The Omnipotent Super Chuunibyou - Chapter 37
“Wow!”
After a brief moment of silence, the crowd cheered and clapped.
“Do you see it? The True Eye of the Evil King is the ultimate power!”
In response to the cheers, Takanashi Rikka turned and triumphantly flashed a V sign.
“Who could’ve imagined? With Sage-Sama’s guidance, we’ve already experienced a metamorphosis, Death!”
Dekomori Sanae also excitedly made a fist.
“Amazing! I can’t believe they scored against the basketball club!”
“So they can win without Hasegawa-san after all?”
“Good, keep it up!”
This scene, just like straight out of TV drama, was practically make everyone excited.
To be honest, no one had taken the girls seriously — not even those who supported the Far Eastern Magic Society, who’d thought Hasegawa would pull off another miracle. No one expected the first shot to be so astonishing.
Could it be that they really didn’t need Hasegawa’s help to win?
Of course not.
Shinomiya Kaguya and her personal attendant, Hayasaka Ai, who was hidden in the crowd, had their own thoughts about the matter.
The shot had indeed gone in effortlessly, but there was a reason for that…
“And they can all use Breathing Techniques?”
Hayasaka Ai leaned against the wall, her hands clasped behind her head, chewing idly on her bubble gum as a thoughtful expression crossed her face.
———————
“We’ve let our guard down!”
Not far away, Hinata Koji, who had witnessed the play, understood immediately what had happened.
Just now, the basketball club members had underestimated the girls’ abilities, thinking they couldn’t possibly play. As a result, they had focused entirely on stopping one player, ignoring the rest, and Fujiwara Chika’s assist had left them in a 3-on-1 situation.
Under those circumstances, even if the vice club president was tall and skilled, there was no way he could defend against three opponents at once. Thus, faced with an almost wide-open net, defeat was practically inevitable.
However, after seeing that one play, Hinata Koji realized that while the girls might not be super skilled, they could at least hold their own at this level. Combined with their almost psychic ability to coordinate with one another, it made for an unexpectedly formidable team.
“What exactly have you done to make them transform so quickly?” he asked the man. “And what is this Zone?”
“Have any of you ever seen Tokyo at 4 A.M.?”
Hasegawa Izumi didn’t answer the question, instead turning the inquiry back on his opponent, his tone now deep and unfathomable.
“No.”
Hinata Koji shook his head.
As students, they maintained good habits, including a regular sleep schedule.
“This is where you’ve failed!”
“You must understand, in these three days, they’ve worked tirelessly, training with single-minded focus, undaunted by fatigue, and ceaselessly striving for three full days to reach this level!”
“Such dedication has produced fine wine…”
His impassioned speech continued.
“Three days is a long time?”
Hinata Koji’s expression seemed to ask, Are you kidding me?
“Obviously, you wouldn’t understand; they simply lack interest, whereas you lack talent,” he said softly.
“Hah…”
Hinata Koji taking a deep breath, suppressed the urge to punch him for fear being penalized. This guy really deserved a sound beating!
We’ve played in the national championship!
If that doesn’t count as having talent, then what does? Winning an NBA championship?
Or fighting aliens!
“As for Zone, it’s essentially a state that enhances one’s abilities. It’s like when you’re studying and can focus well; your learning ability increases significantly, too. Of course, there’s also a second level of Zone, where not only are the entire team’s abilities boosted, but the teammates’ minds become connected as well. They’re in that state right now.”
Hasegawa Izumi continued explaining.
Is she really saying this, or is she just blowing smoke? Hinata Koji couldn’t immediately decide.
She’s definitely just messing around!
You lose if you take Chuunibyou seriously.
“Hasegawa-san, their performance is indeed exceeding our expectations, but the fundamental gap between the teams isn’t so easily overcome! I’m still confident in my players.”
The fire of fighting spirit burned brightly in his eyes.
“How tenacious. Though this is indeed within the realm of possibility.”
With a brief word of praise, Hasegawa Izumi turned her gaze to the court.
———————–
The 4-on-4 match continued.
However, compared to the thrilling opening score, the game had since settled into an odd stalemate.
Back to the present.
“How is this happening?!” Kurosaki Kawasaki’s expression was a little sheepish, and a hint of dejection showed through. What was this indescribable pressure?! How could these girls surpass his own technique?! Wasn’t that the height of absurdity?!
“There’s no need to fear,” said Vice Club President Hiiragi Gomatsu, clapping him on the shoulder. “You must maintain your confidence. Fear only exaggerates the enemy’s strength.”
His expression had returned to normal, and he began to analyze the situation. “At present, they indeed possess some extraordinary quality, but we cannot lose to them because… Let’s switch to Strategy No. 3.”
Thanks to his encouragement, the other basketball players quickly picked up their spirits and began to fight back. They had been careless earlier, but now that they were playing by the rules, the results changed entirely.
One-on-one, each player focused on their individual matchups.
Even with the aid of Zones, Takanashi Rikka and the others were at a disadvantage when it came to physical ability. Fujiwara Chika was the strongest among them, but she was still only on par with an average middle school boy.
In this situation, even with the help of second-level Zones, allowing them to communicate telepathically, they couldn’t make any headway.
After all, there was a difference in their sizes, and there was no way they could step beyond the reach of their opponents’ long arms.
At the same time, the basketball team members were too embarrassed to fight brutally for the ball. If they accidentally injured one of the girls, their reputations would plummet, and their lives would be effectively over.
Because they were holding back, they couldn’t fully demonstrate their abilities.
As a result, neither side gained a clear advantage, and the game stagnated.
“What should we do?” Nibutani Shinka, holding the ball, looked left and right, searching for an opening to pass.
However, such opportunities vanished in an instant, so she had to rely on instinct to make a gamble. If she won the bet, she might score; if she lost it and the other team got the ball, they’d almost certainly score.
The girls had practically no chance of stealing the ball, and blocking shots was out of the question.
And so, the teams continued to exchange possessions.
10-9.
20-15.
35-23.
But as time wore on, the gap between the scores widened.
The first half ended.
Unlike the spirited basketball club, the girls’ stamina drained much more quickly, to the point that they were drenched with sweat and nearing their limits.
If they hadn’t subconsciously employed Hasegawa’s “Breathing Technique,” they never would have lasted this long.
What should they do next?
Their situation was now dire!