黒子のバスケ:チャンスを危険にさらして
Kuroko no Basket: Risking a Chance
If you're not willing to risk it all, then you don't want it bad enough.
The last quarter commenced and the intensity of it all could be felt. Unlike the others, Kagami's and Kuroko's spirits were not hampered. Their coordination was flawless. Kuroko was finally escaping out of Takao's sight and was passing as he normally did. Kagami was still going on strong, sprinting and dunking, catching up very quickly. Kuroko intercepted Miyaji's pass to Takao and directed it in Kagami's direction. Even though Takao had lost sight of Kuroko, he spotted Kagami and diverted the pass to Midorima.
(?!)
Kotone charged past Kimura, who was blocking her, at a fast speed. She caught up with Midorima and tailed after him, and so did the others. He saw her and started moving faster.
"Makoto steal it!" Hyuga yelled. She did as she was told and tried to snatch it out of his possession. He maneuvered around her, making sure she wouldn't be able to get it. Kotone stole a quick glance at the floor. They crossed the other half of the court and into the beginning of the three point zone. She looked up and saw Midorima readying his shot. There was only one minute left and counting and Seirin was only two points away from winning. She couldn't block him; she was way too short to stop him normally. She looked down at the calves of her legs. But she knew she couldn't just allow him. Please just let me…
Instinctively she sprang up, her arms high and vertical in the air. Midorima's eyes grew wide in shock. How? He wondered. Kotone didn't notice until she was high above him. Out of sheer will, and probably even luck, her jump had advanced into a less-than-a foot jump, to an almost four foot vertical leap. She was surprised herself, but then she quickly washed it away with a stern expression and struck the ball with her hands. The audience cheered wildly at the awe inspiring stunt. Her teammates applauded her as well.
"She did it!" exclaimed Kise.
"Yeah, but, if Kagami can have a limit, so can she." Kasamatsu noted.
Kotone's feet returned to the ground at a rapid pace. When she did, she felt a surging pain, starting from her ankles and affecting her calves and thighs. She collapsed onto the ground immediately, a muffled cry of pain escaping her lips, loud enough for the people on the court to hear.
"Makoto!" Ryu called out, running out of his seat and hurrying out of the bleachers and to the court. The referee blew the whistle and called for an emergency time out. Ryu, Riko, and her teammates rushed to her aid. Itai… (ouch) she whimpered in her mind. She really over did it this time. The muscles in her calves and thighs cramped and ached. She had landed with too much pressure and it stressed under her ankles. Her legs felt numb, but she could feel the stinging needle like pain tightening around her. She felt like crying, but she held them back, tightening her throat.
Ryu made it on the court and lifted her in his arms.
"Kotone are you alright?" he asked in a very concerned voice. "Can you stand?"
She gripped his shirt tightly with her fingers just to support herself. She swallowed the knot in her throat.
"It hurts… it hurts a lot." She managed to say in a hoarse voice without letting her tears flow down her face. Riko came with a heat pad in hand.
"Settle her down Toshiyuki; here this should help." She instructed. Ryu gently helped her sit down and Riko settled the heating pad on her leg. She analyzed her numbers. This isn't good, her numbers were low enough already, but now her leg potency has been reduced to nearly nothing now. She thought.
"We need to switch you out now." She said.
"It doesn't hurt!" she protested. Ryu sighed.
"Listen to her please Koto-chan." He pleaded his voice soft.
"I'll be fine, I won't jump just let me stay in." she begged. "Please." She begged her voice lowered and pitiful.
"If she wants to stay in let her." Kagami spoke up.
"I agree." Kuroko supported. Ryu turned to Kotone.
"Is that really what you want?" he asked. She nodded her head without hesitation. He sighed.
"Stay in then; I'll be rooting for you." He comforted with a smile, tucking a stray lock of her dark brown hair behind her ear.
###
Everyone prepared themselves for the deciding fourth quarter. The feeling on the court was extremely intense. Midorima glanced over at Kotone, who was staying completely still, waiting for the referee to resume the game. He was confused; if she was hurt that badly, why did she want to stay in, he wondered. Kotone looked down at the floor. It doesn't hurt, it doesn't hurt! She reinforced in her mind. Her teammates kept a keen eye on her, just in case anything would go wrong. The ball was released onto the court and they charged after it.
Miyaji had possession on it at first, until it was knocked away by Hyuga and sent off onto the court again. Before any of the Shutoku teams could get their hands on the ball, Kuroko got in between them. He spotted Kotone on the other side of the court. He spun around at least twice and hurled it towards her, zooming right past Midorima and the other players. She caught in her hand and exerted as much energy just to run at a decent speed. She glanced over her shoulder and saw Midorima catching up behind her. He extended an arm and attempted to steal it. She quickly veered away, dealing more damage to her legs. She stopped and swiftly released the ball, fast enough that he couldn't react to it. Her heart began to ease until she noticed she was in a bad zone to shoot and in the wrong form. Worthless shit! She cursed as her knees collapsed on the ground, finally unable to withstand the pain. She looked up. The ball hit the rim and slowly circled it tortuously. Out of nowhere, Kagami sprang up and slammed it in, just in the nick of time. The last few seconds ticked away and the loud buzz rang out. The crowd roared up in a loud applause for Seirin's victory. The winning team burst out in happiness as well. Kotone panted relentlessly, drenched in sweat, muscles aching, but she was wearing a smile. She was happy.
"C'mon, get up; we have to line up now." Kagami said, helping her up by the hand. She grinned up at him.
The two teams lined up in the center of the court, facing each other. The referee announced the scores and claimed Seirin as the winner, and then instructed a bow. Both teams did as ordered.
"Thank you very much!" They acknowledged as they bowed. Kotone began staggering back and then glimpsed over at Midorima. He looked jaded, disappointed, and even a little sad, but he hid it behind a scowl. She couldn't help but feel bad.
