Such an overwhelming aura…
Up in the stands, players from other schools couldn't help but gasp, their eyes widening in open shock.
They had originally come to scout potential opponents—yet now, all their attention was locked onto Ryonan.
The sheer pressure radiating from the team was so strong, it felt like it seeped all the way into the spectator seats.
The game hadn't even begun, but everyone could feel it—an oppressive presence rolling off Ryonan like a wave.
Among them, the players from Kainan and Shoyo felt it the most.
They could clearly sense it, the unmistakable aura of a powerhouse team.
Maki Shinichi's expression shifted.
His half-open eyes slowly narrowed, staring intensely at the Ryonan players below.
A strange illusion formed in his mind—ridiculous, yet vivid.
For a moment, the team standing on the court didn't seem like Ryonan at all… but that terrifying opponent from his memory, the one Kainan had once fought with everything they had, yet still couldn't beat.
"This aura…" Fujima Kenji's usual composure cracked as a hint of surprise slipped into his voice.
He had seen countless strong teams before, but the energy Ryonan exuded today made even his heart tremble.
Hanagata Toru instinctively raised his hand to push up his glasses.
Behind the lenses, his eyes were filled with disbelief.
"Ryonan today is completely different," he murmured.
He had never felt such pressure from them before.
Even Shohoku's players felt it—an invisible force pressing down on them, like they had run straight into a wall of air.
Their expressions shifted at once.
The pre-game nerves they had been feeling were instantly replaced by shock and awe.
"You've gotta be kidding…" Mitsui Hisashi stared at Ryonan, unable to hide his disbelief.
"They never had this kind of aura before. Were they hiding their true strength all this time?"
Akagi's brows tightened into deep lines, a pulse beating on his forehead.
His stare grew even more solemn.
His hands slowly curled into fists at his sides, his knuckles turning white.
An uneasy heaviness settled in his chest.
Beating Ryonan already felt like a massive challenge… but now, facing this suffocating aura, the burden on his shoulders felt even heavier.
Meanwhile, Anzai Mitsuyoshi sat calmly on the bench, his fingertips resting lightly on his knees, the reflection on his glasses flashing under the arena lights.
With decades of basketball experience—player to coach—he could read situations instantly.
And the oppressive pressure Ryonan was unleashing even before the game told him everything.
This was no coincidence.
This was a strategy—a psychological blow to suppress Shohoku's momentum before the game even began and give Ryonan the initiative.
"What a sharp tactic…" Anzai muttered softly, almost to himself.
But his eyes drifted toward the very front of Ryonan's lineup—toward Ake.
He knew Taoka's coaching style, straightforward, practical.
He wasn't the type to use psychological warfare.
Which meant there was only one explanation.
This was the idea of Ryonan's first-year captain.
"Coach, what did you say?" Ayako leaned forward, having missed his mutter.
Anzai shook his head gently, his familiar warm smile returning.
"Nothing, Ayako. Go call everyone. I need to speak to them before the game starts."
On the Other Side, Ryonan had already finished their preparations.
Coach Taoka stood before the team, his gaze sweeping over each player before stopping on Ake.
"On the court, follow Ake's lead. I'll call a timeout if something unusual happens."
"Yes, sir!"
The reply came in unison.
By now, this arrangement was nothing new.
Ever since Ake became captain, Taoka had entrusted on-court command to him. The team had completely adapted to this trust.
The countdown timer ticked away, the game's start drawing closer.
The cheers from the stands grew louder and more restless.
Then, the referee—holding a brand-new basketball—walked toward the sideline.
"Players, take the court!" he called out.
The moment the words left his mouth, Ake stepped forward, leading Ryonan onto the floor.
A faint smile crossed his lips. His voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly:
"All right. Let's go."
Shohoku's players froze as the Ryonan lineup stepped out.
Their eyes locked immediately onto the red-clad player at the front.
"Wait… he's starting?"
Kogure's voice dipped into disbelief.
In previous games—even against Tsukubu—Ake had never started.
But today, against Shohoku… Ryonan's captain was on the floor from the opening tip.
Ake walked toward center court—and just as he arrived, he crossed paths with Akagi.
Both stopped at the exact same moment.
A silent confrontation formed between them.
Akagi tilted his head slightly, his determined gaze fixed on Ake.
"This time, Shohoku won't lose so easily," he declared firmly.
"Today, we'll defeat Ryonan."
Ake's expression didn't change.
Not a ripple in his calm eyes.
He looked at Akagi's tense face and replied, voice steady and certain.
"That's impossible. The outcome is already decided. Shohoku has only one ending—and that's defeat."
A vein pulsed twice on Akagi's forehead.
He clenched his fists and forcibly swallowed his frustration.
"Hmph…"
He turned away sharply and walked back to Shohoku's side.
Ake didn't even look bothered.
He simply withdrew his gaze—
—but a shadow suddenly stepped in front of him.
Sakuragi Hanamichi.
Red hair blazing, eyes wide, pointing straight at Ake.
"Ake! This time I'll beat you for sure! Just wait— the genius Sakuragi Hanamichi will make you fall flat!"
"What is that idiot doing…?"
Koshino felt irritation spike instantly.
He hated seeing someone yell at their captain like that.
Ikegami's expression darkened too.
"This guy is way too arrogant."
Even Shohoku's players were dumbfounded.
Challenging the opponent was one thing—but yelling like that, totally throwing away his dignity, was just embarrassing.
Akagi's face turned pitch-black.
He was about to grab Sakuragi by the collar—
—but then it happened.
Everyone froze.
Ake didn't raise his voice, didn't provoke, didn't even blink.
"I'll give you a piece of advice."
His tone remained as calm as ever.
He placed one hand lightly on Sakuragi's shoulder.
"The only people who can speak to me so boldly… are the ones who obey me."
The light pressure of his fingertips shifted—
And Sakuragi's balance vanished.
He toppled straight downward.
He didn't even understand what happened.
Just a faint touch—and suddenly, the floor rushed up to greet him.
THUMP.
Sakuragi landed hard on his backside.
The sound cut through the arena, echoing sharply.
He sat there in a daze, red hair messy, staring blankly upward.
His mind empty.
He had no idea how he fell—only that it happened too fast to react.
Ake merely looked down at him.
"Your head is held too high," he said simply.
Silence.
The entire arena turned absolutely silent—as if someone had hit a pause button.
No one spoke.
No one even breathed.
It wasn't until several seconds passed that someone finally broke the stillness.
"Wh-what… was that?"
Kiyota stammered, eyes glued to the court.
Jin shook his head slowly.
"I didn't see it… he just suddenly fell."
Even Maki's brows furrowed deeply.
He narrowed his eyes, laser-focused on Ake, trying to decipher a movement he hadn't even glimpsed.
Fujima was the same—confused, unsettled.
Ake had merely placed a hand on Sakuragi's shoulder… and then Sakuragi was on the floor.
Too bizarre.
"What did he do…?" Fujima murmured.
Before the atmosphere could recover, Miyagi sprinted over.
He stepped protectively in front of Sakuragi, glaring at Ake.
"Hey… what the hell was that supposed to be?"
Ake walked past without so much as glancing at him, leaving Miyagi fuming.
Miyagi clenched his fists.
Being ignored like that was infuriating.
He knelt to help Sakuragi up.
"Sakuragi! You okay?"
Sakuragi got up shakily, confusion fading into rage.
He glared at Ake's back.
"You bastard! What did you do to me?! How dare you make the genius Sakuragi Hanamichi look dumb in front of everyone!"
He immediately tried to charge at him—
—but Miyagi grabbed him from behind.
"Don't! The game's about to start! And the referee's watching!"
At the word "referee," Sakuragi froze mid-step.
He darted a glance toward the sideline.
The referee was indeed staring at them, frowning, whistle ready.
Sakuragi instantly deflated, grumbling under his breath as he followed Miyagi back to Shohoku's side.
Meanwhile, even the referee looked confused.
He had briefly looked at the scoreboard—and when he looked back, Sakuragi was on the ground.
He had no idea what happened.
Across the court, gazes toward Ake had shifted.
Even the substitute players were staring with mixed shock and caution.
Both Teams Take Their Positions
Ryonan Starting Lineup
C – Uozumi (No. 5, 3rd year)
SF – Sendo (No. 7, 2nd year)
PF – Ikegami (No. 6, 3rd year)
SG – Koshino (No. 8, 2nd year)
PG – Ake (No. 4, 1st year, Captain)
Shohoku Starting Lineup
C – Akagi (No. 4, 3rd year, Captain)
SF – Rukawa (No. 11, 1st year)
PF – Sakuragi (No. 10, 1st year)
SG – Mitsui (No. 14, 3rd year)
PG – Miyagi (No. 7, 2nd year)
The referee adjusted his whistle and stepped between them.
He checked the time on his wristwatch.
Then he raised his hand—
BEEP!
A sharp whistle cut through the arena.
The ball was tossed into the air.
Ryonan vs. Shohoku—
The match officially began.