Chapter Sixty-Seven: Beyond Expectations
"Don't worry about it—score one basket at a time!"
Though Mitsui Hisashi's condition had startled Kasamatsu Yukio, he quickly steadied his mentality, working to control the court situation.
Kaijo's offensive possession. Kasamatsu Yukio dribbled forward into the frontcourt.
Shohoku's defensive alignment had shifted slightly. Mitsui Hisashi, who should have been guarding Moriyama Yoshitaka, now sagged into the corner, using "visual defense" against Hayakawa Mitsuhiro who could only finish at the rim. Meanwhile, Sakuragi Hanamichi had switched onto Moriyama Yoshitaka.
"As expected..." Kasamatsu Yukio showed no surprise—if anything, he'd thought Shohoku would make this adjustment last possession.
Given Mitsui Hisashi's condition, rather than leave Moriyama open after he'd already hit four three-pointers, it made more sense to abandon Hayakawa Mitsuhiro whose offensive arsenal was limited.
"But that red-haired kid's defense isn't that good!"
Kasamatsu Yukio still passed to Moriyama Yoshitaka.
Moriyama caught the ball and quickly executed a shot fake. Sakuragi Hanamichi bit easily, jumping awkwardly.
Moriyama lowered his center of gravity, driving past Sakuragi's side into the paint.
Miyagi Ryota had been watching the wing closely. He quickly collapsed, cutting off Moriyama Yoshitaka's driving lane.
"Whoosh!"
Before the trap formed, Moriyama precisely passed back outside.
Kasamatsu Yukio caught the ball beyond the three-point line and rose without hesitation.
"Swish!"
Three points!
Shohoku 80 - Kaijo 85
"Defense! Defense!"
Kaijo's players quickly retreated. Kasamatsu Yukio's three-pointer had abruptly halted Shohoku's comeback momentum.
Shohoku's offense.
Moriyama Yoshitaka stayed glued to Mitsui Hisashi, no longer giving him easy shooting opportunities.
Miyagi Ryota lobbed into the post. Akagi Takenori worked low, using footwork to shake Kobori Koji before finishing a one-handed layup.
Shohoku 82 - Kaijo 85
Kaijo's offense.
Kasamatsu Yukio passed to Hayakawa Mitsuhiro, who easily shook off Mitsui Hisashi's defense for a mid-range jumper.
Shohoku 82 - Kaijo 87
Shohoku's offense.
Mitsui Hisashi called for the ball, forcing up a three-pointer over Moriyama Yoshitaka's contest.
"Rebound!" Moriyama shouted. This time the contest was definitely solid.
"CLANG!"
The ball bounced off the rim. Kobori Koji and Hayakawa Mitsuhiro had already boxed out Akagi Takenori.
However, Sakuragi Hanamichi once again snatched the rebound over everyone's heads.
"Him again!"
Coach Takeuchi Genta's face jiggled with frustration. Akagi Takenori was already difficult enough to handle—add this freakishly athletic rebounder, and now Kaijo's interior struggled even on the defensive end!
Rukawa Kaede timed his cut into the paint perfectly. Kise Ryota stayed right with him.
But Sakuragi Hanamichi didn't even glance at Rukawa Kaede—instead throwing the ball out to the more distant Miyagi Ryota.
Miyagi Ryota released from mid-range. Kasamatsu Yukio's closeout came swiftly.
"CLANG!"
The basketball bounced off iron again.
"Rebound!"
At that moment, Akagi Takenori jumped under the basket, tipping it in for the putback score.
Shohoku 84 - Kaijo 87
"Damn that little punk!" Hayakawa Mitsuhiro glared at Sakuragi Hanamichi's back, chest tight with frustration.
Hayakawa Mitsuhiro and Kobori Koji had finally started using their numbers advantage to gradually limit Akagi Takenori. But with Sakuragi Hanamichi increasingly aggressive on the boards, Kaijo's rebounding control was slipping away.
"This isn't looking good." Kasamatsu Yukio also noticed, his brow furrowing. If they couldn't extend the lead quickly, the situation would only grow more difficult as the quarter wound down.
Kaijo's offense. Kise Ryota called for the ball on the wing to isolate Rukawa Kaede.
The two had tangled furiously through the first two quarters, both consuming significant stamina. That's why at the start of this final quarter, both point guards had chosen to activate their teams' other scoring options.
But since the ace was calling for it, Kasamatsu Yukio passed without hesitation.
Kise lowered his stance, executing a quick jab step before explosively attacking right. Rukawa Kaede's reaction remained sharp, immediately sliding to cut him off.
However, Kise's wrist flicked lightning-fast, pulling the ball behind his back in one smooth behind-the-back dribble transition, his entire body becoming a golden blur as he glided past on the left side!
"That guy not being there makes this so much easier!" Kise Ryota couldn't help thinking.
Sakuragi Hanamichi, who would normally rotate for help defense at this moment, was currently on the perimeter guarding Moriyama Yoshitaka. Mitsui Hisashi watched helplessly as Kise charged into the paint.
"THUD!"
Kise Ryota rose up, single hand guiding the ball straight toward the rim!
"Don't get cocky, kid!" Akagi Takenori rose like a tower, his massive palm swatting toward the basketball in Kise's hand.
"What terrifying pressure..." Kise Ryota sensed that even with his momentum built up, trying to challenge this "gorilla" head-on wouldn't be wise.
Their distance closed rapidly. Just as Akagi Takenori was about to slap the ball away—
Kise Ryota pulled sharply at his apex, bringing the ball back before executing a reverse layup around Akagi's block attempt, wrist softly flicking upward.
"SWISH!"
The basketball dropped through the net with gentle rotation.
Shohoku 84 - Kaijo 89
"He really is a monster—final quarter and he can still pull off moves like that!" Kogure Kiminobu on the bench couldn't help clenching his fist.
"Get back on defense—!"
Before Kaijo's shout finished, Shohoku had already inbounded quickly.
Rukawa Kaede caught the ball near center court and immediately spun around, accelerating forward without a moment's hesitation.
Kise Ryota quickly moved to intercept but got beaten by a clean crossover.
Kobori Koji and Hayakawa Mitsuhiro had just positioned themselves when Rukawa Kaede had already reached the paint's edge.
Both jumped simultaneously, forming an impenetrable barrier.
Rukawa Kaede showed no fear, rising fearlessly into the defense.
The three collided in mid-air. In that instant of lost balance, Rukawa Kaede's left hand threaded the ball through the gap between them, tossing it upward.
"CLANG!"
The basketball bounced once on the rim before dropping through!
Shohoku 86 - Kaijo 89
"WOOOOO!!"
"Incredible! Neither side will give an inch!!"
"Kasamatsu-senpai!"
Kise's shout had barely sounded when the basketball arrived precisely in his hands.
"Go, Kise!" Kasamatsu Yukio shouted.
"He's trying to?!!"
Miyagi Ryota quickly pressured forward, but Kise Ryota's acceleration and change of direction left him trailing.
Sakuragi Hanamichi rotated from the wing, directly blocking his path.
"BAM!"
Kise Ryota's wrist flicked—the basketball threaded precisely through Sakuragi Hanamichi's legs. Simultaneously, he executed a graceful spin, perfectly separating man from ball and leaving the stunned Sakuragi behind.
Rukawa Kaede met him head-on, standing ready.
Kise Ryota lowered his center, dribbling rapidly between his legs, shoulders swaying with the rhythm. The instant Rukawa judged, Kise exploded with fierce acceleration, forcing his way past!
In a blink, Kise Ryota had charged inside the free throw line.
Only Akagi Takenori remained under the basket. After Kise's reverse layup last possession, Akagi Takenori was clearly more cautious this time. He stood firmly in the paint, eyes sharply locked on Kise Ryota's movements.
However, Kise Ryota suddenly stopped and rose in front of him.
Akagi Takenori startled, quickly jumping to contest with arms fully extended.
"I can disrupt this!" Akagi Takenori's height and wingspan gave him aerial control in the paint.
"What?!"
Kise Ryota stabilized his form mid-air, upper body leaning back noticeably, instantly creating distance between them.
"Whoosh!"
The basketball traced a beautiful arc over Akagi Takenori's fingertips.
"Swish!"
Perfect swish!
Shohoku 86 - Kaijo 91
"Lightning-fast response! Kise Ryota scores against all of Shohoku in even more spectacular fashion!"
Shohoku's offense.
Rukawa Kaede accelerated with the ball again. But the instant he beat Kise Ryota, Kasamatsu Yukio and Moriyama Yoshitaka trapped him with a double-team.
"This is bad," Yagami Sorato said quietly.
"Right, didn't expect Kaijo to react so quickly," Koshino Hiroaki said. "Rukawa Kaede's got no opportunity now."
"No, I mean—Kaijo's in trouble."
"Huh?!" Koshino Hiroaki looked at Yagami Sorato.
"They haven't realized—Rukawa Kaede and Kise Ryota aren't the same type of player."
"BANG!"
Rukawa Kaede fired a bounce pass. The basketball threaded between both defenders, reaching Mitsui Hisashi's hands.
"No way?! Does he still have the energy to shoot?!" Every eye in the arena turned toward Mitsui Hisashi.
He used his body's last ounce of strength to rise up, delivering the ball with steady form.
Time seemed to slow in that moment.
"Swish!"
Three points!
Shohoku 89 - Kaijo 91
"It's good!!!"
"How can he still make it?!!"
"Fourth quarter—Mitsui Hisashi's gone 3-for-4 from three!!"
"Huff... huff..." Mitsui Hisashi gasped heavily. "What a pathetic state I'm in..."
The score still wasn't tied. Was this as far as he could go?
His vision gradually blurred. One more step felt like it would make him collapse.
"BEEP!"
"Shohoku substitution—number 5 Kogure Kiminobu in, number 14 Mitsui Hisashi out."
"Mitsui, you okay?" Kogure Kiminobu took the court, helping him to the sideline and handing him to the bench players.
"Kogure, stay tight on that guy. Don't let him shoot threes," Mitsui Hisashi said.
"Don't worry, Coach Anzai has a plan!"
"Good. That's good then." Mitsui Hisashi looked toward the electronic scoreboard. "The rest... is up to you guys."
"You have to win!"
Three minutes remained in the game.
Kaijo's offense. After Kogure Kiminobu entered, he switched onto Moriyama Yoshitaka while Sakuragi Hanamichi returned to the paint guarding Kaijo's power forward Hayakawa Mitsuhiro.
Kise Ryota continued isolating, cutting into the paint before facing Sakuragi Hanamichi's help defense and lobbing the ball high.
"Such a high arc! He had to do that to avoid Sakuragi Hanamichi's block."
"CLANG!"
But it missed!
The ball bounced high off the rim.
"Rebound!"
"How can we keep letting you run wild?!!" Kobori Koji abandoned jumping, lowering his center of gravity to box out Akagi Takenori's waist.
Hayakawa Mitsuhiro secured advantageous position and leaped with full force, both hands reaching for the basketball.
"?!!"
"How is this possible?! Damn it!" Hayakawa Mitsuhiro's eyes widened in disbelief.
Before his eyes, Sakuragi Hanamichi's hands reached the ball first.
But another hand pressed against the basketball.
"I won't let you have it!"
"BOOM!!"
Kise Ryota slammed it through the rim over Sakuragi Hanamichi!
Shohoku 89 - Kaijo 93
"He, he crashed in for the rebound?!!"
"Terrifying! He can jump that high too!!"
"The lead's extending again!"
"Kise! Kise!"
With that, Kise Ryota had just reached exactly 40 points for this game!
"Bring it on!" After retreating on defense, Kasamatsu Yukio shouted toward Shohoku's players. "Victory belongs to Kaijo!"
Shohoku's offense.
"Don't rush, take it slow," Kogure Kiminobu called out loudly. "Don't let their momentum crush us!"
Sakuragi Hanamichi stood under Shohoku's basket motionless.
"It's over—getting posterized while fighting for a rebound must be tremendous humiliation for him..." Mito Yohei leaned against the railing worriedly.
"Idiot, how long are you going to stand there?" Rukawa Kaede said coldly. "If you don't want to play, get off the court. Don't waste time."
"Damn you!" Sakuragi Hanamichi glared at Rukawa Kaede. "Damn, damn, DAMN!"
"You got played by that guy too—you've got nerve talking!"
"Idiot."
"You two, don't fight now!" Kogure Kiminobu suddenly grew worried.
Rukawa Kaede ignored him, receiving Miyagi Ryota's pass before charging toward the frontcourt.
Kise Ryota couldn't stop Rukawa Kaede either.
Shohoku scored 2 points.
Shohoku 91 - Kaijo 93
Kaijo's offense.
Kise Ryota continued calling for isolations.
However, Miyagi Ryota stuck tight to Kasamatsu Yukio, subtly cutting off his passing lane to the right.
"Getting so close—is that wise?"
Kasamatsu Yukio's center of gravity dropped sharply, accelerating past Miyagi Ryota's left side.
"I knew you'd do that..." Miyagi Ryota thought helplessly, immediately spinning to chase.
Kasamatsu Yukio stopped for a mid-range jumper.
"Swish!"
Two points!
Shohoku 91 - Kaijo 95
Today, Kaijo's other players were also performing above their level!
Time ticked away second by second.
Shohoku fast-breaked. Kaijo applied "light pressure" without fouling, forcing Shohoku to slow down.
"Whoosh!"
Miyagi Ryota passed left. Kogure Kiminobu, running on fresh legs, caught in space and immediately released a three-pointer.
"CLANG!"
Missed!
Akagi Takenori grabbed the rebound, scoring on a jump hook for 2 points.
Shohoku barely extended by 2.
Shohoku 93 - Kaijo 95
Kaijo's offense. Kasamatsu Yukio controlled the tempo with the ball.
Miyagi Ryota had to press forward. Kasamatsu Yukio seized the opening, easily passing to Kise Ryota.
"As I thought—that was just my imagination. You're still far from ready."
Rukawa Kaede frowned, not giving Kise Ryota time to burn clock, immediately pressuring.
Kise Ryota executed a crossover, quickly slicing past on the left.
Sakuragi Hanamichi rotated to help, blocking his path. Rukawa Kaede also caught up quickly.
Double-team!
Kise Ryota stopped.
"Kise!" Hayakawa Mitsuhiro cut toward the basket.
"Should I pass?" Kise Ryota hesitated for an instant.
After losing to Ryonan, Kaijo had only faced one crucial moment requiring a pass. He'd chosen to give the ball to Kasamatsu Yukio, who'd perfectly drained the three-pointer to win their practice game against Seirin.
But now—they were leading.
If he passed to a teammate who missed, the momentum could reverse.
"Do it myself!"
Kise Ryota's mind made the decision, rhythm suddenly shifting.
Just then, Miyagi Ryota abandoned Kasamatsu Yukio and ran toward Kise Ryota.
"Kise!" Kasamatsu Yukio shouted.
Kise Ryota looked his way while also spotting the rotating Miyagi Ryota.
"A triple-team?"
Kise Ryota's lips curved in an excited smile. The instant the ball returned to his hand, he faked pushing it toward Kasamatsu Yukio's direction.
"Not good? He'll actually pass?!" Miyagi Ryota's footsteps stuttered.
"BANG!"
The ball didn't leave his hands.
Kise Ryota pulled it behind his back in one behind-the-back dribble, threading between Sakuragi Hanamichi and Rukawa Kaede.
Shohoku's three players hadn't formed the trap!
Instead, Kise Ryota had created space!
The sideline spectators watched dumbstruck. In Ryonan's section, every face turned grave.
That was the breakthrough move—from their practice game when Yagami Sorato drove against them!
Gathered, jumped, shot!
Sakuragi Hanamichi exploded upward with maximum effort. The basketball passed through his fingertips.
Kise Ryota's heart swelled with exhilaration.
"CLANG!"
"???"
The basketball bounced high off the rim.
"That guy touched it?!!" Kise Ryota's heart shook violently.
"Smack!"
Akagi Takenori grabbed the rebound, whipping it toward the frontcourt with force!
"Get back!!!"
Kasamatsu Yukio chased Miyagi Ryota. Except for Akagi Takenori, all of Shohoku ran!
After catching, Miyagi Ryota whipped it backward. Kogure Kiminobu caught beyond the three-point line and rose.
Moriyama Yoshitaka closed out.
"BANG!"
Kogure Kiminobu bounced the ball hard off the floor, passing to Rukawa Kaede.
Rukawa Kaede raised the ball in shooting motion.
"Not happening!" Kise Ryota leaped from behind to block.
Rukawa Kaede didn't shoot—instead waiting for Kise to fly past before stepping back to the three-point line.
"So composed..." Kasamatsu Yukio's pupils contracted as he sprinted desperately toward Rukawa.
But they were still separated by two or three steps.
Rukawa Kaede calmly, steadily released.
"Swish!"
Three points!
Shohoku 96 - Kaijo 95
"IT'S GOOD—!"
Shohoku had taken the lead!!!
Only one minute remained!
Kaijo quickly inbounded. Kasamatsu Yukio pushed the ball rapidly forward.
"Defense! Defense!" Shohoku's bench shouted in unison.
In this crucial moment, Rukawa Kaede and Sakuragi Hanamichi directly double-teamed Kise Ryota!
"Damn! Can't receive the ball!"
Kise Ryota finally felt a trace of panic.
Kasamatsu Yukio lobbed inside to Hayakawa Mitsuhiro. Hayakawa quickly cut toward the basket. Sakuragi Hanamichi immediately recovered to protect the paint.
"You can't catch me!"
Hayakawa Mitsuhiro reached the restricted area first, rising for the dunk!
"SMACK!"
Kobori Koji couldn't stop Akagi Takenori at all—he rotated right, swatting both ball and player, sending Hayakawa crashing!
Clean block!
Sakuragi Hanamichi grabbed the loose ball to launch the break.
"Smack!"
Kise Ryota stripped it!
But before he could react, Rukawa Kaede stole it right back!
Seeing this, Sakuragi Hanamichi immediately sprinted toward Kaijo's half.
Moriyama Yoshitaka quickly retreated. If he could just stop this one play, there'd still be hope!
Rukawa Kaede fired a strong outlet pass. Sakuragi Hanamichi caught it, charging inside Kaijo's free throw line.
"Come at me!" Moriyama Yoshitaka planted himself under the basket, arms raised high. He could tell Sakuragi Hanamichi's basketball IQ was low—if he couldn't resist dunking, maybe he could draw an offensive foul!
"Sakuragi!"
A voice called from behind. Without hesitation, Sakuragi tossed the ball backward.
Kogure Kiminobu caught beyond the three-point line, quickly adjusting for the release.
The basketball traced a beautiful arc through the air.
"Swish!"
Three points!
Shohoku 99 - Kaijo 95
17 seconds remained!
Kaijo quickly inbounded. Shohoku's trap on Kise Ryota grew even more aggressive.
Both Kasamatsu Yukio and Moriyama Yoshitaka were blanketed, unable to find three-point opportunities. Kasamatsu Yukio didn't hesitate—he still passed to Hayakawa Mitsuhiro.
Hayakawa Mitsuhiro immediately pulled up from mid-range.
Two points.
Shohoku 99 - Kaijo 97
8 seconds remained!
Shohoku inbounded. Hayakawa Mitsuhiro immediately grabbed Sakuragi Hanamichi.
Sakuragi Hanamichi: "???"
"BEEP! Kaijo number 10, foul."
Sakuragi Hanamichi awarded 2 free throws.
"Kaijo's judgment is pretty decisive—using foul strategy at this point is still a gamble," Yagami Sorato said. "If Sakuragi hadn't developed a shot, Shohoku might actually be in danger."
Uozumi Jun gazed at his nose, nose at his heart, pretending not to hear. He silently vowed to perfect his free throws!
Sakuragi Hanamichi nervously walked to the line. Kogure Kiminobu had just explained the opponent's tactical intent.
By making him shoot free throws to quickly regain possession, how many he made was critical.
Make both—Kaijo basically had no hope. Make one—Kaijo might have a chance to tie. Miss both—Shohoku could be killed by his mistake.
"Damn, underestimating this genius." Sakuragi Hanamichi glared at Hayakawa Mitsuhiro who'd grabbed him.
"Sakuragi! You can do it!" Akagi Haruko's voice rang clear and sweet from the stands.
"Haruko~"
After his heart fluttered briefly, Sakuragi Hanamichi quickly refocused.
"BEEP!" The referee's whistle sounded.
"Swish!"
One made!
"Nice, Sakuragi!" The Sakuragi Army also cheered at this crucial moment.
"BEEP!"
"Swish!"
Both free throws made!
Shohoku 101 - Kaijo 97
"I really am a genius! Hahahaha!" Sakuragi Hanamichi laughed arrogantly.
Kaijo called timeout.
"That guy made both free throws..." Kaijo's players' faces had turned completely grim.
"In that case, we must quickly hit a three-pointer, then foul Shohoku's number 10 again," Coach Takeuchi said. "Kobori and Hayakawa—come to the perimeter to help screen. Once the perimeter gets a shot opportunity, then crash for the offensive board!"
"YES!"
The timeout ended. Kaijo inbounded from Shohoku's baseline.
Kasamatsu Yukio inbounded as Kise Ryota and Moriyama Yoshitaka continuously moved and weaved through screens searching for opportunities.
"BEEP!"
"Whoosh!"
Kasamatsu Yukio released the ball. Kise Ryota cut back to receive it, immediately rising for the shot!
"Why didn't Sakuragi Hanamichi come trap me just now?" In the instant the ball left his hands, Kise Ryota suddenly wondered.
Then he saw it—a crimson figure directly in front.
"SMACK!"
Sakuragi Hanamichi swatted the basketball away!
Miyagi Ryota, right where he expected, grabbed the loose ball behind Kaijo's players and tossed it high into the air.
"BEEEEEP—!"
Game over!
The final score locked at Shohoku 101 - Kaijo 97. Kaijo's expected script never materialized.
Winner: Shohoku High School.