Thump...
Two clear, powerful thuds suddenly rang out across the court.
Akagi Takenori and Hanagata Toru leaped high almost simultaneously. They stretched out their arms, clawing toward the basketball suspended overhead like eagles' talons.
"Evenly matched." Seeing the tense scene, Kogure Kiminobu's eyes flashed with excitement, and he could not help murmuring.
"No, wait. Look." Just then, Ayako called out a warning.
Everyone quickly focused their attention. Akagi Takenori's palm was half a section higher than Hanagata Toru's, and it reached the basketball first.
Smack...
With a faint, crisp sound, Akagi Takenori successfully tipped the ball, sending it downward.
The basketball then landed steadily in Sakuragi Hanamichi's hands.
Seeing this, everyone from Shohoku perked up, secretly cheering.
"Great! We got the ball first." The first-year Shohoku players cheered excitedly in unison, their faces bright with delight.
However, two people did not join the cheering: Qing Junce and Shimizu Kanon.
Just then, Qing Junce suddenly said something completely inappropriate: "This is simply ridiculous."
Shimizu Kanon also wore an exasperated expression.
At the same time.
Tweet...
A sharp whistle suddenly rang out.
Sakuragi Hanamichi had just caught the ball and was preparing to dribble forward when his body abruptly froze. Panic instantly appeared on his face as he hurriedly turned toward the referee and said in a tearful voice, "What is it this time? I didn't do anything! Don't tell me I committed another foul?"
He was utterly flustered, terrified that he had made another mistake.
However, the referee ignored him and pointed at Akagi Takenori, saying sternly, "Jump-ball violation, Shohoku number four."
Hmph...
Hanagata Toru's lips curled slightly. He let out a gloating snort and prepared to inbound the ball and attack.
Akagi Takenori said nothing, but his expression grew somewhat ugly, and a trace of frustration showed in his eyes.
In the stands.
Seeing her brother foul, Akagi Haruko wore an awkward expression. "Brother, he..."
Takamiya Nozomi opened his mouth in astonishment and said, "I thought only Sakuragi committed fouls! I never expected even Gorilla to foul."
On the other side.
"Shoyo... Shoyo... Shoyo..."
The Shoyo cheerleaders cheered and jumped excitedly, waving their props as if Shohoku's foul had been caused by them personally.
The fervent cheers placed even greater pressure on the Shohoku players, making their already tense moods heavier.
Possession went to Shoyo.
The Shohoku players quickly retreated on defense, standing ready and preparing themselves.
"Good. We'll score first." Fujima Kenji dribbled skillfully with his left hand while raising one finger with his right. His eyes were resolute, and his tone was steady.
As soon as he finished speaking, Fujima Kenji immediately began dribbling, leading the Shoyo players in a fierce offensive push.
The other Shoyo players also moved quickly, each finding his defensive target.
Takano Shoichi moved swiftly and firmly blocked Sakuragi Hanamichi's path.
Nagano Mitsuru stuck to Rukawa Kaede like a shadow.
Hasegawa Kazushi faced Mitsui Hisashi directly, his eyes filled with fighting spirit.
Hanagata Toru cleverly boxed out Akagi Takenori, claiming a favorable position in Shohoku's restricted area.
For a moment, Shohoku's half of the court seemed shrouded in tension, thick with the smell of gunpowder.
Miyagi Ryota took the initiative and stepped forward, directly blocking Fujima Kenji.
Bang...
Bang...
Bang...
The sound of the basketball striking the floor rang exceptionally clearly through the quiet gymnasium.
Fujima Kenji looked at Miyagi Ryota before him, his eyes utterly calm and showing no fluctuation.
Suddenly, he gathered the ball and raised it. Right in front of Miyagi Ryota, he tossed it straight toward Shohoku's interior.
Miyagi Ryota watched the basketball fly over his head, his eyes widening in surprise.
He instinctively tried to reach out and intercept it, but the obvious difference in height meant his arm could not reach the ball's path at all.
At that moment, Hanagata Toru and Akagi Takenori occupied the area beneath Shohoku's basket.
Relying on his excellent positioning technique, Hanagata Toru firmly kept Akagi Takenori behind him. He then calmly extended his hand and caught the incoming basketball.
After receiving the ball, Hanagata Toru took a step forward without hesitation, then swiftly spun and leaped, making a shooting motion.
Seeing this, Akagi Takenori naturally could not stand by and watch.
He stepped forward as well, refusing to be outdone, and leaped after him, thinking, As long as I can suppress Hanagata here, Shohoku's momentum will definitely rise by a huge amount.
Off the court.
Seeing Akagi Takenori prepare to block Hanagata Toru's shot, the Shohoku players grew excited and began cheering him on.
"Akagi, keep him from getting through!" Kogure Kiminobu shouted encouragement with an expectant look.
Shiosaki Satoshi also joined in, yelling, "Come on, Captain Akagi! Show him what you've got!"
Qing Junce, however, curled his lip disdainfully and said softly, "What an idiot."
Huh...?
Hearing him, Ayako looked puzzled and asked in confusion, "Qing Junce, how can you call Captain Akagi an idiot?"
The other players also cast reproachful looks at him.
Naturally, they did not want to hear anyone speak of Akagi Takenori that way. However, because it was Qing Junce, they could only complain silently in their hearts and did not dare show it.
Ignoring the unfriendly looks around him, Qing Junce explained, "Did none of you notice what Captain Akagi looks like right now?"
What he looks like?
Everyone looked confused, completely unable to understand what Qing Junce meant.
Ayako pressed him, "What's wrong with Captain Akagi's appearance?"
Qing Junce patiently said, "Compared with usual, Captain Akagi is being far too aggressive right now. Charging in to block the shot without thinking will only let the opponent take advantage of him."
Huh?
After hearing Qing Junce's explanation, the Shohoku players fell silent.
For a moment, they could not determine whether what Qing Junce said was true.
However, they received their answer in the very next instant.
On the court.
Akagi Takenori pressed tightly against Hanagata Toru, trying to block his shot.
Hanagata Toru's body began leaning backward, making the motion of a Fadeaway Jumper.
A Fadeaway Jumper?
When Akagi Takenori saw this, his pupils suddenly contracted. Startled, he involuntarily sped up his movement, trying to stop Hanagata Toru from shooting.
However, in the next instant.
Smack...
A crisp sound rang out.
Akagi Takenori's palm struck Hanagata Toru's arm squarely.
Hanagata Toru released the basketball a fraction of a second later.
Whoosh...
The basketball traced a beautiful arc through the air, flying over Akagi Takenori's head before dropping accurately into the basket.
Swish...
The ball went through the net.
Shohoku 0, Shoyo 2.
Shoyo scored first.
At the same time.
Tweet...
The referee's crisp whistle rang out across the court. He immediately pointed at Akagi Takenori and said sternly, "Shohoku number four, reaching foul. Basket counts, plus one free throw."
Boom...
The call exploded in the minds of the Shohoku players like a bolt from the blue.
No one had expected Akagi Takenori to commit two consecutive fouls right at the beginning of the game.
Akagi Takenori recovered from his brief astonishment. Wearing a bewildered expression, he slowly raised his hand.
"Ah, how did this happen?! You really called it." Kogure Kiminobu looked completely deflated as he spoke helplessly.
Yasuda Yasuharu looked tense and said worriedly, "Two fouls right at the start. This is bad."
Shiosaki Satoshi was equally concerned as he asked, "Captain Akagi should be all right, shouldn't he?"
Ayako furrowed her brows tightly and anxiously turned to Coach Anzai beside her. "Coach Anzai, should we call a timeout first?"
Anzai Mitsuyoshi stroked his chin and pondered for a moment before turning to Shimizu Kanon. "Kanon, do you think we should call a timeout now?"
"Huh?" Shimizu Kanon froze slightly, clearly not expecting Coach Anzai to suddenly ask for her opinion. She quickly composed herself and answered seriously, "It isn't necessary for now. I've already given everyone the information. As long as they follow what we discussed earlier, there shouldn't be any major problems."
Anzai Mitsuyoshi nodded. He had carefully read the information Shimizu Kanon had prepared for the players.
He had to admit that Shimizu Kanon's talent was extraordinarily outstanding—practically monstrous.
He had never imagined that anyone could study an opponent's information in such meticulous, comprehensive detail.
In his view, if they were talking about who currently had the strongest individual ability on Shohoku, there was no doubt it was Qing Junce.
However, if they were talking about who was the most frightening person on Shohoku, it was undoubtedly Shimizu Kanon.
Shimizu Kanon was practically every opposing team's nightmare. Her command of and ability to analyze information could give the team an enormous advantage during a game.
Even if Shohoku had originally been an ordinary team, with Shimizu Kanon's support, it could rapidly grow into an elite team that no other squad would dare underestimate.
Yet, contrary to everyone's expectations, the situation on the court abruptly took a sharp turn in the following moments, completely exceeding Shimizu Kanon's predictions and the expectations of everyone from Shohoku.
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