Three days after the quarterfinals, the list of teams advancing to the semifinals was finally finalized.
Aside from Seiyo Middle School, the remaining three were Takenozono Middle School, Kyuho Gakuen, and Meizawa Middle School.
Akashi had already gathered information on all three.
Among them, however, only Meizawa Middle School truly caught his attention.
Because Meizawa had someone he was very familiar with.
"Sawakita Eiji…"
Akashi murmured under his breath.
"I wonder if he's the same Sawakita Eiji from my memories."
The Semifinals Begin
The next day, the semifinals officially commenced.
Seiyo Middle School's opponent was Kyuho Gakuen.
Kyuho's strength was clearly above that of Kyuuseki. Their teamwork was polished, their offensive and defensive transitions smooth, and their tactical execution well-disciplined.
On Seiyo's side, however—
Aside from Akashi and Sendo, the remaining three players simply couldn't match Kyuho's overall level.
This wasn't a matter of effort.
It was a fundamental gap in strength and speed.
Kyuho's players were faster, sharper, and more experienced.
Of course—
This assessment did not include Akashi or Sendo.
The game unfolded in a steady rhythm of offense and defense, neither side able to gain a decisive advantage. While not overwhelmingly intense, the constant exchanges kept the match tense and engaging.
By halftime, the scoreboard read:
40 — 40
A deadlock.
Yet the expressions on Kyuho's faces were far from relaxed.
The reason was simple.
From start to finish, Akashi and Sendo alone had held back the entire Kyuho team.
In other words, two players were matching five.
If Seiyo's other members had been stronger, Kyuho would likely have already fallen behind.
Coach Nakamura clearly saw this as well.
The moment the team returned to the bench, he gave direct instructions.
"In the second half, the three of you will prioritize supporting Akashi and Sendo—screens, spacing, defense. Do whatever it takes."
Kirihara Hayato, Kobayashi Koichi, and Yamamoto Ryu nodded without hesitation.
They knew their limitations.
But for the sake of victory, they were willing to play the supporting role.
As the second half began, the balance finally shifted.
Kirihara, Kobayashi, and Yamamoto worked tirelessly—setting screens, boxing out defenders, and covering gaps—creating space for Akashi and Sendo to operate.
Akashi had to admit something.
With his talent still far from fully developed, facing a coordinated five-man defense alone was no easy task.
Fortunately, with his teammates' support, he managed to steal the ball multiple times, gradually pulling Seiyo ahead.
Sendo, as always, became the blade at the front line.
Each time Akashi delivered the ball, Sendo charged forward with unstoppable momentum, cutting straight into Kyuho's defense.
In terms of individual ability, none of Kyuho's players could truly match him.
And so, under the combined pressure of Akashi's control and Sendo's explosive offense, Kyuho could only watch as the score gap slowly widened.
Beep—
When the final whistle sounded, the scoreboard froze at:
Seiyo 97 — Kyuho 63
Seiyo Middle School advanced to the finals.
On the other side of the bracket, the match between Takenozono Middle School and Meizawa Middle School had also concluded.
As expected—
Meizawa won.
Akashi wasn't surprised in the slightest.
After all, he was there.
"We're finally going to meet again," Sendo suddenly said, his eyes shining.
Akashi glanced at him. "Meizawa?"
Sendo nodded vigorously. "Yeah! There's a guy on that team—last year, I lost to him."
"I see…" Akashi replied thoughtfully.
If Meizawa's Sawakita Eiji was truly the one Akashi remembered, Sendo's defeat made perfect sense.
"But this year is different," Sendo said, a grin spreading across his face.
"With you here, that guy's definitely going to be shocked."
He was already looking forward to tomorrow.
Akashi fell silent.
He wasn't certain how strong Sawakita Eiji was at this point.
But realistically—
Sawakita might be restrainable, though not completely suppressed.
If Meizawa didn't have another player of similar caliber, then winning the championship wouldn't be especially difficult.
As this thought settled, the corners of Akashi's lips lifted slightly.
"Are you doubting your own strength?"
The sudden voice made Akashi's pupils shrink.
His second personality.
"No," Akashi replied without hesitation.
"Hmph."
The voice scoffed.
"If that were true, you wouldn't be wasting time thinking about meaningless possibilities."
After a brief pause, it continued, its tone low and persuasive.
"You're one step away from the championship. If you lose now, everything you've worked for will collapse. Do you really want your teammates to suffer because of hesitation?"
"Just let me take over."
"The championship will be guaranteed."
"Enough," Akashi said firmly.
"My current strength is sufficient."
A soft, mocking chuckle echoed in his mind.
"Really? You can only use twenty to thirty percent of your talent right now. Even in a one-on-one against Sendo, you're already under pressure."
"If you face someone stronger than him, what then?"
"And your teammates?"
"Other than Sendo, none of them can truly support you."
Akashi fell silent.
This time—
He didn't refute it.
Because it was true.
He could assist Sendo, suppress stronger opponents, and control the rhythm of the game.
But the others?
If Meizawa's supporting players were solid, his ability to assist Sendo would be severely limited.
Even if he passed successfully, Sendo might still be unable to score.
If Akashi carried the ball himself, a double-team would easily seal his path.
Kirihara. Kobayashi. Yamamoto.
They could be ignored.
This was the cruel reality of weak teammates.
It reminded him of Akagi Takenori's one-man struggle.
At its core, Seiyo was currently nothing more than a two-man team.
If both he and Sendo were restrained—
A single strong opponent could tear through Seiyo's defense with ease.
After regaining his composure, Akashi spoke again.
"I believe in my teammates.
I believe in Sendo.
And I believe in myself."
"In the final, we will win."
"What childish faith," the voice replied coldly.
"Relying on others is the mark of weakness."
"When your strength surpasses everyone else, destiny bends to your will."
"And everything you desire—will be yours."
The voice faded.
Silence returned.
No one but Akashi knew this conversation had ever taken place.
His eyes slowly regained clarity.
Yet—
Perhaps because the final was approaching.
Perhaps because the stakes were growing heavier.
The words of his second personality refused to leave his mind.
They echoed.
Again.
And again.