Ryonan Battle (2)

Swish!

With Wu Yufei sinking the free throw, Miuradai finally took the lead, going up 5-4.

"Whew, you really are a difficult opponent."

Having just crossed half court, Sendoh saw Wu Yufei stick to him again and spoke helplessly.

"I'll take that as a compliment. Thanks."

Wu Yufei replied with a smile, but his movements did not deform in the slightest.

At their level, both Wu Yufei and Sendoh understood perfectly well that it was only a matter of time before the other broke through their defense.

So Wu Yufei had never intended to completely lock Sendoh down. As long as he could delay Sendoh's rhythm as much as possible and keep him from passing or attacking comfortably, that was enough.

Just like this possession. Sendoh needed a full fifteen seconds before finally shaking off the clinging Wu Yufei, driving into the paint, and forcing up a horseback shot against the double-team of Naito and Ono.

Clang!!

Unfortunately, while the move had looked dazzling, it did not go in.

"Haah!!"

Uozumi, who had established position first, leaped up and secured the rebound. After landing and making a slight adjustment, he jumped again and ignited the entire arena with a two-handed slam.

"There it is!! The Ape King's dunk!!"

"I'm scared he'll rip the whole rim down!"

"Is he really a high school student?? Even pro players probably can't compare to that body!"

The spectators enthusiastically cheered for the thunderous dunk.

"You guys are the difficult ones."

Now it was Wu Yufei facing Sendoh's defense as he spoke with a smile.

"Likewise..."

Sendoh responded calmly.

Thump!!

With the brief trash talk over, Wu Yufei launched his attack. After one long stride, he suddenly accelerated and drove hard to Sendoh's right.

"Mm..."

Sendoh was just about to keep up when he slammed directly into a "wall," leaving him only able to watch Wu Yufei vanish from sight.

That move again...

Sendoh looked helplessly at Ohno Kazuki, who had somehow already stepped in front of him.

With Ohno Kazuki holding Sendoh in check, Fukuda Kiccho became the one defending Wu Yufei.

Fukuda Kiccho's defense... Wait, did dumb Afu even have any defense?

After blowing past Fukuda Kiccho in an instant, Wu Yufei drove straight into the paint.

The Ape King, Uozumi, had learned from the previous possession. This time, he did not force a block at the risk of fouling, but that moment of hesitation also cost him the best defensive opportunity. He could only watch helplessly as Wu Yufei scored.

"What an intense clash. Neither side looks willing to give an inch first."

In the stands, the Shoyo High team that had come to watch marveled at the fierce battle on the court.

The younger generation keeps getting better and better.

Fujima Kenji watched Wu Yufei and Sendoh constantly compete against each other and sighed inwardly.

Up until last year, the only ones who could draw such tremendous cheers from the entire crowd had been him and Kainan's Mu Kunyi.

Wu Yufei and Sendoh began a fierce head-to-head battle.

At 2:34, Sendoh drove past Wu Yufei and dished the ball to Koshino Hiroaki cutting in from the right. Koshino easily scored on a layup.

At 2:49, Wu Yufei used Butterfly Through Flowers to get past two Ryonan defenders, including Sendoh. Charging into the paint and facing Uozumi's close help defense, he made a no-look pass behind his head to Murasame Kengo trailing behind on the left. Captain Murasame showed no mercy, rising for a one-handed slam.

At 3:08, the Sendoh-Fukuda connection worked again. Fukuda Kiccho, having successfully shaken Ohno Kazuki, caught Sendoh's brilliant pass under the basket, turned, and rose for a floater, putting Ryonan back ahead of Miuradai.

At 3:22, Wu Yufei and his teammate ran another pick-and-roll, but this time his partner was Naito Tetsuya.

Naito rolled to the basket, caught Wu Yufei's pass, exploded up beneath the hoop, and viciously jammed the ball through with both hands, helping Miuradai retake the lead.

At 3:40, Sendoh brought the ball up while Fukuda kept moving, searching for an opening.

A few seconds later, Fukuda finally shook Ohno Kazuki again and ran toward the basket.

Sendoh naturally spotted Fukuda's excellent position and passed without hesitation.

Slap!!

"What?!"

To the shock of the entire audience, Wu Yufei stretched out his long arm as though he had already known Sendoh's passing lane and intercepted the ball directly in midair.

"Fast break!!!"

Having made the steal, Wu Yufei sprinted straight toward Ryonan's half.

A chase immediately unfolded on the court, with Wu Yufei and Sendoh forming the leading group.

"You won't get past me!"

In the end, Sendoh, who had raced back at full speed, got there first and cut off Wu Yufei.

"Heh..."

Yet Wu Yufei only answered Sendoh with a soft laugh.

Swish!

Coming to a sudden stop less than half a step away from Sendoh, Wu Yufei tucked the basketball behind his back...

Slap!!

The next moment, the ball was already in the hands of Ishiyama Jun, who had arrived a step later—and there was no one around him!

"Go, Jun!!!"

Miuradai's players on the bench all shouted.

"Whew..."

Ishiyama Jun let out a light breath, made a slight adjustment, and rose for the shot.

It was a three-pointer!!

Under everyone's gaze, the basketball traced a beautiful arc through the air, and then...

Swish!!

"Yes!!"

"Great shot, Jun!!"

"Now we're four points ahead of Ryonan!! The advantage is starting to show!"

Cheers immediately erupted from Miuradai's bench.

"Beautiful shot!"

"Your steal and pass were really cool too."

On the way back, Wu Yufei and Ishiyama Jun exchanged a high-five in celebration.

"Stay focused, everyone! Stop this possession and slowly extend our lead!!"

Once they had set up on defense, Wu Yufei loudly encouraged his teammates.

"Roar!!"

Influenced by Wu Yufei, the rest of the team's morale gradually began to rise.

On the other side, Ryonan's offense had stalled.

Although Ryonan's players actively moved off the ball to create good passing opportunities for Sendoh, Miuradai's players were equally active in keeping up defensively.

More often than not, a player had just found an open spot one second, but before Sendoh could make the pass, the gap would be filled in time.

At the moment when the team's offense had been forcibly brought to a halt, Fukuda Kiccho stepped up.

"Whew..."

First, he used a rightward fake and spin to fool Ohno Kazuki behind him. Then he instantly changed direction and successfully broke into the paint from the left.

Sendoh naturally saw the excellent opportunity and decisively tossed the ball up.

"That was way too obvious!!"

Yet before Fukuda could even jump to meet Sendoh's alley-oop, Wu Yufei had already soared high into the air and snatched the basketball away.

"What?!!"

A wave of groans rang out from Ryonan's bench.

"Unbelievable!! He jumped way too high just now!!"

Aida Hikoichi was so startled that he blurted out his catchphrase.

"Let's go!!"

After making another steal, Wu Yufei once again led the entire team in a fast break toward Ryonan's half.

Sendoh once again stood in front of Wu Yufei.

"Stop him, Sendoh!!"

"Please! You have to hold him off, Sendoh!!"

Hearing his teammates' pleas, Sendoh's gaze grew even firmer.

However, Wu Yufei's eyes were even more determined!

"Haah!!"

The instant he charged into the paint, Wu Yufei, having gathered his strength, leaped straight up and glided toward the basket ahead. Sendoh, meanwhile, soared beneath the hoop and blocked his path.

When warriors met on a narrow road, the braver one won!