Kirisaki Daiichi capitalized on the fast break.
Opening the second quarter with a 4-point burst, they extended their lead to five.
"They just stretched it to five points in an instant…"
"This monster…"
Aida Riko gritted her teeth.
They had prepared for this—prepared to burn through all of Kuroko's misdirection early on.
That's why Kuroko had been able to score so explosively in the first quarter—why he'd been so aggressive.
But now, even if he threw everything he had into it, scoring would be next to impossible.
Seirin launched another offensive.
Once again, Izuki Shun handed the ball to Kuroko.
Using all his misdirection from the start had been part of their strategy—a resolution Kuroko himself had made to win this match.
"I'll prove to you that winning isn't everything… Tendou-kun!"
Kuroko drove with the ball.
This time, he used a reverse cut, deliberately moving away from Tendou's position.
Kagami saw it and instantly barreled into Hanamiya's line of sight like a wrecking ball.
"Go! Break past him, Kuroko!"
Seirin's entire bench screamed in their hearts— and Kuroko responded by darting in at full speed.
But—
Smack!
His dribble was picked clean from behind by Hanamiya.
"…What…?"
"Did Kuroko's misdirection… already stop working?"
"How? We're only in the second quarter! Against Tōō, it lasted way longer than this…"
Seirin's players couldn't believe it. But the truth was right in front of them.
Kuroko's misdirection dribble had lost its effectiveness.
Hanamiya stole the ball cleanly—from behind.
"Normally, Kuroko can sustain his misdirection for two full quarters. Even with frequent Phantom Shots and drives, it shouldn't fail this early…"
"But?"
Everyone from Rakuzan turned toward Akashi, waiting for his explanation.
"…He shone too brightly. Whether it was his Phantom Shot or his vanishing drives—Kuroko's movements were just too dazzling."
This was exactly why Akashi had only ever allowed Mayuzumi Chihiro to use simple layups and basic cuts.
"Tendou kept forcing Kuroko into shots and drives in the first quarter—for this very reason. And…"
Smack!
Another steal—this time by Haizaki.
He snatched the ball away before anyone could react, and without a second thought, launched it forward.
Down the court, Tendou and Kagami sprinted at almost the same moment— chasing after the flying ball.
Their speed was incredible. They left everyone else behind.
Smack!
Tendou got there first. He had the better start, and he ran faster.
Kagami followed closely behind. In an off-ball sprint, he could match Tendou's speed.
"On the ground… I have no advantage."
His mind raced. Even after years of training with Alex and Himuro, Kagami knew his technique couldn't match Tendou's.
"But the air is my domain!"
He waited—waited for Tendou to jump.
That would be his only shot at stopping the score.
Kagami locked onto him, watching for that first step.
Then… he noticed something odd.
Tendou's eyes shifted to the wing.
"A pass?!" Kagami instinctively followed his gaze—
But there was no one there.
"Crap!"
He realized too late.
Tendou took one explosive step and rocketed into the air, dunking the ball with authority.
Then he sneered, "Do you really think something so simple would escape me? Even your few brain cells managed to figure it out."
Kagami was left speechless.
The real difference between him and Tendou…
was basketball IQ.
Kagami was Seirin's powerhouse.
Tendou was everything.
7-point lead.
Kirisaki Daiichi opened the second quarter with a 7–0 run.
"Even earlier than we expected," Aida Riko muttered.
She was already standing on the sidelines, signaling to the team.
Hyūga and the others saw her signal.
They all nodded—faces filled with resolve.
It was time.
They were going to burn through Kuroko's remaining misdirection—just like they had against Tōō.
...
Flashback: the day before.
After their tactical meeting, Kuroko had approached them.
He'd said he wanted to use his ultimate weapon against Kirisaki Daiichi—
Misdirection: Transcendence.
"Are you sure about this, Kuroko? You know what this means, right?
Once you do this, your misdirection will become completely useless against Kirisaki Daiichi in the future!"
Everyone had been stunned.
Deep down, they knew this was Seirin's strongest card against Kirisaki.
But they also knew what it would cost— it meant giving up the chance to beat Kirisaki in any future game.
Kuroko had only ever done this once—against Tōō—because of Aomine.
But now…
"Yes. I have a reason."
Everyone believed the first Light to Kuroko's Shadow had been Aomine.
But what most didn't know— the person Kuroko had always wanted to play beside… was Tendou.
Because it was Tendou who helped him find a reason to keep playing.
Tendou's encouragement had kept him going.
Memories flashed like waves for the audience watching.
Even long-forgotten fans were suddenly reminded.
"Ugh, I miss the old days!"
"I'm crying… I forgot how kind Tendou used to be."
"He's so domineering now… but back then, he was warm."
They were reminded of second-year Tendou—
The moment when the Generation of Miracles began to split.
Tendou's awakening was explosive—
The most earth-shattering arc of them all.
When Kuroko's memories resurfaced, the viewers couldn't help but feel sympathy.
Not because Kuroko was more popular…
But because they felt sorry for Tendou.
Back to the present.
In the locker room, Kuroko had said solemnly:
"Tendou once said he left behind a curse."
"I'm going to help him lift that curse."
Back on the court.
All of Seirin locked eyes—then nodded.
"Let's begin!"
Izuki charged past half court.
Facing Haizaki again, he didn't back down—he took a bold first step forward.
Just like Kagami, Kuroko violently crashed into Haizaki's line of sight.
His mind was made up.
Even if this meant he could never beat Kirisaki again—
Even if he could never surpass Tendou—
He would fight beside his teammates to win this game.
"Misdirection—Transcendence!"
The entire Seirin lineup shouted it in their hearts.
Izuki dove forward with reckless abandon.
But then—
Smack!
Suddenly, the entire Seirin squad froze.
It was as if they'd all been paralyzed.
Their eyes widened.
What did they see?
Izuki's drive—did not vanish.
Haizaki read it perfectly and stripped the ball.
"W-What?!"
It wasn't Tendou.
Why was Kuroko's misdirection no longer working?
"…Because Kuroko's misdirection," Akashi said with a quiet sigh, "…has truly disappeared."
Tendou knew it all along.
He knew the limit of Kuroko's misdirection.
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