The 2nd quarter continued, as it became increasingly obvious that Azure's skills were even greater than Ryu had said they were.

Kagami: *Pant* *Pant* There's no way this is possible!

Score: 92-72 Tooh

Azure came up with the ball once again, as Ryu was having a difficult time defending. They locked eyes, with the taller player getting closer.

Azure: You should honestly open your minds more.

Azure dribbled through his legs quickly, before doing an in and out crossover to move the ball to his left hand. When Ryu was about to move, Azure immediately did a between the legs crossover, making Ryu lose his footing, and fall onto the ground.

Ryu: 'W-Wait... This sensation.'

Azure put both hands on the ball, before jumping and shooting.

Azure: You're better, but not to the point where you can contend with me.

The ball fell into the hoop, as the buzzer went off, signaling the end of the first half.

Score: 95-72 Tooh

Azure turned around waving.

Azure: Come on, push it a little harder next quarter.

Riko: '23 points in just 5 minutes? I've never heard of a single person being able to do that...'

Riko looked at Ryu, unable to see his face, but noticing slightly trembling. When the teams went back to the locker rooms, they each had different moods.

Azure: Hey Sakurai, did you make the extra?

Sakurai: Yeah!

He brought out a box, revealing honey lemons. Azure took a slices, before eating it.

Azure: You're the best.

Wakamatsu: HEY, YOU HAVEN'T PLAYED NEARLY ENOUGH TO BE SNACKING!!!

He snatched the bowl away.

Azure: -_- Yet I just helped us get the lead to over 20.

Aomine: Give it a rest Wakamatsu, those are for everyone anyway.

Aomine took a lemon slice for himself.

Satsuki: No need to fear boys! I made some myself!

Azure seeing the box in Satsuki's hands nearly choked on the lemon he ate. He immediately grabbed the box, holding it up in the air.

Satsuki: Hey, those are for the team Azure!!

Azure: I've known you long enough to know that your cooking is abysmal Satsuki!! I'd bet a whole month of me not skipping school practice that these aren't even cut!!

Satsuki: ...

Imayoshi: Come on Azure, I doubt that Momoi would-

Azure deadpanned, before opening the box, showing that lemons were indeed whole.

Imayoshi: ... Sakurai, how many did you bring?

Sakurai: Enough since Azure warned me about Wakamatsu and Aomine "Being idiots".

Wakamatsu and Daiki both angrily turned around, each having lemons in their mouths.

Azure: -_- Point proven.

SEIRIN LOCKER ROOM

Kagami: I don't get it!! How can one person change the flow of an entire game by himself!! We already knew he was good, but this goes beyond the dribbling we saw before!!

Hyuga: Calm down. Stressing out about the situation isn't gonna help at all.

Kagami: I know, but I can't see what we can do against that guy!! Aomine was at least able to be kept in check, but Kaito's literally unbothered by everything!! And on top of it all-

Kagami looked around, seeing Ryu was nowhere to be found.

Kagami: Ryu isn't even here right now to tell us more!!

Riko: ... I think I might understand why.

The players all looked at Riko.

Riko: I doubt he's so frustrated about 8 of his 10 shots being stopped that he can't be here... But he's more than likely confused.

Izuki: About what?

Riko: I overheard Aomine and Kaito saying things to him. I'm sure you all did too.

Kagami: Yeah, about him being held back by everyone. I thought that was just trash talk, which never gets to him.

Riko: It doesn't... Unless it's the truth.

Kagami: Not you too coach!

Riko: It's frustrating, but we need to face the facts! It's not just the Tooh players saying this! The person to score the most points, and cause the most problems for Tooh today has undeniably been Ryu. However when it comes to you all, everyone's lost their one on one matchups after the half way mark into the 2nd quarter.

Kuroko: ... I'd have to agree. Sometimes even my passes would have been taken by Aomine if not for him.

Riko: We've overly relied on him more than we should. Not even Ace's should do everything. When it comes down to it, their words aren't exactly false. Seirin isn't capable of wielding Ryu Kaizen to his full ability due to the fact that the other players aren't strong enough.

Kagami: So... You're saying that because we're too weak, Ryu's abilities are weakened too?

Kuroko: Not per say.

Everyone in the room looked at Kuroko.

Kuroko: Back in Teiko, the biggest reason we won so many games was because we powerful individually... But the truth is, every so often, Ryu was actually able to bring things together. The stronger the player, the better he can unconsciously find ways to use himself and them to score.

Kogane: So you're telling me that because none of us can beat our matchups, we just can't be included in his scoring?

Kuroko: It's about right.

Izuki: So then at the moment we're screwed?! We don't have any ways to get that much better in the middle of a-

???: HIYA!!!

They heard the door being kicked open, and when everyone turned, they saw Ryu with multiple bags on his arm.

Ryu: BRIGHTEN UP FUCKBOYS, YOU'RE KILLING THE VIBE!!!

Riko: WHERE WERE YOU?!!! WHAT WERE YOU DOING?!!

Ryu: Picking up a care package!! Made with love by Karma.

Ryu put the bags down, revealing boxes of honey lemons. At the eyes of the players sparkled.

Hyuga: 'THANK YOU BLACK AND RED HAIRED SAVIOR!!!'

Ryu: Yeah I ended up forgetting them while coming here, so I had to ask my friend to drop them over here.

Only nodding their thanks, the players who had had to deal with Azure and Aomine on the court began to snack gratefully.

Ryu: Way better, cause I didn't want our spirits to drop even a little.

Ryu opened a box, before chowing down on lemon slices himself.

Ryu: I don't care if we lose this game, but the only way our chances of winning become zero is if we completely give up.

He looked at Riko, unamused.

Ryu: -_- And before you go trying to make me not feel bad, I realized the moment Azure put it into perspective that none of you can support my play at the moment.

Riko: O_O I wasn't gonna do that.

Ryu: Yes you were. But, it doesn't matter. Even if we lose, we can still try to pull SOMETHING to close the gap.

There was an evident fire in Ryu's eyes.

Ryu: Even if we can't win today, we'll feel even worse if we don't try as hard as we can.

Hyuga: I couldn't agree more.

Kagami: Then I guess I'll be left with Aomine for the rest of the game?

Ryu: I won't lie, most of my plays are gonna get shut down for the rest of the game. You all still comfortable passing to me anyway?

Izuki: Might as well! You've still got the best chances to score!

Hyuga: Them let's go out there and show them that we aren't done yet!!

Serin: YEAH!!!!

Riko hearing this smiled, although she already could sense the outcome of this game.

Riko: 'We're about to be blown out aren't we?'

After half time was about finished, the players had gone back onto the court, as Azure was the first to notice that no one had lost any fire.

Azure: ... Well would you look at that.

Azure simply smirked.

Daiki: What's got you smiling like that?

Azure: Usually when teams get done a quarter with me, even if it's only half, they've always lost their drive to win the game. As a result, I always just get bored of playing. Those eyes though...

His silver eyes glowed.

Azure: They still want to do their best. For once we're going up against a team I can respect. And I can actually start trying.

Serin started off with the ball once again, as they ran up the court.

Izuki: 'Even though his defense is crazy good, if he can't see who's gonna get the ball, it doesn't matter!'

Seirin passed around the ball, as soon Kagami passed it to Kuroko.

Kagami: 'One of those Ignite passes will be perfect in this situation!'

Kagami broke away from Aomine, running to the basket.

Kagami: 'And while they think I'm the one that'll take it-'

Ryu on the other side of the court made his way to the basket.

Ryu: 'A formless shot at the basket will be nearly a sure point!'

Kuroko did an Ignite pass to the basket, however to everyone's shock, Azure was the one to catch it.

Hyuga: 'NO WAY!!!'

Kuroko's eyes widened, as Azure looked down at him.

Azure: Didn't I tell you? You'd be completely useless this game, Phantom.

Riko: 'He intercepted one of Kuroko's passes!! And it was an Ignite pass at that!!'

Azure went up the court, as with his long limbs and head start, no one was able to catch up and stop his dunk.

97-72 Tooh

Kagami: How?! Kuroko's passes have only ever been stopped by Takao!

Izuki: Don't tell me he has something like Ryu's Beast Eye.

Ryu looked over at Azure, seeing black circles appear in his eyes.

Ryu: 'No. I couldn't even begin to compare to Azure's vision.'

Azure walked back to defense, standing in front of Kuroko.

Azure: It's hard to misdirect an eye that knows what'll happen.

He went past Kuroko, leaving the teen in shock.

Azure: Even with all the light in the world, shadows can't evade my Divine Eye.

Kuroko: Divine Eye...?

Kagami tapped Kuroko on the shoulder.

Kagami: Shake it off Kuroko!! He's just trying to get in your head!

Ryu: It's not exactly that simple.

Ryu walked up to them.

Ryu: Azure isn't bluffing. Now that I see it, his vision must be among the best in the entire country.

Hyuga: Is it like your eye?

Ryu: On steroids. His vision is so accurate he can predict your movements. Almost like he's seeing into the future.

Kagami: Something like that exist?

Ryu: It exist, and it's a pain to deal with.

Serin brought the ball up the court again, as Azure pressed Ryu.

Azure: 'Don't let me the one to put out this flame. Make this interesting until the very end!'

Ryu began to do behind the back crossovers, going to the right, as Azure moved up. However when Ryu was about to put the ball in his left hand to pass, Azure swiped it away, with Kuroko unable to get it once again.

Azure: I also know WHO you're trying to pass to. Do better than that.

Azure passed to Daiki, who ran up the court, before dunking the ball.

99-72 Tooh

Ryu: 'So he can predict the future of others too?!'

Azure walked over to Kuroko.

Azure: I'm not gonna sit here and lie, you are an impressive passer. You just aren't good enough to compete on a stage with me on it though.

Azure grabbed a pass from Daiki, before placing it in Kuroko's hands.

Azure: You've been completely misled my friend.

This confused Kuroko as Azure walked away. Kagami passed the inbound to Kuroko, who gritted his teeth. Other players ran up the court, as in the chaos, Kuroko spun and prepared for a Cyclone pass. While he was turned around, Azure caught it with his right hand, before it could be caught by Hyuga for a three.

Azure: The role of a shadow is way too simple for a player with as much potential as you do.

Azure dribbled up the court, as the person who went to defend was Kagami. With a quick Iverson Crossover, Kagami fell onto the ground. While the ball was still in Azure's hand, Kuroko went for it, only for a crossover to make him fall as well.

Azure: Think bigger.

Azure shot the ball, as his eyes seemingly started right through Kuroko's soul.

Azure: You should become the Darkness itself.

He scored another point, with the crowd going wild.

Kuroko: 'Darkness? What could he mean?'

Ryu: Tetsu.

Kuroko looked at Ryu, still confused.

Ryu: Worry about what he said later, we've still got options.

Kuroko: 'Even after 7 straight points given up, Ryu's still unfazed.' Okay.

Ryu: Izuki, can I take the ball up?

Izuki: All you.

Kagami passed the ball to Ryu, who slowly went up, looking around at everything and everyone.

Ryu: 'Azure is dangerous. With his vision being similar to the Beast Eye, he can see everything on the court. And with it also being similar to the Emperor Eye, he can predict those movements. So basically no one anywhere is safe.'

Azure moved up to Ryu once he was at half court.

Ryu: 'So from this, I realize that the only way to beat his precognitive vision-'

Ryu quickly dribbled the ball to his right, avoiding it being taken, and moving up.

Ryu: 'IS TO RELY ON MY INSTINCTS!!!!'

Azure was surprised by this, as Ryu quickly shot the ball, scoring a three.

Score: 102-75 Tooh

Ryu let out a sigh, looking back at Azure, with slitted pupils.

Azure: So, I'm guessing this is a last stand.

He smirked clenching his fist.

Azure: Alright then, keep trying your hardest!

Ryu: 'To be honest, I meant what I said before.'

The game continued, as even though Seirin was outmatched, that didn't mean they would give in.

Ryu: 'I already knew the odds weren't in our favor, but that didn't mean anything to me then.'

In one possession, Ryu leaped back with the ball in his hand ready to bank it in. Azure leapt up to block, but reacting fast, Ryu did a high floater to get it in.

Score: 120-82 Tooh

Ryu: 'I just didn't feel like not putting everything I had, even though we wouldn't win.'

Ryu jumped to try and block Azure's dunk, but ended up failing as he switched hands to posterize Ryu. With his legs not fully healed, Kagami was subbed out of the game.

Ryu: 'When some of us couldn't go on any longer, I wanted to fight for them as well.'

Kuroko tried passing the ball, but once again it was stolen by Azure, who passed it to Sakurai, allowing him to score a three.

Ryu: 'Even though we had no chance of winning... Even though I came face to face with the same wall I did after Teiko...'

Score: 135-98 Tooh

Ryu caught the ball, running to the baseline. Azure followed, as Ryu only saw one way to score.

Ryu: 'All I wanted to do was play until I couldn't anymore. Just cause I love the sport.'

Ryu had to turn, and lean to the side, throwing the ball from behind the backboard. As he did, he fell, then wincing, as the ball went in.

Score: 135-100 Tooh

Azure smiled at the shot.

Azure: Hell yeah! You're just giving it all you've-

He was surprised when he turned to see Ryu still on the ground, holding his ankle.

Ryu: Argh... Shit...!

Azure: ...

Kuroko: Ryu!

Riko: Oh no...

Hyuga: 'He ran out of steam before, but getting injured? He went too far for that last shot!'

Ryu: Crap...

Ryu let go, about to stand up on his own.

Ryu: 'Come on, not yet! I can still keep going!'

He felt himself rising, but not on his own. Ryu opened his eyes, realizing that Azure helped him up.

Azure: That's your limit for right now.

Ryu: ... Ugh.

With the help of his opponent, Ryu walked back over to the bench, as Kogane was going to be subbed in.

Azure: I'll see you at the Winter Cup. Should be enough time for you to level up.

He let Ryu go, as Kagami stood up to keep him standing straight as Azure left.

Ryu: Damnit...!

Kagami: It's fine. We've still got a chance to face them another time.

Ryu gritted his teeth as his hair covered his eyes.

Ryu: I... I want to keep playing so bad.

Kagami: ... Same here man.

As Ryu sat down, he used a towel to cover his head.

Ryu: 'It had been a long time since I felt the way I did that game. Not being able to play until the end hurt way more than losing could have.'

Soon enough, the game came to an end, as tears formed in Ryu's eyes.

Score: 150-100 Tooh

Ryu: 'But surprisingly, I also felt kinda relieved. The fact that I was able to come closer to a stronger Azure gave me hope.'

CHAPTER END!!