Control of the Game by Tsukitake?!

Inside the gym, the lights shone brightly. The basketball's surface gave off a faint orange glow as it bounced and flickered under everyone's gaze.

Akagi Takenori and Nangou Koichiro were like two mountains rising from the earth. They leaped high at the same time, reaching for the falling basketball.

Smack...

Two enormous palms, broad as fans, struck the basketball almost simultaneously.

Squeezed by the force of their hands, the basketball shot away like a wild horse breaking free, whoosh.

Shōhoku's bench.

Everyone was startled by the sight.

They were evenly matched.

Ishii Kentaro's eyes widened, and he couldn't help exclaiming, "That opposing No. 15 is a first-year, right?"

Sasazuka Tomoya followed up, "I really didn't expect him to be able to jump that high."

On the court.

After flying away, the basketball happened to fall toward Tsukitake's side.

In the blink of an eye, the ball was passed into Natsume Hiroshi's hands.

Miyagi Ryota quickly stepped forward, spreading his arms wide like a moving wall and blocking Natsume Hiroshi's path.

The corner of Natsume Hiroshi's mouth curled up. His body suddenly feinted to one side, then he raised the basketball high as though preparing to pass.

Miyagi Ryota reacted incredibly quickly and was just about to move when Natsume Hiroshi abruptly pulled the motion back. With a behind-the-back change of direction, he instantly fooled Miyagi Ryota, then followed with another behind-the-back crossover.

Miyagi Ryota stumbled and lost his defensive position. All he could do was watch helplessly as Natsume Hiroshi dribbled toward Shōhoku's basket.

Seeing this, Rukawa Kaede sped after him, his feet seeming to generate wind as he kept up the pressure.

Just as Rukawa Kaede successfully cut Natsume Hiroshi off, Natsume Hiroshi didn't slow down. Instead, his hand moved as if performing a magic trick, flinging the basketball to the side and sending it accurately to Nangou Koichiro.

After receiving the ball, Nangou Koichiro charged toward Shōhoku's interior while dribbling and shouted at the top of his lungs, "Move, move! Watch this!"

"Don't get cocky, brat." Akagi Takenori stuck tightly to him, giving him no chance at all.

The moment they reached the basket, Nangou Koichiro leaped as if he had springs installed in his legs, preparing to shoot.

Akagi Takenori refused to be outdone. He leaped high at the same instant, his palm slicing through the air with a whoosh as he slammed it down.

Smack...

A dull thud rang out.

Nangou Koichiro was thoroughly blocked by Akagi Takenori's Big block.

However, the basketball flew away because of it and landed in Natsume Hiroshi's hands once again.

Natsume Hiroshi reacted instantly. Without even looking, he saw Rukawa Kaede approaching and immediately spun around to make a behind-the-back pass, sending the ball to Tsukitake's power forward, Mine Kenta.

Mine Kenta received the ball and, using Natsume Hiroshi's screen, tossed it backward again, passing it to his team's captain, Godai Tomokazu.

At that moment, there was no one in front of Godai Tomokazu. He was completely open.

Without hesitation, he raised the ball, leaped, and released it in one smooth motion.

The basketball traced a beautiful rainbow-like arc through the air and dropped precisely into Shōhoku's basket.

Swish...

Nothing but net.

Shōhoku 0–3 Tsukitake.

Tsukitake scored first.

In an instant, the cheers of Tsukitake's cheer squad erupted from the stands like a surging tide.

"Tsukitake... Tsukitake... Tsukitake..."

Shōhoku's bench.

"They're so fast. Their coordination is incredible," Yasuda Yasuharu exclaimed.

Shiosaki Satoshi also spoke gravely. "They actually managed to avoid Rukawa Kaede and Miyagi so easily."

Ayako stared in astonishment. "Although most of Tsukitake's players are short, they make up for it with their speed. Their offensive rhythm and coordination are excellent too."

Coach Anzai nodded beside her. "Yes. They're a very good team."

Shimizu Kanon spoke up at this moment. "Tsukitake's weakness is obvious: their height. This style of play can certainly catch us off guard, but as the game goes on, their stamina will decrease sharply. Of course, the same applies to us, but..."

She looked up at Qing Junce on the court and thought to herself, If they can't stop A-Ce, coordination alone won't be enough.

Akagi Takenori's eyes swept sharply across the court, quickly checking the positions of his teammates.

He was just about to pass the ball to Qing Junce when two people suddenly appeared beside Qing Junce. They were none other than Tsukitake's Nangou Koichiro and Mine Kenta.

Nangou Koichiro looked at Qing Junce with a malicious grin. "I won't let you get the ball. As long as I'm here, don't even think about it."

A double-team on Qing Junce right from the start?

The Shōhoku players and the spectators were so shocked they could hardly close their mouths. No one had expected Tsukitake to place such importance on Qing Junce.

Seeing that he couldn't pass to Qing Junce, Akagi Takenori decisively sent the ball to Miyagi Ryota.

Miyagi Ryota charged forward with the ball like a gust of wind.

But before he even reached half court, Natsume Hiroshi blocked his path like a ghost.

Miyagi Ryota tried everything he could, darting left and right, but Natsume Hiroshi clung to him like chewing gum. No matter what he did, he couldn't shake him off.

With no other choice, Miyagi Ryota glanced from the corner of his eye, caught sight of a flash of red, and immediately waved his hand to pass.

But at that moment, Natsume Hiroshi reacted instantly. He reached out, and his fingertips touched the basketball as it flew away.

The basketball was intercepted in an instant and luckily fell into Tsukitake's hands.

Mine Kenta appeared from who knew where and securely caught the ball Natsume Hiroshi had intercepted.

Before Miyagi Ryota could react, Mine Kenta suddenly slammed the basketball toward the space between his legs.

The ball bounced off the floor and returned to Natsume Hiroshi through Miyagi Ryota's legs.

Natsume Hiroshi seized the opportunity to make a long pass. The basketball traced a long arc through the air and landed precisely in Nangou Koichiro's hands.

Nangou Koichiro caught the ball, leaped, and completed a beautiful three-step layup in one fluid motion.

The basketball went cleanly through the net.

Shōhoku 0–5 Tsukitake.

It was Shōhoku's turn to inbound.

Qing Junce was double-teamed again and couldn't receive the ball at all.

Rukawa Kaede was also defended tightly.

This time, Akagi Takenori passed the ball to Mitsui Hisashi.

Mitsui Hisashi received it and immediately charged forward like an arrow released from a bow. He dribbled past two opponents in succession and fought his way to the front of Tsukitake's three-point line.

He leaped off both feet, aimed at the basket, and prepared to shoot a three-pointer.

However, a black shadow suddenly flashed into view. It was Godai Tomokazu.

He stretched his arm high, like a black wall, blocking Mitsui Hisashi's shooting path.

Immediately afterward, Godai Tomokazu swung his palm fiercely.

Smack...

With a crisp sound, the basketball was swatted away.

Mine Kenta reacted quickly and arrived in time to catch the flying ball securely. He then made a behind-the-back pass, sending it to Natsume Hiroshi.

Natsume Hiroshi dribbled quickly and charged straight into Shōhoku's interior.

But he didn't enter the key. Instead, he suddenly stopped in front of it.

Right in front of Akagi Takenori, he spun around and made a return pass, sending the ball to Godai Tomokazu, who was arriving from behind.

After receiving the ball, Godai Tomokazu leaped high and shot again.

Whoosh...

The basketball tore through the air and once again dropped cleanly into Shōhoku's basket.

Shōhoku 0–8 Tsukitake.

Aida Yayoi stared in surprise at the score on the electronic scoreboard. "I didn't expect Tsukitake to take control of the game right from the start. When Shōhoku focuses on Tsukitake's center, Godai's three-pointers take advantage of the opening. What is Shōhoku going to do?"

Over at Ryonan.

Aida Kenichi looked at the 0–8 score in disbelief. "Shōhoku hasn't scored even once! What on earth is going on? Rukawa Kaede and Qing Junce both seem to have been restrained."

Koshino Hiroaki analyzed the situation. "That center from Tsukitake is no simple player. He completely drew Akagi's attention away."

Ikegami Ryoji continued, "Tsukitake restricted Qing Junce's movement right from the beginning. They clearly intend to stop him from getting the ball easily."

Sendoh looked at Qing Junce below without saying anything.

He didn't believe Qing Junce could be restricted by just two people.

Elsewhere.

Hanagata Toru watched the situation on the court and said, "Tsukitake's inside and outside players are supporting each other. If Shōhoku keeps allowing Tsukitake to score, the situation will spiral out of control."

Fujima Kenji's gaze was deep. "There are three players who can break Shōhoku out of this unfavorable situation: Rukawa Kaede, Mitsui Hisashi, and Qing Junce. Although I don't know the full extent of Qing Junce's ability, it will be difficult for Tsukitake to lock down all three of them at once."

As if to prove Fujima Kenji's words right.

Possession returned to Shōhoku.

This time, it wasn't Qing Junce who made the first move, but Rukawa Kaede.

Rukawa Kaede used a feint to fool his opponent, quickly ran into open space, and successfully received the pass.

With the ball in hand, he charged toward Tsukitake's basket like a whirlwind.

Izumi Takashi hurried forward to stop him, but Rukawa Kaede was too fast. With several consecutive changes of direction, he slipped past Izumi Takashi like a loach.

Rukawa Kaede quickly stepped into Tsukitake's interior and then leaped high to shoot.

Nangou Koichiro arrived in time and leaped high, preparing to block him.

Just as everyone thought Rukawa Kaede's shot was about to be blocked.

Rukawa Kaede suddenly pulled his shooting hand back. His body turned in midair, and he tossed the basketball toward the side and behind him.

A look of surprise appeared on Nangou Koichiro's face.

At that moment, a figure suddenly appeared and firmly caught Rukawa Kaede's pass.

It was none other than Akagi Takenori.

Akagi Takenori held the ball in both hands, stomped hard, and leaped like an enraged king of the forest, slamming it fiercely through Tsukitake's basket.

Crash!

The basketball went in.

Shōhoku 2–8 Tsukitake.

Shōhoku had finally broken its scoring drought since the opening.

"It's fine. We'll get one back from them." Godai Tomokazu clapped his hands, encouraging his teammates.

"Yes..." The Tsukitake players answered in unison, their morale soaring.

Heh...

Just then, Qing Junce suddenly let out a cold laugh. "I thought making the top eight of the Prefectural Tournament meant you were impressive. What a joke."

His voice wasn't loud, but it was like a pebble dropped into a still lake. The players from both Shōhoku and Tsukitake heard him clearly, and even the spectators along the sidelines caught fragments of it.

"What is he talking about?"

"Shōhoku is the one trailing right now. Is he just bragging?"

"Could falling behind have made him give up and start talking nonsense?"

The spectators began discussing it among themselves, wondering whether Qing Junce was simply boasting.

Nangou Koichiro looked at Qing Junce, his face full of smugness, and said arrogantly, "What nonsense are you spouting? We're the ones in the lead. We've already shut you down completely. You can't do anything, can you?"

"Huh? What kind of joke is that?" Qing Junce's face was filled with undisguised contempt.

He looked up at the Tsukitake players and said, "Shut me down? Just you?"

He turned around and ignored the Tsukitake players, walking toward his own basket. At the same time, he said to Akagi Takenori, "Don't worry about them. Just pass the ball to me."