Black Basketball: A false start

Chapter 180 Human Power and Fate

"Hello, everyone. Welcome to watch the live broadcast of the national competition exclusively sponsored by Tokyo Sports. I am your good friend Mitsuyasu Kitagawa."

"I'm your good friend Tashiro Heihachi."

With one hour left before the start of the game, the ever-changing commentary duo began their early commentary work.

"With the end of the third round of matches, the places for the top eight in the country have all been decided." Tashiro Heihachi spoke first, "Among the eight teams, the Generation of Miracles occupies four seats, namely Shutoku High School in Tokyo, Shonan High School in Kanagawa, Rakuzan High School in Kyoto, and Yosen High School in Akita. Except for Toou High School in Tokyo and Kaijo High School in Kanagawa Prefecture, which were unfortunately eliminated by Shonan High School where Kaneki Ken is located in the Miracle Civil War, the rest of the players have led their teams into the championship contention, which shows the dominance of the Generation of Miracles."

"Yes, then today, we will enjoy another miraculous civil war. In the end, who will get the top four spot?" Beichuan Guangtai said with an expectant expression, "Let's wait and see."

……

"It seems that the morning divination that you regard as a golden rule didn't work at all, Midorima." Kaneki Ken stood in front of Midorima Shintaro in the middle of the field and teased, "Your luck is still as bad as ever. You met me before you even made it to the semi-finals."

"That's not necessarily true. Cancer has the best luck today." Midorima Shintaro said, rubbing the basketball with both hands, "I will never miss a shot!"

"You've said this more than once!" Kaneki Ken said with a smile, "Have you forgotten what your hit rate was in front of me before?"

"You can't boast about the past!" Tsuchiya Jun said as he stepped forward with a smile, "Otherwise, why would we have a competition? Just compare your past performance."

"Interesting." Kaneki Ken raised his eyebrows slightly, "Then let's give it a try and see if the past can serve as a model for the future."

……

"The Generation of Miracles is really popular!"

The students of Seirin High School sat in the stands on the sidelines, looking forward to the start of the game just like the fans present.

"I wonder how Kaneki Ken will deal with Midorima Shintaro?" Kagami Daiga said with some anticipation, "In terms of singles ability, Midorima Shintaro is obviously not as good as Aomine Daiki... But I don't know why, playing against Midorima Shintaro always gives me more headaches than playing against Aomine Daiki..."

"It's the deterrent power." Hinata Junpei commented bluntly, "Maybe in a one-on-one fight, Midorima Shintaro is indeed not as good as Aomine Daiki, but as long as he is on the court, he will definitely draw the attention of the defenders. And he can get three points with one shot, and if you are not careful, you will be left with a huge gap."

"But it's the same for Kaneki-san." Kuroko Tetsuya suddenly interrupted, "Midorima-san's hit rate has never exceeded 30% when facing Kaneki-san's defense."

"I've already reminded everyone that I should have." After the warm-up period, Kaneki Ken arranged the final pre-match instructions in front of the bench, "I'll take care of Midorima Shintaro, and Tsuchiya Jun will be handed over to Sakuragi. The rest of the players should be ready to rush for rebounds."

"Yes, Captain." Everyone at Shonan High School responded in unison.

"Also, let's change the starting lineup today. Mitsui-senpai will replace Rukawa in the starting lineup." Kaneki Ken said in a deep voice, "I want to completely defeat Midorima Shintaro in one quarter."

"Hey, hey, hey, I thought you were only going to bring this figurine to the locker room." Tsuchiya Jun looked at the strange looks coming from the audience seats with some embarrassment, "It would have been fine if you had brought a magazine or a remote control before, but you brought something so big that it's like a conspicuous bag..."

"Let him be, Tsuchiya." Miyachi Kiyoshi looked at Midorima Shintaro with a sly smile, "But you embarrassed us today. If this broken thing doesn't help your feel when you're on the court later, I'll make you smash it with your own hands!"

"Hmm." Midorima Shintaro snorted, his eyes full of determination to fight to the death, "I have done everything I can... I will never miss!"

"Buzz~~"

"Pre-match preparation time is over, players from both teams please enter the field."

As the countdown to the start of the game ended, players from both sides made final preparations before going on the court, and the broadcast above the stadium also sounded at this time.

"Players from both teams, line up and salute!"

After the two teams entered the field and stood in line, the referee stood at the center line with the ball and said.

"Please give me some advice!"

"Please give me some advice!"

"Okay, now we see that the players from both sides have finished saluting, and the game is about to begin." Tashiro Heihachi said with a smile, "The one representing Shutoku High School in the jump ball is No. 4 player Taisuke Ootsubo, a 198 cm heavy center." "Standing opposite him is Shonan High School's No. 12 player Shigehiro Kabata, who is 205 cm tall and is known as the number one center under miracles. So far, he shares a 100% success record for jump balls with Murasakibara Atsushi." Kitagawa Mitsuyasu added.

"Beep beep~"

As Kitagawa Mitsuyasu finished his words, the referee's whistle sounded, and the basketball was thrown high into the air, and Kabaji Shigehiro successfully grabbed the ball.

"Well done, Karachi." Mitsui grabbed the ball and began to organize the first attack of the game.

"Hey, isn't this Mitsui-senpai?" Takao Kazunari took the lead to greet him, "My little Makoto really respects Mitsui-senpai~"

"Well, I really have to thank him for his kindness." Mitsui Shou chuckled and waved his hand to signal Sakuragi Hanamichi to come out and set a screen. "Then as a senior, you have to give me a gift at least!"

"Boom!"

Mitsui Hisashi made a explosive shot and turned around, and with the help of Sakuragi Hanamichi's pick-and-roll, he shook off Takao Kazunari's close defense. He then retreated and shook off Tsuchiya Jun who was rushing forward to block him. He then shot directly from outside the three-point line, and with a swish, the basketball went in.

"As expected, Mitsui Shou is the best shooter ever..." Maki Shinichi sighed, "After two years away from basketball, he can still maintain such a good touch and the ability to combine with the ball..."

"And today, Shonan High School's starting lineup is very targeted..." Sendoh Akira held his chin with his left hand and commented with a playful look, "The outside line is led by two warrior-level three-point shooters led by Kaneki Ken, which means that if Shutoku High School adopts a conservative style of play, it will soon be shot down by Shonan High School; but if it adopts an aggressive three-point offensive style, Shonan High School's inside line is the miracle-level Sakuragi Hanamichi and the best center under miracle, and the shooting error tolerance rate is much higher than Shutoku High School... unless Midorima Shintaro can still maintain a 100% three-point shooting rate... but with Kaneki Ken's defense, this is impossible."

"Don't worry about it, we're only three points behind." Takao Kazue came to Midorima Shintaro and said as if nothing had happened, "We'll just shoot it back later..."

"That's true, but it seems like the goal was scored over your head." Midorima Shintaro replied coldly.

"You still want to chat?" Kaneki Ken stood in front of Midorima Shintaro and said, "You don't have the next ball, Midorima Shintaro."

As Kaneki Ken finished speaking, the players of Shonan High School, who had just completed the attack, did not return to defense immediately, but started an oppressive defense from the frontcourt.

"What!" A drop of cold sweat dripped from Taisuke Ootsubo's forehead as he was about to serve the ball from the baseline. "This is..."

"Ah, are they going to implement full-court pressing from the start? It seems that Kaneki Ken doesn't want to give Shutoku High School any chance..." Konyoshi Shoichi was sitting in the audience and watching the situation on the field. He said with an extremely solemn face, "No matter how far Midorima Shintaro's shooting range is, we must ensure that the ball reaches him..."

"On the one hand, it puts huge psychological pressure on Midorima Shintaro, and on the other hand, it limits Midorima Shintaro's room for maneuver tactically..." Hanamiya Makoto said gloatingly as he sat next to Imayoshi Shoichi, "Midorima Shintaro deserves his bad luck...Kaneki Ken...should really be a hunter, no prey can escape his stranglehold..."

"team leader!"

Jun Tsuchiya reached the baseline immediately and reached out to Taisuke Ootsubo for the ball.

"Don't think about it, you little jerk. I will be staring at you throughout the entire court today." The open space that Jun Tsuchiya had worked so hard to create was locked by Sakuragi Hanamichi's extremely fast feet in less than half a second.

……

"Midorima and Kaneki have had an average relationship since junior high school." Kuroko Tetsuya was sitting in the audience and talking, "Not only does Kaneki dislike Midorima's superstitious behavior, Midorima also dislikes Kaneki's egocentric personality."

"Huh? I thought they would get along well..." Hinata Junpei said with some surprise, "After all, they are both very hardworking players..."

"In fact, it's quite the opposite. Midorima's motto is to do your best and wait for fate." Kuroko Tetsuya said in a deep voice, "And Kaneki-san..."

"Don't waste your energy. I am the destiny, Midorima Shintaro." Kaneki Ken stuck to Midorima Shintaro who kept moving. "I trained so hard just to have the absolute power to control all uncontrollable factors!"

"Beep beep~ Shutoku High School serves a five-second violation! Shonan High School has the ball!"

Shutoku High School was helpless under the full-court pressure of Shonan High School and ultimately failed to pass the ball successfully. With a whistle, the ball returned to Shonan High School.

"Golden Flash!" Facing Shutoku High School who were using their own method to retaliate against him, Sakuragi Hanamichi simply threw the ball into the air. Kaneki Ken jumped up and caught the sideline ball over Midorima Shintaro's head.

"There are limits to human power, Kaneki." Midorima Shintaro looked at Kaneki Ken with a serious look, "Today I must teach you this lesson!"

(End of this chapter)