Seirin vs Rakuzan

Lore & Background

Rakuzan had finished first in the Inter-High and beat Shūtoku 86–70 in its Winter Cup semi-final. Besides Akashi the team fields three of the Uncrowned Kings, Kotarō Hayama, Reo Mibuchi and Eikichi Nebuya, and Chihiro Mayuzumi, whom Akashi trained to use misdirection like Kuroko but with stronger fundamentals. Akashi has never lost before, and under pressure he had developed a second, cold and domineering personality.

Reader's Guide

Kagami enters the Zone from the opening minutes and the first quarter ends 21–21. In the second quarter Mayuzumi reveals his misdirection, Hyūga loses his duel with Mibuchi and Kiyoshi his with Nebuya, and Rakuzan leads 62–37 at half-time. In the third quarter Mibuchi draws Hyūga's third and fourth fouls and he is benched; Kuroko returns and lets Mayuzumi take shots so that he himself regains his lack of presence. Izuki counters Hayama's dribble, and Hyūga, back in the fourth quarter, works out Mibuchi's Heaven, Earth and Void shots.

Kuroko becomes Kagami's eye by predicting his movements, and together they stop Akashi, whose two personalities then merge as he begins setting up his teammates. With two minutes left and Rakuzan ahead 103–96, Kagami opens the true Zone. Izuki steals the ball in the final seconds, Hyūga scores a three while drawing a foul, and Kiyoshi takes the rebound of the free throw. Kuroko goes to shoot with three seconds left, Akashi defends, and Kagami jumps to dunk the winning basket. Seirin wins 106–105, Akashi's first-ever loss.