Time ticked by second by second.
The halftime break ended in a blink. Before anyone could catch their breath, the game was starting again.
BZZZT…
The sharp sound of the whistle signaled the beginning of the second half.
Players from both teams stepped onto the court once more. Their footsteps mixed with the rising roar of the crowd, echoing through the gymnasium.
This time, when Sawakita Eiji once again stood face-to-face with Aoi Kunisaku, the pressure was clearly different.
Sawakita Eiji now had a steadier breath. His eyes were sharp like blades. Though still panting slightly, his focus and will to fight were completely different.
The Sawakita Eiji of the second half—was like a different person altogether.
"Hmm?"
Aoi Kunisaku's eyes lit up. It was as if he'd found something interesting. The corners of his mouth lifted into a faint smile. "Looks like you're not the same as before."
His tone held a playful edge, like he'd finally received a gift he'd been waiting on.
Sawakita Eiji glanced at him without much expression. His voice was quiet, but firm with an intensity never seen before. "This time, I won't let you down."
It sounded simple. But inside that calm reply was a thunderclap of fighting spirit.
Aoi Kunisaku's face remained the same, expression cool and unshaken.
The curve of his grin crept up another notch. His tone was steady and calm. "Hope so."
The short exchange landed like a stone thrown into a lake, sending quiet ripples across the space between them.
The jump ball to start the second half was decided quickly.
Kawata Masashi, with excellent timing and elevation, tipped the ball to his teammate.
Akita took first possession.
The ball landed cleanly in Fukatsu Kazunari's hands. He took off instantly, dribbling fast toward Kanagawa's side.
Aoi Kunisaku remained where he stood. His gaze darkened slightly as he casually glanced over toward Fukatsu Kazunari. It seemed like nothing more than a glance.
But that tiny movement instantly triggered every nerve in Sawakita Eiji's body.
His stance shifted instinctively. Feet adjusted. Shoulders dipped slightly. His breath drew in, sharp and focused. Like a predator coiling to strike.
He knew it too well. That seemingly casual look from Aoi Kunisaku was always the precursor to a sudden strike.
That kind of situation had happened more than once during the first half.
Sawakita Eiji didn't dare let his guard down.
He knew it. Just a blink—and Aoi Kunisaku could vanish completely from sight.
Then, in the very next instant—
Whoosh…
A gust of wind rushed past his side without warning, brushing his cheek.
He whipped his head around.
Aoi Kunisaku's figure had already vanished like a mirage, leaving only the faint ripple of motion in the air.
Sawakita Eiji's pupils shrank. His whole body tensed to the limit.
But this time—it was different.
He didn't get caught off guard like in the first half. He didn't react only after Aoi Kunisaku had left him a step behind.
No. The moment Aoi Kunisaku moved, he moved too.
His body reacted on instinct. He dug his toes into the floor and launched himself forward.
His initial burst still couldn't match Aoi Kunisaku's insane acceleration.
But now, with 'Wild Instinct' activated and a strange strength surging through him—he wasn't backing down.
It felt like every ounce of Sawakita Eiji's potential had been awakened. Every cell in his body burned with fighting spirit.
He clung close behind Aoi Kunisaku. Even if his steps were a bit strained, he never let the distance widen.
Right now, in Sawakita Eiji's vision, there was only that one figure racing ahead.
The rest of the world seemed to fade into grayscale. Only that one target moved in vibrant clarity.
That intense focus erased any sense of rising fatigue or draining energy.
All that remained in his mind was a single thought—
This time, I won't let him get away.
The red and white streaks of their figures shot across the court like flashes of light, slicing the floor as they charged straight toward the advancing Fukatsu Kazunari.
The moment Fukatsu Kazunari caught the ball, a jolt ran through his chest. Like a wire being violently pulled taut.
It struck without warning. But the sensation was razor sharp.
Danger was closing in.
Before he could even process the thought, a crimson blur was already expanding in his peripheral vision.
In that split second, he saw clearly—it was Aoi Kunisaku.
Instantly, a chill burst from his spine to his skull. His hair stood on end. His heart clenched like it was caught in an invisible fist.
Even his 'Wild Instinct' was activated purely out of reflex.
There was no time to think. No time to decide. Fukatsu Kazunari instinctively flung the ball away.
Target—Nobe Masahiro.
Why him?
Even Fukatsu Kazunari couldn't answer that clearly.
Just because in that moment, Nobe Masahiro was the first to appear in his field of vision. The most instinctive choice.
The moment the ball left his fingertips, Aoi Kunisaku was already standing in front of him like a ghost. His footwork light, but filled with immense pressure.
They were barely an arm's length apart.
Fukatsu Kazunari stood frozen. Cold sweat slipped down his temple. A large bead clung stubbornly to his brow.
He knew it well. That wasn't a tactical pass. That wasn't a calculated move. That was pure reflex. Panic.
If he had thought clearly, he should've passed to Matsumoto Minoru, who had better positioning.
But it was already too late.
Nobe Masahiro caught the ball—but hadn't even adjusted his stance before Rukawa Kaede was already in his face.
The difference in their skills was obvious.
Under Rukawa Kaede's predator-like pressure defense, Nobe Masahiro couldn't find even an inch of space.
He tried a few testing dribbles and fake-outs, but every angle was sealed perfectly. Rukawa Kaede seemed to see through every motion before it began.
They were stuck in a stalemate. Nobe Masahiro shuffled the ball back and forth in his hands, searching for a breakthrough that never came.
And as he strained under the pressure, flaws naturally began to appear.
Finally, in one brief misstep where his weight shifted slightly off balance, Rukawa Kaede caught the opening.
Without hesitation, he struck. His arm lashed out like lightning, smacking the ball clean out of Nobe Masahiro's grip.
Smack—
Steal.
Without missing a beat, Rukawa Kaede took the ball and bolted toward Akita's basket.
Akita's players saw the steal and instantly recognized the threat. They turned and rushed back in full retreat.
But in the middle of that panic, one man remained steady.
Sawakita Eiji.
He stood tall, unmoved, still guarding Aoi Kunisaku like an unshakable wall.
Even after the turnover, his expression didn't waver. It was as if nothing had changed.
Aoi Kunisaku didn't waste a moment. He tried several times to force his way past Sawakita Eiji, but each attempt was shut down.
Yet, even under such tight, suffocating defense, Aoi Kunisaku never looked annoyed or frustrated.
On the contrary—his lips curved up ever so slightly.
The laziness in his eyes faded away. Something new flickered there—like flames starting to catch.
He looked like… he was finally having fun.
And so, as Kanagawa pushed into a fast break and Akita scrambled to recover, the court displayed a strange, almost surreal sight.