novelraw Chapter 387 387: Right from the Opening, Akashi Pushes Open the Second Door—Is Shigure Akihito Really the Nation’s Best Even as a Point Guard?!
Chapter 387 387: Right from the Opening, Akashi Pushes Open the Second Door—Is Shigure Akihito Really the Nation’s Best Even as a Point Guard?!
If Shigure Akihito's appearance had guided the Generation of Miracles toward change in any single direction, then without question, it was this—
A firm, unanimous understanding of just how important team basketball truly was.
And the deeper, more far-reaching impact born from that realization…
Was the Zone.
Whether it was during Tōō vs. Seirin, when Aomine—affected by Haizaki—chose to persist in that head-on clash between true men and voluntarily closed his eyes to push open the second door…
Or whether it was now, on this very court, where Akashi prepared to do the same—
They were all walking the correct path.
And climbing to heights far greater than in the original storyline—without hesitation, without confusion.
Since Hagioka Kasayuki…
Someone had once again reached toward that realm.
On the court.
Akashi, his eyes still closed, suddenly lifted his gaze toward Shigure Akihito at the far end of the floor and smiled—utterly satisfied.
"Senpai… is this interesting enough for you?"
Step.
Step.
Step.
Akashi advanced forward.
As he did, the Zone began to flicker around him—unstable arcs of crimson lightning dancing along his body. His consciousness sank deeper and deeper, until—
He stood before that door.
Boom!
A dark, oppressive aura spread outward like ink in water. Pitch-black mist drifted and expanded, gradually enveloping every Rakuzan player on the court!
But even so…
This was still only on the level of Rakuzan during their match against Seirin—the so-called Okayama Miracle.
What came next
Was different.
Step.
Step.
Akashi continued dribbling forward.
Crack!
Deep within his heart, before the hidden door of the Zone, light seeped through as a narrow fissure split it open.
And standing guard on either side of that door
Arms crossed—
Were Shigure Akihito and Nijimura Shūzo.
Pursuing the limits of individual ability is talent.
Mastering and developing techniques and tactics is also talent.
On this court, "talent" exists in countless forms.
The basket, suspended at a height of 3.05 meters, dictates one immutable truth—
Everyone must look up.
Akashi.
One perfect pass is enough to extend a teammate's life on offense.
I'm entrusting this to you.
I hope you'll become the brain—and the heart—of this generation.
That so-called second personality is merely another side of you.
I believe that someday, when you devote yourself wholly to basketball, you won't need to wear a mask anymore.
I look forward to meeting the real you.
From today on—you are the captain of Teiko's basketball team.
Akashi stared at the massive, radiant door before him as voices echoed endlessly in his ears
Words spoken directly or indirectly by Shigure-senpai and Captain Nijimura.
Without question
These two were both the ultimate opponents he sought to surpass…
And the guides who had led everyone forward on this journey.
The second door.
For him, the "key" to opening it…
Was simple.
And had always been clear.
Akashi's half-lidded eyes slowly opened.
Crimson lightning surged violently within his pupils.
Before him
At the top of the three-point arc
Two figures stood, one on each side, smiling calmly, not pressing him at all.
They overlapped perfectly with the figures guarding the door.
The same white uniforms.
As though nothing had changed at all.
Number 4.
Number 5.
These
Were the two keys.
In that instant, the pressure radiating from the two seniors sharpened everything.
At the very moment his heart pounded hardest.
At the very moment his soul leapt with exhilaration
Akashi seized both keys at once!
And then
He threw open the second door of the Zone!
Boom!
Boom!
As the keys turned, the two figures before the door blurred and faded.
Yet the crimson lightning in Akashi's eyes only grew brighter.
Now
Was the moment.
The door opens!
Rumble!
Rumble!
The door that had long lain hidden beneath still waters—untouched, unvisited—
Was pushed open with effortless ease by Akashi Seijūrō, who stepped calmly inside.
The instant his eyes opened
Blinding red lightning tore brilliant trails through the air!
In the stands.
Aomine—who had told Kise he wouldn't come, wanting to save the anticipation for the finals—ultimately couldn't stay away.
The moment he saw Akashi's move, his eyes went wide.
"…!"
Akashi's…
Second-stage Zone?!
He entered it in one breath?!
Even someone like me—constantly praised by my seniors for Zone aptitude—needs time in a match, time to brew inside the first stage…
That's incredible…
Akashi.
What kind of ability will it be…?
For me, my power grows by relying on teammates.
For Akashi
Just as expected…
Someone who mastered the Okayama Miracle so effortlessly would surely enhance his teammates instead, right?
On the court.
Akashi had already advanced the ball.
Pass.
Pass again.
Return pass.
A chain of flawless, continuous ball movement.
Meanwhile, Shigure Akihito, who had quietly entered his Glorious Moment, burned with blood-red light across his entire body.
Stationed at the free-throw line, the pressure of his ultra-wide defensive range surged straight past the three-point arc!
At the same time
Through Akashi's perfect passing, Rakuzan's teammates were rapidly pulled into a pseudo-Zone state.
However, Akashi's first possession involved too many preparatory actions—
The shot clock was nearly gone.
But
Akashi clearly wasn't bothered.
"Seijūrō!"
Amid the tense, swallowed breaths of every team watching—
Reo Mibuchi suddenly called for the ball.
Akashi glanced his way
Yet the pass that left his hand traveled along a completely different route!
"What?!"
"That pass is floating—!!"
"It's Hayama Kōtarō!!"
In the Zone, Hayama Kōtarō slashed into the paint like a drawn blade.
Spin move—
Thunder Dribble!
He blew past his defender with absurd instantaneous acceleration, backed by razor-sharp anticipation!
Even Fukaya Reiji, defending with Oni Spider, couldn't restrain him!
Skree!
Takeoff!
On the Rakuzan bench
Every single player erupted in exhilarated shouts.
END OF CHAPTER
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