctuation. " Kogure, Mitsui is back."
The entire Shohoku team quickly retreated to defend.
Takenori Akagi roared, "We have to stop this ball!"
He needed to buy time for Mitsui, and more importantly, create opportunities for Mitsui!
Shirasawa had the same idea and instantly accelerated towards Fujima. Fujima hurriedly protected the ball, but Shirasawa was determined to steal it this time, constantly reaching out to interfere, forcing Fujima to lose his rhythm and have to pass the ball to Hasegawa to pass it to him.
Mitsui stood in front of Hasegawa, physically present but no longer pressing forward as before, instead leaving him some space.
Moreover, his eyes looked completely different from before.
Hasegawa frowned in confusion. "You don't still think you have the strength to spare, do you? Just give up, Mitsui."
Mitsui smiled confidently, "I, Hisashi Mitsui, have never known how to spell the word 'give up'."
"Watch out!" Fujima's shout suddenly rang out.
Hasegawa looked up and saw Shirasawa already standing right in front of him!
In that instant, Mitsui didn't hesitate and charged straight towards the front of the court.
Shirasawa reached out and precisely caught the basketball in Hasegawa's hand—a scene that felt strangely familiar to Hasegawa.
The result was exactly the same.
Shirasawa snatched the ball away like a robber, and without even looking, he forcefully tossed it forward!
Hisashi Mitsui lowered his head and ran forward with all his might.
He didn't even know where he was, but he was confident that Shirasawa would get the ball.
And that ball will surely tell him where to go.
Fujima immediately returned to defend, relentlessly pursuing Mitsui.
However, as soon as Hisashi Mitsui looked up, the ball seemed to have eyes, flying exactly to his reach. He caught the ball, his foot just a half-step outside the three-point line.
Without the slightest hesitation, Mitsui pulled up the peg and threw it.
"A fast break three-pointer? Mitsui's too hasty!" Hikoichi Aida in the stands couldn't help but shout. This choice was indeed unwise, after all, rushing a three-pointer on a fast break is too risky.
Even Fujima didn't expect him to do that, and could only watch helplessly as the ball was released. Fujima thought to himself, "There's no way this will go in. He's already exhausted, and this shot was too hasty."
He had already started moving his feet, preparing to grab the rebound and launch a counterattack.
The basketball arced through the air and, before everyone's eyes, swished through the net.
Three points are valid!
Fujima stared in astonishment at the rolling ball. How could this be? He looked at Mitsui again, Mitsui still looked like he was about to fall apart. He didn't even have the strength to celebrate after scoring; he just swayed and ran back to the backfield.
His only celebration was to slightly raise his hand and point in Shirasawa's direction.
Kogure jumped up excitedly on the sidelines. "Great shot, Mitsui!"
At that moment, he seemed to understand Coach Anzai's intentions.
Takenori Akagi ran up to Mitsui and gave him a high five.
"This is the real you."
Mitsui smiled confidently, "That's not all."
73 to 57.
This three-pointer extended the lead to 16 points.
Shoyo organized their offense, and this basket was crucial for them. The point difference couldn't be allowed to widen any further; once it reached 20 points, the situation would be completely different, especially with little time remaining in the game.
Fujima faced Shirasawa's defense at the top of the arc and tried to break through with a series of changes of direction, but Shirasawa kept up with his footwork and maintained a stable center of gravity, leaving him no opening for a while.
On the other side, Mitsui, panting heavily, supported himself on his knees, too lazy to even bother with the feigned defense against Hasegawa.
"Didn't you say you wanted my score to stop at 9 points?" Mitsui said, panting. "I already have 14 points."
Hasegawa frowned. He had indeed made a boastful statement earlier, but now he was a little caught off guard. He really hadn't expected Shohoku to keep the exhausted Mitsui on the court, let alone that he could still score a goal in this condition.
Have the team and the individual players gone mad? If they keep playing like this, Mitsui might just collapse from exhaustion.
But Shohoku did exactly that, and Mitsui did exactly that.
However, Hasegawa quickly calmed down. Regardless of what Shohoku thought, that shot just now had an element of luck. The fast break and stop-and-go three-pointer was a surprise move, but surprise moves can't work every time.
Mitsui is at his last gasp. More importantly, he is now the biggest weakness in Shohoku's defense!
Just then, Fujima's pass came into his hands.
That's right, Fujima had already seen through what Hasegawa could think of. The biggest defensive weakness on the field was undoubtedly Hisashi Mitsui couldn't even stand still.
Fujima didn't recklessly fight; instead, he made the most rational choice.
In the stands Hikoichi Aida anxious he kept stamping his feet. "Oh no! Mitsui just started to improve and then he got targeted! It seems like he can't defend against him at all, what is Shohoku thinking?"
Uekusa, standing nearby, nodded in agreement. "That's right, even if we let Kogure hold on for a while, what if Mitsui falls again? He might not be able to get up. Coach Anzai usually seems so kind, I didn't expect him to be so ruthless. No wonder he used to be called ' The White-Haired Devil '."
Moichi Taoka, however, seemed lost in thought. Knowing Anzai as he did, he was no rash person. For Mitsui to remain on the field in this state, unless...
Moichi Taoka's eyes suddenly lit up.
On the field, Hasegawa holds the ball and faces Mitsui.
Mitsui showed no reaction whatsoever, not even lifting his eyelids, only panting with his knees propped up on his knees.
"You say you never give up?" Hasegawa challenged, "Come and defend against me!"
Mitsui remained unmoved.
Hasegawa glanced at him warily, then launched himself forward, easily passing Mitsui. It was so smooth that he could hardly believe it himself, because Mitsui hadn't even moved an inch.
Seizing the opportunity, Hasegawa jumped and shot.
But just then, Hanamichi Sakuragi rushed over from the side and leaped into the air several steps away!
"The loopholes created by the Mitchy will be patched by this genius!"
Hasegawa's vision was instantly filled with Sakuragi's massive figure, and he hurriedly threw the ball.
Although the basketball passed Sakuragi's fingertips, the force was clearly too great.
With a loud thud, the ball bounced off the front edge of the rim.
"Rebound!" Fujima shouted immediately.
However, when Fujima swept the ball towards the basket, Fujima froze. Takenori Akagi had already cornered Hanagata and Takano, as if he knew all along that the shot wouldn't go in!
"Roar!"
With a low growl, Akagi unleashed his full power, his dark, muscular body snapping shut with his arms like welded bars, locking Hanagata and Takano firmly outside.
" Mitsui, attack quickly!"
Akagi shouted as he hurled the rebound he had just grabbed.
The ball flew straight towards Shirasawa. Without even looking, Shirasawa flicked his wrist, and the ball, as if it had eyes, chased straight for the frontcourt.
At the same time, Hisashi Mitsui had already rushed out without looking back.
Hasegawa gritted his teeth and chased after him relentlessly, but it wasn't until near the three-point line that Mitsui calmly raised his head and caught the ball.
Hasegawa arrived just in time!
Mitsui caught the ball and immediately got up, his movements were crisp and without any unnecessary movements.
Hasegawa's block was a fraction too slow, and he could only watch helplessly as the ball flew past his fingertips. He was even a little dazed, unsure whether he had actually touched the ball or not, because the distance was just too close.
The entire Shohoku bench stood up, and even Coach Anzai, unusually, straightened his back and clenched his fists.
As for Mitsui...
After landing, he turned around immediately, not even glancing at the ball flying in the air, leaving Hasegawa with only a confident profile and a bright smile on his lips.
"Impossible..." Hasegawa panicked and subconsciously turned his head to look at the basketball hoop.
In fact, Mitsui's appearance had already given him a clue as to the outcome, but his mind was still unwilling to accept it.
"Whoosh!"
Hollow entry into the net.