03x23 - Why Don't We Give Up?

[bunniefuu]

I will demonstrate my superiority
to everyone here.

Wait, Akashi!

No way!

Stop him!

Your defeat is absolute.

EPISODE 73 WHY DON'T YOU GIVE UP

They're down 12 points.

Akashi's defending from even farther back.

Like Taiga,
his defensive range is probably enormous.

The other four are matching that and...

No.

After all the mistakes they've made...

Akachin expects nothing from the others.

What? You mean...

he's defending alone, too?

No way. We're already
within Akashi's defensive range?

A steal into a fast break!

Kagami!

Focus! He must be stopped!

Damn you!

The way you struggle is laughable.

Stay there on the ground.

He made it!

Akashi is dominating!

Sei...

Watch for threes while we're on defense.

Even you can handle that.

-What?
-Akashi!

I expect nothing from you.

If you can't do it, then I will.

The greatest threat on offense
and defense is Emperor Eye.

What?

If Akashi has abandoned his teammates...

then it's like the time
we played against Seirin.

Single combat
between two players in the Zone.

That was an even contest,
but Akashi is completely overpowering him.

Reacting to your opponent's movements
can never beat predictions.

Out of bounds! Black ball!

It's no use.

I can't play any better
in my current state!

I've entered the Zone
and reached the bottom, but...

I can't open the new door I see there.

I need to move the guy
standing in front of it.

It'll never open if I just wait!

What am I supposed to do?

Kagami...

Kuroko.

Why don't you give up?

Why would you say that now, Kuroko?

I'm not telling you
to give up on the game.

I mean give up on fighting alone.

I said I was counting on you, but it could
be too heavy a responsibility.

If that's the case,
let me help you carry it.

I can handle it myself!

I'm almost...

No, you're wrong.

Crying that the door won't open
won't get us anywhere.

We've got to do whatever we can
with it still closed.

Fine. I accept your help.

Let's do this together.

We'll beat Akashi!

We're counting on you, Kuroko and Kagami.

With his Emperor Eye and the Zone...

Akashi's defensive area
is larger than Murasakibara's.

So...

They're passing the ball around,
outside his range!

Yes!

Go!

If he makes this, it's over!

Stop him!

Kuroko! Kagami!

Kagami's in front?
They're not double-teaming me?

Tetsuya can't keep up with me and Kagami.

Even if he has an unexpected plan,
I can see the future.

No one can beat my Emperor Eye!

The difference between you and Akashi
is the Emperor Eye.

So I'll make up the difference
by becoming your "eye."

Right!

What? Impossible...

How did you get there before me?

How did he do it?

Kurochin wasn't looking at Akachin.

How?

Kuroko was looking only at Kagami.

He predicted Kagami's movements...

and he moved in the opposite direction.

It allowed him to catch up to Akashi,
who predicted Kagami's movements.

It's different from Emperor Eye.

The observation skills he honed
for Misdirection...

and the time they've spent playing
together allowed him to pull it off.

He can't use it on opponents.

He can only use it on allies

with whom he's spent time
developing a solid rapport.

That rapport allowed him to see farther
into the future than Akashi.

Predicting the future of his allies,
Kuroko's very own Emperor Eye!

Yes!

All right!

Counterattack!

You're kidding, right? Stop them, Kotaro!

He passed him!

Go!

A turnover?

And I...

I let it happen?

He's fast!

He caught up
the second Taiga's roll slowed him down!

Akashi!

I can stop him with Emperor Eye!

What?

Tetsuya?

An alley-oop?

Don't be absurd. I am absolute!

I must not lose!

Make the shot, Kagami!

Leave it to me. I'll make it!

I'm carrying the team's hopes
on my shoulders!

I will make this shot!

He made it!

No way.

Sei...

RAKUZAN - SEIRIN

He finally did it...

by supporting Kagami
with his pseudo Emperor Eye.

Yes.

Kuroko's actions are surprising.

And Kagami is moving
without thinking about Kuroko.

Entrusting yourself completely
to someone and playing all-out...

is impossible
without a deep level of trust.

They beat Emperor Eye
precisely because of who they are.

Is this the first time he's been beaten
this badly since starting high school?

No.

The last time was probably
when we played in middle school.

And ultimately, Akachin won that battle.

I haven't heard of him losing before then.

But Akachin tried to score and failed...

and he tried to stop them but couldn't.

So it's probably the first time,
not just in high school,

but in his life that Akachin's
experiencing defeat.

Rebound!

Akashi missed?

Is the previous play still bothering him?

I've never seen Akashi like this.

He's less composed than he's ever been.

He's unsettled,
which means he's distracted.

He's leaving the Zone.

He made it!

We're down ten points!

-We can do it!
-We can win!

You're at your limit.

Don't be absurd! I can't lose!

Give up. You can't win anymore.

Shut up! I will win.

I have until now, and I always will!

-Okay, defense! Stop this shot!
-Yeah!

I had no idea Akashi was this fragile.

The defeat of his Emperor Eye
must've been a shock, but...

A pass?

Akashi stopped playing alone!

What an awful pass.

It's like receiving the ball
from a stranger.

This is Heaven. But this shot...

Run!

Go!

What? You're slow getting back!
What's going on with you, Akashi?

-Yeah!
-Yes!

He made it!

We finally caught up to Rakuzan!
We're just one basket behind!

One basket behind!

RAKUZAN - SEIRIN

This is ridiculous!

A kid could've caught that weak pass!

You think that'll work now?

I've had enough of your crap, Akashi!

White team time-out.

Kuroko?

I don't believe it.

Is Akashi this fragile a player?

Them closing the gap
shouldn't be enough to agitate him.

But he's shaken...

because they defeated his trump card.

And that psychological damage
is creating discord on the team.

At this rate...

You're out.

Wait.

You're embarrassing yourself.

Did you think
I'd console or encourage you?

I'd never do that.

After everything you said,
this is all you can do?

I don't think so.

You're nothing like the man
I met on the roof.

In fact, who are you?

Who am I?

Who am I?

Who am I?

I...

I am...

You are my weakness.

Born to a distinguished family,

always standing above others,
and obligated to win.

Even when you lost your mother...

your only repose,
you weren't allowed to stop.

I was already beginning
to tear apart then.

Basketball.

The anchor my mother left me.

As long as I kept winning,
my stern father allowed me to play.

The Teiko basketball team's practices
were hard, but not painful.

More than that...

I enjoyed the ability to play all I liked
and spend time with friends.

Then we won
our second national championship.

It would've been impossible
with anyone else.

It happened because I had them. But...

The team began emphasizing victory.

At the same time,
their talents began to blossom.

Their growth planted the fear
that I'd be unable to keep up.

Believing they would leave me behind,
fear turned to panic.

I, Akashi Seijuro, lost?

That's impossible. It cannot be.

What is gained through victory
is lost through defeat.

I had to be the strongest
to continue playing with them.

That's right. That's why...

Who are you?

I'm Akashi Seijuro, of course.

That's why I was born.

They followed me once again.

A third championship was easy enough.

It was a thorough victory.

I was absolute.

Things were the same
once they became opponents.

I will continue proving my strength.

So you don't need me?

That's right. You stay here forever.

I meant to.

But the scent of defeat
is making you crack.

You know nothing!
You allowed yourself to be weak!

Yes. I didn't understand.

I was trying to save it by winning.

Something irreplaceable.

I didn't know what else to do.

That weakness gave birth to you.

Desiring only victory
and abandoning all else...

I lost sight
of why I wanted to be stronger.

And now
you're about to make the same mistake.

Our guilt will stay with us forever.

I thought it couldn't hurt to lose.

But it seems I was wrong.

It's because we're playing Kuroko.

We can't suppress our impulse to win.

How dare you ask who I am?

You're...

I'm Akashi Seijuro, of course.

I can't back down now.

-Are you back to normal?
-Yes, my eyes are open.

I want you to lend me your strength
so we can beat Seirin.

I don't want to lose, either.

I'll play as hard as I can.