Chapter 200 - 201: Responsibility

Words : 1333 Updated : Oct 13th, 2025

Murasakibara unlocking his movie-version self ahead of time was something Tendou hadn't expected. They were old friends, after all. Wasn't he even a little worried about hurting him? "Not bad. That was intense." Tendou shook out his wrist. The current Murasakibara was already on the level of defeating the leading players of the top teams. "Don't lump me in with you and the others, Tendou. I just don't want to lose." Murasakibara refused to admit he was getting fired up. Yet for the first time, he felt that being able to go all out—was something worth getting excited about. "Then you'll have to beat me first." Tendou signaled with his right hand, and a teammate quickly passed the ball to him. "From here on, this isn't child's play." Thwack! Tendou slapped the ball, and in the next instant, he exploded forward. The burst of speed he unleashed rivaled that of a national-level sprinter. Murasakibara spun and sprinted after him, completely disregarding his position as a center. He chased Tendou like an outside player. The two of them crossed midcourt in quick succession, leaving the others in the dust—not even Himuro could keep up. "You've grown a little, but that's as far as it goes." Smack! The fastest dribbling and breakthrough in the country collided with Murasakibara at the exact moment he reached Tendou's side. Murasakibara's reflexes were sharp, and he moved his massive body to block the way. But in the very next second— Boom! His massive frame crashed to the floor. Ironically, it was because his reaction was too fast—he was able to keep up with Tendou's dribbling and breakthrough speed, but he was still mercilessly shaken and dropped. "If you want to beat me, you're a hundred years too early." Tendou blew past Murasakibara and drove into Yōsen's paint. Kenichi Okamura and Liu Wei moved to intercept, forming a pincer on either side like two gatekeepers. Tendou's gaze flicked briefly to his right, where a teammate stood unguarded. Okamura noticed this and instinctively reacted—only to realize his mistake too late. This man had the Six Eyes. He didn't need to look to know what was happening. He'd been tricked. Tendou exploited the opening, bounced the ball through Okamura's legs, and in a blur, weaved through both defenders. By the time he regained control of the ball, there was nothing left between him and the rim. Boom! Tendou slammed the ball violently through the hoop. Araki Masako said nothing. While their offense had been solved for now, the next problem was how to stop that monster from Kirisaki Daiichi. If they couldn't contain this captain of Teikō, Yōsen had little hope of reversing the score. But Murasakibara wasn't thinking about that anymore. He was too busy enjoying, for the first time, the thrill of playing with his full strength. Boom! He caught a pass from a teammate with both hands and leaned in. Tendou was forced half a step back. Seeing that, Murasakibara powered forward again, trying to force his way closer to the basket. He focused hard on Okamura Kenichi's teachings—use the core, activate the lower body, and drive with the whole frame. He picked it up fast. With this push, he was confident he could move Tendou. However— Just as he was about to close in, Tendou suddenly stepped back, almost casually. "Huh?!" That sudden retreat threw off Murasakibara's entire balance, and he once again collapsed to the floor. "You seriously took me for a center?" The "pull-the-chair" move wasn't exactly advanced. Anyone who's played basketball has seen it. But simple doesn't mean ineffective. When timed perfectly, it's a nightmare for power-heavy centers. And with the Six Eyes, Tendou could time it perfectly every time. In his hands, the move became a weapon of destruction. As the feeling of weightlessness swept through his body, Murasakibara knew he was going down again. Clenching his teeth, he spotted a teammate rushing over and, just before hitting the ground, passed the ball off. That teammate was Himuro Tatsuya. Catching the pass, Himuro didn't hesitate—he went straight for the play. But he underestimated Tendou's burst. Just as the ball landed in his hands, Tendou's sharp, elegant face appeared before him. Smack! The ball was stripped away. Himuro hadn't even had time to make a move. He struggled symbolically in the air—but it was no use. "Unlike Atsushi, your offense is easier to break down." Tendou's defensive coverage, like Murasakibara's, spanned the entire three-point arc. But with one key difference. Murasakibara used blocks. Tendou preferred aggressive steals. He didn't even give you the chance to go up—he dismantled the offense before it could begin. Another fast break for Kirisaki Daiichi. Tendou streaked forward like a shooting star. Around him, the rest of the team followed in a fan-like formation. Murasakibara had already scrambled to his feet and caught up, halting Tendou two steps outside the three-point line. There was no drive—not because he couldn't get through, but because there was no need. Thump thump~ Rapid between-the-legs dribbles. The frequency of his body's feints was almost surreal. In the span of a single breath, Tendou completed two fakes and slashed toward the key. Murasakibara didn't react—or perhaps he reacted too fast and ended up frozen in place, unable to move. Kojirō Furuhashi caught the pass, took a step, and scored the easy layup. Murasakibara stared at the scoreboard as the gap widened. Still not enough. He hadn't done enough—because the score hadn't closed. Then he had to give a little more, didn't he? ... Tokyo, Shirogane Kōzō's Home Shirogane Kōzō, now retired, sat quietly watching the game. Murasakibara was undergoing a crucial transformation—one Shirogane had waited years to witness. He set down his teacup and muttered softly, almost as if speaking directly to Murasakibara through the screen. "Responsibility is a heavy word, but an essential part of our journey." "It's not just about discipline and promises to ourselves—it's about devotion to family, to society." "And on the basketball court, it means leading the team forward." Murasakibara had always coasted by too easily. He never needed to shoulder anything—Tendou and the others had done that for him. But now, he could feel it. His shoulders were suddenly heavy. He didn't know if this was what they called "responsibility." All he knew was—it was something Tendou and the others had always carried. For a fleeting moment, he seemed to see Tendou and Akashi standing ahead. In the past, he could only follow their backs. But now, without realizing it, he had caught up. As expected... What a pain... Boom! He slammed the ball into the hoop with both hands, only for it to bounce away. The backdoor cut passed to him by Fukui Kensuke had once again been broken up by Tendou. Kirisaki Daiichi launched yet another counterattack. Tendou blazed through the court, blowing past three defenders and charging into Yōsen's paint. With his right hand raised high, he looked ready to incinerate the rim like a torch from heaven. But— A dark shadow rose behind him, enveloping his entire body. "This isn't how the script was supposed to go," Tendou muttered, instantly pulling the ball back and dishing it behind him. Yamazaki Hiroshi caught it and jumped for a shot—only to find that same shadow had already chased him down from the paint to the arc, smothering him completely. Of course, it was Murasakibara. And his current state was terrifying. His pupils had gone completely cold. As Yamazaki Hiro focused on him, he saw two electric-purple streaks of light flashing from Murasakibara's eyes. "No way... is this for real?!" ... 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Chapter 200 - 201: Responsibility

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