When the ball slid cleanly through the net, Sannoh's bench fell into complete silence.
"Using Sawakita's signature move to score on Fukatsu…"
Sendoh shook his head with a faint smile. "That kid really has a nasty personality. Only Rukawa Kaede—and Nango—would dare do something like that."
"Reality proves it," Coach Taoka gritted his teeth, trembling with regret. "Rukawa Kaede's potential is no less than Sawakita's! If only he had chosen Ryonan back then!"
"Coach! Calm down!" Hikoichi hurriedly advised. "It's all in the past!"
"Hoo…"
Coach Taoka exhaled heavily. "You're right. We'll recruit even better players next year."
On the court, Kawata glanced at Fukatsu with concern. "Cheer up. We're not done yet."
Even after defending with everything he had, Fukatsu still couldn't stop that shot. Kawata worried the blow would crush him again.
"Don't worry," Fukatsu replied softly, smiling. "I'm fine. Let's go."
With Rukawa Kaede taking on more responsibility offensively, Nango was finally able to ease up. He no longer needed to force things on offense, instead expanding his defensive coverage and applying suffocating pressure.
But Sannoh had already abandoned the plan of letting Fukatsu control the tempo.
Little Kawata sent the ball straight to Sawakita, letting him initiate from the backcourt.
This was it—Coach Domoto's final card.
Life or death now rested entirely on their ace.
Sawakita crossed half-court slowly, a faint smile on his face, as though it wasn't Sannoh trailing—but Shohoku.
Rukawa Kaede's mindset was unusually calm. The smoother the offense became, the less obsessed he was with stopping Sawakita.
Instead, he watched.
To him, Sawakita was like a sponge soaked with basketball knowledge—
and Rukawa wanted to squeeze out every last drop.
Seeing Rukawa maintain a half-step's distance, Sawakita chuckled inwardly.
Worried about my fadeaway?
Then I'll show you something else.
A series of sharp in-and-out dribbles on the wing—
then suddenly, a violent crossover toward the baseline.
Sawakita lowered his center of gravity and accelerated again, completely shaking Rukawa off.
"Gorilla! I've got him!"
Sakuragi had been watching impatiently and rushed in to help.
Seeing Sakuragi step up, Sawakita's smile deepened.
"Perfect. I'll start with you."
He adjusted his steps and took off just inside the restricted area. Sakuragi matched him and leapt.
As Sakuragi raised his right arm, he saw Sawakita flick the ball with one hand.
So early?
Is he passing? No way!
In Sakuragi's mind, Sawakita—like the old Rukawa Kaede—was someone who would never pass.
But whatever Sawakita intended, Sakuragi was already late.
The ball arced high, barely moving forward—then dropped sharply.
"Swish!"
"…What kind of garbage move is that? Just throwing it up?"
Sakuragi froze. He had never seen a shot like that.
Then he smirked.
"Hah! Looks like I was right! He's exactly like the old Rukawa Kaede!"
"Idiot," Nango said flatly as he picked up the ball and passed it to Rukawa.
"That's called a floater."
He said it deliberately loud enough for both of them to hear.
Huh? He knows it?
Sawakita, who hadn't gone far, was startled.
He had only learned the floater last year during a trip to the United States. Other than team training, he had never shown it publicly.
No wonder this guy is so strong…
So he has someone guiding him from behind.
"A floater…"
Sakuragi turned eagerly. "Nango! How do you stop it?"
"Block it at the release point," Nango replied calmly. "But don't rush—or you'll foul."
So that's a floater…
Rukawa Kaede dribbled quietly, engraving the move into his memory.
Once everyone reset, Nango stepped up again to set a screen. Rukawa used it to burst away from Sawakita's pressure.
Fukatsu and Sawakita immediately switched—exactly as planned.
Double-teaming Rukawa wasn't an option. If they did, he would pass to Nango instantly—and that destruction was something Sannoh's defense couldn't withstand.
So they chose the lesser threat.
Rukawa Kaede versus Fukatsu.
Fukatsu guarded his left side, forcing him right.
Rukawa complied, confident.
But Nango frowned and immediately slid into position.
Sannoh's real plan was a delayed double-team—from Fukatsu and Kawata.
Nango could break that.
Rukawa Kaede… could not.
His height, wingspan, and passing speed were all inferior. He had only just begun learning how to pass, and his intentions were still obvious.
Sure enough, under the double-team, Rukawa couldn't find a shot.
He swung the ball to Mitsui on the perimeter.
"No—!"
Nango opened his mouth, but it was already too late.
Matsumoto, fully prepared, stepped into the lane and stole the pass cleanly, hugging the ball tightly.
Sannoh didn't fast-break, but Shohoku retreated quickly.
Nango looked at Rukawa and spoke calmly,
"The key to breaking a double-team is decisiveness. The pass has to be fast—preferably without stopping the ball. Hesitation puts you at a huge disadvantage."
"…Understood."
Rukawa nodded seriously, engraving the lesson into his bones.
Sawakita brought the ball up again, deliberately slowing the pace.
He trusted himself absolutely.
Fewer possessions.
More control.
He would overturn the score before the final whistle—and win.
Two steps outside the three-point line, Kawata stepped up to set a screen.
This was Coach Domoto's order:
"If Shohoku uses Nango and Rukawa for pick-and-rolls, then we'll answer with Sawakita and Kawata."
Sawakita rounded the screen, dipped his shoulder, and blew past Akagi.
Once again, Sakuragi stepped up—
And once again, Sawakita finished with a floater.
Shohoku attacked back.
Rukawa and Nango ran the pick-and-roll again. Remembering the advice, Rukawa pulled up before the double-team formed—
Miss.
Switching sides, Sannoh ran the same play.
This time, Akagi and Rukawa both rushed up.
Sawakita immediately kicked the ball out.
"Kawata—three!"
The shot splashed through.
In just a handful of possessions, Sannoh had sliced Shohoku's once-commanding lead down to four.
Ace Sawakita had returned.
Rukawa Kaede pressed his lips together, preparing to inbound.
But Nango stepped in front of him, smiling faintly.
"Let me do it," he said.
"It's time to close the game."