Chapter 155: Pretty Impressive Too
Ryonan scored first!
"Hah, that guy's fired up right from the start," Aomine Daiki shifted into a more comfortable position leaning against his seatback.
"Really?" Momoi Satsuki sat beside him, hands cupping her chin. "I feel like Yagami-kun is always like this."
"You wouldn't understand," Aomine said dismissively.
"Hmph, I don't want to understand!" Momoi turned her head away. Stupid Dai-chan.
Rakuzan's possession.
"Let's play steady and answer back with one!" Rakuzan's bench shouted from the sideline.
Akashi Seijuro calmly received the baseline inbound. The moment he crossed halfcourt, Sendoh Akira stepped up to meet him. Akashi didn't rush the offense, instead protecting the ball with one hand while observing Ryonan's defensive alignment.
Swish!
The ball flew precisely to the left corner. Mibuchi Reo caught it.
"Shouldn't Yagami be guarding me?" Mibuchi raised an eyebrow, looking dissatisfied at Ikegami Ryoji in front of him. "I don't like these uncultured types."
"Hah? Bastard, you picking a fight?" Ikegami spat, suppressing his anger.
He maintained a one-step defensive distance, his center of gravity extremely low, arms spread wide. This spacing allowed him to contest shots while still reacting in time if his opponent drove.
Mibuchi silently assessed Ikegami. The opponent's defensive fundamentals were quite solid, his footwork quick. Though he lacked the height advantage of Yosen's Liu Wei, his wingspan was excellent relative to his height. More importantly, he wasn't simply defending against the three-pointer while ignoring drives—his positioning balance was superb.
"Reo."
Akashi's voice carried from the top of the key.
"I know, Sei-chan." Mibuchi didn't engage further. After glancing at the vigilant Ikegami, he lobbed the ball inside.
Rakuzan's first offensive possession aimed to observe each matchup's defensive situation. Once Akashi gauged the threat level at each position, he could more effectively orchestrate the offense.
Nebuya caught it, immediately feeling the heavy pressure Uozumi Jun applied to his back. He grunted, backing down hard with his dribble, trying to muscle open space.
Immovable.
"Seems this guy's muscles are the real deal."
Nebuya immediately used the reaction force to spin toward the free throw line, creating half a step of separation for a hook shot.
Uozumi couldn't jump in time, only raising both hands to contest.
Clang!
The ball hit front iron and bounced high. Uozumi roared, securing the defensive board.
Ryonan counterattack!
But Rakuzan's transition defense was alarmingly fast. They showed no panic, as if everything remained within expectations.
Sendoh received Uozumi's outlet pass. Seeing this, he didn't rush, steadily controlling the tempo as he advanced past halfcourt.
Akashi stepped up, blocking Sendoh's path.
"I see," Sendoh's lips curled into that elusive smile. While skillfully protecting the ball, he said, "You weren't specifically targeting Sorato earlier—you were just defending whoever had the ball, right?"
"..." Akashi watched Sendoh calmly, neither confirming nor denying.
But somehow, seeing Sendoh Akira's casual smile stirred an instinctive distaste in Akashi's heart. His intuition told him they held fundamentally different attitudes toward basketball.
But he couldn't be wrong.
Basketball was only about "absolutes" and "victory."
After observing Rakuzan's defensive positioning, Sendoh passed out. Yagami Sorato received on the right wing.
Mibuchi stepped up, his face showing interest—completely different from his expression facing Ikegami.
"Little Sorato-kun, I'll take very good care of you."
Recalling the pre-game scouting report, Mibuchi knew Yagami's height was notable for a guard, he had strong driving ability, but his primary offensive weapon was surprise three-pointers.
Hearing Mibuchi's "provocation," Yagami's brow furrowed. Without any fancy setup, his body exploded left, his first-step burst causing Mibuchi's pupils to contract sharply—
Faster than the footage!
Mibuchi hurriedly slid laterally, but Yagami beat him by half a body length in just one step!
Yagami attacked the free throw line with the ball. Rakuzan's interior reacted quickly.
Nebuya Eikichi stepped up early to help, arms raised high, sealing shooting space. From the other side, Mayuzumi also rotated over, forming a trap!
"Double-team!" the announcer shouted. "Yagami's in trouble! His signature pull-up jumper will be hard to find space!"
"No, is it three defenders?!"
Mibuchi spun to chase back, giving Yagami zero hesitation room.
"Yagami!" Fukuda Kicchou stepped up from the right to receive.
Bang!
The explosive dribble sound was crisp and powerful, the ball bouncing at extreme speed.
Far from slowing down, Yagami accelerated even faster toward Nebuya.
Nebuya hadn't expected such audacity. He quickly tightened his arms while Mayuzumi also reached to intercept.
However, the instant before contacting them, Yagami's center of gravity dropped as he forced through the middle!
The massive momentum made his form somewhat staggered, but relying on core strength, Yagami forcibly stabilized his balance. After entering the paint, he launched directly skyward!
Uozumi, positioned under the basket for support, quickly cleared space. He had no desire to get posterized by his underclassman again.
BOOM!!
Yagami slammed it home one-handed, landing smoothly before immediately turning to get back on defense.
Ryonan 4, Rakuzan 0
"OHHHHH—!!!" The entire arena erupted in astonished cheers and celebration.
"Him again! Incredible penetration!" The announcer's voice cracked with excitement.
"Facing a double-team, Yagami chose the most forceful approach—powering through for the dunk! He's like a blade, slicing straight through Rakuzan's defensive line!"
"Hey, Akashi." Hayama Kotaro stared at Yagami's retreating back. "Let me guard that guy next."
Yagami's initial positioning was shooting guard, so Rakuzan had tried matching Mibuchi against him since their heights were similar. But Hayama stood only 180cm—a full ten-centimeter disadvantage.
"...Can you handle it?" Akashi asked expressionlessly.
"I can!" Hayama said through gritted teeth. "That was just a momentary lapse. Some cocky first-year punk shouldn't get so arrogant!"
"If I don't hit back, I won't swallow this!"
Mayuzumi Chihiro glanced at Hayama with an exasperated expression. Did this guy not realize Akashi was also a first-year?
However, Akashi clearly didn't take offense.
"Then try it."
Rakuzan's possession.
Rakuzan's offensive rhythm showed no disruption from the opening consecutive misses. Akashi calmly dribbled past halfcourt, drew Sendoh to the left, then flicked his wrist to pass out.
Hayama Kotaro caught it, facing Yagami head-on, his body radiating a feral energy.
"Hey, don't cry when I destroy you!"
Yagami didn't bother responding.
From the moment this game started, he'd felt something strange.
Every one of Hayama's movements appeared crystal clear in Yagami's eyes—shoulder fakes, footwork direction, dribbling rhythm...
Yagami didn't dwell on this sensation. He simply immersed himself in the game, wanting to sink even deeper into it.
"Not talking? Playing tough guy?" Hayama's expression darkened. After establishing his dribbling rhythm, his fingers went from three, to four, to five!
Bangbangbangbangbang—!
The basketball's bouncing frequency suddenly accelerated. Under his five fingers' frantic manipulation, the speed made many courtside spectators feel dizzy.
Hayama relied on this ultra-high-speed rhythm to disrupt defenders' judgment, creating instantaneous breakthrough gaps.
Yagami retreated one small step backward.
"Hmm?" Hayama's eyebrow twitched. Trying to create distance to prevent getting beaten in one step?
"Heh."
Hayama pulled the ball back, stepped back significantly, and suddenly rose to shoot!
Yagami's expression remained unchanged. His retreated left leg muscles suddenly tensed, exploding with powerful reverse force as his entire body shot forward!
"What?!"
Smack!
Even with the large step-back, Hayama hadn't escaped Yagami's defensive range.
"Blocked!!"
Yagami seized momentum, scooping up the basketball before charging ahead on the break!
Akashi Seijuro chased back from the other side in parallel, positioning himself under the basket.
Then Yagami stopped at the three-point arc, not even adjusting before pulling up.
"Yagami! Sorato, watch out!"
A figure leaped from behind him. Hayama's face was twisted as he swung at the ball in Yagami's hands.
Swish!
Smack!
Before Hayama could hit his hand, the ball had already released cleanly.
Splash!
TWEET!
"Rakuzan number seven, shooting foul! Basket counts, plus one free throw!"
"UWAAAAH—Ryonan just—"
Swish!
Yagami made the free throw.
Ryonan 8, Rakuzan 0
"Eight-point gap!!"
"Ryonan's completely suppressing Rakuzan at the start?!!"
"C-Coach, shouldn't we call timeout to adjust?" Someone on Rakuzan's bench was getting nervous.
"No need." Coach Shirogane looked toward Akashi Seijuro on the court. "Though the situation's somewhat exceeded expectations, as long as Akashi hasn't wavered, there won't be a problem."
"Hayama, what the hell are you doing?!" Nebuya shouted in dissatisfaction.
"Don't let that guy get into rhythm. His scoring ability is strong," Mibuchi added.
"I... I..." Hayama couldn't speak. Just two failed offensive possessions, yet somehow Rakuzan was down eight points!
"Kotaro, you know what to do next, right?" Akashi said coldly.
"Yeah, I understand." Hayama lowered his head.
Rakuzan's possession.
Akashi dribbled past halfcourt. Sendoh quickly stepped up.
Rakuzan's offensive formation set. Mibuchi sank to the corner, Hayama at the right forty-five, Mayuzumi stepped up near the free throw line, and Nebuya established left-block position.
"You seem a bit too pleased with yourselves." Akashi stopped the ball at the top, raising two fingers with his left hand.
Mibuchi launched from the corner. Hayama suddenly cut from the weak side into the paint, then curled out using Mayuzumi's screen.
Ryonan's defensive formation was pulled.
However, the real attacker was Akashi. After multiple changes of direction to create space, he penetrated inside. Sendoh stayed on his hip, arm raised to contest his shooting space.
Swish!
The ball suddenly released—a threading pass through traffic flying toward Hayama.
"Still passing to Hayama?" Sendoh was surprised by the bold choice.
Smack!
A hand appeared in the passing lane. The ball changed direction mid-flight, heading toward Mibuchi curling out the opposite way.
Ikegami's pursuit was half a step slow.
Mibuchi bent his knees, rose, released—movements crisp and decisive without hesitation.
Swish!
Three-pointer!
Ryonan 8, Rakuzan 3
"Rakuzan finally on the board!"
"Oh, so that's his role." Sendoh remarked admirably. "Your team coordination is pretty impressive."
Akashi said nothing, turning to get back on defense.
Ryonan's possession.
Sendoh controlled the ball past halfcourt. Akashi didn't press aggressively, instead holding steady one step inside the three-point line.
"Hehe." Sendoh suddenly stepped back, raising the ball.
Akashi quickly lunged forward, cutting toward Sendoh's ball hand.
Bang!
The ball slammed to the floor. Ikegami appeared behind Akashi, catching the basketball.
Akashi's footwork stuttered. He immediately spun around. Mibuchi blocked Ikegami's path as they quickly formed a trap!
However, Sendoh's movement was a step faster. He cut forward directly. Ikegami executed a hand-off, returning the ball to Sendoh.
"I said don't get cocky."
Akashi had actually anticipated the screen, already around it to confront Sendoh again!
The two faced off once more, only the location had changed.
"Then let's try it."
Sendoh chuckled softly, dropping his weight left to drive.
Akashi's footwork adjusted slightly, staying tight. Sendoh immediately executed a quick crossover, switching to his right hand and accelerating again!
Akashi completely matched his movements, even suddenly closing distance to swipe at the ball!
"!!!"
Sendoh explosively pounded the ball, evading Akashi's pressure, then pulled back while spinning to shield with his body.
Swish!
The instant Sendoh turned, the ball flew out. Yagami stepped up to receive. Hayama reacted extremely fast, sliding to cut him off.
Smack!
The ball changed direction mid-air.
Fukuda Kicchou cut to the basket, caught the pass, and released a high-arcing floater—
Swish!
Two points!
Ryonan 10, Rakuzan 3
"The same passing play replicated by Ryonan!"
"They answered Rakuzan with an exquisite passing sequence of their own!"
"Don't be so hasty." Sendoh smiled casually. "What I was trying to say earlier was—our team coordination is pretty impressive too."
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