黒子のバスケ: それが終わるするまで戦い続け

Kuroko no Basket: Keep Fighting Until It's Over

I do the very best I know how - the very best I can; and I mean to keep on doing so until the end. ~Abraham Lincoln

The game had continued for a few minutes more after Kotone made the free throw she had received from Aomine's foul. Even though Kotone was still going strong, she made little errors that even her teammates could see. Her speed had decreased a bit, and her focus began slipping a little as well. What the hell's wrong with me? She asked herself as she ran down the court with ball in her possession. She got up to the three point line, bended her knees and got ready to shoot. When she sprang up she felt a sharp pain in her knee. It made her stumble and flawed her form.

"She's out of Zone now." Midorima commented.

"I was afraid of this." Ryu uttered honestly under his breath.

"Dammit!" she cursed, knowing her shot wouldn't make it. The ball did as she expected and bounced off the rim, not making it. The ball bounced on the floor a few times, landing in Ryo's possession. The Seirin team became frantic. Not that quick three pointer! Kotone shouted in her mind. She began sprinting to hopefully intercept his shot, but the pain in her knees struck her with another painful hit. She stopped midway and held the back of her knees. They were so close to being ahead; Seirin 125 points while Tōō was 133 with there was nine minutes and counting left. But, all she could do was watch helplessly as he quickly released his shot.

However, Kagami sprung up from nowhere and stopped the shot when it was already released and high in the air. The crowd and teams on the court were stunned at his astonishing feat. Kagami had gotten so much faster than before and his jumps seemed to have gotten higher as well. He then proceeded to make a dunk, maneuvering easily around the Tōō players. Relieved, Kotone glanced over at the scoreboard; 127 while Tōō was still 132, it was now a mere six point difference that could be easily made up. We still have a chance she thought optimistically.

"Oi." She heard Kagami say when he pushed her, making her stumble. "Don't forget about us."

"We're here also for a reason." Kuroko interjected. Her teammates gathered around her.

"Remember that we're not like them; unlike them we're truly a team." Hyuga said. "That doesn't mean we're going to interfere with your struggle with Aomine; that's your fight."

"But we'll help you only if you ask." Kuroko interjected again. "So don't be scared to rely on us once in a while."

She smiled radiantly at them. Her body ached but her spirits soared; that was enough for her to survive on. "Then I'll be counting on you guys." She said happily.

###

The ball again was thrown wildly around. Kotone was shooting less and less, letting her other teammates; Kagami, Kuroko, Hyuga and Mitobe to have a chance at shooting. Her sudden change from offense to defense caught the opposing team off guard and left them bewildered. However, she was still remaining a hindrance for them. She had learned how to be good at blocking and using the same pressure defense that Mitobe had taught Kagami, to push an opponent out of their comfort zone and not letting them do what they want.

She used this against Ryo, who was a threat because of his quick release. Even if he did get a chance he would always miss by little bit. She's good at defending too?! He asked in his head. Momoi had no idea how to guess Kotone's next moves; she knew that she should expect surprises, but this was strange. She's starting to defend Momoi thought. Kotone began using this technique against Aomine, who had the ball at that moment. The other Tōō players had blocked her teammates and forced them off to the sides, leaving a clear highway for Aomine to make a perfect shot; not that he needed it though. He broke right past her and began sprinting towards the basket; she dashed after him. This wasn't good, she thought.

Her mind began going blank, her heart pounded painfully in her tightened chest and it felt as if it were going to explode. Aomine sprang up high into the air to execute a dunk. Kotone followed up after him, jumping up high. What the hell?! How can she still jump?! He was still clear for she was still too far off to the right. Taking the chance, she twisted her body in midair, both her arms raised high and vertical. She felt her fingertips brush against the surface of the ball and with as much strength as she could muster in her slender digits; she snatched it and held onto it tightly as she returned to the floor.

"Keep it clear!" Hyuga yelled to his teammates. Like Tōō, they blocked and forced them to the sides to clear a pathway for her. Aomine sprinted after her and extended his arms out to snatch it away from her and caught up fast. Kotone didn't realize how close he was until she felt his arm and hand brush up against her forearm and he was nearly stepping on her heels. It sent a chill down her back. She heard the whistle blow loudly.

"Foul, holding! No. 5!" the referee called out loudly. Kotone tugged at the front of her shirt and wiped her dripping perspiration on her brow.

"This is no good, the state that I'm in." she whispered in an austere tone to herself. "I need to be faster."

"That's his second foul now, two more and he's out." Kise commented as he watched.

"The referee will be keeping a closer eye on Aomine because of that. Do you think she's fouling on purpose?" Midorima asked. Ryu kept his eyes focused on the court and players.

"Kotone's not the type to do that." He replied seriously. "Aomine's probably getting her now that she's weaker."

She panted as she headed back to defense.

"You really are full of surprises." She heard Aomine say. She turned around and she smirked at him.

"I'm glad I'm not making you bored." She simpered haughtily, masking the unbearable achiness she truly felt well. There were now only three minutes left and counting. Seirin was so close 132 while Tōō was still 133. The last few minutes were extremely intense, enough that the entire crowd in the bleachers roared and cheered through it all. Aomine and Kotone both knew that this was the perfect chance to settle their struggle.

The ball was thrown and passed wildly around the court like it usually did, but no matter what either Aomine or Kotone got their hands on the ball. He was careful to keep his hands visible and not to charge her or else he would be ejected from the game. Kotone was careful not make it look like she was fouling him out on purpose; that wasn't how she wanted to win. She sprinted after Aomine who was sprinting down the court to shoot. She forced herself to push the very limited strength in her legs. She managed to catch up to him as soon as he jumped from the free throw line. Kotone leapt up high into the air after him, using all of her might.

"I won't let you!" she shouted, her palm touching the surface of the ball. She smacked it out of his hands, quickly returned to the floor and regained possession of it, trying to execute a self-alley-oop. The experimental alley-oop worked and she headed to the three point line, however Aomine had caught up to her immediately, even though he was a good distance away. Her teammates sprinted up the court, but that was about the only thing we did. Dammit, all we've been doing is running Kagami thought but we can't be tired yet, not while Makoto's trying so hard.

Aomine was using the same blocking techniques that she had managed to learn. He pushed her out of her comfort zone and she was unable to make a clear shot. She dribbled it fast so he wouldn't be able to snatch it away, and then began maneuvering and veering away from him, trying to get a good distance. They swiftly sprinted around and dashed in half circles until both of them slowed down enough to a halt. Kotone's eyes were bright with faint light, but other than that they were mostly deadpan. He couldn't read her moves. There were so many moves she could execute so he didn't know how to prepare himself.

Her eyes quickly searched around and she saw Kagami who was wide open. She feigned a crossover to the right but then spun and threw it over her shoulder, passing it to Kagami. It reached his hands and he sprang up to dunk it in. Aomine quickly reacted and jumped after him. Kagami did as best as he could to stay suspended in the air as long as possible to make the dunk. Aomine raised his arms up into the air and his hands barely touched the ball. He managed to smack the ball away. It bounced on the floor. With feared eyes Kotone spun to look at the clock. Four, three, two, one and the agonizing sound of the buzz rang out. She stood still, paralyzed shook up.

"You were pretty good throughout most of it." she heard Aomine say. She scowled, putting a tough front. "But you made the same mistake Kise made; you relied on others. You're still not strong enough to be my equal yet, Kotone."

She muttered incoherently and softly as soon as he left her knees weak and giving in at last. She held in all her tears, and her throat ached because of it.

Ryu clenched his fists. He didn't feel angry or disappointed, but he felt sad, felt sad for her. He knew all too well what Kotone was feeling.

"She…lost…" he uttered in whisper.

"I can't believe this…" Kise said, his words trailing off.

Kotone was still on the floor, her head down, trying very hard not to let the tears escape and overflow.

"Oi." She heard Kagami say. She looked up and saw him offering his hand.

"K-Kagami…" she began hoarsely.

"Can you walk?" he asked. She gave a simple nod and kept her head down again. She suddenly felt his arms wrap around her sides and pick her up. Her head nuzzled into the crook of his neck, she could feel his damp red hair and he smelled of a faint odor of sweat.

"It's okay to cry." He said quietly as he lifted her off the ground. Even though he gave her permission she didn't cry. The two teams lined up in front of each other so they could do their usual words at the end of each match, but Seirin stayed silent; they had nothing to thank them for. Kotone could feel their intense feelings of animosity. She took a few steps, clenched her fists and swallowed her pride.

"Thank you very much!" she thanked with a sudden bow of her head. The Seirin team followed her lead and did the same bow, and so did their opponents.

"Thank you very much!"