Chapter 95: I’ll Block Your HeavenChapter 95:
After the five members of Teikō Middle School took the court, they immediately sensed the change in Rakuzan’s fighting spirit.
Daiki Aomine clicked his tongue twice, the excitement on his face growing even stronger.
“Their fighting spirit’s up. This is getting me more and more fired up!”
Shintaro Midorima pushed up his glasses, just as energized inside. His eyes locked firmly onto Reo Mibuchi as he made a silent vow.
Next, I’ll shut you down.
Seijuro Akashi clapped his hands and spoke calmly but firmly, “Everyone, stay sharp. Our opponents haven’t given up yet, so we’ll show them the respect they deserve.
We’re taking this game with everything we’ve got.”
“Yes!”
The third quarter began, with Teikō in possession.
Seijuro Akashi slowly dribbled the ball across half court.
The moment he crossed the line, Rakuzan’s point guard pressed up tightly, determined not to give Akashi any room to dribble or pass freely.
Akashi felt the opponent’s fighting spirit, but his own expression didn’t change in the slightest.
He used a series of controlled dribbles to shift the point guard’s balance, then suddenly burst forward. In an instant, he blew past the defender.
Charging straight into the paint without slowing down, Akashi crossed inside the free-throw line and finished smoothly with a floater.
Possession changed.
Reo Mibuchi caught the pass from Rakuzan’s point guard, and Shintaro Midorima immediately stepped in to defend.
Seeing that the defender was now Midorima, Mibuchi visibly relaxed.
There was no helping it—Miyamoto Tokima’s defensive pressure was simply terrifying. It had left a deep psychological scar on him.
Midorima’s defense was strong as well, but compared to Miyamoto Tokima, it felt far less oppressive.
Between the two, Mibuchi would much rather face Shintaro Midorima than Miyamoto Tokima again.
Taking a deep breath, Mibuchi rose into his shot under Midorima’s defense.
Midorima jumped with him, his right hand raised high.
Mibuchi released his [Heaven] shot. The ball dropped cleanly through the net.
Rakuzan finally scored again.
After the basket, Rakuzan’s small forward excitedly slapped hands with Mibuchi.
“Reo-san! Nice shot!”
Mibuchi shook his head, his expression unusually serious.
Because the defensive pressure Midorima had just given him felt… different.
Midorima pushed up his glasses, his face completely expressionless, giving nothing away.
Possession changed.
This time, Akashi chose the simplest option—he passed the ball to Atsushi Murasakibara.
Rakuzan’s interior defense was simply too weak. Inside the paint, Murasakibara was like a shark among fish, rampaging freely.
He backed down Rakuzan’s center with brute force, then rose up and dunked over the power forward who rushed in to help.
Bang!
Without the slightest hesitation after scoring, Murasakibara turned and jogged back on defense.
Rakuzan’s center was pulled up by the power forward. Once he got to his feet, he clutched his chest and muttered in a low voice,
“What kind of monster is this…?”
Possession changed.
Mibuchi received the ball again, once more facing Shintaro Midorima.
This time, he still chose to use [Heaven].
Everyone expected another clean make, but something changed.
As Mibuchi jumped, Midorima stepped slightly forward with his right foot and leapt up as well.
His left hand shot up, his fingertips brushing the ball.
Mibuchi froze.
He touched it!
As he landed, Mibuchi was about to shout for the rebound, but when he saw Murasakibara in the paint, he stopped himself.
He knew his own center had no chance against Teikō’s interior monster.
Sure enough, Murasakibara grabbed the rebound effortlessly, not even needing to box out.
After securing the ball, Midorima raised his right hand and called out, “Ball!”
Murasakibara passed it over without hesitation.
Midorima caught the ball, dribbled beyond Rakuzan’s three-point line, and rose up right in front of Mibuchi.
Mibuchi jumped with him, trying to contest the shot.
No… that’s not right… why… why is he jumping higher and higher?!
Mibuchi stared in disbelief. He realized that he couldn’t even reach Midorima’s elbow.
From the stands, Teppei Kiyoshi let out a quiet sigh.
Mibuchi… your stamina just can’t support jumps like that anymore.
Midorima released the ball. It soared high into the air, climbing nearly to the ceiling of the gym before beginning its descent.
In that moment, he pushed up his glasses and spoke calmly to Mibuchi.
“Do your best, and leave the rest to fate. My shot won’t miss.”
With that, Midorima turned and headed back toward his own frontcourt.
Rakuzan’s players watched the ball fall from the sky, the pressure weighing heavier and heavier on them.
This was Shintaro Midorima’s shot—its extreme arc and long flight time alone were enough to crush opponents psychologically.
The ball dropped straight through the net. Teikō scored another three.
78–52.
Possession changed.
As expected, Rakuzan passed the ball to Mibuchi as soon as they crossed half court.
Midorima immediately closed in.
Seeing this, Mibuchi quickly raised both hands, assuming a shooting posture.
Midorima raised his right arm high—but didn’t jump.
Mibuchi’s expression darkened.
He’s not jumping? Isn’t he afraid of [Heaven]?
As if reading his thoughts, Midorima spoke evenly,
“Don’t overthink it. In your current condition, using [Heaven] will only get blocked by me.
Or rather—even at your peak, I can still block your [Heaven].”
Mibuchi’s face changed instantly. He glared at Midorima.
“What did you say?!”
Midorima remained expressionless.
“I said, I will block your [Heaven].”
Mibuchi shouted angrily, “Then try it!”
He leapt up at once, unleashing [Heaven].
Midorima took a small step forward with his right foot and jumped high, instantly reaching the same level as Mibuchi.
Mibuchi’s face went pale.
Midorima hadn’t been bluffing. Even at his peak, his [Heaven] could now be blocked.
Because Midorima was jumping even higher than before.
H-how… how is this possible?! What happened?! Why is your vertical leap still increasing?!
Mibuchi tried to pass, but found no teammate in a position to receive the ball. Left with no choice, he gritted his teeth and forced the shot.
Midorima’s left hand shot up, swatting the ball away cleanly.
“I told you,” he said coldly.
“I’ll block your [Heaven].”
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