NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 93: Normalcy
Even with the wild plays from Aomine and Shiro, the American team managed to neutralize them by focusing their defense on the duo, leaving the point gap between the teams virtually unchanged.
65:53
This was the halftime score, with Teiko unable to catch up to the American team, no matter how hard they tried.
Teiko players wore heavy expressions, knowing they had already given their all. Aside from Shiro, who had yet to enter the zone, everyone else had hit their limits.
While Shiro and Aomine could score successfully, they couldn't stop the opposing team from scoring either.
Moreover, their stamina was becoming a critical issue. Aomine, in particular, had carried much of the scoring load in the latter half of the second quarter. Now, he was drenched in sweat, breathing heavily.
The opposing defense was centered entirely on Shiro and Aomine. Every time Aomine drove to the rim, Davis would step up to help. Even when Aomine passed to Murasakibara, Davis managed to recover and contest his shots.
On the perimeter, Schröder and Russell double-teamed Shiro at every opportunity, smothering him whenever he tried to create a play.
Coach Sanada was at a loss. Their tactics were sound, but the core issue was that the opposing team's overall ability far surpassed theirs.
"Alright, alright, no need to get so down! I've prepared something to help you all recover" Momoi suddenly chimed in, appearing with a small, neatly packed lunchbox in her hands.
Her bright smile was meant to be reassuring, but to them, it looked downright sinister.
At her words, the players' faces went pale in an instant —worse than when they had seen the score.
Their gazes were filled with fear and unease, as if staring down something truly terrifying. Those sitting on the floor scrambled to their feet and instinctively stepped back, trying to put some distance between themselves and Momoi.
Unfazed, she walked up to Shiro with the lunchbox, her eyes brimming with anticipation.
Shiro's expression stiffened, cold sweat forming on his brow as he reached out with trembling hands to accept the mysterious box.
The rest of the team gave him a look of pity and resignation, silently urging him to face his fate bravely.
Taking a deep breath, Shiro opened the box. A pungent odor immediately assaulted his senses, nauseating everyone nearby.
Inside were whole lemons, floating in a strange green liquid that exuded a sinister aura.
Coach Sanada's mouth twitched as he witnessed the scene, silently thanking his lucky stars that his wife was an excellent cook, sparing him such nightmares.
Shiro awkwardly patted her head. "Momoi, I don't have much of an appetite right now. I'll save this for later, okay?"
Momoi nodded, then turned to the others. "What about you guys?"
Akashi waved his hands hastily, declining with a strained smile. "No, no, let Shiro have it all."
The others quickly agreed, nodding vigorously. They loved food, but this particular "treat" was beyond their capacity to handle.
Despite this comedic moment, the atmosphere lightened considerably, dissipating the tension that had hung over the team.
Then, the halftime buzzer sounded, signaling the end of the break.
Shiro stood up first, clapping his hands to gather everyone's attention.
"Alright, everyone, now do you understand why I set up this match against them?" His tone was firm, his gaze serious.
After a brief pause, he continued, "I wanted to shake things up. I know some of us have been complacent lately, but this game is a reminder — there's always someone better out there"
With that, Shiro turned toward the court. "So let's give it everything we've got and finish this game strong!"
The team members nodded thoughtfully, as if something had clicked for them.
They followed Shiro back to the court, determination etched on their faces.
...
"Yo, training early again today?" Shiro called out, spotting Murasakibara already sweating from his drills.
Murasakibara paused and looked over lazily. "Oh, it's you, Shiro" But his mind drifted back to their humiliating loss in the previous match.
130:104 — the final score of what they all considered a crushing defeat. Davis had dropped 40 points on Murasakibara alone, a humbling experience.
He still remembered Davis' words after the game: "You've got incredible talent, but your skills are raw. Keep working on them — the future's yours!" (Shiro probably translated for him)
Murasakibara clenched his fists at the memory, his frustration evident. The future? I'll show you in the next match!
Seeing this fire in Murasakibara's eyes, Shiro felt relieved. Setting a clear goal for him had reignited his drive.
"Late today, huh?" Aomine teased as he dribbled over. The rest of them turned their attention to Shiro, slowly gathering around.
"Had to do some chores, unlike you, Mr. Skip-Work" Shiro joked back, shooting Aomine a playful look.
Aomine scratched his head sheepishly.
"Alright, time to train hard! Let's not forget the sting of that last loss" Shiro said seriously, adding, "and most importantly, let's get ready for the Nationals!"
Akashi's competitive spirit reignited at these words. The last game had made him painfully aware of the gap between himself and the American players, with Schröder dominating him the entire match.
The team members nodded in unison, diving into their training with renewed determination. They couldn't afford another defeat like the last one. Only relentless effort would make them stronger!